shaunaru

I'm training a 2yr old Staffordshire Bull Terrier as my second service dog after the heartbreak of losing my 10 year old American Staffordshire Terrier mix service dog. These dogs are not only wonderful family pets who step back and wag when my grandkids are playing with their hands in their food dishes, but they are observant, dedicated, and hard working partners for the disabled. My "girls" train so much more quickly than many other service dogs that I'm constantly hearing envious comments. But the best part is the opportunity we have to serve as breed ambassadors since my dogs are allowed to go where most dogs can't. People are constantly amazed that "this sweet, irresistable, loving dog is really a pit bull?" 100%! It is so hard to enforce the rule that people not pet her while she is working because they are just drawn to her.

Thanks so much for a factual and informative article that tells the truth about our sweet babes. People do need to understand that you need to raise and train bully breeds differently than other dogs - they are strong and muscular, but they are very sensitive and you should never be harsh with them; it's not necessary. As for the media just not naming the breed of dog involved in attacks - that would be nice because half the time the dog is not a pit bull and the reporters don't know how to ID the dog - so pit bull is the easy label. If a correction is eventually made, it is not front page, bold face, but buried in the back pages so that people still believe all the attacks are from pit bulls.