It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Where there is a bad breed there is always a bad owner. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. About 75% of municipal shelters euthanize pit bulls immediately upon intake. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. You can let your dog off the lead in permitted places and where it will not cause others to be afraid, but a lead is required in most areas. However, one pit bull called Queso is not quite as formidable as the rest of his breed. Attempting to bolt off the couch, whimpering, shaking, and trying to burrow into the sofa are all signs that your dog may be somewhat disturbed by the nail clippers. let's say that i were willing to try to get over my fear of pit bulls or other large/med dogs. “A PIT BULL!? Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Pit bulls and their close relatives the American Staffordshire terriers trace their roots to the British Isles. Posted Jun 02, 2016 But, you should never be worried about it because there are some simple effective things that you can do which is going to help your Pitbulls get over his fear of water. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Pit bull puppy shows how you can overcome a fear of doorways, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. The Pit Bulls I saw where brought in by animal wardens and police officers. His avoidance of parks is a great factor of a phobia since it interferes with him spending time with his children who want to play I the park (as he states within the video), hence, interfering with his everyday life. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. They call me ignorant. My pitbull Ziggy probably would give you good vibes, even though he was a tough boy. I work as a defence attorney in a case in South Africa where pitbulls injured people and their owners said they were always loving dogs… How to get over my fear of my new pitbull? Read our full mailing list consent terms here. He deals with his fear of walking into a room (terrifying!) Find somebody responsible who owns a pit bull and ask if you can spend time with them. If a Pit Bull came in the mix, there would be constant fighting for that lead position. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Dogs experience many of the same emotions humans do, and unfortunately, anxiety is something we share. Marvin has an extremely tough exterior; muscles, tattoos, earrings, and rides motorcycles, though he won’t even go to a park because they are “dog friendly”. Pit bull is a term used in the United States for a type of dog descended from bulldogs and terriers, while in other countries such as the United Kingdom the term is used as an abbreviation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed. The term was first used in 1927. Pit bulls usually have a reputation as vicious dogs with a long history of violent altercations with humans. A: Walk up to the dog from the side, not the back or directly in front. Just bear that in mind. Does your pit bull experience separation anxiety, travel anxiety, or fear of certain noises such as storms and fireworks? It's the same with every dog really. He has been an awesome dog, but can't be around other dogs in spite of my best efforts to socialize him well (training, puppy class, etc.). In this clip, Marvin is exposed, as a part of exposure therapy, to a pit bull puppy. What Pit Bull lovers see as ADORABLE - others may see as scary. Pitbulls are banned in the UK and for good reasons. Scrummaging through shelter after shelter, we spent […] He'd let me pet her from the car and started working up to the point when I can actually put my arms around the dog and hug her, but I'm still EXTREMELY terrified and when I see them, I get really shaky. Owning a Pit Bull wouldn’t make you a cool “bad ass” anymore. You have to do that slowly. No dog turns for no reason at all - It's either the owner, past trauma, abuse or bad training. Dee,I'm with a pet rescue group and I share the same fear of the volatile pit bulls or any dogs of the "bully breeds". Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. So anything I do, anyone I love, deserves the best. As you can imagine, an anxious Pit Bull labeled as a “bad dog” could quickly face a cruel fate upon being turned over to a local shelter. While you are visiting a dog, start communicating with it and once he/she seems eager, pet him/her. Whatever you do please do not get a pit bull.” I remember these words more vividly than anything else my mother-in-law has ever said to me. Petting can be a good way to get rid of the fear for good. I get yelled at, swore at, and scolded for my behavior and choices. Pitbulls are banned in the UK and for good reasons. Abolishing BSLs nationwide will change everyone’s view of the breed. The young puppy is afraid of kitchen floors, printers and...doorways. Pit bulls have been used in fights and trained heavily as attack dogs for years. how would i go about it? I don’t personally know anyone with a diagnosed phobia, but I found a Youtube video of a man named Marvin who has an extreme fear of pit bulls. They are litterly nicknamed gentle giants. But what happens when that fear is taken to a whole new level? I adopted a pit bull puppy named Taz three years ago. Dog 0arks are a great place. As a result, a pit bull’s reaction can sometimes be aggressive . Pit bulls usually have a reputation as vicious dogs with a long history of violent altercations with humans. This satisfies the three “Ds” associated with anxiety disorders: deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional. Make no mistake. But Queso is a survivor! As the puppy was then brought in closer, his psychologist verbally restrains him by reassuring him that everything is going to be fine. I have a beautiful dog who is pitbull/boxer mix with a brindle and white coat and boy does she get compliments, but not as much as the people who steer away from her. Frankly, don't. And you'd be best off with someone you trust, who owns a very well-behaved dog. i have heard things like "do not look a strange dog in the eye" and im wondering also if a dog is able to sense my fear and then be … You’d also learn how you can take care of … So much so that Queso has had to devise an ingenious and stylish way of entering rooms. Pit bulls are everywhere, after all, so if this fear develops into a phobia, it could really cause you a lot of undue stress. Meeting Pits at Work. A phobia is an anxiety disorder that entails a persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that is so extreme; it starts to interfere with everyday life. Because I choose to associate myself with pit bull type dogs people belittle my feelings. Carolina bully farms talks about the fear the media has put into the general public for the pitbull breed When he was younger, he witnessed an attack by a pit bull on his neighbor, who acquired over 100 stitches on his body. Itll help you get over your fear. The life of a pit bull isn’t always all belly rubs and nap times. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Pat him under his chin or on the side. The fear I once had for pitbulls had subsided and I even found myself wanting to pet other pitbulls we saw in passing. If you ever have the chance to meet a pit I highly recommend it. I don’t personally know anyone with a diagnosed phobia, but I found a Youtube video of a man named Marvin who has an extreme fear of pit bulls. Video of Queso shows the puppy approaching a doorway, turning around and then moonwalking his way into the room. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. it is not just pit bulls i am afraid of. Get Rid of Pit Bulls. According to the ASPCA, 2,800 Pit Bulls and Pit-mixes are euthanized every day. I’ve been threatened. 10. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. She doesn’t allow him to back away from the dog is it comes closer and tells him to pet the puppy, which he then does after crying. Training any dog is important for his own well-being, but because of the misinformed media coverage of this breed, pit bulls have to be great breed ambassadors. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? Pit bulls are great. All in all, the exposure therapy helped Marvin overcome his phobia of pit bulls.Pit Bull Phobia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvDCqLCdEE, Extra Credit Blog Post: The Power of Obedience. Anxious dogs are stressed, nervous, and sometimes afraid. They tell me I’m wrong. This Youtube video is a great example of a phobia and how exposure therapy works. Give them reassurance when you can rather than allow them to be unnecessarily frightened. Pit bulls have gotten a bad reputation for being too aggressive, but a well trained pit bull can be a sweet and loyal companion. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. It's like a rubber … The animal shelter environment is also an original cause to much of the stress and fear a pup may be facing. Video: Queso isn't like other pit bulls... Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Now it’s time for you to interact physically with a Pit Bull. Everyone is scared of something. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Pit Bull lovers righteously defend the “misunderstood” breed, but Charles Leerhsen, whose dog was recently attacked by one, says they are natural-born killers. So a few months ago we started to research dog toys and the best dog foods because we wanted her to be as healthy as possible. You’re not alone! Other pit bulls may show signs of fear. The entrance technique is not a fluke: the video shows Queso entering doorways backwards on numerous ocassions. There are some simple things you can do to help you Pit Bull get over his fear of water. Anyways, I am writing because I have a pit bull mix, she doesn't look too much like a pit anymore, and a new pit bull puppy I have only had for about 2 months. However, one pit bull called Queso is not quite as formidable as the rest of his breed. Our scary pit bull, Queso, is afraid of lots of things, like the kitchen floor, the printer, and doorways. Theyll happily tell you why your fear is unfounded and those laws are bullshit. Fear Pit Bulls: The Psychology of Breedism, Fear, and Prejudice Bronwen Dickey's new book "Pit Bull" analyzes how a breed became demonized . Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Great danes are another feared breed. That's how dogs tell who you are by sniffing. You should always introduce your Pitbulls early especially the puppy with water and try making all the experience very fun and exciting for him. In this clip, Marvin is exposed, as a part of exposure therapy, to a pit bull puppy. Hold out your knuckle and let him sniff your hand, this method keeps your fingers protected. If you see one talk yo the owner. My friend Dakota tried to help me overcome my fear of them and used to bring his pit bull to school in his car and to let me see. In the exposure therapy, Marvin’s psychologist brings in a pit bull puppy. Back-yard breeders would decrease because the popularity would go down, while law-abiding families would be able to adopt one. Teach the Pit Bull to swim To help your dog be at ease around water, the first thing to do is teach him that approaching it will not do it, which is even better if the dog learns this as a puppy. In many countries Pit Bulls are considered potentially dangerous dogs, so by law they must wear a lead and be muzzled in public spaces. Working as a registered veterinary technician in an emergency clinic, I encountered many Pit Bulls. When he was younger, he witnessed an attack by a pit bull on his neighbor, who acquired over 100 stitches on his body. Fighting History. Queso's owner, Rhiannon Hamam, describes Queso as a "great, happy pup" with just a few insecurities. While tendencies do permeate the breed, many fear pit bulls based on myths, their fighting history and questionable statistics. by walking in backwards. I would find a pet store and ask a dog trainer how to calm your fears.Don't ask on the dog section as you will get some rude and defensive answers. These dogs were attacked, wounded and even shot. Pit bulls are totally vicious, right? Pit bulls are loving, loyal friendly dogs. Otherwise, I think taking it slow is a good idea, as others have said. They always say people have good instincts. He was ten weeks old (already neutered). Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Pit Bull owners have to go above and beyond the call of duty sometimes to help some people get over their fear and prejudice. When first seeing it, Marvin runs away from it. They are both very friendly but the youngest one (the complete pit) came from a home, where my understanding … The supposed purpose is to use them to protect homes, businesses, and the like. Many days I feel anxiety and fear or some sort of overwhelming combination of both – just like you. Probably because I didn’t hear these words until AFTER we fell in love with and adopted our pit bull. Much so that Queso has had to devise an ingenious and stylish way of entering rooms all will... Emailed when someone replies to your comment just a few insecurities all commenters and create debates... 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