Why are you in?

[Dansgrizz]

Why are you in THESE dogs?

I hope it's a question you will take your time in answering.

It was 3 years ago when I had the ache in my heart for not having a canine companion like I had had for the first 20 years of my life. I knew I'd never get another like Beau my Hungarian Viszla so I'd do some research. I read through 485 pages of a dog atlas. I found a combat dog that had the courage I respected so much in myself and in others, it was a striking dog... I researched further and found all the various jobs they perform. I then read a Stratton book and got more into researching the more historical side of these dogs, the combat. Being a "used up" athlete myself I needed an outlet for these aspirations of combat... I got my dog with hopes of seeing my name in those bright lights...eventually the venue I chose was pulling. I made my mark, there's not a pull I go to that the competitors know their dogs are gonna have to bring it to take home hardware over me. I then found I wanted to be part of some "false fraternity". To be the greatest dogman alive. This was still part of my obsession with being the best... To have MY NAME at the top and to be known.

As of late I have not been going to shows every weekend or even every month like before. The titles have lost their glamour, the lights meant nothing, but my dogs are still here showing me what they have giving to me everything they got... So my passion burns hotter than ever, asking as these dogs of combat display courage I will be there to compete with them.

To sum up, I got into these dogs for a companion, I excelled in these dogs for fame and competition, I stay in these dogs For the same reason I was sucked in... I love the combat and the combat loves me. Our views lose their shine over time and if you stick in these dogs what you've done will be evident over time, bright lights or not... So whether your a drooling stargazer as I once was, a seasoned vet like George Bailey, or just someone in the middle.... Please share with me why your in?

[sw_df27]

man you would ask this today wouldn't you the day I'm actually questioning myself...........................it's the only breed I have ever known growing up we never had less then 6 pits on the yard some we could play with some we couldn't as soon as I got my first job I got Alexis off a breeding my aunt did. I like her so much the next breeding my aunt did with the same sire I got one with the intent of WP/showing her. Well little did I know how much time and money goes into that sort of stuff plus I would have to travel they don't hold events here and so I basically made them house pets that and the fact that havoc wouldn't pull made the decision easier. my boyfriend already had 2 pits when I moved in with him now papered of course. I keep the ones we have because they are my responsability til they are dead however at this time I'm rethinking if I will ever bring another animal period into my home much less another pit..........so my original answer would be for wp/showing and the fact that this breed is what I grew up with now I would have to say I'm in these dogs because I have a responsability to the ones I have at the moment other then that I really don't know anymore

dont get me wrong I love this breed and will fight for this breed til I die I just don't think I will ever own this many every again specially now that my daughter is getting older and there are things I want to do with her like travel and take vacations and can't really do that with all these dogs to take care of.

[smith family kennels]

The impact this breed as made on my life is unreal. I never thought a dog could relate to me so much. That it could be so intelligent, strong, loving, and giving. That a dog could act so sensitive to me and react to me in so many ways. My house dog Yolanda stays by myside at all times. If i am sad she tries to comfort me, if i am happy she dances with me, if I am angry she lays in her bed and waits for me, If i want anything out of her she gives it to me, she knows right from wrong because she was taught it.

Well starting with hog dogs finally led to her and she was sooo great for a companion dog. That I trainned her to be my best friend. We have done obidence and agility together. We have also tried search and rescue together. But most of all we have stayed by each other through thick n thin. She has medical issues will never be bred but will never leave my yard or my side.

My husband lost a dog he loved dearly. I replaced her with Dixie and that is when the show, weightpull, and "glamour" begin. You can lose your way in all that. Lose what really matters but you can learn so much more in the process. Going from hunting dogs to looking for great specimens that can continue the breed in the form they should be. Getting dogs to compete, Dogs to be winners, Dogs to spark your addrelen when they can do more than you thought they could. You begin to find problems with these dogs because you have let the "glamour" in it all take over until it finally becomes a headache. I still love the show life, still love weight pull but the "glamour" has wore thin. Its no longer about what it use to be. No longer as fun as it use to be, the thrill is gone and your left with this feeling you havent accomplished what you have set out too when putting yourself in the show world. You want to do more, do better, have better but in my search for whats better I found what I was looking for the whole time while in the process of my trip. and knew it but didnt think it was enough.

I have took a break from the show world. It has been an enlightment for me. I have kept the dogs that started it all for me and while my husband has had these dogs around his entire life. I have not. It all begin for me with the hunting dogs he had when i met him and all that led me to where i am now and kept two other dogs as well. One is my future. She is my pride. She is my eyes is not only a great specimen of the breed but a great companion dog. The other is to hunt because hunting is what started me in the beginning with my husband and all the other hunting dogs are no longer with us or to old to take out.

There is where I stand today. I have my companion, an old hunting dog, a new hunting dog, my first show dog, and one weight pull dog and then a dog i got for show that turned into one of the best dogs I would ever own. Its been along road but here I am back on track. ready to start again with out the so called "glamour" of the show ring. Without the headache and I still feel the same for this breed as I did in the beginning. Trying to keep it going to the best of my ability. To not only have great specimens of the breed but great friends for life too. I will still go to shows and such for it is good for the dogs but will no longer judge by just this assect. Showing is for fun. The breed is for life.

[Michele]

I do not own this breed but some day I will. I have been mentored for quite a few years and been around this breed alot. I love this breed's drive, passion and loyalty in whatever it is they are doing. There is no other.

That's why I defend the breed and I always will.

The only thing I don't like on some of these pit bull forums, is when someone wants to learn and educate themselves, and can't because there are a few that just don't want to teach what they know. This forum is different. They really don't discriminate against the people that are less educated.

[APBTMOMMY]

This thread has been cleaned up and re-posted do not let this get out of hand again! Thank you!

[chris mercer]

Perhaps the energy given and taken from this breed is greater than others Dan but I think in some universal need for perfection and self gratification they are equal. At first the enjoyment we get from victory is more than the we have put in although we may have put in countless hours and dollars. Speaking only for myself one can become inbittered from biased rulings where truly your dog was victorious. I'm not speaking of bench show where it is the opinion of the judge but rather head to head competition. Some tiring of the games go back to the basics, in your case that fraternity of dog men or in my case the few remaining old hounds men only to find out they have questioned the same things and moved forward ,quit or continued to perpetuate myths. Speaking only for myself I may not be doing my breed much good as of late having been some what disabled and not able to hunt and this is where one does the final evaluation of any working dog, in their field. As of late I have turned to field trials and yes some bench shows until it cools off enough to hunt. I don't have that burning desire as I did only thirty one years ago when I started at 30. Yes,I'm a newbie with hounds. There is no harm in taking a break and checking the direction you are going. You may find a more satisfying path than the direction you are heading. If I read you right I just ask how far are you ready to tare your dogs for your conviction. I have taken no pleasure burying a dog beside a road because he was killed blindly doing what he was bred for. I ask myself is it worth it?

Chris Mercer

[OldfortKennels]

I got the dogs because I loved what they were, their attitude and their nature. Then came the competition and I loved it. IT IS NO WHERE NEAR what it was 6 years ago when the NKC was going strong and the people there also pulled ADBA. It really was a family atmosphere and the shows were a chance to hang with friends. Now so many are not doing it anymore it seems just be a competition.

From that point of view I loved competing. I enjoyed working the dogs and producing something great. It really takes 2 to be great in the sport. If you have a great dog but no training you will never get there, if you have great training and no dog, you will never get there.

Even now I cant totally get away from it. I havent worked a dog in over a year and yet here I am still reading these forums and still have 2 dogs on the yard. I think constantly of coming back, even if it is on a small scale. I am considering getting Charlie ready for the Ga show in Oct. The problem is I have never been one to do something for just fun or halfway. If I dont have the time to commit to produce a dog that has a real chance of winning, I dont see the point in doing it. I love the dogs, I love the sport and while we were active we did great. In 5 years of showing dogs, no matter if I took one dog or 4 dogs we NEVER went to a weight pull without placing a dog.

[justintime]

as a youngster I got a part time job helping an older gentleman take care of his dogs. I learned about them, fell in love with their courage, determination and spirit. When he died I inherited the yard he had spent a lifetime creating. I just hope not to f**k up all his dedication.

[Michele]

as a youngster I got a part time job helping an older gentleman take care of his dogs. I learned about them, fell in love with their courage, determination and spirit. When he died I inherited the yard he had spent a lifetime creating. I just hope not to f**k up all his dedication.

What bloodline is on the yard?

[quickfire]

I personally was introduced to the breed at a young age and loved them but did not own one until I was in my twenties I rescued a few pits from Ybor city and rehabbed them and rehomed them. I could not keep them (Pitbulls) my apartment complex did not allow Pitbulls. So I got Jack Russells and competed with them all over the place in Terrier Trials held by the Jack Russell Terrier - JRTCA - Jack Russell Terrier Club of America Home Page (www.terrier.com) and had a blast competing and winning nationally on all levels of there venues. I bought my first house 3 years ago and almost 19 months ago a friend of mine had a litter of ADBA Registered Pitbull pups and he offered me pick of litter. I was hesitant do I really want a Pitbull what if he gets loose and gets me in trouble? What if he gets loose and eats my Jack Russells I have invested so much in. Well I went ahead and got him and made a secure area for him and boy am I glad we have a blast training together and this will be a our first year officially competing together but I am looking forward to it.

[CraziNate]

I have always wanted an APBT since I was a child. My nextdoor neighbor had an APBT named Buster. Even tho he hated kids I was always fascinated with him and was never afraid of him. He killed a couple of my cats and even chased a friend of mine down the street and bit him. But that never steered me away from these dogs. As I grew older so did Buster and he grew out of hating kids. I started playing with him on a daily basis and even started taking him on walks. I had some guy in the back of my parents neighborhood tear into me for walking him back there cause he was a pitbull and the guy had little kids. He was a douche to begin with. Not long after getting close to Buster, he passed away. I went into my neighbors back yard to play with him and found him dead. Ever since then I have always wanted an APBT. I just love how entergetic they are and how loyal they can be.

After getting Enzo, I will never own another breed. I have learned so much from him and have never had this much love for an animal. He is pretty much my twin, except in a dog form. He is just as crazy and hyper as I am. Wherever I go he is with him. I think my seperation anxiety is worse than his. I really haven't gotten too much into showing/weight pulling but once I get some free time again I will be entering him into more fun shows. Hopefully within the next year or so I will be getting a female.

[CASH]

I seem to be on the outside edge of this breed but I do love them for so many reasons.
I grew up with performance animals, show horses, field dogs and a mulititude of exotic animals ranging from monkeys, and racoons to snakes.
I have always loved dogs and had bird dogs for the majority of my young life till I was about 15 when I bought my first GSD and started training in personal protection. Shortly after that I moved to Texas where I took a job at Grand Prairie Animal Clinic and was intraduced to the breed. Tha majority of what we saw were bull breeds. I soon found myself wanting one. I knew nothing about them at first but I knew the breed had something special about them, The courage, determination and the streangth to do anything. Fast forward some years I found myself ready for anouther dog and I turned to the apbt for my companion and pet. As I have continued to expand my training and intrest in K-9 sports I find myself more in love with the breed then ever. While I train in obediance I have an urge to weight pull and have made the decision that my next APBT will be a pull dog.