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Here is an interesting Associated Press story concerning breed bans. Breed bans are very similar to racism. The video above shows a Pit bull that I used to have picking up all the trash in a park.

Dutch government to lift 25-year ban on pit bulls

The Dutch government says it will lift a long-standing ban on pit bulls because it did not lead to any decrease in bite incidents.

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While your Put Bull may be healthy and active for a long time, one day you will look at him and be surprised to discover that his face has silvered and his gait has stiffened. He tends to sleep longer and more soundly now than he did when he was younger. You also notice that he is slower than he used to be.

Keep in mind that your Pit Bull has an average life expectancy of about 13 years, though many of them have reached old ages of 15 and 16. Your older Pit Bull still needs an active lifestyle in order for him to stay healthy. He can enjoy a full and vibrant life as he gets older as long as you know what extra measures to take.

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Toys provide two important roles for your Pit Bull puppy. The first role is to help stimulate your dog both physically and mentally. The second is to prevent him from tearing down your home. Pit Bulls, or any dog for that matter, are less likely to destroy items in your house if given their own toys that they can play with.

Pit Bulls love playing with balls, especially big, colorful bouncing balls. They also enjoy a large and partially deflated ball. Hard rubber balls are good for tough-playing puppies. Avoid using small balls such as jack balls or golf balls because dogs tend to inhale or swallow them. Soft rubber balls are also not recommended because they can easily be chewed to small pieces and then swallowed.

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Now that your Pit Bull has learned to follow the command come, he is ready for his next trick. Another very useful behavior that you can teach your dog is to learn how to sit. Sit is one of the simplest tricks to teach. Learning this behavior is vital because it is an effective way to control your dog and also help you set the foundation for other training to follow.

It is very easy to teach your Pit Bull how to sit. Stand right in front of him while holding a treat slightly above his eye level. Say sit and then move the treat closer to him until it is just above his eyes. You may have to put your other hand on his rump to prevent him from jumping up. If he takes a step back instead of sitting down, place his rear against a wall. When he begins to look up and bend his hind legs, say good and then give him the treat. Repeat this process again. Have him bend his legs more and more this time until he is in a full sit position before saying good and giving him the treat.

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Your Pit Bull is a very strong and powerful dog with a not-so-good reputation. Since he can be very intimidating to a lot of people, no matter how gentle and well-trained he is, many are still going to be petrified if they see him unleashed and running down the street with a grin on his face.

Because of your dogs strength and ability, he would need a strong and sturdy leash to keep him under control. There are many types of leashes that are strong enough to hold your canine gladiator. You can either get him a sturdy braided leash, a cotton canvas leash, a nylon leash, or a leather leash. All dogs are recommended to have a six-foot leash. A four-foot leash is also ideal when walking your dog in tight places. However, whatever type of leash you decide to get, do not get one that is made of chain.

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When searching for the right Pit Bull puppy, some common sources include online ads, newspaper ads, rescue groups, and professional as well as hobby breeders.

You have to be careful about getting a dog from a newspaper ad. Although there are some reputable breeders who advertise in the paper, finding your Pit Bull in the classifieds is not often a good idea. Most ads in the paper are placed by inexperienced breeders who naively breed their pet thinking that they can make a quick buck. They seldom have the resources or knowledge to produce healthy and well adjusted puppies.

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Another common misconception about Pit Bulls is that they are unable to get along with children. This misconception has brought many dedicated Pit Bull owners to get rid of their dogs when a new baby arrives home out of fear that their dog will harm the infant. On the other hand, there are many Pit Bull owners who excitedly bring their baby home without a single drop of worry about the infants safety around their dog. Neither response is accurate or reliable. Although it is a fact that dogs can hurt babies, it is also true that they protect babies. How you introduce your baby to your Pit Bull makes a huge difference on how well the dog will act around your baby.

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If there is only one command that you can teach your Pit Bull that command should be to come to you when he is called. Aside from being a neat trick, being called on command can actually save your dogs life. You can never be sure that he will not bolt through the door or escape from his collar. For this reason, getting him to come back to you is very important and should be the first training lesson that he gets.

If you think about it, your Pit Bull already knows how to come. He automatically comes every time he sees you holding the food bowl, his favorite toy, or his leash. You may have even used the word come to get his attention, which gives you a good head start. The trick is to have him respond to come all the time with the same excitement that he has during mealtime.

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