Let's Review

When I first started this blog, one of my posts was "Ten Commandments of Pit Bull Ownership".

Let's review that list and then I will post 10 Tips to Remember for Responsible Pit Bull Ownership.

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PIT BULL OWNERSHIP

1. Thou shalt NEVER trust thy Pit Bull not to fight

2. Thou shalt contain thy Pit Bull securely when not supervised by an adult

3. Thou shalt NEVER leave thy adult Pit Bull alone and unsupervised with another dog

4. Thou SHALT attend obedience classes most faithfully with thy Pit Bull

5. Thou SHALT keep thy Pit Bull socialized with ALL KINDS of people

6. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed off-leash in a public place

7. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed to roam free in thy neighborhood, EVER!

8. Thou SHALT take thy well trained Pit Bull out in public and show him/her off - on leash for good breed PR!

9. Thy Pit Bull shalt go forth into the world as an ambassador of the pit bull breed

10. THOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONG DONE BY THY DOGS!

And here are 10 Tips to Remember for Responsible Pit Bull ownership

1. Exercise your dog everyday.

2. Never leave pit bulls alone with other dogs (or any animal).

3. Always have your dog on a leash in public.

4. Always supervise your dogs and never allow them to roam free.

5. Supervise your dog with small children.

6. Spay or Neuter your dog.

7. Train your dog.

8. Avoid dog parks.

9. Socialize your dog.

10. Keep your dog properly confined.

Responsible ownership starts from the time your Pit Bull comes to live with you. Irresponsible owner's are one of the major causes for all the problems the breed faces today. It's our hope here at Pit Bull Lovers we can spread the word and educate more owners to take responsibility for their dogs actions.

In order for things to change, we must change the way we look at our own actions and how they effect the world around us. Until we do that, things will simply stay the way they are right now.

What brought on the above rant, you ask? Once again, and the whole story isn't out, but due to irresponsible ownership, two PB lost their life this past weekend and once again Pit Bulls are in the news - and not in a positive light. The comments by citizens on the breed have me upset. I truly believe the situation could have been avoided if the dogs weren't out roaming. Again, I don't know the whole story, but from what I gather, the dogs weren't on the owners property.

Maybe it just isn't the above story that has prompted the friendly reminder. Everyday, all over our country, I hear or read stories about irresponsible PB ownership and it makes me sad. Sad for the dogs, and sad for the future of the Breed. These stories just add more fuel to the fire to pass BSL and give the people at Dog Bite.org more juice for their cause.

As a disclaimer, I know I am not the perfect owner. I had no clue about Responible Pit Bull ownership when Maddie first came into our lives. I probably broke everyone single one of the things listed above. I know accidents happen, fences break, lines break etc.

And just so this isn't a total rant post, Check out At Home with the Vick Dogs.