Pit bulls owners have to go above and beyond the call of duty these days to make sure their dogs act as Breed Ambassadors. Some important tips for you and your pet:

1. Obedience train your dog so that you have him/her in check in all situations, including: around other dogs, in crowds, around skateboards, etc. Pit bulls are known for their intelligence and strong desire to please. They generally take very well to training. Because of the current breed prejudice, our dogs have to display better manners than the average K9. Please remember that obedience training any dog is not a one shot deal -- Reinforcing a dog's obedience requires a committed owner who's willing to work their dog daily.

2. Neuter/Spay your dog to curb territorial aggression, to prevent more (and more and more) unwanted puppies, and to prevent your dog from roaming. All dogs are MUCH nicer to be around when they've been fixed!

3. Keep your dog a Social Butterfly
Socialize him with as many different people as possible, with kids, seniors, disabled folks, and people of all different ethnicities.

4. Socialize your dog with other dogs!
at a level that is GOOD for your dog. The pit bull on the left was first introduced to her dog friends the right way...slow and careful. Their owners supervise them to make sure all play behavior is friendly and appropriate and (Important!) the dogs are separated from each other when they can't be watched. They all benefit from well-structured socialization. If your dog has matured beyond his dog friendly youngster days, being off leash around strange dogs could be asking too much of him. Better to let him mingle with other dogs on leash so he can stay accustomed to their presence in safety. Obedience classes are a great place to give your mature dog important socialization experience.

5. Become a dedicated student of 'Dog Body Language' and get to know your dog like the back of your hand in order to be able to anticipate and prevent dog-on-dog aggression problems. Learn about behaviors that indicate a dog is raising the stakes during a play session and be ready to intervene and watch for other triggers that could excite your dog into conflict. Pay careful attention to the behavioral changes that develop as your dog moves through the changes in her life, particularly her anticipated 'shift' from dog social dog to a dog that has less tolerance. This is common and normal in pit bulls, so keep your eye out.

6. Respect the Leash Laws!
Lease laws are a dog owner's best friend. To help you navigate situations where another dog may provoke your dog into a fight, Know Your Rights As a Dog Owner

7. Understand that any sign of aggression towards humans is a major red flag and should be dealt with immediately with the help of a BREED EXPERIENCED trainer or behaviorist. Dogs that show an inability to improve should be safeguarded from the public (in secure housings for example) or in some cases, humanely euthanized. Pit bulls were bred to be exceedingly friendly with people. A pit bull that shows aggression towards a human is NOT typical of the breed and should be dealt with immediately -- No "Ifs, Ands or Buts"!

8. Exercise your dogs regularly so s/he can burn off that famous bulldog energy.
Pit bulls are intelligent athletes, and young dogs need at least two hours of your time each day - Minimum! A well exercised pit bull is a happy pit bull, and his owner is a happier owner.

10. Understand that many people have had negative experiences with dogs and are sincerely afraid of them. Give them reassurance when you can rather than allow them to be unnecessarily frightened. Pit bull owners have to go above and beyond the call of duty sometimes to help some people get over their fear and prejudice. (Good Lord! To the uninitiated, pit bull faces can take some getting used to. What we pit bull lovers see as ADORABLE -- others may see as, um, Scary! This is BR volunteer Greg Huffman's cutie-pie named Loki throwin' down for a belly rub. Now ain't that a face!)

11. Try to develop a thick skin to help you endure rude and hurtful comments about your pet. If people cross the street to avoid this lovely dog named Abby, she just wags her tail, hangs her tongue out and smiles like this. In Pit Bull Speak, we're pretty sure this means: "No matter WHAT you think of me, I think people are the best!"

12. When out with your dog, pay attention to your surroundings and balance the needs of the public with your dog's needs. This means picking up dog mess, not letting her jump on or annoy others, and avoiding off leash dogs that may run up and instigate a fight.

13. If worse comes to worse and you have to break up a dogfight, stay calm, take a deep breath and be prepared to do it quickly and safely. Pit bull owners should know exactly how to do this with as little fuss as possible, and then work to make sure it never happens! You may want to carry a parting stick with you in areas where you might encounter loose running dogs. See PBRC's info on: Break Sticks

14. Research your dog's breed, including the history and original purpose of the breed so you can understand his behavior as well as how to explain him to the public. Its no secret that pit bulls were selectively bred for dog-to-dog combat, so knowing the ins and outs of pit bull behavior and history will be your biggest help in enjoying great success with your pet. Spread the word to other pit bull owners and be a responsible example others can learn from.

15. Despite all the work, enjoy your dog! Whether your buddy loves a long hike, a fast swim or just a rip snorin' power nap, you and your special friend deserve to keep soakin' up all the Good Bully Love! (This is BAD RAP volunteer Tom and his favorite pit bull bud named "Huey".)