Sponsored Links








Add to Technorati Favorites

Barack Obama Should Get a Pit Bull

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

pit bull puppyWith all the discussion over which breed of dog the Obama family should get as their White House dog, they should visit a local shelter, and adopt one of the "pit bull" breeds.

If anyone can change the way America looks at pit bulls, then the President ought to be able to do so.

Maybe Obama can use his "star power" to finally get people to stop persecuting what has emerged as America's most discriminated dog.

Labels:

39 Comments:

  • I don't feel a pit bull is a good choice for an inexperienced dog owner. I feel pit bulls should be acquired by experienced dog people as they, like most bully breeds, can be a handful and need to be properly trained and socialized.
    I also think that with all the people that will be around, a breed like a pit bull wouldn't be a good choice.
    I think the Obama's choosing a pit bull would be a horrible thing for them and for the breed. Not a good choice for an inexperienced, very busy family.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:16 PM, November 11, 2008  

  • That is an insane suggestion.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:57 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • This would not be a good way for Obama to get in touch with "authentic" Black culture. It would, IMO, feed into unpopular stereotypes for both the dog and the owner.

    Not a chance this would happen, and really, do Pitbulls need to be more popular? Whatever breed Obama picks is going to get a 101 Dalmations effect.

    By Blogger Christopher, at 3:27 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • Do you think he'll put lipstick on it?

    By Blogger CROIX, at 6:08 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • While I would love to see a pitty in the white house and do thing that it would be a great way for people to truly be educated on the breed. I'm not sure he will get one. They are highly protective and too many people are scared of them. I do think that if they hired someone to help train the dog, it would help (this goes for which ever breed he gets). I have owned them and they are not really hard to train, but when meeting new people they need to be introduced and told that the people are all right and with the amount of new people they family will be around they will be introducing the dog more than getting to business. I would love to hear him say great things about the pitty breeds so that maybe, just maybe, people will open their eyes to what wonderful dogs they are and leave the sterio type behind us!

    By Blogger gin, at 6:31 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • As a dog trainer I get many calls to rehabilitate "bad Pitt Bulls." I have never seen a single one of the dogs that were the problem. One woman said her dog was aggressive and challenged her. The moment I saw the dog he walked up to me all confident then rolled over on his back. I figured out that the owner was actually so afraid of this dogs sterotype she was causing the dog to think she was bad beacuse she always acted strange around him. One hour of teaching her to meet the dog and not the breed and they were totally fine.
    Pitt Bulls make great search dogs because of their intensity and unwillingness to give up but single minded people who don't want to see these dogs around keep them from getting a great career.
    If President-Elect Obama would like to help the breed maybe he could insist the team that sweeps for explosives where he will be is a team of Pitt Bulls and then publicize them. Who better to protect the President than the most protective breed?

    By Anonymous Jillian Blesser, at 8:49 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • First let me correct the misinformed statement that the American Pit Bull Terrier is a "protective breed". All verified literature, including the UKC/ADBA breed descriptions, call for a friendly, outgoing dog, NOT a protective, suspicious dog as you'd expect with a guard breed. The trainer referring to their experience with the breed should also note that the spelling is "pit" NOT "pitt", as the incorrect spelling does not suggest professional breed experience. The American Pit Bull Terrier is not a "pit bull type" as referred to in the article. "Pit Bull Type" is dummy speak written into breed specific legislation to ban these dogs and should not be a phrase used by APBT educated people. The pit bull terrier is not a breed for a beginner and requires a lot of walking & pack order reinforcement when becoming a family member, not a good choice for the Obamas. I do hope that he does not pick a designer bred hybrid from a breeder, thus increasing their already questionable ethical value.

    By Anonymous Wendy Mahoney, at 9:01 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • I think pits are misunderstood also I have a pit grandpuppy that had to live with me and my hounds for awhile. He is a very loving dog. It is all in how they are raised like other dogs .

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:36 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • I don't think any of the Presidents have personally cared for their dog; I'm sure they have someone there who takes care of it for them. Certainly the Obamas can find someone experienced with the pit bull breeds.

    By Blogger Steve, at 9:49 AM, November 12, 2008  

  • The Obama's have a child who is allergic to dogs. Pitbulls are not on the list of approved, low allergy canines.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:55 AM, November 13, 2008  

  • You people are idiots....Black people are afraid of dogs!!! Get with the times. Open your eyes. Plus, blacks dont have time for taking care of their children, let alone an animal. Idiots. =)

    By Blogger L.J., at 12:08 PM, November 13, 2008  

  • Not a good idea because of all the new people that would be coming in & out all the time. BUT adoption should be the ONLY way for them to get a dog. He should use his position & popularity to educate people on the huge issue the USA has concerning pet over population, 6 to 8 MILLION dogs & cats destroyed EVERY year in the USA. I know he will have an extreme amount of issues to deal with but it would be a good thing if he would also help with this issue.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:38 PM, November 13, 2008  

  • I find it interesting that someone (Wendy) who knows so much about Pit Bulls (one 't') doesn't realize that when trained to, Pit Bulls are very protective. I wasn't implying, first of all, that they are naturally protective I was merely mocking that popular idea in the last line of my previous comment. However, having trained Pits for personal protection dogs and being very proficient in that area, I have a deep understanding of how protective they can be when trained in a healthy way. I also find it hilarious that of all the people she chose to attack she chose the only person suggesting a great way for Pits to get a better reputation by being on the side of the law. I guess to someone who is more concerned with spelling than the actual topic I shouldn't be surprised.

    By Anonymous Jillian "Poor Speller" Blesser, at 7:26 PM, November 13, 2008  

  • How can anyone with any knowledge of dogs and breed behaviors recommend a pit bull. It's really irresponsible. Pit bulls are unpredictable dogs that can be extremely viscious even when unprovoked. I have seen pit bulls raised by loving families snap and bite and maim totally unprovoked. They are extremely territorial and unpredictable. This is not good for a family with young children who will be scrutinized under a microscope. It is just a ridiculous suggestion!

    By Blogger Heather, at 1:25 PM, November 14, 2008  

  • This might be the most obsurd suggestion yet.....let's just feed into the stereo type....a black man owning a pitbull....please give me a break

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:12 PM, November 14, 2008  

  • If the leader of the "free world" cannot handle a pitbull he should not be in charge of a country!

    Ceasar Milan should have been elected president!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:04 PM, November 16, 2008  

  • Colored people should not be in the WHITE HOUSE. I agree with another posting - coloreds don't like dogs- dey be fraid of dem.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:07 PM, November 16, 2008  

  • Owning any dog means being a pack leader. I will be interested to see if Obama could handle a strong breed. If you watch George Bush with his dog he can't handle him!
    No surprise there! Maybe we should elect our presidents for their leadership qualities instead of who's campaign does the most damage on the other!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:27 PM, November 17, 2008  

  • Obama getting a pit bull for his kids is the most stupid idea ive ever heard, there are so many breeds of dogs that are loving, loyal, and better suited for children, whoever thinks a pitbull for a child is ok, is just plain crazy!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:28 AM, November 20, 2008  

  • A miniature pinscher would be a good choice for Obama, and his kids, they are loving, easy to train, dont shed, and are small enough for kids to handle well. I have mini pin that is the most loyal, loving dog ever

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:33 AM, November 20, 2008  

  • The Obama's should go to the local shelter and pick out a dog.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:15 PM, November 20, 2008  

  • We should all leave the pits alone. Statistics have proven that more attacks on humans were caused by chows than by pits. Pits are GREAT dogs if they have GREAT owners.

    By Blogger coco, at 4:35 PM, November 20, 2008  

  • I hate it when I read all the stereo types about dogs! Wake up people it's not the dogs it is their owners!

    Any animal will fight for it's survival. It is the morons like Mike Vic that we should be afraid of.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:02 PM, November 21, 2008  

  • If the Obamas were to consult with a shelter animal behaviorist, I think it would be very easy to locate an APBT that has a suitable personality and temperament to adapt to life in the White House. Just like all people are different, all APBT's have differing personalities. A calm, dog-social APBT would make a wonderful family pet for the Obamas or anybody who loves dogs.
    The racist comments are silly and irrelevant....a loved and well-cared-for APBT loves all people. They do not care what color we people are, as long as we show the dog care and consideration.
    I would recommend the Obamas hire a trainer to work with them and whichever dog they eventually acquire. It's a family affair, and all members of the family need to be involved in the training and be consistent with the dog.
    My best wishes to the Obamas and the lucky dog they bring home to live as a member of their family. I too hope it is a shelter dog.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:36 PM, November 23, 2008  

  • A whole lot of ignorance for a "dog site"... Pit Bulls are GREAT DOGS! Just as loving, social, trainable, sweet, loyal, etc. etc. as any other breed. They are VERY powerful dogs and they can do a lot of damage when they decide to. This is no different than a Black Lab, German Shep, Doberman, Rottie, etc. etc. Some Pits snap because they are NUTS! Dogs can have mental issues too, and a lot of Pits are bred like rats without any kind of selection process at all. My cousin has a Black Lab that is insane and I've told him the dog needs to be put down. It has bitten his children, his brother on THE FACE, and is vicious. If that was the only Black Lab I knew what do you think my opnion of the breed would be? If he bred the dog, do you think the pups would be loving and gental? I have a Black Lab/ Pit Cross. She is a 90lb cuddle bug! Raise a dog right and it will turn out right. Why do people think dogs aren't like people? If good parents raise a child that is nuts it isn't the child or the parents that are to blame it is the MENTAL ILLNESS. It is no different for dogs. Figure it out already. Geez.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:06 AM, November 27, 2008  

  • First to the comments about Blacks being afraid of dogs, please get a grip I know plenty of Black people who own and take excellent care of their pets as well as their children. As to the dialect illustration of "dey be fraid of dem" I know a whole lot of white southerners that speak that way too, and it is an old slave dialect to boot. Abuse and neglectful parents come in all races and as for a "colored" person in the White House, white is a color too. Let's stick to the topic and not political views. Pit Bulls love them but I don't think it is a White House dog.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:36 AM, November 27, 2008  

  • rosevelt had a pit bull

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:14 PM, December 01, 2008  

  • And Roosevelt was a great leader!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:50 AM, December 02, 2008  

  • GREAT POINT!! thank you :) but they require a lot of attention and training, and i don't think the Obamas will have a lot of time to give a pit the proper care it needs... but i am happy that they will be adopting :)

    By Blogger 2.hearts.as.1, at 7:48 AM, December 04, 2008  

  • We have a pit bull, and he's a wonderful dog. He's our second pit. We have small children, two in fact, plus a teenager. He lets the kids sit on him and play with him. He loves having his belly scratched, and thinks he is a lap dog. Its cute really. He's just an overgrown puppy! And we saved him from the pound, he was one day away from being euthanized. Its a great feeling to save a dog's life. We love pits. Who I believe are actually American Staffordshire Terriers. They are truly great loving dogs when cared for and trained appropriately.

    By Blogger Aria, at 11:15 PM, December 08, 2008  

  • If the Obamas have a child that is allergic to dogs, then they should either find a dog that is a non-shedder or not get a dog at all. Granted a APBT would be a first in the White House, but if you look at the irony of the first president of color getting one, just seems funny to me. And like someone else said, there's probably someone else that would care for the dog(hired help, if you will) so it really doesn't matter what kind of dog they get. But as I said before, if their kids have allergies, then they need to choose a dog that is better suited or not get one.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:26 AM, December 09, 2008  

  • Also, APBT are used in law enforcement in WA state and if properly cared for, sociallized, and trained can be the best pet, even for someone with little experience with the breed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:31 AM, December 09, 2008  

  • This post has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger Debbie, at 5:57 PM, December 15, 2008  

  • I have a working pit bull and can personally attest to the breed’s stability.
    My dog is around hundreds of other dogs in competitive environments doing agility, obedience, and many other sports and is solid as a rock.

    http://www.youtube.com/vitomatics

    As for the Obama family, please pick a rescue from the shelter and get professional training/help.

    By Blogger vito, at 11:27 PM, December 15, 2008  

  • I think the President elect should get whatever dog he wants as long as it's not one of those little girlie dogs.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:04 PM, December 17, 2008  

  • I think he should go down to the local humane society and get a dog. The ugliest one there. Everyone would want one then.

    By Anonymous william e, at 3:07 PM, December 17, 2008  

  • i think obama should get a pit it would be the first presidential pit and i personnally have never encountered an agressive pit and i know and have been aroung alot of pits i think it is a good idea instead of a gay lil duster like bush had

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:11 PM, December 18, 2008  

  • The only thing I do know is that too many people give opinions about things they know very little about.
    Pit Bulls have a terrible reputation
    due to terrible people who owe them.
    I have a pit bull that was with my children all the time, and she was
    an awesome pet and part of our family. Pit Bulls like any other dog can be a loving animal, I say that to say this...any dog that you socialize will be an excellent pet.

    By Anonymous majerle1j, at 8:43 AM, December 24, 2008  

  • What a great idea for President Obama and family to adopt a pit bull or pit bull mix! They are wonderful, beautiful, misunderstood creatures. This dog would be what they call an Ambassador, which represents the breed showing how smart, loving and trustworthy they are. How can anyone say that they couldn't handle this dog when they will have a wealth of very experienced dog trainers that would be involved, it is a perfect idea.

    I can't believe all of the racist remarks posted on this site....you are all incredibly ignorant.

    By Anonymous Becky, at 11:59 PM, December 29, 2008  

Post a Comment
Back to Homepage