Demodex Mange

Mange is common in dogs and some types of mange are highly contagious. I got 3 different Pit bulls of shelters at different times and all of them had mange. Pit bulls are prone to skin disorders so it can be a real pain when you dog contracts mange.

The first type is Demodex mange and can also be called "Red Mange". Demodex mange is passed from the mother to the pups. All dogs have small amounts of mange but it when their immune system becomes weak that is when it can flair up. This type of Mange is not generally contagious to other dogs although it has been known to happen on some occasions. Demodex Mange mites live inside the hair follicles where it is hard for the medicine to reach. There is 3 types of Demodex mange which include:

General, localized and Demodectic Pododermatitis.

General is where the whole body of the animal can be affected. They can lose their hair and become infected with scaly skin. They can get secondary infections which can make their skin itchy or smelly.

Localized happens in isolated areas like around the face and eyes. This is common in puppies and sometimes can clear up as the dog grows up with proper nutrition.

Demodectic Pododermatitis happens in the paws of the dog and usually is accompanied by a secondary infection. This is one of the hardest forms of Demodosis there is to treat.

Don't breed animals with this disease as it looks like it can be hereditary.

The best treatment that I have seen for this is Invermectin. You can not give this medicine to certain herding breeds like Australian Shepherds and Collies.There is also the Dips that your vet will usually do because they have such strong chemicals in them.

If you are noticing symptoms of hair loss or itchy irritated skin then take your dog to the vet right away so you can find a coarse of treatment for you and your pet.

DONT DIP YOUR DOG IN MOTOR OIL!!! IF SOME ONE GIVES YOU THIS ADVICE TELL THEM TO GO FLY A KITE!

My Best Looking Pit

Out of all the Pit bulls I have raised and fostered and taken in Hemi was the most stunning dog I have ever seen. I have searched every where to find a color contrast like he has. When I would walk him any where I would always have people screaming comments out of their car. He was the only one in his litter that had that look. Im was told he was full pit but Im not sure if he was mixed with American Bulldog or not because he had some long legs and body. Here is some pics but they don't do him any justice.

Favorite Type of Pitbull?

As we know the term "pit bull" is not a specific breed, its just a general term used to describe several breeds with similar characteristics.

Favorite Type of Pitbull?
	American Pit Bull Terrier
	American Staffordshire Terrier
	Bull Terrier
	AmBully
	American Bulldog
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Stiffer Punishments Poll

What do you feel about people that fight this breed? Please give honest answers! Thanks

Should punishments be stiffer for people who fight dogs?
	yes, more jail time
	yes, more fines
	yes, more of both jail time and fines
	no, less jail time
	no, less fines
	no, less of both jail time and fines
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Favorite Pitbull Color Poll

It seems to me that Pit Bulls come in more colors then ice cream flavors. I think this is great because unlike some breeds like Goldens and Labs your dog is some what unique. Here is a Fav color poll so we can get an idea of what others like compared to what we like. The more votes the better! Thanks!

Whats your favorite color Pit Bull?
	Solid Black
	Solid White
	Solid Blue
	Solid Red
	Black and White
	Blue and White
	Red and White
	Brown and White
	Brindle, Brindle and White, Reverse Brindle
	Merle
	Fawn
	Tri Colored
	Freckled and White
	White with eye patch
	Other
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Ear Docking

To dock or not to dock? Ear docking on Pit bulls is very common and is strictly cosmetic. Although there is different levels of docking, people that fight their dogs usually have the dogs ears docked very short.

It is nothing more then a matter of preference but I prefer not to for the only reason that if they were naturally built that way then that's the way they should remain. Many people disagree with docking because it has not apparent health benefits to the animal. It's really just for the owner.

I happen to really like the way docked ears look but cant bring myself to put them through discomfort unnecessarily for my own benefit. I like floppy ears to because every dog I have had has floppy ears. All in all I choose not to do it. If there was some kind of health benefit for the animal then I might consider it.

Below the image on the top has docked ears, and the one below has natural.

Are American Staffordshire Terrier & APBT the Same Breed?

This subject is one that I didn't want to even tackle because of all the confusion that surrounds it. There is many opinions on weather or not the American Staffordshire Terrier and ABPT are the same breed of dog.

In 1936 the American Kennel Club starting accepting and registering Pit Bulls. The UKC and ADBA had the registered Pit Bulls names changed to Staffordshire Terriers. Then after that they once again changed their name to American Staffordshire Terrier. The dog show world is the reason there is so much confusion. These dogs are the same breed but after being bred for different purposes for so long they became separate breeds. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a Pit Bull that was bred for the show ring, not for fighting. They are stockier and have larger heads.

So basically its nothing more then opinion. They have been bred different and the fighting in the AmStaff bloodline has been watered down so much that it is not considered to be a fighting Pit Bull. So yes they did start from the same group of British dogs but the breeding manner and use made them into " separate breeds". The Amstaff is just the show bred Pit Bull. Some may argue this.

Spring Pole Fun

A spring pole can be a great idea for your pit bull. They love to pull and hang from them and they are great exercise. Some Pit bulls will play with these and entertain themselves for hours so its great to get one and just leave it hung up in the backyard. They dont cost to much money either. I bought mine of Ebay and only paid about 30.00$ for it new. There is a few different sizes available. These are great for your dog to just let off some steam and are easy to install! Just be careful and use with caution at first because some dogs will launch them selves really high which can lead to injuries.

Dog hanging on springpole.

Aggressive Dog Stance

As you can see in this stance the dog is trying to make himself appear to be very large by standing straight up, and holding his ears and tail up as well. Their tail may move back and forth slowly and they have a low pitch growl as well. If you are facing a stray dog that looks like this then avoid eye contact as they will perceive this as a challenge. Remain calm and if you turn around and start running then the dog will chase you. DO NOT RUN! Stand still and be calm until the dog relaxes.

Fearful Dog Stance

A fearful dog is usually a easier stance to tell. They have their tails low and appear to have the scamper look. His back is arched and his head and butt and low. His ears are back and legs are bent. This dog lacks confidence and is scared.

Alert Dog Stance

Dogs that are alert can go either way. They can choose to be friendly, defensive, or challenging. Usually speaking it is your actions that will help the dog decide how he should act towards you.

An alert dog stands straight up on toes, forward ears, and mouth closed. To help a strange dog not get aggressive avoid to much eye contact and do not stand over dog.

Dog Play Stance

Do you know how to tell when a dog is playing? Other then the obvious tail waggin fast from side to side there is a classic play stance that you might recognize. This is where they put their front legs on the ground and their rear end up in the air. This means they are ready to go! There are no worries when you see them do this as they are just having fun and being happy.

New Dog Dilemma

I have said already that in a few months when I move out of state that I will be getting another pup. I have to wait till I get settled and its killing me to be honest. I have thought long and hard about what I am looking for in my next dog. First off I this time only would like a female dog. The other thing that I struggle with day in and day out is where to get my pup from.
I am looking for certain things that I want in my pup. Things like heavy bone structure, sound temperament, certain color etc. So running off to a good breeder sounds so easy because I can find a breeder that has dogs that have all the traits that I desire. I figure some where with in 100 miles of where you live you can find pretty much what ever you want. The problem I have is I feel obligated to get a shelter dog. I know all to well how many amazing animals there is waiting for some one to take them home in shelters. I love the feeling of saving a life. I might not be able to meet the parents of a shelter dog or know anything about its past. So I go back and forth because there is just to many great dogs that need homes but I also have been dreaming of a certain dog that I have wanted for a long time. I could get really lucky and find the shelter pit bull that has all the traits and characteristics I am looking for, but if I don't then how long do I wait? How many shelters do I check? I really just don't know what to do but I will keep you posted. Leave comments if you have any advice. Thanks