Pandorakennels

Pandora Kennels

            Pandora Kennels is a small family owned kennel located in Taylorsville, Mississippi specializing in the breeding of the American Pit Bull Terrier. We have 8 – 10 adult pit bulls and also have puppies almost all year long. We strive to breed great temperamental dogs that we can pass along to responsible dog owners to keep the legacy of the American Pit Bull Terrier intact.   All of our dogs are kept on cement flooring, have roofs over their big block heads, fans on during the hot Mississippi summer days, and heaters on during the winter. Our puppies are kept on the inside of a building and the pens are cleaned twice per day. All of our pit bulls are exercised daily and have a huge fenced-in backyard to run and play. Our dogs have great temperaments except for the occasional spat over their favorite toy. Multivitamins and supplements are routinely given to all of our dogs to help ensure their health as well as routine visits to the veterinarian. My beautiful wife and I have been around pit bulldogs since we were old enough to walk. We hope to pass along the same blessings we had growing up with these magnificent dogs to other great people. In short, we love our dogs and here is what you need to know about your American Pit Bull Terrier.

            Incredibly athletic, enormous strength, eager-to-please, affectionate, funny, courageous, versatile, affectionate, perseverance,  and amazing are all words that easily describe an American Pit Bull Terrier.  These are words that have been used throughout the history of this breed to describe an animal that is so misunderstood in today’s media infested world. The roots of the American Pit Bull Terrier can be traced as far back as the original English Bulldog used for bull-baiting in England. Bull baiting is where a bull is placed in combat against one or multiple dogs. These dogs were also bred to work for farmers as “catch dogs” for cattle. Bull baiting was outlawed in England around 1835 so the sport of matching two of these incredibly powerful and strong-willed dogs inside a pit against each other in combat was born. These dogs began to be bred and crossbred for their gameness, endurance, strength, and perseverance. Once these dogs were imported to the United States in the mid-19^th century, the breed began to change. Typical pit fighting dogs in England were around 25-35 pounds. However, in America these dogs were used more for catch dogs, family guardians, and work dogs. Size and weight of the dogs began to get larger and larger since pit fighting became illegal and breeding for performance became less of a necessity. However, pit fighting is still used by some “backyard breeders” but still remains a felony due to the brutality and cruelty that these dogs are put through. The United Kennel Club was the first to begin to register the American Pit Bull Terrier in 1898 followed by the American Dog Breeders Association in 1909. The American Dog Breeders Association is the more accepted register for the American Pit Bull Terrier and routinely sponsors conformation shows, and weight pulling competitions to test  the dog’s strength and endurance. However, in 1936 the American Kennel Club began to register the American Pit Bull Terrier but changed the name to the Staffordshire Terrier. Then in 1972 the AKC changed the name again to the American Staffordshire Terrier to distinguish the name from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and the American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) were originally the same breed dog. However, it is believed by some today that the two breeds are different due to many years of breeding for different goals. The APBT was bred for working and the AST was bred for show. Many still believe however that the two breeds are the same but just bred for different reason. I’ll let you be the judge of that.

            The American Pit Bull Terrier has changed a lot since it was first introduced in the United States, but these are some of the characteristics that one can expect from today’s American Pit Bull Terrier. The appearance of the APBT should be of power and athleticism. The head is normally blocky and square while the body is well-muscled. Colors of APBT cover a wide range of colors which may include red, black, white, chocolate, brindle, fawn, and blue to name a few. The weight of the APBT can vary from about 35 pounds to 85 pounds. There is no such thing as a pure APBT that weighs 120 pounds. Even 85 pounds is large for an APBT. These 120 pound monsters have been crossbred with other breeds such as American Bulldogs, Bull Mastiffs, or even English Bulldogs to create a certain build. The coat of the APBT is normally short and shiny which makes grooming very easy. Most APBT love water so bath them on a regular basis being careful not to bath too often as this can lead to drying of their skin. Females normally have litter sizes of 5-10 pups, and they make great mothers. Lifespan expectancy of the APBT is approximately 12 years unless health problems arise early in the dog’s life. The APBT  has been known to have some coat problems such as drying of the skin, allergies, and in extreme cases mange. Most all of these problems can be avoided with proper care of the dog and consistent visits to the veterinarian. APBT should start being dewormed at  2 weeks of age and shots should begin at 6 weeks old continuing at 9 and 12 weeks of age. Rabies injections can be begun at 15 weeks old. Some owners choose to crop ears at approximately 12-15 weeks of age. Responsible owners should keep a close relationship with a well known veterinarian and keep annual check-ups for their APBT.

The main controversy that has surrounded the American Pit Bull Terrier for many years is the dog’s temperament. The true temperament of the APBT is widely misunderstood by many people. Many believe these animals are human aggressive attacking people at random without warning. This is however far from the actual truth. Ever since pit fighting began over 100 years ago, a dog that showed aggression towards a person was culled out or simply killed on the spot. This was because humans had to be in the pit with the dogs so they did not want the dogs to be aggressive towards humans. Human aggression was also seen to be a weakness in the animal and should never be an accepted behavior. An APBT never meets a stranger. These dogs are normally very friendly towards family and strangers all the while striving to please their owners. APBT that snap, growl, or bite a person is not normal for the breed. However, these dogs become very protective of their owners and will protect them at all cost if their owner is threatened. The APBT is not typically a  great guard dog though because of its friendliness towards strangers. The only thing that really makes them a good guard dog is people’s fear of them. An APBT is sometimes aggressive towards other dogs especially strays that may come in the yard. If another dog challenges a pit bull, he/she will NEVER back down from a fight. Owners must be aware of a pit bull’s fighting capabilities. After all, these dogs were once used to bring down 2000 pound bulls. Owners must demonstrate common sense with a pit bulldog. Early socialization with other animals and obedience training for an APBT is a must. Normally, pit bulls start to show dog aggression at about 1 year of age but most pit bulls tolerate other animals, even cats, just

fine if they are properly raised and/or trained. The American Temperament  Test is given annually for all breeds of dogs to test how well they behave under many different circumstances. The American Pit Bull Terrier has passed with an average score of about 86% over the past several years. There are normally over 25,000 dogs tested with an average passing score of only 81%. Dogs such Golden Retrievers, Collies, Australian Shepherds, and many small breed dogs only have an average score of about 80%. The American Pit Bull Terrier consistently ranks in the Top 5. This means that a dog that so many people are afraid of ranks as one of the most well behaved, calm tempered dogs on earth.

            The American Pit Bull Terrier is not a typical breed and requires an owner that is knowledgeable of the breed. The APBT is a dog that is absolutely full of energy and athleticism. Daily exercise for these dogs is an absolute must. Dogs that are on a chain or in a pen for long periods of time without exercise have been proven to be MORE AGGRESSIVE towards humans and animals. EXERCISE your APBT. Placing a dog on a chain is asking for TROUBLE. The dog, this includes any breed of dog, will become more aggressive and territorial over the small area that the chain covers, so please do not leave a dog on a chain. These animals love to go for walks, swim, fetch, run, jump, and play until they find a nice place to pass out from exhaustion. These animals strive to work, work, work, and work some more. The owner of an APBT needs to show the dog that he/she is the dominant one in the relationship. The APBT wants his/her owner to be dominant over them because they aim to please their owners. This will make training your dog a lot easier for both of you also. A responsible owner never leaves children unsupervised with a pit bull. A pit bull is protective of your children and family and may interpret a situation differently than you may. If the dog thinks someone else is a threat to the owner or other family members the dog may attack out of protection. If a strange dog comes around, a pit bull may attack the dog out of protection or to show dominance. An owner of a pit bull SHOULD NOT allow the dog to run freely. A pit bull should be kept in large fenced in areas and should be with the owner when outside of the fence. Keeping a pit bull inside a fence is not cruel or inhumane, it is responsible dog ownership as long as the dog is allowed plenty of exercise. This is accomplished by a close dog-owner relationship. Just spend time with an APBT and see how easy it is to fall in love with the breed. There is no other breed like it.

            At the core of the problems  facing the American Pit Bull Terrier in today’s world is the media. How many times have you read this on the front page, “Pit Bull Attacks Again.” The reason that you read this headline instead of the actual real story is because this headline sells papers. The media has an incredible influence over our perceptions of dangerous dogs by CHOOSING which stories to print. There are over 4 million dog bites each year with about 800,000 actually requiring medical attention. Pit bulldogs have attacked people  and have caused an average of 3 fatalities per year.  However, many other breeds attack without warning such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Chows, Border Collies, Dalmatians, and countless small breed dogs. Pit bulldog bites actually account for only a small percentage of bites nationally. Many pit bulldog attacks once properly investigated occurs from neglect or abuse. Over $350 million was paid out by home owner’s insurance in 2007 alone for dog bites. Most of the $350 million was paid out secondary to small breed dogs that bit people. That did not make the national newspapers though did it? Many actual dog attacks that newspapers claim are from a pit bulldog is not true. Many of these dogs are mixed breed dogs that may resemble a pit bulldog so everybody assumes that it is a pit bulldog. True purebred pit bulldogs ARE NOT HUMAN AGGRESSIVE. Due to the media’s outlandish and untrue reporting many places are attempting to ban any dog that resembles a pit bulldog. This is called Breed Specific Legislation or BSL. This has already passed in some areas but there is a serious problem with this law. If the government decides to ban pit bulldogs, then the only people that will possess pit bulldogs are criminals because they do not follow rules. Pit bulldogs will no longer be bred by responsible dog owners trying to preserve the breed’s legacy but by cruel and inhuman criminals trying to make money off of pit fighting. Do you really think the government is going to stop with just banning pit bulldogs? Next, it will be any large breed dog or any dog that your neighbor has a problem with. Do not allow the media to think for you. Just because someone might have had a bad experience with one dog does not make all dogs dangerous. The media often reports falsely and never returns to recant their statements or reports the truth once it surfaces. Many dog bites are caused by dogs other than pit bulldogs.  When a breed other that a pit bulldog bites, it is sometimes never even reported in the local paper. However, when a pit bulldog bites it is reported in hundreds of newspapers and makes national news. This causes people to assume that most all dog bites are from a pit bulldog which is just not the case. One of the most well known cases is from the famous NFL football star Michael Vick. However, did you know that most all of the “vicious” pit bulldogs confiscated from Vick’s property are now certified therapy dogs for the sick and elderly. That little statistic did not make many papers either did it?  Please learn to think for yourself and don’t believe everything in the paper.

            In conclusion, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful breed of dog to own while in possession of a responsible dog owner. This is a special breed of dog that requires attention from their owners. American Pit Bull Terriers are some of the most affectionate animals that you will ever meet, and they will lay down their life for their owners without even hesitating. The legacy of the American Pit Bull Terrier has carried the breed from household pet, to movie stardom, to living in the Whitehouse with former presidents. How could this legacy be achieved from a dog that so many fear? Responsible dog ownership is the answer. The legacy that so many have worked so hard to achieve is in grave danger now due to irresponsible people who do not care about the breed. Please help us carry on the magnificent legacy of the American Pit Bull Terrier by becoming a responsible owner. Don’t let bad dog owners and a few bad dogs ruin your opinion of an entire breed. Just gaze into the face and eyes of the American Pit Bull Terrier and you will see an animal of respect, loyalty, compassion, and love.

                 PLAYTIME AT PANDORA KENNELS