D. Caroline Coile - Pit Bulls For Dummies

Pit Bulls For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2021 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020946399

ISBN 978-1-119-72090-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-72080-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-72081-2 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: Getting Started with Pit Bulls Chapter 1: Pitting and Petting: The Pit Bull’s Past Creating Canine Gladiators Showing Off Becoming America’s Sweetheart Overcoming Pride and Prejudice Growing in Popularity Finding the Middle Ground Chapter 2: Sizing Up the Pit Bull Toughing It Out Building a Better Bulldog Strutting His Stuff Chapter 3: Deciding whether a Pit Bull Is Right for You Making a Commitment Making the Match Getting to the Heart of the Matter (or Your Pit Bull) Facing the Facts Chapter 4: Shopping the Bull Market Avoiding Bad Blood Searching High and Low Checking the Bona Fidos Picking Your Pit

6 Part 2: Giving Your Pit Bull a Good Home Chapter 5: Bringing Home Your New Best Friend Puppy-proofing Your Home Fencing In Your Pit Bull Providing a Cozy Doghouse Giving Your Dog a Comfortable Place to Sleep Shopping for Your Pit Bull Chapter 6: Living with Your Pit Bull Acting Like a Pit Bull in a China Shop: House Rules Taking the Pit Stop Outside When the Plumbing’s Broken Trying Your Patience Understanding Pit Talk Becoming a Social Animal Going to Kindergarten Meeting the Children Going for a Bull Run Making a Splash Hitting the Road Finding a Pit-Sitter Finding a Lost Love

7 Part 3: Training and Having Fun with Your Pit Chapter 7: Coping with a Pit Bull Terrorist Saving Your Home Fighting Like Cats and Dogs Avoiding DogFights Breaking Up a DogFight Calming the Raging Bull Dealing with Pit Bull Aggression Plucking Up Courage Corralling the Escape Artist Digging Up Some Dirt Tales from the Bark Side Chapter 8: Training the Teacher’s Pit Training Your Pit to Wag Her Tail Getting the Timing Right Following the Ten Commandments Going to School Getting the Right Stuff Starting Basic Training Trying Every Trick in the Book Chapter 9: Going Out to the Bull Games Pulling His Weight … and More Becoming a S.T.A.R. Being a Good Citizen Staying in Step with Obedience and Rally Overcoming Obstacles Following His Nose Getting a Grip on Schutzhund Rounding Up a Herding Title Taking a Flying Leap Racing the Clock

8 Part 4: Keeping Your Pit Bull Healthy Chapter 10: Feeding a Bottomless Pit Starting with Dry or Moist Foods Considering Raw Boning Up on Nutrition Feeding Time Keeping Your Dog Hydrated Chapter 11: Primping Your Pit Bull Taking Your Pit to the Cleaners Smelling Like a Rose Debugging Your Dog Saving Your Dog’s Skin Nailing Down Nail Care Going in One Ear and Cleaning Out the Other Keeping an Eye on the Bull’s Eye Keeping Your Dog Armed to the Teeth Chapter 12: A Clean Bull of Health Examining Your Pit Bull Establishing a Relationship with a Vet You Trust Making Sense of Blood Tests Giving Your Dog Medicine Staying Up to Date on Your Dog’s Vaccinations Keeping Your Pit Free of Worms Dealing with Intestinal Parasites Preventing Heartworm Chapter 13: Sick as a Dog When Your Dog Just Isn’t Himself Dealing with Diarrhea Saying Vamoose to Vomiting Coping with Coughing Helping Your Dog with Urinary Problems Understanding Endocrine Disorders Investigating Immunological Problems Banishing Blood Parasites Coping with Cancer Looking into Lameness Doctoring Your Dog Trying Home Remedies Chapter 14: Pit Bull First Aid ABCs of First Aid Specific Emergencies Chapter 15: Helping Your Dog Age Well Eat and Run Act Your Age When You’ve Done Everything Eternally in Your Heart

9 Part 5: The Part of Tens Chapter 16: Ten Pit Bull Resources American Dog Breeders Association American Kennel Club DogsBite.org Dogster Dr. Sophia Yin Live Science Pit Bull Rescue Central Strombeck’s Home-Prepared Diets for Dogs and Cats United Kennel Club Veterinary Partner Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Help the Pit Bull’s Reputation Understanding Both Sides Showing Off Being Considerate Steering Your Dog away from Trouble Being Realistic Staying Optimistic Coming to the Rescue Organizing a Local Pit Bull Group Spreading the Word Supporting the Cause

10 Index

11 About the Author

12 Connect with Dummies

13 End User License Agreement

1 Chapter 2 TABLE 2-1 The ADBA Breed Standard

2 Chapter 12TABLE 12-1 Canine Body Temperature

1 Chapter 1FIGURE 1-1: Pit Bulls, because of their toughness, have been asked throughout h...

2 Chapter 2FIGURE 2-1: You can’t deny the noble look of this dog.FIGURE 2-2: A natural athlete.

3 Chapter 3FIGURE 3-1: The pups will grow up to be strong dogs who will need lots of exerc...FIGURE 3-2: Softball, anyone?