Born Bad?

Last Saturday we got a new dog for Miss L. Well, its of course a family dog, but our hope is that she will be able to start sleeping in her own bed if she has a dog to sleep with with. We already have 1 dog, a Silver Lab named Mater (yes, he is named after Mater on Cars... Pumpkin named him when he was 2).

Mater is an amazing dog. I got him when he was 6 months old from a puppy mill. He was malnourished, covered in feces, and scared of his own shadow. He has been such a great dog, and so loyal and loving. We didn't really even train him, but he comes when called, sits, lays, stays, and if we let him out the front door, he doesn't leave our yard. Pumpkin sleeps with Mater every night. We really could not have gotten a better dog, ever.

But Miss L needed a dog too. She needs to sleep in her own room, and there were a couple times when Pumpkin was gone that she slept in her room with Mater. Our thoughts were if we got her a dog, we may be able to get her to sleep in her own bed.

So we have been watching our local pound for the perfect dog. And we think we got her. I took the girls last weekend and we picked her up. Meet Kona (and hairy Mater in the background).

She is about 1 1/2 yrs old. She is still very playful cuz she is young, but she is gentle around the kids, and OMG so loving. All she wants to do is be next to you and give kisses. When LL cries she gets concerned and tries to get my attention. Miss L drives cars up and down her while she sleeps, and today played with her lips and poked at her teeth while she just laid there. She is an awesome dog, and everyone has been telling me that I did such a good job on picking her out. Another bonus? Miss L is getting to where she doesn't want to take a nap unless Kona is in the bed too.

Can you tell what kind of dog she is? If you guessed Pit Bull, you are right, and the poor girl is already getting judged by some. It is obvious that our neighbors are scared shitless of her. They even went so far as to ask me through the window if she would bite them. My sister called me and we were talking and she said something to the effect of how Pit Bulls have a natural instinct in them to attack. Like they are born bad.

I just don't believe it. Growing up, I remember everyone was so afraid of Rottweilers. They were thought to be these horrible, mean, aggressive dogs. And then after that it was German Shepherds. Why in the world would you get one of those large, unpredictable dogs? Now, it is Pit Bulls. And it makes me so frustrated.

I do not believe that any dog is born bad. Yes, ALL dogs have natural instincts, but I do not believe our Pit Bull is any more dangerous then our Lab is. The dog is a reflection of the owner. Because of the Pit Bull's build, they are intimidating looking. Kona is smaller then Mater, but her thin coat show off her muscular build. She has little ears on her huge block head. She looks tough. Therefore you get these people who think they are badasses and tough, and they take this tough looking dog and train it to be aggressive and horrible. And then all dogs of that breed get a bad rep.

It is not fair. I could talk on this subject until I was blue in the face, but bottom line is: I do not believe that ANY dog is born bad. I do not believe that Kona is more dangerous then Mater. I believe the dog is a direct reflection on the owner/trainer/handler. And I believe that all dogs deserve a fair and equal chance.

They were cuddling :)