The Flipside: Pit bulls can be Escape Artists!
Many can climb tall fences, dig underneath, or Houdini their way out of the most secure yards. Many are forever lost or stolen once they're out. Owners should provide a very secure set-up and supervise all play when the dog is outdoors, and keep him indoors when no one's home. If indoor accommodations are not possible, we recommend an outdoor kennel run with a good lock, or a well designed cable tie-out. Always have a collar and tags on your dog in case they do get lost. Microchip your pet too! Animal shelters are so crowded that they can't hold lost dogs for more than a few days and yours could be destroyed before you can find her if she isn't tagged and/or microchipped. On behalf of all the lost pit bullies who never make it safely back to their home, BAD RAP asks you to PLEASE be extra safe with your dog!
Sally, above, is enjoying her supervised yard time with a favorite toy.
 

The Brightside on the Flipside: Pit bulls are impressive dogs to show off in agility work, fly ball, and other exciting dog sports. You can utilize a pit bull's athletic talents by having a great time with your pooch in ways that may surprise you. Check out these dogs who have helped raise the sport of skateboarding to a whole new level: Chicago Asphalt Eaters!

And then there's Nikki, the American Staffordshire Terrier who is making herding dogs faint with her impressive wins in agility trials. GO NIKKI!

 And here's Modesto's Laurie Daily-Johnston's flyball champ 'Ma-Maz' showing the rest how its done. Whoop! Whoop!

The Flipside: Finding places where your dog can run offlead can be very difficult, if not impossible! Many areas don't allow pit bulls to be offlead and areas that do can be difficult places to visit. If your dog gets in a fight with another dog, things could go very badly very fast. You may be the one to get into trouble and your dog could end up in jail, even if he wasn't the one to start the fight. Because of the current prejudice against pit bulls, because your pit bull can cause a lot of damage to another dog, and because it's impossible to completely avoid poorly managed loose aggressive dogs in the parks (this incudes YOUR dog if you're not on top of his dog aggression potential!), smart owners of mature bull breeds choose to play it safe and steer clear of these places in favor of safer options. Photos: Lola is taking a dip in a 'secret' place far from the maddening crowd and Roca Bean is enjoying her own private baby pool.

The Brightside on the Flipside: Because many pit bulls tend to be happier around dogs that they know, you may be able to find or create 'play groups' where your dog can regularly visit with other dog 'friends' for fun and exercise. Both and you and your dog will benefit from the extra socialization.
The Other Flipside: Pit bulls can be very active dogs that need a LOT of run around time and exercise. Don't get a young pit bull if you live your life in the slow lane.
The Brightside on the Flipside: Your dog will nudge you into getting in shape, like it or not! We like to say "A tired pit bull is a happy pit bull". So your runaround time spent exercising your dog will reflect in your improved health and happy outdoor glow. Enjoy!

Your dog will LOVE to go places with you to see the sights and visit with your friends, family, and strangers on the street. The pic shows 'Sally' very excited about the idea of going out for a ride in the car.
 

The Flipside: Over the last 20 years or so, the pit bull has fallen victim to the careless deeds of unethical breeders, irresponsible and even shady owners. This bad combination, along with the handiwork of a sensationalistic media, has done a terrible thing to our beloved breed. As a result, myths, misdeeds, misunderstanding and hysteria abound! When you walk around with your bulldog, you'll no doubt encounter people who'll be afraid of her or who give you trouble for having a pit bull.
The Brightside on the Flipside: By taking your well behaved bully out into the world, you'll have the pleasant opportunity to talk to lots of folks that you meet. By doing so, you can help dispel the myths about pit bulls as you proudly show off your dog. Hanging out at the local coffee shop with your lovable pit bull by your side will probably bring you more interesting conversations then you ever thought possible. And undoubtedly, you'll be making friends while you're busy changing minds. Enjoy!
Not sure how to explain your love of bullies to someone who's been corrupted by nasty news reports? Meet Ann Lettis and see how she uses her AmStaff Mickey to help change minds. Thank you Ann! Our bullies are indebted to you. Meeting Mickey

The Other Flipside: on the Social Butterfly of the Dog World - APBTs make lousy guard dogs! They may bark at a burglar looking in the window, but will lick his hand and show him to the stereo once he's in the house. The thief may even try to steal your pit bull! Do NOT get an APBT if you want a guard dog. Consider a burglar alarm instead.