Читать книгу American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook - Joe Stahlkuppe - Страница 4

Contents

1. The APBT—A New View

An APBT Scenario

Hype About APBTs

The APBT as a Family Pet and Companion

Appearance

What Your APBT Needs

Traits

The APBT Versus the “Pit Bull” Terror

Rediscovering This Breed

Legal Lightning Rod

The APBT by Any Other Name

2. History and Heritage of the APBT

Mastiffs and Bulldogs

Terriers (Theoretically)

British Attitudes of the Time

Early Bulldogs

Other Bull-and-Terrier Breeds

3. The APBT: Coming to America

Legacies from England

The APBT in Early America

The “Everydog”

The Quest for the Best

“Made in America”

The Ultimate Canine Fighting Machine

4. Dogfighting and Dogfighters

Why Even Discuss Dogfighting?

The Ultimate Selection Process

A Sometimes Illegal Activity

Some Myths About Why Dogs Fight

Rules and Regulations

The Dogfighters

5. The APBT and the Dog Registries

Dog Registries Affecting the APBT

C. Z. Bennett and the United Kennel Club

The United Kennel Club Standard for the APBT

The American Dog Breeders Association

The American Staffordshire Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier (AKC)

6. Understanding the APBT

Gameness

Power and Strength

Aggressiveness Toward Other Dogs

Positive Attributes

7. Owning an APBT

Know Thyself

Know Thy Situation

Know the APBT

Is the APBT Right for You?

Are You Right for the APBT?

Special Concerns for APBT Owners

8. Living with an APBT

The Right Attitude

The Right Environment

Setting the Stage for Success

Setting the Stage for Failure

Dealing with Negative Public Perceptions

Commonsense Precautions

9. The APBT as a Pet and Companion

Socialization

Children and the APBT

Other Pets and the APBT

Other Dogs and the APBT

The APBT as a Guard Dog

The Public and the APBT

10. Caring for Your APBT

Your APBT as a Puppy

Your APBT as an Adult

Exercise and Your APBT

Your APBT as an Older Dog

Euthanasia

Keeping Your APBT Looking Good

Traveling with Your APBT

11. Training Your APBT

The Importance of Training

Understanding Pack Behavior

The Mother Dog’s Training Model

Crate-training

Housetraining

Pretraining Lessons

Appropriate Training Equipment

Five Starter Commands

Using a Professional Trainer

12. Activities for You and Your APBT

Conformation Dog Shows

Obedience Training

Agility Tests

Weight Pulling

Hunting and Working Livestock

Therapy Dog Opportunities

13. Feeding Your APBT

The Importance of a Good Diet

Balance—The Key to Good Nutrition

Components of Canine Nutrition

Commercial Dog Foods

Homemade Diets

Treats

Feeding APBT Puppies (Under Two Years Old)

Feeding Adult APBTs (Two to Five Years Old)

Feeding Older APBTs (Seven Years Old and Older)

When You Must Change Dog Foods

14. The APBT and Health Care

Keeping Your APBT Healthy

Preventive Care

Immunizations

Other Medical Problems

Internal Parasites

External Parasites

Skin Problems

Emergency Care for Your APBT

Giving Your APBT Medicine

Old Age and the APBT

The End

15. The Pit and the Pendulum

The Pendulum Begins to Swing

The Pendulum Swings On

Useful Addresses and Literature

Index