Pit Bulls for Dummies (Paperback)

by D. Caroline Coile (Author) "Perhaps no other dog breed has endured as many public misconceptions as has the Pit Bull..." (more)
Key Phrases: Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terriers, Grand Champion (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Pit Bulls have an image problem. If you’ve never been around Pit Bulls, you may think they are bloodthirsty man-eaters on the prowl for their next meal. If you’ve lived with one you know they are, indeed, on the prowl for their next meal – but they plan to get it by conning you out of your meal by doing something irresistibly cute! A breed of satin and steel, Pit Bulls are a mixture of softness and strength, an uncanny canine combination of fun, foolishness, and serious business.

If you think Pit Bulls should be purged from the face of the earth, Pit Bulls For Dummies will enlighten you. Perhaps you're curious about this breed and want to know what Pit Bulls are really like; if so, this book is for you. Who else needs this handy reference?

Smart people who realize that all breeds have good and bad points

New (and not so new) owners who need help with training

Owners looking for just the right veterinarian

Potential owners looking to adopt from a breed-rescue group

Pit Bull owners who need help identifying Pit Bull health problems

Too many dog care books are filled with unrealistic scare tactics that would cause anyone to just give up, while others are filled with hand-me-down dog lore that has no basis in reality. You won't find any of that in Pit Bulls For Dummies. Here's a sampling of the handy information you'll find in this essential guide:

Understanding the Pit Bull's origins and characteristics

Caring for a puppy or older Pit Bull

Keeping your dog healthy with diet and exercise

Dealing with bad behavior: Biting, barking, jumping, and more

Training your Pit Bull in the basics such as sit, stay, heel, and come

Understanding Pit Bull body language

Helping your dog become a social animal

Owning a Pit Bull isn’t easy, but that’s not because of the dogs. A special commitment to the breed and a special dog owner are needed. Pit Bulls are pretty special dogs, and they have to prove it every day.

From the Back Cover
"Filled with quick wit and accurate information, this is a Must for any Pit Bull enthusiast." Tia Maria Torres, Villalobos Rescue Center

A no-bull guide to a great life with your Pit Bull

Get the lowdown on keeping your Pit Bull healthy and content Contrary to popular belief, the Pit Bull is an affectionate, pleasant-natured breed and can be a great family pet. This fun and friendly guide provides insights into the Pit Bull temperament, tips on taking care of your dog, sensible advice on training your Pit Bull to be a reliable companion, and much more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764552910
• ISBN-13: 978-0764552915
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,927 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, informative book to understand the breed!, July 29, 2005

By	C. S. Heim - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book spells out the true nature of a Pitbull. To M. Adamcik, did you read the book or did you use this forum to just vent?? I recommend you read Fatal Dog Attacks, the Stories Behind the Statistics, as this will open your eyes and show you documented facts that precious Golden Retreivers, Dachshunds and even the ever popular Yorkie and Westie can and HAVE killed. One of pits extreme qualities is their ability to please. They will do anything and everything and turn around to their owner with a look "Did I do good?? HUH?? HUH??" That is the appeal to the "hoodlums" that exploit and abuse these dogs for their own pleasure. The book is clear, concise, informative and unbiased.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Introduction Book, July 30, 2005

By	Bobbi Miles-Belding (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

I own an American Pit Bull Terrier, and read several books on the breed prior to picking up this particular one. Ms. Coile covers many of the basics concerning the breed that any responsible, right-thinking dog-owner-to-be should consider prior to purchasing/adopting an American Pit Bull Terrier (or any dog, for that matter), and provides this in a well-written, easy to understand format. By no means should this be the only book anyone considering bringing an American Pit Bull Terrier home should read ~ because of the modern controversy and circumstances surrounding these courageous, loyal, and amazing dogs, any potential responsible owner should read every book on the subject he/she can get his/her hands on.

I find it unfortunate that the lawyer from Denver, CO, who ~ to my knowledge ~ was never educated in any form of animal behavioral science or canine anatomy, wishes to use this particular forum to spread his own ill-informed political agenda. It strikes me that the prosecutor's office in the city of Denver might better spend it's time actually putting murderers, rapists, thieves and thugs in prison, than trying to work the constituency into a frenzy over the latest media-hyped "monster."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Considering the source, August 29, 2005

By	Barry W. Morgan "bawamo" (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Find it amusing that the most "negative" review of the subject of this book was written by someone who has a vested interest in the legislation against them. Sort of like Nathan Hale's mother reviewing The White Man's Bible, is it not? This is far from the worst book written on the subject, and the frequent mention of the "not for everyone" -ness of this breed is a statement that could be made about chows, German shepherds, and a dozen other breeds. It takes an open mind to see that, and to benefit from books that at least attempt to put the responsibility of dog ownership on the supposedly more intellectual of the dog-owner paradigm. Not the dog for everyone indeed, nor is Colorado the state for everyone, it seems!