Maisy Says Thank You

Now where'd I put my lipstick?

Comments

[the governor of jennsylvania]

When you hear about bully attacks, many times these dogs are found running loose in an alley, in the woods, etc. That's because after being fought so long and having bloodlust ingrained in them they're too violent to keep and the thugs who own them will just dump them if they don't kill them. Plus those who do breed for bad purposes are practicing backyard eugenics, meaning they breed the most aggressive with the most aggressive with the most aggressive.

The reason thugs are able to train bullies to attack isn't because they naturally want to hurt people. Actually, pits rank higher than most dogs in temperament testing - their passing rate is 84%, whereas the general dog population comes in at 77%.

Bullies aren't naturally "unstable." They aren't "ready to snap at any time." They can be dog-aggressive because they were originally bred to bait bulls, but that's completely different than human-aggressive.

Bullies have a natural affability and they're desperate to please their master and that's why they're able to be trained to go so against their nature. Training methods can include beating, starving, stabbing, being fed food laced with gun powder, having bottlecaps sewn under their skin, getting set on fire, etc. It happens; I've seen it.

The reason they're so adept at fighting is because they have a quality called gameness - a trait you see in your better quarterbacks - and that comes from their history of baiting bulls. Gameness is the ability to keep going despite whatever pain they feel. Plus, they're determined. You'll never get them to stop being so willful, but with even a little love and socialization, your pit bull will focus his determination on sitting on your lap or sleeping in your bed. Plus, bullies are a really strong breed and can pull more than 20 times their own body weight. That's why people want to fight them in the first place.

What's unfortunate is there's a whole group of people in this country who view this breed as property and choose to exploit them for sport and profit. Usually when you see communities trying to ban them, they don't have a pit bull problem; they have a gang problem. (As for Highland Park, am I the only one who remembers the shitstom up there a few years ago when it came out about how racist the police department was?) Banning bullies doesn't fix the street crime problem; it only punishes responsible owners.

I keep hearing from people who tell me about attacks that come from family pets. Generally when you see these stories on the news, it comes out later that these "pets" have been trained to attack because they're the dog of choice to protect places like meth labs. Rarely do they ever attack with no reason. But sometimes a dog just has bad wiring. This is true of ANY breed. Pit bulls just bite harder than Pekinese.

The bottom line is pit bulls ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE. If you want a dog you can take to the lake that’s going to just chill out with all the other dogs, don't get a pit bull. If you want a dog who'll submit to everything you say and will never challenge you, don't get a pit bull. If you want a dog that’ll walk beautifully on a leash the first time out of the gate, a bully is not for you.

But if you want a dog who'll make you laugh and who wants to spend every minute of his or her day with you, and you can take hearing every asshole in the world warning you about how your dog will snap, then maybe a bully is right for you.

[Sha]

You made my horrible “2 hr delayed, stranger snoring on my shoulder, crappy airline, no meals nor booze included, 9 hour flight from Chicago to Cancun so much better! I was literally laughing my ass off, at the point where security check and flight attendants would stare at me with WTF expressions on their face.

Your even captured my bf nerdy – book worn literature attention (im sure he reads your book when im not home and totally denies it!)
Now I just discovered your blog and all I can say is that I look forward coming to work and spending precious time reading you at the office!...

Write on!...

[Queen Goob]

What sucks is I'm planning on moving to Ohio in a few years when my kids are done with school BUT with this crap coming down the pike, you lost my residency; I will NOT get rid of my best friend because the local government won't take the time to educate themselves. What they need to focus on are the idiots who have no right owning a dog....let alone children.

Don't worry Cooper, Mommy loves you!!!!

[Lisa]

if you put a mop on a dawg, she is still a dawg...no??

[Jennifer]

Maisy is so pretty and popular, she will probably start a trend. Rock the mop!!

[DodiM]

Oh, and re: seattletimes.com

Would it kill them to phrase it:
"if a person feels they are being threatened by a DOG, then by all means, they need to do whatever they need to do to protect themselves and others." I don't see the need to single out one breed, ever. Any breed can have a dog that goes bad. Meanest dog I ever knew was a Chesepeke Bay Retreiver. That thing was vicious. Most dogs, though? Love sponges.

[DodiM]

I had no idea that Maisy was an Alaskan Pit Bull. Makes all the difference, really.

[Karina in T.O]

I belive the look on Maisy's face says 'bitch, please'.

Too. damn. cute!

And the lipstick reference......I fucking' howled!! This Democrat thanks you for your humour!

[Kelly in St. Louis]

As someone that does Dachshund rescue - God Bless you for getting the word out that Pit-Babies are good and it's the stupid owners that make bad dogs. Thanks Vick for everything you've done for these wonderful dogs - jerk face, hope you rot!!

[Bonnie]

It's a BAD DAY for bullies everywhere....see seattletimes.com for front page story. The Police say, "if a person feels they are being threatened by a pit bull, then by all means, they need to do whatever they need to do to protect themselves and others." (i.e. shoot to kill). Course, this is about a 71 yr. old woman that was attacked by 2 pits a couple day ago, lost both ears, crushed her arm, numerous bites all over her body. I say we shoot to kill the owner of said bulls.

[Alison]

I lol'd. luvs it!

[Angry Kitten]

Maisy iz new background on puter at wook.

[The Chick]

The. Best.

[Jen in VA]

Love the picture...love your books...looking forward to the new one!

[Jess]

Jen, you have a heart of gold.

Maisy for president!

[Shan from Can(ada)]

Iz is fab babe. Iz more prettyer than Palin

[mmd]

Love it. You are so awesome Jen. I cannot wait for your next book. I wish all of us in Jennsylvania could get together, have a few drinkee drinkee's and kiss and pet pitbulls. Oh, and tell you how freakin' great you are.

[SarahO]

Garrrgh, you beat me to the lipstick joke!

And thanks for the idea of what to do with the Mrs. Libman's mop in my closet, which I'll never use.

[Jessie]

Why would you pass up such an awesome opportunity to put lipstick on Maisey?

[Trenches of Mommyhood]

High-larious!

[HeatherBInAMood]

Why the mop and not hair from the Barbie Head?

[Katie]

Oh.My.God! Funny! Makes me want to put a cleaning utensil on my lab and take a picture! Thanks for the giggle!

[thecoconutdiaries]

I would have peed my pants if you put glasses on your dog!

[Rachel]

LOVE IT!!!!

Too cute!! It really kills me that people are so ignorant about these wonderful dogs!! I hope the 2 cute poochies below find a great home!!

[Karen in DE]

Oh my God, you slay me.

[stephani]

I wish my corp didn't firewall EVERYTHING under the sun or I would totally use that as my screen saver! My Summer(pit bull mix) would NEVER stand still long enough for that...she would be too busy trying to lick me, the camera, and eat the mop head. Great pic...you rock and pit bulls rule!

[Dominique]

I never fail to be amazed at the ignorance of people at large. One of the best dogs I ever had was a pit bull named Bob. He adored everyone and was a equal opportunity licker. What a shame this breed has such a bad rap because of idiot people who mistreat them.

[Sara]

Hey I thought we said no politics!

[Cheryl]

She's so cute =)

Hey - how come you never post about your cats? I'm cool with dogs but I'm way more of a cat person and yah...just an idea...incase you needed another writing break

[LJ]

LOOOOOOVE IT!

[Shelly]

Priceless.

[Kellyn]

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

P.S. To anyone else who still wants to bitch about this, you can go to Highland Park's website (just google Highland Park) and e-mail City Hall. Which I did. Twice.

[Molly]

I saw the post and made my own post and status change on Facebook urging people to sign.

Any one who reads Jen's books HAS to sign! how can you not?

[Katrina]

Love, love, love that photo!

I never knew any pit bulls, but recently I met one. Am now preparing to dognap her.

[Essentially Me]

Ha, that's classic!!!

Oh and I'm your new fan. I would say your new #1 fan, but I'm too lazy to be anyone's #1 fan. Just seems like too much work is involved in that.

I finished your book "Such A Pretty Fat" this weekend and am now making my way through Bitter Is The New Black.

I loved them!

[North of 49th]

Love the picture and the comment. BTW I am a hockey mom, a Canadian and I wear lipstick!! Do I need help?? We are going into an election north of the 49th as well -one difference though. Our election was announced on Sunday and we head to the polls Oct 14th! Only 6 weeks for our Government to waste taxpayer money on yet another election!!

[Kim]

Please tell me the secret to getting your bully to pose! Mine looks at me like I'm a complete idiot and then turns away.

Thanks for letting everyone know what kind of idiots are running amuck in Ohio!

[Laura B]

I have to comment here, even though I usually don't understand why readers comment on something after the comments are closed...but any way. I wholly appreciated and agreed with your statement about politics. I couldn't disagree with you more politically (from the little you have talked about on your site) but I really believe that I would still want to drink some wine with you, or hang out and pet your dogs if we were friends...and in the same state..and it weren't creepy. And more than anything, I think that as adults with the freedom to express our views, we should be engaging in discussion with one another, not attacking one another. I have read too many blogs lately where either the writer is completely one sided or the readers claim, "I am never going to read you again" Any way this is long and rambly, so please just know, a liberal, tree-hugging, hippie agrees with you...on something. And I think that if more conservatives were like you, and liberals like me, then maybe Washington wouldn't be like it is.....Kisses to you and yours.

[grad3]

BAWHAAAAA...!!! OMG- that brought tears to my eyes... lol....

[tutugirl1345]

I love it! Maybe they could use Maisy on the campaign trail!

[Julie]

haha too cute

[Rachel]

Fuck you Highland !!! These are really sweet dogs, and should not be descriminated against. I work at an animal hospital, so if there is any way I can help, please let me know. I also know someone who works with the Bully rescue, so I can talk to her if it will help..let me know.

[Sils]

I'm sorry I missed all the hub-bub on this, you're awesome Jen -- I'm so happy there are people like you with well read blogs who can help people and animals out. Horray!

[Deborah]

that dog is unbelievably cute! what a face.

[kristin Kaminski]

I see you're getting A LOT done on that book there :)

[the governor of jennsylvania]

For the context behind this, I tried to put "Dear Ohio" on it but the captions ran off the page.

[kelly]

Cutest damn dog I've seen today! How could anyone think that dog would be dangerous? What a bunch of tools. Keep on uncovering these pricks.

[WaltzInExile]

Okay, THAT is my 2nd favorite thing today! It would be my first favorite, but the goats had a feeding frenzy with a box of muffins, and that wins (sorry.)

[Angela]

no let loki laff at me plz

[ballerinatoes]

Love.