Part 1. Getting started with pit bulls -- 1. Pitting and petting : the pit bull's past -- Creating canine gladiators -- Showing off -- Becoming America's sweetheart -- Overcoming pride and prejudice -- Growing in popularity -- Finding the middle ground -- 2. Sizing up the pit bull -- Toughing it out -- Building a better bulldog -- Strutting his stuff -- 3. Deciding whether a pit bull is right for you -- Making a commitment -- Making the match -- Getting to the heart of the matter (or your pit bull) -- Facing the facts -- 4. Shopping the bull market -- Avoiding bad blood -- Searching high and low -- Checking the bona fidos -- Picking your pit --

Part 2. Giving your pit bull a good home -- 5. Bringing home your new best friend -- Puppy-proofing your home -- Fencing in your pit bull --Providing a cozy doghouse -- Giving your dog a comfortable place to sleep -- Shopping for your pit bull -- 6. Living with your pit bull -- Acting Like a pit bull in a china shop : house rules -- Taking the pit stop outside -- When the plumbing's broken -- Trying your patience -- Understanding pit talk -- Becoming a social animal -- Going to kindergarten -- Meeting the children -- Going for a bull run -- Making a splash -- Hitting the road -- Finding a pit-sitter -- Finding a lost love --

Part 3. Training and having fun with your pit -- 7. Coping with a pit bull terrorist -- Saving your home -- Fighting like cats and dogs -- Avoiding dog fights -- Breaking up a dog fight -- Calming the raging bull -- Dealing with pit bull aggression -- Plucking up courage -- Corralling the escape artist -- Digging up some dirt -- Tales from the bark side -- 8. Training the teacher's pit -- Training your pit to wag her tail -- Getting the timing right -- Following the ten commandments -- Going to school -- Getting the right stuff -- Starting basic training -- Walking well-heeled -- Trying every trick in the book -- 9. Going out to the bull games -- Pulling his weight, and more -- Becoming a STAR -- Being a good citizen -- Staying in step with obedience and rally -- Overcoming obstacles -- Following his nose -- Getting a grip on schutzhund -- Rounding up a herding title -- Taking a flying leap -- Racing the clock --

Part 4. Keeping your pit bull healthy -- 10. Feeding a bottomless pit -- Starting with dry or moist foods -- Considering raw -- Boning up on nutrition -- Feeding time -- Keeping your dog hydrated -- 11. Primping your pit bull -- Taking your pit to the cleaners -- Smelling like a rose -- Debugging your dog -- Saving your dog's skin -- Nailing down nail care -- Going in one ear and cleaning out the other -- Keeping an eye on the bull's eye -- Keeping your dog armed to the teeth -- 12. A clean bull of health -- Examining your pit bull -- Establishing a relationship with a vet you trust -- Making sense of blood tests -- Giving your dog medicine -- Staying up to date on your dog's vaccinations -- Keeping your pit free of worms -- Dealing with intestinal parasites -- Preventing heartworm -- 13. Sick as a dog -- When your dog just isn't himself -- Dealing with diarrhea -- Saying vamoose to vomiting -- Coping with coughing -- Helping your dog with urinary problems -- Understanding endocrine disorders -- Investigating immunological problems -- Banishing blood parasites -- Coping with cancer -- Looking into lameness -- Doctoring your dog -- Trying home remedies -- 14. Pit bull first aid -- ABCs of first aid -- Specific emergencies -- 15. Helping your dog age well -- Eat and run -- Act your age -- When you've done everything --Eternally in your heart --

Part 5. The part of tens

16. Ten pit bull resources

17. Ten ways to help the pit bull's reputation.