Pit Bull Advice Wanted:

[BEAR DEN]

Today we adopted a 6 week old pure bred pit bull. I am a dog lover. We have a full grown Rotweiler and Lopso (lap dog). They are both the most loving animals that one could hope for. We have raised them from pups. I am interested in information/experiences with pure bred pit bulls that might help me raise a happy canine family.
This is NOT a gaurd dog. There is NO desire to emphasize aggression. I am a full grown man with full grown children. (They are adults themselves) so this dog is NOT to prove I am macho. The dog would have been put down because the owner was unable to care for the puppies. It is a magnificent animal that I felt compelled to rescue.
I have owned a couple of "aggressive" by nature dogs. (rotweillers). They have both been social and never a hint of aggression towards a person or other dog. That is my desire for this dog. Any positive suggestions in the training of pit bull personalities are welcomed and what I'm looking for. Thank You

 

[citizensoldierny]

Bearden,
Congrats on the good deed from a fellow pit owner. There are a bunch of us this site. As for the raising of your pup just raise them like any dog, get him/her neutered or spayed, as from what I've read doing this early keeps them from getting aggressive. Be careful with them around other dogs they don't know, don't let them play to aggressively. Make sure your dog doesn't end up in competitive situations with your other dogs i.e. fighting over food bowl etc. Nothing really pit centric there just the average dog advice, as they really are till people start abusing them. If anything I think my dog and the breed in general is a lot more tolerant of people and sweeter than the majority of dog breeds out there. BTW, I think it's an unofficial rule here that if you mention a dog you have to post pics.

 

[BEAR DEN]

Thank You for the advice, and you are correct about posting of pics. He is a beautiful animal!! I will be going to work in a bit but I will post pics of him and hopefully of all three together!

 

[PTurchan]

An excellent forum is: http://www.pitbullforum.com/.

 

[Lynchmeister]

At 6 weeks old, he probably could have used a few more weeks with his litter mates to socialize, but given the situation it sounds like he'll be better off with you now. Be sure to socialize the heck out of him while he's young with as many people and animals as you can, keep training experiences positive, and no doubt he will be a loving addition to your family.

I can relate as I also have a dog (a Weimaraner) that is considered "potentially leary and/or agressive" towards people outside of their family. I'm a firm believer that this is bunk and there is no such thing as a bad dog (by nature). My weim is the sweetest, most sensitive dog I've ever encountered.

Congrats and good luck with the new dog!

 

[HankG]

I can't give you any advice, but I wanted to say good job on choosing a pit and raising it the right way. I really hate seeing pits either discriminated against completely or raised to be aggressive so some ***** can feel more manly. I had a friend with a pit that had been raised in a loving home and it was one of the sweetest, most affectionate, and completely harmless dogs I've ever met. I agree with the comment that there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad dog owners, so as a fellow dog lover, I'm really glad to hear about a dog that might otherwise be killed out of ignorance being given a good home.

 

[citizensoldierny]

An excellent forum is: http://www.pitbullforum.com/.

Good site, I had no idea it existed.

 

[Groundhog]

I don't have a dog right now, but I'd agree with others on the socialization thing. I have a friend with a female pit that's scary looking , but she's a big ol' loving dog. They got her when she was a pup, she was raised with their kids and 2 cats, and I've never seen the first aggressive tendency on her part.

I can relate as I also have a dog (a Weimaraner) that is considered "potentially leary and/or agressive" towards people outside of their family. I'm a firm believer that this is bunk and there is no such thing as a bad dog (by nature). My weim is the sweetest, most sensitive dog I've ever encountered.

I'd never heard that before Cory. I've got another friend who has 2 Weimaraners, and the only things in any danger around them are unattended shoes and food.

 

[professorchaos]

Each Pit Bull I have met has been a very gentle, sweet dog. This breed in particular gives credence the old saying that "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners."

 

[Dustinl]

My parents have a pitbull that they raised from a pup. He is the most gentle, non aggresive dog i have ever seen. My 2 year old son is around him a lot and he has never once shown aggression toward my son. I think they are wonderful dogs.


DL

 

[stobes21]

A couple of thoughts that apply to all dogs, but especially bully breeds.

1. Socialization from a young age. Get him his parvo shots and then have him meet as many people and other dogs as possible. This will have to wait a bit since you got him at such a young age, but is more important than ever because of the socialization he missed out on the couple more weeks he should have stayed with his litter. A puppy class is a must.

2. Consistent rules. I think too much is made of positive vs. negative training methods. Train how you want, but make sure the dog knows your rules and be consistent with them. If you think it's okay for him to jump on the couch that's fine, but don't get mad at him for jumping up when company is over.

3. Exercise. All dogs need exercise, and pits need a ton of it. A sleepy dog is a good dog. Puppies need just as much as adult dogs, but they need it in shorter, more frequent bursts.

Congrats on your new family member!

 

[Bertilak]

If you are not familiar with the Dog Whisperer, you should correct that immediately!

His rapport with dogs is amazing. His favorite breeds are Rottweilers and Pit Bulls. He has a pack of 20 or more dogs, heavily weighted towards those two breeds and that are as well behaved as could be.

He has a TV show and a few books. I recommend you watch at least a few episodes of the TV show and look over his books to find one that addresses your situation.

 

[Cutter]

Pitbulls often seem to be a little more attention starved than most other breeds. Also, some people overreact when they see a pit. While i`m sure you will give your dog all the attention you can, just keep a watchful eye on strangers as to how they behave in the presence of your dog. Congrats on your new family member!

 

[Rudeboy]

Congrats and thanks for helping your new pal. I have saved 3 pitbulls since I quit breeding. I am a strong believer in the concept that a dog is a reflection of its environment. If you are a good person, your dog will reflect that. If you are a *****, your dog will be a ***** as well. I don't think we have that problem here. Anyway, I must reinforce what luke said, train him how you will but be consistant. Remember, pitbulls are VERY eager to please which is what makes them so dangerous. Treat him well and respect him and he will do the same. Enjoy.

 

[_JP_]

About all that I can add is to check your local laws to see if you are required to register the dog, and possibly carry some kind of special coverage on it because it is considered a dangerous breed. That is an unfortunate reality where I live because there have been so many pit bull attacks that the public insisted something be done about it.

I recently took care of a friend's dog the other day, it's a half pit/half greyhound. That combination sounds like it should add up to a track star that chews up it's competition, but in reality it's basically a very friendly pushover. It was recently attacked by another dog and it's response was to run away. No aggression at all. I'll be taking care of that dog again in the near future.

 

[BEAR DEN]

If you are not familiar with the Dog Whisperer, you should correct that immediately!

His rapport with dogs is amazing. His favorite breeds are Rottweilers and Pit Bulls. He has a pack of 20 or more dogs, heavily weighted towards those two breeds and that are as well behaved as could be.

He has a TV show and a few books. I recommend you watch at least a few episodes of the TV show and look over his books to find one that addresses your situation.

That is our families favorite television show. This dog is going to stay with his litter for a little while longer...Now for another question that is the hot topic for us now...a name? My son suggested OJ which I don't care for. I suggested Doc as in Mr. Holliday but I am very open to suggestions from here at B&B. Here is a quick pic! Help pick his name!

 

[citizensoldierny]

Nice looking dog, and partaking in my pits favorite hobby no less.

 

[Straight Arrow]

As I read these posts I truly appreciate the goodness of responsible pit bull owners and the fact that a well-bred, well-trained pit bull makes a fine pet. The flip-side, and someone alluded to this already, is that the pit bull (and other breeds or mixed breeds) can also be an aggressive, terrifying, and dangerous dog. For me this thread is quite timely. Early last evening my wife returned home from church looking deathly afraid and white as a ghost. It turns out she was victimized by a pit bull as she was walking to her car. The dog barked and snarled very aggressively at her slightest move and was so close that she could feel the heat of its breath on her arms. Fortunately my wife did not panic, make sudden moves, or try to run. With the help of the parish priest the dog eventually backed off and left the area. We reported the incident to the local police who, I pray, rounded up the dog before something tragic happened to one of the many children who play outdoors in that neighborhood.

I share this story not to be critical of pit bulls or any other breed, but to illustrate the importance of responsible dog ownership. I know I am preaching to the choir as I am virtually certain that the members of this forum are not the kind of people who would allow such an incident to take place.

 

[Bertilak]

As I read these posts I truly appreciate the goodness of responsible pit bull owners and the fact that a well-bred, well-trained pit bull makes a fine pet. The flip-side, and someone alluded to this already, is that the pit bull (and other breeds or mixed breeds) can also be an aggressive, terrifying, and dangerous dog. For me this thread is quite timely. Early last evening my wife returned home from church looking deathly afraid and white as a ghost. It turns out she was victimized by a pit bull as she was walking to her car. The dog barked and snarled very aggressively at her slightest move and was so close that she could feel the heat of its breath on her arms. Fortunately my wife did not panic, make sudden moves, or try to run. With the help of the parish priest the dog eventually backed off and left the area. We reported the incident to the local police who, I pray, rounded up the dog before something tragic happened to one of the many children who play outdoors in that neighborhood.

I share this story not to be critical of pit bulls or any other breed, but to illustrate the importance of responsible dog ownership. I know I am preaching to the choir as I am virtually certain that the members of this forum are not the kind of people who would allow such an incident to take place.

The dog should not have been running loose without its owner/handler/etc.. Not only is that bad in itself, it makes me suspicious of the dog's home environment. The aggressiveness is an obvious bad sign here too.

We have had German Shepherds and a Rottweiler that I think we trained/socialized quite well. When they were away from home they were even more well behaved then when they were at home! I think the unfamiliar environment caused them to look to us even more as pack leaders and took their lead from us as far as how to react and behave. (At home they tended towards more playfulness, including some "spirited" play!)

 

[Kratos]

All large dogs, regardless of breed, are pretty much equally dangerous. I don't care if it's a pit or a Labrador, if it's aggressive towards me the OC spray is coming out, and probably my gun. I think we had to shoot 4 dogs last summer, unfortunately. 3 happened to be pits. They have an undeserved reputation, in my opinion. My favorite dog was a pit/doberman mix, and he was a Hell of a dog. I like pits, personally. Like everyone has said, the owners are where the problems lie. 2 of the pits were sicced on the officers who were going to arrest the owner, and one had to be shot off my comrade's leg, the other off of his shoulder. Then he was screaming about his dogs getting shot. What did he expect to happen?
Then the news gets ahold of it, and instead of "Piece of. Trash Owner Uses and Abuses His Dogs and Gets Them Killed," it's "Pit Bulls: Too Dangerous to Live With?" I can't stand the media.