I went to the Humane Society today and fell in love with one. I am thinking that this is the time in my life where I really want a dog... and i freakin love this pitbull. she's so sweet and shy. any advice on raising a pitbull? post some pics as well!

-David

 

yes. I love all dogs but pits are very good ones to start with if you are strong. You have to be alpha and in control. A pit being scared/shy could be bad if you dont take the role of alpha and control the situation so the dog is not scared.

 

If you don't mind the fact that other people will either look at you with disgust (for owning what is supposedly a dangerous breed of god), go with it. Few pitbulls ever do anything 'bad' to begin with.

 

I think it's a terrible idea.

With all the options that are out there, why choose a breed that is known to be volatile by nature, though most never have a problem? Many regions have banned them altogether.

Just because there are not incidents with most, the most serious incidents that do occur with dogs are often the result of a pit bull. In my opinion pit bulls are not a necessary evil, we aren't talking about an associated danger with something we can't live without (ie. air travel). The sole purpose of owning a dog for 99% of people is companionship so since there is a widely recognized possibility of danger to anyone, pick another breed.

FYI My buddy has owned more than one pit bull over the years. I loved them and there were never any issues but I frequently told him he is an idiot for having chosen the pit breed.

 

some breeds are protective aggressive and to say any dog will not bite is a lie. they are animals and not alot of thought process going on in their heads so you must be there for those situations that go over the top for the dog.

this is a large dog so do you have the room and time in you house? an adopted pet is slow to bond and and/or harbor plenty of bad habits. is the pet house trained, what will it do while you are at work?

enlist a dog trainer, avoid pets mart. Canidae dog food

 

I've had a pit for 5-6 years and he's the best dog ever. Extremely loyal, kid friendly, and fun to play with. As long as you train her properly from youth, she'll be a loyal and safe companion for years to come.

If you get this dog, try to take her out in public as much as possible to get rid of the shyness. That's not a good trait for a pitbull because she will constantly be nervous in public and more apt to bite somebody.

There are drawbacks to pitbulls. For one, people will be scared of hernot matter how nice she is...but those people are stupid. Also, as a previous poster noted, there exists legislation in many places banning pitbull breeds. The other drawbacks are common to all purebred dogs and they include hip, skin, and general health problems.

Keep in mind that most pitbull horror stories are caused by dogs that are either trained to be vicious or completely untrained.

 

pitbulls = ball of muscle + teeth

start weight training your dog and buy it a spiked collar.

 

i have a pitbull and he is no problem whatsoever, just make sure they know whos the boss, but that should go for all dogs you raise. as a guard dog hes pretty much useless because he thinks everyone he sees is his new best friend.

 

My motorcycle mechanic has the biggest "pit bull" I've ever seen When I first saw him, I was quite intimidated. Until he came over. A reall sweet heart. +1 volunteers tt the local SPCA and has met many extremely sweet "pit bulls." I use quotes because the term is a catch all phrase for severa breeds, including Bull Terrier, Staffodshire Terrier, American Staffordshire and a couple others.
Before you risk being heartbroken, check with your home owners' insura nce. Some will not provide coverage if these dogs are in the home.
Oh, and forget the spiked collar.

 

The fact that you use "pitbull" multiple times, and you're asking for advice on a car message-board sends the wrong signals.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a pit bull for a pet. However, you need to make sure you want one for the right reasons. Dog breeds are much more than appearance, there are significant factors you should consider when matching yourself up with an animal for the next 10-15 years.

Pit Bull's have a bad reputation for several reasons. Mostly it's because ass-hats buy them attempting to look "hard" and because they think they're mean or good fighters. Pit Bull's are not good "starter dogs", they require responsible, caring owners who take the time to really understand the breed and the individual dog. Even then, there are ingrained traits in the dog that no amount of training will ever be able to completely erase.

Please take the time and do some research into the breed. There's a ton of misinformation out there, and asking on a car board makes you prone to hearing gross over-exaggerations (on both sides of the aisle).

Also, remember that a dog is a huge time and money committment. I love my dog, but having him keeps me from doing a lot of things because I have to be responsible. I too thought it was the "right time in my life" for a dog, but he's kept me from being able to go out with my friends and take as many trips as I would otherwise. Just one more thing to keep in mind before you enlist for ownership.

http://www.pbrc.net/ is probably a good place to start. Good luck!