Does anybody own a Pit Bull?

[cortez]

Mrs. Cortez is determined to save all the Pit Bulls in the world. Instead, we're considering adopting one from the local SPCA. The dog in question is a female puppy (7 months). She has been raised by the SPCA and has never been owned, per se. She's friendly and affectionate. They say she's probably a mix (lab). We brought our female Husky to meet her and everything was cool. I do wonder if, once the Pit gets older, she'll try to overtake the Husky as the dominant dog in the house. The last thing I want to do is bring home a dog that may turn on the existing dog. What little research I've done says as long as the dog is trained correctly from the start, no problems should be expected. Any Pit owners want to offer any tips?
Ruff, ruff

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Don't ask him.


A girl I was seeing once had one and if you train it well, the pit bull will be very behaved. If you have small children, I would be hesitant to have one, but ultimately, it's your decision.

 

[Ace]

My brother-in-law has a female. First time I saw her, I walked into their yard where the dog was tied up, and she rolled over and wanted me to pat her belly.

The previous one, though, knocked over my wife trying to eat my 20-pound dog.

 

[JR]

Mrs. Cortez might consider moving to Ontario:

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/296926

The breed is banned in Ontario as of August 05 and pit bulls born more than 90 days after the ban took effect must be put down.

 

[Buck]

Mrs. Cortez might consider moving to Ontario:

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/296926

The breed is banned in Ontario as of August 05 and pit bulls born more than 90 days after the ban took effect must be put down.

Wow, that's insane.

 

[westcoastvol]

You might wanna check your homeowner's insurance before you get one. I know I was asked if I had one when I got my insurance. If something goes bad, there may be liability issues your insurer won't cover.

 

[User 1019]

A childhood friend had one. It still has a piece of my foot.

 

[Moderator1]

Get a lab.

 

[queenofspades]

My cousin had a Pitt who was raised with dog that was half mastiff and half everything else. The two got along great since they were raised together when they were young and rarely fought unless food was involved. But, if you have a female I would be careful, they tend to be the more aggressive type. All in all, Pitts are great dogs to have, I have wanted to get one for a long time, but my apartment complex doesn't allow certain breeds.

 

[JR]

Get a lab.

I'll second that one.

When was the last time you read, "Little Johnny mauled by Golden Lab"?

 

[playthrough]

Pit bulls hardly wrote the book on canine violence. Two decades ago rottweilers were believed to be the devil on four legs. And in Florida last year a pack of greyhounds, believe it or not, mauled another breed of dog (I forget what).

Still, I wouldn't bother with a pit bull either. The stigma is hard to overcome and, yeah, when municipalities and insurance companies are taking note, it's not worth the fight.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Get a lab.

Or a Golden Retriever.

Best dog I've ever had is Golden/Rottweiler mix. The size of the Rott, the temperment of a Golden. He's 14 now, and still acts like a puppy.

 

[jimnorden]

pit bulls are the most pointless animals in the world. stay away from them.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

As sweet as the puppy may be, it was very likely the offspring of fighting dogs.

Pit bulls are so widely bred to fight that I would never for a second risk adopting one. Yes, I know, many of them are sweet. And some of them are psychotic -- and those are the ones that are aggressively bred for their fighting potential.

And when someone comes on to defend them with the line "Chihuahuas bite more people than pit bulls," remember -- the chihuahua attacks isn't going to kill you.

 

[Ace]

pit bulls are the most pointless animals in the world. stay away from them.

I'm with Jim. At best they're just stupid. Maybe Mrs. Cortez can be persuaded to save butterflies or something.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

pit bulls are the most pointless animals in the world. stay away from them.

I'm with Jim. At best they're just stupid. Maybe Mrs. Cortez can be persuaded to save butterflies or something.

Or any of the dozens of rescue groups in your area that are working to save the lives of dogs that won't eat you or your neighbors.

 

[Ace]

pit bulls are the most pointless animals in the world. stay away from them.

I'm with Jim. At best they're just stupid. Maybe Mrs. Cortez can be persuaded to save butterflies or something.

Or any of the dozens of rescue groups in your area that are working to save the lives of dogs that won't eat you or your neighbors.

However, I will stipulate that a dog that will eat your neighbors could come in handy.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

pit bulls are the most pointless animals in the world. stay away from them.

I'm with Jim. At best they're just stupid. Maybe Mrs. Cortez can be persuaded to save butterflies or something.

Or any of the dozens of rescue groups in your area that are working to save the lives of dogs that won't eat you or your neighbors.

However, I will stipulate that a dog that will eat your neighbors could come in handy.

Valid point. Worth consideration.

 

[FightScribe]

Pit bulls are great dogs ... they can be just as lovable as any other dog.
I'd lean more toward the puppy, though.

As for being worried about the pit bull overtaking your dog, it won't as long as it knows you're in control. At the risk of sounding like Cesar Millan, you must take your dogs out for walks and be in control. Make sure the dog doesn't walk you. If it does, you stop and don't budge until it stops and waits. Once it knows you're in control, you should be fine.

The mistake people make with pit bulls are either 1) they get them and train them to fight, making them vicious or 2) get them, love them for a couple weeks, then stick them out in the backyard and forget about them. They get bored, they get aggressive to work off the extra energy and there ya have it.
It's not a breed that will train itself. Its natural instincts are to be aggressive. But, if you take the time and effort, the dogs will be fine.

 

[Buck]

Pit bulls are great dogs ... they can be just as lovable as any other dog.
I'd lean more toward the puppy, though.

As for being worried about the pit bull overtaking your dog, it won't as long as it knows you're in control. At the risk of sounding like Cesar Millan, you must take your dogs out for walks and be in control. Make sure the dog doesn't walk you. If it does, you stop and don't budge until it stops and waits. Once it knows you're in control, you should be fine.

The mistake people make with pit bulls are either 1) they get them and train them to fight, making them vicious or 2) get them, love them for a couple weeks, then stick them out in the backyard and forget about them. They get bored, they get aggressive to work off the extra energy and there ya have it.
It's not a breed that will train itself. Its natural instincts are to be aggressive. But, if you take the time and effort, the dogs will be fine.

Well said.