Share your pit bull experiences

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m curious about peoples’ experiences with pit bulls and pit bull mixes. (The long-winded explanation is below.) If they’re your pets, how did you get them? How do they get along with dogs, cats, other animals, children and adults?

I’m looking into adopting an adult dog. I’m flexible about the breed, but it has to be a dog who would be happy living with me in an apartment, walking me regularly, getting plenty of pets and taking an occasional trip to the dog park or to hang out with my friends’ dogs.

My girlfriend, my friend and I visited the animal shelter today. We looked at a lot of dogs, and one of the dogs we took a closer look at was a year-old female pit bull mix named Zelda. I’ve heard a lot of mixed information about pit bulls, but I wanted to take a closer look at Zelda. It was a bonus that she appeared housebroken. She seemed really mellow in her cage, and she was calm as we walked past all the other caged dogs barking at her.

We all liked her a lot. She was mellow in the pen as well, and seemed content to sit in the shade and let us pet her. She was good on the way back to her cage.

We looked at some more dogs, and talked to one of the workers about Zelda. He seemed very fond of her, and said she was a really good dog. She’d been found as a stray, and she seemed to have had a few litters already.

My girlfriend and I took Zelda out for another visit in a pen, this time in a pen that adjoined another. A couple there had two dogs with them, and they began barking at Zelda. She didn’t bark much at them, but she immediately started chewing at the fence. The worker who liked Zelda walked over, called her name, and she stopped. He got her to show off her ability to sit on command, and she spent the rest of the time there being petted.

I filled out my adoption paperwork, but, after talking with the adoption counselor, I elected not to reserve Zelda for a few days while I made up my mind. Out of all the dogs I’ve seen so far, I liked her the best, and we seem to share an affinity for head rubs and lounging in cool spots, but I don’t want to be liable for her attacking other dogs or humans. She was a stray, so no one knows what her socialization was like.

2

I have cats rather than dogs, but have worked for several vets over the years. I like pit bulls. I’ve never had any problems with them. In general, female dogs are usually less aggressive than males. In my experience, for a pit to be a problem dog some person has to make it that way.

On the other hand, I am terrified of chows and will not go near one given a choice.

3
      • I was told by a friend who breeds dogs (not pit bulls, but anyway) that the problem is if you have more than one, they play aggressively with each other and cause each other to get more and more aggressive. One dog kept and treated properly is perfectly safe, no problem at all. There are other breeds that are far more notorious for being short-tempered even when kept under the best circumstances.
  • One problem with adopting an adult that I could see is that you don’t know under what circumstances it was raised. Just keep it indoors or enclosed (fenced, not tied) and walk it with a muzzle.
    ~
4

I’ve known several pit bulls, all sweet dogs. My brother used to have them. His one dog was wickedly smart and good with other dogs he had, however she would attack dogs that would stray on to his property. She was also bad with cats. My former boss adopted a stray pit bull. Her previous dog was a miniature poodle. She loved Minnie very much and Minnie went from an abused stray that was a submissive wetter to a beloved house dog who had her own sofa and was cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast every morning. However she was a cat killer, too.

StG

5

my oldest pit died last year, just shy of 17.

pits are only as agressive as they are trained to be.

she was a rescue, and had been terribly abused. i have never seen a dog who was quite as starved for love as she was. she was a wonderful dog who never gave me a minute of trouble.

6

I’ll ‘me too’ on it’s how they’re raised that means the most, but owners need to be realistic. American Pit Bulls do have behaviors specific to the breed, like being particularily aggressive toward other dogs. A good website to check is Real Pit Bull, though they’re obviously pro-pit bull, they seem fairly realistic about the nature of the beastie.

You might ask the shelter how they evaluate the dogs’ behavior. Was it just a volunteer casually noting pleasant behavior, or did they have someone with training lead the dog through evaluation activities? They might also be able to give you the names of some good trainers and/or books that might help.

7

I would really, REALLY like to second that it isn’t the dog, it is the person who determines the behavior of a dog. As Ashes said, the breed does have its quirks, but a good, caring owner can work with that.

I’ve noticed that pits work best as the only dog because they are giant attention whores. If you have mult. dogs, the pit will get jumpy when he sees people around because he wants attention- and of course he wont realize how strong he is.

It is easy to find the pit horror stories, but I suggest looking around here for some positive pit stories (along with how to handle their personality quirks and such).

8

I have a pound puppy who, near as we can tell, is a mix of lab, pit bull, and chow. She’s a total sweetie (18 mos old now, raised her from 8 weeks). Incredibly affectionate. Apparently wanted to be a dentist, since she licks the teeth of every dog she meets (yes, I know this is a social behavior). Her only problems: she’s terribly strong (60-65lbs, and about as tall as most 45-lb dogs we meet–those pit bulls are DENSE), and she tends to jump on people when she greets them. Which can be a problem, as she can easily knock you down.

She has never met a person or a dog that she hasn’t loved. I can think of nothing not to recommend (though I’ll be glad when she finally calms down in a year or two), though I do think that this is not a dog for small kids or the elderly, as it’s too easy for her to bowl someone over without realizing her own strength.

FWIW (sorry, can’t find a cite to back up), I have been told by vets that the majority of shelter dogs today have some pit bull in them. So a non-pit pound puppy may be hard to find. (Ours was listed simply as “lab mix” … which we now jokingly say must have been short not for “Labrador mix” but “laboratory mix”.)

9

I have to agree with Ashes, Ashes. Yeah, the training and socialization of a dog is the most important part, but you should be realistic about pit bulls. For me, the sheer strength of the breed made me give mine up. I had a pit bull/blue heeler mix that I raised from 6 weeks old. I’ve had many dogs and have never had a problem training and socializing any of them. This dog was never treated in any way aggressively and he was, for the most part, a gentle dog with people and other animals. Twice, though, he agressively lunged after a neighborhood child. He didn’t bite the kid (the boy’s father got the boy away both times), but I could just barely control my dog. After the second incident, I gave my dog to a male friend of mine who could physically control him. (I’m a fairly small woman.)

I’ve kept this in mind ever since. Even the most gentle, mellow dog can have his moments. I wouldn’t recommend getting a dog that you can’t physically hold back if he’s having a bad day. My current dog is a border collie/lab mix adopted from the shelter. She’s very small for her breeds and weighs just under 40 lbs. If she ever freaked out (she never has and is especially good with very small children), I would easily be able to bodily contain her.

10

I have to agree with Ashes, Ashes. Yeah, the training and socialization of a dog is the most important part, but you should be realistic about pit bulls. For me, the sheer strength of the breed made me give mine up. I had a pit bull/blue heeler mix that I raised from 6 weeks old. I’ve had many dogs and have never had a problem training and socializing any of them. This dog was never treated in any way aggressively and he was, for the most part, a gentle dog with people and other animals. Twice, though, he agressively lunged after a neighborhood child. He didn’t bite the kid (the boy’s father got the boy away both times), but I could just barely control my dog. After the second incident, I gave my dog to a male friend of mine who could physically control him. (I’m a fairly small woman.)

I’ve kept this in mind ever since. Even the most gentle, mellow dog can have his moments. I wouldn’t recommend getting a dog that you can’t physically hold back if he’s having a bad day. My current dog is a border collie/lab mix adopted from the shelter. She’s very small for her breeds and weighs just under 40 lbs. If she ever freaked out (she never has and is especially good with very small children), I would easily be able to bodily contain her.

11

Sorry for the double post - I swear I only hit submit once, but it did take forever.

12

This is probably regional: our shelter has primarily hounds and lab mixes and chows coming in, although there’s a goodly number of pit bulls there as well. Shelters are likeliest to get breeds:
-that are typically owned by people who don’t prioritize spaying or neutering (hunters, fighters, etc.);
-that are typically larger (since larger dogs on average have larger litters);
-that are well-equipped to surviving on their own (since they might be strays for awhile).

Pits fit this criteria, but are more common in some areas than in others.

My one negative experience with pit bulls was a doozy: it was when some fighting pits came to the shelter. I won’t go into details, but suffice it to say it convinced me that certain specific behavioral traits (specifically, anti-dog aggression) could be bred into dogs–otherwise, the behavior of the very young puppies was incomprehensible.

ALthough I don’t know for sure how behavioral genetics works, I strongly suspect that a dogs whose (for example) great-great-great-great grandmother was a fighting dog might also have vestiges of that bred behavior in her doggy little mind.

So if this dog was chewing on the fence to get at other dogs, that’s definitely something to be concerned about. If you adopt her, you might be able to train that behavior out of her; but were I you, I’d never let her be unsupervised around other dogs, and I wouldn’t walk her without having a muzzle handy.

Daniel

13

I had a very interesting story to relate on the subject, then I looked at the title more carefully and realized that it didn’t say “Shave your pit bull experiences”.

14

I have only met three pits: they are outlawed here in Denver (except for a brief respite six months to a year ago.)
The pit bulls I’ve met just happened to all be male (neutered.)
All the pits I met were very nice dogs. One was especially well trained and friendly.
They got along with my dogs as well as me.
These dogs obviously had owners who took the time and trouble to socialize and train them; they were not fighting dogs nor were they chained up by themselves all day.
One year old is young enough to learn and even change, but I agree about never leaving Zelda unsupervised around other dogs.

15

I’ve actually only heard really good things about APBT despite all the negative press. I’ve been doggie shopping for 3 years* ( If anything, I am thorough.) in preparation of our next member of the family.) and I keep going back to the bullies. ( The low grooming, the medium size-ness, those wedgie ears, that head and ‘smile’, ‘the good with children’ stuff and obedience …all very appealing.)

It is sad that a few buttheads out there are ruining a breed that is extremely loyal, sweet and excellent with children. This is the most legislated dog in the world and will probably one day be extinct or near extinct until reputable breeders and the AKC do for the APBT (and Staffordshire terrier) what dog breeders did for the English Bull Dog’s vicious rep. (The EBD use to be very ferocious and used for bull baiting and fighting. Through conscientious breeding, it is an awesome family pet who loves everyone and farts alot. It’s technical uselessness labels it in the companion territory right up there with completely useless pekinese and dalmations. ( It’s a crime, I tells ya!)
I highly recommend a new book called The Dog Bible: a definative source for all things dog. edited by Kristin Mehus-Roe. (A new book from bowtie press

This is what it has to say about APBT:

Alternative Name: Pit bull, APBT

Country of Origin: US

History: In the nineteenth century the English began crossing bull dogs and terriers. Immigrants brought the result of these crosses to the US. The APBT was developed in the US as a guard dog, cattle catcher, livestock driver and companion. Its most notorious use, however, was pit fighting, the now-illegal practice for which it was named.

Physical Description (too long to list. Sorry.)

Height 18-22 inches

Weight 35-60 pounds

Tempermant: The APBT is strong, confident, stoic and fun loving. Its fans say it has a zest for life. It is very friendly towards children. However, it’s fighting background often makes it aggressive with other dogs, especially the same sex.

Activity Level High

Best Owner A dog-experienced individual or family is the best home for an APBT. Kids are fine, but other dogs should be of the opposite sex. It adapts to the city or the country.

Special Needs Exercise, firm but positive training, job or activity, socialization.

Possible Health Concerns Allergies, cataracts, hip dysplasia.

We probably will not get a APBT or an American Staffordshire Terrier because of the legal problems and paranoia that surround the breed. In many cases, home owners insurance goes up if you own a violent breed. You may have to carry extra insurance in the event of a bite or attack.

I also would never go out for a walk unless I had one of those muzzles on it, not that I fear a problem, but for the ease and comfort of those around me.
But above all of that, I think one of the main reasons that keeps me from getting one is the fact these dogs are so freaking strong, (they can pull anywhere from 25 to 59 times their weight!!!) that if one decided to lunge after a rabbit or another dog, I’m fucked. ( and I am very good with dog training ask my lab, she’s got me wrapped up tighter than an Xmas present. and fairly strong, but no match for the instincts of a dog bent on getting an evil squirrel. the tree climbing fuckers.)
I have the latest issue of Dog Fancy’s Bully Breeds (Available at finer pet stores for the up the butt pricing of $10.) which covers all the bullies. It is very well written magazine and has loads of caaaa-ute pictures that don’t show the dogs ripping some dog or persons head off. It is very refreshing to see the dog in a positive light.

  • Mr. Ujest keeps going back to Rhodesian Ridgebacks You know, the breed developed to take down lions on the serengeti. Rounding up the kids should be a peice of cake! Well, the kids are in bed in record time, but there sure are alot of poop stains in their underpants…huh… :slight_smile:
16

I’ve known a lot of pits/pit mixes.

So, almost all of them I’ve known have been great dogs. But there’s been a couple rotten ones I’ve known too.

The thing is. . .if you’re just adopting a dog from the pound, why risk it? There are other dogs there. Get one of them. Why do you need/want the pit?

Even if the dog in the pound is calm, once it becomes attached to you, it’s fear-aggression/protective instincts could come out.

Yes, I’d say that most likely that dog would be a great dog. But there are some dogs that just never get “it” trained out of them.

A recent pit I’ve known was returned to SPCA by an owner who has had another pit mix for about 10 years, and she got another pit-mix when she returned the “bad” one. That dog had a rotten core.

17

My cousin has two pit bulls. The first one he got as a pup and brought home to meet the other dog (an older mixed breed) and the mixed breed hated him, he would growl and bark at the pup constantly. After trying to make them play nice it was apparent that the older dog just was not going to tolerate the pup at all. My cousin was going to be moving out of that house soon and so until that happened the dogs were separated. Now unfortunately this meant that the pup spent most of its growing time in one area and became very territorial. When my cousin is around he is the sweetest dog imaginable, but when he is alone and in his turf, it is best to leave him alone.

On the flip side, that pup grew up and fathered some pups of his own. My cousin, now living in his own place sans grumpy old mutt, adopted one of the new pups. Raised it with plenty of room and visitors and she is the best little dog in the world. So I am a big advocate of it not being the dog, but the situation.

18

This is something you should check, too, before making your decision. Some insurance companies will drop you like a hot rock if you’ve got what they consider to be a ‘dangerous breed’ dog, and pits are on that list.

19

A bit of a hijack-y question here: What is the difference between a pit bull and an American Staffordshire Terrier? My brother has a dog who is the latter; recently he mentioned that his dog actually has two sets of papers (this is a purebred female who has been used for breeding) - one as a Staffordshire, one as a pit bull.

The one time I met her, she seemed to be the sweetest, calmest dog in the world - and very calm with my kids. She’s very well socialized; my brother works from home so she has a lot of people-time with him (i.e., very much not the typical “chained to a fence and left alone to grow mean” scenario). I’ve never seen her on her own turf so no idea how defensive she might be with someone coming onto her property.

A pit wouldn’t be my first choice, no matter how well-socialized the animal appeared to be, just because of the concern over some underlying behavioral issues that might arise. The size / strength would be a concern too. However - I freely admit there’s a lot I don’t know about the breed.

20

What is the difference between the APBT and the AmStaff?
According to The Dog Bible :

HistoryThe AmStaff decends from the same line as the APBT, the AmSTaff has been bred independanetly of the APBT for at least 60 years when the AKC changed teh breed name. A result of english crossings of bulldogs and terriers, decendants of the breed were brough over to the US in the late 1800’s and used as general purpose farm dogs.

It is very much like the APBT: medium sized, compact, stocky and muscular with a broad skull and medium length muzzle and strong jaw. (snip)

Weight40-70 pounds.
height 17-19 (a little smaller in height, but more muscle than APBT)

Temperment The AmStaff is gentle and friend but also stoic and courageous. It is very freindly toward people, especially children ( note: They were refered to as the Nanny Dog.) But often affressive towards dogs, especially of the same sex.

Activity Level High (As in Terrier High. Terriers are the most active, as in spazziness, and are meant for having a job of hunting, ratting and running all day. )

Best Owner: The best owner is an active experienced family or individual either in the city or country.

Special Needs Exercize, fenced yard, leashed, socialization, training.

Possible Health Concerns: Allergies, cancer, heart problems, hip displaysia and thyroid problems.

I would be hesitant to take on a rescue pitbull because you don’t know their background and history. Who knows what issues will come up that you really cannot talk through, but have to deal with either destruction ( as with any dog.) or a possible aggressive problem (As with any dog, but with pits, there is that inherent fear that is so well publicized and documented.And when they go at it…sheeeeit…they get the job done…ok, I just talked myself out of my current doggie obsession. ) It would be akin to having a ticking bomb.

There are loads of other rescue dogs whose DNA is not condusive to such aggression against other dogs and small animals. ( Not that squirrels don’t deserve it, the tree whores.)