Opinion #2

PIT BULL DOGS MAKE GOOD FAMILY PETS

By Rhonda Erickson

Choosing any breed of dog to be your pet requires some careful consideration and decision making. Taking the time to research and match a dog,s size, temperament , energy level, over all breed personality and maintenance requirements to fit into your lifestyle comfortable for you and the dog, can make a world of difference between having a positive or a negative pet experience. The space you have available, the time you have to spend with your dog, if your have children or not, and your expectations of what you want from your pet are good places to start your decision making process.

Pit Bull dogs are certainly not the dog breed for everyone, though they can make anyone a good family pet. They do well as the only pet,and also get along good with other dogs or different animals. They are considered medium to large in size, are playful rambunctious puppies, but are not overly hyper active when grown. They make very good house dogs, will lay contently beside you for hours while you are relaxing, and be ready at the snap of your fingers for a brisk walk or game of fetch. With a good diet, occasional bath and run over with a pet brush, their coats are very short, sleek, shiny and pretty much maintenance free.

Most Pit Bulls have a very low, loud bark, but usually bark less than some other breeds of dogs. They can be good pets if you have children, or live alone. Having a Pit Bull dog as a pet is as rewarding and delightful an experience as having any other breed as a pet. They are very capable and willing to give the same love and companionship, as any dog and can live in harmony with you and your family for many years.

When looking at any breed, but more especially at dogs that may cause red flags to go up with with your neighbors, such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans etc., you should be very careful where and from whom you acquire your new pet. I personally do not believe that a dog's breed determines that all dogs of that breed, or even a large percentage of them are bad or dangerous. Abusive owners and lousy breeders create undesirable and unpredictable dogs. Unfortunately for Pit Bull dogs,they are often targeted more than most other breeds to likely end up in the hands of those types of owners and breeders.

A Pit Bull dog's natural instinct is not to be vicious, but to be devoted and loving, and they are not naturally dangerous, but are gentle and protective in nature. They are not mindless killing brutes, nor or they child manglers, but are intelligent, easily trained, and make well mannered family pets. They are amazingly adaptable to many different environments and are well suited in your apartment or back yard.

Finding a reputable breeder of Pit Bull dogs, not associated with or condoning of any type of use of dogs for the illegal sport of fighting them, can more guarantee you will bring home a happy, healthy, and safe pet.

A Pit Bull puppy, just like any other puppy needs to start house training right away if he is going to live in the house with you. I prefer the crate training method and have found it fairly easy and effective. There are other methods that work well also, and step by step instruction books can be found at most pet stores.

Just remember your puppy is still a baby, this is all new and a little scary , and accidents may occur occasionally at first. Be patient, kind and gentle, and the puppy will respond with what pleases you.

Another thing Pit Bull puppies do like all puppies, is chew. Be prepared to protect anything he can get to with his mouth, that you don't want chewed on. If you don't teach him what can be chewed on and what can't, what ever you have in reach is fair game to a puppy. The best way I have found to discourage chewing up of everything, is to encourage chewing on certain things. A piece of rope with several knots tied in it makes an excellent chew toy, and having on hand at all times chewy bones and rawhide from the pet isle is great.

Never use a child's baby doll, an old shoe, or one of your old socks as a chew toy. This is confusing to your puppy, being these are just like other items in your home, they look and smell just like the ones you don't want him to chew on. Get some unique and specific toys for him to easily recognize and distinguish as his. If he attempts to chew on something he isn't supposed to, tell him "no" firmly and immediately give him one of his toys saying the words "your toy". Praise him greatly each time he chews on his toys. Be persistent and you will be surprised how quickly the puppy learns what he is supposed to chew on.

Trusting your puppy completely not to chew up your furniture and other possessions will take some time, using the crate to help prevent accidents of this sort is helpful also.

Your Pit Bull puppy is now house broken, and his chewing habits are improving. It is time to work with a little serious leash training and simple home obedience. Twenty minutes a day for ten weeks can have him heeling, sitting, laying, and staying like a pro. There are many books easily found at your pet store or local library that can guide you through this training.

Teaching your puppy these things allows bonding time, builds trust and confidence in both you and the puppy, and establishes you as the "alpha dog" or leader of the pack. As the pack leader you are respected, protected and followed by the rest of the pack... your puppy. What you say and do is the law of the pack.

Abusing, neglecting or mistreating your puppy can cause loss of respect for you as a trusted leader and opens up the possibility of a challenge in the form of training regression or bad behavior. Patience, gentleness and proper treatment will make a puppy your loyal subject, wanting always to please you and be your most trusted friend for all the days he is with you. That is what I consider a sizable reward in return for a little kindness, some food and water, and a game of fetch or tug of war occasionally.

As your puppy grows into an adult Pit Bull dog his desire to chew up everything in sight has lessened or went away completely , and his own special personality is emerging. Making sure he has positive experiences in his young life with many rewards and encouragement when he does good, will fine tune his natural well rounded and even temperament.

Allow him to interact freely with company. Strangers are tolerated with caution at first, but generally quickly warmed up to after they are perceived as not posing a threat to any humans the Pit Bull considers his family. Teasing these dogs by making them think another human is hurting you is not a good practice. Generations of breeding to cultivate their protective natures for guard dogs, make stronger jaws , more muscular bodies, and lightening fast reflexes can turn a simple joke into an accident. In making your dog a family pet you have conditioned in him biting another human or animal is taboo and highly unacceptable behavior. Do not confuse your dog by making him resort to deeply suppressed wild pack instincts to protect his pack leader the only way he knows how.... with his teeth. This is true not only for just Pitt Bull dogs, but of all dogs regardless of the breed or size. Family pets of any kind should not be encouraged or allowed to bite.

Another reason to train your dog well, is to educate people who are skeptical or fearful of Pit Bull dogs just out of not knowing or hearing horror stories about the breed. Putting a fire out in your neighborhood before it grows into a wild fire can save you some grief and even your dog's life. A friendly, well behaved and non threatening dog is less likely to stir up a stink. Pit Bull dogs have a bad reputation because of a small group of unsavory inhumane people. It is up to people like you and I to disprove that reputation, and have these dogs recognized as the wonderful, loving and good family pets they were meant to be.