Need info. on Pit Bulls

Gracious, where to start.  At 6 weeks those pups should still be with the litter, I NEVER sent siblings to a new home together because the pups tend to bond more closely with one another than with the humans and a 14 month old really is not a good  age to be adding puppies to the family.  Did the parents have the owners permission to place the pups?

As far as them being pitties, I wouldn't worry about that so much....puppies are puppies, dogs are dogs, and despite all the scarey things we read about pitties they are wonderful dogs.  I would be more concerned about the breeding situation and the parents health and congential conditions since clearly these pups came from a backyard breeder.  No "real" breeder would let pups go to a new home without meeting and investigating the new owners himself.

Yep, pitties have a bad reputation.....but for every "bad" pittie there are probably 1000 wonderful ones.  Pitties are just the breed we are hearing about now.  I'm old enough to remember when rotties, dobbies and gsds were the FEARED breeds.  So, breed wouldn't concern me so much as the rough start these pups have gotten in life by being taken from the litter at such a young age.

Please caution your daughter that her little one needs as much training as the pups do.  Toddlers can be really hard on pups....not because they are mean, but because they don't understand that these are LIVING creatures....and puppies tend to nip back when they are hurt, because that's what they would do to a littermate, and that little one isn't all THAT much bigger than a littermate.  The baby should not EVER be left unsupervised with the pups....no child under the age of 10 should.

I wish her luck with this endeavor.

The parents had permission from there son to give the puppies away because it was not a planned breeding. My Grandson is never left alone with the puppies and i know how he can be with the puppies but i dont think he messes with them too much. If its a nice warm day the puppies are outside in the yard for most of the day. The puppies seem well adjusted and eat puppy chow really good. They( Maggie and Hurkulies) like anybody that likes to hug and cuddle them. When they are old enough they will go get spayed and nuetered. I will print this out and give it to my daughter to read.Thanks for the info!

Hi Zuesmom
 These pups are like any other pup. My first concern is that they are littermates. Are they both of the same sex or are they brother and sister?
 As an owner/breeder, I always suggest my new owners to enroll in puppy kindergarten and follow up with basic obedience class. Socialization is the key to a happy and mentally healthy dog of any breed, so have them take these pups everywhere they can once the vaccination series is complete. Expose them to all types of stimulation. Interacting with the children and teaching them what is and what is not acceptable. I often refer to raising a Pitty puppy as raising a child so you've just inherited twins..LOL! Two is surely more work then one but they will occupy eachother and the transition is smoother coming away from the litter especially at this age. This age is the most impressionable of these pups lives and they need to be handled and loved and for sure they also need some one on one traing so they don't rely soley on eachother and respect the owners.
 I am always available for help if needed. I have been in the breed since 1991 and have raised and rescued many who have been wonderful pets and enjoyed life with my two children
Give them pups some lovin from me

The puppies are brother and sister. Maggie is a brindle and Hercules is black with a little white on his chin(looks like he foregot to wipe his chin after haveing some milk). Heather and her boyfriend matt have friends over quite often so the puppies are socialized as far as people comming to visit and they have been to my house once and ran around the yard and played. We were outside with them and we watched as they ran around checking things out. I will let my daughter know to take them everywhere asasoon as they are vaccinated. They are pretty happy puppies and are doing really well for being taken from mommy at 5 weeks old. They really enjoy their purina puppy chow especially Hercules im told he knows how how to eat really well i guess he eats more than Maggie. Not that she dosent eat good he just eats more, he is a growing boy i guess.  I dont know of any kindergarden classes for puppies around here but i can check at the local humane society they will know of something im sure. If we have any questions i'll let you know Thanks!

It is very important that they get into training classes... I know it may seem pointless because they are little puppies, and it may be something that slips your mind or may not seem necessary as they begin to learn a little bit, but I highly suggest it, especially because there are two.  
 
I also think socialization outside of the home is very important.  Its good that they have visitorss but its not the same as when you leave home to visit with new people and areas. 

Well they may have too much outside the home soialization next weekend we are going to the Mn Horse expo. My boyfriend and son will only watch my daughterand her boyfriends 2 older dogs and not the puppies because they have to work. So the puppies are going with us to the expo.I have lots to tell Heather and Matt now i just need  to use the computer and rinter at work so that i can print all of this out for them to read. Thanks!

PLEASE don't take these young, unprotected pups to such a public place.  They are very vulnerable to parvo/distemper and parvo is sooooo easily spread.

Yeah, I didn mean quite yet, I should have been more clear on that... those poor things are SOOO young right now!  They should not be doing much other than getting lots of close care and attention to make sure no problems arise and that they get the nutrition and so on that they need since they were taken so early!
 
When we fond Lucy and took her to the vet she was 4 weeks!  Not our fault she was walking down the street, and would coulnt find the owner... but she was skinny ad had a big gash on her face so it looked like she was unwanted, maybe thrown out or someting.  Anyway we had to give her special milk for a while and make sure her food was really soft and just be very gentle and loving with her.  I know they may be eating good but you ma want to wet thier food and make sure its soft for them.

As Glenda states taking these young pups out in such a public place is not a good idea, with spring there comes the chance of Parvo which is now on the rise due to the warm weather. You'd be better to leave the pups at home and take the older dogs for the pups health.
Since these are brother and sister, PLEASE be sure to suggest spaying and neutering, dogs can develop early and they surely don't want to have puppies with littermates.
 I usually suggest the females to be spayed by 6 months and males neutered as soon as the testicle drop. Their vet can advise the best time.
 I also suggest that you request the new pitty parents to start getting some reading materials as this is NOT a breed for novice owners and requires a dedicated owner to help promote the breed as a responsible owner. The breed has been in a lot of trouble due to irresponsible owners and we are fighting legislation all over the country because of it. I hope these new owners will be proactive in their ownership

And to add one more little word of advice....Purina puppy chow is CHOCK full of corn and isnt' very good for growing pups.

www.mordanna.com/dogfood

has a wealth of food and nutrition information

This would be my protocol for training Pit pups:
1. Go to separate positive reinforcement type training classes (if the pups are together too much, they learn to rely on each other, not the humans).
2. Don't stop with puppy class - keep going to classes intermittently until these dogs are adults.
3. Socialize, socialize, socialize.  Both with humans and other (friendly) dogs.
4. Do not make the mistake some owners make - it isn't only how you train them.  Pits are usually great "people" dogs.  But, as they mature, some will become dog aggressive.  If that happens, be absolutely certain to take whatever precautions you need to, to see that they do not engage other dogs.  People get bitten by Pits by doing things like - trying to separate them during a dog fight, behaving like dogs (children on the floor squalling like pups, running and squealing, flailing arms), or aggressing against them (because they don't have the control they would have if they did #1).
The good news is that they didn't take same sex sibs.  The bad news is that 6 weeks is too young to leave the momma dog.  That should happen closer to the 8 week point.

I have to say that I disagree somewhat with not taking them out in public.  Do take them, but limit their exposure to places other dogs frequent and don't let them walk around on the ground.  They're still small enough to carry, so go to places like the feed store, or stand outside the post office and let different folks come up and pat.  Go someplace (motel, hotel?) where there's an elevator and ride it.  Take them to the ice cream stand and let them sit in your arms and lap some vanilla while they watch the goings on (no chocolate, no raisins!)
A "fear imprint period" happens at about nine weeks, so be careful they don't get scared at that point - it may stay with them forever.
 

These pups are only 7 weeks old Anne.  But yeah, as long as they are keeping those little paws OFF the floor, get them around people.

another good forum that someone suggested to me is pitbullforum.com.  This is great for breed specific info.