Another Town Passes Vicious Dog Ordinance

ive looked into what kind of food to feed, what kind of supplies the we ll need, excercise requirement, i know that obedience school is recommended, is there anything i should research? anything else i should know?  i want to know all i can and be as prepared as possible so post here, pm, me email me whatever with advice and such.  even if you just want to share your own doggy stories i think that would even be a big help.  thanks

jaye, you have done a lot of research which is awesome, I wish more people were as careful as you are being.  I think youve got a pretty great start on what you need to know, so I want to remind you to relax and enjoy the pup.  It will be a lot of fun!  Things will happen and go wrong and right and all of that good stuff but the main thing is that you two will form a bond like no other and they will become way way more than a pet and way more than you ever expected, but I know you already know that.  []

will it be safe to leave the dog alone with the kids in the same room if im in another room?  after we have had it for a while and let it get adjusted and everything?  would it be ok to leave the kids and dog alone in the house while i run out to check the mai or take the trash out?  im just wondering cuz on the pitbull forum i joined they re posting NEVER leave your kids alone with any dog not even your own pet.

WARNING....SOAP BOX ALERT....
 
A "trial" period is fine for a pair of shoes, a mattress or a shampoo.  However, when you are talking about a living, breathing creature........
 
I honestly do not know what the rescue policy is on "free trials", but MY policy as a foster parent is this.....when one of my pups leaves, my presumption is that s/he is going to a lifetime home and the new parents darned well better be willing to make a lifetime commitment to that animal before they walk out the door, or s/he isn't leaving.
 
These are LIVE animals with feelings, emotions, fears, etc.  How confusing and tramatic for them to be taken to a new home only to be returned.  Jaye, please don't take this as meanness, but gosh darn it, spend enough time with a dog BEFORE you take it home that you KNOW without a doubt that you are willing to commit to a lifetime for the animal.  It isn't just you and the kids who are involved here...you've got an animal with feelings too.
 
AND, with almost every dog it's going to take at least 3 weeks before it feels comfortable, and "at home" enough to really show it's true colors anyway.
 
And no, it isn't safe, at least not for the foreseeable future to leave children under 10 unsupervised with ANY dog.  Let the dog walk with you to take out the trash or check the mail, or stick her in her crate. 

Well I gotta say, I am impressed.  Seeing someone go from being fairly adamant about banning Pitties turning right around and thinking about adopting one is just amazing and very satisfying to see!  If only more people were able to keep an open mind about such issues and graciously admit to changing their beliefs, the world would be such a better place.  So here's a massive pat on the back to you, jaye, and I hope your new family member can help you to show the world what Pitties really are!  If I were you I'd be in shambles trying to decide which one to adopt, they're all murderously cute...

ORIGINAL: Nikki_Burr

Well I gotta say, I am impressed.  Seeing someone go from being fairly adamant about banning Pitties turning right around and thinking about adopting one is just amazing and very satisfying to see!  If only more people were able to keep an open mind about such issues and graciously admit to changing their beliefs, the world would be such a better place.  So here's a massive pat on the back to you, jaye, and I hope your new family member can help you to show the world what Pitties really are!  If I were you I'd be in shambles trying to decide which one to adopt, they're all murderously cute...

 
I completely agree. 
 
Jaye, I'd wait until you decide which dog you're going to get before deciding on names so it can be personalized to fit the dog.  I always like to go to babynames.com to get ideas for names.  There are several other name sites that you can use, too.  Some of them will let you search by nationality, so if you like german names or irish names, for instance, you can search specifically for them.
 
I would have to agree on not leaving the dog alone with the kids until they're older.  I think that's just for everyone's safety.  Of course, I do have to say that I was around dogs alone since I was very very young, and never had any issues, but that doesn't mean that I necessarily should have been put in those situations, either.  If something were to happen, like your child running and accidently falling on the dog and the dog biting the child, then that would be putting the pup and the kids in a horrible situation.  Because of the dog being a pit you'd be dealing with people telling you that he was viscious, even though you'd know the situation wasn't caused from him being "viscious".  If you have to take your child to the hospital for a few stitches then you'd have to report the bite, and the situation could seriously escalate to them trying to take your dog away to put him to sleep.  And then you and the kids would be broken hearted.
 
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I think about things like this all the time.  I have to do everything I can to protect my dogs from the mass hysteria that's going around about pitties.  I'll tell you one thing, though.  The love that I get from them and the smiles they give me makes it all worth it.

thanks nikki ),  and you re right, it IS going to be hard!

glenmar, i agree with everything you said, i assure you , im not going into it with the attitude, well if it doesnt work i can always take it back, but its good to know the policies JUST in case, i mean you never know what can happen, i dont expect to have to bring a dog back at all, its just good info to know.
 
lexi, my parents always left me and my brothers alone with our family dog so it wasnt even something i thought about until i saw a thread about it on another forum.  in my case i know for a fact that we were completely safe with that dog no matter what and she was spaniel mix, as far as i know spaniel are known biters.  but yeah ill take everyones advice and take the dog with me to get the mail or, and i have no idea why i didnt think of this one , shut the dog in my bedroom until i get back. 

I just read through this whole thread and I am impressed to see someone change their mind so completely about pitties. I wish you luck in whatever breed you choose.
 
One thing I want to tell you... in the same way that you mentioned breed banning and the way the posters in this thread defended their breed... be prepared to do the same thing yourself if you get a pittie. People will say things, and then it will be you on the defending end. Educating yourself on the breed and it's true temperament is the best thing you can do. It makes you prepared for life with a pittie, and to have answers to peoples talk.
 
They really are great dogs and I will never be without at least one in my home ever again. I love their enthusiasm for life, their goofiness, and their huge desire to please! I've had mine for a year this month, and there are times I look at him and I just stop dead in my tracks...still in awe at what a striking dog he is.. and I don't mean just him, it's the breed!
 
 

one of the dogs i saw in a shelter, it was a beagle, the reason the people gave for bringing it back,........    they didnt realize how much of a pain it would be to put the dog on a leash and take it outside every time it had to go potty.....    wow.

yeah trish, im going to have to be prepared for that, it doesnt sound pleasant.  my dad is very strongly against the breed (probly where i got it from)  and i know im really gonna be in for an ass chewing from him, probably every i talk to him for a year after getting the dog.  but i know it only comes from being concerned about the safety of his daughter and grandchildren.  i just wish everyone could know what i now know. 

sorry to post so many times back to back, i know its against the rules in a lot of forums, but i was wondering, is one walk/run per day enough exercise? 

Jaye, it will really vary on the dog itself.  At least one walk a day will be great, but you will probalby still need to tire him out after that.  Maybe you and your 7 year old can play keep away with a ball.  Making them run back and forth between you is always a good way to tire them out.  Of course, a game of fetch is always good, too, but Romy really didn't catch on to bringing the ball back to me.  She liked me to chase her for it instead.  Winston on the other hand is a natural at fetch.  Sure makes things easier for me.
I live in a duplex without a fenced in yard, so we do a lot of playing in the house.  However around the age that you're looking at Romy became very content to chew on her bone for hours.  It's Winston (only 4.5 months old) who is FULL of energy and requires tons of play.
 

the more i read about them the more i get so excited about getting one.  im still waiting to hear from my landlord if this size/breed will be ok, cross your fingers.  what about the boxer side of twiggy?  ive looked a t little info on boxers but does anyone have anything to say about them?
 
edit:  oh, and im not going to actually name the dog until i get it, but i want to have some ideas on mind

I feel like I'm posting too much in response to your questions, and should give other people a chance.  I'm just so excited for you!
 
I grew up with boxers and they are amazing dogs.  Pretty hyper, but they were the dogs I was left alone with as a child and they were oh, so patient with myself and all kids that they were around.  They LOVE kids, but they do have a LOT of energy.

please keep posting lexi