Might have a Pitbull here for a bit...*Update, Please Read*

    • Gold Top Dog

    Might have a Pitbull here for a bit...*Update, Please Read*

     All Pitty owners, anything I should know about the breed? I've never owned one, but I might have one here for awhile. These people that live a street up from my parents, have a pitbull. He's around 10 months old, and he's gotten loose about 10 times from their yard in the past few months. My mom called me tonight about how he was loose on her street again, and she again got him and confined him until the owner came to get him. She asked what he was going to do with Cain and his response was "I don't know, I am having a he!! of a time finding him a home". The owner doesn't want him, they already re-homed their rottweiler about a month ago. I feel so bad, the owners work 8-10 hours a day and this poor dog is crated the WHOLE time! On top of that they don't walk him regularly either which is why he wants to run run run away! I know this because the owner told my mom this. She's giving me his number so I can talk with him tomorrow and if he ok's it, I'm going to be his foster. Work with him on obedience, neuter him, and find him a nice loving home where he will get the exercise and attention he needs.

    • Silver
    Good for you! I know how you feel! Do you know if he's been socialized at all? From the way the current owner sounds, I doubt it... Both of mine are 10 months old and they can be a handfull even with proper excerise, but not much more than any puppy can.  They are really, really, really eager to please though.  You'll see it when you start to work with him, but they can get frustrated if the training session lasts too long.  At least my two do, but I can stop for an hour or so, start again and they're fine.  As long as he can play well with your dogs, you shouldn't have any issues different than any other puppy who has been cooped up all the time.  You won't really know until you get him in you're home and see how he behaves.  When we brought our second one home (same litter, found out he lost his home to similar situations) it was NON STOP PLAY for days until they realized he was staying for good.  Good luck! 
    • Gold Top Dog

    My girl is submissive & very intelligent. She is also very food driven. But I have found her extremely easy to work with as long as she has enough exercise she is a doll, except with her love for food she will find rubbish or anything food & get into it anywhere. Have to keep rubbish locked away from puppy teeth but that is normal I guess I am just used to my other dog hehe

    All her funny quirks she had when I first got her are completely gone really she was scared of men but now that she is socialised she is fine also was a bit timid with new dogs if my dog barked she was off hiding. But now she is normal happy dog & people often remark how well trained she is but I haven't really done a hell of a lot she is just really clever & picks things up really quickly.

    Good luck, I think she will love having a pittie to play with they are great snugglers

    • Gold Top Dog

     Get ready to have a dog that does everything it does as hard as it possibly can...especially love you. :D

     Pits are generally very obedient and trainable, and are total firecrackers as far as energy is concerned, so be prepared to keep up as far as exercise goes.

     

    The only specific things I'd watch for is their propensity towards dog aggression and relatively high prey drive. Make sure you put a darn good recall on him, never let him off leash, and use care when letting him meet other dogs. Most responsible pit owners agree that dog parks are a no-go for pits.

    Other than that, just enjoy your new buddy. Pits are amazing dogs.
     

    • Gold Top Dog

     So I spoke with the owner of the pitty on the phone last night, turns out 2 people on my mom's street filed complaints about the dog being loose and these owners are getting fined and citations now. She told me the dog warden said they don't have to get rid of him, but in case this goes to court they should get rid of him by Monday. What I found out happened was when the dog got loose last week, he may or may not have bitten a puggle that was out in the one yard. We don't know, but the owner said that she's never seen dog aggression in him.

    I don't know how he will be with my dogs, or how Teddi will dog with an unneutered male in the house. This pitbull is soo sweet with humans and I don't want to see him go to a shelter where he will sit forever or be PTS. The shelters are all full of pitbulls around here and its so sad. The lady also gave me the sad backstory on his life too. I told her I would take him until we found him a home if this one home didn't work out she found for him. 

    My question is, I was going to walk all 3 of the dogs when I do introduction, is that a good idea? Any advice suggestions on how to handle Teddi and this dog, I honestly don't know if they will all get along or not which makes me the most nervous, which is always on my mind when bringing a new dog here. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    Well, typically they are a bit more dog aggressive than a happy go lucky breed but dogs are dogs. I think as long as you introduce your dogs correctly to him and not let him claim your space or our dogs, you should be ok. As with any strong breed, assert strength early on because he's that rare submissive Bull, he'll walk all over you at the first chance he gets.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Well, typically they are a bit more dog aggressive than a happy go lucky breed but dogs are dogs. I think as long as you introduce your dogs correctly to him and not let him claim your space or our dogs, you should be ok. As with any strong breed, assert strength early on because he's that rare submissive Bull, he'll walk all over you at the first chance he gets.

     

    This is incorrect. If by "more aggressive than a happy go lucky breed" you mean more DOG aggressive, then you are correct- but pit bulls are not by nature human aggressive except for a few poorly bred individuals.

    As for the "rare submissive bull" comment, this is also incorrect. It is a common misconception that pits are a more "dominant" breed. Pits, when exhibiting the correct temperament, are VERY eager to please,  obedient, easily trainable dogs. Dominance struggles with pits are uncommon, and they will not "walk all over you the first chance they get." They are very intense dogs energy and drive-wise, but above all, pits were bred to be exceedingly obedient dogs whose only desire is to please their owners. With the exception of their propensity towards dog aggression and high prey drive, pit bulls are a very goofy, happy, easy to control breed. The characterization of pits as difficult dominant dogs is common, but false. They're honestly quite the opposite in knowledgeable hands.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Ratsicles

    Well, typically they are a bit more dog aggressive than a happy go lucky breed but dogs are dogs. I think as long as you introduce your dogs correctly to him and not let him claim your space or our dogs, you should be ok. As with any strong breed, assert strength early on because he's that rare submissive Bull, he'll walk all over you at the first chance he gets.

     

    This is incorrect. If by "more aggressive than a happy go lucky breed" you mean more DOG aggressive, then you are correct- but pit bulls are not by nature human aggressive except for a few poorly bred individuals.

    (emphasis addes by me) Isn't that what he meant?

    To the OP, best of luck, I hope you're able to help!

    • Gold Top Dog

     Oooh wow, I reread that like 5 times and still missed the dog aggressive part until just now! Thanks for pointing that out, sorry about that.

     

    Regardless the rest of the post....still stands. Wink 

     

    OP, best of luck to you, whatever you decide! 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I may not have been specific enough but yes, I did mean dog aggressive not human aggressive. That's why it's a big misconception that people think that Pit Bulls are such ideal guard dogs. As with the second statement, I didn't say the Pit Bull was a dominant breed. Any dog, either it's a toy or a giant will try to assume the role of leader if the animal senses the human is not up to the task and it can become problematic because Pit Bulls are strong breeds. Sorry for the confusion.

    • Gold Top Dog

    NILIF, google it and make it your bible.

    Then be prepared to fall in love.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    LOTS and LOTS of really tough chew toys with constant supervision.  Our pit ends up chewing things she's not supposed to when she's bored.  Be careful when introducing ANYTHING like that early in the relationship with your pack, though, of course.  Our pit will guard her resources from the other dogs - just with growls and moves away, but sometimes has air snapped.  Meanwhile I can take anything from her without any issue, and she didn't know me from Adam when I moved in.  (ie, there was no reason for her to trust me when I reached in and took it.)

    Our pit can be a bully w/other dogs - LOTS of vocalization and pushiness.  I cannot tell you what other pits are like because she is the first one I've lived with.  I'd just be prepared to give the dogs separate spaces when they are getting accustomed to eachother.  "Down time" as it were.  Our pit has soooo much energy that she can become annoying to the other dogs (and people, honestly).  Again, I can't speak for all pits, just my tiny experience with Jada. 

    Jada had zero training when I came in, but she's a fast learner.  I can't say much for rentention!  But she does learn quickly and WANTS to learn.  I will say that positive reinforcement training worked better for her than whatever she experienced in the past.  She wants to do the right thing, but often can't focus on what that is supposed to be.  She spent time avoiding corrections rather than learning to do the right thing - positive reinforcement really worked better for her.

    And I second AuroraLove - be prepared to fall in love! 

    • Gold Top Dog

     Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm not taking the dog :( The owner called me last night and said they found a temporary home for him because they didn't want to inconvenience me. I'm very worried what might become of this sweet dog and I just hope the owner knows to screen homes very well for him. She seems like she will since she told me she won't give him to just anybody. I know he's a sweet dog, but like my mom told me, I can't spend my days worrying about Cain since the owners decided to put him into another home. The whole situation with him is just frustrating and I feel bad for him, there's alot of backstory I didn't talk about here since it was too long.