Pitbulls

**Brill Weave** · 2012-11-30 20:15

Training is non negotiable. That will be happening after he's been vaccinated.

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-11-30 20:20

Originally Posted by Salodin

All pits I know, owned by friends, are needy attention whores. Nothing worse then a 30 pound dog who thinks its 10 pounds jumping all over you trying to get you to pet it and love it over ANYTHING else.

My friend's pitbull, that they got as a puppy, was like this too. They're so goddamn strong that it's really annoying to try to get them off you when they think that it's playtime (which is all the time).

**Ksandra** · 2012-11-30 20:50

Originally Posted by Kwijiboe

A few decades back, German Shepherds had a bad reputation for being a 'dangerous dog.' A large part of the problem is public perception and bad upbringing.

To be fair, iirc German shepherds have a higher rate of Alzheimer's than a lot of other breeds. I know my aunt owned three, and loved the shit out of all of them. Every time they got old though they started to get vicious and bite her (and others) all the time.

@ Brill, think most things were covered. Good to know you're getting training. Big thing in this situation is all dogs need a lot of attention, but some more than others. Pit Bulls are pretty high maintenance. You definitely have to put in the effort to keep it stimulated. I suggest watching "It's Me or the Dog" online somewhere. She gives a lot of nice advice and tricks that you/or the trainer may not normally have addressed.

Oh, and if it's not spayed/neutered get that done.

**Bregor** · 2012-11-30 20:53

Originally Posted by Ksandra

I suggest watching "It's Me or the Dog" online somewhere. She gives a lot of nice advice and tricks that you/or the trainer may not normally have addressed.

**Ksandra** · 2012-11-30 21:20

lmao, ya I love that episode! That and the one where the dog would go into the fridge as soon as his owners left home.

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2012-11-30 21:50

I remembered there being some owner related advice early on in the other thread, but I'm probably wrong. And yeah, ditto on the training. My mini dachshund is not very well trained (except for pooping/peeing) and she's a spoiled little monster. She's very sweet and affectionate, but willful. If it's not her idea, she wants nothing to do with it... and if you don't do what she wants she makes her displeasure known. Luckily, she's only 5-6 lbs so when she stomps across you to get a drink from her glass on the night-stand, it's more cute than anything else. Larger dogs... not so much.

edit: oops, bunch more posts I didn't see. Oh well.

**Ganondorf** · 2012-11-30 22:08

I have a friend with 2 pits, and sold a few from a family owned petshop way back in the day. They are extremely energetic and yeah ^ attention whores. Honestly I'd consider getting him/her an appropriate playmate and let them get plenty of outdoor exercise. Moreso than most other big dogs I've had experience with, you need to train and be strict with them. Make sure they know you're the boss. I've never had a really bad experience with a pit; they are very loving, but that also means they're more than happy to "lovingly" jump all over anyone that walks inside your house if you don't train them not to do so.

The "inherently dangerous" thing is a crock of shit, btw. It's like saying a certain type of car is dangerous because it's commonly driven by ass holes.

**Rhinox** · 2012-11-30 22:39

**Boyiee** · 2012-11-30 22:43

Originally Posted by Lucavi

Didn't we have this thread last year? That one spiraled into a cesspool of shit; hopefully this one doesn't.

Good luck with your pooch.

He made this thread just so he had something to moderate. He's hoping it goes to shit.

**Boyiee** · 2012-11-30 22:50

For real advice though...

Do you have a fenced in yard that it can shit in freely, or will you have to walk it and clean it up?

I ask because you said you've always owned small dogs, and I've always owned small dogs, and have always had a fenced in yard they could be loose in. Walking my friends young retriever was a pretty big eye opener. It sucked. While she was an absolute blast to play with in a park or really anywhere outside, cleaning up after her absolutely sucked. I hate cleaning up small dog shit, let alone fucking people sized turds. It's like cleaning up your own poo. I really want a larger dog next, but jumping from one extreme to the other can be annoying. The only good thing is the bigger dogs seem to do it less often and are able to hold it in more, but they also get health problems earlier in life. My small dogs live for ever, my one dog is 16 and I swear hes a walking corpse. Bigger dogs get different health problems than smaller ones that you have to prepare for, like joint and bone issues. Also I feel its a lot more difficult to have to put down a larger dog.

**Anoat** · 2012-12-01 01:37

My dog is half pit/half rottweiler and is 4 years old. I've had her for six months now and also picked her up from a rescue shelter. She is very calm, relaxed, and sociable around other people and animals, and also was already house trained when I got her. She is very intelligent, and recognizes words like "outside" "food" and "shadows". (Yeah she has a weird thing where she likes to chase shadows on the wall, floor, wherever. Its pretty funny actually.) I would recommend making sure they have toys that can keep them physically and mentally stimulated like tennis balls, rawhide bones, and tug-o-war rope things. I absolutely love my dog and rescuing her was one of the best decisions I ever made. I hope that your experience goes just as well.

The only negative things I can think of that I would advise you about is first to prepare to hear some weird noises that you probably haven't heard come out of a dog before. Pits seem be very nasally, so you are gonna hear weird gross gurgling, throat clearing type noises every now and then. And the other negative is that, at least in my dog's case, she can sometimes love you TOO much, to the point where if you are not actively petting her she will start whining.

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2012-12-01 04:26

Pets 101 (I know they have Dogs and Cats, and possibly Birds) is/are one of the best shows on animal planet, imo. It satisfies the 'daww' requirement, and is also educational. And useful, since a lot of people have pets. I wish they'd do more of that kind of stuff than the stupid bigfoot shit.

**Lenus** · 2012-12-01 10:44

I was the one who made the thread from last year mainly due to the city I live in "Baltimore" passing a law that says pitbulls are inherently dangerous which singled the breed out for all bites are considered owner responsibility(I agree) but doesn't apply to all dog breeds, and the bill also made landlord responsible. Ultimately that allowed them to evict people and deny people renting homes, well threatening renters at the very least. A home or your pet basically.

Back to the subject I do own a pit, I got her from the local shelter when she was 3 months old close to 3 years ago. Like others have already said and it seems like you are doing the right thing. Take the dog to a training class, I took mine to petsmart for beginners class I think it was 12 classes, once a week for 12 weeks for 100$. Exercise the dog, pent up energy is a bad thing that the dog will look elseware to release be it through chewing furniture or whatnot.

I take mine on 3 walks a day down at a local park, before and after work and before bed time. If you are lucky find it a local playmate that they can see each other and just run and wrestle at least once a week. Look into local dog parks so they can get a sense of a larger pack and so they can learn how to deal with smaller dogs and much larger dogs, but do always watch your dog at all time there, take poop bags.

Another thing I would like to stress since it is a pitbull, look out for injuries on your dog. The breed is extremely tough and they have a high tolerance for pain which can hide serious stuff, all animals try to hide pain to not show they are weak and easy prey but more so for pits. To wrap it up a good slogan to go by is "A tired dog is a happy dog".

Oh back to the break stick subject, pitbulls jaws do not lock when biting down, but in that situation it is always better to use something else other then your hand to separate any biting dog.

**Lenus** · 2012-12-01 11:10

Something they will teach you in training classes and something to always go by are short 1 syllable words calm assertive commands. Like DROP, SIT, OFF, DOWN, NO, YES, OUCH "if the dog gets to rough while playing", one I use is EHHH while playing off leash she stops and waits for me where she is at, like if she is running after a squirrel/rabbit or if I just want to hook the leash back up, I follow up with a "yes" after she hears the click from the leash. Instead of the word WALK, I use READY to each their own so you don't have to tippy toe around common words.

Also beginner/entrance level of dog classes train you on how to train your dog just to want to put that out there, its different then hiring a actual trainer to work with your dog. So can't be lazy with working with your dog, your dog is always watching you so if you aren't training the dog the dog is training you.

**Deejay** · 2012-12-01 11:16

Originally Posted by archibaldcrane

My friend's pitbull, that they got as a puppy, was like this too. They're so goddamn strong that it's really annoying to try to get them off you when they think that it's playtime (which is all the time).

This shit is so true. My friends pit would bring this bigass 5 foot rope and drop it on my lap every time I sat on their couch. It was cute the first 500 times but my arms are always worn out by the time I leave his house. I don't know if I could live with that dog always trying to play tug of war.

***Shinzon*** · 2012-12-01 11:26

One of the sweetest dogs I've ever known was my Uncle's Pitbull Taz. Properly trained they're just like big teddy bears. Good luck!

**Boyiee** · 2012-12-01 11:41

Anoat mentioned rawhide bones and such. My dog is super protective and gets territorial when he has rawhide bones. He doesn't do it with regular dog food, scraps, human food, or treats. ONLY rawhide. He takes it onto the couch or something and will snarl at any animal that comes anywhere near the couch, and he is visually upset when I try to go near him when he has it cause he thinks I'm going to take it away. It's the only time we've ever seen him snarl in his life period. He's never shown teeth or growled at any animals ever before. I even tried putting one of his toys in our other dogs mouth in front of him, tried giving one end to each of them, he never cared. It was only with rawhide. We couldn't break him of this, so he doesn't get them any more. And I have a little dog, if he was a pitbull... lol. Make sure this dog is ok and comfortable with you, other people, and other animals when around food and stuff. Pet him, poke him, touch him while hes eating. Slide the bowl away from him etc. He has to know its not his last meal.

**Abandon** · 2012-12-01 11:48

Originally Posted by Boyiee

Anoat mentioned rawhide bones and such. My dog is super protective and gets territorial when he has rawhide bones. He doesn't do it with regular dog food, scraps, human food, or treats. ONLY rawhide. He takes it onto the couch or something and will snarl at any animal that comes anywhere near the couch, and he is visually upset when I try to go near him when he has it cause he thinks I'm going to take it away. It's the only time we've ever seen him snarl in his life period. He's never shown teeth or growled at any animals ever before. I even tried putting one of his toys in our other dogs mouth in front of him, tried giving one end to each of them, he never cared. It was only with rawhide. We couldn't break him of this, so he doesn't get them any more. And I have a little dog, if he was a pitbull... lol. Make sure this dog is ok and comfortable with you, other people, and other animals when around food and stuff. Pet him, poke him, touch him while hes eating. Slide the bowl away from him etc. He has to know its not his last meal.

if you poked me while i was eating, i'd punch you in the fucking eye. just saying.

**Pikarya** · 2012-12-01 11:49

Originally Posted by Deejay

I don't know if I could live with that dog always trying to play tug of war.

Then your that would be your friends fault, not the dog.

The dog can easily be programmed to know when the time is to play, and when it is not.

**Boyiee** · 2012-12-01 11:57

Originally Posted by Abandon

if you poked me while i was eating, i'd punch you in the fucking eye. just saying.

You'd probably like it.

Originally Posted by Pikarya

Then your that would be your friends fault, not the dog.

The dog can easily be programmed to know when the time is to play, and when it is not.

I don't think pitbulls have enough ram for that.

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