i have never owned any pets and i want to buy a puppy, if i get a pitbull, what can i expect?

Question

i have never owned any kind of pet in my life before and have been recently considering purchasing a puppy. i want to get a pitbull and i heard that its a pretty hard dog to raise. i want for someone to explain to me what to expect about raising this dog. lets say if i were to buy it tomorrow, what can i expect about raising the dog and living with the dog from day 1 until 6 months from now? what about 6 months to a year? then so on.......i need a lot of details as well. best answer gets a 10.

Answer 1

If you want a pitbull, you should get one, but you shouldn't buy him and you shouldn't get him tomorrow. You should talk to people who have pits (as housepets) and find out more about them first. There's a lot of information available online about dog training too. Once you're prepared you should do it. Pitbulls can be wonderful pets if you have the time and energy to raise them properly. And I suggest you adopt one instead of buying. Not only will you be saving a life but you'll most likely get free vacinations, free spay/neuter and deworming.

Who told you they're hard to raise? Their hard to raise in the sense that any puppy is a huge responsibility. As far as training goes, pitbulls are usually very smart and eager to please. They can be trained very easily with the right approach.

What you can expect for the first year... Well, let's start by assumimg you get a pitbull puppy that's 8 weeks old (two months).

From 2-3 months you can expect a rambunctious little bugger that does nothing but eat, drink, run around, pee, poo, bite, and chew. Hide your sneakers. They also like to sleep a lot. Usually curled up or nuzzled in your armpit.

from 3 to 5 months, more of the same but he will begin teething again as his adult teeth come in. By 5 months he can already be trained the basics.

From 6 months to a year all depends on how you did up until then.

I would NOT get a pitbull unless you or someone else (who also knows something about dogs) is always around for the first six months to a year. I would also not get a pitbull unless you have the means to properly socialize him with other dogs. I would not get any big dog unless you have a way of safely letting him off the leash to RUN for a COUPLE OF HOURS a day... But honestly, if you can provide all of this to your dog - Time, excercise, training, healthcare, social life, good food, etc.. Pitbulls are GREAT!

Answer 2

Pit bull’s have gotten a bad rap any dog can turn on you. The Pit Bull can be an extremely loyal companion they are very protective of their owner/family.

A pit bull is going to need firm handily from the start. I will guess that you are talking about an American Pitt Bull terrier as there are several dogs that fit into the Pit Bull category. Now I personnel would not recommend a Pitt Bull or any other dog that is known to sometimes be aggressive as a first time pet. You can find a perfectly good puppy at your local shelter.

However if you are determined to get a APBT

I suggest you check out this following websites if you haven’t already ,

http://www.pbrc.net/home.html
http://www.everything-pitbulls.com/
http://www.pitbullregistry.com/


You should also find some breeders and seriously talk to this people, get more then one opinion. Also stop by your local book store and see if they have any books on them.

Obviously you would have to teach your puppy how to behave and follow your commands, train it to go on the newspaper, sit heal, come , stay etc. You should probably in list in some sort of dog training class. You should spend at least an hour a day working with your puppy, if not a couple hours. You must have patient remember a puppy is just a baby. Let it know that you are the Alpha dog

You will also want to keep in mind that some cities do not allow Pit Bulls, even a dog that is just part Pit Bull. Some insurance companies will not ensure you if you have a certain breed whether they are purebred or mixed.

Answer 3

I would suggest that if you have never owned any pet before that you should probably own a different breed. Having owned three I have some knowledge on them but I don't know if it is enough to help you. The first thing I would do is check with your insurance co. and see if you can have one and still be insured, or find out what their stipulations are for owning one. Also, does the state you live in, or the area, allow a pit bull. Then, if you decide to purchase one, you will need to to search for a well bred puppy and one with a good temperament. Do lots of reading on the Internet about this breed and you will see how the dogs act, see how people will react about the breed you have chosen, but you will also see that it is an excellent choice and loyal if trained properly. What ever you finally decide, enjoy! (PS- the only dog I will ever own is a pit bull. We have a 60 pound lap dog and a big baby).

Answer 4

You can expect a lot of discrimination, for a start. It is not really a socially acceptable dog to buy. A lot of people will look at you differently if they see you with a pit bull. Like any dogs, they can be wonderful if they are raised like a professional or they can be a dangerous nightmare if they are incorrectly raised. You would be much better off giving a home to an old dog from the pound in order to 'practice' your dog psychology and learn how to handle dogs. This 'practice' dog, if it is an old dog from the pound, is one life you could save and give a happy home to for the few remaining years of its life, while learning all about dogs from the ground up. Then, if you are confident with your dog handling skills, take it to the next step and buy an expensive puppy.

I would like to recommend a book called The Koehler Method of Dog Training, by Koehler. There are websites named after the book. This man pioneered the training programs used by the police force in America and has step-by-step instructions on how to raise a puppy to a grown dog which is a useful, respectful, handler-friendly asset, instead of a dangerous liability.

Answer 5

It is hard for a first time pet owner to handle a pit bull. They are great dogs and are so loyal they will die to protect you. Get your dog from a good breed or some rescue shelter that as test for temperament. They can be a handful to train. You must teach the dog you are the pack leader and always keep the upper hand. Never hit a pit. Make sure you always have control, in your fenced in yard or on a leash. They are very strong and can hurt a child without meaning to so never leave a small child alone with a pit or any other large dog. Pits are smart, smarter than most dogs. You will need to sit aside plenty of time to play and love your pit. Last Even thought they are large dogs they do not do well as outside dogs. Plan for your pit to spend a lot of time in the house with you. A neglected pit or a abused pit is a dangerous pit. Keep it chain outside all the time and show it no love it will hurt someone maybe you or some one you love.
this is a good site:
http://www.workingpitbull.com/

Answer 6

An APBT is the most loving, loyal, intelligent dog you can have. It can be the best friend you have ever had, but the are liabilities that go along with owning any type of bull. You really need to talk to breeders and other owners before you go out and buy one. Raising one requires discipline, for you as well as the dog. There are to many To Do & Not To Do's to list here, but basically what I tell new owners:

Socialize
Crate train
Enroll in obediance class
Never let that pup get away with ANYTHING
Provide chew toys

If you want detailed information, I would be happy to email you a copy of my Owners Manual that goes with every pup I sell.

Answer 7

All dogs can be agressive, even tiny ones. If you get a pitbull, there is a good to exellent chance that it will be agressive - if not towards people then towards other dogs. They were bred specifically for dog fighting, after all. You may be very lucky and end up with a sweet one, but why take the chance? Just get a puppy from a breed that is known to be even tempered, or a mixed breed dog from a local shelter? I have a beagle / daschund mix who I can take on walks without worrying that she'll attack other people or dogs. You may never be able to walk your pitbull without worrying what it might do.

Answer 8

I would recommend you start out with a different dog for your first pet. Unfortunately SOME (not all) pitbulls have and extremely aggressive gene which can lay hidden for a long time. This, coupled with their massive jaw strength can turn them into killers, of both animals and people. The breed was created for fighting and aggression so I would never trust one fully, especially around children or other animals.

An alternative dog with less aggressive tendencies but with a similar tough look is the Staffordshire Terrior (or staffy). With any dog it is a good idea to enroll in puppy school, as they can give you great, interactive and hands on experience on raising your dog. This helps to deal with any personality quirks or bad habits which may arise during their 'teenage years' (around 9 to 18 months especially).

With any breed of dog, you will find that the first 6 months is a trust building stage, as well as a time to learn the basic rules. Toilet training, meal and sleep routines, basic 'manners' and interaction with other people and dogs are the big hurdles of this age. You'll need to let your dog know that you are the boss but that you are gentle and caring as well. Positive re-enforcement should start right away with praise and treats for good behavior, and a stern 'no' to stop bad behavior. Be patient during this time. A puppy is like a baby and you will be in for lots of night time trips out to the grass for toilet time and crying in the night for company. Be firm with the rules. If the dog is to sleep outside, start by putting it in the laundry or bathroom at night so that while it's safe and warm, it doesn't depend on you being there all the time.

From 6 to 18 months is basically childhood and teenage years for dogs and in this time it is important to educate them as you would a child. Regular school to help with behavior and consistency of rules and reactions from yourself will be a huge benefit.

After that you should have yourself a lovely companion.

Answer 9

From what I heard from pitbull owners they can be a tap stubborn. but are trainable like other dogs. One thing I would try to find out is if there is a City ordinance against owning pitbulls . Also consider they might be getting one down the line. We recently had it on our news where a pit bit a girl; it doesn't seem to matter that the girl entered a fenced, gated yard to get to the chained dog; but everybody is hollowing for ordinances now. Which would be sad, because that would leave a lot of loving caring owners looking for new homes for their "Babies".

Answer 10

ANY dog can turn and bite it just tends to hit the news when it's a pit bull Or more here in the UK Stafford shire Terriers (staffies) NO dog is 100% safe around kids the tiny little chapeauua is one dog that is NOT suitable to be near children as they get very possessive of their owner and don't like to "share" they often won't even accept their owner having a partner never mind a child. the 2 dog bites we've had in my family 1 was my brother bitten by a german Shepherd, the other my daughter bitten by a small terrier type (not sure of the breed) that was a family members dog brought up with kids. My daughter was talking to it through the fence and put her hand in to stroke him, (as she'd done many times) she did not startle the dog at all but it jumped and bit her hand Had she been on the other side of the fence it would have launched at her face. She got away with a gash on her finger, but it could have easily been so much worse. Pit bulls are dangerous but so are all dogs, as in they all could snap at any time