i am considering getting a pit bull but i am afraid to have him around my son.. should i be afraid?

Question

honestly i am not sure if he will be agressive despite how i train him.. any pointers and should i get this type of dog. I had a pomerian and he barked all the time and he was too hyper.

Answer 1

I have 5 Pit Bulls and I have 4 kids- 14, 12, 8 & 3. It is how you raise them. Make sure your breeder is a good one and that doesn't mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for your dog either. Check out my web site to see some pictures and if you would like more pictures to see how all are dogs are just e-mail me :)
http://www.freewebs.com/hometownkennel/

They are great dogs and alot of the time they get the "bad rap" They are a very powerful dog and that is what scares people.

Also If you go to MySpace http://www.myspace.com/littletownkennel I have a video on there that you should watch, and this one as well:
www:pitbullproblem.tk
Everyone that comes to our home can not leave with a puppy till they watch these two. Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Pitts are great dogs and will be fine around your son especially if you get one from a pup. If your son is old enough have him feed the dog and the dog will see him as higher up member of the pack. My brother had a lab pitt cross that was the greatest dog (he was the size of a lab but looked just like a pitt) and my brother and his wife had 3 kids after they got the dog and the dog got along wonderfully with the kids. The only thing I would suggest is to make sure you get it from a reputable breeder. Go out to the breeders house and check out the temperament of both parents before bringing one home. If the breeder refuses to let you see one or both of the parents, go to another breeder. Don't trust a dog from a breeder that won't let you see both parents.

P.S. to the person who said Pits have locking jaws!!
The Locking Jaw

The most common myth about 'pit bull' dogs is that their jaws lock. This is untrue.

Breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier do have very powerful jaws, and this is where this myth comes from. However, the jaw does not 'lock' - and you cannot get the jaw to 'lock' through abusive actions such as breaking the jaw. (yes, we have heard from people who believe this is how you get a 'locking jaw' and we have incredibly sympathy for any animals they own.)

On this topic Dr. 1. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia wrote:
"The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."

The 'pit bull' has powerful jaws, but they are not alone in this. This is yet another myth - that 'pit bulls' are more dangerous because they have the most powerful bite. Most large breeds and cross breeds have a very strong bite, and even smaller dogs can inflict a bite powerful enough to kill. Any dogs can be dangerous in the hands of an irresponsible, negligent or abusive owner.

Answer 3

pit bull is the type of dog i would most worry about having at all...they do have a naturally mean streak no matter what. i have had rottweilers since my boys were small and they were always great. When my sister was born my parents had a chow dog that was jealous & bit the stuffing out of the couch...
it is a good idea to do some research first ( i also didnt want a shephard when they were young, or a doberman) but any dog would have to be taught & watched around children-its not easy but well worth it!! good luck!

Answer 4

I would never get a pit bull with or without children. There are much better breeds of dogs that he will like without the negative reputation Pits have. Your neighbors would just love a Pit Bull in the hood. Take the kid to the animal shelter and let him help pick out a pet. That way you'll share a great experience with your son and save a dog in the process.

Answer 5

Blame the deed not the Breed. Majority of the pits that have attacked are from homes where they have been abused, neglected or simply not consistently trained with the owners are idiots. Any dog in that situation would be aggressive.

Many pits are loving pets and their environment reflects it. The owners take the time to nurture and train for desired behaviors

What concerns me is you seem to lack confidence and any dog would take advantage of that. If you had difficulty with a small dog I doubt you are ready for a large dog

Answer 6

I was going in a store today and a man's pit bull was tied up outside, as soon as the dog saw me he ran at me, so I balled my fist and extended it too him saying good boy and he turned out to be nice...my problem was that-I knew not to show fear and how to protect myself...any dog can be testy with children and who knows what couldve happened. The experiences I've had with them have always been good,but the owners always tell me that pits will test you the hard way...I wouldn't want to test it with my child-although I do want a protective dog...I'm not sure what kind but I think it'd be best if you either went with a more domesticated dog or include your child heavily in the training,so the dog has a sense of "oh-that's my human" have the kid give all treats and food, make sure they play.also watch because pit bulls LOVE to jump all around you and can knock you over accidentally

Answer 7

If you weren't very successful in training your pomeranian to behave well, why would you aim for a more challenging dog? And why are you thinking about buying an animal you are afraid of?

Get something small and simpler. And learn how to handle it so it doesn't bark all the time and is not hyper. Those are behavioural traits that can be altered with persistent, knowledgable handling. They are often handler faults, not dog faults.

Answer 8

Why a pit bull? Considering all the controversy on that breed, i would think very carefully about that, especially with a child in the house. There are so many other wonderful types of dogs.

Answer 9

First off, if you are going to be afraid of a dog, regardless of breed, I would not get it. That dog is going to sense your fear. Why get a dog if you are afraid of it ??
I also don't think there is anything to be afraid of. You don't mention how old your son is, but as long as you get the dog from a reputable breeder who's dogs have no aggression issues, and train the dog properly, the dog will be fine.
I had 2 Rottweilers and a newborn baby..never had a problem.
It's all in the breeding and the upbringing.

Answer 10

I think that getting a pit is too big of a risk. I do not think that its worth putting your child in risk when there are plenty of other breeds of dogs to consider. If you watch the dog whisperer then you would know that by already having these nervous thoughts and energy then your dog will sense that. He will get nervous as well and start acting out...get a dog that you are confident with.