Pitt Bulls????

Question

Ok im about to get a pitt bull from a rescue shelter. He lives with kids and he loves other dogs. He is still a pup, hes only 18 months old, he is really sweet. I have a 14 month old baby boy. I will never leave them alone together, but do you think its a bad idea. We have lots of room for him to run and play. I really belive that banning pitt bulls is wrong, because i had a pitt bull when i was a kid. She died of cancer when she was 12. She never bit a soul(dog or human). I think it is all in how the dog is raised. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think it's a good idea to rescue a pit since u already know that he loves kids and is able to tolerate other animals, but I don't recommend him getting close to the baby since the baby is only 14 months. Train him to stay away from the baby till the baby is older cuz pits love to play rough. Also careful cuz most pits mature real late, they might not tolerate other animals when they get 2-3yrs old

Answer 2

I have mixed feelings. I think it's really good to rescue animals, and I myself have a rescued dog and cat. However, since you have a baby, I would opt in the direction of caution and probably suggest you not take any chance at all, even if it's extremely small. You must have at least some worries or you wouldn't have asked this question. And also having had two children, I know that sometimes distractions and things happen and what if the baby and dog do get left alone for a minute?

The pit bull that you had sounds really sweet, and I'm sure was, but that doesn't mean that every pit bull is sweet. I do think it is a combination actually of how you raise a dog and each dog also has its own individual personality. I had two Westie terriers for example, and they both had very different personalities, and were like night and day. One was very brave and one very timid for example. You might have one pit bull that is very sweet and one that is not, for example.

And as another person mentioned there are other dog breeds that also bite, but what is different about the pit bull is when they bite they will often do a great amount of damage often committing severe injury and/or death if it is a young child.

Answer 3

I don't think it's a bad idea since he's been around kids. I also agree that it's in how the dog is raised. Any dog can be mean, not just pit bulls... it's how the owner's raise them. I owned a pit bull too and she was such a sweet and good tempered dog. I hate how some people think they just all of a sudden turn vicious for no reason. They should do some research other than watching the news which only portrays the negative side of dogs that were raised terribly. Instead of banning the breed they need to focus on the people who are cruel to the dogs and make them the way they are. If you are never going to leave them alone I think the idea is fine. I wouldn't leave any baby that age alone with any type of dog. Good luck :)

Answer 4

Pit bulls are a very sweet and affectionate breed. The horrible stories you hear are a mix of bad owners and media spins. For example when we where traveling through seatle they were reporting on a "vicious" pitbull attack on a child. And all the head lines made it seem like the pit had just vicously attacked out of nowhere. But when you actually watched the story and the interviews what happened was an owner tied his dog to a post and went to the bathroom(not smart owner) the 3 girls where on the tire swing attached the post and admitted that while swinging the hit the tied up dog 2 times with the tire swing and on the third he turned and bit one of the girls legs then let go. Obviously this was provoked and caused by the girls as well as a neglagant owner. If you get a pit and train and socialize it, it will be a great dog. Keep in mind though they can be stubborn, and have a high prey drive like any terrior so training and socialization is very improtant. Good luck.

Answer 5

I absolutely agree with you-it is how the dog is raised. I have a friend who raises pitts and has a 9 month old baby. The male is very protective of the baby and if someone new comes into the house, he will stand or lay between you and the baby until he realizes that you are an OK person. I knew the dog before the baby was born and he still watches me very closely when I hold the baby. My friend's female is the same way. She will lay down with the baby on the floor as if baby were going to nurse with her.

Answer 6

I never leave a large dog of any breed alone with a Small child, they do not know hoe rough they can play, both the dog and the child. I had a dog 1/2 chow 1/2 pit she stood guard over my niece and nephew when they were small never tried to bit once. I own a APBT now and the kids of the block come down and play with him all the time. When the woman across the street fell and was knock out Bat man stood over her and her 3 month old baby tell her husband came home. It was late at night and some how he got a window opened and jumped out. Still do not know how he got out but he protected them both. They gave Bat man a big steak the next day. My piont is a weell trained pit bull is a good family dog.

Answer 7

I believe that a pitt bull's behavior comes about 98 percent from how it is raised and trained. There is some pre-disposition toward sudden aggression, though. But it sounds like you already know that and will take proper precautions.

Just as important as training the pit bull will be training your son how to properly interact with the dog. You might start with very limited interaction at first because you want to establish right away -- before he is tottering around getting into stuff -- that petting and playing with the doggie is ONLY for when mom or dad are around. Hopefully, your son and the puppy will grow up together as best friends! But you have to establish first that your pup knows his place in the pack, and that your son knows to respect the dog (i.e. not tease him or hurt him, as toddlers will sometimes do on accident).

Good luck. I hope it works out.

Answer 8

I agree with you as far as how the dog was raised, but just make sure you are around the baby whenever the dog is around in the beginning. If the dog is used to kids then that is a good start. Babies can make sudden movements that will startle any kind of dog and they also like to pull on dogs' tail and fur. Any kind of dog can get upset about that so be careful and stay close to both the baby and dog. Good luck and I hope your dog lives a long and healthy, happy life!!! Kudos for rescuing this dog!!

Answer 9

I had a pit bull who died when he was 7. He adored my children. I did not let them get aggressive and he never showed a mean streak. He was the sweetest dog. It is all in how you raise them. However, you have to know what type of history the dog has. If the person who had the dog before you was teaching it to be mean or mistreating it, something you do or your child does could trigger it to become mean. Please be careful. It is different when you get it at 6 weeks old and know what it has been through. Otherwise, I think they are wonderful animals.

Answer 10

I definitely agree with the other's, it's how your dog is raised, I grew up around big dogs, mastiffs, great danes, pig dogs, I mean you get the picture and I have also owned 2 rottweilers myself and the only dog I have ever been bitten by was my Grandad's chihuahua. It really bugs me to tears when people (not you) label dogs as bad because of their breed and not the way the were trained.