i have a 4 year old son and also have a 4 month old puppy....the puppy is a german shepherd chow mix, we just rescued a 3 month old american pitt bull from the animal shelter....this poor dog was the runt of the litter and was malnutritioned and had bite marks all over its body from the other puppies, the poor thing, we adopted him and so far so good he is eating like crazy! you can tell he was starved, he has a good home now but i am concerned about in the future will he kill my other dog and will he be good with the kids? i dont know alot about pitt bulls and i have heard so many horror stories so i would like to know what the future holds for us in this situation.....thanks!
2007-03-21 11:07:38 · 12 answers · asked by crazy_bitch420_here 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
If he is that young YOU can train him to be a GOOD dog. YOU can help him learn how to GET ALONG with the other dog and the kids. Like any large breed dog, the kids need to be taught also to treat this dog nice as well. Neither of the dogs are horses, they should be taught that. They're not rag dolls or pull toys, they should be taught that. All you have to do to prevent a horror story is to make sure YOU teach ALL the little ones (children and puppies) the proper way. I knew someone who had a pit bull with a chihuahua. They got along great, played all the time no problem. I also know someone who had a rottweiler with little children, rotts are known to be mean too, but this one was raised right and did better than some small breed dogs with the children. I would suggest if anything, check into local laws, make sure where you live doesn't have Breed Standardization laws preventing people from owning certain dogs. Pit Bulls are banned in many areas because people feel their the devil's dog. Poor things are just misunderstood.
When it comes to dogs an children, ANY BREED can be dangerous. In California once not all too long ago, there was a case where a POMERANIAN killed a child. Pomeranians are little bitty small breed mop dogs. How did this little Pomeranian kill a child? Well, the dogs mouth was around the child's head, and the child died from head trauma. As long as you teach all the little ones how to get along, you should have no problem.
As you can probably tell, I'm a pitbull fan AND a FIRM believer of "Punish the deed, not the breed."
2007-03-21 11:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by Siren 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You shouldn't have a pit bull around small children under any circumstances. They can be fine one minute and bite the next. Even a pup can bite pretty hard.
I wouldn't introduce a pitbull into the family unless your children are older (atleast 12-14) and taught about that breed of dog.
As for getting along with your other dog, If you bring in a puppy the other dog shouldn't have a problem, however he may become jealous and that could lead to being over protective of you and others. Don't ignore the old dog when you get a new one. Include him in everything you do with the new pup so he doesn't feel left out.
2007-03-21 11:35:39 · answer #2 · answered by Lisa R 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This just sounds like a volatile mix to me. A part chow, a pitt bull and a 4 year old. Chow's and shepard mixes can be very aggressive and territorial - the 3 month old pit bull has already had a bad history of being bitten and having to bite back - 3 months is NOT that young. I'd try to find a good home for one of your dogs and as one writer stated, teach your 4 year old that animals are not toys (which I'm sure you do, as you sound compassionate and kind). I think you're right to be worried. Better safe than sorry.
2007-03-21 11:20:14 · answer #3 · answered by lelhoni 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Your Pitt Bull will be JUST FINE!
It's all depends on the way you get him socialized. Take him to the dog park, get him around other people with children and even try going to the horse stables, if you are near any.
3 months is the perfect time for all of this, so just keep giving him a good home and don't believe all the rubbish you hear about pitbulls, cause it's the media and all the stupid people who believe in it that give these beautiful dogs a horrible name.
Also look into some web sites, like realpitbulls.com and badrap.com, these are great sites to inform you of the breed and their wonderful temperament around children as well as people.
Also remember that dog aggression is in every dog! I don't care what anybody says to that.
2007-03-21 11:20:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I had a shepard/chow mix and she was the best dog I have ever had!! I also had 3 kids at the time - she became the 4th kid. Was never aggressive, but was very protective of her 'babies' (my kids).
Having said that, IMO - you could not pay me to have a pit in my home with small children. I have known a few that were 'lovingly raised' and 'taught' to be nice -- that have KILLED small children. The breed is just unpredictable - again IMO - and I personally would not ever take a chance with my child. I know that 'some' pits have turned out ok - but are you really willing to take that chance with your child???
2007-03-21 11:29:11 · answer #5 · answered by GP 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are to be commended for adopting these animals..Kudos to you and your family. Both the pit bull and chow have "bad" reputations..many undeserved for sure. Just supervise your children and the pups when they are together. Never leave your children alone with them. Give both animals lots of love and equal attention and let them interact with your children...always with you there. I think they will make you great pets. Children can be tuggy/pully and can startle an animal..puppy or not. Just always be with them all until you can trust and know how they will all get along and interact. Good Luck
2007-03-21 11:19:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't care what people say about how pit bulls are trained to be vicious I wouldn't trust them for one minute around young children. If it was just you maybe but do you really want to take that chance with your children? It only takes one time for it to get a hold of your child's neck and kill one of them. Believe me it happened to my sisters neighbors daughter. If I were you I would find another home for the Pitt bull before it grows out of the cute stage and nobody wants it. Just my opinion.
2007-03-21 11:11:55 · answer #7 · answered by mom of twins 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i have had 4 pitbulls, and my mother in law has 2 and my brother has 2 and they have always been around my 2 very young kids. its all in how you raise them. i have never had a problem with mine. make sure your pit and other dog is fixed and you shouldnt have ny problem. work with the pit to to make sure hes not food aggressive. starting early you have yourself a fine dog. i always say to people who are horrified by pits, punish the deed not the breed. i would get another pit without blinking an eye with my 1 month old and 3 year kids.
2007-03-21 11:13:43 · answer #8 · answered by peterrabbit 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
my pitbull and daschund get along with each other...at least when im NOT around. dogs are just attention seekers lol
2007-03-21 11:10:50 · answer #9 · answered by xapao 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't have ANY dog near small children. They are wild animals (the dogs, not the kids) and are unpredictable. After a child's face is ripped apart, destroying the dog won't fix it.
2007-03-21 11:19:49 · answer #10 · answered by vinny_the_hack 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋