How can I convince my dad to let me get this special pit bull?

Question

I work at an animal shelter and a very submissive and sweet american bulldog pitbull just touched my heart. I feel bad because so many people made pitbulls get a bad reputation from using them for dog fights. I always tell vistors at the shelter that it isn't necessarily the breed itself, but the dog and how it was treated during those CRITICAL puppy years. ANY dog can be mean or agressive if anytime it sees a human and remembers pain from abuse. Many people really don't want him because of this breed's reputation and eventhough our shelter doesn't euthanize unwanted animals I still feel so bad for him because he's only 1. My dad is sooo scared of pitbulls and I want to convince him that this dog is different. He passed ALL the shelter's behavior tests with flying colors, and he even gets along with dogs and cats! All he needs is a loving home. How can I convince my dad to let me get this dog? Any advice would be so appreciated. Maybe you can help me out chetco?

Answer 1

Im not Chetco but my advice.....
See if you can talk your dad into going to meet the dog, and tell him he is not fullblooded but a mix (because it sounds like he is definitely a mix- could help). It doesnt take long for someone to fall in love with a dog, especially if they see the love their child has for the animal.
If he says no there is nothing you can do. His roof, his rules. If that is the case wait until you are old enough to care for one yourself.
Good luck!

Edited: Only one specific type of pit bull has been bred for matching, the APBT, which the one concerned with this asker is not. And, they are not bred to fight but bred for their gameness.
Dog on dog aggression and dog on people aggression are two entirely different things.
Also, while APBTs were being bred to fight otehr dogs they were also culled if people aggressive. They are the only breed to be specifically bred to not be human aggressive. Maybe you, My 2 Cents, should be doing more research...

Answer 2

I think you should get your dad to go to the shelter to see him interacting with people and maybe even with the other dogs. It may take him a little while, but hopefully he will come around.
Also, is this a Pit Bull or an American Bulldog? They are not the same animal. Or is it a mix of the 2?
If it is an American Bulldog, they do not have the reputation that a Pit Bull has and your dad may allow them.

I have owned many Pit Bulls(over 25 between our own and rescues) and we have never had a problem with any of them. They were great with everyone, including our 4 kids.
Your dad just needs to see that they are not all the way they are portrayed.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Looks like you did get some very good advice. My first thought was to see if dad will allow you to foster him. It would need to be for 3-4 weeks, as you will only see the very best or the worst of a dog during the 'honeymoon' period of the first 2 weeks, and after that, is the time that you can really see how he fits into your home.
American bulldogs were bred as an all purpose farm dog. Despite their appearance, they are not a dog fighting breed, and are not bred for gameness or dog aggression, but for intelligence and trustworthiness around other animals, and ability to do what was needed on Colonial farms, such as herding, hunting, cart pulling, guarding against predators, etc.
Pit bulls are a great dog, but they do get a bad rap from those (perhaps 5 %) that are unstable. If you study this wonderful website, created by a person who has been rescuing and breeding pit bulls for 36 years, you may have enough REAL information to chat with your dad about them. he will know that you have done your homework, and know more about this amazing breed> http://www.workingpitbull.com/
I sure know how you feel about a shelter dog stealing your heart! it is SO hard for me to not take the local dogs home with me..One little basset mix still haunts me, as I just couldn't bring home another dog..But she (Bonnie) inspired me to write a children's book about those deserving adult dogs in shelters. I wish you the best of luck in convincing your dad, and hope all goes as you well for you..

Answer 4

well ask your dad if you could foster him and if that works out maybe your dad will give into having the dog around all the time. Or take your dad to the shelter and let him get around the dog, and if possible let other dogs play with the dog while your dads watching them. but i understand where your dads coming from even though the dog passed all the important tests, any dog can snap back or even kill. I also understand what your saying too, i work at a kennel and we shelter homeless pets, i was in the same position as you,so the dog got adopted and a week later the lady that adopted him told us that she had to put him down because he attacked the other dog she had. So make sure this is what you really want cause homeless dogs can be unpredictable. good luck with everything.

Answer 5

is he an american pit bull tearier or an american bulldog both are good dogs but the bulldogs don't have the bad repp. it could be a boxer to unless the owner brought it in a shelter doesn't all ways know what breed a dog really is and a lot of people call any dog that looks even a little bit like an A.P.B.T. a pit bull but I'm not trying to say you should try to trick your dad or anything just tell him you can't judge the hole breed by a few bad dogs not to long ago doberman pincers where said to all be real bad dogs

Answer 6

I have a 15 month old Pit bull and he is the sweetest dog in the world. I also have 4 young children that he is very protective over and a cat that he is best friends with..
here is a great example of how sweet he is..
Earlier this evening one of the kids let him out with out putting him on his chain so I went to get him and he ran down the road I watched him get hit I ran down the street and by the time I got to where he had skidded to he was gone I ran home to get my husband when Joc (the dog) came up the backyard he immediatly collapsed we took him to the hospital and he is hurt but ALIVE. The sweet part is when he saw my husband about 100 feet away he walked right in front of the kids and barked at my husband. severly wounded yet still willing to protect his kids.
I was also attacked by a pitbull when I was a kid. 40 stitches in my face but it was more then one pit..Never have more then one pit at a time let him know YOU are boss from the start and it will be the most loyal thing you have ever met.
Good luck, Amber

Answer 7

Take him to meet the dog. I'm sure that if the dog is as loving as you say (which I'm sure it is, I ♥ dogs), your dad won't be able to say no. Let him have time to get to know the dog, then he won't be so scared. I know what you mean about a bad rep, just let your dad spent time with the dog, and then he will feel more comfortable and his opinons will change for the better!
Good luck!

Answer 8

Get your dad down there to meet the dog. That's the only way that he is going to see that all pitbulls aren't the same.

Answer 9

I know this isn't helpful to your situation, but you need a little more information. I realize some pit bulls have made decent pets for people, but you are wrong about one major point. Pit bulls ARE as a breed, bred to fight. That's where the name came from. They weren't named that just because some people fight them. The breed was created for that purpose.

Answer 10

offer to foster him, that way you can see on a non commitment basis how he is and your dad might fall for him too