thinking of getting a pitbul..?

Question

imma youngin` and i really want a dog; well a puppy.. and there`s this site.. and they`re located in valencia,CA called, "Galikennels" if anyone has heard of them.. feedback would be nice.. they`re aggressive dogs i know, but if they`re brought up in a nonagressive manner.. this changes, right? or is that wrong? i know they still have the potential to be mean.. but then again so does every other dog.. would they be good with my friends.. around 14/15 year`s old.. my brother; he`s 3. ? or should i just resort to getting a rotweiler.. i want a "mean-looking" dog..

Answer 1

Pit bulls can be great dogs if raised to be part of the family but they should not be a first time dog owners dog. I mean by this that Rotts, Pits and several other breeds should only be owned by poeple with the experience to handle these dogs because they can be more aggressive and require a little different training methods. Why do you want a mean looking dog? If I was a breeder and you said that to me, it would send up hugh red flags and I would probley not sell you a dog.

My family Bred Rotts for 25 years (champion show dogs) Right now I owner an Akita and his best friend is a female Pit. I love all breeds and believe it is bad owners and Back yard breeders that give the dogs a bad name by breeding dogs that should never have been breed in the first place and people that buy them to train them to be a gaurd dog.

These breeds need no training to be protective what so ever!! Please be very careful where you get it from (A good breeder) And use a proffesional train and I can not stress this enough SOCIALIZATION is the key to everything!!!!


ADDED:

Sekkie, I thought your answer was a wonderful answer and Very truthful.

Tin Can Sailor: My Rotts have always been the NANNY dog that you talk about with your pitts. I would love to see someone try and harm a child or even come in the yard with the children while the rotts are out with them. It would never happen. My Full grown fully intact male rott years ago rasied a litter of kittens and if he could have figured out how to nurse them he would have. It surprises me that someone who owns a more aggresive breed that has a bad rap would say something bad about another breed. Rotts are wonderful with childern and very gentle just like a pit can be.

Answer 2

Yes a lot of how a pitbull acts as an adult is how it's raised. But there are infact genetic characteristics and tendencies that cannot be changed. Their breed is an aggressive one. And yes some are more aggressive than others. Bottom line is owning a pitbull requires dedication and lots of care and attention. Often times they need obedience training, they are very energetic and require a lot of exercise. The don't just need attention they demand it. They are sometimes tempermental and moody and therefore a home with children must take this into account. I am one of the first to fight against breed specific legislation, the responsiblity is on the owner not the dog. What are your reasons for wanting a "mean looking dog"? Have you studied pits and their behavior, the physical requirements for care, etc? The same with Rotties, they are aggressive dogs, it's in their nature, they also require a lot of care and dedication. Getting a dog regardless of whether it's a pit, a rottie, a mastiff, a staffordshire, any of the bully breeds, there is a stigma and you must be aware. Don't just get a pit because you want a "mean looking dog". Get a pit because you love and respect the breed.

Answer 3

Ok.. just by your question I can tell you are NOT ready for animal ownership, let alone a pit bull.

You want a "mean-looking dog".. WRONG reason to get any animal.

You have a much younger brother, who is a toddler. These dogs, as are many breeds, are LARGE and very strong. They might not mean to hurt him, but they can just by accidentally knocking him down.

Then you want to buy a dog from a breeder, just from looking at their website. WRONG again! There are THOUSANDS of dogs, esp pits, in shelters.

You're a teenager, which means you don't work. YOU cannot afford a dog, and this includes proper food, vet bills, etc. You also should be focusing on school, which leaves little time to devote to the dog. Once the "newness" wears off, this dog will be chained to a tree in the yard and ignored.

Pits are wonderful dogs, but they are NOT for first time dog owners. They can be aggressive, esp animal/dog aggressive, are large and powerful, and have lots of energy. They are not an apartment dog.

You also mention a Rott.. same thing. Large and very active.

I love pits.. I have several myself (rescues) and I recommend them to many people.. but these are adults who are responsible and understand the commitment to the animal. They aren't toys to can put on the shelf when done playing with. This is a life long (dog's lifetime) commitment.

Answer 4

My concern is with your comment, "i want a "mean-looking" dog". Do you want a mean dog or just a scary looking dog?
An APBT is scary to a lot of people. Although they are a very friendly and loving dog. They are not people aggressive but can be aggressive to other dogs. They are great with children so would be OK with your three year old brother and your friends. You will have to get the pup out and around other dogs to stop this aggression to other dogs.
My Pit loves everyone.She is great with anyone who comes to the house, especially children and baby's. Hence the the term "nanny dog". They were at one time the most popular family dog in the country.
A Rott would not be as good around children

Answer 5

Inspect the breeder thoroughly, and I mean *thoroughly* before commiting to buying. Pitbulls are very, very frequently brought up in puppy mills because the demand for them is so high. You want a pit bull from champion lines with a milder temperment.

I don't know anything about this breeder, I'm in WA and I don't own pits, but it's never a worse idea to buy from a puppy mill than when you're buying a pitbull.

(Pit's are sweet hearts and very playful, I love them. But puppy mills don't breed to make good pets, they breed to make money.)

Answer 6

Pitbulls are very good dogs, it's all in how you raise them, yes pitbulls do have it in them to be aggressive but like I said it's how you raise them, they can be the sweetest dogs and definetly, if you get a pit make sure it's a puppy so that you know his back ground and how he is gonig to be raised. Be sure to expose them with lots of people so that when other come around he is not territorial over you, pits tend to be very territorial over family members.

Answer 7

if u want a big mean lookijng dog then a bernese mountain dog...they are sooo sweet but look tough....But rotties and pits need to be trained by the owner around other dogs and near cildren...get a pit or rottie from a breeder that u know or have visited and know both the pups parents! --- and see they r nice... Hope i help but click here and do LOTS of research on both the dog breeds!

http://network.bestfriends.org/newjersey/news/9049.html <<

Answer 8

you should be fine. it's all in how you raise the pitbull. i have had 3 and they were all great family dogs. and yes they have that "mean look" but sometimes that comes in handy when you're walking down the street, even though yours might be sweet, someone would think twice about approaching you knowing you have a pitt. good luck

Answer 9

Why don't you join the UKC Message Boards at www.ukcdogs.com and post on the Dog Events board your question and reasons and see if anyone can help you. There are tons of APBT owners/breeders on this particular forum and I think they might be able to give you some guidance.

Answer 10

there are plenty of pit bulls in shelters and plenty of puppies, bcuz ppl wanted mean looking dogs and didnt know how to care for them. but pits are really sweet dogs, when cared for and trained properly. do more research on them and good luck with finding a good dog