Do Pitbull terriers make good family pets?

Question

I live with my mom, stepdad,and little brother(11). We have a yellow lab named Rosie. Rosie is 6 months old. We wanted to adopt a new dog. My mom wants a pug but i perfer pitbulls. She said that they are dangerous but i don't think they are. I've seen a lot of stable pitbulls before. I need some stories or facts to prove to my mom that pitbulls are great family pets.

Answer 1

You "prefer" pitbulls? Why is that? Do you have knowledge of the breed? Pitts are awesome family dogs. You have to be an awesome Pitt owner to establish that though.

Obediance training, must be an indoor dog, stay consistant, always watching the dog like you would a child etc.

Read up on the breed before you buy. You have to be willing to commit. You cannot be a LAZY pitt owner. That is cause for accidents

Answer 2

Ok, first off all dogs give warnings before attacking there Retro, just because you and the owners can't read the signs the dogs are giving. Pitbulls do not just "turn on their owners" for no reason. By the owners own admissions they go back and think, well Fido was growling at me if I got near his food, and Fido was upset if I moved him off the couch.

Pitbulls can be wonderful family pets, but many of the other previous posters are correct. Many of them need a knowledgeable owner that is willing and able to put in the time training it. THe WORST thing for the breed right now is someone getting a pitbull who is unable or unwilling to take the extra steps to make sure that their dog is a breed ambassador. Right now, pitbull owners are held to a MUCH higher standard. You need to make sure that your pitbull is socialized better than everyone else's dogs, because if your pitbull bites someone, well it's because he was a pit. If your pitbull doesn't come when called, all terror breaks out, because, well because it;s a pit.

I think, given your age and family situation, and the fact that your mom wants a pug, this isn't really the breed for you at this time. Pitbulls are very very stable dogs, but right now, you have to make sure that your dog is more stable than anyone elses, better trained, more obedient, because if it isn't, then "it's acting that way because it's a pitbull". When you get older and get your own place, then get a pitbull and raise him or her to be an example of all that this breed can be.

Owner of two pit mixes

Answer 3

They are great dogs if you get it from a reputable breeder, Train it, and have expierience with bully breeds. They arent like your lab. Ask yourself why you "prefer" pits. Is it for their good nature or do you like the looks and reputation. It is also your moms house and your moms decision and do you think your little brother will be able to treat the dog just as firm as your dad? You all have to be on the same page when it comes to the dog because it will take advantage of any lieniency it gets. To me they are the greatest breed ever but Ive had them since diapers. I would say that if your mom wants a pug its going to take alot to convince her to get an APBT, they are 2 totally different dogs. The money you would have to spend on a pure/truebred APBT and the training is going to be alot more than adopting a dog. You want a pit and your mom wants a pug, try to find some middle ground.

Answer 4

Without any doubt there are many Pitbulls that live in homes w/o any biting incidents, proper breeding for correct temperament can almost enssure a good dog BUT I have found NO Pitbull Rescues who adopt to multi dog households. I fostered a 4 mos old female who attacked one of my old MinPins w/o any provocation and if she hadn't been leashed I have no doubt she would have killed him. My MinPins have all been around large breed dogs, I had a GSD at the time and a Dobe and Lab now and my MinPins do not challenge large dogs.. My g/f's 70lb Lab was scared of her too. After seeing that I would only buy or adopt a Pitbull with care from a top breeder or a dog that had lived in a multi dog household b4 w/o any problems. We have had several biting problems at the dog park from Pits as well and I wish dog parks were manned so aggressive dogs could be barred. We have a very aggressive Akita pup who once he is full grown will probably kill another dog, right now all the adults can pin him but he is a problem in the making and his older owners have no clue and won't even neuter him. One of my friends found a 7 week old Staffy pup on the street and she was rasied with cats and other dogs but she almost took a tail off one cat, bit 2 of her housemates and tried a few times to kill her Dobe friend. The Dobe had to be rushed to the Emergency Vet to be put back together. Personally I would have put the Pit to sleep rather than endanger my other pets but she had teeth pulled, filed and was medicated the rest of her life.

Answer 5

With Pitts you need to avoid the places that breed for fighting, back yard breeders, puppy mills & pet shop pups. Avoid the newspaper ads.

This is a very unstable breed, there are breeders EVERYWHERE that don't know how to work genetics & come up with a lot of messed up, mixed up, bad genetics & cause behavior issues, health issues, structure issues & on & on & on.

You will need to check & check & re check with each breeder & don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. They don't do temperament tests on these pups so they can't reassure you that the dog is not going to have problems.

I would go with your mom & get a Pug. Or any other breed. There are ignorant breeders that breed pugs & you have to be careful there, too.

The average family can not afford to buy a good quality dog & end up buying from back yard breeders, puppy mills, pet shops. Yes the dogs are more reasonable in price but what is wrong with them.

My expierence with Pitts has, for the most part, been bad. They don't make good attact dogs as in personal protection or police dogs because they can be detoured by just having a dog close to a fence. The pitt would ignore the intruder & go attact the dog & let the intruder in.

They just aren't reliable dogs.

Your mom is right ! ! ! !

Answer 6

Ginbark- I hit the wrong button- I meant to give you a thumbs up- I am so sorry! so pretend that it is a thumbs up! Sorry!

I have to agree with your mom. Dont get a pitbull or anything like it- they are too unpredictable and if something should happen, whether it be your dogs fault or not- you could get sued and loose your house. Why not rescue a nice mutt form the shelter or www.petfinder.com

There are just too many risks with owning a dog like that- and in your living situation- I would not risk it.

I know I am going to get a bunch of thumbs down from people- but they just cant see reality- they think because their pit is nice that they all are- which is not the case. Look it up on the internet heres a few sites...


http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf


http://videos.humpingfrog.com/14104/2006/03/pitbull-attacks-a-7-year-old-child.html


I guess you decide

Answer 7

They make the BEST pet. Do NOT believe all of the cruel and ugly myths. If you raise one from a puppy and properly they are a joy to have around. Our loves puppies, kittens, and kids (and we don't even have any kids). They love to snuggle, please their owner, follow you to each room, and they are funny too. The press loves to get all the negative hype regarding a pit. But check out some stuff on the postive things about pits. The receive very high marks in passing a temperment test. Labs are more likely to attack than a pit. ANY dog can be mean if it is raised that way. Good luck!

Answer 8

Im going to have to agree w/your mother for your sake and you little brothers...

Although I agree with you I have seen pitbulls be wonderful pets as well and have been around them. But on the other had I have heard to many horror stories about them turning on their owners for NO reason....

I know ppl say its b/c of the way they are raised but this is not always the case, there blood line plays a part in this......

I just dont think they are 'good' family pets.....

but I see where your coming from and I would not want a pug either lol
I like me some BIG dogs!!

Why dont you consider a rotweiller, or a german shepard, they have a great nature, VERY smart and are protective of their families! make excellent family pets!

Answer 9

hey pitbulls are cool but i would prefer pugs because they make good family pets they dont bark as much either and thye are loving and careing pets all dogs are good but i would prefer pugs because there afectionate and loveable. If you dont like the color of the fawn pug try a black one instead. If u decide to adopt a puppy pug they make wonderful pets when they grow up and they will think of you as there master. trust me on this i have a pug lol.

Answer 10

there is a risk in getting any dog that you don't know its story from birth. if you get one young enough, where you can still carry out the majority of its training, you should be fine. of course you always have to keep a good eye on them and see how they are responding to your other dog, how they act around other people, kids, etc. some dogs just have weird genetics, but i think that a pit bull can be a fantastic dog if you train it right; the trouble is a lot of people train them on purpose to be violent, and that's how they get the bad rep.