Do Pit Bulls become possessive of their toys?

Question

My husband and I cannot agree on this: (Note: We have a 2 year-old son).
After playing ball with our adorably loving Pit Bull, my husband lets her keep her ball with her on her bed. I always take it away after game time, because I'm worried she'll become possessive if anybody, namely our son, goes to grab the ball, even if it's all in fun. She has never once nipped at another person, but I've done my research and I just don't think it's a good idea. My husband disagrees. He's been a dog owner his entire life (this is my first dog), and he thinks that if she's been good, she "deserves" to keep it with her on her bed. What do you think?

Thanks for the quick answers! Most of them are very helpful. I don't appreciate the opinionated ones, though. From a parent's perspective, I do in fact love my child and his safety comes first, but from a pet owner's perspective, my dog is not agressive, and yes, I have done research on pit bulls, obviously those who tell me to get rid of the dog or put it outside have not done detailed research or they wouldn't make thoughtless comments.
Over all, I am finding your feedback extremely useful!
p.s. some of you need to learn how to spell :)

p.p.s Although I appreciate the informational answers, please don't leave an essay. Too long to read and some tend to go off subject without directly answering the question (ahem... Michael?)

Answer 1

There is no problem with letting a dog keep a toy as long as she allows you to take it whenever you want and does not obsess about it. If they start guarding it, then you obviously need to establish who is the REAL boss of your home.
But if she has displayed no signs of aggression like guarding then don't worry about it.
Take the ball from her occasionally just to show her you can and when she doesn't react, give it back and praise her. This will get her used to it so if your son ever does it she will not be alarmed.

Oh, Peaches, your ignorance is frightening to me.

Answer 2

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.

Answer 3

I don't think you need to take the ball away from her every time immediately after play, but she does need to know that if you ask for the ball at any time, she has to give it up. I don't think this is different for pit bulls any more than any other breed of dog. If she is not showing signs of resource guarding, I think this is being overly strict and she should be able to keep her toy.

Answer 4

Any dog, regardless of breed, can become possessive. My cousin's Chihuahua is a little possessive when he's chewing on a good treat and you reach down to take it away from him. Whenever I puppy-sit for her, and he's chewing on something good, I'll reach down once in a while and pet around his face and on his head. If he growls, I take it away from him until he calms down. It's teaching him quickly that people control what he gets, and if he growls, he won't get it. I would recommend you teach her to give it up when you tell her to, and that she is never to growl when someone reaches for it or around her face. I don't see anything wrong with letting your dog have it, but if she does start getting aggressive, it won't be a good thing. Teaching her to give it on command can help greatly, and will show her that you're alpha, and you decide what she gets and doesn't.

Answer 5

If she doesn't seem to have a problem with the toy, let her keep it. Pit bulls are usually less possessive than many other dog breeds, so don't make this a breed-specific thing.

Answer 6

depends on the individual dog, but yes animals can become possessive, especially if they believe the child is getting more attention than them. At the same time I know many friendly pets that I highly doubt would snap a kid for that.... now if the kids starts hurting the animal thats a different story.

Answer 7

all dogs can become possessive of their
toys, I own a pit bull myself & assi half chow,
they both have their own toy they both know it. if the ball is the dogs then yes the ball belongs with her, but you should let the dog know that its wrong to growl when your
taking the ball from her.

Answer 8

mine doesn't.
for example, my pit bull is almost a year old [her bday is the 23rd :] ], so she likes to chew things, and she has razor sharp teeth. after tearing a few holes in my dad's shorts, we decided to let her have them, so she wouldn't tear up anything else.
most of the shorts now are in tons of pieces, but if she's chewing on one, you can take it away from her mouth.
i believe with aggression/possessive-ness, it has nothing do with the breed; just with the experience they had growing up.
if you keep treating your pit bull right, she MOST LIKELY won't become possessive.
let her have her toy every once and a while, after game time.

Answer 9

I quite have a extensive German Shepherd that may not a great eater. i've got asked different supplies in this venture and the respond that i've got been given is to not in basic terms feed the dogs one by one, yet in addition to feed them on conventional schedules. placed the nutrition out and depart it out for only 20 minutes or so, and then placed it away. at last the dogs is going to get hungry sufficient to eat the nutrition and that they gets used to being on a conventional schedule like that. in case you depart the nutrition out all day, the dogs gets acquainted with it, and could not eat to boot. I particularly doubt that your Pit Bull is going to eat your kitten because of the fact this is hungry. it ought to attack the kitten because of the fact it does not comprehend the thank you to work together with it, whether it won't eat the kitten because of the fact curiously like a delectable meal. you will might desire to introduce the kitten to the dogs and 'babysit' their interplay. it may well be in basic terms like in case you delivered a toddler into the homestead. you does not in basic terms assume that the dogs may well be high-quality with the toddler and depart them mutually unattended. you ought to supervise their conferences and interactions till they become acquainted with a minimum of one yet another. you ought to reveal screen the dogs habit and reward stable habit, and 'punish' undesirable habit' generally a solid business enterprise "NO" whilst the dogs has carried out something undesirableis stable sufficient, fairly if the dogs lives to thrill you. i desire this is effective!

Answer 10

As long as she reacts okay when you take it away I wouldn't worry. I would be more concerned about her guarding her food as it's not uncommon for two year olds to play with the food. If she allows you to put your hands near her food when she is eating, or to take it away, then I don't think you have any dominance issues.