We are considering a puppy....lol....I must be going crazy! I want a big dog always have :) hubby stumbled across free pups (they won't be ready until after I do my week long training for work so it would work out that someone will always be home. They are American bulldog/pit mix. I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE PITBULL DEBATE!!!!!!! Every single one I know is sweet as pie myuncle was even robbed when he had one! Hubby met the pups parents both have wonderful personalities and are very people friendly. We have two dogs so we know what a big commitment a puppy is but I want an active dog my boys can play with and snuggle.
Amanda-we have 2 dogs they are getting older (going on 11) we have babysat our friends rottie and growing up I had a rottie/Shepard mix. I already know what puppy school we would go to :)
Cheryl the newfies, st, Bernard, etc I consider xlarge :) moms a good size and dad (pure American bulldog) weighs roughly 110 so he will be big enough he has some pretty big paws to grow into.
We have 2 30-35 lb schnauzers and they are couch potatoes. Our boys have never not had dogs and were taught how to treat them.
if you have the room go for it. Little historical not...did you know that pitbulls use to be used as "babysitter dogs." before they got a bad rep people use to use them to protect young children.
Im not a animal lover at all so you can pretty much know what my answer would be :) I guess just good luck and watch those babies! I don't trust dogs especially big ones! Have a great weekend!
There is no way I would get a pit mix with kids. Sorry.
Pitbulls are not 'Big dogs' - I'm not sure what you consider a big dog...Great Pyrenees, Great Danes, New Foundlands, Saint Bernards - those are what I consider a "big dog"...
Grady is my Boxer/Pit mix. he is a love and a half...scared to death of the "razors"/scooters my boys have and will cower between my legs when they ride them on our walks!!
His brother, Grumble, whom my girlfriend has, is a lover too...
Both of these boys weigh 45lbs...and they are VERY playful...HIGH ENERGY!!! They take 10 minute naps from each other and then are at it again!!!
not sure what breed the two dogs you currently have are - bottom line? the kids need to know how to treat them. Pits are VERY social animals...but they are ANIMALS...My boys are 9 and 11 and take care of Grady...water, feed, walk, play, etc.
Raising a pit from a puppy is wonderful!! Yes, it is a huge commitment - but they are WONDERFUL dogs!!
Our son had a wonderful pit bull. It was the smartest, most loving dog. However, one thing to consider: having a pit bull or any breed like that (Staffordshire Terrier, etc), means you may be limited when it comes to kennels, travel, renting, city laws, etc.
Ask at the puppy school if pit bulls are allowed. Do you rent your home or own it, and regardless of which answer it is, are you definitely there long term? Because if you planned to move in the next few years, trying to bring your pit bull along could pose problems, as many towns or neighborhoods or developments or apartment buildings outlaw them. If you use a kennel for boarding for the occasional vacation, or a dog-sitter, or a groomer, check with them all about whether they have any restrictions due to breed. Check with your city or town government about any breed laws and restrictions.
You already seem like you've made up your mind......
My only suggestion would be to maybe take your other dogs to meet the pup. This may be a big annoyance to them since they are older. We have a four year old dog and recently got a puppy because we thought he'd enjoy having a companion....not so much lol. The puppy really annoys him, and he snaps at him alot. And he's only four! So that would be my only draw back. American Bulldogs are gorgeous sweet dogs, and so are pits if raised by kind caring humans. I had a Rottie that wouldn't hurt a fly! And he WAS a snuggler and wanted to be a lap dog!!
Again, my only concern would be the age of your other dogs. Maybe waiting until they are gone would be a wiser decision? Just a thought!
I just can't imagine the bulldog/pit mix being the snuggling (active, yes) type of dog. Or at least it wouldn't seem to me they are. But I'll be the first to admit I'm not an expert on dogs.
I also couldn't imagine having 3 dogs in my household....
(And in all honesty I'm starting to regret I even put my 2 cents in, because A. maybe those type of dogs are snuggly and B. If your happy with 3 dogs, then so be it.)
if the pup comes from well behaved people friendly/comfortable parents, and you raise him with love and are very consistent/firm with his training then he could be just fine!!! yes there are lots and lots of pits that are "bad", but it is usually the result of being raised/trained that way and years of breeding for aggression. Lots of people dont like rotties, my hubby included, but the ones I have known have been the most loving playful loyal dogs I have ever known. I want a dog so bad I cant hardly stand it, we would have one now if it were better timing. We have a 2 1/2 year old and 10 month old twins. so, I just know I wouldnt have the time or patience to train the dog or give him/her the attention and love they deserve. I want a Siberian Husky sooooooooo bad, like I would be crazy-stupid in love with the thing and probably spend way to much money to get it. we are hoping next year. thinking about starting with a cat just to get the kiddo's used to an animal and to play nice.
Pitbull debate? I didn't know there was much to debate. They are either wonderful dogs or viscous killers. Abortion is either killing a baby or a form of birth control. What's to debate?
I got my last two dogs from the animal shelter. They were both grown and almost house broken. They had a space for my kids to play with them to see if they were kid compatable, which was one of my requirements. One of the best side benefits was they were almost house broken. Each one took less than two weeks to house break.
If you get one from an animal shelter you can see how big it is going to be and how playful it is going to be. You don't have to wait to see how a puppy will turn out.
Good luck to you and yours.
I LOVE dogs so understand wanting to get a puppy. I agree that you should make sure the older dogs are ok with him/her and then I find puppies annoying w/ little kids. There's so much biting and jumping that scratches the kids that I wonder how people do it. My sister has had 3 puppies and says the picture of little kids and puppies is just that - a picture. Reality is you have to keep them separated so much bc the kids get hurt. But I've never done it... We adopted a 2 year old so I didn't have to deal w/ all the training etc.
Well (not getting into the pit bull debate) maybe you've found the right thing at the right time!
The only issue I can see is the pup is going to be a lot stronger. Pits are smart and loyal so this is more of a watch for this. You'll really want to watch him/her when she's playing with the older dogs. Some dogs get it right away but some don't know their strength/size especially during the first year or so of their life when they grow so much.
YAY! Get your puppy!!!
Pits are WONDERFUL doggies. They have been for years. Look up "the Nanny Dog," that's an American Staffordshire/pit bull terrier.
Here's one of my favorites. http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676
I think you know what is involved with taking care of a dog and you have your heart set so go for it! I just adopted a lab/pit mix. My older dog is 13 also a a pit mix and I do not want to replace him with a puppy when it is his time. I have him crate trained and he house broke quick with the older dog and consistency. Puppies are high in energy, explore, and chew everything. So be prepared!!
You do not have to defend pits to me. I have had three pit mixes I adopted from the shelters. I think they are the best. They are smaller in size and low maintainance compared to other dogs. They make great watch dogs and yet are gentle and sweet with children. They are loyal and bond easy with their owners and people they know. It is not the breed of dog that makes a bad dog, just a bad person.
Will this be your first dog?
I'm not going to debate Pitbulls - I have met super super sweet, family-friendly/protective pitbulls.
What I will say is that you absolutely MUST be the pack leader AT ALL TIMES. This is true with most dogs, but an absolute requirement with strong, powerful dogs.
They tend to be more dog-aggressive than people-aggressive, so you must socialize them early and often with lots of different people and animals.
I am not at all going to suggest you don't get a pit mix. We have a bulldog mix - and even just being a bull she's a bit aggressive with other dogs (not people).
I guess what I'm really trying to say is that you need to really do your research on how to be a responsible pit owner - and that it's probably not the best dog if you've not raised a dog before.
Check with your town, in our town if you have three dogs or more of course, you have to have a Kennels license
Just know that with 2 dogs you have best friends, but with 3 dogs you have a pack. I have 3 farm dogs. My younger sister shows one of them in 4-H. When that dog (Nikki) isnt with the other two, she is very well behaved. No problems what so ever. Berlin and Spike are cowards when they are alone. However... When all three of them get together, they are a pack. They are mean and viscous, and very hard to love at times.
make sure to do some research on pit bulls and what they're like as they grow older, how much exercise they need, etc. to see if that breed is a good fit with your family. and make sure that the pups are WELL socialized before they come to you and keep socializing them as they can get aggressive if they're not. good luck!
