Say ‘pitbull’ to the uninitiated and what’s the immediate reaction? They tremble in their boots, even at the thought of pitbull puppies.
The poor pitbull has been so demonised by the media that the very name conjures up terror.
And that’s such a shame because it is not the dog that’s intrinsically evil but the owners who have trained him and use him for one purpose only. As a weapon.
Just as a knife is not dangerous, per se; in the hands of a criminal, it can be a killer.
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Beautiful, sturdy, noble
Pitbull puppies grow up to be beautiful, sturdy, noble dogs. But like the Rotweiller, Dobermann and other powerful, muscular breeds, they do need proper training and handling. A firm hand is essential, right from the start. The pitbull puppy should never be the first choice as a family dog, because this puppy, more than any other, loves to chew anything in the vicinity… electric cables, table legs, toys. His teeth are particularly sharp.
Also, he’s such a sturdy, energetic little chap that he needs to be walked for miles every day… and put firmly in his place when he misbehaves. Definitely not the right choice for the little old lady who just wants a companion to sit with her as she snoozes by the fire. Puppies like this one need young, strong, energetic owners who appreciate exactly what sort of canine they are taking on. And have the confidence to cope with him.
Gladiatorial war dogs
Originally bred for hunting and guarding, these dogs were very much in demand by our ancient ancestors. When the Romans invaded Britain they regarded their pitbulls as gladiatorial war dogs. They encouraged them to fight off lions, bears and any other beast that threatened their masters or themselves.
When the dogs took it into their big chunky heads to fight each other, the public flocked to watch them. If they fought and managed to kill a bull, that was an even more enjoyable spectator sport.
This vile practice developed throughout the middle ages and on into the 16th century when bull baiting and bear baiting became premier sporting fixtures, even enjoying Royal patronage.
The owners of these animals could command high prices for the offspring of such fighters.
Vitally important to check background
Today’s pitbull puppies need very special care and handling to help cope with – and hopefully eliminate – any negative traits that many have been inherited from their ancestors.
Potential adopters should be very wary of taking big, powerful dogs such as these. Pitbull puppies and indeed pitbulls of any shape and size should never be purchased without a thorough investigation into their background and why they are being offered for sale.
They suffer from rejection
Be careful, too, about adopting a pitbull from a rescue centre. Rescue centres tend to be inundated with various types of bull terriers… English ‘bullies’, Staffordshire ‘bullies’ and variations on the theme. Why? Because the general public can’t handle them, mainly. They invite them into their home as puppies, then when they grow up into big, powerful dogs, these uninspired owners find they can no longer cope. Sadly, they reject them and dump them at the nearest rescue centre, or even thoughtlessly, at the side of a motorway. People who run animal rescue centres report that these dogs suffer from rejection more than any other. Britain is supposed to be a nation of animal lovers. It certainly doesn’t apply where bull terrier breeds are concerned.
With this breed it is vitally important to check its personal background. It is always wise to go to a reputable breeder to find pitbull puppies for sale, where the puppy’s mother and father can be seen and all those oh-so-important questions raised with the breeder. But first and foremost, the important question to ask is whether a pitbull is the right dog for you.
Remember always, that pitbulls do not adapt well to a household with children and/or other pets.
Wonderful dogs
Because of their dominant personalities and their tough background, only the very strongest and bravest of these pitbull puppies survived. They really are wonderful dogs and in the hands of the right sort of owner (preferably young, energetic, vibrant males) they can be loyal, loving, lifelong friends.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I appreciate that you are saying a word in favor of pitbulls, it is rare. I do have to disagree with you on one point especially though, that being that it has been my experience that pitbulls actually do “adapt well to a household with children and/or other pets.” I have been in every instance you can think of regarding pets and pits, or children and pits and have never seen the situation go awry. It is my experience that the pits I know actually adore the children that are around, and get along nicely with dogs at least…I can say they do want to “fluff” the cats and squirrels. Anyway, it should be noted that pits have been great companions, and loyal friends to both man and child, it is when man takes advantage of that relationship that he then has a 90 pound problem.
Thank you so much for your interesting and helpful comments, Kim. You’ve cast a whole new light on the subject of pitbulls. It is always good to have feedback from a knowledgeable owner.
i love my pit she 10 weeks. house trained was eazy! have truble with chewing
I understand that you are trying to be helpful, but the delivery comes across as a bunch of warnings and i think you are only instilling more fear of the breed. Suffice it to say that with all dogs, regardless of the breed, there is a chance of aggression and chewing. Do you have any facts that support your claim that pitbulls puppies chew more than every other breed of dog? Ridiculous statement. As for energy level – never ever use that as a warning. All dogs are energetic, and of all the dogs i’ve owned in my life, my boxer and my yellow lab put my pitbulls to shame in terms of energy level. Also – all dogs should be taken for long walks and runs, regardless of energy level, weight, strength – even age assuming the dog is in good health. Maybe if people did this more with their pets obesity wouldn’t such a problem.
Thank you for your interest. Your comments have been noted.
i have two wonderful pitbulls. in the same home my 5yo daughter has a 2 pound chihuaha my grandmother has a toy poodle i want to say and both of my pits get along with all of the other dogs just fine in fact they treat the chihuaha as there own puppy. my oldest pit is a brown her name is dixie she is about 8yrs old and just recently i rescued a beautiful blue/brindle from the humane society, she was found woundering the streets at only a few months old in the downtown area of the city i live near, her name is mary jane and is now about 6 months old and she adopted to her surondings, other animals, and family with no problem! she dose like to chew but never on any furniture or anything she is not suppose to! as long as they have toys (ropes, ruber bones, ect.) they will not bother anything els. owning any dog comes with resopnsability such as walking them making sure they have plenty of food and water but one that is sometimes over looked is not leaving trash out. of course if you leave food sitting out, a plate with left overs, or put left over food in the trash can were the dog can get to it they are and that goes for any dog not just pitbulls. now my oldest pit is trained verry good if u sit somthing down for her she will not touch it untill you tell her she can! they are wonderful dogs and i would recamend them to any one regaurdles rather they have little ones or other animals in the house verry great and lyoal dogs!
Thank you so much for contacting us, Scott. We always appreciate comment from other dog owners and we’re delighted to hear that your two pitbulls are so well behaved, particularly in the company of your small daughter and the various little dogs you mentioned. The fact that they are so good is a credit to you and we applaud you for the hard work you must have put in to their training. Dixie and Mary Jane sound adoreable. Bur surely, as you say, it is all down to training… which was the whole point of what we said originally.
We’re sure you would agree that positive training is what all dogs need, whatever the breed.
What we – and most sensible people – would say, is that in the hands of good owners, dogs (whatever the breed) can be a real source for good.
In the wrong hands, and trained to be aggressive, even the tiniest terrier can do untold harm.
Renewed thanks, Scott, for making contact. We hope Dixie and Mary Jane give you many more years of happiness.