How to Love A Pitbull

The pitbull terrier is often mistaken as a mean, vicious breed because of their reputation as fighting and attack dogs. As a former believer of this philosophy, and a current owner of a pitbull, I can tell you that when raised correctly, the pitbull terrier is one of the sweetest, loyal breeds that I've ever encountered.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pitbull puppy
• Patience

1. When deciding if a pitbull terrier is the right choice of dog for your family, keep in mind that they are a breed that needs one on one attention and proper training. A pitbull terrier is a great addition to an active family who will take the time to play with and train him. They are an intelligent breed who loves to run - a fenced in yard is ideal for these dogs.

2. Because proper training is important with the pitbull, either enroll your puppy in a puppy obedience class or train him yourself with the basic commands (sit, stay, down, etc). The pitbull is smart, but rambunctious. It might be best to incorporate a lot of play into a training routine. Remember to have patience!!! A puppy is a puppy, no matter what breed he is.

3. The more time you spend with your dog, the stronger your bond will be. Pitbull terriers love games like fetch, tug of war, keep away, and chasing games to keep their minds sharp and their bodies moving. And when you're both exhausted, there's nothing better than sitting in the shade cooling down with water or an ice cream cone with your new best friend.

4. Never show your dog fear. Make sure that you convey to your dog that you are the boss when he gets a little rowdy. Don't be afraid to put him in "time out", or put him in a sitting position until he calms down. Respect him, but don't fear him.

Tips & Warnings

• Always do your research when choosing a dog to make sure it's compatible with your lifestyle.
• As with any new relationship, your relationship with your pitbull will take time to grow. Be patient!
• Socialize your pitbull puppy with different people and animals. They are skeptical of the unknown, so it's best to raise them early to be tolerant of any people or animals that they may encounter in their lifetime.
• Pitbulls are banned from some towns and cities. Make sure you check with your town/city hall before you puchase one!
• Just like humans, every breed of dog has some that are more difficult to handle than others. Take care when choosing your dog!

Resources

• Games You Can Play With Your Dog
• Wikipedia Article
• Rescue Every Dog - Breed Profile

[rasputina101]

on 10/14/2008 Pit bulls are wonderful dogs and like all dogs require training and socialization. They are also active so do not even contemplated buying/rescuing one if you are a couch potato. These dogs, just like border collies, love to have a job to do and will excel in all manner of dog sports (disc, agility, flyball and therapy work). Great post!
"Make sure that you convey to your dog that you are the boss when he gets a little rowdy". Some people may perceive this as asserting dominance over your dog and while I agree in strong leadership, pit bulls do not need dominant hands on training. These dogs are strong, but very sweet and extremely sensitive - please keep that in mind when you are training your pit bull.