Risks in adopting a Pitti

[CurtEgerer]

I have 2 relatives who have adopted pit bull mixes. One about 7 years ago, the other about 3 years ago. Both dogs are OK as long as they're with their owners at home. They have to generally be locked up or put outside when visitors come because it's just not worth the stress of something happening. After several near disasters involving other relative's dogs, neither can be taken to family gatherings or anywhere where other dogs might be. Dogsitters are almost impossible to find, so they often just don't come to family things any more. If they do, the one relative has a heavy duty cage that looks like something from a zoo to stick the thing in for the day. They both are a major PITA to travel with because of the stress involved with them accidentally slipping out of the car unleashed when a door is opened. Both are very powerful animals and they have a tough time physically restraining them on leash. One relative likes to camp, but since pits are prohibited from most campgrounds these days they now boondock out in state or federal land.

Both relatives will tell you they are "fantastic pets"

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Retrievers bite more than bullies.
But don’t let facts stand in the way of your feelings.

If it’s from a reputable rescue it’ll have been temperament tested, so that’s one worry taken out of the equation.

They are terriers. Strong prey drive. They’ll chase anything - from deer on down.
They are also high energy. A tired bully is a happy bully. Long walks with plenty of fetch is a must.

Conversely they also want to be with you 24-7 and don’t realize or care that 75lbs is on the upper side for a lapdog. They don’t do well left alone for long periods. They are very very affectionate in a family setting - lick bull is the commonest appellation, but can be protective of -your- children. Don’t leave unsupervised when your kids are roughhousing with the neighbor kids.

They are also strong for their size. Walk on a harness or a gentle leader and expect to take time to train to stop pulling. They’ll literally damage themselves on a prong collar and choke themselves on a martingale to get to something they want to chase after..

They can be animal aggressive. The key is socialization. This is unlikely to be a real issue from a rescue - the worst ones aren’t adopted out. The chiahuauas may be an issue if they try to be dominant. Yappy pushy dogs annoy everyone. Dogs are no different.

They are intelligent and easy to train - they respond well to reward based training.

Make sure the adoption papers say mixed breed terrier or insurance can be an issue.

I'd say this post gives as good reasons as any to NOT to get one of those unpredictable, POS.

[zelrik911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

As an Australian, I can confirm that this is true. One of these small marsupials bit me on the finger tip when I was a kid - hurt like hell, never forgot.

Back on topic - as a dog person all my life, I suggest a male poodle. This is a serious recommendation. A standard size is a real dog for all occasions. Smart & loving, brave when the situation calls for it.

Good luck on finding another dog.

[sammyg2]

^^^^^
agree, poodles got kind of a bad rap because of the sissy hair cuts people give em and for the toy variety yap yap versions,
but the full sized poodles are really smart and good hunters and really good companions.
And they are great athletes.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

^^^^^
agree, poodles got kind of a bad rap because of the sissy hair cuts people give em and for the toy variety yap yap versions,
...
.

You can't hide yer biggotry....go ahead and say it Sammy.

FRENCH....Little toy bastids

[jyl]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Went through this a few years ago. I've owned Chow's and Chow mix"s since I was @20 years old. Unfortunately my homeowner's insurance wouldn't cover me anymore. My Chow was in the last part of his life, finally passing about the time before renewing my insurance.

I really had no choice, after some time I bought a rough coat Collie puppy..........

Oh very sad! I had a chow and want another one someday. There are active chow rescue groups here, never heard of an insurance problem.

My neighbor has a pit bull, very sweet dog to me, but she (neighbor) can never relax when walking the dog. If another dog appears a block away, she has to take evasive action.

Dogs are what we made them. In some cases we didn't do them any favors. A friend had a dog - not a pit - that became aggressive and almost uncontrollable at about a years of age. Knock on the front door and it sounded like the Hound of the Baskervilles. She had to restrain the dog and lock it in the bathroom before letting you in. When walking the dog she had to use all her strength on the leash to hold him back from charging people and other dogs. 80 lb dog, 120 lb lady. He had to have a walk on a particular route every day or he went nuts. Once he went after a cyclist and pulled her off her porch, dislocated her shoulder. Dog was untrainable. She was a nervous wreck. The husband and son loved the dog and wouldn't hear of getting rid of it. We (my wife and I) finally sat down with the husband and told him if he didn't get rid of the dog, he'd be getting divorced and lose his house. Dog was put down.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by trader220

I would take her with me everywhere I go, just like my last two dogs. Wheaten terrier, and then a lab/shelty mix.

I am not a fan of Golden's. Nice dogs just not for me.

I'm biased. I can't imagine a better dog than my Wheaten. Loves everybody, and everybody loves him.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by KC911

You can't hide yer biggotry....go ahead and say it Sammy.

FRENCH....Little toy bastids

Doesn't become an issue iffn you just give em baths once in a while

[sammyg2]

All together now .... awwwwwwww

[john70t]

Originally Posted by speeder

In shelters, a large percentage of the abandoned or stray dogs are pit bull mixes.

Yeah..about that...those are called "lab-mix" on the paperwork and our local no kill shelter has 100% same occupancy at times. Sad.

My puggle dog was almost mauled when he went up to greet a neighbor walking by on the sidewalk.
He was absolutely terrified of that breed for quite a while as was I.
I'd had to re-route him or he would probably get into a bloody fight which he would lose.

Some of the collies at the park were actually the most obtusely aggressive towards a fence or new pack.
I've seen many pits that are 'normally socialized' and absolute sweethearts with the face kisses.
Most will head-down-wag-tail greet all the other dogs, and break focus away if the other dogs start getting aggressive.
Only a few would get 'that focused look' and then it's definitely time to stop for the day.
They won't stop at a warning nip.

The dog which ever terrified me most was a Jack Russell believe it or not. It was satan spawn.

[sammyg2]

When I was a kid, the people across the street had the meanest, most aggressive dog I have ever seen, a scottie.
They tied it up to a stake in the yard next to an old dog house and would go out and feed it once a day and maybe pet it once in a while, and that was it.
I never saw them take it in the house or take it for a walk or even play with it.
This was in Utah, and it stayed outside all the time snow or not.
I tried to approach it a couple times to see if I could make friends, no dice.

So even a little friendly type dog can be made mean as hell by abuse.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Wetwork

My GF moved in a few months ago and she has two Rottie's. It took forever to find a insurance company that would cover us just because of the Rott's. We ended up going with State Farm, the only company that would even discuss it. Of course for higher rate.

I also live way out in the sticks on a cattle ranch, no kids, and no neighbors within two miles. And we were still stiffed. I can't imagine I'd ever have gotten insured if they were pitts.

I won't get into my opinion on fighting dogs. They are genetically designed to do what they do and they do it very well. Exactly how we made them to be over generations of careful breeding. I don't think folks realize just how easy it is to genetically create domestic animals to bring out the best instincts. You just cull the wimps and keep the tough ones, breed it to another tough one, or back to its mother or father and rise wash repeat. You don't even have to train that. Just keep breeding them.-WW

Originally Posted by varmint

My neighbors breed Karelians. Got to play with the last litter. At eight weeks one wanted to eat me. Three wandered off and had zero interest in any human. One wanted to just pee on everything. One little girl curled up in my lap and went to sleep as I rubbed her belly.

I think she would have been a good pet. The rest are causing someone migraines somewhere.

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I have 2 relatives who have adopted pit bull mixes. One about 7 years ago, the other about 3 years ago. Both dogs are OK as long as they're with their owners at home. They have to generally be locked up or put outside when visitors come because it's just not worth the stress of something happening. After several near disasters involving other relative's dogs, neither can be taken to family gatherings or anywhere where other dogs might be. Dogsitters are almost impossible to find, so they often just don't come to family things any more. If they do, the one relative has a heavy duty cage that looks like something from a zoo to stick the thing in for the day. They both are a major PITA to travel with because of the stress involved with them accidentally slipping out of the car unleashed when a door is opened. Both are very powerful animals and they have a tough time physically restraining them on leash. One relative likes to camp, but since pits are prohibited from most campgrounds these days they now boondock out in state or federal land.

Both relatives will tell you they are "fantastic pets"

It's ALL in the breeding. You can adjust behavior somewhat w socializing and training but if the genetics are fked up, forget it.

[dewolf]

What about a rescue Greyhound?

[trader220]

Thank you to everyone for all of the input.

Sounds like I am.closer and closer to one of these Lab puppies.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by speeder

It's ALL in the breeding. You can adjust behavior somewhat w socializing and training but if the genetics are fked up, forget it.

Wonder if you feel the same about people?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Wonder if you feel the same about people?

It's a mix of nature and nurture but genetics are VERY important. We are who we are.

[Tobra]

Best dog I ever had was a Wheaten/Pit bull mix. She was pretty messed up when I got her, first few years of her life were certainly horrible, booze jockey, abusive, neglectful POS owner. Mom picked her up on a nasty rainy day. Brother cleaned her up, took her and got chip scanned. Owner was drunk at 0900 on Saturday morning when he called, she said she did not want the dog. She sobered up a few days later and called, wanting the dog back. He said he gave her to someone who moved to Arkansas or something. Took a few years before she got over her fear aggression, but she turned out to be a great therapy dog.

Guess I should have shot her after she showed aggression to other dogs a few times, right?

[Wetwork]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Best dog I ever had was a Wheaten/Pit bull mix. She was pretty messed up when I got her, first few years of her life were certainly horrible, booze jockey, abusive, neglectful POS owner. Mom picked her up on a nasty rainy day. Brother cleaned her up, took her and got chip scanned. Owner was drunk at 0900 on Saturday morning when he called, she said she did not want the dog. She sobered up a few days later and called, wanting the dog back. He said he gave her to someone who moved to Arkansas or something. Took a few years before she got over her fear aggression, but she turned out to be a great therapy dog.

Guess I should have shot her after she showed aggression to other dogs a few times, right?

Naw, sounds like a great dog. She just didn't have her trigger pulled. You never know what it might be with fight genes buried so deep. Sometimes the trigger is pulled by obvious stuff, other times it takes different stressors at the same time. Those things might never happen. But they are there. My GWP is terrified of tape measures? But she almost knocks the door down to the sounds of gunfire, just thinking we are going hunting. Maybe it would have taken two kids, both playing and screaming and tickling on opposite legs to trigger it. Usually it's a good tight neck hug or pinch around the throat area to be honest. You just never know. Lot's of pit fights are done with multiple dogs at once.

Anything with Pit in it has had the fight or flight meddled with. No pit fighting dog is going to be kept or bred if it showed flight, or fear biting. You cull/kill the puppies of the litter that showed that tendency. You only kept fighters, you can't make any money with a dead dog. You not only make money on winning the fight, you make money selling the puppies out of a winner. You can make up to a grand breeding your best fighter to another dog or as many females as the owners can come up with the money. The money for fighters is in this breeding your male. This has been done, and continues to be done for hundreds of years now. Toughest of the toughest. It's only been the last few decades this trend in building the meanest fastest kill has drifted back to docility. Less sharp. But that's gonna take the same amount of time to get the sharp bred out and the softness put back.

Back in the day, my old man did fighting cocks as a kid. Way back. We've done pure bred angus cattle for over a hundred years now. Grandparents did race horses. I don't think I've ever had a actual mutt anything. All purebred stuff. I know breeding programs. It's easy to manipulate domestic animals.

Folks just have no idea of the seedy underbelly of stuff, at least not the details. For the record I have never been involved in the seedy underbelly of anything. Last ticket I got for anything was 30 years ago for forgetting my headlights were off as a teen. I just know stuff. Especially pure bred stuff. Fighting dogs is high on my list of things mankind should be ashamed of.-WW

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Wetwork

Anything with Pit in it has had the fight or flight meddled with. No pit fighting dog is going to be kept or bred if it showed flight, or fear biting. You cull/kill the puppies of the litter that showed that tendency.

There was a Russian guy that domesticated wild foxes in just a few generations.
It was simple: Breed only the ones without human hand fear and aggression-response together.
It was easy to turn a 'bad breed' into a 'good breed' very quickly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox

People today are doing the opposite on purpose.
This is why there shouldn't be any 'no-kill shelters' in existence...although the name sounds so humane.
The dogs which are genetically bad around humans and natural human behavior should not breed.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by speeder

It's a mix of nature and nurture but genetics are VERY important. We are who we are.

Sounds like you and James Watson would get on famously. I otoh tend a bit more towards Joseph Graves in this case and think Nurture > Nature.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/14/father-dna-says-he-still-believes-link-between-race-intelligence-his-lab-just-stripped-him-his-titles/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5a50d85f10c7