If you’ve decided to welcome a dog into your home, and you’re trying to determine whether a Pitbull puppy is right for you, allow us to help!
Dog ownership is no small task it requires time, money, patience, and a long-term commitment to being the best owner and pal to your dog through thick and thin, sickness, and health.
And I know what you’re thinking “Geez, it’s not like getting married” and you’re right, in many ways, it’s like having a child.
Your dog relies on you in every way to take care of him so when you’re thinking of bringing a dog into your family, remember dogs are for life!
Choosing a Breed
Now that you’ve decided that you definitely want to bring a dog into your life, it’s time to pick the breed that is best for you, and that doesn’t mean the one that you think is the cutest; but rather, the breed that will fit with your lifestyle.
Pitbulls are such cute little scamps; there’s no denying that, but they’re not for everyone.
No matter how much you like them as a breed, if you can’t be the best owner to a Pitbull, then you should consider looking at another type of dog, or perhaps a Pitbull crossbreed.
The ideal owner for a Pitbull is one that is experienced with dogs as at around six to eight months they do push the boundaries and try to assert themselves within your little family pack.
If you’re inexperienced and you still want to bring a Pitbull puppy home, it is doable, but you have to be confident, and also enroll in a puppy training course!
The Pitbull Breed
You may be surprised to hear that the Pitbull isn’t, in fact, a breed of dog.
Instead, it’s a specific type that is made up of a few different breeds that fit the “Pitbull” standard.
These consist of the:
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Pitbull Terrier
- American Bully
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
While very similar, these breeds do have subtle differences in temperament so be sure to look into the breed information for the specific breed before committing to bringing them home!
Lifestyle
When you decide to get a dog, it’s important to make sure that your lifestyles and interests align, for example – the Pitbull, being a large active pooch will do better in a family that is very active on a daily basis.
He needs at least two hours of exercise every single day, but if he’s an exceptionally active chap, this could be anywhere up to four hours each and every day.
So he’s not the kind of dog that suits a Netflix and takeout kind of lifestyle!
When a dog isn’t receiving adequate mental and physical stimulation, he often starts misbehaving and becoming destructive, so if you’re thinking “Oh, he’ll get used to it” trust me, he won’t, and he’ll eat all of your belongings!
Home and Yard
Having a Pitbull, you really need a yard with adequate room for him to run around and keep himself amused!
It is, of course, possible to own a Pitbull in an apartment, heck full-time travelers living in vintage VW’s even do it!
But it does mean that your dog won’t be able to exercise passively, you’ll have to get up and out to keep him happy.
In all fairness, we should all be gently exercising for a few hours per day, so for many owners – having a dog is not only great for the soul, but it keeps their bodies healthy too!
In It For The Long Haul
OK, so you’re ready for the cuteness that a puppy brings, but are you prepared for the full-on responsibility of being a dog owner for life?
Just like having a kid, your dog relies on you to feed him, care for him, and look after him when he’s not feeling at his best.
Too many people get dogs and don’t ask themselves the tough questions about whether they’re cut out for dog ownership, the result of this is a bunch of dogs ending up in rescue centers through entirely no fault of their own.
So be a kind human and make sure that you’re ready for the commitment before you jump in!
Buy or Rescue?
When you’re looking for a puppy, there are two main options open to you; you can buy from a reputable breeder, or you can adopt from a rescue organization.
The latter is almost always my preference because every single dog deserves to have a loving home, but there are a couple of reasons that you may decide to buy instead of adopting.
The main reason that many people buy their dogs is so that they know that their dog has had a good start in life, this is especially important for the first time dog owners and not experienced in dealing with behavioral difficulties or past trauma that can result in nervous behavior.
Of course, it is possible to be a novice dog owner and still rescue a Pitbull puppy; it will just take a little more work on your part, and quite likely the help of a professional dog trainer!
Super Friendly
Pitbulls are notoriously friendly dogs, they love people, and are especially great with kids; although it’s worth noting that they do tend to be a little animal aggressive if not properly socialized from a young age.
In general, the Pitbull is one of the friendliest dogs around, and perhaps surprising to many – he doesn’t often make the ideal guard dog as he just likes people so gosh-darned much!
Obedience and Training
A highly intelligent dog, the Pitbull is easy to train provided you’re consistent with him, and use positive reinforcement – you’ll have a highly obedient pooch that listens to your every command.
Well, except for during his teenage phase at around one year old when he’ll develop selective hearing for a little while!
Dealing With Stereotypes
One of the big negatives of owning a Pitbull isn’t anything about the dog itself; instead, it’s dealing with the negative stereotype and seeing people give you funny looks for having an apparently dangerous dog.
The best thing that you can do to overcome these situations is to have an incredibly well-behaved dog, and then just shrug it off.
If enough responsible owners decide to welcome Pitbulls into their lives and show the rest of the world how great this breed can be – we can smash this unfair stereotype that has come from few irresponsible and downright criminal Pitbull owners.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read through this entire article and now you’re not quite sure whether you’re ready for the responsibility of getting your very own Pitbull puppy, there are other options open to you until you’re 100% sure that you’re ready.
The most popular of which is fostering from your local rescue organizations!
Fostering involves temporarily taking in a dog and is a great way to try out a breed, and see whether dog ownership fits into your daily routine!
