Thinking about getting a pit bull pup!!

[The_Grinder]

Well the last month or so have been big for my bitch and I. :D We moved out of our apartment and are now renting a house thats sitting on about 3 1/2 acres. The fenced in back yard is huuuge. Since we arent planning on having kids anytime soon, and our lab mix is out there all by herself, we are thinking about getting her a partner in crime. Ever since I have been around pitts the past few years, I cant think of a more loyal dog. Especially since trying to save the life of that one beautiful female pit a month or two ago. (She's in my avatar)

Anyway, I can't really see going to a breeder and paying $500+ for a pit, when there are thousands of pits who need homes. I know there are a lot of you on here who have owned, or currently own pits, so I was hoping for some advice. I have already done a search on pit bull rescues, and it seems like the closest one to us is 300 miles away. I don't know if we are being too picky, but we do have some very slight conditions. We want to get the dog as a puppy, and we want a fairly strong breed. Possible to find something like that through a shelter or rescue? Or is it safer to just go through a breeder for temperment and health reasons?

[Shibby]

Pits can really have trouble being dog friendly unless they are giving the proper opportunity. Unless someone here can give you more information, I would research how will rescue pups adjust to another dog.

[coffee-guy]

That makes two of us....

[blm]

I am an absolute pit bull lover. I honestly believe it is how a dog is raised. However, if a dog comes from a blood line that was raised for fighting I feel it is a risk to own a puppy of that line. Unfortunately, too many people have exploited pitbulls and have given them the opportunity to live up to the stereotypes. If I could not verify a history on a pit I would not own it.

Interesting that you wrote about this today because I had a run in with an insanely vicious pit last night. my g/f and I were walking our dog and we passed a house that has (2) very mean pits both 90-95lbs. We usually avoid that corner but we forgot last night and when we passed the house the male freaked and tried to get at us throught the chain link fence; spit flying, lips peeled backed, teeth showing, and the dog gets half of his body under the fence. At the same time my dog breaks the clip on his leash and runs to the fence like the dog wants to play. In the meantime a neighborhood little girl comes runing over screaming the dog is getting out while the owners stand in their yard.

I start yelling at them to get their dog before it kills someone and tell my g/f to head back to the house. The owner comes out the gate and leaves it wide open so now the other pit is coming around the side of the house. So I scream at her to close her fucking gate and get her fucking dog under control.

In the end no one was hurt, but this is another reason why I carry a concealed weapon. If that dog would have got out the ONLY thing capable of stopping it is a bullet. Period! I went back and talked to the owners and we had a level headed discussion of the obvious problems with dogs that mean capable of getting out. They seemed very cooperative and scared by the whole ordeal.

[coffee-guy]

Lol - you can't fix stupid :D

[Bouncer]

i don't mean to be a party pooper here and piss on anyone's parade.

but before you get the dog, ask yourself if it is your and the dogs best interest. do you have the time and the money to invest into it. can you afford the vet bills, dog food etc..

not telling you that you shouldnt get the pup. just asking you to think about it. kind of like the whole car thing a bunch of months back.

[blm]

i don't mean to be a party pooper here and piss on anyone's parade.

but before you get the dog, ask yourself if it is your and the dogs best interest. do you have the time and the money to invest into it. can you afford the vet bills, dog food etc..

not telling you that you shouldnt get the pup. just asking you to think about it. kind of like the whole car thing a bunch of months back.

Absolutely.

[FitnessBrat]

What Bouncer said is absolutely important - but I think you proved you are willing to do what it takes with the other pit you took care of.

You can NEVER be too picky when it comes to getting a dog, especially when we are talking about such a controversial breed.

If I'm being honest, I think it's awesome that you'd rather rescue a dog that stands very little chance at life. However, you have NO background/history on those dogs, and even if they are puppies, they stand a chance of being inbred for fighting and they are already set-up for "failure" at that point. As I've said before, I did a lot of research when I got my pit, and I drove 32 hours to get him - BUT I knew I was getting a "good" quality dog, so it was worth every mile. I know some people disagree with getting dogs from breeders and paying big money, but for that specific breed, I think it's important. If you just want A dog, then a pound puppy is great.

Just be careful. ALL of them are going to be adorable, so just don't make rash/hasty decisions. You don't want to be sorry in the end!

Good luck :)

[The_Grinder]

i don't mean to be a party pooper here and piss on anyone's parade.

but before you get the dog, ask yourself if it is your and the dogs best interest. do you have the time and the money to invest into it. can you afford the vet bills, dog food etc..

not telling you that you shouldnt get the pup. just asking you to think about it. kind of like the whole car thing a bunch of months back.

Don't worry we have the money. My UPS job starts in a month. Plus even with what we are making right now, we have plenty in savings, plus enough to pay our bills. The GNC job aint payin half bad! We are living comfortably right now and dogs are what we love. We are aware of the expenses and the dog will always be taken care of. Plenty of food, every pet visit, every necessary flea and heartworm preventative, etc.

[ROCKETW19]

BLM, bouncer and Fitness Brat all hit the nail on the head.
I had 2 pitbulls, 1 can from my brother where I knew the mom and dad and even farther back in the line. 2nd was bought off the enternet (stupid me) the dog was great untill 1yrs old then that thing would and did kill everthing. almost my lil baby runt in my avatar also.
If buying a pitbull I say get one from a breeder and not a puppy farm either a real full blown breeder that has been breeding in the good qualitys. You will pay out the ass but that is what I would do if I didnt know exactly where it came from and the parents.

[FitnessBrat]

You will pay out the ass but that is what I would do if I didnt know exactly where it came from and the parents.

Pitbulls + bargain can never go hand in hand! If you're a true pit lover, you're gonna have to plan to SPEND.

[The_Grinder]

Pitbulls + bargain can never go hand in hand! If you're a true pit lover, you're gonna have to plan to SPEND.

No believe me I love pits. I also love dogs in general so thats why I am also being pulled the adoption route.

[Bouncer]

No believe me I love pits. I also love dogs in general so thats why I am also being pulled the adoption route.

huh?

[The_Grinder]

huh?

All the animal shelters around here are constantly having to put animals down if they arent adopted in X amount of time. Basically if you adopt one, you save one. That's basically what I was saying. The pure-breds at the breeders usually arent in danger of being put to sleep.

[toolwtf]

I'll never understand the fascination with pitts. And yes I've owned one. There are so many other good breeds out there you could go with and not have to worry about your dog killing another dog at the bark park, or the neighbors cat, or even someones kid. I just don't get it. And there is nothing anyone could say to make me understand it.

My favorite breeds in order are boxers, dobermans, labs, american bulldogs