Would you adopt a pit bull from the shelter? - Page 2

[laralee16]

Pit bull, no. I used to think, before I had my son, tht all dogs could be good dogs, and that how they were raised turned them. Now....I'm sorry, but some dogs just scared the crap outa me.

But, I would, and have, adopted a dog from a shelter, and he is the BEST dog. My son hangs on him pulls his hair, just loves this dog to death, and buckeye (the dog) just lays there.

[Tigerchild]

I wouldn't feel comfortable with it. Not because I'd be particularly afraid that the dog would go postal on people (to be honest, I think a pit bull, unless trained otherwise, has far more inbred tendancy to NOT attach humans than most other dog breeds). But because I am not an experienced dog owner, and a pit is a very *strong* animal and I'm not sure I could control it adequately.

I think there are certain animals that you really should know what the hell you're doing and be experienced before you take on. A pit is one of those animals, in my book. Not because they're "bad". But because they need and deserve owners who are going to be able to give them the care, training and attention they need to stay safe and be safe.

Do NOT adopt one because of sympathy pangs. There's plenty of dogs that get killed every day at shelters, so feel sorry for any dog that's not in a minimal kill shelter.

Think about what you are capable of handling, and willing to handle. Think about your enviornment (do you live near or have other dogs?). Can you afford the increase in your homeowner's/rental insurance that you're likely to get or will you get kicked out of your rental? Are you willing to erect a good fence? They're not cheap.

I think people only thinking with their heart is responsible for a LOT of innocent dogs getting killed. As well as dogs and people getting mauled.

I wouldn't own a wolf-hybrid, even if I knew I was its last chance at avoiding euthanization--because I know that my inexperience and inability to properly care for one would mean that it probably would have to be put down or live a miserable life anyway. I don't own a rescue horse because we don't have a barn (and can't afford one) even though we have a nice big piece of property. I don't have a beautiful salt-water aquarium that I always dreamed of when I was a kid because I don't have the time or money to devote to its upkeep and the beautiful creatures I would put in it would suffer and die because of it.

There's lots of animals that I appreciate. There's lots of animals that I feel sympathy for. Just because my heart melts doesn't mean I should follow it. Especially when and if something about me or my environment would make it worse for the animal. Then it's no mercy to take on an animal that's endangered by my experience or that I might have to boot out because I didn't think things through with my brain first.

[MilkTrance]

No. While I don't believe that "pit bulls" (often mislabeled) are necessarily naturally dangerous, many of the shelter ones probably are. If I were childless, sure, I would consider it. But with a baby around and plans for more, no way. There's just no way I'd take that risk, even if it's supposedly a small risk.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by Tigerchild

I think there are certain animals that you really should know what the hell you're doing and be experienced before you take on. A pit is one of those animals, in my book. Not because they're "bad". But because they need and deserve owners who are going to be able to give them the care, training and attention they need to stay safe and be safe.

:

I would definately prior to having children; with hesitation now (as with any dog; but I will always adopt and love mixed breeds most) - my husband would not since we've had children. (we’ve discussed this lately since I saw a PB I wanted to bring home.)

I volunteer with a rescue group. We will not place a PB in a family with children. (Mostly because we were afraid the children would do something to the PB that could result in the PB being re-homed or put down.) Actually, most of the PB's we've taken in were not placed at all because it was so difficult finding homes we felt were 'perfect'. So, those PB's ended up staying with our seasoned volunteers - two of which have young children and there have been no problems. Maybe we have been lucky to have 'rescued' good natured PB's and definitely lucky to have great volunteers who understand rescued dogs. We have turned away PB’s because of lack of room and the fact that we have a difficult time finding them homes. In effect, we’ve allowed these PB’s to be put down since they were probably taken to the county shelter. In our area, unfortunately the county shelter doesn’t even give PB’s a chance to be adopted.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by gabysmom617

Ok, so what if it was a pit bull mix with some other breed, like, say, a labrador?

My neighbors hapen to have a pitbull/black lab mix. While he is a freindly dog he is also huge and powerful dog. He is extremly energetic and they obviously use all their strength to control him. He has never done anything threatening like growl at me, but he has given me friendly greatings that nearly knocked me over. My neighbors children are all adults now, so he is fine in there household, but I would never have a dog this large and hard to control in a house with small children.

I also have a list of "no" breeds. I won't have a German Shephard. Or a Jack Russell. To active for me. Looking for more on the mellow side...perhaps a more mature dog, as well.

I know that bull dogs are so gentle with children, and everything I look for a bull type dog (english, boxer, american) pits with are staring me in my face. And pit crosses. And owners swearing what sweet gentle dogs they are. And so forth. I want to scream!

I'd like to recomend for a yes list of breeds the basset hound. When I was a kid my mom had a freind who had a basset hound. When ever my mom went and visited her friend my sisters and I would play with the basset hound. As long as we gave him an occasional treat he would put up with anything. They are very docile dogs with a low maintanance coat.

[ericswifey27]

why risk it? There are so many other breeds known to be more gentle, and I am sure they are looking for a home too.

Growing up, we loved our Samantha, then our Max, both terrier mixes and both shelter dogs

[graceomalley]

Originally Posted by hipumpkins

No. I am pro adopting from shelters but never a pit bull.

Ditto to this.

[psyche]

No.

I've never met a pit bull that wasn't as sweet and syrupy as can be. BUT that's what everyone says about the p.b.s that maul someone to death. I'd never be willing to live with the unknown triggers.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Well, I don't really like pit bulls, so I'm already biased.

But I would not adopt any medium sized dog or larger from a shelter, unless it was being fostered in a home with a children, and for a long period of time.

Has this dog been fostered in a home with kids, or is it just the shelter employee giving you this information?

[tofumama]

Just my .02...

Any dog can be a bad choice from a shelter...you just never know. Regardless of how much info the shelter people 'try' to get, people lie all the time and you don't really know how the animal may have been treated. You don't want to find out after you get home that your new dog doesn't like men, brooms, leashes, etc (this happened to me and it was very scarey to watch a dog I did not know much about try to go after my roommates/boyfriend)

To answer your question...no. I would not. FWIW though, many years ago I did adopt a pit from a shelter.

I did this pre-kids. The only reason the shelter allowed me to adopt him was because I had worked with dogs and was comfortable training him. He most likely came from an abusive situation..and he was only a year old when I got him. He was a great dog, though dumb as a bag of rocks. He was great with my son when he was a baby. I will say that although my dog was 10yo by the time my son was born, I STILL did not leave him in the room alone with the baby.

No matter HOW good you *think* your dog is, regardless of the breed, there could be a problem. I think mutts are a safer choice, personally, as they are les likely to be inbred. Pits are much more popular now and are more likely to be suffering some of the 'inbred brain' things that start to happen. That being said, I would not adopt a Golden Retriever or a Shephard either. SOme of the nastiest dogs I dealt with (in the past) were Goldens!

Pits are very powerful dogs, and their jaws are very strong. They are also very loyal and trainable, but that takes ALOT of time and commitment on the woners part. Not a dog suitable for a family with young kids, imo.

We adopted a Greyhound/Shephard cross last year. Best.Dog.In.The.World. We really lucked out. She has a few quirks and I don't think her previous owner was totally honest with us but she is a fantastic dog. My kids are 6.5, 5, and 3 and can be part of the dog-owning experience now so everything doesn't fall to me, lol.

Good luck with your decision!

Oh, and ftr I would NEVER get a ferret. They smell, and burrow in your furniture...amongst other things, from what I've heard ~ EEK!

ETA: I just read your post again. Don't confuse docile with submissive. My dog was submissive because he was abused. Submissive dogs can be just as dangerous as aggressive dogs as they will do what is called 'fear-aggressive' behaviors...like biting. My dog was fear aggressive and would react when scared. That is VERY difficult to break in a dog. It can be triggered by something as simple as startling the dog. Ask the shelter about that. See if they can startle the dog and watch what happens. Not that every submissive dog will be fear-aggressive, but just something to be aware of. Good luck!

[Stinkerbell]

Originally Posted by gabysmom617

Being that many of us have kids, would you adopt one?

What if the shelter/foster declared up and down what a sweet docile good-with-kids dog he/she was? Would you adopt one?

I said I wouldn't adopt one. But then I read about how many of the "wrong" sort of people want them, and how they sit in shelters because good families are too afraid to adopt them..now I dunno.

I wouldn't want a dominating one, definitely. I thought all of them were that way, but some of the different ones I am reading about in the shelters don't seem to be that way, according to their foster owners.

I plan to adopt a dog/ferret tomorrow or sunday. I am going to the shelter tomorrow. Just wondering.

YES! i know a lot about dogs. enough to know that breed, alone, is NOT a reason to choose or decline a pet "Pit Bulls" (I HATE that nickname....I think it's half the problem : ) are sweet tempered, eager to please pups. They are NOT aggressive by nature, but they are very territorial and protective over their pack (which would be you and your kids).

Any dog is capable of biting/attacking/harm. They are animals and therefor unpredictable. And Pits, in particular, have that reputation because they are handled poorly and abandoned in massive numbers all across this country. Not the other way 'round.

If you are going to get ANY pet that is of above medium size/strength, I sincerely believe you have a responsibility to go to a nurturing and knowlegable trainer for some handling lessons. Even the local chain pet stores have info about those classes. Socialize your dog, don't trust them with children for a long while (and never alone with small children!), be confident and secure about your position as Alpha Dog. If that dog knows that you will never allow it to be dominant and he can trust you to always lead him confidently and keep him safe...you should have a premium pet/member of the pack on your hands.

I also recommend Cesar Milan's show/website/books when getting a shelter or rescue dog.

DISCLAIMER: I did not read any of the responses. I am literally responding to the OP. And I am very confident in my answer, based on my knowlege and training working with dogs.

[DogMomforNow]

Nope never, not mixes (pit/lab, pit/boxer, pit/anything) either.

Certain breeds have traits that are characteristic of them - labs retrieve, greyhounds course, terriers dig, etc. Pit bulls that end up in shelters are bred by people who don't breed to create good family dogs. They are bred (and have been in the US for years) to be protective, energetic, quick to react, and powerful. That is not a dog I want to share in liability for.

When you look at dog bite statistics in the US for the number of pit bulls there are a disproportionately high number of bites (ie. if there are 2 bites per hundred basset hounds or westies, there are 10 bites per hundred pit bulls). So people that say that pits or ASTs are no more likely to bite are misled.

Have I worked with some really nice pits? Absolutely, my dog's best friend at daycare was a sweet pit. The nastiest dog I ever worked with was a border collie, not a pit. But there are just some breeds I would not ever own (rotties are another).

There are so many breeds known to be good with children, we recommend to families that they contact breed rescues if they are bringing a dog into a home with children. That way the dog has been fostered and evaluated for its temperament with kids and busy house. Most of those dogs come from shelters too, if rescuing is really important to you, they're just waiting with the "middleman" for their forever home

[thismama]

The most wonderful dog I have ever owned was a pit bull adopted from the shelter. I adored that dog so, so very much, she was the doggie love of my life. When she died I cried so hard I burst the blood vessels in my eyes.

I would do it in a heartbeat, but only if you are cut out to own a pit bull. They are a strong dog, often dog aggressive so you need to be prepared for that, and a lot of people hate them. It takes some brass ovaries to own a pit bull, but IME it is entirely worth it, at least it was (is, as i still have a pittie girl) for me. They are definitely not the dog for everyone or every lifestyle though.

They tend to be remarkably good with kids, unless the dog is old.

[Friday13th]

Absolutely.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by psyche

No.

I've never met a pit bull that wasn't as sweet and syrupy as can be. BUT that's what everyone says about the p.b.s that maul someone to death. I'd never be willing to live with the unknown triggers.

This is a myth. Pit bulls do not have random unknown triggers that you trip upon and suddenly they turn with no reason. Well, some do, but so do some of all dogs. Pit bulls are not more likely to 'snap' for no reason than any other dog.

The media has a field day with them which skews our perceptions of the dogs, and they are strong so if you do get a bite it's gonna be a big one. But pit bulls were bred to be very gentle and friendly with humans. They also generally do not protect territory like some other breeds - their people yes, but the pit bulls I have owned would happily let you in the door and show you the way to the valuables.

Dog aggression is a common trait, yes, and can be a challenging one to manage as dogs are everywhere and pit bulls are strong and determined. I had no luck 'breaking' dog aggression in my dog aggressive pit bull (my current one does not have this trait). All I could do was keep her separate in her early years from random dogs, and train her to obey me even when she had a strong urge to approach another dog in her later years.

So IME dog aggression is real. Extreme strength and agility are real too, as is single minded determination. This is a challenging combination.

But human aggression is not a natural part of the psyche of pit bulls. They were never bred for it, and in fact were actively bred to not have that trait.

[hanno]

would and did
she's awesome

ETA: photo

<3 !

[boysrus]

I have adopted other dogs from the shelter. I am not a big terrier fan in general (even though I do own two dachshunds!) I would be nervous to not know the dog's background. YES, I know any dog CAN be aggressive, however, pit bulls are used for dog fighting. If you are adopting from a shelter, you really don't know if that dog has been bred from a line that was intended for fighting, or that was socialized for it.

[thismama]

They were ALL bred for fighting. Every line. They were not bred for show conformation but for dog fighting in pits. That is reality.

They are terrier and bully, not just terrier. Makes for a nice balance IMO.

They have very few health issues compared to other breeds IME. Just stitch 'em up every now and again and you're good.

[shelbean91]

I would probably steer away from pits from a shelter, only b/c you never know the complete history of a dog from a shelter and pits have tendencies to have more bad things done to them before being left at a shelter. I also wouldn't get a rottie from a shelter, even though I've had a rottie in the past. THey also have bad reps. I have adopted other dogs from shelters with no problems and I know I could have had problems, despite the breed. Actually, my most recent shelter adopt was/is part pit, now that I come to think about it. She's a daschund/pit mix, though on the cage when I looked at her, it said daschund/terrier mix. Of course a pit is a terrier and on the actual adoption forms it said pit bull terrier.

I guess it depends on the dog, how they interact with me and the kids, and any information the workers can give me.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by thismama

This is a myth. Pit bulls do not have random unknown triggers that you trip upon and suddenly they turn with no reason. Well, some do, but so do some of all dogs. Pit bulls are not more likely to 'snap' for no reason than any other dog.

It is very true that any dog who is not being well handled and train may snap. Dogs will offten give a small child a snap if they feel that it is there place in the pack to disapline a subordinant member.

The thing is that when my great aunts poorly trained toy poodle did this to my sister, my sister learned not to approach dogs that are growling and got a bandaid. If my great aunt had owned a pit bull that she had not carefully trained my sister would have ended up in the hospital and the dog would be put down.

An individual PB may or may not be well train/aggressive, but all pit bulls are very large, very strong and have extremely powerful jaws.