COMMITMENT OF OWNERSHIP
After considering all of these factors, you have most likely already made some very important decisions about selecting your puppy. You have chosen the Pit Bull, which means that you have decided that the breed’s characteristics are what you want in a dog and that the Pit Bull will fit well into your family and lifestyle. If you have selected a breeder, you have gone a step further—you have done your research and found a responsible, conscientious person who breeds quality Pit Bulls and who should be a reliable source of help as you and your puppy adjust to life together. If you have observed a litter in action, you have obtained a firsthand look at the dynamics of a puppy “pack” and, thus, you have gotten to learn about each pup’s individual personality—perhaps you have even found one that particularly appeals to you.
However, even if you have not yet found the Pit Bull puppy of your dreams, observing pups will help you learn to recognize certain behavior and to determine what a pup’s behavior indicates about his temperament. You will be able to pick out which pups are the leaders, which ones are less outgoing, which ones are confident, which ones are shy, playful, friendly, aggressive, etc. Equally as important, you will learn to recognize what a healthy pup should look and act like. All of these things will help you in your search, and when you find the Pit Bull that was meant for you, you will know it!
GAME-BRED
With a word of caution, I will not advise the prospective owner to avoid bringing home a pup from a truly game-bred litter. This is the real Pit Bull, after all. All of the qualities that originally endeared so many Pit Bull owners of the past to this breed are most commonly expressed in the game-bred dog. The Pit Bull is a dog of unlimited devotion to its human masters, as the Pit Bull match scenario shamefully proves. At no point in a serious Pit Bull match is any human participant afraid to enter the pit. A dog can be furious. It can be intent upon destroying its opponent. It can be exhausted. Indeed, it can be dying of its wounds. But it does not take its aggression out on its handler. How many other breeds can we say this about?
Researching your breed, selecting a responsible breeder and observing as many pups as possible are all necessary steps on the way to dog ownership. It may seem like a lot of effort…and you have not even brought the pup home yet! Remember, though, you cannot be too careful when it comes to deciding on the type of dog you want and finding out about your prospective pup’s background. Buying a puppy is not—or should not be—just another whimsical purchase. In fact, this is one instance in which you actually do get to choose your own family! But, you may be thinking, buying a puppy should be fun—it should not be so serious and so much work. If you keep in mind the thought that your puppy is not a cuddly stuffed toy or decorative lawn ornament, but instead will become a real member of your family, you will realize that while buying a puppy is a pleasurable and exciting endeavor, it is not something to be taken lightly. Relax…the fun will start when the pup comes home!
Always keep in mind that a puppy is nothing more than a baby in a furry disguise…a baby who is virtually helpless in a human world and who trusts his owner for fulfillment of his basic needs for survival. That goes beyond food, water and shelter; your pup needs care, protection, guidance and love. If you are not prepared to commit to this, then you are not prepared to own a dog.
American Pit Bulls are great jumpers with strong jaws. They can easily support their own weight when they grasp a suspended object.
“Wait a minute,” you say. “How hard could this be? All of my neighbors own dogs and they seem to be doing just fine. Why should I have to worry about all of this?” Well, you should not worry about it; in fact, you will probably find that once your Pit Bull pup gets used to his new home, he will fall into his place in the family quite naturally. But it never hurts to emphasize the commitment of dog ownership. With some time and patience, it is really not too difficult to raise a curious and exuberant Pit Bull pup to be a well-adjusted and well-mannered adult dog—a dog that could be your most loyal friend.
BOY OR GIRL?
An important consideration is the sex of your puppy. For a family companion, a bitch may be the better choice, considering the female’s inbred concern for all young creatures and her accompanying tolerance and patience. Pet dogs that will not be bred or shown should be neutered (males) or spayed (females), as it could guarantee them longer lives.
“YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND!”
Finding a reputable breeder who sells healthy pups is very important, but make sure that the breeder you choose is not only someone you respect but also someone with whom you feel comfortable. Your breeder will be a resource long after you buy your puppy, and you must be able to call with reasonable questions without being made to feel like a pest! If you don’t connect on a personal level, investigate some other breeders before making a final decision.
PREPARING PUPPY’S PLACE IN YOUR HOME
Researching your breed and finding a breeder are only two aspects of the homework you will have to do before bringing your Pit Bull puppy home. You will also have to prepare your home and family for the new addition. Much like you would prepare a nursery for a newborn baby, you will need to designate a place in your home that will be the puppy’s own. How you prepare your home will depend on how much freedom the dog will be allowed: will he be confined to one room or a specific area in the house, or will he be allowed to roam as he pleases? Will he spend most of his time in the house or will he be primarily an outdoor dog? Whatever you decide, you must ensure that he has a place that he can “call his own.”
Pit Bulls make very effective guard dogs just by their looks alone!
When you bring your new puppy into your home, you are bringing him into what will become his home as well. Obviously, you did not buy a puppy so that he could take control and “rule the roost,” but in order for a puppy to grow into a stable, well-adjusted dog, he has to feel comfortable in his surroundings. Remember, he is leaving the warmth and security of his mother and littermates, plus the familiarity of the only place he has ever known, so it is important to make his transition as easy as possible. By preparing a place in your home for the puppy, you are making him feel as welcome as possible in a strange new place. It should not take him long to get used to it, but the sudden shock of being transplanted is somewhat traumatic for a young pup. Imagine how a small child would feel in the same situation—that is how your puppy must be feeling. It is up to you to reassure him and to let him know, “Little fellow, you are going to like it here!”
Playful nipping may seem cute in a pup, but discourage it early on. You will not want to contend with this behavior in a full-grown Pit Bull.
Keep your pup’s eventual size in mind and purchase a crate that will accommodate him as an adult.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY
CRATE
To someone unfamiliar with the use of crates in dog