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So You Want a American Pit Bull Terrier? |
by:
Jason Mann |
You've made up your mind, it's the American Pit Bull Terrier you want as
your companion. Are you ready for this breed? Read this
article and then decide if you want to go ahead with your
decision.
Does your lifestyle fit the ***American Pit Bull Terrier lifestyle?
These dogs are packed with energy from head to toe. Craving
a good run like a champion athlete. Exercise is critical to
a heathy, happy bulldog. High energy is their middle name
and is a large part of their personalities. Play, work, and
activity is something you must be able to give these dogs
If you're a couch potato you should find another breed to
live with.
Do you have the security?
American Pit Bull Terriers are the Houdini's of the canine world. Able to
leap tall fences with a single bound, dig under them with
amazing speed and stealth, and unlock gates that adult
people would have trouble with. Escaping will happen if you
don't take the precautions to secure their living area.
You should have 6' privacy fence, beware of dog signs, hot
wiring at the top and bottom of the fence, out door housing
that keeps them out of the sun (even if they live indoors),
and supervision are required for these dogs. You can't leave
them alone for long outside because one of two things may
happen:
1. They escape.
2. They're stolen.
Are you prepared for the scrutiny of neighbors and friends?
American Pit Bull Terriers are notorious. They have a bad name and the
misinformed public is out to get them. It seems like
everyday another "Baby mauled by pit bull" story runs,
diminishing your choice of breed.
People will dislike you for your choice. Some may even try
to kill your dog. Others will direct comments at you,
vulgar, hateful comments, and friends and family may also be
in conflict with your choice.
Be prepared for some rude behavior and protect your dog by
teaching food refusal from strangers.
Can you train your dog?
There are two methods of training. One is to train your dog
by showing it how to sit and lay down and then quitting. The
other lasts forever. Real training is life long training
that starts when the puppy arrives at your home and ends
with death.
Unless you're prepared to work with your dog 5-10-15 minutes
per day, everyday, all week, every week, all year, every
year, you may want to rethink your decision to get a Pit
Bulldog. Actually, if you're not prepared to train your dog,
you should rethink getting any dog. Training is a fact of
life and must be done in order to prevent a lot of trouble
down the road.
If you can not control your dog, you don't need one.
Can you afford them?
Dog food, vet bills, training, leashes and collars, and dog
houses all cost money. Money you may not have right now. A
quality dog food can cost as much as $800 per year. Do you
have this kind of extra money to spend on food? If not, wait
until you do before you bring home that puppy.
Do you want a American Pit Bull Terrier to impress people?
If this is the case, stop! Do not, repeat, do not
bring one home. You're doing yourself and the dog a great
injustice.
American Pit Bull Terriers are in demand because of their all around
strength, agility, great looks, and mystic. Breeders are
pumping puppies out like unleaded gasoline. Puppies are
being neglected and bad breeding practices are producing
unstable dogs. Beware before you make any final decisions.
If I may point you in a different direction. Every day there
are thousands of great bulldogs put down because no one will
adopt them or they are deemed "unadoptable" by shelters.
Consider a Rescue Dog.
People who love this breed have created rescues for these
dogs and hundreds of dogs are available for adoption.
Rescues are a win-win-win way to go. You give a dog that
would otherwise not have a home, a home. You give your money
(which in most cases is a small adoption fee) to the rescue
so they can continue their work, and you get an awesome dog
that will 9 times out of 10 deliver more than any pure-bred
dog could on their best day.
In closing, before you run out and buy a American Pit Bull Terrier, think
about your options, make sure you have what it takes to
provide and care for the dog, and take your time to find a
dog that matches your desires.
About the author:
Jason Mann is a American Pit Bull Terrier fancier and Freelance writer. He also owns and operates http://www.pitbulllovers.com/a website devoted to educating the public and dog world about the American Pit Bull Terrier.
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