American Pit Bull - Pros & Cons

A lot of variance between lines and types. You could end up with the best dog you've ever owned, or the worst. It also depends on what type of Pit, modern or old school, ADBA, UKC, AKC, Am Bully. Some are truer to the common types of the breed, others are more guardy and not very "Pitty" acting. Any information on lines/type? Did you meet the parents? Typically, they are loaded with prey and highly excitable. Lots of energy and very people submissive and friendly. Great with kids. Can be dog/animal aggressive.

[quote1292252832=IndyGirl] I have not met this pup or her parents. All I have are pictures. I have to make a trip across state lines to meet her. I inquired about registration a few days ago and to date have not heard back – this concerns me. [/quote1292252832] This would concern me too. I consider it extremely risky to purchase/take a dog from someone long distance without knowing anything about the dog or its history. Especially when "Pits" are a dime a dozen. [quote]How do you know if they are modern or old school??[/quote] Lines, body type and temperament. Typically, big beefy examples are not "real" APBTs, but modern incantations. These are the hardest to identify a common temperament for. [quote] Pit bulls appear to have somewhat of a bad wrap with children and outsiders. [/quote] Undeserved. APBTs are one of the only breeds to be actively selected for human submission/friendliness. Bad breeding, bad training, and mishandling has caused these types of incidents. Typically, they are either bully crosses or misunderstood situations. Prey drive is the one thing you need to be aware of with an APBT. Scream and run, and you will be chased. [quote] In my online research I believe I read that AKC does not register pit bulls…is that true?[/quote] No. They did register the "breed" but did not like the name "Pit Bull," which caused one of the many splits in this breed from the registered American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier. To date, the UKC and ADBA have closed their registries to any new dual/cross registered dogs (as APBTs in UKC or ADBA and as AST in AKC). This is a final sealing of the deal for the split. AKC did register and still does register APBTs as Am Staffs and if it wasn't of UKC and ADBA putting their foots down, they still would. [quote]My priorities: needs to be child friendly, a home guard dog,gets along with an old choc labrador retriever, loyal to owner & immediate family. And, one that does not shed very much is an enormous bonus. I appreciate your insight and time. [/quote] Child friendly, yes -do you mean guard or watch dog? Guard, no. Unpredictable depending on type. APBTs, no way. Am Staffs are more apt for any type of "man work" Lab, opposite sex is best, but dog aggression can be a factor loyalty, APBT, yes to anyone who walks in the door shedding, constant, but little hairs so not too noticeable. For what you want, sounds like you don't want a Pit. I would look to Am Staff breeders because of the consistency of type and temperament. You are taking a big gamble buying a Pit as a guard dog. Have you thought about other breeds as well?

[quote1292309113=IndyGirl] My priorities: needs to be child friendly, a home guard dog,gets along with an old choc labrador retriever, loyal to owner & immediate family. And, one that does not shed very much is an enormous bonus. I appreciate your insight and time. Regards, IndyGirl [/quote1292309113] Regarding child friendly- I would not recommend a young child in a house with a pit bull. Regarding a home guard dog- Excellent guard dog. It's an intruder's worse nightmare. Regarding being raised with a choc lab retriever- Pit bulls have to be raised with the dog they are living with from babies still there is no guarantee they will get along. The difference between a pit bull and most other breeds that don't get along a pit bull has the tenacity and will to never give up in anything it does. If your two dogs fight there will be serious damage to your other dog. Regarding loyalty to family and owner- Excellent loyalty. Regarding shedding- They have very short hair they shed lightly. As a result they also do best in warmer climates.

[quote1292366856=davidfitness83] [quote1292336558=ABBB] [quote1292309113=IndyGirl] My priorities: needs to be child friendly, a home guard dog,gets along with an old choc labrador retriever, loyal to owner & immediate family. And, one that does not shed very much is an enormous bonus. I appreciate your insight and time. Regards, IndyGirl [/quote1292309113] Regarding child friendly- I would not recommend a young child in a house with a pit bull. Regarding a home guard dog- Excellent guard dog. It's an intruder's worse nightmare. Regarding being raised with a choc lab retriever- Pit bulls have to be raised with the dog they are living with from babies still there is no guarantee they will get along. The difference between a pit bull and most other breeds that don't get along a pit bull has the tenacity and will to never give up in anything it does. If your two dogs fight there will be serious damage to your other dog. Regarding loyalty to family and owner- Excellent loyalty. Regarding shedding- They have very short hair they shed lightly. As a result they also do best in warmer climates. [/quote1292336558] Sorry to contradict you, I don't know if you have owned an APBT but APBT's are terrible at guarding. I don't see how you can claim that they are an intruders nightmare? the correct temperament of the breed is to never show unprovoked human agression. They were also never bred to be territorial, I can see one deffending their owner if they are in danger perhaps but never to guard a territory that is just a silly statement. You can have a fear based agressive pit from lack of socialization but that can never be interpreted as a guarding pit. Have you see the cops raiding dog fighting raids, they can literally walk up to the chained pit bulls and take them away. Try to do that to a different breed in their territory and see how it pans out. My brother rescued a pit bull mix from the pound and she is a freaking mushball with his 5 year old son, my brother in law raised his AMstaff with his 1 year old baby and they are best friends the baby is 4 now. My dog loves kids and submits to them immediately so I am not sure where you are getting this information from. This is my dog with my niece and nephew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzLknCnOEic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izjg09DrTiM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfQcMz-bCFg This is my dog with my cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgP_p7D-_TI You should never leave any dog unattended with a child no matter the breed or circumstance. You should also teach respect to the child so the dog will treat it right. [/quote1292366856] I own pit bulls. I know their temperament. I also know what they are reported to be like in books. In most books they say they are fine with children, they get along well with other dogs and they're not territorial. This I have found through my own experiences not to be the case. My dogs are very territorial and protective. I would not raise a child in an pit bull environment but that is just my opinion. A boxer yes, not a pit bull. Pit bulls will challenge the authority of their owners in subtle ways. They need a firm owner. My pool guy doesn't get out of the car until the dogs are in the garage. The meter reader gives us a day in advance notice to have my dog in the garage. The same with the guy that fixes the well. I tried to introduce the pool guy to one of my pits. My pit senses fear. He doesn't make friends with you if he decides he dislikes you. He will tolerate you if I say it is okay, yet he still watches and lets the outsider know that he better walk on egg shells because he will defend. It's too much for the well guy. A low rumble growl, with the middle of his hair on his back sticking straight up and gleaning eyes, when the well guy was back by his truck and couldn't move was enough for him to call on his cell and say please put the dog in the garage. I put my dogs in the garage. When they come over.

Could you share the lines you are dealing with? You seem to be talking of a specific dog.

[quote1292374926=Igmuska] Could you share the lines you are dealing with? You seem to be talking of a specific dog. [/quote1292374926] One has strong Chinaman lineage. The other has strong redboy and jocko lineage. I like these lines because these are athletic and stable temperament dogs. The other is a rescue and I don't know his lineage. Yet he is athletic and an stable temperament dog. They are mainly companion and guard dogs. The rescue has been on a several boar hunts but is mostly a companion and guard dog. I may eventually take the redboy jocko dog out on a hunt but once the hunt gets in a dog it's difficult to turn off the switch so I will have to see what direction I want this dog to go in. The Chinaman dog I don't know we'll see with him too.

Ok, so you have an unknown dog, which could be heavy on the "bulldog" and you don't really know about, and a Chinaman which is known for human aggression, and Redboy/Jocko, which I have seen both sides of since a lot of bully fellows like using them against stuff like Razors edge. In heavily inbred stuff (R/J) I have never seen HA. That explains it. I have to say that Tonedog is more accurate. The breed is extremely diverse. I have taken dogs right out of other people's yards. I have had some bark and raise hackles, but then change their mind when they realize I am not afraid. They tend to be brave until someone doesn't buy the bluff. The only problem ones were either dual registered, bully bred, ghetto bred, or Chinaman dogs, lol. This is why it pays to know your lines and types before purchasing one.

[quote1292446617=Igmuska] Ok, so you have an unknown dog, which could be heavy on the "bulldog" and you don't really know about, and a Chinaman which is known for human aggression, and Redboy/Jocko, which I have seen both sides of since a lot of bully fellows like using them against stuff like Razors edge. In heavily inbred stuff (R/J) I have never seen HA. That explains it. I have to say that Tonedog is more accurate. The breed is extremely diverse. I have taken dogs right out of other people's yards. I have had some bark and raise hackles, but then change their mind when they realize I am not afraid. They tend to be brave until someone doesn't buy the bluff. The only problem ones were either dual registered, bully bred, ghetto bred, or Chinaman dogs, lol. This is why it pays to know your lines and types before purchasing one. [/quote1292446617] I know what I bought I wouldn't want them any other way. That is why I rescued and purchased them. My pit bulls are athletic, determined, territorial, aloof with strangers, loyal and great guard dogs. Before describing the pit bull as something undesireable you should first take into consideration no other dog has set higher records than the pit bull. If you believe there is show me one dog. You can't because there aren't any. Before concluding what a pit bull is you should first own one, two, three or several. Chinaman is not known for human aggression. My redboy/jocko doesn't have any razors edge.

I never said a pit is undesirable, just not suited for a situation normally. The greyhound is the fastest dog. It also holds the high jump record. I never said your J/R had razors edge, just that it is bred to it a bit. At least around here. No, but Chinaman dogs are excitable biters and have put their teeth on humans (though not all of them). If encouraged, you can even get a lab to bite and put on a display at the fence or car door. However it is not its nature or why I would buy one... I have rescued, worked on, trained and been around numerous pits of all sorts. All kinds from the early big bully stuff, to the new bully stuff, to game bred dogs, to street stuff, to southern hog dog stuff. Yes, Pits are great dogs, no one said otherwise.