My husband just bought a Pittbull and we have a 2yo! I'm really scared of them and don't want him. Help?

Question

We fought about it last night and I told him I didn't want a pitbull because I've heard of how dangerous they can be and how they can turn on you, but he wouldn't listen. We have a two year old and I am really scared to have him around a big dog. He is a puppy now, but even if you're around them for their whole life they can still turn on you, right? I'm really nervous about having him and I can't convince my husband that it's not worth it and that we shouldn't take the chance but he won't listen. I asked him for a beagle or something smaller and he just said that he wasn't going to have a "girlie" dog. Can you guys give me some facts/statistics on pitbull related fatalities? How common it is for them to attack? Am I right? Is it bad to have one as a family pet?

Answer 1

Hi, calm down. A pitlbull raised in a correct environment will not turn on anyone but they do need training and professional training for that matter. They won't just turn on you or anybody else, they will show signs first and that is where training comes in. It not only trains the dog, it trains the owners how to watch for signs. If you watch Doh Whisperer, he has a Pitbull named Daddy and he is the most mellow guy ever. Wouldn't even bite a fly. Don't rule the breed out, just educate yourself. I am sorry to hear your husband just decides and buy a puppy himself because it should be about the whole family but the puppy has done no wrong and is very trainable. Get hubby to educate himself on socializing and training the dog because he'd need to and you'd need to learn some too.

Answer 2

There ARE no "facts/statistics on pitbull related fatalities." Statistics are unreliable for many reasons: dogs are misidentified, bites are not reported, reasons BEHIND bites are not considered, etc. There is no such thing as an accurate bite statistic....



There are over 20 breeds that are lumped under the "pit bull" term and that alone makes things seem much worse than they actually are - a dog that LOOKS like a "pit bull" is not necessarily a "pit bull." There is technically only one "pit bull" and that is "the american pit bull terrier."



The APBT is NOT naturally human aggressive. They were bred for animal aggression (dog fighting and bull baiting) and the only reason you SEE them bite a person is due to poor genetic and training:

http://www.pbrc.net/breedinfo.html



The only stats i believe are done by an actual testing center that did the Canine Good Citizen test on all dogs brought through their doors. "Pit bulls" rated better on that test than almost any other breed. Here is the link. You can find "The American Pit Bull Terrier" in the first link on the page. They have an 85.3% passing rate, while the Golden Retriever has a passing rate of 84.6% :

http://www.atts.org/statistics.html



Do some research and stop being a sheep. If you train, socialize, and exercise the dog properly then the dog will be FINE around your 2 YO (in fact, many larger dogs do better because it's harder for a child to hurt/intimidate them.)



The only fault your husband made was getting the dog without your approval. Everyone should be happy about bringing a dog into the household, but it would be VERY irresponsible to dump the dog at this point.



Here's a compilation of links i found to attacks by OTHER breeds:

http://delicious.com/Mutt4Truth

Answer 3

Here's a statistic for you: 3 children a year are killed by Pitbulls.....2000 children a year are killed by their own PARENTS! So statistically, your kids are safer around that dog than they are around you or any other parent for that matter!

Sure, there are unstable Pitbulls out there that don't do so well with kids, but if you train and socialize this dog correctly, there's no reason for you to fear for your children's safety. I know Pitbulls that would give their life to protect a child.....there's good and bad about every breed but unfortunately all you hear are the bad stories. Get a good dog training book, enroll this puppy in obedience classes and decide to give the dog a chance and it will work. Otherwise, if you are just going to be prejudiced and scared of the dog its whole life, it's better not to have it. Pitbulls are very perceptive dogs and will know you are scared and distrustful....so really, the only question is are you willing to commit or not?



And a side note, no dog just 'turns' on it's owner. It's either unstable and gives signs it's unstable that the onwer ignores until things finally escalate into an attack or a dog is stable and does well with its family its whole life. A stable dog that is well trained is 100% reliable.

Answer 4

I understand that you are mad at your husband but Pit bulls are great with children, they love to please their owners, they're loyal and are a great family pet. Did you know that the main dog that was fought in the Michael Vicks case is a therapy dog now? They are very intelligent. Since the pit bull is a puppy, he will make a wonderful pet. He has not been exposed to the fighting. Clean slate. Start fresh and give him the best home.



I think it's the owner's fault for letting their dogs get vicious not the dogs. If you take control and get great obedience training for him, he will turn out great. Don't judge a book by it's cover.



Good luck and I hope the two of you make a good decision.

Answer 5

You have gotten some good advice on the American Pit Bull Terrier, and similar breeds. These are not bad dogs. The important thing is where your husband purchased the dog from. My best suggestion is to get the dog in training(as any dog should be!), and just be a responsible dog owner.



With the right owner, the APBT can make a wonderful pet. please join http://www.pitbullforum.com . They have a lot of great people there, who are always willing to offer advice.



On a more personal level I have an American Pit Bull Terrier, and so does my sister. My sister has a 4 year old son, and a 7 month old daughter. Both dogs are amazing with the children. Of course they are responsible parents/dog owenrs and never leave the dogs and children unsupervised together(shouldn't leave them unsupervised with ANY breed of dogs).



A little known fact. Pit bulls were once considered "Nanny dogs" because of how great their temperment can be.

Answer 6

I see two problems here, one your husband went behind your back and two you are acting like a hysterical child and not a grown adult.



Stop listening to the media. I grew up around the APBT, Guess how many times I was bit? Never. The most serious bite I have ever gotten that required I go to the doctor came from a LAB.



"He is a puppy now, but even if you're around them for their whole life they can still turn on you, right? " WRONG



"How common it is for them to attack?" Its not. Th average person cannot properly identify an actual American Pit Bull terrier from other breeds. IF an attack is reported incorrectly there is almost never a correction printed on what the actual breed of dog was.



"Am I right? " No you have just listened to the media too much



"Is it bad to have one as a family pet?" I'll let these pics speak for themselves



http://d988256.u38.infinology.net/images/Copy%20of%20Picture%20063.jpg



http://d988256.u38.infinology.net/images/Copy%20of%20doggy012.jpg



http://d988256.u38.infinology.net/images/Picture001.jpg



http://d988256.u38.infinology.net/images/Copy%20of%20QuincywithLouLou1.jpg



http://d988256.u38.infinology.net/images/snickersnownala.jpg



Oh and to REALLY show you how great these dogs can be as long as their owners train and socialize them properly



Pit Bulls as SERVICE dogs

http://www.freewebs.com/chloethepitbull/walmartsdiscrimination.htm



So take a deep breath relax, smack your husband upside the head for doing what he did behind your back and then finding some puppy classes for your dog.



He may not want a girlie breed but YOU want a well trained dog.

Answer 7

Do you have any friends who will tell your husband the damage he is doing to his marriage?



It doesn't matter if pitbulls are dangerous or not. What does matter is that you're afraid of big dogs.



If you were to tell him you'd give it a 6 month trial with dog (you take it to an obedience school, make friends with other pitty owners, talk to someone about your fears) and if it doesn't work, would he be agreeable to finding it a home?



Talk to animal control and get their opinion as to what breeds they consider to be safe.



Would your husband consider a mixed breed? Does it have to be a puppy? Adult dogs are usually more stable and more apt to be tolerate of children who pull their tails etc.



Mastiffs are huge dogs but are very friendly. What about a Golden Retriever or a Lab?

Answer 8

I think everyone else already covered it, but I just thought I would reinforce what everyone else says: Pits can be great with kids. My boyfriend and I have a 4 year old pit (a real one, Staffordshire terrier) and a 5 year old beagle mix. Recently, his brother and 11 month old niece moved in with us. Of course we always supervise the dogs with the baby, but the truth is the pit is MUCH better with the baby than the beagle!



We believe this is because the baby frightens the beagle a bit. A baby might step on a tail, fall on top of or trip over the dog, or pull a tail or ear, (the baby LOVES to grab for the shiny tags on the collar) and the pit just chills out or wags her tail. The beagle doesn't like it when the baby grabs his ears or tail though (understandably) and at first took to growling, but now just walks away when he sees the baby approaching him (a bit of training helps mediate any problems). But given their different responses, my beagle is much more likely to snap at or bite the baby than the pit bull is.



Also, if this makes you feel any better, pit bulls are very loyal, they live to please their owners, but they will also defend their home and families if need be - just their bark is enough to scare away most people! My mom is afraid of pit bulls, but she loves that I have mine with me whenever i'm alone.



Good luck! I hope you and your husband work out your differences and either love your current dog or give it a better home and find one you both like.

Answer 9

It is highly unlikely that this dog will "turn" on you or your child. Pits can make wonderful family dogs. However, pits, like all large breeds, need to be trained and exercised. If not, they will grow unruly and mischievous due to boredom. These dogs also need Positive Reinforcement Training--not Negative. You must reward this dog for every step it takes in the right direction. If you beat it or lock it away or otherwise punish it (not reprimand, but punish) you can expect its demeanor to turn sour quickly. Your child will also need to be taught to interact appropriately with a dog. Invest in some good reading materials and then invest your time and energy in your household.



Not to judge, but taking on the responsibility of a dog is much like taking on the responsibility of having a child. (a being that is totally dependent on you for years and all) Usually, highly functioning couples make these decisions together. Bringing home a dog that you're scared of and don't want? A "girlie" dog? Are you sure either of you are ready for a pet?

Answer 10

I'd say the problem is more "your husband went and made a 15 year commitment to your family without your input'. Pits can be wonderful dogs but they do need lots of training. Start the classes ASAP. You need to become that dogs afpha dog asap. That way it will learn to do as you say. That said, no child should be left alone with any type of dog or puppy. It just isnt safe for the child or the puppy.

Answer 11

Pitbulls can make wonderful pets if properly trained and disciplined. You should ALWAYS supervise any interactions between your dog and your child - regardless of the breed.



But here are some interesting statistics:



"A child in the United States is over 100 times more likely to be killed by his or her parent or caretaker than by a dog."



"Pit bull and pit mixes account for 21 percent of all human fatalities, while mixed breed dogs account for 16 percent and other nonspecified breeds, 15 percent. Delise's study demonstrates that the breed of dog should not be the sole factor by which an attack is judged. Other factors include inherited and learned behaviors, genetics, breeding, temperament, surgical sterilization, environmental stresses, owner responsibility, victim behavior, size and age, timing, and the physical condition and the size of dog. "



The most important thing here is proper breeding and training. If the dog comes from a reliable breeder that breeds for good temperament, and the dog is raised in a disciplined environment, then you're not likely to have any problems. If the dog comes from a backyard breeder, it's harder to say.

Answer 12

whether a pit or any breed you have to be very careful with small children, they need to be watched constantly as they can be

a nuisance to both pups and adult dogs which is where a lot of

the problems can start, I think your husband should have discussed

this with you before he rushed out and got a pup, after all it is

generally the mother that has to deal with the kids and animals.

I would be sure that child and dog are never left on their own

unsupervised and make sure that your husband understands this

as often men seem to think everything will be fine,

Just try to relax and make sure that hubby does his fare share

and by the way beagles are far from girlie.

Dont forget pit's are nice dogs its the prats that train them to be

fighting dogs that cause all the problems.

Answer 13

In most cases they are like any other dog

If raised with love will give love if raised to be mean and tied out and left they can turn

I've heard the same thing with any ohter breed.

I have had one that was raised with my daughter we got her when she was 7 weeks old and my daughter was 2 unfortunately we had to have her put to sleep 2 years ago due to cnacer.

She and my daughter were best buddies all the years we had her. she never showed any aggression to anyone and my daughter had/has a lot of friends in and out all the time.

My daughter is now 13 so we had our pit for 11 years.

Answer 14

Any breed of dog has the potential to turn on you. Pittbulls have a bad reputation because of how they are raised. There are far more bites from Labs than Pitts. I would be more concerned having a smaller dog with small children because little dogs are more likely to bite or snap if they get squished. I know quite a few Pittbulls that are great family pets. As long as they are properly socialized and trained, then any dog has the potential to be a great family pet.

Answer 15

I know how upset you must be with your husband because he brought a puppy into the house without discussing the breed with your first. To me, that's the problem here!



But the truth is, despite what the media says, pit bulls are seriously the original family dog. They will not "turn on you" anymore than any other breed will. This breed was actually bred to LOVE humans. Remember Petey from the Little Rascals? 100% pit bull. They are such great dogs that carry such a bad rap. Here are some kids that love their pit bulls:



http://www.pitbullproject.ca/may.jpg

http://www.arepitbullsmean.com/alexia2.jpg

http://xrlq.com/Images/pitbaby2.jpg

http://www.forpitssake.org/images/shadow1_1.jpg

http://i24.tinypic.com/rcoadh.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/991332948_667bd0cf2f.jpg



If you train both the puppy AND the child to have manners around eachother, I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship. :) Don't stay mad at your husband for too long, enroll that pup in obedience classes the first chance you get and remember to supervise the baby and the puppy together.



http://www.dogguide.net/blog/2008/05/overcoming-the-reputation-photos-of-pit-bulls-and-children/



Best of luck.

Answer 16

Pitties can be great family dogs with THE RIGHT TRAINING, and SOCIALIZATION. I capitalize both of these are they are paramount to having a safe and happy dog the third most important keystone is TEMPERMENT...this as stated above is genetic. Your job now is to sitdown with your husband and rationally discuss just what responsibilities he is willing to take on and share with you in the training of this dog starting right now. First I would not let any puppy of any breed alone with my two year old, they can hurt each other quite accidently through play. They are both babies and dont have any self control. You need to train bite inhibition...this is with any puppy not just pitties, what behavior is acceptable and what is not, lay down a good foundation now. Along with training is socialization...socialize...socialize...socialize and then socialize somemore. Remember this is a puppy and not a sociopath with murder in his heart, it is not his intent to hurt either you or your son. I strongly suggest you get on line find a yahoo group for APBT and talk to them express your concerns, and ask for help. Dont simply jump ship on this baby just because of his breed.

Answer 17

I was going to write a long letter protecting pit bulls, but my biggest issue is that your husband brought home a dog WITHOUT your permission. You should have all gone out and agreed to this together. The fact that the owner didn't even check out his family shows me the owner probably had some accidental litter from dogs with who knows what kind of temperament. Tell him to send the dog back, and you'll go without a dog until your son is older. Then you can ALL go out to find a dog together. Your husband is rude, and he is acting like a child. Take the puppy back.

Answer 18

Pit bulls and like dogs get a bad rap from people who trained these dogs to fight. They are not bad. They have to be trained properly like any other dog. Make sure the dog is trained by a professional trainer. The dog is a puppy, so you know she does not have a history of fighting. Educate yourself about the way to properly train and care for dogs and you should be fine.

Answer 19

The pit bull is not the most common breed to "turn" on it's owners, it's the Akita.

There are far more Golden Retriever bites and Lab bites in the world than there are pit bull bites.



Since you have this dog as a puppy you have a blank slate, and you can raise an entirely sweet family dog. Try looking at the dog inside, not it's skin. There are many many pit bulls in therapy, narcotics work, search and rescue. These people know how to see past the skin and see the dog. It's all in the raising.

Answer 20

Our old dog (border collie) was really hyper and jumpy and we were really scared to have her around my nephew & little cousins because she's a big dog and sometimes is very...well, aggressive.

Surprisingly, she learned to be very calm and good around the kids. I was really surprised!

The minute my nephew & cousins get into the house, she would calm down right away =]



And if your dog isn't like that, you should take him to obedience class. =]

Answer 21

Pitt bulls can be wonderful family pets & not aggressive at all but you have to take responsibility for it. Make sure you are spending enough time training and working with your new puppy and you will have a great companion.



Here is a site that addresses many of your fears

Answer 22

Its ok. sit back and relax!!!! i myself have pits. they are not the issue. the people that raise them are. i have raised 4 around my kids and have never had an issue. they are great family dogs. it really is all about how they are raised. get a book or look up online the best way to raise a pit. it will help you out so much. we have raised ours like one of our kids. you teach them right from wrong and don't beat them lol. if you take the time to teach them they are the most loving and fun dogs you can ever own. i know i wouldn't trade the ones we have raised for anything.

Answer 23

LISTEN TO ME... IT IS NOT THE BREED OF DOG YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT IT IS WHERE THE DOG CAME FROM, WHO HAD IT BEFORE YOU AND HOW THEY TREATED HIM/HER. I HAVE TWELVE LARGE BREED DOGS AND ONE SMALL BREED AND THEY ARE ALL AMAZING. THE MEDIA IS STUIPED THEY WOULD RATHER BLAME THE DOGS WHO CAN NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES, THEN ADMIT THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE DISGUSTING PIGS. PITBULLS CAN MAKE GREAT FAMILY PETS! I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

Answer 24

Pitbulls make great family pets! Any dog can be trained to be mean and any dog can turn on you! It's all about how they're trained. If you treat them right, they can be the sweetest dogs!!



Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ9Te3A17LQ

Answer 25

pitbulls can be dangerous but if they are trained right they are not. i have a staffie and people turn their noses up and cross the road when they see her cuz of her breed, but the worst thing she could do is lick you to death!

Answer 26

I have a 4 year old boxer/pitt mix and she is the sweetest dog ever, we also have a doberman pinscher. I have a 9 year old son and a 5 year old daughter and soon to have a newborn.

Pitt Bulls have gotten such bad names. It's not the breed it's the owner and how they raise the dog. If you raise it lovingly, and don't beat it or train it to be mean it will be the best family companion you will ever have.

Again, it's not the breed, it's the owner.

So, get over your fear, teach your child how to be nice to the dog, and it will grow up to love and protect your family.

Answer 27

A "girlie" dog, huh? I guess the biggest problem with Pits is that they appeal to so many brain-dead, macho dolts. These fools enjoy the fear reactions that other people have to their dogs. And of course they don't usually bother to train them very well.





If you do your research you'll find that Pits and Rotts are responsible for a WAY disproportionate percentage of human fatalities. They're so physically capable and, face it, they've been bred to fight.



OF COURSE some Pits are extremely nice dogs that go thru their life w/o ever having a problem. But if you look at the numbers (as the home insurer's have), you'll find that weaponized dogs are more likely to fire...





"Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, has conducted an unusually detailed study of dog bites from 1982 to the present. (Clifton, Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to November 13, 2006; click here to read it.) The Clifton study show the number of serious canine-inflicted injuries by breed. The author's observations about the breeds and generally how to deal with the dangerous dog problem are enlightening.



According to the Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks that were included in the study, 68% of the attacks upon children, 82% of the attacks upon adults, 65% of the deaths, and 68% of the maimings. In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question. Clifton states:



If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull terrier or a Rottweiler has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed--and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price.



Clifton's opinions are as interesting as his statistics. For example, he says, "Pit bulls and Rottweilers are accordingly dogs who not only must be handled with special precautions, but also must be regulated with special requirements appropriate to the risk they may pose to the public and other animals, if they are to be kept at all."

Source(s):



""Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996....[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.)"

Answer 28

PITbulls are NOT the problem,, the real problem here is " did your husband get this pup from a very reputable breeder, with proven lines, TEMPERAMENt is genetic...... I would be very cautious if he got this dog off the street or from some BYB..

Answer 29

I'm a firm believer in the saying,



"A picture is worth a thousand words"



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/sun025.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/sun015.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/sneak020.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/bday006.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/bub006.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/perch.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/Hehe001.jpg



http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/RAw005.jpg

Answer 30

NO RESPONSIBLE BREEDER/POUND/SHELTER SHOULD GIVE YOU A PUPPY IF YOU HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD, ANY BREED. IT IS JUST TOO CRUEL. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO TRAIN A PUPPY AND RAISE A BABY. PUPPIES, ALL BREEDS, ARE A TON OF STRESS AND TIME AND TRAINING. ALL BREEDS OF PUPPIES BITE CHILDREN AND JUMP ON THEM. ALL BREEDS ARE AFRAID OF CHILDREN AND KIDS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO BE KIND TO PUPPIES. TODDLERS SCREAM AND CRY AND RUN AND MAKE JERKING MOVEMENTS AND THAT SCARES ANY BREED OF DOG. KIDS BOTHER DOGS WHEN THEY EAT AND TAKE THEIR TOYS AND SOMETIMES KIDS EVEN SQUEEZE A PUPPY TO DEATH. THIS PUPPY, ANY PUPPY, IS NOT GOING TO KNOW HOW TO BE KIND TO A BABY, AND A BABY/TODDLER/CHILD IS NOT GOING TO KNOW HOW TO BE KIND TO A PUPPY. YOU SHOULD NOT CONSIDER ANY BREED OF DOG UNTIL YOUR YOUNGEST CHILD IS AT LEAST 6-YEARS-OLD FOR SOME BREEDS OR 8-YEARS-OLD FOR OTHER BREEDS. PLEASE GIVE THIS PUPPY AWAY IT IS JUST TOOOOOOOO CRUEL TO THE PUPPY TO KEEP HIM, YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TRAIN A PUPPY PROPERLY AND RAISE A BABY PROPERLY.

Answer 31

they are illegal in the uk . but if its treated right trained properly and never left alone its should be ok but having said that i would;d not have one