Pit Bulls are in rescue for many reasons. The most common one is simply because their first owners did not think things through properly when they decided to get a Pit Bull. Another reason is that the dog did not get along well with the children or other pets in the house. Some Pit Bulls were rescued from illegal dog-fighting operations and will require extra care and rehabilitation. These dogs need special attention with experienced owners.
There are many Pit Bull rescue groups available that have these pets screened for temperament and health problems. However, just like what you would expect from a good breeder, there are organizations that are very picky about prospective homes for these abandoned dogs. Experienced rescue groups evaluate the needs and special requirements of each dog in their care and help you get a dog that fits well with your situation and lifestyle.
Because most of these dogs in rescue have already been to too many homes, you have to choose one very carefully to make sure that your home will be the one where he can settle in permanently. Contact your local animal shelter and ask to be notified if a Pit Bull should become available.
Where to look when shopping for a Pit Bull
When searching for the right Pit Bull puppy, some common sources include online ads, newspaper ads, rescue groups, and professional as well as hobby breeders.
You have to be careful about getting a dog from a newspaper ad. Although there are some reputable breeders who advertise in the paper, finding your Pit Bull in the classifieds is not often a good idea. Most ads in the paper are placed by inexperienced breeders who naively breed their pet thinking that they can make a quick buck. They seldom have the resources or knowledge to produce healthy and well adjusted puppies.
Would you take home a rescued Pit Bull? Many Pit Bulls are abandoned by their previous owners and in need of new and permanent homes. Most of these dogs will make tender, loyal, and trustworthy pets. However, a few of them may require special care and attention in order to help them recover from their past experiences.
Professional and hobby breeders who place ads in magazine or put up a site online tend to be serious about their dogs. You can find a wide variety of quality Pit Bulls from breeders who either have a web site dedicated to their dogs or those who advertise in an all-breed or specific breed magazines.
All working dog breeds need a lot of exercise. Both to keep them healthy but also to tire them out. This is especially true of Pit Bulls, as the saying goes "A Tired Pit Bull is a Good Pit Bull". If your dog isn't getting enough exercise, the excess energy that he or she has will likely be spent chewing your new couch or jumping on every visitor too your home.
Everyone when they get a new dog is told to take it on long walks. Personally, I don't think walking is enough. Pit bulls were bread to be active working dogs. If you notice when you walk your dog that it never runs. The dog's were breed to run. Walking just doesn't get a dog's activity level high enough to drain much energy. You need to find another way to increase your dogs exercise.
You may be able to jog with your dog, however even at normal jogging paces the dog just isn't really exerting himself. The object of exercising your dog much like a human is to get it to run for a solid 20 to 30 minutes. I find that adding a intense game of fetch at the local park gets my dogs running at the best pace for a good amount of time.
I have a park close by that is quite open and rarely has other people (or dogs for that matter). I normally walk my dog to this park on his leash and then once at the park, I pull out his favorite ball and we play a intense game of fetch. No short passes here, I throw as far as I am able and my dog runs as fast as possible to fetch the ball and return it too me. My dog gets a lot of pleasure out of this game.
I only suggest you take your dog to an open park if it is well trained. If you dog doesn't return unquestioned to the "recall" command you probably need to work with the dog some more before thinking about taking the dog off of leash at a park. This is especially important for the Pit Bull, due both to the breeds tendency to be dog aggressive you may find yourself in a bad situation if your dog decides to be unruly.
Even if you don't have access to a vacant park or have a dog that isn't quite trained enough to be allowed off leash. There are several things you can still do. I use a Flirt pole with younger dogs to tire them out. This can be done in a normal sized back yard. Also, you could hang a spring pole from a tree or other structure and train your dog to use it. I have also read about people that have trained their dogs to use a treadmill.
Exercise should be an important part of your dogs daily routine. I have yet to have behavior problems with any dog that has been properly exercised.
Both Gene Sower & Dave Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gene Sower has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bull Terrier Dogs, Real Estate and Dogs. Gene Sower is the publisher of the DOG BYTES newsletter and owner of , a. Gene Sower's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
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