When you decide to welcome a dog into your home, there are evaluations to make so that our experience is positive. Knowing the breed of the dog that will become part of our family will help us to get all the tools and to have the knowledge useful for its management. If this applies to all existing “four-legged friends”, it is even more real if our choice is directed towards dogs such as pit bulls, amstaffs and staffordshire and the like.
The pit bull is mistakenly considered an aggressive race, capable of attacking people and children. In reality, it is a faithful and sweet dog, but indeed a dominant and robust character that sometimes leads him to clash with his peers, especially if they are of the same sex and dominant. Aggression can come out in case of danger, to protect one’s master. When a Pitbull “assails” people, they are also known, it is because at that moment he is undergoing intense psychological pressure or is feeling a feeling of strong fear.
Respectful of hierarchies, if you already have another dog, you should have no problems inserting a pitbull as it will have great respect for the dog already present.
THE CHARACTER
Although he is a dog that can live in an apartment, he needs to have fun, to move and to vent his energies. Taking him out for two hours a day will not only make him feel better, but he will be able to socialize with other dogs, avoiding that loneliness and interaction only with human beings will lead him to become violent or spoiled. It is essential to educate a pitbull: being a race selected to defend, he considers the man a pack leader for his nature will not lead him to attack. However, risking that he shows aggression towards the like, it is essential to avoid stirring him up as a puppy to attack dogs and other animals.
Being a competitive and combative dog, when he does something he is to win. This charge is also seen in the game. He will always try to pull the rope in your hand to let go of his grip. He has genuinely exceptional strength despite his size and will use it to win any competition. If he grabs hold, he will not leave it for any reason. For this reason, it is good to make him play during the day with balls, ropes, tires and make him run. This will make him more calm and even obedient. Precisely because they have been selected as fighting dogs, in addition to a stronghold, they have a very high pain threshold. He has the instinct of a fighter and a guardian, but for this, he is not bad or aggressive, on the contrary, he is often employed in Pet therapy and the search for missing people. It is, in fact, a dog very suitable for a social life if well trained.
He is a very thoughtful dog. Even when he seems distracted, he is alert and attentive. This “shrewd” nature does not make him react immediately if attacked by a human being. He attacks only if forced if he has to defend his family or himself. On the contrary, faced with an insult from another animal, it will respond promptly without fear. Many dogs bite out of fear, but Pitbull is brave, so it is tough for him to do so.
If the dog is friendly, it can be taken to the park without risking too much that it reacts to possible provocations by other dogs.
The pitbull is collaborative, cheerful, intelligent and knows how to love immensely. The efforts made to educate and care for it will be rewarded. They are, however, easily excitable. If this aspect and their high competitiveness can be managed consciously, aggression towards peers is among its worst defects. Care and great responsibility if you come into contact with other dogs. Ultimately the pitbull will give more than what it will receive, but it must find suitable masters to take care of it.
PITBULL AND CHILDREN
Pit bulls are very affectionate and adorable with children. They often suffer without issuing a single bark. It is easy to see children pulling their tails, their ears and putting their fingers in their eyes. As said, they are very obedient dogs and would never hurt their master. However, these are not behaviors to keep our children against the dog. Children should be educated in respect. They should be taught how to interact in the right way, what to do, and what to avoid in order to prevent unpleasant accidents. We must always take into account the nature and instinct of the animal. Even the best dog can react to a threat, a wrong attitude at a wrong time.
THE PITBULL: HOW TO REACT IN THE EVENT OF AGGRESSION
When you go out with your pitbull (but this is also extended to other types of dogs), and you go through places of transit, it is a good idea to wear a leash and a muzzle. One must always be vigilant and observe what is happening around him.
If the dog should bite a similar one, it is essential not to lose the calm and the control. The trainers advise against both fidgeting and hitting him or blocking his nose in the hope that he will leave the grip: similar actions could make him nervous and cause him to tighten his grip. What to do then if we find ourselves in this terrible situation? It is necessary to procure a wedge, a log, something to put at the corner of the throat up to crush his tongue or induce him to vomit. If you are lucky to be two, the other can hold the attacked dog to limit damage and prevent it from reacting and attacking the pit bull again.
THE PITBULL: A DOG NOT FOR EVERYONE
The problem linked to the “incidents” of which we are witnessing or being protagonists is often related to human ignorance. Whether it’s a pit bull or a labrador or an amstaff or even a half-breed, the choice of dog is usually made according to aesthetic canons. In the event of adoption, it is more important to look at whether the adopter/buyer has specific requisites rather than whether it can be suitable. The characteristics of the dog are not evaluated, or it is superficially believed that it can be transformed and changed at will. In reality, every race has its history, its genetics. Even training should not be seen as a solution to problems. A course will help you to know and manage the nature of your dog, to make it more sociable and to smooth out certain aspects of it, but its character, its needs will remain there ready to appear as soon as the opportunity arises. The pitbull is a defence dog and is not suitable for everyone. Unfortunately, sometimes they can come from poor breedings or end up in the hands of wrong owners: this can make the dog dangerous and unstable.
These premises must not give rise to the phobia of this beautiful race, which remains statistically the least biting, although the media portray it as one of the worst and the most dangerous.
USEFUL TIPS
The Pittbull is not a recommended breed if you are a beginner if it is the first dog. Having a strong and dominant character, it takes experience and firmness to be able to educate him better. If you do not meet these requirements, it is better to focus on a more submissive and docile dog. Furthermore, since they cannot be left free in the presence of other dogs, the time factor must be evaluated: they need to vent their energies so that the future owner will take them to suitable places. They are extremely affectionate dogs and create a very strong bond with the owner, so it must be taken if you can devote time to them every day.
If, after careful consideration, you decide to take a pitbull, it is good to turn to professional breeders or to well-prepared people who know how to give us the necessary information. If possible it is good to know the parents of the puppy, visit the litter several times to be able to understand it, make sure that it is growing in a suitable place.
When you want to take a pit bull or any other dog with similar characteristics, it is a good idea to consider enrolling him in the course of education. Be careful, however, to choose one where there are people who have had experience with this type of dog and where positive methods are implemented. A recommendation on all. To form the pitbull an absolute and definite no to electric collars (for the recall or to correct wrong behaviours), not to keep them locked in a cage, no to stimulate excitement and competitiveness through fight or competition games or other expedients.
