are great jumpers with strong jaws. They can easily support their own weight when they grasp a suspended object.
“Wait a minute,” you say. “How hard could this be? All of my neighbors own dogs and they seem to be doing just fine. Why should I have to worry about all of this?” Well, you should not worry about it; in fact, you will probably find that once your Pit Bull pup gets used to his new home, he will fall into his place in the family quite naturally. But it never hurts to emphasize the commitment of dog ownership. With some time and patience, it is really not too difficult to raise a curious and exuberant Pit Bull pup to be a well-adjusted and well-mannered adult dog—a dog that could be your most loyal friend.
BOY OR GIRL?
An important consideration is the sex of your puppy. For a family companion, a bitch may be the better choice, considering the female’s inbred concern for all young creatures and her accompanying tolerance and patience. Pet dogs that will not be bred or shown should be neutered (males) or spayed (females), as it could guarantee them longer lives.
“YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND!”
Finding a reputable breeder who sells healthy pups is very important, but make sure that the breeder you choose is not only someone you respect but also someone with whom you feel comfortable. Your breeder will be a resource long after you buy your puppy, and you must be able to call with reasonable questions without being made to feel like a pest! If you don’t connect on a personal level, investigate some other breeders before making a final decision.
PREPARING PUPPY’S PLACE IN YOUR HOME
Researching your breed and finding a breeder are only two aspects of the homework you will have to do before bringing your Pit Bull puppy home. You will also have to prepare your home and family for the new addition. Much like you would prepare a nursery for a newborn baby, you will need to designate a place in your home that will be the puppy’s own. How you prepare your home will depend on how much freedom the dog will be allowed: will he be confined to one room or a specific area in the house, or will he be allowed to roam as he pleases? Will he spend most of his time in the house or will he be primarily an outdoor dog? Whatever you decide, you must ensure that he has a place that he can “call his own.”
Pit Bulls make very effective guard dogs just by their looks alone!
When you bring your new puppy into your home, you are bringing him into what will become his home as well. Obviously, you did not buy a puppy so that he could take control and “rule the roost,” but in order for a puppy to grow into a stable, well-adjusted dog, he has to feel comfortable in his surroundings. Remember, he is leaving the warmth and security of his mother and littermates, plus the familiarity of the only place he has ever known, so it is important to make his transition as easy as possible. By preparing a place in your home for the puppy, you are making him feel as welcome as possible in a strange new place. It should not take him long to get used to it, but the sudden shock of being transplanted is somewhat traumatic for a young pup. Imagine how a small child would feel in the same situation—that is how your puppy must be feeling. It is up to you to reassure him and to let him know, “Little fellow, you are going to like it here!”
Playful nipping may seem cute in a pup, but discourage it early on. You will not want to contend with this behavior in a full-grown Pit Bull.
Keep your pup’s eventual size in mind and purchase a crate that will accommodate him as an adult.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY
CRATE
To someone unfamiliar with the use of crates in dog training, it may seem like punishment to shut a dog in a crate; this is not the case at all. Crates are not cruel—crates have many humane and highly effective uses in dog care and training. For example, crate training is a very popular and very successful housebreaking method; a crate can keep your dog safe during travel; and, perhaps most importantly, a crate provides your dog with a place of his own in your home. It serves as a “doggie bedroom” of sorts—your Pit Bull can curl up in his crate when he wants to sleep or when he just needs a break. Many dogs sleep in their crates overnight. When lined with soft bedding and with his favorite toy inside, a crate becomes a cozy pseudo-den for your dog. Like his ancestors, he too will seek out the comfort and retreat of a den—you just happen to be providing him with something a little more luxurious than leaves and twigs lining a dirty ditch.
Just like a small child, your Pit Bull puppy will need to rest and will take frequent naps.
As far as purchasing a crate, the type that you buy is up to you. It will most likely be one of the two most popular types: wire or fiberglass. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. For example, a wire crate is more open, allowing the air to flow through and affording the dog a view of what is going on around him. Wire crates are the best choice for use in the home. A fiberglass crate, however, is recommended for use as a travel crate since it provides more protection for the dog.
The size of the crate is another thing to consider. Puppies do not stay puppies forever—in fact, sometimes it seems as if they grow right before your eyes. A small crate may be fine for a very young Pit Bull pup, but it will not do him much good for long! Unless you have the money and the inclination to buy a new crate every time your pup has a growth spurt, it is better to get one that will accommodate your dog both as a pup and at full size. A medium to large crate will be necessary for a full-grown Pit Bull. With much size variation in the breed, the line from which your pup comes will help you predict his eventual size.
Obtain a large crate for your Pit Bull. Puppies grow; crates don’t!
BEDDING
A blanket or crate pad in the dog’s crate will help the dog feel more at home. First, the bedding will take the place of the leaves, twigs, etc., that the pup would use in the wild to make a den; the pup can make his own “burrow” in the crate. Although your pup is far removed from his den-making ancestors, the denning instinct is still a part of his genetic makeup. Second, until you bring your pup home, he has been sleeping amid the warmth of his mother and littermates, and while a blanket is not the same as a warm, breathing body, it will still provide heat and something with which to snuggle. You will want to wash your pup’s bedding frequently in case he has an accident in his crate, and replace or remove any bedding that becomes ragged and starts
