Whitney has over 10 years of experience in dog training, rescuing, and
healthcare.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is the second most popular breed in the country,
according to the United Kennel Club.
Picking a Pit Bull Puppy
Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)
who was born for the show ring, or just a loving pet who lives to roll in the
mud and sleep on your bed, the first step is finding a high-quality puppy from
a reputable and conscientious breeder.
There’s no shortage of people who sell APBT puppies—the breed is the second
most popular breed in the country, according to the United Kennel Club.
Once you begin your search for the perfect puppy, you’ll find APBT breeders
almost everywhere your look. They’re listed in newspaper ads, websites,
neighborhood bulletin boards, and even swap meets and garage sales. Unlike
conscientious, reputable breeders, who spend a lifetime breeding dogs with the
best temperament, health, and conformation, these individuals produce puppies
only for money and give little thought to the dog’s welfare once he leaves the
premises. Regardless of how cute these pups may be or how much they need a
home, avoid them.
Remember that you’re going to be caring for this puppy for 12 to 15 years, so
the time you spend early on choosing the right puppy who is healthy and well-
adjusted will pay off in the long run.
Picking the right puppy is very important, especially with bully breed dogs,
because you want to make sure that you don’t pick a puppy that is overly
aggressive, has tons of health problems, or doesn’t even look like an American
Pit Bull Terrier. All of these possible issues explain why basic temperament
tests are very important to perform when you visit the breeder. You want to
take the breeder’s description of the puppies’ temperaments, but testing will
add to your final opinion.
Avoid puppy mills and backyard breeders. Puppy mills are large-scale breeding
operations that produce puppies in an assembly line fashion without regard for
health and socialization. Backyard breeders are typically well-meaning,
regular pet owners who simply do not possess enough knowledge about their
breed and breeding to produce healthy puppies.
Distinguished and trustworthy breeders will stand out from others because they
have a lifelong passion for producing quality rather than quantity.
Useful Tips for Any Breed
The following tips are useful in picking out a breeder or puppy of any
breed.
How to Select the Right Breeder
Distinguished and trustworthy breeders will stand out from others because they
have a lifelong passion for producing quality rather than quantity.
They tend to belong to national and local clubs that register APBTs, which
shows commitment to the breed and a willingness to network with other breeders
who share health, behavior, conformation, and training information.
Reputable breeders register their stock with either the UKC or the American
Dog Breeders’ Association, which ensures that they strive to produce puppies
that conform to the standards of either registry.
Reputable dog breeders spay or neuter dogs who aren’t good examples of the
standard for the breed.
When looking at the pedigree of a particular puppy or adult dog, you will see
that one or both of the parents and most of the other dogs in the pedigree
will have a “CH,” for champion, or “GRCH,” for grand champion, in front of
their names. Both titles and performance titles signify that the dog has
earned special distinctions in the show ring. These dogs have must amiable
personalities in order to compete in show or performance, so they are bred for
personality as well as physical conformation. Without the titles, you know
you’re looking at a backyard breeder’s dog pedigree.
Remember that just because the breeder says, “of champion bloodlines,” you
still want to see the CH or GRCH in either parent, because the breeder’s idea
of “champion bloodlines” just means that somewhere down the line there may
have been a champion. This could mean three, four, five, or more generations
back.
Scroll to Continue
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The right breeder will be willing to share all his experience and will be more
than willing to help you raise a healthy and well-behaved puppy.
The right breeder will also be willing to give you references to his vet and
past customers. He will be able to provide health clearances for the puppies
and parents.
Here are 10 signs to look for when picking a puppy from a breeder.
How to Pick the Right Puppy
Here are 10 signs to look for when picking a puppy from a breeder (and even a
shelter). When in doubt, ask the breeder which puppy he thinks has the best
personality and temperament that may fit your lifestyle.
- Look at the area where the pups spend most of their time. It’s ok if they play outdoors part of the day, but they should sleep indoors at night so that the puppies can interact with people and become accustomed to hearing ordinary household noises. This builds a solid foundation for a secure, well-socialized puppy. The puppy area should be clean, well-lit, have fresh water, and interesting toys.
- Make sure to see all of the puppies in the litter. By five weeks old, healthy puppies will begin playing with each other and should be lively and energetic. It’s ok if they’re asleep when you visit, but stay long enough to see them wake up. Once they’re up, they shouldn’t be lethargic or weak, as this may be a sign of illness.
- Puppies should be confident and eager to greet you. A puppy who is shy or fearful and stays in the corner may be sick or insecure. Although some introverted puppies will come out of their shells later on, many don’t. These dogs tend to be fearful adults and aren’t good choices for an active, noisy family with or without kids, or for people who have little to no experience with dogs. They frighten easily and will require a tremendous amount of training and socialization in order to live a happy life. Choose a puppy who is happy and eager to interact with you but reject the one who is either too shy or too bossy. These temperament types are a challenge to deal with and require a tremendous amount of training to socialize.
- Take note of eating habits. If it’s feeding time during your visit, all the puppies should be eager to gobble up their food. Refusing to eat may signal that a puppy has an illness.
- Check for healthy skin. The dog’s skin should be smooth, clean, and shiny without any sores or bumps. Puppies should not be biting or scratching at themselves continuously, as this can signal fleas.
- Visit after eyes and ears open. After 10 to 12 days, puppies should have their eyes open and clear without any redness or discharge. Puppies should not be scratching at their eyes, as this can signal irritation or cause infection.
- Take note of physical symptoms. Vomiting or coughing more than once is not normal, and in this case, the puppy may be ill and require a vet visit.
- Take a look at their stool. Visit long enough to see the puppies eliminate because you want to make sure that the stool is firm and not watery or bloody.
- Check up on their diet. A healthy puppy who is getting enough to eat should not be skinny. You should be able to slightly feel the puppy’s ribs if you rub the abdomen, but you shouldn’t be able to see the ribs protruding through the skin.
- Observe their gait. Puppies should walk or run without limping. Ask if the parents have had hip and elbow dysplasia tests.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.
Comments
Marqueta on April 10, 2019:
Im try to get a samll puppy that idk growth like i love puppy i had a puppy
before but it run way from me idk have my own place yet but when i do get my
own place im want a puppy i live in Philadelphia pa
Brad Harville on March 20, 2019:
Im looking for a blue pitbull Gotti bloodline but most definitely blue with
some white in him. I want a male something we can all train to get along with
each other especially kids, but aggressive towards strangers. Thanks in
Advance. You can emAil me at [email protected] thank you
Mac on March 17, 2019:
3139749030 blu pit for sale soon
800
Robbin on March 06, 2019:
I’m looking for a red nose pitbull puppy
SNWood on November 21, 2018:
Reputable breeders????
There’s no such thing!
If you want a puppy go to any shelter. There’s thousands of dogs and puppies
in shelters
Norma on August 17, 2018:
I have a female APBT. She is definitely not dangerous to even a stranger, she
will growl and bark until they hold their hand out and God forbid you pet her
or give her a scratch because she will be your bestfriend. Hopefully noone
ever breaks into my home and I have to rely this (vicious) breed to protect
me. She may very well lick them to death or trip them trying to stay close
enough to be petted.
shay on April 16, 2012:
I have a 10 day old pup help
doeski on October 18, 2011:
My pit is giv registered got him from a friend,very loving protective of any
child,and the best thing that happened to our family! One day at the ball park
a small child attemted to run away with his marbles LOL but not on sign of
aggressive behavior .I believe train right do right by the dog and the dog
will do right by u !
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 13, 2011:
Please keep in mind that these dogs are not naturally human aggressive!
It would be dumb to train one to be such. If you want a guard dog, get a
doberman, rottweiler, shepherd, etc. If you want a dog aggressive dog, Pit
Bull is the way to go. There are cases where breeders of game pits, have to
have true guard dogs to protect their yard because they’ve had people steal
their dogs, and the dogs go willingly.
If you want a guard dog, get a dog prone to guard, not a Pit Bull
charlywax on June 13, 2011:
hi whitney, if u live in a neighbourhood that is steadily attacked by armed
robbers, would it b a bad idea to train ur pitbull to overly aggressive? Pls
help me cos i just bought a pit pup,he’s jst 7wks old..tanx
Lucien on April 25, 2011:
Hi Whitney, interesting read u gave and thanks on the tips. Just a quick
question… I want to get a pitbull pup but my brother already has a 1yr old
pitbull, is it advisable to let the 2 spend time together as I will drop the
pup of him when i go to work…
yeh on April 06, 2011:
good job..but i just hate ppl that make them fight and kill them i feel bad
Whitney (author) from Georgia on January 28, 2010:
You don’t have to. You don’t have to get the puppy registered at all, but if
you’re looking for a registered puppy, UKC or ADBA are both very good
registries to consider. You won’t be able to take a CKC registered dog and
have it UKC or ADBA registered unless both parents are UKC or ADBA registered,
depending on the registry.
Puppies should be let out a few times a day.If you could go home for lunch,
that would be ideal to letting the dog out. Before you leave, lunch, and when
you get home.
The dog should be at least 8 weeks old when you get it, so there would be no
reason to take it to the mother.
Drake on January 28, 2010:
OK! should i get him UKC registered then. and i was wondering when i go to
work, how long of a time can he be left alone, or would it be better if i
should take him to his mother while im at work but wouldn’t that just confuse
him????? THX AGAIN!!!
Whitney (author) from Georgia on January 28, 2010:
CKC registered in terms of Continental Kennel Club doesn’t mean anything. You
can have mix breeds CKC registered without any problems. You can have dogs
that have no history of papers registered. CKC isn’t anything special; it’s
really more of a scam in terms of dog registries. If you’re looking for a
papered APBT, find a UKC or ADBA registered breeder.
Socialize as soon as the pup has had several sets of shots. Socialize with
kids, other dogs, cats, other animals, loud noises, strange objects. Don’t
throw everything the pup at once or you’ll create a scared dog.
Small training sessions daily, several times a day. Puppies get bored easily.
Don’t get frustrated, as the dog will notice that. Stop before the dog is
bored and you start to get upset. Remember that puppies aren’t born knowing
the commands, they have to be trained what to do when you say/do the command.
DRAKE on January 27, 2010:
IM proud to buy off my bro bcuz he is doing everything rite. his dog is ckc
registered and he is going to register all the puppies and do everything from
the books. so basically ur telling me to socilize my dog and keep training it
everyday. i have never owned a dog. i just need some helpful tips about pit
bulls. dont worry i dont give up on my children y do it to a new member.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on January 27, 2010:
I wouldn’t be proud of buying from a backyard breeder. Raise the puppy like
any other puppy. If you shelter it, as an adult the pup can grow up very timid
and a potential fear biter, but if you are too harsh with it, it can grow up
dominant and a potential aggressive biter. You have to find that in-between
and socialize the dog, train it, be constant with it. Raise the dog as a dog.
It’s hard to answer the question because raising a puppy will vary, and the
right way for one puppy will be different for another.
Drake on January 27, 2010:
Hi ppl i’m 26yrs young and new to this. i will be a dog owner in about mouth
in half from a back yard breeder witch is a good friend of mine. i guess all
i’m asking from u PIT BULL lovers is any tips on how to rasie the puppie? what
main things i should look at when i choose a pup etc.also i have to kids my
girl is 3 and my boy is 2… THX for ur time and HELP…
Carie on January 17, 2010:
I have had a APBT for almost 3 months now. We found him on the street at 3
months of age. He is 6 months now. He loves to play with children and both my
male and female labs. When we first picked him up, I had no intention of
keeping him, until all the shelters here in MS denied him and animal control
stated that they would just put him down. I had his temperament tested by my
vet, as well as some tests by my lab’s trainers(I breed labs.) He passed all
with flying colors. The vet identified lots of what seem to be human induced
scars when we picked him up and rationalized that he was probably turned out
for not showing fighting potential. He is an amazing dog to have. He
loves/licks everyone he meets and rarely barks. I am so happy to have him as
my “little” lap dog:) He had completely changed my views on the breed.
Michelle on January 07, 2010:
I have a pit bull, which is the most loving caring dog i have come across, she
doesn’t have a bad bone in her! These types are dogs are just like guns, if
put in the wrong hands they can be used as danger, it’s all about how the
owners itself raise their dogs; if displined right amd cared and loved for
they are great, loyal dogs. So I wouldn’t say not to own one, if you have the
time and paitence go for it!!!
april on December 28, 2009:
i have two pitbulls and they are the sweetest dogs ever. The only problem I
have with them is that they think they can climb in everyone’s lap when i have
company. To think all pitbulls are mean is simply ignorance. Did you know that
more people are bitten by poodles every year than any other dog? NOT PITBULLS!
Yes pitbulls have attacked people just like any other dog but that doesn’t
mean all are the same.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on September 23, 2009:
Law thank you for your comment.
Law on September 23, 2009:
evemurphy: As an owner and breeder of APBTs, you are WAY off the mark. Through
my years of experience with these dogs I have never been bitten or so much as
growled at by a pit. However I have been knocked over and licked profusely by
a couple. My neighbors have two small children, a boy and girl, they also have
two pit bulls that play with these children every day with no worry of an
attack. Why? Because an APBT is a breed of dog BY DEFINITION to be a COMPANION
dog, not an attack dog, not even a guard dog. ANY dog bred by an inexperienced
breeder is dangerous. You see the EXACT SAME aggressive tendencies in over
bred labs, rotts, golden retrievers, poodles, dachshunds, german shepherds,
chihuahuas, etc. Not because the breed is violent, but because the
characteristics of the dogs are not of concern to those trying to make a quick
buck on whatever the dog trend at the time is. Any reputable breeder will only
breed a dog displaying both the physical attributes AND temperament pertaining
to that breed. In case you didn’t know, any sign of human aggression is a
disqualifying characteristic in an APBT, breeding privileges would then be
revoked. I think the role that the media plays in the destruction of one of
the most loyal, loving, courageous breeds is disgusting. Unless you have
experience with the TRUE APBT I believe you should keep your unvalidated
opinions to yourself. Also in regards to this statement: “When a pitbull
“flips” it’s not the same thing at all as when a poodle or a terrier “flips”!
I’m fairly certain that DEATH is the same regardless of the breed that
attacked.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) _ Authorities say a 6-week-old baby in Lexington died of
suffocation and blood loss after being attacked by the family’s Jack Russell
terrier.
A 6-week-old St. Mary’s County boy was in critical condition yesterday after
being dragged from his playpen and mauled by the family’s dachshund, police
said.”
Valiant effort couldn’t save dog victim “Officials said a husky mix, weighing
between 85 and 100 pounds, was involved in the baby’s death. “
Toddler mauled by dalmatian “The toddler had only just been given the
dalmatian, called Chelsea, after seeing the popular Disney dalmatian movies.”
Dog that mauled tot will be killed “A male Doberman pinscher that mauled its
owner’s 16-month-old son in an apparently unprovoked attack last month will be
euthanized” If it was a pitbull it would’ve been shot by the officers taking
the report at the scene that night.
Neighbor’s Dog Attacks Child “Witnesses said Sheeba is a brown boxer and
Shadow is a mid-sized black dog” They don’t seem as concerned about the
“breed”…why? Because it wasn’t a pit.
Baby Girl Killed by Family Dog This is the baby killed by the Pomeranian.
Would-be Police Dog Kills Boy, 4 Couple owned a kennel training shephards as
police dogs, have no idea why this one killed their child, but as of the
writing of the article they didn’t know if the dog would be destroyed. “An
investigation was continuing, Jarrett said, but he did not expect criminal
charges.” That’s probably because it was a police dog. “He said the department
was in negotiation to acquire the dog, which had been imported from Germany in
January. Those negotiations are probably over” PROBABLY????
Police probe dog mauling report “Police continue to investigate a report of a
bloodhound mix mauling a 3-year-old boy” and “”I can’t tell if charges will be
filed or not,” Coleman said. “There is no indication the dog was ugly. He may
have been playing and his actions misunderstood.” if that was a pit, that
statement wouldn’t have been included in the article.
Mother accused of neglect after baby mauled by ferret “A teenage mother failed
to prevent a pet ferret mauling her baby, a court has heard.”
Q.bailey on February 05, 2009:
hi my names Quentin and i have ownd my first and only pitt for about
7months…i agree w. just bout everything u have said or wrote about and i
haven’t even read that many hubs yet but i do have to agree that a dog is what
u make it…my lil girl sleeps w. every nite and she comes w’ me to wrk almost
everyday and meets all kinds of dogs and people…i work at a dog
salon..fyi…and she is one of the most socialble dogs iv meet…although i
think that im a pretty good owner im not trying to make a mistake to late ya
kno so u might be hearing from me a lil more often for some advice if thats
ok…bty her name is Princess Baby Mea
Ken on September 14, 2008:
Too the person who said APBT’s are illegial in canada, You ARE WRONG. They are
completely legal where I live which is regina, Sk. I know their legal in most
parts of canada, cause lots of my buddies have them too. I think their
illegial in only ontario.
Pandora on July 28, 2008:
I’m with you James and Whitney. I have known several pitbulls personally and
only one was aggressive. You could tell from the time he was a puppy that he
had an attitude problem. He was my brother-in-law’s dog. Bully came from a
backyard breeder. He was taken from his mother at 6 weeks, early for a
pitbull, at least one of the parents had aggressive tendencies (note that
according to UKC and AKC guidelines, Human aggression is a disqualifying
trait. dogs showing human aggression shoul be euthanized, at the very least
sterilized, but above all,should not be bred). Bully never attended obedience
classes and was poorly socialized. If you did a rollover test, bully would
growl and bare his teeth (Not a breed appropriate response). He also showed
food aggression (once again, not a breed appropriate response) and yes, one
day bully attacked my nephew and seriously injured him after my nephew stepped
on him while he was eating. To make a long story short, Bully died, my nephew
lived.
I now own a pitbull myself, and I have to say, I have never had a more loving
and reliable dog. One day, I was at a community event with Hilo, and a couple
of 5-year old boys were playing nearby. They ran past us and one of the boys
collided mid-air with Hilo. What did hilo do? He looked a bit surprised but
that was it. He did seem very concerned about the boy and sniffed him to see
if he was OK. He will allow children to crawl on him pull his ears etc. (which
I don’t allow). Hilo rolls over and hogs all the attention he can get. They
don’t call them the nanny dogs for nothing.
Mind you, that no matter how reliable the dog, children are very unpredictable
and should never be left unattended with a dog of any breed or for that
matter, a pet of any kind.
As for the comments of EveMurphy and Indexer, I seriously doubt they have any
hands on experience with breed appropriate Pit Bulls and are merely
regurgitating the misinformation put out by the media. This breed’s is one of
the finest all around family dogs available. Inappropriate breeding and
conditioning combined with media hype have given this wonder dog a bad name.
The research citing dog bite statistics that the media has relied on is
unreliable as it lumps a number of breeds including bull dogs, boxers, presa
canarios, mastiffs, and various mixed breeds under the classification of pit
bull.
Pitbulls excell at search and rescue, agility, obedience, they are excellent
service dogs. They have saved lives, protected home ad property, assisted law
enforcement. Just google pit bull heroes to read about some of the exceptional
dogs that would be senselessly euthanized under faulty legislation. They are
also, sadly, the most frequently abused and neglected dogs.
To put things in perspective, I have known labs, german shepards, pomeranians,
poodles, various and assorted mutts and even a couple of golden retrievers who
exhibited the same aggressive traits that bully did. I have personally known 4
black labs that I wouldn’t turn my back on. Breeds with members also known to
have killed humans include, chows, akitas, german shepherds, labrador
retrievers, st bernards, presa canarios, and yes even the golden retriever.
I’m sure I am missing a couple. What if a series of black lab attacks resulted
in the banning of black labs imagine the outcry. Legislation should target
aggressive dogs, their owners and breeders Period.
James on June 26, 2008:
Apbt are great dogs i have had a few in my life and have one right now. i have
never seen any of my dogs show sings of trying to bite anyone the news never
shows when a lab or another dog hurts some one. in a temperament test apbt’s
scored a 88% while labs scored a 72% any dog can bite any dog can kill
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 11, 2008:
It’s true that a Pit Bull attack is different than a Poodle, but you can’t say
that a well trained and socialize APBT will one day go bazurk and attack for
no reason. I’ll say that my cousin’s 2 male Pits are not the most trained
dogs, but I highly doubt they’d ever attack, as they have been socialized and
at least somewhat trained otherwise. What you said before was that one cannot
claim that their well-trained and socialied APBT will never attack; which in a
way is true, but a cautious owner can still prevent the attack, as no dog
attacks without a reason or cause.
Also, human aggression and dog aggression is different. Dogs do see the
different between children and dogs, but at the same time, they do see babies
and very young children differently, in general, but that’s all dogs. Young
children and babies act different than older children and adults, they smell
different, and they sound different, which is why all dogs need to be
socialized with them.
A story, I’ve posted on the forums basically comes down to my cousins 2 adult
male APBT’s. His wife had a friend over and the friend’s 2 toddlers. The 2
dogs, who have never seen a baby or young child before were either 1) leary of
the babies or 2) unphased by their presence. Basically, the 2 dogs didn’t
bother the kids and the kids didn’t bother the dogs.
evemurphy from Ottawa on June 11, 2008:
Witney: I know your dogs are no doubt super well-behaved and trained. Not
everyone is as scrupulous as you are however.
When a pitbull "flips" it’s not the same thing at all as when a
poodle or a terrier "flips"! Pitbulls hold on even after they have
been shot in the head, as one was by a police officer in Canada. It took
several shots before they could pry his jaw from the policeman’s leg. Surely
you are not comparing pitbulls power of relentless, unswerving determination
once they have gone for the kill. Nothing deters them. And they do not
descriminate between children and small dogs. It’s all the same to them. The
same isn’t true of any other dog to my knowledge.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 11, 2008:
I appreciate your opinion, but as you think I am wrong, I feel so are you. If
you believe what you’re saying is accurate, then any dog should be taken under
this same consideration that no matter what training and socialization you put
in, one day it may flip on you. Dog’s, of any breed, just don’t work this way.
Dogs have to be provoked; they just don’t turn. And you can almost always
detect signs before it actually happens.
evemurphy from Ottawa on June 11, 2008:
I admire your hubs Whitney. I think you are an excellent writer and a real
pro! But I have to disagree with you on this one, only because you are taking
too big a risk…you are saying because the pit has never YET done anything,
that he never will. It will be too late if he ever does. As I say i am a big
fan of yours, but feel compelled to state my opinion on this one.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 11, 2008:
They are illegal in many counties in the U.S., but as mentioned in all my
other hubs it’s all in how you train, raise, and socialize them. My pup is an
indoor pet that sleeps in my bed and is constantly around a handicapped and
unpredictable child. She’s never tried to bite or attack.
evemurphy from Ottawa on June 11, 2008:
Unfortunately pit-bulls are illegal in Canada. They are considered
unpredictably dangerous and a threat to other dogs/children in particular. I
know you adore them and have a wealth of good information on them. But they
are not house pets in my opinion.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 04, 2008:
Sean, many of these rescues will adopt out to people in other areas where
there is not a breed ban. I’ve worked with a rescue, where we’ve gotten dogs
from other animal shelters were there was a breed ban in the area.
jess, I prefer Nutro. meal is ok, by-product is the worst. Nutro Natural
Choice, lamb and rice is great for dogs with skin allergies and skin problems.
You may also want to consider Solid Gold or another all natural brand that you
can purchase at natural food stores.
Here’s a hub about puppy food: https://hubpages.com/animals/What-is-the-best-
dog-…
itsjess37 on June 04, 2008:
what do you feed your APBT’s? my vet recommended science diet but after much
research on ingredients best for the breed and its skin/coat i dont know that
this is the best food for Luna. it consists of corn glutean, and some animal
by products? all of the forums say due to skin irritations stay away from
corn, any "meal" and by products. any suggestions
sean moss on June 04, 2008:
Thanks Whitney. Yes, it is sad that the breed, along with responsible and
caring owners should suffer because of the repercussions of irresponsible
ownership.
One thing I don’t understand, and which i am going to make enquiries about is
that dog resuce centres here, which predictably are FULL of discarded Bull
Breed dogs, are seeking ton have these dogs placed in caring homes, but if
potential owners then run the risk of sadly having their animals
confiscated,euthanized and then receive fines, how does this work?
Whitney (author) from Georgia on June 04, 2008:
To find a puppy that fits the breed’s standards, the parents first off need to
fit the standard. It can be hard to choose a puppy for adult standards just on
the puppy alone, which is why being able to see the parents will be key. If
you can see both parents, you can estimate what the pups will look like.
I agree that there are cases where people use their children as accessories,
just as people use dogs. If you get a breed that is illegal in your area, you
risk the dog being taken away and euthanized. You will also get fined. So
consider that before you get a puppy, especially if you’re looking into
getting a puppy that is illegal in your area.
I agree, dog education in schools, as well as more stringent laws for breeding
is definitely a better option. It’s actually a more long term action. By
having breeders pay a yearly fee or something to be able to breed their pups,
would probably minimize many backyard breeders, or at least hopefully, that
would. A certification to breed, is another great option.
sean moss on June 04, 2008:
Hi Whitney,
This was an interesting and helpful article on how to conduct a temperament
test when buying a pup. Could you also give some indication on what physical
characteristics a prospective owner should look for that would meet the
desired standard of the breed?
I absolutely disagree with indexers comments BUT as the breed is illegal here
and tends to be usually in the hands of people who own the dog simply because
it’s a fashion statement (incidentally they are also the kind of people who
see their children in the same way!) it is very difficult to find a
‘reputable’ breeder. There’s ceertainly no chance of getting any papers.
However, we can of course observe the kind of conditions the dogs have lived
in and hopefully get some idea of how the owner treats them.
Instead of making these dogs illegal here we should look in to bringing in
much more stringent laws on selling dogs and who should be allowed to breed.
All dog breeders should be registered and have to meet particular standards.
Whitney (author) from Georgia on May 30, 2008:
Hope, yes most Pit Bulls are bred for temperament, but definitely not all. I
hope that the pup got a great home, and I hope that you find what you’re
looking for.
Indexer, I’m not getting into this again with you, but you absolutely can’t
say that every single pit bull in the UK is aggressive and bred to fight.
That’s like saying all the one’s in the U.S. are nice just because I post nice
hubs about them. It’s ignorant to believe that. There are still breeders in
the U.S. that breed for fighting and aggression, but that doesn’t mean that in
the U.K. there weren’t people breeding for good temperament. Remember the dogs
in the U.S. came from the same origin as the ones in the U.K. And remember
that just because “pit bull” type dogs may be banned in one county in the
U.S., it doesn’t mean that every individual dog in that county is aggressive
and bred to fight. GA has tried to ban these dogs, and do you think my pup was
bred to fight and has been raised aggressive… Nope.. And she lives happily
and peacefully in a home with a handicapped child and 4 other dogs (male and
female).
Unless you have personally talked to every single person who has ever breed an
Pit Bull in the UK, and every person has told you “yes I bred my dogs to
fight,” then you can’t claim that they were all breeding this way. I’m sorry
but it’s pure ignorance, and I wish you’d stop bringing this up in every hub I
write about Pit Bulls. The last time we discussed this, you finally said that
you could see where I was coming from, and you bring it up again.. Obviously
you didn’t understand.
Also, Indexer, you are semi-accurate about the pedigree, but that doesn’t mean
that dogs without a three generation pedigree are bad. You can’t prove the
pedigree of shelter dogs unless the owner dropped it off, but if they’re
giving up their dog they probably won’t remember the pedigree, and most of
those dogs are wonderful.
John Welford from UK on May 30, 2008:
Things are doubtless different in the States, but do NOT, under ANY
circumstances, buy a pit bull in the United Kingdom. They have been bred here
specifically for fighting, with any good qualities bred out of them
generations ago, and there have been many cases of pit bulls attacking
children, sometimes with fatal results. That is why the breed is banned by law
in this country.
With any dog, you are always safest to buy one with a proven pedigree of at
least three generations, with no gaps and no inbreeding.
Hope Alexander on May 29, 2008:
I’ve been looking for a new puppy recently, and I met a 4 month old pitbull
who practically licked my face off. I’ve never seen a more affectionate, sweet
puppy who so obviously wanted attention and love. I didn’t get her because
there were already several interested parties and I was looking for something
smaller, but she definitely demonstrated the good pitbull temperament that
people talk about.
grousepup from South Salem on May 29, 2008:
Hi, Whit:
Nice job all around, but especially on pit bulls. These poor devils almost
always get a bad rap because of the rotters who breed them only for the fight
ring. If properly bred over generations by reputable breeders, this breed can
and usually does make delightful, very loving family companions. And, yes,
they’re darned cute.
Ariel D. Bravy on May 28, 2008:
I think these pups are adorable, wish I could have one. Nice Hub.