Should I get a Pit Bull?

Question

I am about to be 16 and i want a dog. I want a cool/tough looking dog because it the only way i could see myself walking it. At the moment i live in a 2 room apartment and am not sure if i am going to be moving to a house. I am not to most energetic person but thats partially why i want a dog. I want to get in the routine of taking walks. If anymore info is needed feel free te let me know.

Answer 1

A lot of people will say you are not mature enough for a pit.  I want you to see for yourself something I learned through research on the internet.  Go to anytown USA (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Des Moines,  Seattle) and look up the local humane society on google.  The MAJORITY of dogs up for adoption are pits and pitt crosses.  Sometimes in farming communities cattle dog mixes out number the pits in shelters waiting to be adopted to new homes.  I can't say you should not have a dog.  You can decide for yourself if you have enough time to take care of one.  If you start with a puppy, you need to be home every hour and a half at the very least to take the baby out.  At your age can you guarantee that?  Can you pay a vet bill if the pup gets attacked by a bigger dog while you are out walking?  What about the shots to keep the pup healthy?  Fleas are a huge pain in the ya ya if your dog gets them and you have to medicate the dog, clean your carpet, and put stuff out in your yard to get rid of them.  I want you to have the opportunity to keep a dog if you can be sure you are up to the random things that come along with it.  Research the breed you are wanting and be sure you know what it needs for time and exercise.  Look into health issues for the breed.  Get prepared for vet bills and food expenses.  If you have done all these things, you will be more likely to keep the dog you get.  It is obvious to me after researching adoptable dogs across the USA that pit bulls are the most common to be abandoned or put up for adoption.  That alone should give you an idea what you are getting into with a pit if you are not fully educated about the breed.  Don't let the haters get you down on this site, just educate yourself and be the best pet owner you can :)  Peace!

Answer 2

Then you shouldn't get a pitbull. Your mentality is just the reason why APBTs have such a poor reputation. You don't buy an animal because of how it looks and this is the lat dog for someone who doesn't know anything about the dog breed.

Answer 3

No best answer here.

You should not have a dog. You are looking for a status symbol. A big tough dog. Hay, I am cool and macho.

If you can't get your butt off the couch to go for a walk around the block how is a dog going to do it for you?

When you get into the routine of going out for walks and want some companionship then get a dog to tag along.

I would suggest a chick magnet at your age. A Pit will have people running to the other side of the street.

Get a smaller dog, like a Beagle, that will attract chicks.

Isn't that what it is all about at 16. It sure was back in my day.  

Answer 4

Pit Bulls are not dangerous if you just train them to be good. Give them care and love them to the fullest extent. I think that it is good that you want to start taking walks and get a dog to help you.  I hate the stereotype that pit bulls are dangerous and the fact that people think they are not safe. However, getting a pit bull, make sure it is an energetic dog and is willing to take walks with you, and give it lot of love.

Answer 5

Pits are usually very energetic, so you might want to start out with a more relaxed dog to begin with.  Try a Lab or Golden Retriever.  Why do you feel the need to get a "tough" looking dog?

Answer 6

you are not responsible enough to own a pit bull or any type of dog for that matter.. you are the type that gives them a bad name...  they are sweet and loving animals and you make them seem like killers... which they are NOT... you want a "tough" dog?  then you don't need a dog at all... Dogs are loving animals, not animals that should make YOU feel like more of man... Grow up

Answer 7

No one will think you are tough/cool if you have a tough/cool dog, or cat , dolphin, or any other animal.

You want to seem tough/cool? That's fine.

Lift some weights, play a sport.

You want to get in the routine of taking walks? Talk some walks without a dog.

If you want a dog just to have a dog, get it.

If you want a dog for another reason the dog will get old, it will get boring. Get a dog if you want to get a dog, not if you want something you are guessing will come out of it.

Do you have children in your house or neighborhood? Pit bulls kill children all the time. You have to at least consider that.

The truth is you will fall in love with the any dog you bring home. So get the one that feels right for you, don't go somewhere looking for a specific thing. Let the specific dog for you look for you.

Answer 8

i want to just say yes to you but i need to warn you of a couple things. very few apartment buildings allow pitbulls, and even if your apartment does allow pits, pits do much better with a yard. a walk a day might not be enough and the dog could become destructive of your home. if you move you might have a hard time finding another place that allows pitbulls. because you are young, you may find out you have no time to take care of the dog in a few years. dog's are a life long commitment, so if you get one you must do everything in your power to always take care of it. pitbulls that are brought to the shelter/pound are very rarely given a 2nd chance or a 2nd home. if you plan to be really serious about it and devoted to the dog, go ahead and get a pitbull. they are great family dogs and might look cool/tough and mean, but they are by far the most friendly dogs around.

ps. please consider saving a dog from a shelter rather than buying from a back yard breeder that just contributes to the problems these dogs suffer from in life.

Answer 9

A pit's jaws do not 'lock'.  That's a myth created by people to instill fear in the ignorant.

Pits are wonderful dogs, it's the people who are cruel that make them mean, and that goes for ANY dog.

This being said, you shouldn't get a pit.  You want a dog to 'look cool' with.  That's got to be the number one reason pits fall into the hands of those cruel people.  If you can't be totally be sure you're going to devote a lot of time exercising and training your dog every day, you aren't going to be a good owner for a pit either.  My friend has one and they run 5 to 10 miles a day.  That dog is STILL hyper, and destructive and grumpy on the days he doesn't get to exercise.

Do a little personal research on the breed.  Call up a local rescue and talk to them about what you should expect and how to prepare yourself.  Also, learn how to train a dog, from potty training to crate training, you'll be using that knowledge for a long time.

Answer 10

If you want a dog just for the way it looks or how 'cool' it is, then you are not mature enough to think about the long-term consequences of your decision.  Dogs are expensive.  Can you afford the vet bills?  Give him the attention he needs?  Train him?   If so, then I recommend your local shelter- they have lots and lots of pitties that need good homes!!!

Answer 11

As much as I would love to see a pittie find a new home, I have to say no based on the info you gave about yourself.  

#1. One of the biggest reasons that our shelter are packed with pits is because people buy them because they look "cool" or "tough" without knowing anything about the breed and then once they realize what they have gotten themselves into, they just drop the dog off at the pound to spend its last few days scared and shaking in the back of a cage.  A pit bull is a HUGE responsiblity because of their horrible reputation, every single dog has to be a breed ambassador.  For instance, if you are walking a labrador and it barks at someone they will just think "oh how cute it is playing"...but if your pittie barks at someone it will clear the area.  People will start snatching up their children and running for their lives.  It doesn't sound like you have done any research or really put any thought into how much time and patience it takes to raise, train, socialize, exercise, feed, train again, socialize again, exercise again, feed again, take to the vet, socialize again, exercise again, play with, train again, take to the vet again, replace the $400 worth of furniture they just destroyed, train again, walk again, socialize again, scrub the diarrhea stain out of your carpet, take to the vet again, train again, replace the $200 of shoes he just chewed up....etc...etc...etc for the next 15-20 years of your life.  

#2.  99.9% of apartments DO NOT accept pit bulls or anything that even remotely looks like a pit bull.  And do not say "oh well I just wont tell them" because that just proves how irresponsible you really are.  What if they find out and tell you to get rid of it or evict you?  There's another innocent pittie in the pound because their owner didn't think things through.  Also, most landlords won't rent a house to someone with a pit bull either because the homeowners insurance wont allow it and it is too much of a liabitlity for them.  Even if your apartment now says okay, what are you going to do when you have to move?  Think about it realistically.  Especially if you are unsure of where you are going to be living in the future.  

#3.  Pit bulls are VERY active dogs.  They require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation in order to be happy, well-mannered family members.  Otherwise they are little terrors.  They have the determination and the strength to demolish just about anything and a bored pittie will always find a way to "entertain" themselves.  Just a little hint---their entertainment is usually not very entertaining to us.  They are not okay with just a short walk once a day.   They need interactive games, they need to be able to run, they need a lot of physical stimulation because they are a very athletic breed.  My pitties each get 30 minutes daily of running with me on roller blades behind them and then after a short break we all play fetch together.  Then once I am all tired out, we go inside and I give them a rope toy to play with each other for a couple of hours until dinner time, then they run in the backyard for about another hour before bedtime.  And it still takes them time to settle down.   You have already mentioned that you are not that active...and having a dog won't change that.  Also, a pittie would really be happier with a yard to run and play in.

Honestly, at your age, I don't think it is a wise idea for you to get any kind of dog, unless your parents are willing to take on the responsibility if you are unable to.  You just aren't stable enough to be able to know for sure that you can make the commitment.  For example, are you going to college?  Do you know that most dorms won't accept pets at all...not even a goldfish?  Much less a 70lb+ dog with a bad rap.  What about finances?  I have spent more than $1,000 this year already on dog food, supplies, and vet care just for one of my pitties...and I have 3 of them.  What about training?  If you are 16 you should be in school.  Are you really going to have the time to properly housebreak, train, and socialize your new dog.  Training and socialization alone should take up at least 2 hours a day and separate 10-30 minute intervals.

You want my advice?  Start by offering to walk your neighbor or friends dog once a day for free.  Or, volunteer at the local animal shelter to see what you are really getting yourself into.  Trust me, I'm speaking from experience.  I got my first puppy at about 13...a weimeraner.  Then I got another puppy when I was about 16...my first pittie.  I fell in love with the breed!  I moved out of my parents house and in with a boyfriend at 18 and we were lucky enough to find a place to let me take my dogs.  While we were there I rescued a cat and another puppy off of the street.  Then, about a year and a half ago, someone called me about a pregnant pit bull they found that had been left abandoned in a trailer, so I took her in.  Soon I found myself with 4 adult dogs, 12 puppies, and a cat.  

Answer 12

WELL you are everything a pit bull owner SHOULDNT be.

Answer 13

hi,

to know what type of dog will suit you, you can use this dog finder match up http://tinyurl.com/6gkcok

the goal here is to help you figure out what type of dog best suits you and your personality. The results of the match up will suggest certain breeds.

hope this helps

Answer 14

NO!!!!!!!!!!! I hate our dog..he is stubborn wont listen and he seems retarted no offense to anyone..but I cant stand him..he is very friendly but he will not do the right thing after being told over and over and over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 15

go to the pound and pick out a tough looking dog and save a life!

Answer 16

no i herd they r real bad they can kill u like rip or ur hand ouch!!!!!!!!!!!

pick the right chose

Answer 17

No.

Answer 18

As a pit bull owner, I can tell you they are anything but tough.  If you are looking for a big baby, then this is your dog.  If you want a dog that will love you, kiss you all over and is a big doofus (clown), then this is your dog.  If you want a cool looking/tough dog, then you are getting a dog for the wrong reasons.  I would say that this isn't the dog for you given your admitted energy level.  I have to commend you for your honesty.  We just got back from our second walk of the day (an hour, 3.5 miles).  We'll be getting up to walk our dogs (pit bulls) again before we go to work in the morning (forty minutes or two miles) and they will have a playdate in the middle of the afternoon.  This coupled with rigorous training sessions (daily) keeps them calm and well behaved.  Though we live in a house, it's very much like living in an apartment as they are escape artists and can't be in the yard alone.  That's why we have to exercise them so much.  If you are willing to take your dog to training and walk/run with him twice a day, then this might be the dog for you.  You need to make sure that pit bulls are allowed in your apartment complex.  The average age of a pit bull is 18 months because people make decisions like yours - they want a cool/tough dog but don't train it or exercise it enough, then dump it at the shelter when it's too big and unmanageable or they get a pit bull even though their rental contract lists it as a breed restriction and dump the dog at the pound when their apartment building serves them with an eviction notice.  I would say you need to look at breed with less energy like an english bulldog.  They are lazy without looking uncool.  If you don't train them, they don't have the potential to do the damage to people, other animals or the reputation of a stellar breed that pit bulls do.

Thank you for being responsible and not rushing out to get a dog that isn't going to fit your lifestyle.  That shows a lot of maturity for a 16 year old.

EDITED TO ADD:  A Lab or Golden Retriever are BAD choices given your energy level.  They are both high energy breeds as well so if you don't have enough time/energy for a pit bull, you certainly don't want a lab or golden retriever.  They chew even more than pit bulls and they shed like crazy.

Answer 19

No  you will end up getting sued when it attacks someone.

Get a bulldog or a chihuahua with a spike collar =]

Answer 20

If your getting any dog just to look cool/tough, then please don't get a dog as your very immature.

Answer 21

no

Answer 22

I think you should get a dog you imagine yourself taking care of. Dogs are equal to responsibilities and not just some accessory to look cool with.

Check out sites like this below to find more breeds of dogs you might want to have.