Tip for Choosing a Pit Bull Puppy
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Must Have Pit Bull Books
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American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks)
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Training Your Pit Bull (Training Your Dog Series)
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American Pit Bull Terrier: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
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Picking a Puppy
Whether you're looking for a show-stopping American Pit Bull Terrier who's 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 good-quality puppy from a reputable, conscientious breeder.
There's no shortage of people who sell APBT puppies, as 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 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, which is why basic temperament tests are very important to perform when at the breeder's. You want to take the breeder's description of the puppies' temperaments, but testing will add to your final opinon.
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.
The following tips will not only help you pick out the perfect breeder and American Pit Bull Terrier puppy, but they should help you pick out a breeder and puppy of any breed.
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 that 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 plus 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, which could be 3, 4, 5, or more generation back.
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 of his vet and past customers. He will be able to provide health clearances on the puppies and parents.
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The Right Puppy
Here are 10 signs to look for with 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 5 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Vomiting or coughing more than once is not normal, and in this case the puppy may be ill and requires a vet visit.
- Visit long enough to see the puppies eliminate because you want to make sure that the stool is firm and not watery or bloody.
- 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.
- Puppies should walk or run without limping. Ask if the parents have had hip and elbow displasia tests.
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Comments
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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, jsut 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.
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?
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, 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: http://hubpages.com/_dogs/hub/What-is-the-best-dog
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 temperment test apbt's scored a 88% while labs scored a 72% any dog can bite any dog can kill
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 tendancies (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.
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.
working
Ariel D. Bravy says:
5 months ago
I think these pups are adorable, wish I could have one. Nice Hub.