't make a decision

Adam11082 · 06-08-2007, 11:04 AM

Can't make a decision on what breed of dog to get.

I am looking to get either a rescue or a puppy, but can't decide on what breed. To be honest, I have always been drawn towards the "pit bull" breed. I hate the name pitbull. I have meet more behaved ones than aggressive ones. There are a bunch for rescue in my area and alot of puppies.
The only thing with a rescue is that I have a 7 month old, a six year old and 2 cats. I worry about any rescue coming into my home and being aggressive. Would it be better with a puppy so it can grow up with the kids?
I guess what I'm asking for is some breed recommendations and a peice of mind. Thanks in advance for any info.

Thanks

BoxMeIn21 · 06-08-2007, 11:17 AM

Welcome to Dog Forums! I think your best bet would be to find a couple of reputable rescue groups who do temperment testing on their adoptable animals and then tell them what you are looking for in a dog. "Most" of them will do a good job at matching a dog with a family. Pittie rescues are also an alternative, but I don't know of many who will adopt out to a family who have children that young.
Good luck in your search.

RonE · 06-08-2007, 11:22 AM

You will hear narrative testimony from pit bull owners about how lovely their dogs are with infants, toddlers and cats. I myself would not take the chance.

Puppies are extremely demanding in terms of time and training. An adult dog will normally come to you housebroken and, often, beyond the chewing-on-everything-and-up-all-night stage. To me, that's a pretty compelling reason to rescue an adult.

Without knowing what it is that appeals to you about pit bulls, it's hard to make a breed recommendation. Most of us will recommend whatever dog we currently have or have had in the past.

I'm not going to recommend a Plott hound. I WOULD recommend a lab, but there's no guarantee you'd get the perfect gentleman that my lab was. You could end up with Psycholab and then come back and bust my chops for bad advice.

britishbandit · 06-08-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam11082

Can't make a decision on what breed of dog to get.

I am looking to get either a rescue or a puppy, but can't decide on what breed. To be honest, I have always been drawn towards the "pit bull" breed. I hate the name pitbull. I have meet more behaved ones than aggressive ones. There are a bunch for rescue in my area and alot of puppies.
The only thing with a rescue is that I have a 7 month old, a six year old and 2 cats. I worry about any rescue coming into my home and being aggressive. Would it be better with a puppy so it can grow up with the kids?
I guess what I'm asking for is some breed recommendations and a peice of mind. Thanks in advance for any info.

Thanks

Well a puppy or an older rescue can work. Rescue groups and shelters are great for helping you find a dog that will fit your lifestyle. They'll have a good idea of how the dog is with other dogs, other animals and kids, and what kind of temperment they have.
As for the breed, that's another area they can help you, and you can always research breeds and find one with the characteristics and traits you'd want in your new addition. APBT's can be wonderful with children and amazing dogs, but they also require a confident owner, and need to be trained and socialized well. They can also be dog aggressive, but that aggression doesn't tend to shift to humans unless they have been abused or neglected, trained to attack or their physical and mental exercise requirements haven't been met.

borzoimom · 06-08-2007, 11:41 AM

With children and cats- I would not risk any breed that could potentially be agressive- either to dog, small animals or friends of kids..
What about a collie? I could give you an excellent link for the rescue, and they know their dogs inside out and backwards? http://www.tristatecollierescue.net/ . They could match your situation.. Collies are not much work- a daily brush and once a year in the spring- take to a groomer for a blow out. They actually shed less than my shepherds did, and all 3 of mine was WONDERFUL with my daughter.. Ignored my parrots and even her guinea pigs.. Go to available dogs.

Chloef_2799 · 06-08-2007, 11:54 AM

I can offer you only these three tips
1 - research
2 - research
3 - RESEARCH
Honestly ask questions, research and talk to other people. If you follow these rules when going through the shelters you can usually learn a good deal about the dogs they have there and also you will learn what breeds would suit you and your lifestyle. Try this website....I think it rocks. It asks you a series of questions and then gives you a list of breeds that would suit you. Read up on the breeds it recommends and then when you go to the shelter ask the people if they have those breeds there and if they do ask what the dog is like, how it was raised, its prevous living conditions/circumstances etc.
http://www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl

blackrose · 06-08-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

You will hear narrative testimony from pit bull owners about how lovely their dogs are with infants, toddlers and cats. I myself would not take the chance.

Puppies are extremely demanding in terms of time and training. An adult dog will normally come to you housebroken and, often, beyond the chewing-on-everything-and-up-all-night stage. To me, that's a pretty compelling reason to rescue an adult.

Without knowing what it is that appeals to you about pit bulls, it's hard to make a breed recommendation. Most of us will recommend whatever dog we currently have or have had in the past.

I'm not going to recommend a Plott hound. I WOULD recommend a lab, but there's no guarantee you'd get the perfect gentleman that my lab was. You could end up with Psycholab and then come back and bust my chops for bad advice.

With as young of a kid as you have (seven months, right?), I wouldn't advise ANY puppy, even a Labrador. Puppies jump, bite, poop on the floor, play tug with your shorts, run over little kids, and chase you. My six year old sister was overwhelmed when we brought home the Lab puppy we were raising for a guide dog orginization. Melanie refused to even walk into the room with Sadie in it because Sadie would jump on her, nip at her, and chew on her. Sadie was eventually grew (and was trained) out of it, and Mel loved her after that.

I have a Collie mix, and she is a three month old puppy....she LOVES to chase Melanie around the house. Being a cross between to herding breeds, she loves to "herd" people. She also has a strong preydrive, which probably doesn't help any. Chloe is an extreamly gentle puppy, but she is still rough with Melanie. What an adult is able to reprimind (such as a nip or a jump) is harder for a child to do. When Chloe jumps up she only comes up to mid thigh on me, but she can almost reach Mel's shoulders.

When Blackie (my Lab mix) was a young puppy (six months was when we got him) we was CRAZY! He was AWFUL with kids, just because of his sheer energy. He jumped, he nipped, he tackled, he chased....now, at the ripe old age of twelve, I'd trust him with any kid, any time, anywhere. As he has matured and got some training, he is perfect for kids; but not when he was a puppy.

However, if you are attracted to Pitties and they suit what you want temperment wise, I incourage you to adopt an adult (even a young adult. Probably around 2 up). An adult Pittie will have been evaluated to see if it is good with cats, dogs, kids, strangers, men, women, you name it. They are calmer than what a puppy would be and may have had some previous training so they don't jump up or nip.

Quote:

With children and cats- I would not risk any breed that could potentially be agressive- either to dog, small animals or friends of kids..

*grumbles* Any dog can be potentially aggressive...I'd trust some of the Pits I know over a Golden Retriever any day......thus the reason for adopting an adult....no "potential" aggression about it....*grumbles*

lovemygreys · 06-08-2007, 02:03 PM

Rather than posting what you have been drawn to, it helps you research if you just make a list of what you WANT in a dog. Coat type, personality, energy level, trainability, things you want to do with the dog on a daily/weekly basis. Then start looking for breeds that line up with that. When I first started looking I wasn't drawn to greyhounds...but they matched "my list" and I fell in love from there.

Dogstar · 06-08-2007, 02:59 PM

I'd look for an adult (3-5 years) rescue pit bull, honestly, if you like the breed. BUT, I'd look for one that was kid tested. The hard thing is though, that your younger one is just SO young that some rescue groups are going to be pretty wary. I *definately* wouldn't get a puppy- then you'll be dealing with two toddlers at once.

Another option MIGHT be to look for a retired showdog from a reputable breeder. These dogs are generally VERY well socialized and trained.

briteday · 06-08-2007, 09:42 PM

Not to disappoint you but I don't know of any pitbull rescues or shelters that will adopt out a dog to a household with children. Our local shelter demanded that the adopter be at least 21yo, own their home, have a 6' fence, no children under 14 yo, bring a receipt from an approved facility for at least 12 weeks of obedience lessons, and agree to letting an animal control officer inspect their home environment at any time for up to 5 years. The dogs are microchipped and if they are ever found wandering they are immediately confiscated.