If you are in the situation where you are sitting around and asking yourself, “should I adopt a Pitbull” you are likely trying to find an informative article that will break down not only the positives of Pitbull ownership but also some of the drawbacks.
A clear-cut informative piece of information that can help you determine if a Pitbull is a pet for you.
I have been a Terrier owner myself for the past 2+ years, and here is what I can tell you on this topic.
Should I Adopt a Pitbull?
You should adopt a Pitbull if you are seeking a dog breed that is loyal, connected, and affectionate with their owners and families. You should also adopt a Pitbull if you desire a large dog breed that has a protective nature.
On the flip side, there are reasons why a Pitbull may not be the best dog breed you can choose to adopt based on your personality and the personality you would like to see out of your future dog.
This brief 3-minute read should help you decide if a Pitbull is the dog breed for you or not and help, be completely honest about reasons you should consider not adopting a Pitbull.
Here is how I intend to break this down for you today:
- Should I Adopt a Pitbull?
- What Should I Know Before Adopting a Pitbull?
- You Should Adopt a Pitbull For These 7 Reasons
- You Should Not Adopt a Pitbull For These Reasons
- A Pitbull Can Make A Great Dog and Companion, but They Are Not for Everyone
Should I Adopt a Pitbull?
Whether you should adopt a Pitbull or not can come down to several factors.
Pitbulls certainly have a unique personality and can be one of the most loyal dog breeds you can choose to adopt.
In fact, a Pitbull could be regarded as one of the most affectionate and person connected dog breeds that you can adopt.
I believe this to be true about most terrier dog breeds.
Hints why I decided to start a website based on terriers.
I own one, and I understand the benefits, positives, and potential behaviors you will experience if you own a Pitbull.
Before making any decision to adopt a Pitbull, you should always begin with one of the most basic questions you could ask yourself.
What Should I Know Before Adopting a Pitbull?
Before adopting a Pitbull, you have several things that should be disclaimed and several things you should keep in mind to help guide you with your decision.
To keep this fun and interactive, I will give you my top 5 things you should know before adopting a Pitbull.
#1- Pitbulls Require Exercise
One of the things to keep in mind about any dog, including Pitbulls, is the needs and demands that will be expected of you after the adoption.
With a Pitbull, you have a large muscular dog breed that requires exercise to remain healthy and happy.
Be sure that before you decide to adopt a Pitbull that you plan to spend time allowing them to get out and about learning the world around them.
Exercise for a Pitbull Terrier is a must.
#2- Pitbull Terriers Need Plenty of Socialization
Not many years ago, it seemed Pitbulls only were given a negative reputation.
Even state laws were passed in some regions banning Pitbulls from being adopted or bred, which is entirely Ludacris to me.
Nonetheless, a Pitbull will need plenty of socialization and requires the ability to be exposed to plenty of other dogs, other pets, and other friends and families.
Not to mention, a Pitbull also needs to be socialized around children starting at a young age.
Be sure that if you adopt a Pitbull, you start this process quickly and remain consistent with your efforts.
If you do, you will ultimately have one of the most loyal and affectionate dogs you can adopt.
#3- Pitbulls Will Hit Your Budget for Feeding and Diet
I am sure you are already aware of this.
You should be factoring in the ongoing cost that you will encounter adopting a Pitbull to ensure it is a feasible decision for you.
It does not matter whether you plan to feed your Pitbull a raw meat diet or packaged dry food; you can expect this ongoing cost to feed your Pitbull to cost you $50.00 or more per month.
#4- Pitbulls Can Be Looked Upon Negatively
We touched on this slightly before, and the tides are beginning to shift.
In my opinion, Pitbull Terriers should not have had the bad reputation they had in the first place, and a lot more blame can be placed on how Pitbulls were being socialized, bred, and treated.
This does not change the fact that Pitbulls may get a more fearful look from some of the other dog owners at the dog park or potentially even scare a family walking down the sidewalk.
In fact, I read a lot of other websites that seem relatively uneducated on the topic urging individuals not to bring a Pitbull to the dog park for reasons such as this.
This is extreme and should not be taken seriously unless you, as the owner, knows that your Pitbull does not do well around other dogs.
Don’t let the negative images of a Pitbull from the past impact your decisions in the future with your new dog.
While most of us are aware that Pitbulls can make loving and affectionate pets, this does not change the fact that they still have some negative stigma to their name.
Perhaps that changes soon and perhaps it never does but a dog is the product of it’s genetics, breeding and socialization.
Meaning, the power is in your hands, raise your dog ethically and it won’t be something you need to worry about.
#5- The Perfect Pitbull Takes Time and Patience
We will touch on this more later in the post as well.
A Pitbull is a dog breed that takes some patience and the determination to teach, train, and mold into the dog that fits your lifestyle and fits what is best for your family.
If you do not have the patience to go through this with your Pitbull, it is likely not the best idea to adopt this dog breed.
In fact, it probably is not the best idea to adopt a dog in general.
I always find it essential to mention this to anyone considering any dog.
If you have the determination, time, and patience for a dog, go for it.
If not, wait until the timing makes more sense before deciding to adopt a Pitbull Terrier.
You Should Adopt a Pitbull For These 7 Reasons
Now that I have covered some of the main takeaways you should have in mind before adopting a Pitbull, I wanted to take the time to flaunt and show off some of the awesome qualities of this dog breed.
The next part of this post is going to be 7 of the key reasons you should absolutely decide to adopt a Pitbull.
If you are currently on the fence about the decision, hopefully, this is enough to convince you of all the great personality traits a Pitbull can offer you and the family.
#1- Pitbulls Are Extremely Affectionate
If I can name one personality trait that stands out the most to me about the Pitbull Terrier, it would have to be how affectionate this dog can be.
Like I said before, I am a Terrier Owner myself and have been around Pitbulls for years.
Pitbulls have much more love, protective nature, and affection for their family than they are given credit for.
They may display this by following you everywhere or by being your new cuddle partner, but it is a personality characteristic you can count on seeing.
Especially for the ethical owner who showers their Pitbull with love!
#2- Pitbulls Are Highly Intelligent
If you are looking for a trainable dog, willing to learn and can be shown off to friends and family, a Pitbull is a top candidate to consider.
Pitbulls are brilliant dogs capable of learning the tricks and commands you are willing to teach them.
This can be extremely beneficial for those of you willing to put in the time and can make a world of difference for the overall obedience and socialization your dog is capable of.
#3- Pitbulls Can Be Your New Work Out Partner
An article that is worth reading about the Pitbull is my post about the exercise capabilities and needs of the Pitbull Terrier.
If you are looking for a dog that can help keep you in shape, demands exercise, and can perform with the best of them, a Pitbull is by far one of the best dogs to consider adopting.
It does not matter whether you want a dog that is capable of
A Pitbull can be your exercise partner for all of these and more activities if you take the time to socialize your Pitbull in a manner that they enjoy these physical activities.
#4- Pitbulls Are Better with Kids Than Given Credit For
Pitbulls are great with kids when they are socialized beginning at young ages to be around kids.
While they may need some supervision around younger kids initially, they will eventually become one of your kid’s most loyal companions and be just as protective of the young kids in the home as they are the rest of the family.
#5- Pitbulls Desire to Please Their Owners
I believe this to be true about most of the Terrier dog breeds.
They are a dog that is eager to please and impress their owners.
Terriers are a working dog breed and when given the chance will prove it.
Of course, for this to happen, you must be willing to teach them new things and allow them to learn.
If you do this, you will not find many dogs that are more eager to learn new skills and show you what they can do.
#6- Pitbulls Are Entertaining Dog Breeds
When you mix in the energy of the Pitbull, in addition to their desire to be around their owners, it becomes easy for these dogs to find new ways to entertain you.
Whether it is running around in the backyard playing games or doing something funny, a Pitbull will not fail to put a smile on your face.
#7- Pitbulls Can Make Great Guard Dogs
Not many dogs are more intimidating than the muscular and strong-bodied Pitbulls.
Yes, the previous reputation held about the Pitbull being relatively aggressive may not be completely true but what is 100% true is a Pitbull’s desire to protect their family and “pack leader”.
This is not something to be concerned over but something to be happy with as a Pitbull owner.
A Pitbull will certainly let you know if they do not like a situation or if someone is coming on the property that they do not recognize.
You Should Not Adopt a Pitbull For These Reasons
We know the good that comes with deciding to adopt a Pitbull Terrier.
I would not be doing you any favors if I didn’t at least mention some of the negatives about this dog breed or “negative situations” that you should consider before ultimately bringing a Pitbull Terrier into your home for the next 10+ years.
Ultimately, transparency and having the information in front of you should make the decision much easier to decide.
Here are 6 additional issues you need to understand and be okay with before deciding that a Pitbull is a dog you should be adopting.
#1- You Can Never Provide Exercise
Some of these reasons I am about to mention are in the best interest of not only you but also the potential Pitbull you may adopt.
When it comes to exercise, it is absolutely something that a Pitbull needs daily.
If you have an active lifestyle or a large yard for your Pitbull to utilize, your effort will not need to be as demanding.
On the flip side, if you cannot provide these things to your Pitbull and have a demanding schedule, a Pitbull may not be the best for you.
#2- You Will Not Follow Through with Training or Socialization
This can be said about nearly all dogs.
They absolutely need socialization and training, and they need it to begin at an early age.
With Pitbulls this is extremely important to ensure they are exposed to many situations and social environments.
This includes a Pitbull being exposed and socialized around:
- Other People
- Kids and Children
- Other Dogs
- Other Pets and Animals
- Different Environments and Situations (Example, Dog Park)
#3- You Have A Highly Demanding Schedule
We touched on this when we mentioned exercise, but this can be true for other reasons.
It is not the most ethical decision to make to adopt a new Pitbull if you have a schedule that will likely lead to a lack of love, neglect, or the inability to ever interact and socialize with your dog.
Pitbulls may see this as neglect or pent up energy that can be used towards negative behaviors when this happens.
Maybe this becomes excessive chewing or potentially other issues.
Not only is this true, but all dogs deserve a loving home where they can interact and bond with the family.
If you do not think you have time to ever be around your Pitbull, you likely should not adopt one.
#4- You Are not A Fan of Bigger Dogs
Some individuals are meant to adopt small dog breeds, some enjoy large dog breeds, and some should not adopt a dog in general.
Maybe this is due to the amount of space you have available for your dog, or it could just be personal preference.
Regardless of the actual reason, you should not adopt a Pitbull Terrier if you cannot accommodate the life of a larger dog breed that has larger dog demands and needs.
This comes into play with the size of your home or even understanding that walking a larger dog breed requires the proper equipment.
I talk about this in my post referencing the best walking harnesses for a Pitbull Terrier.
Period.
#5- Your Allergies Are Easily Agitated
News flash for everyone reading.
Pitbulls do shed and shed moderately.
A Pitbull is not considered a hypoallergenic dog, and if you have terrible allergies to dog shedding or dog hair in general, a Pitbull may not be the best dog for you to adopt.
Keep that in mind.
#6- You Do not Prefer A Dog That Barks
Listen, the barking a Pitbull may display can certainly be trained and corrected.
However, it is essential to understand that Pitbulls desire to protect their owners and are known to be one of the more vocal dogs you can adopt.
If you absolutely want to adopt a Pitbull but hate the barking potential, you may encounter, this needs to be a training topic to hit on early and often.
On the flip side, if you do not have the time for training and don’t like the barking, you may want to consider a dog breed that doesn’t tend to voice their opinion so often.
A Pitbull Can Make A Great Dog and Companion, but They Are Not for Everyone
Knowing whether you should adopt a Pitbull Terrier is a decision only you can make. Only you ultimately know if the dog makes sense for you and your family.
I have done my best to lay out what I believe to the primary pros and cons of owning this dog breed, and the rest of the decision-making process I will leave in your hands.
Luna and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today, and if you do ultimately decide to adopt a Pitbull, we wish you the best of luck with the journey you have ahead of you.
What Other Reasons Should Be Mentioned Advocating Why to Adopt a Pitbull?
What other reasons and what else can you recommend to the readers to help them decide about adopting a Pitbull Terrier?
Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.
As always, Luna and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today, and we will see you again next time.