Pit bulls are wonderful canines – but not for everyone

Dog owners must be particularly careful when considering getting a pit bull as they require a special owner who goes the extra mile.

September 5, 2017

Mireille de Villiers 2 minutes read

MBOMBELA – Lowvelders love their pets. Whether you are a cat or a dog person, there is usually room for another four-legged friend, where space at home permits it.

However, all dogs breeds are not suitable for every owner. Some, like pit bulls, have special needs.

The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA) has advised owners to be particularly careful when considering getting one of these wonderful canines. “They require a special owner. If you cannot meet their needs, please admire them from a distance.”

The PBFSA offers the following guidelines when considering getting a pit bull:

• Must a pit bull be registered?

Registered does not equal well bred. It purely means the dog is registered.

As with any breed, temperament is over 60 per cent inherited. Your puppy’s temperament is predetermined before birth. No amount of love or training can remove a faulty temperament.

Online breeders, be they registered or unregistered, do not have an understanding of genetics. They breed male to female and that is where it ends. Being registered does not mean that a dog’s temperament is guaranteed.

When considering a breeder, ask for copies of both parents’ papers and send them to Pro@pbfsa.co.za. These will be passed on to the correct people who will look at the pedigrees, and advise you accordingly.

Never buy unregistered dogs. There is no proof that what you are buying is a purebred pit bull. A pedigree is proof of lineage and provides valuable information about your dog’s ancestry.

If your breeder is not selling on a contract, walk away. Any legitimate one will want to protect the canine’s bloodline. No contract means you and your dog are viewed as an income. True breeders will also take your pup back should you not be able to keep him or her.

Health problems such as skin issues, heart defects and orthopaedic issues are genetic. Legitimate breeders will not breed with dogs who have these complaints.

• You want to adopt a rescue

Rescued dogs are not necessarily saints. Research the shelter you are adopting from. Ask questions such as the name of the behaviourist and trainer who worked with the dog you plan on adopting.

Ask the rescuer what breed experience they have. If they tell you stories of the nanny dog, it is how you raise them or they are just like other canines, walk away. Do not get bullied or guilted into adopting a dog which could potentially attack you or your family.

Responsible rescuers will not take chances and are honest about the breed.

• What type of home and owner does the pit bull need?

An owner must ensure the safety of all children. Pit bulls are not nanny dogs. Kids should be taught to respect dogs and owners must never, ever leave children unattended with the family dog.

A pit bull needs a home that accepts the breed’s natural propensity for dog aggression. If you cannot split your dog from other pets when you are not supervising the dog or you cannot split your pit bull from other pets if your pit bull does not get along with your other pets, then the pit bull is not for you.

If you want to take your dog to play dates or you want to be able to take your dog to off-leash places, then the pit bull is not for you.

A pit bull needs an owner who is dedicated to early and ongoing socialisation and training with a force-free trainer who continues throughout the dog’s life. If you are not able to do this, then the pit bull is not for you.

An owner must also be committed to ongoing environmental management. Your dog will need to be safely contained in your garden and you are responsible for ensuring that it is not a nuisance to neighbours and the people around it.

Pit bulls also have to be sterilised. Breeding should be left to the very small percentage of people who know what they are doing.