Should You Consider Adopting a Pit Bull?

By Becky DiLucia 

Take a look into just about any shelter and you’ll see that there are a disproportionately high number of Pit Bulls waiting for homes. Sadly, many adopters walk right past their kennels without even considering a Pit Bull. But, you might be surprised to find that a bully could be your perfect match!

If you have an active lifestyle, you might want to consider adopting a Pit Bull.

As a general rule, Pit Bulls are very active dogs. While they do have their couch potato moments, Pit Bulls like to move. Walking, running, playing and hiking are all activities most Pit Bulls enjoy. Like many other breeds, they seek the opportunity to burn off excess energy through physical activity.

If you want a loyal companion, you might want to consider adopting a Pit Bull.

Dogs are known as man’s best friend, and Pit Bulls are no exception. They’re extremely loyal and devoted. They work hard to please and are eager to make their owners happy.  Pit Bulls bond with their families and love being part of that family. They blossom when given the love and attention they deserve, and it can be a magical thing to watch!

If you want a dog who can complete obedience training and achieve Canine Good Citizen/Therapy Dog International certification, you might want to consider adopting a Pit Bull.

Pit Bulls are extremely smart dogs, and coupled with their desire to please, there’s very little they can’t learn. They do well with classes and training that use positive reinforcement methods.  Pit Bulls can also become therapy dogs and, because of their people skills, they are quite good in this role. Many insurance companies will take this certification into consideration when putting together homeowner’s policies.

If you have children or other pets, you might want to consider adopting a Pit Bull.

Many Pit Bulls are excellent with children. They were bred to have a high tolerance for pain, so they aren’t oversensitive to the antics of kids. They also have the capacity to play for hours. Having children doesn’t mean that you can’t have a Pit Bull, but it does mean that you need to be a responsible pet owner. Children should always be supervised with dogs. This is true no matter what the breed. Children should be taught how to properly interact with a dog and given boundaries to keep themselves and the dog safe. With regard to other pets, Pit Bulls are terriers and like other terriers, they often have a high prey drive. Some are able to live harmoniously with other dogs or pets of a different species, while others are simply best as the only pet in a household. That determination must be made on a case-by-case basis.

If you want to help educate people about the benefits of adopting, you might want to consider adopting a Pit Bull.

Sadly, there are many prejudices against Pit Bulls today and, if you adopt one, someone will probably ask you why you decided to do this. The best defense for the breed is a responsible owner. Responsible owners do not knowingly place their dogs in problematic situations. They are able to dispel myths and rumors in a knowledgeable and non-confrontational manner. They train their dogs and help them to become ambassadors for the breed.

If you think you’d like to add a Pit Bull to your family, Animal Friends is more than happy to help you make the right match! Visit www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org to meet adoptable Pit Bulls today!