| You've made up your mind, it's the American Pit Bull | | | | Unless you're prepared to work with your dog |
| Terrier you want asyour companion. Are you ready | | | | 5-10-15 minutesper day, everyday, all week, every |
| for this breed? Read thisarticle and then decide if you | | | | week, all year, everyyear, you may want to rethink |
| want to go ahead with yourdecision. | | | | your decision to get a Pit |
| Does your lifestyle fit the ***American Pit Bull Terrier | | | | Bulldog. Actually, if you're not prepared to train your |
| lifestyle? | | | | dog,you should rethink getting any dog. Training is a |
| These dogs are packed with energy from head to | | | | fact oflife and must be done in order to prevent a |
| toe. Cravinga good run like a champion athlete. | | | | lot of troubledown the road. |
| Exercise is critical toa heathy, happy bulldog. High | | | | If you can not control your dog, you don't need one. |
| energy is their middle nameand is a large part of their | | | | Can you afford them? |
| personalities. Play, work, andactivity is something you | | | | Dog food, vet bills, training, leashes and collars, and |
| must be able to give these dogs | | | | doghouses all cost money. Money you may not have |
| If you're a couch potato you should find another | | | | right now. Aquality dog food can cost as much as |
| breed tolive with. | | | | $800 per year. Do youhave this kind of extra money |
| Do you have the security? | | | | to spend on food? If not, waituntil you do before |
| American Pit Bull Terriers are the Houdini's of the | | | | you bring home that puppy. |
| canine world. Able toleap tall fences with a single | | | | Do you want a American Pit Bull Terrier to impress |
| bound, dig under them withamazing speed and | | | | people? |
| stealth, and unlock gates that adultpeople would have | | | | If this is the case, stop! Do not, repeat, do notbring |
| trouble with. Escaping will happen if youdon't take the | | | | one home. You're doing yourself and the dog a |
| precautions to secure their living area. | | | | greatinjustice. |
| You should have 6' privacy fence, beware of dog | | | | American Pit Bull Terriers are in demand because of |
| signs, hotwiring at the top and bottom of the fence, | | | | their all aroundstrength, agility, great looks, and |
| out door housingthat keeps them out of the sun | | | | mystic. Breeders arepumping puppies out like |
| (even if they live indoors),and supervision are | | | | unleaded gasoline. Puppies arebeing neglected and bad |
| required for these dogs. You can't leavethem alone | | | | breeding practices are producingunstable dogs. |
| for long outside because one of two things | | | | Beware before you make any final decisions. |
| mayhappen: | | | | If I may point you in a different direction. Every day |
| 1. They escape. | | | | thereare thousands of great bulldogs put down |
| 2. They're stolen. | | | | because no one willadopt them or they are deemed |
| Are you prepared for the scrutiny of neighbors and | | | | "unadoptable" by shelters. |
| friends? | | | | Consider a Rescue Dog. |
| American Pit Bull Terriers are notorious. They have a | | | | People who love this breed have created rescues for |
| bad name and themisinformed public is out to get | | | | thesedogs and hundreds of dogs are available for |
| them. It seems likeeveryday another "Baby mauled | | | | adoption. |
| by pit bull" story runs,diminishing your choice of breed. | | | | Rescues are a win-win-win way to go. You give a |
| People will dislike you for your choice. Some may | | | | dog thatwould otherwise not have a home, a home. |
| even tryto kill your dog. Others will direct comments | | | | You give your money |
| at you,vulgar, hateful comments, and friends and | | | | (which in most cases is a small adoption fee) to the |
| family may also bein conflict with your choice. | | | | rescueso they can continue their work, and you get |
| Be prepared for some rude behavior and protect | | | | an awesome dogthat will 9 times out of 10 deliver |
| your dog byteaching food refusal from strangers. | | | | more than any pure-breddog could on their best day. |
| Can you train your dog? | | | | In closing, before you run out and buy a American Pit |
| There are two methods of training. One is to train | | | | Bull Terrier, thinkabout your options, make sure you |
| your dogby showing it how to sit and lay down and | | | | have what it takes toprovide and care for the dog, |
| then quitting. Theother lasts forever. Real training is | | | | and take your time to find adog that matches your |
| life long trainingthat starts when the puppy arrives at | | | | desires. |
| your home and endswith death. | | | | |