•What is a "pit bull"?

•Pit bull myths and facts

•The pit bull (over)population problem

•Obtaining a pit bull

•Ownership issues

•Photo album

•Aggression

•Breed-specific legislation

•Dog bites / Dog safety

•Friends and enemies

•How you can help

•Positive pit bull stories

•FAQs

•Bookstore

•Merchandise for pit bull lovers

•Toys

•Links

•About the author

•Felanie and Dozer

Myths About Obtaining a Pit Bull

Many potential pit bull owners run across conflicting and confusing statements about where they should get a pit bull or how to choose one.

1. Adopting a pit bull is dangerous because you don't know anything about the dog's genes or history.
2. Dogs end up at animal shelters because there's something wrong with them (i.e. bad behavior or poor health).
3. The "no adopt" policy for pit bulls, seen in many shelters, is proof that rescued pit bulls are too dangerous for adoption.
4. I should get a puppy rather than an adult dog because a puppy will bond to me better than an adult dog and I can't train or change an older dog.
5. Purebred dogs are less likely to develop health or temperament issues than mixed breed dogs.
6. You can't find purebred dogs at the animal shelter.
7. An adopted dog is more likely to "turn" on its owner than a dog bought from a breeder.
8. If rescue groups were really not trying to make a profit, they would give away their animals for free.
9. The screening process for pit bull adoption is an invasion of my privacy.
10. Two dogs are better than one.
11. Certain colors or types of pit bulls are "rare" or "special."

1. Adopting a pit bull is dangerous because you don't know anything about the dog's genes or history.
   
   Many people feel more comfortable meeting the parents of their new puppy or dog; they mistakenly believe that the puppy will turn out to be a carbon copy of its parents. If the parents are mild-mannered and friendly, the puppy will be the same, right? In reality, two very nice parent dogs can easily produce a temperamentally-compromised puppy or litter. Additionally, the "end result" - the adult dog - is shaped by how the owners raise, train, socialize, and treat their puppy. Even a puppy with excellent temperament can be totally ruined by ignorant, irresponsible owners.
   
   Although most rescued dogs do not come with a pedigree, and their history is unknown, such mystery does not automatically make the dog "dangerous" or "risky." At a reputable shelter, dogs with obvious temperament flaws (those that suggest the dog is a danger) are not offered for adoption. New owners of adopted dogs can also reduce the liklihood of behavior problems through proper training and socializing -- something that has to be done regardless of whether the dog is purchased or adopted.
   
   The risk you face by adopting a dog with unknown history is about equivalent to the risk you face by purchasing a dog from a breeder. (Besides, do you really know the history or genetics of the dog you purchase, other than what the breeder claims to be true?)
   
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2. Dogs end up at animal shelters because there's something wrong with them (i.e. bad behavior or poor health).
   
   In reality, most dogs end up at a shelter due to human factors. The top ten reasons why dogs are surrendered to the shelter (according to the National Council on Pet Population and Study) are: moving, landlord issues, cost of pet maintenance, no time for pet, inadequate facilities, too many pets in home, pet illness, personal problems, biting, and no homes for littermates. As you can see, 8 out of 10 of these reasons have more to do with human inability to properly take responsibility for a pet than anything wrong with the pet itself.
   
   Of the other two reasons (pet illness and biting), these could also be caused by human irresponsibility rather than something inherently wrong with the dog. In cases where the problem is correctable (i.e. illness is treatable, bite was preventable), it suggests that the previous owner simply couldn't be bothered to take responsibility, and the pet really just needs a good, caring owner. In cases where there truly is something terribly wrong (i.e. severe illness, severe aggression), these animals would not be offered for adoption.
   
   The vast majority of dogs available for adoption are there because their previous owners failed in their responsibilities and commitments, not because there's anything wrong with the dog itself.
   
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3. The "no adopt" policy for pit bulls, seen in many shelters, is proof that rescued pit bulls are too dangerous for adoption.
   
   Why do some shelters automatically euthanize every pit bull that walks in the door?
   
   I have heard three major reasons why a shelter might have a "no adopt" policy for pit bulls. They are:
   
   1. The area has breed-specific legislation or a breed ban; it is actually illegal for the shelter to adopt out pit bulls.
   2. The area has a problem with dog fighting; the shelter does not have the resources to properly screen potential pit bull adopters to be sure they are not really dog fighters.
   3. Nobody wants to adopt a pit bull. It would be a waste of space and energy to put pit bulls up for adoption, and desirable dogs would have to be euthanized or turned away.
   
   Whether these reasons are truly "reasonable" or not is certainly debatable, but none of them really have anything to do with a supposed danger to the public. Instead, it has more to do with supply and demand and the proper use of limited resources.
   
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4. I should get a puppy rather than an adult dog because a puppy will bond to me better than an adult dog, and old dogs can't learn new tricks.
   
   All dogs, young and old, are pack animals -- with rare exceptions, they want to be part of a family. Dogs also have crummy long-term memories and tend to live in the "now" rather than the past or future. An older dog will soon act as if he has lived his entire life with you.
   
   Whether you get a puppy or an adult, "bonding" depends on what you do with the dog and how you treat it. If you get a puppy or adult dog and throw it out in the backyard for the rest of its life, it will not bond with you regardless of its age. But if you spend time with it, handle it, walk it, train it, and share adventures with it, then your new dog will bond with you no matter how old or young.
   
   Older dogs may be a little slower to learn new tricks or change behaviors, but that doesn't mean they are untrainable or unchangeable. Puppies may be quick to learn a new trick, but they are also quick to learn bad habits!
   
   The choice between a puppy and an adult dog should depend more on your lifestyle than anything else. Puppies are cute, but they are also a lot of work, and their adult form will be a mystery. They need to be house trained (requiring a trip outside every few hours), well socialized, and thoroughly obedience trained. They tend to chew up stuff, relieve themselves on the carpet, bark and yelp, and generally cause chaos. With an adult dog, you face fewer surprises. You already know the dog's adult size and temperament, and possibly even the dog's quirks and talents. What can you handle? What do you not want to deal with? Carefully consider your lifestyle when making the choice between puppy and adult.
   
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5. Purebred dogs are less likely to develop health or temperament issues than mixed breed dogs.
   
   In fact, purebred dogs may be prone to certain genetic defects that cause health or temperament problems. This increased risk is offset by the ability to better predict which dogs will develop problems when compared to mixed breeds.
   
   For an excellent discussion about the differences between purebred and mixed breed dogs, check out this link:
   http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/tutorial1.html
   
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6. You can't find purebred dogs at the animal shelter.
   
   The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 25% of all dogs in shelters are purebred. (And I would add that 100% come from breeders, whether directly or indirectly, intentionally or accidentally.)
   
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7. An adopted dog is more likely to "turn on" its owner than a dog bought from a breeder.
   
   This is simply an unsubstantiated rumor. I wouldn't doubt that some greedy breeders came up with this myth in order to scare people into buying their dogs. The incidence of a dog - any dog - "turning on" its owner (and by this, we mean to attack without any warning whatsoever) is very, very rare. More often, the owner simply wasn't paying attention to the dog's very obvious warning signs.
   
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8. If rescue groups were really not trying to make a profit, they would give away their animals for free.
   
   Non-profit doesn't mean non-income. Without any sort of income, rescue groups could not afford to take in and care for so many homeless animals. Rescue groups depend on donations and volunteers to help run their operations, but they also face per-animal expenses like food, medicine, shelter, and vet bills. All pets need the basics (food, water, shelter), a spay/neuter operation if that hasn't been done, and perhaps even a microchip. An animal that arrives sick or injured may cost even more than average.
   
   In order to make sure that the pets offered for adoption are healthy, clean, and happy, rescue groups must charge a small adoption fee to help cover their expenses. This fee is never enough to cover all expenses (the group depends on donations and volunteers too), but it does help a little. It also discourages dog fighters and other unsavory individuals who are on the lookout for free (and therefore disposable) dogs.
   
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9. The screening process for pit bull adoption is an invasion of my privacy.
   
   Whether you adopt or buy, you should still face the same scrutiny from the person or organization offering the dog. A responsible breeder will also screen potential buyers heavily. Why? Because too many pit bulls end up in the wrong hands, for the wrong reasons. Responsible breeders and rescue groups want to be absolutely certain that their dogs end up with a loving, caring, committed, responsible owner.
   
   If you apply to adopt or buy a pit bull and are faced with a lengthy application process and lots of questions about your life, be glad! This means the person who is offering the dog genuinely cares about the dog's future. That person will be likely to be around whenever you need assistance or advice; they want the dog to have a happy life no matter what it takes!
   
   If you offer to adopt or buy and the person seems content to just shove the dog off on you, no questions asked, then you might want to think twice about taking the dog. This is the type of person who's in it for the money, not the dog.
   
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10. Two dogs are better than one.
    
    Some people want to get a second dog to "keep my first dog company." But when it comes to pit bulls, this is not usually a good idea. Pit bulls are "people dogs." They really want human attention and they can be aggressive toward other dogs. Before you get a second dog, you should 1) make sure you are getting the dog for you, not your other dog, 2) understand what it takes to manage a multiple dog household, and 2) realize that you may someday need to institute a crate-and-rotate routine. If you don't want to acknowledge and prepare for the risks involved, do not get another dog.
    
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11. Certain colors or types of pit bulls are "rare" or "special."
    
    There are no "rare" or "special" colors or types of pit bulls out there, period. "Blue" pit bulls and "red nosed" pit bulls are frequently touted as unique and expensive dogs, but it doesn't take me more than a few seconds to find hundreds of each on Petfinder (a database of adoptable pets). Don't fall for the hype about these fad dogs. More often than not, a breeder that advertises his or her dogs' colors (or sizes, or head shapes, etc.) rather than the dogs' sweet and friendly temperament is a breeder you should run away from at top speed.
    
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Related Links

Where to Get a Pit Bull

Myths and Facts About Pit Bulls

Purebred Dogs vs. Mixed Breed Dogs (by Michele Welton)

Breeders and Breeding (by Diane Jessup)

Blue Pitbulls - Pitbull Puppies for Sale - And other destructive forces in the world of our breed (by Jason Mann)