Responsible Pit Bull Ownership

Responsible pit bull ownership involves many things.

SPAY/NEUTER
The first component to responsible ownership f any animal is spay/neuter. There are countless numbers of homeless animals in the world and shelter animals being euthanized at alarming rates because there are simply not enough homes and nowhere for them to go. As far as pit bull type dogs go, only about ONE out of every SIX HUNDRED pit bulls will find a lifelong home. That is a tragic statistic which can be greatly improved if everyone took the initial step of altering their dog. For low cost spay/neuter options, please see our Spay/Neuter page.

PUBLIC IMAGE
It is no surprise to most that pit bulls have gained a negative reputation in our society. Although this cannot be changed overnight, we can all do our part in improving these reputations. How our own dogs are viewed in society comes right down to what we name them. If your dog has a soft, appropriate name, your dog is much more approachable than a dog with a tough or rugged name. The way our dogs look also influences how they are viewed. Avoiding spiked or prong collars can make a huge difference. When are presented in a positive way, we can then use our own dogs to educate the public about how wonderful they are. Presenting our dogs as breed ambassadors can truly have a significant impact on the breed as a whole.

COMMITMENT
Owning a dog is a long term commitment. Part of responsible ownership is being aware of the commitment that is involved- physically, mentally, emotionally, as well as financially. Pit bull type dogs, on average, live about 12-14 years. Much can change in a person’s life in that amount of time so it is imperative to discuss with your family and yourself the responsibilities that are involved in dog ownership and your personal dedication to working through potential issues, whether they with your dog or in your own life.

KNOWING/UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG
Just like every person is different, every dog is different. Dogs do not have the capacity to decide for themselves which situations are appropriate for them and which are not so it is our job to do that for them. Setting your dog up for success is incredibly important. This can range from getting them proper training when it is needed, keeping them out of situations where a potential issue could occur (such as a dog park), separating your dog from a situation where they may be becoming overwhelmed, etc. Reading your dogs cues and body language and respecting their limits can make a remarkable difference for you and for them.