My parents once owned a pitbull as first time owners (I was a baby), would you say they took a huge risk?

Question

Even though nothing happened and they are very active people themselves, assertive, full of energy would you say they took a huge risk? They never owned a dog before and a female pitbull was their very first and last pet.

She was a powerful (grey and white) pitbull named Cindy. They had her since my mother was pregnant with me. She was 7 when he passed away of cancer. I (then 4 years old) was the last one to see her alive as she walked into my arms, laid with me and died. More memories of her are coming back now.

Though my parents themselves are saying they wouldn't take the risk again because it's a powerful breed and there is so much liability. They both feel luck played on their side too.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

At one time, pit bulls were referred to a "nanny dogs". The dog in the Little Rascals and Our Gang films was a pit bull.
The are smart, incredibly sweet, loyal and loving. There is nothing inherently dangerous about the breed.
If they are raised right, they are less temperamental and volatile that some other breeds.

"Pitbulls have become widely known, yet typically not in a favorable light. Despite the negative press they often receive, these loyal and humble dogs are surprisingly easy to train. With their short coat, grooming requirements are minimal – making them ideal for busy pet owners who don’t have time for extensive upkeep.

"Not only do Pitbulls make great family pets that adore children and provide protection; but with proper socialization and obedience training from an early age, they can also make excellent 'nanny dogs'."

The only reason they have a bad name is because they became popular with assholes who train them to fight. But they have to be abused and trained to fight. It doesn't come naturally to them.

They also got a reputation for having a powerful bite. But, in actuality, it is not stronger that the German Shepherd, American Bulldog, Rottweiler, various Mastiffs, Cane Corso, and the Kangal.

AMS700CX4u2 · Accepted Answer

Depends on whether the Pitt-bull was attained as a puppy. Pitts have to be trained to attack. It is not their nature. If your parents got the pit as an adult dog and he already had some luggage. Yes that was a risk. Bringing a Pitt home from the animal shelter can be risky because you don't know why the dog was surrendered and you don't know what triggers the aggressive activity. Think Gangsta movies. The popularity of pitt-bulls spiked after their release. And everyone appeared to want to train them to be mean. Afterwards they found them hard to handle and sttarted dumping them in animal shelters

DeeDeeDeVour · Accepted Answer

It's very unfortunate for Pitbulls that they are getting a bad rap.

People should pay close attention to the owners of Pitbulls that aren't friendly.

In my experience, I have not yet met or encountered a Pitbull that wasn't friendly or sweet.

That's because their owners are genuinely nice & responsible.

Even though they claim that luck played on their side, I think your parents deserve a lot of credit too.

Skinhead-1979 · Answer

No... with any kind of dog breed it entirely depends on how they are being trained.

I come out of a family of 'Pigs', and my uncle always adopted a dog which had gone through Police training. You'd think they are well trained, right? The first one my uncle brought home bit my cousin on his bum, severely enough for the dog to be put down.

exitseven · Answer

I just remember a pit bull one of my neighbors owned. I used to run by his house. The dog was chained to tha cornerboard on the house. When I would run by the house the dog would go nuts.
One day the dog ripped the trim right off the side of the house and tried to chase me dragging a ten foot piece of trim behind it. There were some cars driving on the street and I was able to keep the cars between me and the dog until I got away.
I would not trust a baby with one of those dogs

Staximus · Answer

A pitbull who is raised as a puppy around little kids is usually a great dog. Problems usually occur when it's an adult dog of any breed that wasn't raised around kids.

MacDaddyRico · Answer

Stop demonizing the breed. It's the owners lack of responsibility to properly train their dog, no matter the breed. Most of my rescued puppies were pitties and I had ZERO problem with ANY of them.

LiamJHayden · Answer

In my life we had a female Pit, a female Doberman, two male German Shepherds, and a female Cocker Spaniel. The only problem child was the Spaniel.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

No I don't think it was risky.  Most Pitbulls are very sweet dogs that will protect a baby (and every other family member) with their life. Sorry to hear she passed away, losing a pet is the worst..

BetaBucks · Answer

"huge" risk, no. But it was unnecessary. Pits kill more people than all other breeds combined, and could end a baby in seconds. I got rid of my pitbulls when my first kid was born. Gave them to family.

Hanssolochibaka · Answer

No there is never a bad dog just bad owners. People forget that they are called Nanny dogs. Think about it.

noohair · Answer

I don't think they did anything wrong.

spartan55 · Answer

They sure did... wow

My parents once owned a pitbull as first time owners (I was a baby), would you say they took a huge risk?

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