Pit Bulls and Children: a Guide for Parents and Owners
Written by: Iron King Kennels
Looking for a companion for your children? Pit bulls make great pets for families.
If you listen to the news, you don’t need to dig far for some horror story about a dog biting a child. Those stories usually don’t cover the full story, though.
From the moment you buy them, blue pitbull puppies should be socialized to the world around them. Families who ignore their dog, or who treat their dog with disrespect, tend to raise a depressed animal. To guard against this, some pitbull breeding experts have even begun drafting contracts that they make potential buyers sign. These contracts outline what the owner needs to do to take care of the dog, and include an agreement to return the puppy if the owner is unable to fulfill those obligations.
If you’re bringing a pitbull into a home with children, there are a few things you can do both before and after the dog arrives that will ensure your family forms a strong bond with the new addition.
The First Four Months
Responsible red nose pitbull breeders will spend a good deal of time getting a new puppy acclimated to his or her surroundings. The dog might go on car rides, become exposed to crowded sidewalks, or play and frolic around with young children. Within the first four months of life, your dog’s social skills are formed. It’s critical to keep children and dogs together, so both can get used to the other. During this time, it’s best to limit your puppy’s exposure to your own family. After 6 months, you should start socializing them for the general public.
If you follow these guidelines, your puppy will have a fully formed sense of the world around him or her. That will make it a lot easier to take your dog for a walk casually.