Advice Before Getting a Pit Bull

Many people want to adopt a Pit Bull without realizing the huge responsibility involved. That's why it's important to read this advice before getting a Pit Bull.

We know — they're beautiful, truly wonderful dogs, and probably ideal for you. But are you ready to have one? Let's go over the pros and cons of having a dog of this breed.

At SoyUnPerro, we know how important it is to have this information before buying or adopting a Pit Bull, which is why we insist you take a few minutes to read and understand it.

You Need a Special License to Own Dangerous Dogs

We all know it's not the dogs that are dangerous, but the owners who don't know how to train their dogs, or who deliberately mistrain them to make them more aggressive. That said, the government doesn't see it that way, and will require you to hold a PPP license.

PPP stands for the license for Potentially Dangerous Dogs. It's mandatory, and getting it requires passing an exam, plus a psychological test to confirm you're fit to hold it.

But it doesn't end with the license, which only allows the holder — that is, only you — to walk the Pit Bull. If your partner or family members want to walk your dog, they'll need to have their own PPP license too.

You'll also need to take out mandatory liability insurance with no deductible, which adds an extra annual cost to your dog's upkeep. The PPP license only allows one Pit Bull per person — you won't be able to have two.

Pit Bulls Are Very Strong and Energetic

Without meaning any offense, if you're frail or don't have much physical strength... forget entirely about having a Pit Bull, because you won't be able to control it if you ever need to. We know you'll train it well and all that... but forget it.

Imagine for a moment you're in a critical situation and need to hold your dog back. Pit Bulls weigh around twenty-five to thirty kilos with tremendous strength. If you don't have enough strength to hold it back on the leash... just imagine what could happen.

On top of that, Pit Bulls can be somewhat stubborn and will sometimes try to be dominant. If you have a weak personality, the Pit Bull will become the pack's alpha... which is dangerous for everyone.

Pit Bulls need intense daily exercise (except for puppies, obviously). You'll need to have the time to let them burn off their energy, and a reasonable level of physical fitness to keep up with them.

Living With Children and Pit Bulls

Although respect toward children largely comes down to a dog's training, we all know what kids can be like... the rough treatment they can give our dogs, and how little patience some dogs have.

It's not about it being a Pit Bull Terrier specifically, but the fact that it'll be a very large, strong dog. If you have young children who don't know how to respect a dog and its space, you should seriously reconsider adopting a Pit Bull.

American Pit Bulls are well known as "nanny dogs" for their good behavior around children, but we'll say it again: training both the dog and the children is essential to avoid serious scares.

The Cost of Keeping a Pit Bull Terrier

Having a dog isn't cheap, no matter how you look at it. You need to be financially stable enough to cover the many vaccines your Pit Bull will need. And if it gets sick, you'll have to pay for vet visits and medication.

On top of that, there's the amount of monthly food an adult Pit Bull can eat, plus the cost of its bed, leash, muzzle, and mandatory insurance. Feeding a Pit Bull Terrier requires a sizable budget, since we should always use top-quality products given its nutritional needs.

Toys or a doghouse, if you're planning on having it sleep outside, are also significant expenses to keep in mind. And this is all assuming your dog is healthy — if unfortunately it's prone to allergies or other health issues, vet costs will skyrocket.

Dog Experience and Common Sense

We strongly recommend not getting a Pit Bull if you haven't owned other dogs before. If you lack experience training or socializing a dog, don't make the serious mistake of having a Pit Bull as your first dog.

Extensive dog experience is needed to properly train a Pit Bull, and it's also super important to socialize it properly from puppyhood, every day. Poorly trained or socialized Pit Bulls can be very dangerous, given their size and strength.

Common sense also matters enormously when it comes to having a Pit Bull. If you're thinking:

• "I'm going to get a Pit Bull to look scary"
• "I'm going to get a Pit Bull to scare people or make sure nobody messes with me"
• "I'm going to get a Pit Bull to use it in dogfights"
• "I'm going to get a Pit Bull because I'm fearful or insecure and need protection"
• "I'm going to get a Pit Bull Terrier to guard my property and bite anyone who comes in"

Honestly, don't even think about adopting or buying a Pit Bull. You're not the right kind of person to have a dog with these traits.

Having a Pit Bull as a life companion is an enormous responsibility, not just for you, but for the dog and everyone around you. Before getting a Pit Bull, seriously think over the advice we've given you. Don't rush into adopting — you need to be ready first.