Adopting a pitbull
I was chatting with some relatives last month – good people.
One asked for my “opinion” on pitbulls.
So I said what I always say, that “pitbulls” are just dogs, no different from others. Just dogs.
The other three expressed their fears about pitbulls. And then one said that, yes, she had also heard pitbulls can be really nice dogs.
I thought that was progress.
I don’t try to push my views. When the opportunity comes up, I speak my truth, but I don’t think it works to get angry or to start preaching.
People who fear pitbull dogs may have never spent time with a pitbull. They have heard all the negative media stories. Or maybe they have had a bad experience with a pitbull, something that can happen with any type of dog.
I’ve been wanting to adopt a second dog for a long time. We are not anywhere near ready, yet. It will still be several months from now.
But I’ve gone over and over in my mind all the options.
Should I get a purebred? A small dog? A working dog? A protection dog? A German shepherd? A Jack Russell?
Should I go to a breeder? Should I foster first? Try Craigslist?
I see the logic behind all these possibilities. There is really no correct way to obtain a dog, only the right way for each individual.
But I think I finally know what seems right for me.
A pitbull dog. Most likely from a shelter or rescue. Possibly a puppy.
Surrounded by pitbull lovers all the time, sometimes it’s easy to forget there is still a long way to go. People still misunderstand these dogs. People still fear them. Whole cities still ban them. “Shelters” still kill them.
What an opportunity I have, with my dog blog and my pet sitting business.
What better way to show how wonderful these dogs are? To lead a quiet example of a well-behaved, well-socialized dog as I always try to do with Lab-mix Ace.
It just makes sense to me now. I can’t wait to see who comes my way 🙂
Lindsay Stordahl
Thursday 29th of November 2012
Thanks for all you do for the dogs!
Tara
Thursday 29th of November 2012
That's wonderful! I foster for a pitbull/bully breed rescue and have owned 2....I absolutely LOVE the breed and do all I can to change the negative perception of them. The breed has my heart and always will:)
Lindsay Stordahl
Tuesday 27th of November 2012
Great points, Patty! This just shows that you can't judge a dog based on its appearance. Looks do not tell you everything. I'm so glad you ended up with such an awesome dog!
Patty
Tuesday 27th of November 2012
I ended up with my perfect pit quite by accident. I met her at a local animal shelter and it was love at first sight. I thought that, with her brindle coloring, she was probably a plott hound mix or something. When I got a DNA test to prove for a bet that she was not a pit, I found out I had been wrong. I am not sure how or whether knowing about her parentage beforehand would have influenced my decision to bring her home, but I have since dedicated myself to better-educating myself and as many others as I can about the wealth of misinformation that has shaped public perception of pit bulls.
She is the most sociable dog I have ever met. Ever. She has never met a stranger or, indeed, anyone that is not her best friend. Our biggest training challenge has been trying to get her (not quite successfully yet) to stop licking people on the faces without being invited. Then again, that is how she suckered me into taking her home...
She is extremely intelligent and eager to please (if occasionally stubborn), though she is also extremely energetic and requires at least an hour of crazypants running-around-like-a-maniac daily. She doesn't counter-surf or get into the garbage. She even tired of chewing the walls and furniture as soon as her adult teeth had come in fully. I think you're going to love being a bully mom. It's very rewarding, and kudos to you for deciding to be an example that will change a completely undeserved poor reputation.
Lindsay Stordahl
Monday 26th of November 2012
How will I ever decide which one?!