I just got a four month old blue-nose pitbull. She just showed up on our doorstep, and the owner told us we could have her or he will put her down. He could not take care of her. I have six kids ages 1 to 14. I need to know if she will stay calm and sweet as she is now, or should I worry. The only thing she does that bothers me is she will bark at my neighbors when they are outside. Not every neighbor, just certain ones. Other than that she is great. She licks all the time and snores louder than my husband. Is It normal to snore to?

They are a very "active" dog and can be very protective of your family.

I love pitbulls. My opinion has always been that they have a certain animal instinct that other dogs don't have. So sometimes, in my opinion, it is not the way they are raised that makes them attack other people. I have been in contact with a lot of nice pitbulls. You probably shouldn't worry... but I would definitely keep her away from the neighbors that she barks at. They might fear her and she can sense that.

A lot of dogs snore. But that doesn't mean that they might not have nasal problem.

I just got a four month old blue-nose pitbull. She just showed up on our doorstep, and the owner told us we could have her or he will put her down. He could not take care of her. I have six kids ages 1 to 14. I need to know if she will stay calm and sweet as she is now, or should I worry. The only thing she does that bothers me is she will bark at my neighbors when they are outside. Not every neighbor, just certain ones. Other than that she is great. She licks all the time and snores louder than my husband. Is It normal to snore to?
Thanks for the advice!

I would definitely begin obedience classes immediately. Exposure to lots of people and places as a puppy will help her be less fearful (and protective) when she encounters strangers. Be careful that no one is playing "rough" with her and do not play "tug-of-war" with her. Any kind of play that encourages growling should be discouraged. All of my dogs have snored, the older they get the louder they snore. :)
Have fun with your new baby and thank you for saving a life!

Be careful that no one is playing "rough" with her and do not play "tug-of-war" with her. Any kind of play that encourages growling should be discouraged.


Good point. My friend did that with his HUGE pitbull and it didn't seem like the right thing to do. It just made his jaw even stronger. Scary.

Mine are 4&6 and they both snore when in a deep sleep. After all these years I have tuned it out. I do not believe she will turn mean as long as she is treated well and you establish her place in the family. Dogs love to know their place and job. It makes them feel secure. In a pack every dog has a job and its place. APBTs are a very active breed. Fetch, walks and even bike rides are great for them. They can get crazy from lack of an energy outlet. Barking, chewing and neediness are signs of not enough exercise. A good run does a world of good.

I am a firm believer in the NILIF principle for pit bulls (and, really, most dogs). Nothing in life is free... the dog has to "work" for everything he wants. You may want take a look at Nothing in Life is Free (http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm) which explains it in more detail.

Ive Raised Pitbulls For A Long Time. Snoring Is Defenitly Normal! All Mine Are The Same Way, I Thought My Husband Snored Loud But It Isn't Nothing Compared To My Dogs.. lol!! Pitbulls Attitudes Are All In How They Are Raised. Socialize Her With Strangers And Other Dogs As Much As Possible. Pitbulls Make Wonderful Family Pets So I Hope You All Have A Great Time With Her!!

I just got a four month old blue-nose pitbull. She just showed up on our doorstep, and the owner told us we could have her or he will put her down. He could not take care of her. I have six kids ages 1 to 14. I need to know if she will stay calm and sweet as she is now, or should I worry. The only thing she does that bothers me is she will bark at my neighbors when they are outside. Not every neighbor, just certain ones. Other than that she is great. She licks all the time and snores louder than my husband. Is It normal to snore to?
She will stay sweet as long as u do not tie her up or put her in a pin

Pitbulls can be wonderful loving pets, but you have to consider what they were originally bred for. Do all of the research that you possibly can. Ceaser Millans book and training video's are especially good, because he deals a lot with Pit Bulls.

You must establish that your whole family as the pack leaders, first and foremost. Your pup will need LOTS of exercise to drain his excess energy. This should be done before any playing or feeding. It's up in the morning, no play, and out for a long walk as soon as you can. Go on your walk like you are on a mission. This isn't time for exploring of sniffing around. The order of things should be, EXERCISE, DISIPLINE, AFFECTION. If you start that early, and get the ground rules in place, you should have a great and loving pet.

You might also want to check out the laws where you live. Some States and Cities require that you buy insurance for a Pit Bull, and they are other certain rules you must abide by, whether your dog is friendly.

Thank you so much for rescuing this little guy! Just know that their breed requires a lot of attention and work.

Good Luck!

she will stay sweet as long as u do not tie her up or put her in a pin

I have to disagree. Although they should not be tied or kept penned, they will not stay sweet unless they have the proper disipline and training for their breed.

I don't know about having that dog around your children. They are nervous dogs and if you child makes a sudden movement or sudden noise it might attack them. I also read this and I think you should know this also. Pit bulls bite with a force of almost 2,000 pounds per square inch -- that's twice the force of a German shepherd or a Doberman pinscher. Because of the deep musculature of the dog's jaws, pit bulls frequently "hold and shake" instead of biting and releasing, which is why they sometimes are called "sharks on four legs." Pit bulls are genetically insensitive to pain, which makes them difficult to defend against. Some experts even believe that the presence of hormones in children of puberty age can set off pit bulls. If you have kids at puberty age what that dog around them. I hope you and your family is safe. I will not have a pit bull around my children. I hope people defend those dogs but to me there is a reason why some states ban that breed of dog and there a survey that states that those breeds of dogs attack more children then any other breed. I feel there is a reason why some insurance companies will not insure you unless you get special insurance just for having a pit bull.

Also try to socialize her with cats. My pit is socialized with cats and it makes it so much easier on me to know she is not going to try and chase or hurt them. My sister has a black lab mix that was never socialized with cats and she gets rough with them. Dixie just lays there and doesn't even pay them any attention. There was actually a cat that was scared of dogs and she attacked dixie and dixie ran from her lol. Its just a great stress reliever to know I and other cat owners don't have to worry about her. And no as long as you treat your dog right she will never be mean. And please try not to chain her. Chained dogs tend to become mean and aggressive because like a few other people have said they do not get the same amount of attention or exercise when they are chained. And if you have any water near by, see if she likes to swim. Dixie LOVES to swim.

JPT do you own a pitbull?? You can ask any pitbull owner that has children as well. They are loving and protective around children! Now just like any other breed there will be exceptions. But as long as you train your dog and teach your children to respect the dog the dog will love them as much as you do.

Just a note to Amricca, who has given out two disagrees on this thread alone. Please read the rules and regulations of this site. You can't just go around giving disagrees (reddies) because you don't like someone's answer. Plus, you have not even posted on this thread. The answer has to be factually incorrect, and at least one of those answers was not!

I don't know about having that dog around your children. They are nervous dogs and if you child makes a sudden movement or sudden noise it might attack them. I also read this and I think you should know this also. Pit bulls bite with a force of almost 2,000 pounds per square inch -- that's twice the force of a German shepherd or a Doberman pinscher. Because of the deep musculature of the dog's jaws, pit bulls frequently "hold and shake" instead of biting and releasing, which is why they sometimes are called "sharks on four legs." Pit bulls are genetically insensitive to pain, which makes them difficult to defend against. Some experts even believe that the presence of hormones in children of puberty age can set off pit bulls. If you have kids at puberty age what that dog around them. I hope you and your family is safe. I will not have a pit bull around my children. I hope people defend those dogs but to me there is a reason why some states ban that breed of dog and there a survey that states that those breeds of dogs attack more children then any other breed. I feel there is a reason why some insurance companies will not insure you unless you get special insurance just for having a pit bull.


I have to disagree with the person who doesn't allow well-trained and socialized pitbulls around children. And the whole puberty thing is simply absurd!! Pitbulls are great dogs. They are loving companions and amazing with children. Their high pain threshold allows them to tolerate abuse from kids. They aren't called the "Nanny Dog" for nothing! The problem lies with uneducated and irresponsible owners and breeders. These dogs are sensitive, confident, courageous, and wonderful to be around (not NERVOUS).
The reason they are banned certain areas is because of how they are exploited for fighting and gambling and encouraged to be mean. This is a dog that needs to be heavily sociaized, period! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not perpetuate LIES, Hearsay, SPECULATION and the like. Get real people... the truth is they have strong wills and are not for everyone!

Pitt bulls can be some of the most loving and loyal dogs if bred and trained properly and given a chance. They have a high drive to please which is also sadly another reason why they make good fighting dogs. Many fight to please the owners.

I am a huge advocate of the breed and highly disagree with breed bans. However I will not deny that pitt bulls are not for every owner and you should definitely get prompt training. Also since the origins of your dog are so grey you do need to exercise a bit more caution. A dog bred from poorly tempered parents is much more prone to a poor temperament as well. That is why I also heavily lean on getting a pitt bull form a reputable breeder where you can meet and interact with the parents. This is true of any breed of dog down to a chihuahua.

Good luck with your new baby!

As with Dobermans in the 70s, German Shepherds in the 80s, and Rottweilers in the 90s, Pit Bulls are the "EEE-vil" dog of the decade. Training and attention can cure ee-vil. It takes time and care to do it right. Kudos for saving a life, now you have to raise it to be worthwhile.

First of all the nickname for a staffy and a pitbull terrier is THE NURSE MAID DOG OR NANNY DOG. They sure the heck didn't get it because they are not good with kids!! I have worked with some of the meanest pitubulls who with proper training, affection, and time have gone to great homes and every single one are still in there homes, all 36. Almost half are in homes with children.
Any dog can be mean, it all depends on the owner and the amount of time you spend to train the dog!

I can't say I know a lot about this particular breed but I will say please NEVER leave a dog of any age alone with young children and involve your children of all ages with the training you will need to do. The way I understand it, if a child trains a dog, the dog learns that co-operation with children brings reward so when your pup is a hormonal teenager and one of your kids tells him to get off the sofa for example, he is more likely to comply (because he has been rewarded before for doing what the child says) than decide to try his luck and growl/show his teeth as an experiment. Teach your kids to always reward compliance from the dog even if its just a quick pat or a 'good girl'. Don't let them pester him when he is sleeping. Puppies need a lot of rest and should have a special spot they can retreat to in the knowledge they will be left alone. Don't llet the kids over excite the pup. If things are getting a little rowdy, break it up.
If you read nothing else, do take the time to read Jan Fennell's book 'The Dog Listener' You won't regret it. You can probably get a second hand copy on e-bay if cost is a problem. Here is a link to some information about what she teaches. .
Jan Fennell the Dog Listener & Amichien Bonding - Dog Training (http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/)
Best of luck, I really hope you puppy turns out well

At 4 months old, they recognize differences. If she is in a fenced in yard, that is an easy territory for her to figure out and to defend, this breed is so loyal that they establish quick. Social her to death, you do not want her to bite, you do not have to worry about your kids, they should be able to do anything to her and she should never bite, but she has a right to warn, and you need to make sure that you step in, this lets her know that you are the alpha, and that you will defend her and not let her be mistreated, but if she ever nips or snap, take a rolled up newspaper and smack her across the nose right away and say no, and only do it when she acts out, and do it right away, so she can relate to what she did wrong, after 2 times, she will always walk away, move, or realize she is being played with. At the ages of 6 months and older, you have to establish that you are the boss the minute someone new or strange to her walks in the house, it is their job to bark and protect, but what they do after that is a huge defining factor, if she is sweet to the kids and you, and barks at stranger already, all you need to do is make sure she is under control at all times, you need to start letting her be petted by others, they know when something isn't right, I have a female Dixie, she is 3, my husband has a friend that comes over all time, she is good to him, plays and licks him to death, but when my husband was gone, his friend stopped by hoping to catch him, she immediately let him know that the master is gone, when we were both gone one day, he stopped over, and later called up to tell us that she was all over the house barking mad, there was some things knocked over, and smudges on the windows, but when we are present she would never do that. The key is control, and being a responsible owner, these dogs are wonderful family members, loyal to the death, and protective, especially over the kids, but if they are not raised around kids that treat them well they will attack, kids have to be trained simple and proper treatment measures and respect for the pets in the home as well. I'd keep her, be sure to spade her though, when a female comes into season, she will be more aggressive and less patient.

..take a rolled up newspaper and smack her across the nose right away and say no, and only do it when she acts out, and do it right away, so she can relate to what she did wrong, after 2 times, she will always walk away, move, or realize she is being played with. ..

NO. Hitting is never an appropriate way of disciplining a dog.

One, it will confuse her because it does not communicate to her what it is she doing wrong and what is asked of her. And two, it hurts your relationship. Dog training needs to be based on trust and firm, but fair corrections. Hitting is neither fair nor does it help your dog trust you.

NO. Hitting is never an appropriate way of disciplining a dog.

One, it will confuse her because it does not communicate to her what it is she doing wrong and what is asked of her. And two, it hurts your relationship. Dog training needs to be based on trust and firm, but fair corrections. Hitting is neither fair nor does it help your dog trust you.

Hitting with your hands makes them afraid of you.

Hitting with a newspaper makes them afraid of the OBJECT.

I have had this argument before... I admit I do give mine a tap with a newspaper if they do not listen to me.
I don't even need to tap them any more, I just roll up the newpaper and they stop whatever naughty thing they were doing...
If I were to raise my hand as if to hit them, they wouldn't know what I was doing because I have never hit them with my hand.
So no... newspaper does not make them afraid of you.

Everyone's training methods are different and as long as they aren't actually 'hitting' the dog and hurting it there is no right or wrong.
Every dog is different, and every dog responds differetnly.

Hitting with your hands makes them afraid of you.

Hitting with a newspaper makes them afraid of the OBJECT.

I have had this arguement before... I admit I do give mine a tap with a newspaper if they do not listen to me.
I don't even need to tap them any more, I just roll up the newpaper and they stop whatever naughty thing they were doing...
If I were to raise my hand as if to hit them, they wouldn't know what I was doing because I have never hit them with my hand.
So no... newspaper does not make them afraid of you.

Everyones training methods are different and as long as they aren't actually 'hitting' the dog and hurting it there is no right or wrong.
Every dog is different, and every dog responds differetnly.

Sorry to disagree Shazamataz and I hope my doing so doesn't offend but in my opinion a dog who is hit with a newspaper does not become afraid of the newspaper, they become afraid of their owner when they are holding a newspaper. Dogs are intelligent enough to know that a newspaper will not hurt them by itself and that its when you are holding one they need to be fearful. If you or your husband finish reading a paper and leave it on the coffee table, do your dogs slink past it until it is moved? I doubt it very much because they know the paper will not grow legs and chase them around the room without a human holding it (not suggesting you chase your dogs with one of course!) Do you need to hide all your newpapers so that your dogs won't become nervous? In the nicest possible way, I'd be interested in your thoughts on this opinion. Of course I may be wrong.

Not getting into it again... I've already had this argument once and it resulted in members being banned so I'm staying away!

I both agree and disagree. I'll leave it at that.

Sent you a PM sajjw ;)
Saves everyone else getting in on the act lol
I don't want to be ganged up on :p