new to the forum, bunch of questions

Ok im new to the forum here and have alot of questions to ask. Ive been looking for a good pit bull forum and this looks like the one. I have two dogs, a full male pit and a half pit half lab, both are from the humane society because i am young (21) and wanted a pit and thats all i could afford at this time. So they cut my dogs balls off, the boy, who's name is brutus, and that sucks, but what can i do...... Anyway i read alot about conditioning here and i do have a pool available and i think im going to do that as the walking and running we do (run about 2 miles 5 times a week) seems to do nothing for my dogs muscle development. But the thing that is really bothering me with my dog is that he is so timid. I don't want like some viscous killing machine that i can't let people get near, but he doesn't even bark when, say, one of my friends like sneaks in through the window of my house when im not home or goes in through my side gate. He sort of runs and hides. I don't need him to kill them, but i just dont like him being scared. What can I do about this. Also, he is a year old now, like is said. Is it still ok to crop his ears, and if so, what is a reasonable amount to spend. Are there different styles? And finally, besides swimming, what are some other good excercises to get his muscles out. when he was a put he was all ripped up, bulging muscles, but he is getting a little flabby, still solid, but no definition. I am more than willing to do whatever work it takes to make my dog a fine pitbull, im just not sure what to do. Thanks,
mike

 

first, welcome, second for conditioning what food are you feeding them? that has alot to do with their body and health. as far as working them out, i just play tug o war with mine and run them and it seems to work for me. the other guys/girls on here can probaly help you alitle better, i'm still learning myself. i'm not sure about the scared thing but they can probaly help you with that as well.

 

and for the ear cropping, must vets won't do it when the dog is that old. i'd just let them be

 

“Ok im new to the forum here and have alot of questions to ask.”

Welcome. I’m sure many will be able to help you out with your questions.

“Ive been looking for a good pit bull forum and this looks like the one.”

Yes, many of use think so.

“I have two dogs, a full male pit and a half pit half lab, both are from the humane society because i am young (21) and wanted a pit and thats all i could afford at this time.”

Congratulations nothing wrong with getting a pet from the Humane Society.

“So they cut my dogs balls off, the boy, who's name is brutus, and that sucks, but what can i do......”

That is their policy (very good one). There is too many “pits” out there now.

“as the walking and running we do (run about 2 miles 5 times a week) seems to do nothing for my dogs muscle development.”

What do you want to obtain with your exercise regimen? Then maybe someone would be able to point you in the right direction.

“But the thing that is really bothering me with my dog is that he is so timid.”

That should have been noticed before purchasing him. Never know what he went through before the Humane Society got custody. Give him some time and love he will come around.

“ Also, he is a year old now, like is said. Is it still ok to crop his ears,”

That would mostly depend on your Veterinary. An ear crop on a pitbull is short compared to Dobermans and Boxer so they can be crop at any age and still stand. I prefer to leave the ears natural. Like you said “you are young” so put that money to better use somewhere else.

“And finally, besides swimming, what are some other good excercises to get his muscles out.”

If you could be more specific about what you are wanting to obtain with the exercise regimen. Weight pulling is good if you just want to bulk up your dog.

“when he was a put he was all ripped up, bulging muscles, but he is getting a little flabby, still solid, but no definition.”

What are you feeding him?

 

i feed both of them pedigree. as for what i want out of him, i want him to be lean with defined muscles, which is the way he looked at about 6 months,same diet the whole way through.

 

“i feed both of them pedigree.”

There are a lot better choices out there.

“as for what i want out of him, i want him to be lean with defined muscles, which is the way he looked at about 6 months,same diet the whole way through.”

First thing is nutrition, stop feeding him junk food, just like most people they couldn’t keep an athletic build eating McDonald’s there entire life.

As for being “lean with defined muscles” watch what you’re feeding (amounts and quality), walk greater distances, flirt-pole, and limited weight pulling.

 

is there anymore advice to make my dog a little (alot actually) less timid. thanks for the input..
mike

 

Well him having been altered will play a role in his being timid. Also having gotten him from the shelter you don't know his history, and that also may be causing this timid behavior. One thing to do is absolutely do not let friends or anyone else challenge him or "bluff" him, it'll ruin him one way or the other. He'll either get more timid or he'll become a news story. Just kinda coax him into being more extroverted by making his encounters with the world pleasurable and favorable, and he should come along.

 

hey i have a question to, i feed knuckles ''dog chow'', is there a better food i can buy for him from petsmart? because hey I'm not even 18 yet, my pockets aint that deep

 

well i feed my dogs "the pride" i get it from a place called barlette miller. the do ship to other places , but it's extremely good keeps my dogs looking lean , and if wanted to put weight on them i could feed them more at a time , but since it's not so cold , i just give them a certain amount , and it's pretty cheap (Pride Maintenance 22% Protien 18% fat = $10.49) Very Good For Lean Look , (Pride Green Bag 24% Protien 20% Fat) Good For Healthy Look, (Pride Black Bag 26% Protien 22% Fat) IN My Opinion Only Good For Winter. Different Feeds Work Better For Different Dogs. You Might Feed Your Dog Pro Plan And It Might Be Good For Your Dog , But "PROBABLY" Wont Work For Mines. All Depends On How The System Is Built. Just Like Body Builder Have Diferent Way Of Exercising And Diets So Do Dogs.

 

well i feed my dogs "the pride" i get it from a place called Bartlett Miller CO. the do ship to other places , but it's extremely good keeps my dogs looking lean , and if wanted to put weight on them i could feed them more at a time , but since it's not so cold , i just give them a certain amount , and it's pretty cheap (Pride Maintenance 22% Protien 18% fat = $10.49) Very Good For Lean Look , (Pride Green Bag 24% Protien 20% Fat) Good For Healthy Look, (Pride Black Bag 26% Protien 22% Fat) IN My Opinion Only Good For Winter. Different Feeds Work Better For Different Dogs. You Might Feed Your Dog Pro Plan And It Might Be Good For Your Dog , But "PROBABLY" Wont Work For Mines. All Depends On How The System Is Built. Just Like Body Builder Have Diferent Way Of Exercising And Diets So Do Dogs. A Number To Bartlett Miller CO. To Ask More Questions About Pride Dog Food (919) 735-1924

 

I;ma gonna try thr pro plan, i did see it in petsmart the other day

 

pro plan is good but you'd get more with pride 50 lbs bag it's not really big cause it's not marketed like dog chow , alpo , and etc. but believe me it's good. i wouldn't say it's good for every dogs but it work very well just call 919-735-1924 ask for some info on pride. how if works? , about the protiens and whatever you need to know.

 

I feed my pitbull, Nutro and bil jak but I'm going for a built body I run her in the morning and night and play all threw the day and walk her. Bil jak is very good have used it on pitbulls and labs but if used you have to give them excirse.