Should there be an age limit on owning pit bulls?

I voted no....there shouldn't be an age limit. There are responsible and irresponsible owners of all ages in all breeds. As some of our younger members and Whiskeys son have shown. This age thing IMO would only futher taint the image of these dogs.....With people saying "They must be dangerous just like the media says, because there's an age limit on them like on tabacco, alcohol and firearms, etc."

Not to mention there is already more than enough Government intervention into our lives.

Now do I think most kids under 18 should own one.....NO. Just like I think a lot of people that own them shouldn't.

 

I think there should be an age restriction, as well, as registration restrictions on this breed. Being this is a performance oriented breed, they should prove their worthiness before even being able too be registered!

Not sure that will/would ever happen, especially being as 75% of the people that currently own these dogs, SHOULDN’T! Most always seem to have excuses, about why they can’t provide proper medical care, nutrition, training, housing, etc. At least once a month on this board, someone is saying’ “I used too feed “?” dog food, but with “X” amount of dogs now, it’s just not feasible”. Then look at all the peddling, just on this board, let alone, on others and in the “real world”. This breed is plagued with problems, stemming from irresponsible owners! If we as a “community” don’t start policing ourselves, we won’t have too worry about future generations, owning this breed!

 

Great post... I agree 100%.

B

 

I voted for no age restriction because I'm 15 years old and while I do agree that there are many teenagers(really, people in general) who can't properly care for and/or get a dog for the wrong reasons, this doesn't mean that all teenagers do and will.

As much as some may think that they don't have to, I believe that teenagers need to prove themselves to persons they wish to build a relationship with that may doubt them. I volunteered(and still do) at the rescue where I adopted my dog from months before I even got him. The people know and trust me, they see my dog every few weeks/months. When I do actually buy a dog, however, I will be at least 21 years old because the breeder I wish to get a dog from has an age limit in place and I know I wouldn't be able to afford all the show/sport plus transportation costs right now.

 

I Think That If They Did An Age Limit It Would Cut Down On Some Of The Problems. But Then Young Adults Would Just Hide There Dogs Ir They Were Not To Have Them. And Were In The Hell Are The Parents At.

 

And that, my dear, is today's million dollar question

 

Although these "youngings" love walking down the block with a tough lookin pitbull, they love the cheap respect but Half the time its not even about that. THe young urban crowd of camden loves pitbulls and loves pit fights. Shit...its love they call it. I see pitbulls and pit mixes more than other breeds where i live. Kids walkin them with heavy chains, wrapped round the neck. Hey thats not gonna get your dog fit no time soon, only health problems. This one kid asked me how i get king so "husky". Its a term they use for when a dog is in great shape, muscles well defined, etc. I said, feeding the right food, running, walking, pullin, hangin, its alot of work you know, chains are no help to the dog, its the lazy way out, also it gives people the wrong idea. Half these kids dont care about a tough lookin dog, they just want a fighting pitbull


They dont believe me when i say chains dont do much, but is still think agm limit are not fair. remember not everyone is the same.

 

Not an age limit but i think there should be a test or something that one must take in order to get a permit to own a pit. That should weed out these young ass kids walkin around with these huge mut pits trying to intimidate everyone!

 

Whisky Bay: That was a great story - If I had a kid, that's the kind of kid I'd want!

I grew up around dogs my whole life. And I was lucky to grow up in a home that treated animals well. Because of this I probably understood dogs needs better at 12 than a lot of adults do at 40. So I'm not sure where I stand on age restrictions.

However, I am 100% for, making it more difficult to own any breed of dog (regardless of age). Because it seems anybody can buy a dog from their local paper and register it. But so often owners either don't understand or care about their dog's needs. So now I wonder if we shouldn't be registering the owners before the dogs. Nothing too rigorous - but dog ownership is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken too lightly. If you like dogs enough to want to own one for 15 years - then doing a "small test" to prove that you understand your dogs basic canine behavior and needs shouldn't be a problem. If the person was found mistreating their dogs - then their legal right to own animals could be revoked. Your local council could administer it. Just my thoughts.

 

LOL MIAKODA I SAW THIS AND IT MADE ME LOL THANKS FOR THE LOL

 

theres other things to consider. Legally, a person under 18 cannot enter into a contract.

I think there should be age restrictions for any animal. I voted for over 21, allthough there are quite a few people over that age that still shouldnt own a goldfish let alone an APBT. I think too that (and I know this is going to piss some people off..) that you should also own your own place. I realize some landlords allow pets.. but the biggest rescue turn in is for people that are moving and cant find a place or keep their pet..

 

My first dog that was really MY dog was Sammie. My mom got her for me when I moved into my own place (A rent house) when I was 17. Unfortunatly I don't have her anymore due to the fact that she bit people and was so unpredictable and aggresive that she couldn't be trusted.

 

i am 16 and i take care of all my dogs as any one of you would it not the age it the love and care you have for them and how well you love the dogs i dont fight dogs some do but its not an age thang and any of you can ask my vet and he will tell you how well i care for my dogs he saids he has seen dogs owned by people 30 and older not cared for that well so age it not the ? it is the care and love you have for them

 

I think they should make a age limit on owning any kind of dog.

When I was born my parents had a dog. I got my first dog when I was 4 years old and he died when I was 16 years old. When I was 19 I choose my own dog for real and ofcourse I still have him and is now about 4 years old.
Still I think they should make a age limit on owning any kind of dog and I think that schould be at a age of 18 or 21.

 

I am in favor of righteouse laws for good reason, without them there would be anarchy. However I am 100% against ANY type of breed specific laws including this current "poll". If there would be some type of general across the board law stating that in order to legally own anything or certain types of things ( Non specific ie. breed or brand name ) one must be such and such age. I think 16 is a good age being that its when young people start driving and car ownership becomes a reality.

Example:
To legally own any type ( or all types ) of animal one must be 16 years of age. Until the age of 16 years a legal guardian or parent is the sole owner of the said animal or animals and is 100% responible for it's well being.




But no breed specific language involved please!!!

 

I think you should wait until you can really take care of ur dog like it your child thats how I treat my do i do every thing I can do for him.

 

Just out of curiosity, what happens when you turn 18 & want to move out of your parents house. You're excited about living in your 1st own apartement. Then "WHAM", reality hits you in the head. Very, very, very, very few apartments allow pit bulls. So now what? So later on, you just "forget' to mention his breed or label him as a "lab/boxer mix" & move in & begin life in your new apartment. Then "WHAP" across the ass when your maintenance guy tells your landlord that you own a pit bull. You can argue till your blue in the face that its a "mutt" or whatnot, but he won't & doesn't care. Now your evicted with 24 hrs to get all your stuff out. Where are you gonna go? You think a friend is gonna let you stay at his place with your dog?

And what happens when college tuition, & rent, & your car insurance (assuming mommy & daddy pay/paid for your car) & bills all come do at once & your dog gets a severe case of pancreatitis from your roommie feeding him bbq chicken? Now your dog is poopin nothing but blood, vomiting non-stop, you have to rush him to the emergency vet only to be told that they can't treat him without some money up front & you have none! Then what?

Most of our rescue dogs come from owners under the age of 21. So yes, I DO think there should be an age limit. Personally, I'm tired of having to deal with other people's responsibility (in this case a dog) when they don't have anywhere else to go. It's not fair to parents, it's not fair to frieds, it's not fair to the dog, & it's even not fair to you.

 

MIA....excellent post and excellent points. i agree. i still think that an age limit and also regulations should be in effect for owning any breed of dog. i think classes (like parenting classes) should be mandatory and that they should be breed specific and without passing the class one should not be able to aquire said dog. maybe we all should start doing that and it could go further.??

 

good post mia. i have nothing but respect for you on the board, but i have to disagree. you don't think all that can happen to an adult? i'm 20 years old with a 15 month old daughter with 2 cars( all paid by me, insurance too) and paying $2,000 a semester at school. and my dog is doing just fine never goes without can take him to the vet whenever. out of all my friends and people i know just for personal expereance and observations, i notice that the most neglecting owners of any breed has been mostly adults, but then again that's not everyone in the world.

 

You guys attitiude in this particular thread would fit right in with the rest of the fascist world veiw. Do you not hear yourselves! I got my first bulldog when I was 17 years old, I took care of that dog and often took advantage of my parents and they graciously helped me with him. 22 years later I still have bulldogs, 10 to be exact and will have two new Fiarris dogs by next week. I love the breed and am glad someone didn't tell me I couldn't have one until I was 18. Thank God this is still America.