please help. i am a rookie

i was given a pit for 40 bucks. she was in the worst conditions, found in a cold basement, in a suitcase, crying loud. she was alone. i've had her for a week. took her to the vet. he estimated 8 wks.... said she looked healthy and gave her the first shots. she weighed two pounds. i've got her by my side all week. morning noon and night. when she wakes, she eats, plays for ten minutes, goes poop and pee, then is back in my fleece asleep. i love her more then i love myself.

i've researched for the past six months ( i was going to buy one from the paper or even reputable breeder if the number was right) i know what i'm getting into. i have time and am more then forgiving. i truly believe in this breed....but i think her parents were fighters. in the ghettos of new york and philly.

i want to train this dog. i think positive enforcement is the only way to train. i would never use force or punishment. i want her to pull 20 times her body weight and then lick my unborn nephew. i want her to become a pet, clown, gaurdian, tool.

i know i can't take the fight out of them. i am not trying to. i am for the preservation of this breed. her environment is a large loving family. i have two older brothers and all our friends and girlfriends. she has been socialized with people everyday. not too much, but just enough. i have two cats who watch her. and my mom has a yorkie,but they haven't met yet.

some questions....is there such a thing as too much socialization? what is the proper age to start training? she snaps a little now, but could she be teething? until what age? whats the best cheewez? is too much love a problem? how much should i feed? i can watch her little belly fill up when she feeds. the vet said three times a day. .5 ounces per pound of body weight each feeding. does that soound right? whats the best food? she looks like she is on steroids now haha. i want her to stay looking diesel...

shes waking now......gotta go....please fire away. whats the best advice you can give?

 

i am still a rookie myself. my pup is about 6 mo. right now they chew like crazy for up to about 5 months when the puppy teeth come in. kong chew toys ar great and the nylabone toys are good too.

im curious what makes you think that the parents were fighters in the ghettos of new york and philly?

 

Dear Billy muscle
the advice i give is let her eat what she will....as for her belly being like a pop belly she may have worms you may need to check her....socialize all you can....all you can....all you can...i stress this cause a good "petbull" should always be socialized with people and you said somthing about a nephew...socialize her with some kids also....the key is socialize.....ohh yeah feed her Purina puppy chow..and let her be a puppy dont be all forceful she is your daughter not your dog...you treat her like that and she'll love you forever..talk to her and all that stuff..they understand just talk to them
Thanks
Krispun Y

 

it is soo cute. she is asleep again. i just posted. she has fifteen minutes thats it. is it normal to be two pounds at eight weeks? the reason i think her parents were fighters in the hood...well i got her thru some people ive known maybe two years. and over the course of the two years i saw some pits...some on treadmills...some fighters.. i got her in the hood. in philly. she is in the burbs right now. my mindset was to give her a better existence then what she had, even if i couldn't provide it myself. and i don't mean the hood can't provide TLC, but in a suitcase in a wet cold basement...alone. i almost cried when she kissed me the first time. she has'nt cried since. thanks for the responses tho. appreciate it

 

“i want her to pull 20 times her body weight”
Genetics and nutrition will determine that not “want”

“is there such a thing as too much socialization?”
NO<O:p</O:p

“what is the proper age to start training?”
See is old enough now to start some training (house, basic commands).<O:p</O:p

“whats the best cheewez?”
Kong toys (black)<O:p</O:p

“is too much love a problem?”
NO

“how much should i feed?<O:p</O:p
Depends on the feed. With any feed you adjust according to the dogs weight (too fat feed less, too skinny feed more). Do not try to complicate things.<O:p</O:p

“ i can watch her little belly fill up when she feeds. the vet said three times a day.”<O:p</O:p
Yes, they have small stomach at that age. Your vet is correct in having you feed 3 times a day. It allows the pup to absorb more of the nutrient in the feed, instead of most of it just passing through their system.<O:p</O:p

“whats the best food?”
Canidae, Innova, Chicken Soup, and/or Martins K9.
<O:p</O:p
Who said: “ohh yeah feed her Purina puppy chow”<O:p</O:p
Why? Have you ever looked at the ingredients (or should I say lack of)? Nobody should ever feed a dog Purina puppy chow if they want it (puppy) to reach its full genetic potential.<O:p</O:p

 

First, Because Her Parents Were Possible Fighters Does Not Mean Your Pup Will Be. That Is Something Trained For Just As Weight Pulling. I Have Several Dogs, Some Whose Bloodline Comes Directly From Great Figthers. Everyone Of Them Are Family Dogs, But Can Be Dog Aggressive Depending On The Nature Of The Other Dog. As Stated Earlier Socialize As Much As Possible.

Aj

 

where was the dog found in philly

just curious thats where im from

 

yup philly.....north near hunting park

 

I am a noob as far as hands on experiance goes, So I researched and through myself into it when I got my pit heres what worked for me.
basic's for good training

1) never let her eat unless she see's you and every one else in the house eat something first. This will pay off hugely in the long run. it teaches her her place in the pack with out you have do any active training on that. It will keep her from trying to steal your nephews food etc. It also cuts down the chance of her disciplining a child because she will know via feeding that all people,are higer in the pack than she is.

2) Becareful from about 10 months on around other animals. She could "turn ON" at any time after that age there is no way to tell if or when.

3) play with her ears, teeth and her toe nails. This will get her used to you messing with those parts and will pay off big time when she gets older and time to clean or clip.

4) REWARD REWARD REWARD PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE. Pits will literally die to please you out of love. You want her to pull weights, besides genetics and nutrition there is the third factor. HEART( I don't like to use game in talking about weight pulling). Build up her love for you and watch her shine.

5) Do not make her sleep out doors as a pet let her be part of the pack 24 hours a day. This will also reduce the chance of her being mean.

6) Get a crate and crate train if she is a pet. This will help her with seperation anxiety and protect your home.

7) Socialise with as many diffrent types of people as possible Black, white, in uniform , clowns kids etc.

8) Never ever ever re-inforce fear through comfort. Unlike a child dogs are not soothed during stress. they learn that fear brings them attention. If something is stressing her out ignore it (like thunderstorms, fire crackers, trains etc)

9) make sure she has lots chews, Kong, rope, nylon bones are real good. Do not feed her rawhide, cheap plastic, or non-virgin rubber toys, or real bones.

10) when you get home greet her and play with her.

11) when she is older get her on a schedule. Play, feeding, going to the bathroom etc.

12) At about a year you can switch to 1 meal a day. Don't feed her grocery store commercial dog food it's posion. BARF diets or if your gonna use a commercial diet use a brand like Nutro

13) Get her microchipped. Dogs get loose and get stolen. If that happens and you want her back a microchip is your best bet. it cost about 40 bucks or so.

14) As you play with her if you don't mind her mouthing you don't be afraid or say ouch to express even fake pain it will teach her to be soft mouthed with people.

15) if she is looking you in the eye DONT BE ALARMED Pitts are about the only breed that does it with out it being a challange. They just love us so much they like to make eye contact.

16) When she is older and she has done something wrong and you scold her ( bad dog is perfectly fine) and make eye contact with her and she looks away or refuses to look at you then you have made your point.

17) YOU OWE HER A FOREVER HOME NOW! Understand that for the next 15 years no matter what you have to plan your life around her being a family member. Where you move, the trips you take, vet bills etc you just took on a huge reponsability. It is almost impossible to find an unwanted pit a home the shelters are over flowing with them. If you decide a couple of years down the road that she is a burden she has an 8 in 10 chance of dying in a kill shelter. If you meet your end of the bargain she will keep hers in ways that cannot even be epxressed. She will put every ounce of every legendary pitbull quality into pleasing you until the day she dies.