Pitbulls, or American bully dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world today. They have come a long way from being thought of as dangerous and aggressive dogs to some of the best family dogs on earth. So what makes the pitbull a good family dog?
Initially, pit bulls were not bred as family dogs. Around the 18th century, pitbull dogs were used in a gruesome underground game called bull-baiting. The English game used the dogs to fight against a full-grown bull, and the dog that was able to bite and pin down the bull by the nose or head won. As you would guess, the matches were very gory, and the dog usually sustained serious injuries.
Fortunately, by the 1830s, bull-baiting was banned all over Europe, and people started living with pitbulls as herding or hunting dogs. Slowly, pitbull dogs toned down their aggression, and they became some of the best family pets to own.
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What are the character traits of an American bully dog?
If you buy a pitbull puppy from a reputable breeder, you can expect it to show zero aggression for the rest of its life. Experienced pitbull breeders usually find a dam and stud with minimal aggression and with more of the traits that people love about pitbulls.
As any breeder will tell you, the best pitbull mix is between an American Pitbull Terrier and a Staffordshire terrier to get the American bully. The American Staffordshire terrier has a calm sweet personality that cancels out the aggression in the American pit bull terrier. To get a dog with a blocky head and a muscular body, like the world’s largest pitbull, pitbull breeders would perfect the breeding between an American Staffordshire terrier and an American bully.
The American bully dog is known to be;
- Friendly
- Affectionate
- Loyal
- Devoted
- Protective
- Sociability
- Trainability
Unlike the standard pitbull, the American bully is very friendly towards their family and strangers. They do not have a strong prey drive as most professional pitbull breeders.
Are pitbull dogs good with children?
Pitbull dogs are naturally good with children because of their friendly and affectionate nature. These dogs are protective, too, and will be the guardian of your children both indoors and outdoors. As you know, every dog is different, and it pays to first interact with the puppy at the breeders before bringing it home.
Training and socialization play an important role in making pitbulls amazing pets for families with children. The best pitbull puppies are by professional breeders who live with their families in their home, which is also their kennels. The dogs get to interact with children when they are young, and they also receive the best exercise to make them strong.
However, it is important to note that all dogs are different and will react uniquely to a new situation, like a new home with new faces. Make sure you interact with the pitbull puppy first before taking it home. This gives you a chance to watch how the puppy interacts with its litter mates and other humans. You will also see firsthand if the puppy has any signs of aggression. To be safe, ask the breeder to show you the puppy’s parents to observe the behavior of mom and dad, too- if the parents are aggressive, that aggression will most likely be passed down to the puppies.
Once you have selected the best pitbull puppy to take home, make sure you monitor how the dog interacts with your family for the first few days.
Are pitbulls good with other pets?
One other thing to consider before getting a pitbull dog is whether it will coexist with other pets you have. As you know, pitbull dogs have a prey drive in them so plenty of training and socialization is necessary to encourage good behavior around other animals.
American bully dogs are a lot different in that they are naturally friendly towards people, especially strangers. But this does not mean they will turn a blind eye when an intruder is trying to hassle you. Their protective side will kick in, and the intruder will know you are not to be messed with.
Are pitbulls good with strangers?
One good thing about the American bully dog is they do not exhibit unpredictable behavior. They remain gentle and affectionate even towards strangers and won’t suddenly lash out or bite anyone. However, this all depends on how well you train your dog and establish yourself as the alpha early in the dog’s life. But as long as an American bully or pitbull dog receives the right training, and is constantly socialized with pets, children, and other people, then it will grow into a well-behaved dog.
How to train an American bully dog
All dogs need some level of training to keep them on their best behavior, and pitbull dogs are no different. American bully dogs may not have a strong prey drive, but they are very strong-willed. It is important to train them as a puppy to establish dominance and obedience.
Despite their big muscular demeanor, pitbull dogs, especially American bullies, are very gentle dogs. They do not respond well to shouting or any harsh forms of training. The best way to train a pitbull to become a family dog is through positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding the dog for good behavior or obedience to training. For example, the American bully puppy gets a treat each time it sits, stays, or stops barking when prompted. This form of training is more productive and achieves results faster compared to using harsh words or actions. Remember, praises, treats, and toys are a way to encourage good behavior in pitbull dogs.
Conclusion
So, is a pitbull a good family dog? The answer is a big YES! Pitbulls and American bully dogs are some of the most gentle, people-loving, and obedient large dog breeds to own. They are eager to please their owners and respond very well to training using positive reinforcement. With pitbull dogs, there is no such thing as a bad dog, but only a bad owner.
