newbie

Just saying hello.Looking to add an APBT to our family.Already have a Dutch shepherd,who came home with us from Amsterdam and a lovely mongrel boy we took in two weeks ago.I've always wanted  an APBT and I know that one will fit in our family perfectly.I would want a pup as I have a 8 month old son and I'd like to train and socialise the dog myself from a young age.I've had dogs all my life so experience and the kniw how in how to treat dogs is not an issue.I'm from Limerick city and my name is Pacanto.Hope to get to know people on this forum!

Its a rare APBT that can be kept with another dog... you will be luck if you find one... better getting a Staff bull terrier or American Stafford...

 

Thanks for the advice.I'm a sucker for Amstaffs too.Problem is finding a responsible breeder.I want a dog bred for being a pet,not a status symbol,if you know what I mean.
Why are the APBT so hard to keep with other dogs?Surely if I get one at 8 weeks of age I can shape it and train it to be a social receptive well trained and well mannered member of the pack?

do a bit more research on the breed and it will become pretty apparent why they cant usually be kept with other dogs no matter how well you train them

They were bred for combat (to enjoy it and think independantly) not to be part of a pack and the majority today retain this instinct. And hence they can never be trusted not to fight when they become adult's especially not when unsupervised.

I'm sorry but I simply don't agree that one breed of dog cannot be kept with another.That is just nonsense.Proper training and socialisation ensures that any breed can fit in with any pack.

please dont get an apbt then if this is your attitude..the breed has been bred for well over a hundred years for dog fighting do you think you would train and socialise a greyhound to not chase a rabbit or hare if it saw one..even some staffys and amstaff show the fire in there belly on occasions...

In seen putbulls that get on fine with other dogs but the majority jus want a scrap ye hav to accept that if you want to own one these dogs otherwise stick wit breed you know these aren't a dog for everyone.i think you watch a bit to much ceaser Milan ha

pacanto wrote:

I'm sorry but I simply don't agree that one breed of dog cannot be kept with another.That is just nonsense.Proper training and socialisation ensures that any breed can fit in with any pack.

you are ignoring good advice from people who have had this breed for a long time ,

[quote="pacanto"]I'm sorry but I simply don't agree that one breed of dog cannot be kept with another.That is just nonsense.Proper training and socialisation ensures that any breed can fit in with any pack.[/quote]

Have you reared a APBT..? buy a Amstaff or SBT...they are same as  APBTs that for near 100 years now are bred to be pets and family ,show dogs and they can in most cases get on with other dogs.... APBTs are a fighting dog ... just like a sheep dog has built in instints to heard sheep, greyhounds to run fast... APBTs have been bred for many hundred years for blood sports...its near impossible to have them with other dogs unless you have them kenneled seperate

Listen to the advise your getting...ive 3 dogs.. one is a male apbt and he is 3 now..in the last year he has been seperated from the other 2 because fights started to happen..now there is no problem..he was raised from 7 weeks old with the other 2...its in them and no socialising will take it out..

pacanto wrote:

I'm sorry but I simply don't agree that one breed of dog cannot be kept with another.That is just nonsense.Proper training and
socialisation ensures that any breed can fit in with any pack.

Proper training and socialisation cannot ensure instinct won't come to the surface. Sadly I know of to many incidemt's (I don't call them accident's) which resulted in death or at worse very serious injury, all because well meaning ignorant stupid people thought these dog's are like other dog's and can be raised as part of a pack.
These dog's can be raised alongside other dog's but not as part of the pack since they have to be kept seperate when you leave them alone. If your not prepared or willing to go that extra mile then these aint the dog for you.

 

I appreciate all advice i get.Especially from those with plenty of experience.Understand,I want this dog as a pet and as part of our family and pack and if an Amstaff is the way to go so be it.
I refuse to listen to those who try and tell me a pitbull or any other breed will bite or be aggressive because they were bred that way.In my opinion,that is sheer nonsense.

well then steer clear of a apbt there not for you

Why not?Are they the devil dogs they are made out to be?You're telling me that an APBT can in no possible way become part of a family?

no, my dog is lying on the floor beside me as i write , they are not human agressive but all the training in the world will not stop them when they get a chance and decide they want to fight another dog, making sure they dont get the chance is where responsible owners enter into it

That surely cannot be the way with every APBT!

they are great dogs with people one of he most loving breeds and intelligent.but they where bred for a specific reason same as all other dogs and you must never forget that.a terrier will try go to ground without being taught a greyhound will try run down a rabbit without being taught a springer will flush birds without being taught and a apbt will fight a dog without being taught.no ones saying they dont get on at all with other dogs i hav two that i can take out for walks together but they will still try it on with eachother every know and again.ur best bet would b for going for a amstaff they arent as high sprung as a apbt and arent bred to be driven like them

you have never owned one beofore why not just take it from people who have been through it save uself the trips to the vets

You're speaking from experience i presume?If so I take full heed of your advice.My next dog tho is another Dutch Shepherd or a Belgian Malanois.I'm going back to Holland for one.We have a Dutch.Shepherd,amazing intelligent loyal and loving dog.Need to be exercised daily and training is non stop but thr rewards are amazing.Amstaff was never out of the question,neither was an American Bulldog.Any opinion on either breed?

You have a young baby if we were concerned about human aggresion don't you think we would have mentioned it? We didn't because it's extremly rare that the Apbt is HA aggresive when one is it generally get's PTS (no second chances) as this is not an acceptable trait in the breed.

We are concerned that if you do get an Apbt that you understand and are prepared and resposible to do what is right for your other dog's and keep them seperated when left alone. It's to save you and your family the heart break many well meaning people have suffered when they ignored such advice.

Any responsible Amstaff/Staff breeder will advise you to keep em seperated when you go out. Never yet seen any Ambull I'd trust. A friend of mine breed's and train's Belgium shepherd's (all varieties) and he won't sell one to anyone with kid's because of their HA tendancies. I look after them when he goes on holiday. Fact is most breeders of any breed's will advise you to keep no more than two dog's together in case a fight starts and two gang up on the other.

I take ye're point about the APBT and appreciate it.Any opinions on an American Bulldog or an Amstaff?

If I was worried about human aggression I wouldn't bother with any dog in the first place.Ye seem to think I'm some sort of fool who locks his dogs out the back and feeds them a can of pedigree chum once a day.I have years of experience with Dutch Shepherds and Mals.Its not through sheer luck I've kept these for years without any incident.I put hours into my dogs every single day and the results show.I'm here looking for opinions about bull breeds such as theAPBT, the Amstaff and the American bulldog.The only reply I seem to be getting is that they will be aggressive.They won't.I'll make sure of it.