The Ultimate Guide to Adopting a Pit Bull: What You Need to Know - Petful (2024)

This article was written by Rob Toledo, with contributions from Allison Gray and Kristen Youngs. This article was last reviewed and updated on August 20, 2024

Understanding the True Nature of Pit Bulls

Are you the type of person who looks at a Pit Bull, ignores all the negative press they often unjustifiably receive, and sees a loving and loyal companion? Good for you!

• It seems as if the only stories you ever hear are ones of these lovable dogs attacking, often without any context surrounding the incident.
• While it’s important to acknowledge that these attacks can occur, they are rare, and many are often misunderstood.

The phrase “Pit Bull” covers a variety of breeds, which has led to the unfair practice of lumping all dog attacks under one heading. Additionally, many dogs are incorrectly labeled as Pit Bulls, further contributing to the stigma.

• Pit Bulls make up a significant portion of the dog population, which only amplifies the misconceptions.
• As someone who has spent the past 4 years volunteering at a local animal shelter, I’ve been bitten and nipped by almost every breed—Labrador, Collie, Chihuahua, you name it.

Yet, I have never once felt even remotely threatened by a Pit Bull because most of the time, they are far too busy smothering you with affection.

First in this Petful guide to what you can expect when you’re adopting a Pit Bull, I have compiled 4 helpful tips for those who have fallen in love with a Pit Bull. Then I offer some more in-depth advice on what to expect when you bring your newest family member home.

Tips for Adopting a Pit Bull: What to Expect

You Are Now a Breed Ambassador

When you adopt a Pit Bull, you inevitably become an ambassador for the breed. I occasionally take Pit Bulls out of the shelter for weekend adventures and socialization, and by no small margin, I get the widest spectrum of reactions from people:

• You’ll encounter passionate Pit Bull fans who will gladly talk about how wonderful Pitties are and how they are the most loyal dogs in the world.
• On the other hand, you’ll meet people who are terrified to be within 100 feet of a Pit Bull, believing the dog is a ticking time bomb on a leash.

And then, there’s everyone in the middle. These are the people you’ll find yourself answering a lot of questions from, such as “I thought Pit Bulls were aggressive” or “Aren’t you worried your Pit Bull will attack you?” This is a great opportunity to dispel stereotypes. If your Pit Bull is well-socialized, let them do the work by showing their loving and playful nature firsthand. (For more tips on socializing your Pit Bull, check out this guide.)

Be Careful in Public Dog Parks

No matter how friendly your Pit Bull is, how great they are with other dogs, or how far away you are from any incident, you will likely be blamed if something happens. Public parks, while fun, may not be the best place for your lovable Pit Bull to roam free.

• Pit Bulls are social butterflies, but their enthusiasm might lead them to sniff the wrong dog, which could provoke a negative reaction.
• If a fight breaks out among dogs, public opinion often swings negative toward any Pit Bulls in the area, even if they had little or nothing to do with the incident.

It might be better to find a smaller group of dog owners who are familiar with and appreciative of Pit Bulls for playtime.

You Might Have Fewer Housing Options

If you have pets, you know that finding a pet-friendly apartment is already challenging. If your pet happens to be a Pit Bull or another breed with restrictions, the difficulty increases significantly.

• Many rentals that allow pets still have certain restrictions, including species, weight, and breed.
• Finding a pet-friendly apartment that allows any pet, including Pit Bulls, bulldogs, and German Shepherds, is particularly tough.

(For more information on finding a pet-friendly apartment, read this guide.)

You Are Going to End Up with a Ridiculously Loyal Best Friend

Pit Bulls are common at shelters, more so than almost any other breed. If anyone asked me to define a Pit Bull in one word, it would be “loyal.” No other dog at the shelter is as excited to see you as a Pit Bull.

• Visit your local shelter and meet a few Pit Bulls. If you have any fear or reservations, I promise your opinion will change once you experience their loyalty and affection.
• While your Pit Bull will quickly attach to you, it’s important to socialize them with other people too.

When your Pit Bull sees you being social with another person, they will respond with plenty of licking, tail-wagging, and affection, showing how great these dogs truly are.

Initial Judgments and Lasting Impressions

Hi, Allison Gray here. I’m popping in for a moment to add a few thoughts to this article because I have personal experience with adopting a Pit Bull.

• People often cross the street to avoid my dog Babe. She’s a 40-pound Pit Bull with big, worried eyes and a broad chest. Despite her love for sleeping and snuggling, she’s still a Pit Bull and, to many who have only been exposed to the breed through gruesome headlines, my dog represents danger.
• It’s an everyday experience for many of us who have bully breeds—people pull their children away from Babe, scoop up their small dogs, and eye me warily.

Despite these consistently negative responses, I’ve truly enjoyed changing some minds about Pit Bulls.

• Given the opportunity, Babe is a social butterfly who loves interacting with strangers. She wags her tail and happily accepts petting before trotting away.
• Many encounters that began with nervousness have ended with strangers telling me how lovely and friendly Babe is.

Sure, I’m not going to convince everyone, but these small victories give me hope for all misunderstood bully breeds.

(For more insight into the negative perceptions of Pit Bulls, read the gruesome headlines here. To learn more about misunderstood bully breeds, check out this article here.)

What to Expect From Your New Pit Bull

OK, so now you’re ready to take on the social stigma of adopting a Pit Bull? On to the fun part: what to expect—not from the public, but from your new 4-legged friend—for the first couple of weeks after adoption:

Loyalty

A Pit Bull is going to look to you to be a leader.

• Any Pit will quickly stand by your side if you show confidence and establish that you are in charge. This is why you often hear of Pit Bulls being “advanced” dogs.
• Their intelligence can sometimes be hard to understand because the natural reaction when adopting a dog is to shower them with love.

Pits will turn to you and gauge your reaction in almost any situation before taking any action of their own.

• If they sense you are excited and in a good mood, they will act the same and be ready to play.
• If they feel tension, do not be surprised if they act defensively; they will quickly do anything possible to protect you.

In their eyes, you are the best possible friend, and they would be at your side at all moments if possible.

Determination

If Pitties want something, they will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goal.

• Are they curious and want to explore your neighborhood while you put them out back in the yard? I can guarantee they will find a way to escape and roam around for a while.
• Do they see a squirrel on the trail and want to say hello? Expect a powerful force on the leash.

How about if you leave them at home without anything to keep their mind occupied? Unfortunately, you might come home to some less-than-desirable damages to your favorite couch or pair of shoes.

• In other words, Pit Bulls are very smart dogs and need to be mentally stimulated to keep them from getting into trouble. This is a rewarding trait as it keeps you active along with your new best friend.

And when it’s time to wind down, your Pittie will be curled up comfortably asleep right at your feet. Besides, if a Pittie wants to give you a big kiss, they will stop at nothing to slobber all over you—totally worth it.

Intelligence

I work with countless breeds at our local shelter, and very few pups figure out new tricks as quickly as our Pit Bulls. We even taught one to salute—yes, it was completely adorable and helped him get adopted quickly.

This intelligence is important to note for two reasons:

• One thing I commonly see when training a Pit is that they can get discouraged if they do not understand something. Yelling “Sit!” over and over at a Pit that doesn’t know how to sit will only frustrate them. Start slowly, keep training sessions short, and make sure the treats are plentiful.
• The second thing is that this intelligence must be encouraged. Keeping your Pit active and social, and working on training, especially during their formative years, will give them satisfaction, which will pay off in the long run of ownership.

Sociable

The average Pit Bull is going to want to say hello to everyone and everything.

• We recently adopted out a Pit Bull to a family with cats. She was eager to say hello to the kittens and got her nose smacked by an unwelcoming claw.
• Now, according to her new family, she is terrified of the cats, so they’re slowly working on getting the canines and felines on friendly terms.

When you have guests over, your Pit Bull will be the first to greet them with lots of licks and tail-wagging. Out in public, your Pit Bull will want to say hello to everyone, which, for people less familiar with this friendliness, might be intimidating. So it’s important to be responsible with your introductions.

The truth about Pit Bulls is that you are going to end up with a best friend—one that will never want to leave your side and will do anything to please you. Once you establish that you are going to take care of them, they will completely give their heart to you.

There is no doubt in my mind that responsible people ready to offer Pit Bulls dedicated ownership will be rewarded with several fun, active, and exciting years of companionship.

More Helpful Tips for Adopting a Pit Bull

Here are some final actionable steps to ensure you’re prepared for a new pit companion in your home:

Check Your Local Laws for Breed Bans

Breed-specific legislation (BSL)—restrictions on “aggressive breeds”—are in effect in certain parts of the country.

• Be sure to research your home city ahead of time. The consequences of being poorly prepared could be severe.
• In some places, second-time offenders of the breed ban may have their dog taken from them, with animal control determining the dog’s fate.

Planning on traveling with your dog? Keep in mind that even if you don’t live in areas with a breed ban, you could still be fined—or worse—for transporting your dog through those areas.

• No matter where or how far you’re traveling, plan in advance to avoid any mishaps along the way. (For more information on the consequences of breed bans, check out this report on gruesome incidents.)

Talk to Your Landlord

If you are a renter, make sure your future Pit Bull will be welcomed with open arms. If they aren’t, prepare to convince your landlord why they should be.

• Create a dog resume, set up a meeting with your landlord, or plan to negotiate a larger pet deposit.
• There are several ways to give your dog a better chance of being accepted.

Plan on Lots of Exercise

Pit Bulls are known as high-energy dogs. To keep them healthy and happy, they need exercise.

• If you’re rescuing a Pit Bull, spend at least 30 minutes playing and exercising every day. You don’t always have to take them out for a run or a gut-busting hike, but you do need to set aside at least half an hour for fully engaged activity.
• To mix it up, try tug of war, agility courses, or even Frisbee.

Be Prepared to Rehabilitate (H3)

Many Pit Bulls end up in shelters after being abused, abandoned, or neglected. Each dog will react to their past circ*mstances in their own way, but most will require some form of rehabilitation.

Here are some tips:

• Give your dog their own space at home. Let them know their bed, toys, food, and water bowls are theirs and there to stay. This will help them feel comfortable and safe at home.
• Use positive reinforcement when training. Your Pit Bull won’t respond well to harsh training methods. Always show them love and affection for good behavior. (For tips on positive reinforcement, read this guide.)
• Ease them into new routines and socialization. Never force your Pit into anything that causes obvious discomfort or fear. (For more on helping dogs recover, explore how dogs respond in their own way.)

This adorable pit bull wants to make friends with a flowering plant:

Know How to Stand Up for Your Pit Bull

With so many people misunderstanding this loving breed, you’ll undoubtedly encounter discrimination along the way after you adopt a Pit Bull. You might even experience it with friends, neighbors, and family.

• Breed discrimination can feel deeply offensive and hurtful. Stand up for your Pit Bull in every way you can, but remember that some responses are more effective than others.
• Try to educate or, better yet, show people how sweet Pit Bulls can be—although, typically, their minds are made up regardless of how much your pup tries to smother them with kisses.

If your frustration becomes too much to keep inside, consider volunteering for Pit Bull rights or helping out at a shelter.

• What matters most is that other Pit Bulls out there are receiving the help they need, too. (For more insight into how people misunderstand this loving breed, read about the misconceptions here.)