I'm still new to owning a dog as an adult in the city since I grew up with mutts in the country. I adopted a 2 year old american staffy / boxer mix from the SPCA about 6 weeks ago. I didn't know what a pit bull was or that he was, in fact, a pit bull. Yes, I should have researched the breed better but I was excited and obviously missed this detail. I'm learning as fast as I can but my general feeling is he's not the dog for me.
I'm not able to meet his exercise needs: I don't jog, I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable biking with him because he's so strong, I don't have a yard, and I live in a tiny apartment. While I can drain his energy with hide and seek, training, and tug of war (I'm recovering from a back injury so tug of war playtime is limited), food dispensing toys, etc: it's not the same as him running or playing fetch. And it sucks not to be able to let him do it.
I'm also concerned about his past. He's DA towards at least 1 of 3 dogs we p$#@! and if not that, he's over excited. He also chases cats. I understand both these characteristics are part of the breed, but I hear of other pit mixes who get along with all other dogs and cats. It makes me wonder about his socialization and breeding, since I really don't know for sure since he's from the SPCA. He's also scared of inanimate objects (e.g. an abandoned stroller on the side walk, a christmas tree outside someone's door, a covered motorbike on the side walk, etc.): he'll growl and timidly approach them. He also growls at strangers at night, rarely, but it does happen. He also growled and lunged at a man who made kissy faces/noises at him just outside our apartment. He growled at my dad too, after my dad sat on couch (the dog was between us). Lastly, I don't know if he's from a reputable breeder or not.
I'm confused about the breed in general. I understand human aggression is not part of the breed and completely unacceptable, but I'm always worried I'm going to miss some subtle sign or something, and he'll bite someone (e.g. protecting me or resource guarding or something). I feel like all the cases in the media could be prevented with responsible and knowledgeable ownership. While I am responsible, I don't feel nearly confident enough in my dog handling ability or knowledge to be a good owner for him.
I guess I'm just looking for support right now and someone to help me understand to the breed better. Right now I feel like I have a dog I have to be extremely careful with at all times, and I've never been more stressed in my life. I feel like him being a pit bull over complicates things (or at least, I do in my mind) and really limits me. I don't know who I can trust to take care of him if I'm ever travelling: if he were a different breed, I'd be far less concerned.
I'm pretty sure re-homing him is the right decision and what I'm going to do, but since there's no real rush (I don't urgently need to give him up, I just don't want to be this stressed out and worried for the next decade of my life), I'll keep him until he finds his forever home.
I'm not able to meet his exercise needs: I don't jog, I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable biking with him because he's so strong, I don't have a yard, and I live in a tiny apartment. While I can drain his energy with hide and seek, training, and tug of war (I'm recovering from a back injury so tug of war playtime is limited), food dispensing toys, etc: it's not the same as him running or playing fetch. And it sucks not to be able to let him do it.
I'm also concerned about his past. He's DA towards at least 1 of 3 dogs we p$#@! and if not that, he's over excited. He also chases cats. I understand both these characteristics are part of the breed, but I hear of other pit mixes who get along with all other dogs and cats. It makes me wonder about his socialization and breeding, since I really don't know for sure since he's from the SPCA. He's also scared of inanimate objects (e.g. an abandoned stroller on the side walk, a christmas tree outside someone's door, a covered motorbike on the side walk, etc.): he'll growl and timidly approach them. He also growls at strangers at night, rarely, but it does happen. He also growled and lunged at a man who made kissy faces/noises at him just outside our apartment. He growled at my dad too, after my dad sat on couch (the dog was between us). Lastly, I don't know if he's from a reputable breeder or not.
I'm confused about the breed in general. I understand human aggression is not part of the breed and completely unacceptable, but I'm always worried I'm going to miss some subtle sign or something, and he'll bite someone (e.g. protecting me or resource guarding or something). I feel like all the cases in the media could be prevented with responsible and knowledgeable ownership. While I am responsible, I don't feel nearly confident enough in my dog handling ability or knowledge to be a good owner for him.
I guess I'm just looking for support right now and someone to help me understand to the breed better. Right now I feel like I have a dog I have to be extremely careful with at all times, and I've never been more stressed in my life. I feel like him being a pit bull over complicates things (or at least, I do in my mind) and really limits me. I don't know who I can trust to take care of him if I'm ever travelling: if he were a different breed, I'd be far less concerned.
I'm pretty sure re-homing him is the right decision and what I'm going to do, but since there's no real rush (I don't urgently need to give him up, I just don't want to be this stressed out and worried for the next decade of my life), I'll keep him until he finds his forever home.
Worried About my Pit Bull Mix
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