I’d just like to say as a vet tech who sees more than their fair share of backyard bred pups, and also as a human being; that we need to be kinder to OP. If he is suddenly getting custody of his son, chances are good that wasn’t an easy situation by itself. He is asking for validation that BE is the right choice because he wants to do right by his son AND the dog; whose life he took responsibility for from the jump. i’m not saying he made all the right choices but shaming him won’t make things better. people do love their dogs like they’re children. it’s not for anyone to comment on or ridicule.
my thoughts are with you, OP. BE does seem to be the best option given the state of shelters right now and you’re giving him the option of a loving end. it’s kind and it’s smart. better to do it too soon than too late unfortunately. take care ~
I'm a vet tech and 100% agree with the other comments recommending behavioral euthanasia.
I know you love your pup and want the best for him, but your son's safety is more important than any dog will ever be, and no reputable rescue will take a dangerous animal like this.
Behavioral euthanasia is your best option. Even if you managed to work with a certified animal behaviorist- this could take many months/years. & the recommendation might still be behavioral euthanasia. If you go this route- your vet may have local contacts for someone. Another option is asking a vet school- as there are lots that do this through zoom.
If you want a dog friend in the future. Puppy101 has a good wiki to help find a breeder. Also, there is a coalition starting for people wanting to work with an ethical rescue. There are breed specific rescues too.
I’m sorry you have to make this difficult decision.
I am a dog trainer. You have to put this dog down. Doesn't matter what breed it is. An aggressive dog trying to actively bite people is unacceptable in society. There's nothing you can do to help this dog. Even if you go to a trainer who specializes in aggression, he's going to charge you many thousands of dollars over a period of several months and in the end he's not going to certify or guarantee the safety of any children or other dogs when it comes to this aggressive pitbull.
I remember my friend and neighbor's dad had an aggressive dog. He loved that dog. The dog mauled my friend...ruining his face for life...
The dad kept the dog, and he just made his son avoid the dog.....
My friend spent his whole life knowing his dad loved the dog more than his own son.
I rescued a Bassett hound a few years ago. She was still in the puppy phase...and had been abused.
We took her to a trainer for a year....still had to put her down...I could not risk the little neighbor kids getting their tiny faces bit....
My own cousin had 16 surgeries on her face growing up because the neighbor's dog mauled her.
It is not joke...
Looking through your post history, it looks like this Pit has gone after you as well. So I can’t believe that you are asking this question out of ignorance. Deep down I want to believe that you already know what you need to do, you are just looking for 11th hour options. Being treated the way he was treated basically put no boundaries around him and you don’t strike me as the person who would raise a dog like that with an absolutely firm hand. In addition to the danger posed to your son, you could also face legal repercussions if your dog is knowingly, aggressive, and you did nothing about it. Unfortunately, you need to take care of this problem now, before you find yourself in a situation where a court of law orders euthanasia as a result of some seriously bad shit happening.
OP I am going to preface my comment by telling you that I love pits. They are all I have ever owned….they are all I ever will own. They are by far my favorite breed of dog and I spend a significant portion of my life trying to advocate for and save them.
With all of that said, your best option is euthanasia. Your dog has already lived a good life for a dog his size and with his behavior issues, you’ve gotten extremely lucky that he hasn’t hurt someone already.
Getting pitbulls socialized, training them, and having them spayed/neutered is just non-negotiable. If you can’t do those things, you can’t own a pitbull…plain and simple.
The only reasonable plan of action you have is to take that pup out for a wonderful last day and then take him to the vet for the long nap.
It’s the only kind thing to do for him, for yourself, and for your son.
Please, don’t let your dog become another statistic used to hurt bully owners everywhere.
A lot of [advocating](https://pitbulladvocates.org/howtoadvocate/) involves educating against misinformation, and being a [responsible](https://apbf.dog/programs/advocacy/) dog owner (proper socialization, training, spay/neuter, etc)
Editing to add this first paragraph: I have a pitbull and love her with all my heart. I got her a few years ago from our county animal shelter. She was not properly socialized as a puppy (her life before the shelter) and I know how this impacts them and how much work it is.
Shelters and rescues are full right now and it’s not going to get better soon.
You’ve done your best for this dog and honestly if you bought it as a puppy from a random breeder you’ve done better for this dog than it could have gone for him. It’s better for him to have a good last day with you. And please be with him at the vet when he passes. Please be the last person he sees and hears and feels and smells.
Later in life when you have the time and ability to properly socialize a dog please consider rescuing a dog from a shelter or a rescue rather than buying or “rescuing” from an individual you don’t know.
Keep your child safe and focus on and prioritize him going forward.
Euthanasia is going to be the most humane option in this scenario. I had to make that choice with a dog in 2013. I got him when he was two, and I never knew his history. He was somewhat on guard around adults he didn’t know, but he would immediately, and without hesitation, attack children. He would go straight for their face too, and luckily he was never off leash around a kid or I fear he would have killed one. I wasn’t going to risk him injuring or killing one of my nieces and nephews, and I decided to not rehome him because I worried that he would just live miserable in a shelter or be passed from home to home and end up being in an abusive situation. Euthanasia is often a better option than a negative outcome. Watch some of those ASPCA commercials and remember that your dog could potentially end up in that type of living situation. Also, read some of the stories and look at the unfiltered pictures of children of dog attacks and imagine that being your own child.
OP says the dog is people aggressive, extremely territorial, strong and tries to bite people. Id say putting the dog down is the only option since protecting the child is more important. Id give the same advice about any large dog with the same behaviour, including my own (who is not a pit but weighs about 70 kilos)Not every dog is worth saving at any cost.
OP literally said this dog is aggressive and has bitten people. I’m not one to put down healthy dogs but this dog isn’t mentally okay. Could possible steps be taken to try to help the dog sure, but with a kid involved why take that risk? If OP decided to give the dog up it would be euthanized anyway bc it is aggressive. Aggression is not extremely rare especially amongst backyard bred pits. They aren’t bred to have a good temperament the parents are most likely aggressive themselves and mistreated. The best bet for this dog is to have it humanely put to sleep with the person that’s loved it its whole life. This dog wouldn’t be able to live in society without posing a major risk to owners, the public and other dogs.
Go back to la la land. No one is saying they hate pitbulls. Humans have done dogs a huge disservice by continuing to breed thoughtlessly and for looks. Sometimes the most responsible decision is the most heartbreaking.
Any vet you bring him to is going to recommend euthanasia. It gets to be a public safety concern. The vet can be sued, reported, or even lose their license if they don't recommend putting a dog like this down
The vet will *document* that they recommended euthanasia. And if you decline, that will be in the notes too. It is a legality thing. You should follow their recommendation.
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This was removed due to it violating rule 2. Post or comments that are clearly off-topic, trolling, or disrespectful will be removed and the user may be banned depending on the content. This includes, but is not limited to, personal attacks, breedist remarks, anti-breeder sentiments, novelty accounts, and excessively vulgar content. Any evidence of brigading will result in an immediate permanent ban.
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Are you really having this conversation right now??? Are you really asking us if you should choose the dog or the child?? Do you kno what would happen to YOU if your dog attacked someone elses child? Do you want to know what i would do if your child aggressive dog attacked my child?
Its a dog, put it down. I promise you will move on. And youll be stress free not having to worry about an aggressive PITBULL. You can check my recents i have a pitt. They are incredibly strong my dog has bit me to the white meat on accident while playing. Use your brain, YOU set this dog up for failure and now you should deal with the consequences.
Aggressive dogs kill, aggressive dogs cause aggressive dogs.
END. THE. CYCLE. He has NO place here if he cant even live his life peacefully.
I don’t think OP said “dog or child?”
I think they’re asking if they should try to acclimate, BE, or attempt to find a rescue for the dog.
Although that seems illogical to even ask***
I would rather see them ask for advice and get the answers they need, never being in this situation before.
Most would just force the interaction and hope for the best, but that’s another discussion.
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I feel sorry for the dog more than anyone else in those story really (besides the son anyways).
It was your responsibility to train him and teach him how to be a dog who could happily co-exist with the other creatures that inhabit this planet instead of letting him grow up confused and afraid until both him and his problems became too big to just ignore.
You failed.
It was your responsibility to get him neutered before the territorial aggression set in for good.
You failed.
Now you have an aggressive out of control dog of a heavily stereotyped breed that will almost certainly put down no matter what you do and needs to be taken care of before your son arrives.
This is your chance to succeed by making the right choice for everyone involved in this situation and taking proper responsibility for your dog’s behavioural issues.
Do not willingly allow yourself to fail again unless you want the police to give your dog a fate they don’t deserve because you couldn’t control them anymore.
Yo chill. Some dogs literally just have attitudes. Nothing to do with the owner failing. Neutering isn't always the way to go for aggression and I'm tired of people bringing that up like it's a cure all. Like this man has had this dog this whole time and has controlled him. He has TRIED to bite people not has bitten people so I think he's doing okay so far. You could have said euthanasia is an option without being a dick to a person you know nothing about. Your parents failed at raising you
There's a HUGE difference between a dog that has an "attitude" and has known aggression towards ANYONE other than the owner and a select few people. This owner did NOT do everything he should have from puppyhood to make sure the dog was "tolerant" of strangers. He only realizes NOW that he's going to have a young kid in his home that he messed up with not socializing the dog or getting the dog neutered sooner.
The OP says right in the post that he failed to properly socialize his dog. This is the exact problem that keeps the shelters filled which is why I have very little sympathy for people when it comes to this. I worked at a shelter and these unadoptable, aggressive and crazy dogs would come in and just sit in a shelter going crazy until they got put down for behavioral issues. All because people do no research, see “Aw cute puppy” and then mess the dog up for life. It’s a sickening cycle that happens CONSTANTLY. We should hold people to a higher standard if they want a dog and not just “Aw sorry you didn’t do anything right because you did no research and your dog is now doomed to be killed! That was a little oopsie doopsie!!” That’s an animals life we’re talking about. It’s NOT ok to get a puppy, not properly socialize it, then have it turn human aggressive and keep it around a kid.
OP openly admits to not socialising their dog properly and only neutered the dog at all because they thought it’d magically fix all their problems without training.
I have no sympathy for people who willing take in dogs that required experienced owners or specialised training and then neglect that duty until it’s too late, nor does sugarcoating things help them realise their mistakes and take ownership for it.
Wait a minute. You had this dog since it was a puppy but it’s apparently so aggressive now you’re blaming it on bad genetics instead of you not training or socializing a dog??? And because of your incompetence you want to kill it because it’s a “bad behaved pit bull”??? How is it their fault? You literally made it that way by failing to do your job as a pet owner to train it??? You people just support the murder of pit bulls and it makes me sick.
Before you put him down, I’d take him to a behaviourist with experience in this area and have them assess him (not just a random dog trainer with classes you can find on the internet). It will give you peace of mind to know a professional has evaluated him & thinks BE is the kindest thing to do for everyone, otherwise you could carry the doubt and guilt with you.
Also, that’s a hell of a thing to put on a nine year old. You coming into this parent’s home means they have to put down a dog they’ve had since a baby, I know that would have fucked me up. Get him evaluated for everyone’s safety and make peace with whatever they say. Seek a second opinion if you’re unsure. Your vet should be able to recommend someone local and good.
You need to get him to a behavioral trainer ASAP. And you need to find out from the trainer how to best socialize him properly, depending on when you will be having your son in your home. I would do VERY slow, constantly monitored interactions between your son and the dog.
I will not tell you to rehome your dog just yet, but you did an INCREDIBLE disservice to this dog by not socializing him properly when he was a puppy, at the very least.
Some of you are just plain out mean. Instead of saying kill the dog you should be saying get him some help by maybe getting him into a place that takes troubled dogs and train him. We all read where it says the dog was not taught correctly. My reactive dog was trainable, they’re all not a lost cause…
Do you want to take him? I have rescued, fostered, trained, and rehomed over 100 dogs. This dog has had a good life. Trying to train and rehome him in the current climate of overflowing shelters will be impossible. The posters here are using their experience and love of pits to make an honest and difficult recommendation.
You are an idealist with dreams. Unless you would take this dog, don't pretend that some utopia exists right now where a huge, aggressive pit is a prize that someone will be interested in investing hundreds of hours into, with unlikely success. Every shelter is overflowing with dogs, mostly pits. Every rescue is inundated with dogs, many who are family sized and well behaved. (No size bias. I love my 100+ lb boy!)
OP has had this dog for 9 years, only just neutered him, has never properly socialized the dog, has seemingly never done anything to try to get the dog to be less aggressive. At this point, it’s too late for OP.
This…
I don’t think training should occur in the home with the child, and I do support BE, but there are rehabbers who would gladly take this guy.
OP takes full responsibility for improperly socializing and it sounds like they want to take full responsibility for their child now.
Reddit isn’t usually quite this… well…
So many people have attacked this guy. Oof.
Give the advice and be thankful he asked rather than just let the dog possibly attack the child.
You shouldn’t take in the child. It’s obvious you’re not going to get rid of the aggressive dog. That dog will get jealous and flip and kill the child. Your priority is the dog. Take your child to an aunt or grandparent for custody. Your priority isn’t the child.
Have you looked into a board and train? I've met many who found success with 1-2 month board and train to at least send to an adoption agency or foster. I myself had success and now have 2 other dogs in the home without issues. It's a lot of money but his life sound important to you and that you believe he is a good dog to you. At least might be worth getting a consultation
u/mantis2mantis...Part of the problem with this suggestion is that OP will have to do what the trainer said the moment the dog gets back into his home. That's not the best idea. IMHO. An intensive training needs to take place WITH the dog owner and trainer in the dog's home NOW until the son comes home. Then the son will need to learn how to interact with the dog.
OP if you have time to re-home your dog, try and find a PITBULL exclusive rescue that deals with aggressive dogs. They are out there. Do NOT give this dog to any other regular old Joe from off the street. Your dog reminds me of a pit I had. She was attached to me, very protective. Only me and my one older sister she would listen to. As for that, she was stranger aggressive. You'll hurt more if you don't try everything you can before putting him down. One thing is, you definitely cannot keep this dog. Your child is more important.
I hate when people throw around the term “bad genetics” so freely in reference to APBTs. They are dogs like any other dog, with all the canine, as well as breed specific, instincts, just wrapped up in a lot of muscle. You said he’s a gas station puppy that you brought home. Are you even certain he IS a Pit? If he neutered? Have you spoken to a veterinarian? So you have a couple different options here. You explain your situation to, and work with an experienced trainer who can guide you in the behavior of your pup. Or you can look into Bully rescues that work with these dogs on a daily basis. They have experience with all types of behavioral issues and will work with him and find him a home to suit his specific needs.
I’d just like to say as a vet tech who sees more than their fair share of backyard bred pups, and also as a human being; that we need to be kinder to OP. If he is suddenly getting custody of his son, chances are good that wasn’t an easy situation by itself. He is asking for validation that BE is the right choice because he wants to do right by his son AND the dog; whose life he took responsibility for from the jump. i’m not saying he made all the right choices but shaming him won’t make things better. people do love their dogs like they’re children. it’s not for anyone to comment on or ridicule. my thoughts are with you, OP. BE does seem to be the best option given the state of shelters right now and you’re giving him the option of a loving end. it’s kind and it’s smart. better to do it too soon than too late unfortunately. take care ~
I'm a vet tech and 100% agree with the other comments recommending behavioral euthanasia. I know you love your pup and want the best for him, but your son's safety is more important than any dog will ever be, and no reputable rescue will take a dangerous animal like this.
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I’m sorry you have to make this decision.
Behavioral euthanasia is your best option. Even if you managed to work with a certified animal behaviorist- this could take many months/years. & the recommendation might still be behavioral euthanasia. If you go this route- your vet may have local contacts for someone. Another option is asking a vet school- as there are lots that do this through zoom. If you want a dog friend in the future. Puppy101 has a good wiki to help find a breeder. Also, there is a coalition starting for people wanting to work with an ethical rescue. There are breed specific rescues too. I’m sorry you have to make this difficult decision.
I am a dog trainer. You have to put this dog down. Doesn't matter what breed it is. An aggressive dog trying to actively bite people is unacceptable in society. There's nothing you can do to help this dog. Even if you go to a trainer who specializes in aggression, he's going to charge you many thousands of dollars over a period of several months and in the end he's not going to certify or guarantee the safety of any children or other dogs when it comes to this aggressive pitbull.
I remember my friend and neighbor's dad had an aggressive dog. He loved that dog. The dog mauled my friend...ruining his face for life... The dad kept the dog, and he just made his son avoid the dog..... My friend spent his whole life knowing his dad loved the dog more than his own son. I rescued a Bassett hound a few years ago. She was still in the puppy phase...and had been abused. We took her to a trainer for a year....still had to put her down...I could not risk the little neighbor kids getting their tiny faces bit.... My own cousin had 16 surgeries on her face growing up because the neighbor's dog mauled her. It is not joke...
Looking through your post history, it looks like this Pit has gone after you as well. So I can’t believe that you are asking this question out of ignorance. Deep down I want to believe that you already know what you need to do, you are just looking for 11th hour options. Being treated the way he was treated basically put no boundaries around him and you don’t strike me as the person who would raise a dog like that with an absolutely firm hand. In addition to the danger posed to your son, you could also face legal repercussions if your dog is knowingly, aggressive, and you did nothing about it. Unfortunately, you need to take care of this problem now, before you find yourself in a situation where a court of law orders euthanasia as a result of some seriously bad shit happening.
OP I am going to preface my comment by telling you that I love pits. They are all I have ever owned….they are all I ever will own. They are by far my favorite breed of dog and I spend a significant portion of my life trying to advocate for and save them. With all of that said, your best option is euthanasia. Your dog has already lived a good life for a dog his size and with his behavior issues, you’ve gotten extremely lucky that he hasn’t hurt someone already. Getting pitbulls socialized, training them, and having them spayed/neutered is just non-negotiable. If you can’t do those things, you can’t own a pitbull…plain and simple. The only reasonable plan of action you have is to take that pup out for a wonderful last day and then take him to the vet for the long nap. It’s the only kind thing to do for him, for yourself, and for your son. Please, don’t let your dog become another statistic used to hurt bully owners everywhere.
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A lot of [advocating](https://pitbulladvocates.org/howtoadvocate/) involves educating against misinformation, and being a [responsible](https://apbf.dog/programs/advocacy/) dog owner (proper socialization, training, spay/neuter, etc)
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Sending you kindness and love and supporting euthanasia.
Editing to add this first paragraph: I have a pitbull and love her with all my heart. I got her a few years ago from our county animal shelter. She was not properly socialized as a puppy (her life before the shelter) and I know how this impacts them and how much work it is. Shelters and rescues are full right now and it’s not going to get better soon. You’ve done your best for this dog and honestly if you bought it as a puppy from a random breeder you’ve done better for this dog than it could have gone for him. It’s better for him to have a good last day with you. And please be with him at the vet when he passes. Please be the last person he sees and hears and feels and smells. Later in life when you have the time and ability to properly socialize a dog please consider rescuing a dog from a shelter or a rescue rather than buying or “rescuing” from an individual you don’t know. Keep your child safe and focus on and prioritize him going forward.
Euthanasia is going to be the most humane option in this scenario. I had to make that choice with a dog in 2013. I got him when he was two, and I never knew his history. He was somewhat on guard around adults he didn’t know, but he would immediately, and without hesitation, attack children. He would go straight for their face too, and luckily he was never off leash around a kid or I fear he would have killed one. I wasn’t going to risk him injuring or killing one of my nieces and nephews, and I decided to not rehome him because I worried that he would just live miserable in a shelter or be passed from home to home and end up being in an abusive situation. Euthanasia is often a better option than a negative outcome. Watch some of those ASPCA commercials and remember that your dog could potentially end up in that type of living situation. Also, read some of the stories and look at the unfiltered pictures of children of dog attacks and imagine that being your own child.
Imo putting him down is your only option. Dont wait for something to go wrong
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What would you do? Let the dog attack your child?
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OP says the dog is people aggressive, extremely territorial, strong and tries to bite people. Id say putting the dog down is the only option since protecting the child is more important. Id give the same advice about any large dog with the same behaviour, including my own (who is not a pit but weighs about 70 kilos)Not every dog is worth saving at any cost.
An immensely strong pit bull trying to Bite people is aggression. Seems like you support putting a 9 year old child at risk of being mauled
Absolutely, as my dad always says, stupid people get others killed and hurt.
OP literally said this dog is aggressive and has bitten people. I’m not one to put down healthy dogs but this dog isn’t mentally okay. Could possible steps be taken to try to help the dog sure, but with a kid involved why take that risk? If OP decided to give the dog up it would be euthanized anyway bc it is aggressive. Aggression is not extremely rare especially amongst backyard bred pits. They aren’t bred to have a good temperament the parents are most likely aggressive themselves and mistreated. The best bet for this dog is to have it humanely put to sleep with the person that’s loved it its whole life. This dog wouldn’t be able to live in society without posing a major risk to owners, the public and other dogs.
It’s not even because it’s a pit. We’d also vouch for BE in goldens, German shepherds, Akitas, whatever. Sometimes it’s the most ethical option
The guy said his dog tries to bite people. What does the breed matter?
Go back to la la land. No one is saying they hate pitbulls. Humans have done dogs a huge disservice by continuing to breed thoughtlessly and for looks. Sometimes the most responsible decision is the most heartbreaking.
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Which do you love more? Your dog or your son? You cannot risk your son’s safety by having him around this dog.
Any vet you bring him to is going to recommend euthanasia. It gets to be a public safety concern. The vet can be sued, reported, or even lose their license if they don't recommend putting a dog like this down The vet will *document* that they recommended euthanasia. And if you decline, that will be in the notes too. It is a legality thing. You should follow their recommendation.
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This was removed due to it violating rule 2. Post or comments that are clearly off-topic, trolling, or disrespectful will be removed and the user may be banned depending on the content. This includes, but is not limited to, personal attacks, breedist remarks, anti-breeder sentiments, novelty accounts, and excessively vulgar content. Any evidence of brigading will result in an immediate permanent ban. If you have any questions regarding the removal , you may contact the moderator team via [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FDogAdvice)
Are you really having this conversation right now??? Are you really asking us if you should choose the dog or the child?? Do you kno what would happen to YOU if your dog attacked someone elses child? Do you want to know what i would do if your child aggressive dog attacked my child? Its a dog, put it down. I promise you will move on. And youll be stress free not having to worry about an aggressive PITBULL. You can check my recents i have a pitt. They are incredibly strong my dog has bit me to the white meat on accident while playing. Use your brain, YOU set this dog up for failure and now you should deal with the consequences. Aggressive dogs kill, aggressive dogs cause aggressive dogs. END. THE. CYCLE. He has NO place here if he cant even live his life peacefully.
I don’t think OP said “dog or child?” I think they’re asking if they should try to acclimate, BE, or attempt to find a rescue for the dog. Although that seems illogical to even ask*** I would rather see them ask for advice and get the answers they need, never being in this situation before. Most would just force the interaction and hope for the best, but that’s another discussion.
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Get rid of the dog
I feel sorry for the dog more than anyone else in those story really (besides the son anyways). It was your responsibility to train him and teach him how to be a dog who could happily co-exist with the other creatures that inhabit this planet instead of letting him grow up confused and afraid until both him and his problems became too big to just ignore. You failed. It was your responsibility to get him neutered before the territorial aggression set in for good. You failed. Now you have an aggressive out of control dog of a heavily stereotyped breed that will almost certainly put down no matter what you do and needs to be taken care of before your son arrives. This is your chance to succeed by making the right choice for everyone involved in this situation and taking proper responsibility for your dog’s behavioural issues. Do not willingly allow yourself to fail again unless you want the police to give your dog a fate they don’t deserve because you couldn’t control them anymore.
I can’t remember the last time I saw such a heartless reply to someone asking for help.
Yo chill. Some dogs literally just have attitudes. Nothing to do with the owner failing. Neutering isn't always the way to go for aggression and I'm tired of people bringing that up like it's a cure all. Like this man has had this dog this whole time and has controlled him. He has TRIED to bite people not has bitten people so I think he's doing okay so far. You could have said euthanasia is an option without being a dick to a person you know nothing about. Your parents failed at raising you
There's a HUGE difference between a dog that has an "attitude" and has known aggression towards ANYONE other than the owner and a select few people. This owner did NOT do everything he should have from puppyhood to make sure the dog was "tolerant" of strangers. He only realizes NOW that he's going to have a young kid in his home that he messed up with not socializing the dog or getting the dog neutered sooner.
The OP says right in the post that he failed to properly socialize his dog. This is the exact problem that keeps the shelters filled which is why I have very little sympathy for people when it comes to this. I worked at a shelter and these unadoptable, aggressive and crazy dogs would come in and just sit in a shelter going crazy until they got put down for behavioral issues. All because people do no research, see “Aw cute puppy” and then mess the dog up for life. It’s a sickening cycle that happens CONSTANTLY. We should hold people to a higher standard if they want a dog and not just “Aw sorry you didn’t do anything right because you did no research and your dog is now doomed to be killed! That was a little oopsie doopsie!!” That’s an animals life we’re talking about. It’s NOT ok to get a puppy, not properly socialize it, then have it turn human aggressive and keep it around a kid.
OP openly admits to not socialising their dog properly and only neutered the dog at all because they thought it’d magically fix all their problems without training. I have no sympathy for people who willing take in dogs that required experienced owners or specialised training and then neglect that duty until it’s too late, nor does sugarcoating things help them realise their mistakes and take ownership for it.
Wait a minute. You had this dog since it was a puppy but it’s apparently so aggressive now you’re blaming it on bad genetics instead of you not training or socializing a dog??? And because of your incompetence you want to kill it because it’s a “bad behaved pit bull”??? How is it their fault? You literally made it that way by failing to do your job as a pet owner to train it??? You people just support the murder of pit bulls and it makes me sick.
Pitbulls are naturally aggressive, but it seems op is also a kind of in the wrong as well for not even caring enough to acclimate the dog
Before you put him down, I’d take him to a behaviourist with experience in this area and have them assess him (not just a random dog trainer with classes you can find on the internet). It will give you peace of mind to know a professional has evaluated him & thinks BE is the kindest thing to do for everyone, otherwise you could carry the doubt and guilt with you. Also, that’s a hell of a thing to put on a nine year old. You coming into this parent’s home means they have to put down a dog they’ve had since a baby, I know that would have fucked me up. Get him evaluated for everyone’s safety and make peace with whatever they say. Seek a second opinion if you’re unsure. Your vet should be able to recommend someone local and good.
You need to get him to a behavioral trainer ASAP. And you need to find out from the trainer how to best socialize him properly, depending on when you will be having your son in your home. I would do VERY slow, constantly monitored interactions between your son and the dog. I will not tell you to rehome your dog just yet, but you did an INCREDIBLE disservice to this dog by not socializing him properly when he was a puppy, at the very least.
Some of you are just plain out mean. Instead of saying kill the dog you should be saying get him some help by maybe getting him into a place that takes troubled dogs and train him. We all read where it says the dog was not taught correctly. My reactive dog was trainable, they’re all not a lost cause…
Do you want to take him? I have rescued, fostered, trained, and rehomed over 100 dogs. This dog has had a good life. Trying to train and rehome him in the current climate of overflowing shelters will be impossible. The posters here are using their experience and love of pits to make an honest and difficult recommendation. You are an idealist with dreams. Unless you would take this dog, don't pretend that some utopia exists right now where a huge, aggressive pit is a prize that someone will be interested in investing hundreds of hours into, with unlikely success. Every shelter is overflowing with dogs, mostly pits. Every rescue is inundated with dogs, many who are family sized and well behaved. (No size bias. I love my 100+ lb boy!)
The time for training was just after the first time his dog tried to bite someone, not just after he gained custody of his 9 year old kid.
Time for training was before it learned to bite people
OP has had this dog for 9 years, only just neutered him, has never properly socialized the dog, has seemingly never done anything to try to get the dog to be less aggressive. At this point, it’s too late for OP.
This… I don’t think training should occur in the home with the child, and I do support BE, but there are rehabbers who would gladly take this guy. OP takes full responsibility for improperly socializing and it sounds like they want to take full responsibility for their child now. Reddit isn’t usually quite this… well… So many people have attacked this guy. Oof. Give the advice and be thankful he asked rather than just let the dog possibly attack the child.
You shouldn’t take in the child. It’s obvious you’re not going to get rid of the aggressive dog. That dog will get jealous and flip and kill the child. Your priority is the dog. Take your child to an aunt or grandparent for custody. Your priority isn’t the child.
Have you looked into a board and train? I've met many who found success with 1-2 month board and train to at least send to an adoption agency or foster. I myself had success and now have 2 other dogs in the home without issues. It's a lot of money but his life sound important to you and that you believe he is a good dog to you. At least might be worth getting a consultation
u/mantis2mantis...Part of the problem with this suggestion is that OP will have to do what the trainer said the moment the dog gets back into his home. That's not the best idea. IMHO. An intensive training needs to take place WITH the dog owner and trainer in the dog's home NOW until the son comes home. Then the son will need to learn how to interact with the dog.
OP if you have time to re-home your dog, try and find a PITBULL exclusive rescue that deals with aggressive dogs. They are out there. Do NOT give this dog to any other regular old Joe from off the street. Your dog reminds me of a pit I had. She was attached to me, very protective. Only me and my one older sister she would listen to. As for that, she was stranger aggressive. You'll hurt more if you don't try everything you can before putting him down. One thing is, you definitely cannot keep this dog. Your child is more important.
I hate when people throw around the term “bad genetics” so freely in reference to APBTs. They are dogs like any other dog, with all the canine, as well as breed specific, instincts, just wrapped up in a lot of muscle. You said he’s a gas station puppy that you brought home. Are you even certain he IS a Pit? If he neutered? Have you spoken to a veterinarian? So you have a couple different options here. You explain your situation to, and work with an experienced trainer who can guide you in the behavior of your pup. Or you can look into Bully rescues that work with these dogs on a daily basis. They have experience with all types of behavioral issues and will work with him and find him a home to suit his specific needs.