Lab/Pit Mix

A friend of mine has some lab/pit mix puppies that she is looking to get rid of. I really want a dog and me and my younger brother have almost convinced my dad to let us get one if we help take care of it. We really want a lab but I love how these lab/pit mix puppies look. I am just a bit concerned with the background of pits(and forgive me if I am completely wrong on this guy and gals, I am new to pits and dogs and do not know much about them). I have a lot of children in my neighbor hood and I do not want them to get bit. And one day when I decide to get married and have kids I do not want them to get bit. Anyone with this type mix or a pit bull let me know what you think. Is this ok, since I can train it from a young age? Or should I look at getting a full lab, since pits have a tough background? I just want a fun, good looking dog that is friendly and will be fun to have around!

 

if trained correctly any dog could be a good family dog

 

excersize and spend time with it. crate train it. itll be a good dog if treated right.post pics.

 

I hope so, if my dad gives us the go ahead I plan to train it a lot. I have never trained one before but I really look forward to it! My dad loves animals, but after our last dog died of cancer a few months ago, he is timid about getting another. Especially since my brother was so attached!

 

What is crate training mean?

 

Train them to sleep in a crate, and have down time in it, it is good for a dog puppy to know their boundaries

 

Pit/Lab Mix....she's a hellian... I blame the lab half.

The brown dog in the back is a Pit/Hound mix...she is a perfect dog, i couldn't ask for a better dog. She is actually a interview dog at a local doggy daycare.

 

Crate training is the best way to train your dog. They may not like it at first but they will get used to it. It will become their "den". Dogs don't usually shit in their dens so you won't have to worry about that once they are a little bit older.

My dog responded really well to it. I would be messing around for a few hours and realize I hadn't seen him for awhile. I'd go looking for him in the house and he'd be sleeping in his crate. He is trained to go ino his crate when i say "go to bed". Doesn't matter what room I'm in or where I'm at; he'll go to his crate and lay down. Pretty cool.

 

http://dogs.about.com/od/dogtraining/a/crate_training.htm

thats a decent site i guess for the most part.

 

i dont use crates, but thats just me. I have 3 dogs, a rottie-hound, a rottie-german shephard, and we just got a 3 month old pit bull 2 weeks ago. He is a very good dog, all of them are. If you treat them right, and arent teaching them to fight, then you wont have a problem.

There is a difference between a dog intentionally hurting someone, and a dog defending himself from someone. Every creature is made to defend themselves, but its the dogs owners that usually are at fault for making the dogs fight and be more aggresive.

 

Both of mine are crate trained, only the lab mix uses one though. Brown dog can stay out without supervision.

 

Socialize them young! Get them out around people and other dogs. They get used to it and learn what flies and what not to do from the other dogs they play with. If you start with training young, it'll be a great dog. Don't get hung up on the breed with a puppy, pits are awesome dogs with a bad reputation because of the people who raised them to fight. They're a very strong dog so if they're taught to fight, they usually win. All the pits around me have been properly trained and come from great homes and are absolute sweethearts. They're like big teddy bears, haha.

Look into something like a puppy kindergarten training class. It's just as much for you as it is the dog. It gets them socialized and the trainer will teach you how to train your dog.

 

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I know a lot of guys with pits, and they are my favorite dogs. One day soon I will definitely be looking into getting a pup.

 

me and the girlfriend have 2 pits and as long as they are raised right and not abused they are great dogs, my neices play with them all the time and they are never rough or snappy with anybody. like pugga said they are just big teddy bears..

 

I know a lot of people will call me an idiot but I do not trust Pit Bulls I don't care if the owners say the dog is as calm as a lamb I don't want to be around them and If I had a small child I certainly wouldn't be even close to one. I have just heard too many stories about them.

 

there are pits like that, especially around here. now i am not racist at all in any way but most of the black guys around here think its cool to fight dogs and they feed them gun powder to make them stupid and mean, most people get the steriotype that all pits are mean as hell from that. one of my pits has her ears clipped and her talk bobbed off. and she is the sweetest thing you could ever meet. she looks mean as hell and barks like she will rip your legs off if she dont know you, but she is 6 years old and has never ever bitten anybody. people label them from what they hear on the news. somebody can do good their entire life but if 1 bad thing is heard thats all that everybody pays attention too.

 

Bad dogs have bad owners. You should be fine if put in the correct training.

 

Ive got a pitt bull / american bully dog mix hes 70 pounds. Ive also got a pitbull / staffordshire terrier mix and she is 60 pounds. Then there is my 7.5 pound pomeranian. We have had them all since they were puppies and rasied them in the same house with the same rules and have them all crate trained so we can lock them up when we go out so they dont chew stuff up (they are puppies and all puppies chew). Mark my words the Pomeranian is the meanest and tuffest puppy of the group.

And to the people who dont trust pits cause of there reputation. well people kill people everyday. So should we all assume everyones a killer and not trust anyone.

Dogs are how you raise them. with proper training and attention. as long as you do not neglect and abuse them they wil be fine.

Think about it to the people who fight dogs they chain them up in back yards feed them horrible diets abuse them neglect them supposedly feed them raw meat and gun powder to make them mean. I would want to be killing people to.

Search the web there is a confimed case of an attack Pomeranian who killed a baby as well but no one hears about that because its all the negitive properganda against pit bulls that make them seem to be such bad pets but ask anyone who has one and they will tell you they are a very loyal trustworthy dog. Its also nice to have the intimidation factor as well.

 

I just want a fun, good looking dog that is friendly and will be fun to have around!

here's my mutt -a GSP..german shorthaired Pointer

 

It all comes down to education and personal experiences. I got bit by a German Shepard when I was a kid and still don't trust them today. I know they are great dogs and I'm not afraid of them, I just keep my eye on them when they're around. As far as education, the more you know about the breed and how to handle them, the more prepared you'll be. Certain breeds are just plain harder to deal with, they're stubborn, independent and require a more experienced owner. Do your homework before you get a dog and make sure you're getting the right dog!

Personally, I've got a lab. They're awesome dogs, incredibly smart and aim to please. You don't have to be the best trainer, they kind of meet you half way and figure out what you want them to do. He's great around kids, I have a lot of little cousins that are under 10 and he's very gentle around them. OP, good luck with your search for a dog!