Pit Terrier Mix – Choosing the Right One
The American Pit Bull Terrier (also known as the APBT) is a beautiful, intelligent and loyal dog that makes an excellent pet for most families. Unfortunately, due to the breed’s popularity, it is much harder to find a loving home for one than other dogs. This sad fact contributes greatly to the high cost of adopting a pet from a shelter or animal rescue. If you do decide to adopt a pet, many resources can help you with the cost of caring for your new best friend.
When looking for a family to adopt a pet, ask friends, neighbors, and colleagues if they know of any homes for sale with pit terrier mix owners. It is important to keep in mind that this does not mean that they have adopted all of the dogs. The more contacts you have, the better.
The best way to get a feel for prices is to visit the local animal shelters and rescue centers. Often these centers will have a list of animals that are available for adoption or are close to one that is for sale. The cost of adopting a pet from these locations may be a bit more than if you were to adopt a purebred pit terrier mix from a breeder or other place.
You can also contact the local pound and ask about the cost to adopt a pit.
Oftentimes, the pounds will charge more than $300 for the entire adoption process. Keep in mind that there may be additional costs for spaying or neutering the animal, immunizations, de-worming, and grooming assistance if you have not done these things on your own previously. Also, most places will require that you pay for a home visit by the adopting parents so be prepared.
Not only will the cost to adopt a pet terrier mix be greater than a purebred pit, but also since the mix has such a short life span. Pit dogs live for less than a year and rarely gain much weight during that time. They are also prone to some medical problems including breathing difficulties, heartworm, colds, flatulence, and allergies.
Breeders that adopting pit terriers often do so because the parents are suffering from serious illnesses or cannot care for the dog properly. A lot of the time, these parents get so depressed that they give up the family pet in exchange for a better life.
You must make sure that your prospective adoptions are healthy, have been spayed or neutered, have had all of their shots, and have been checked over by a licensed veterinarian. If you are adopting a pregnant pit terrier mix, you need to make sure that she is put under anesthesia before you bring her home with you. All of these things are important to protect the animal’s health and welfare.
Before you adopt a terrier from a shelter or breeder, make sure that you know the kind of personality that he has.
Not all pit bull terriers are the same and may have different temperaments and personality traits. Temperament traits can also be influenced by the kind of training that the dog has undergone. While all pit bull terriers love to please their owners, some may be more stubborn than others, while others may have more patience than others.
Another thing that you should consider about the temperament of your new pit terrier mix is the amount of playtime that he gets. Many pit bull terriers are used to being used as fighters and so they require a fair amount of training and socialization.
The more socialized a pit puppy is the better suited he will be for life in your home. You also want to make sure that your new puppy is getting proper exercise and stimulation. Exercise is extremely important for the well-being of any breed and is especially critical for the pit terrier mix. Playtime is equally as important for the well-being of any breed, but this is especially true for the terrier mix.
Raising your new mix correctly will help you establish a strong bond between you and your pet.
Remember that everyone has their own personalities and quirks, and your new canine friend is no exception. Be patient with him, don’t push him around, and always remember that he is a breed that requires attention to his needs.
You’ll find that your new puppy will respond very well to your training, and over time you’ll get to know each other. In the end, raising a pit bull terrier mix is a great experience that offers plenty of rewards.
