Congratulations! You’ve decided to become the pet parents of a pitbull puppy! Get ready to welcome one of the most delightful, loving, playful, and loyal four-footed friends ever. Kick-start your relationship from the word go with experts’ right information and guidelines. Prepare well ahead before you bring her or him home. Your 5 month old Pitbull comes unfortunately burdened with a huge amount of unfavorable baggage in terms of myths and misinformation.
The fact that you’ve opted for this breed shows that you and your family have done your own research and homework that flies in the face of the consistently bad press and negative stereotyping that these cute animals have been subjected to over the years.
In spite of this, Pitbulls are banned in several countries or cities. Check with your local authorities whether you’re allowed to keep one before you bring her or him home. Some neighborhoods have unspoken rules about pets or specifically Pitbulls. You will have to ensure that no unpleasant encounters with unfriendly humans or animals could trigger a dangerous incident.
Myths About Pitbulls: Facts to Know Before You Bring Your 5 month old Pitbull Home
Often tagged as a “bully breed” Pitbulls are reputed to be more aggressive than other breeds.
Fact: Aggression cannot be a breed characteristic or personality trait, and is more often the result of the environment. The American Temperament Test Society has conducted extensive national programs to verify this impression.
Though medical costs are higher from pitbull bites, this is because of their physiology and not because of inherent aggression.
Another story that Pitbulls are tagged with is that they have “locking jaws.”
Fact: Strictly speaking, anatomically, there’s no such thing as a “locking jaw.” This is just one of the many misconceptions that have been spread about this breed.
All dogs are capable of doing immense damage when they bite. Pitbulls are of the terrier breed, and they tend to hold their prey and shake it, and this is what causes the most damage. However, your pitbull can be taught not to do this with the right training.
Pitbulls are most often found in shelters, and this means that they’re not preferred as family dogs.
Fact: Pitbulls are the target of unscrupulous breeders, criminals, and unlicensed hybrid creators who abandon them once their work is done.
These dogs have not been properly socialized in shelters, leading to undesirable behaviors.
Caring For A 5 Month Old Pitbull
At 5 months, your puppy would weigh around 25-50lbs. Males are usually heavier, while females weigh a few pounds less.
Feeding: Spend time and effort on researching the puppy’s dietary needs at different stages of growth. Your vet can advise you about the requirements of this large-breed dog to ensure that she/he grows rapidly and gets the right nutrition for growth and strength of joints and bones, the health of coat, and brain growth.
Up to 12 weeks, your puppy needs 4-6 small meals a day consisting of 0.25 – 0.5 cups of food. Your vet can advise you about when to taper this off as the puppy grows.
Also Read: 7 Best Dog Foods For Pitbulls
Exercise: The rule-of-thumb is that your puppy needs 5 minutes of walking every month of age. Don’t overdo the walks, as it could hamper bone strength and development. At this age, free play is ideal, with age-appropriate toys that offer mental stimulation and interest.
As Your 5 Month Old Pitbull Puppy Grows
Grooming: It’s important to wait till your pitbull puppy is at least 6 months old before opting for professional grooming. You can familiarize the puppy with the place and the people earlier so that she/he gets used to things around there, and the first session wouldn’t be as traumatic.
Younger puppies don’t need professional grooming. You can clean them with a damp towel and dry them thoroughly.
Training:
- Read up on training methods, ensure that the whole family is familiar with them and get training aids, treats, and toys ready before you start.
- Approach training from a positive perspective and never punish, yell, hit, or shake in anger and frustration. If you got your puppy from a reputed breeder, they would have already started the process of socialization.
- Connect with a well-experienced, qualified, and reputed trainer.
Firmness and kindness work every time. All you have to remember is to be consistent. Talk to other family members so that they know what your goal is.
Nurturing and Socialization
In addition to care, diet, and exercise, it’s important to make the puppy feel a part of your human family. If you have other dogs, introduce the puppy gradually to them and watch out for bullying or rough play from the older dogs.
Socialization helps instill the loyalty, warmth, and gentleness that Pitbulls can show as they grow older. They are great child-minders and very protective of their human families.
Watch out for excessive aggression and protection behaviors and get the right training to modify these behaviors. You can enroll your puppy in socialization classes that both of you will enjoy.
Make sure that these encounters with new friends are with non-aggressive and calm dogs so that your puppy learns good habits and manners.
She/he should always associate socialization with lots of fun and good times with doggy friends and pet parents.
Give her or him a comfortable, dry, and safe place to rest in. Potty training should start early but at the right time. House training can be stressful and frustrating, but you need to persist with love, attention, and consistency.
Create an appropriate potty training schedule that works for you and the puppy. Experts use several good methods, such as crating or paper training. You can select the one that best matches your unique preferences and needs.
Whatever method you select, ensure that you observe the puppy carefully and learn more about her/his habits and body rhythms.
Don’t overfeed or give too many treats. Avoid feeding at the table and warn your kids about this. House training could take anything from a few days to weeks.
Make sure to spend fun times with your 5 month old baby pitbull. They love toys, and being highly intelligent and curious, they need lots of mental stimulation with age-appropriate aids.
Puppies can be destructive when they’re left alone for too long. If you need to leave them alone, make sure they’re warm, well-fed, and safe in an enclosed pen or a large crate filled with toys.
You don’t want furniture legs, carpets and curtains, footwear and books chewed up. Instead, provide chewy toys and treats to keep those growing teeth busy.
Get your puppy vaccinated according to the schedule given by your vet. The most common shots are against rabies, Lyme’s disease, and the boosters that follow.
Talk to the vet about spaying/neutering your puppy at the right age to prevent unplanned pregnancies. If you plan to have one or two litters, make sure they are planned properly and at the right age.