Experience with pit bulls?

I don't hesitate at all to take care of pit bulls, but they do have a reputation and I understand why. I have pit bull type dogs of my own and if I were to ask for someone to sit for me, I would make sure I was very upfront about them and their tendencies because that is just me being a responsible dog owner and I know how people look at them. You want to make sure the owner is being completely honest. One of my dogs is dog aggressive and the other has never growled at any other animal or person at all in her lifetime. Every dog is different, and not just pit bulls, this goes for any dog...they are all unpredictable. It would help to ask the owner if their dog has had any altercations with other animals and people. Are they used to children petting them? Are they aggressive towards strangers? Have they ever growled at the owner? These are important questions to help make your decision. But those are questions you would ask any dog owner, at least I would, regardless of what kind of dog it is. If you are looking for signs of aggression during the meet and greet, look for any stiffness of the tail and gaze. If the tail is stiff and the eyes are locked, back off. Just trust your gut...you would be surprised how many sweet pit bulls there are in this world, good luck!

I'm a traveling sitter (drop-ins, walks) so I don't know if my answer will apply. I also had reservations regarding pit bulls because of their reputation, not because I've ever met one. My very first client (and most repeat/loyal client) has a pit bull and a pit mix (2 dogs) that I absolutely LOVE! Like any dog, each one has their own personality including charms and quirks. Their pet mom was upfront about them (they are both rescues) and told me exactly what commands to use to get them to respond - which I really appreciated. The older (purebred pit bull) doesn't care for other dogs much, but doesn't go out of her way to go near them. She LOVES people though! The younger (pit mix) LOVES everybody, but is very skittish and takes a while to let you near her. I have a different client with a pit bull that is the sweetest and most playful dog while in her own home. On walks she struts her stuff, but does not like other dogs, so I do an about face and avoid any confrontations. I was also told about this during our meet & greet. So far, I've had nothing but good visits with all of these dogs. I think the pit bull reputation has ruined the breed, as the wrong type of owner tends to gravitate toward them. Those (bad) owners aren't the type to use any type of pet sitting services, in my opinion; and probably shouldn't have pets of any kind. With the right owner that properly trains and cares for their dog, regardless of breed, you'll always end up with a good dog! I don't see the harm in doing a meet & greet to interview the dog and owner. That being said, if you are uncomfortable after you meet & greet a pit bull, just follow your gut and say "no thanks".

Although Pits do have a bad reputation, I have boarded multiple pitbulls from different owners and had no trouble with them. They are just like any other breed, and many times it all comes down to how they were raised and how their owners trained them. As for the pitbulls I watched, they were all non barkers, never snapped or bit, listened to commands, and got along with other dogs just fine. The best way to know if you are planning to watch a pitbull, or any other dog for the matter, is to spend time with them during the meet and greet before their stay. If you are watching other dogs or have other dogs during their stay, it's also a good idea to introduce the dogs as well on common ground during the M&G to make sure they get along. It's best to ask the dog owner upfront if the dog has had any tendencies of aggression, tends to have separation anxiety, gets along with people, gets along with other dogs, and etc. It could also be a good idea if you would like to take extra precaution to have a second meet and greet at your home to make sure they are comfortable there as well. If the dog does happen to snap or show signs of stress, they are most likely having separation anxiety or aren't used to their new surroundings. If the dog shows aggression , make sure to give them a lot of space and let them decide when they start to feel comfortable.

I agree strongly with the answers you have already gotten and don't have much to add, but thought I might as well share my most recent pit experience - just finished up a stay with a very, very sweet pit bull female who, prior to her current home was adopted from the Humane Society where it was unclear where exactly she was rescued from, but it was definitely not a great environment. The most challenging part of her stay was just to get her feeling confident -- there were no problems with my resident dogs, no issues with walks, she greeted everyone she could at the Farmer's Market over the weekend very kindly and calmly - but any loud noise, any sudden movements, and she would sink to the floor with anxiety. This was one of my first experiences with the breed, and I was struck by the things people on her walks would say -- "Oh that's a pit -- get that thing away from my yard." I understand completely if you see a dog being actively aggressive, but this was a dog who was simply enjoying a walk in a quiet neighborhood! Never have I ever been told to walk away from someone's yard because of the dog that I was walking, simply because the dog looked "scary" -- and this poor dog was more terrified than the people!

Anyway, rant over, it just made me so upset! This was an overly sweet dog who crawled under the covers in bed with me just to get as close as possible -- not an aggressive stereotype. That being said, none of this really answered your question -- definitely agree with what the others said about screening each dog carefully as no dog is just their breed.

I say no to a number of breeds, pitbulls, rottweilers, and any breed that has been bred for aggressive behavior or hard bite. In fact it's a selling point to my customers, to tell them that is my policy. It's in their genes people.