My Clingy Pit Bull

Walt and Syrus - November 7th - 2009


Pit Bulls are a very special breed of dog. They get a very bad rap, which in many cases they do not deserve. This post is not meant to change your opinion on the breed, but to point out a personality quirk of my own dog Syrus.

When my wife and I adopted Syrus, we began doing a lot of research on the breed. One of the many things we learned was that Pit Bulls are very loyal to their owners. In fact, I read one opinion piece that I found rather striking. It went on to say that the Pit Bull breed isn’t the type that will pull you from a burning building, instead it will curl up on your lap and stay with you until the bitter end.

It is this personality trait in my dog that is both awesome and annoying at times. You see, Syrus can be extremely clingy. Have you ever had a child climb up in your lap, wrap their arms around your neck and hold on? Its nice right, getting that loving hug from a child. Now have you ever had that same child not know when enough is enough and not let go. The embrace has gone on too long and you just want space, which the child isn’t willing to give.

Syrus can be very much the same way. My wife and I set boundaries for our dog. He is only allowed to freely climb up on one piece of furniture within the living room, and that is an old chair that neither of us use. He may come up on the sofa, but only if invited. Any other time he tries to come on up, we tell him “off” and we do not back down just because he looks cute.

On those occasions where we let him up onto the sofa with us, or sit on the floor, Syrus likes to climb into your lap. At roughly fifty-pounds, he isn’t what I would consider a lap dog. Sitting next to you is not good enough for him and he feels the need to be sitting on you. Next thing he will do, if you allow it, is he will place his head on your shoulder or place it against your face.

Sounds kind of sweet right? It is at first, but it doesn’t take long to get old. Because he is primarily American Pit Bull Terrier, he has a relatively small body size with a lot of muscle structure. The muscles are what make him so heavy and solid. While fifty-pounds may not seem like much, when it drops into your lap in the form of a relatively small frame, it isn’t very comfortable.

The amazing thing is that if you don’t move Syrus from your lap, he will just stay there. It is pure unconditional love from an animal that seems as though he wants nothing more than to just cuddle up with his owners.

The photo at the head of this post was taken on November 7th, 2009. I came home from a long day at work and was checking my blackberry while sitting on the sofa. Syrus was sitting at my feet staring at me, as if waiting for me to tell him to come on up. I told him it was okay and in no time he was on my lap. I reached out and snapped the photo with my phone, which is a pretty good example of how he likes to sit with my wife and I.

Walt

Hi There, My name is Walt White and as the name of this blog suggests, I am a Pennsylvania resident. In addition to having numerous hobbies that I discuss on my blog - I’m also the father of three little girls and a pitbull.

7 thoughts on “My Clingy Pit Bull

  1. My 1-year old chocolate lab is just like that. I was home sick one day with flu-like symptoms, laying on the couch, and my dog didn’t leave me side that entire day. I agree it is annoying at times (like when I’m sitting at the computer and my dog puts her front paws on my leg to stand up and lick me), but I love her even more because of it 🙂

    1. In that situation, Syrus wouldn’t have been happy unless he was laying on my lap while I rested from the flu. Despite him being overly clingy at times, I think it makes him all the more fun to be around on a day to day basis.

  2. I think it is great that he shows that much loyalty and love for his owners! I do agree it would get overbearing at times, but such s the price to pay for unwavering loyalty 🙂

    Mike

    My cat is only about 8 pounds and when she flops in my lap I KNOW she is there, I can just imagine what 50 would feel like =)

    1. Yeah, you definitely know it when Syrus flops down in your lap. Because of him still being fairly young, I don;t think he has a good sense of just how much he weighs, or his strength.

  3. We have 4 basset hounds and they can’t get enough attention. They do the same thing, the one downside is that they drool. Nothing like a little present on your face from man’s best friend.

    1. Syrus doesn’t drool, but he has a thing for licking. If you don’t stop him he would probably lick the skin right of your hand.

  4. My pit Jax is same exact as you described your pit. He has to either sit at my feet , facing outward or literally laying in my lap. If I’m reclined , jax has to be laying next to and his head HAS to be on over my heart, or rested against my neck( my girlfriend has several pics of this cause it’s just so cute lol) if he is sitting on couch with us he HAS to lay on his back – Which I’ve learned is just a pitt thing lol (he is my first Pitt) All in all I love him- can be just a bit DAMN hard headed at times tho . He also won’t let my girlfriend sit next to me(unless I make him stay down ) even if she sits down and tries to hold my hand , he’ll nudge his head in between our hands. Trying to break these habits – and set boundaries – but it feels good knowing he’s got my back .

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