New Pit bull Foster Mom needing advice

[goldenhalo]

Hello,
I am new to the forum and to Pit Bull's and am hoping that I can get some much needed advice. I have a neutered male Pit Bull that is approx. 7-8 months old, who I have been fostering since he was found by a friend at about 3 1/2-4 months old. I have had to quickly educate myself on the breed...checking out many responsible, ethical Pit Bull websites, reading books, magazines...you name it...and Samuel shows all the typical characteristics of the breed(as much as I know of the breed). I have worked ft and pt at a Vet Clinic for 5 yrs and own and run an all-natural pet food store and have fostered dogs and cats in the past...so I am familiar with being a responsible, loving foster home. My husband and I have 3 Golden Retriever's..2 neutered males and 1 spayed female(the female is the Alpha of our home). The female and 1 male are almost 9 yrs and the younger male is 3yrs..all are in excellent health and we also have 8 cats...all of our "kids" live in the house and all get along wonderfully. Samuel has always gotten along with our dogs well..a few scuffles over toys, that we quickly put an end to and he gets along well with our cats and we have greyhound friends that he absolutely ADORES. He sometimes has went with me to work for socializing and has shown alot of aggression with any dog that comes into the store. He has shown to go out of his way to find a dog. Once, he baled off the back fenced porch at my store and jumped into a van after a dog that was crated..thank goodness I grabbed him in time and that the other dog was crated! Yesterday morning, Samuel and our dogs were playing outside(as usual) and he was wanting to play with our female, she did not want to play with him and growled to let him know this(this she has always done before and he would just go off to pester 1 of our other dogs) but this time things seemed to escalate very quickly, so I tried to divert his attention with no results and about the time I yelled for my husband, Samuel jumped at our female. He latched onto the side of her neck and hung on...my husband finally was able to pry his mouth off of her after a few tense moments. Our female went to the Vet for puncture wound treatment. I thought maybe that this was just a "fluke"? and allowed all the dogs together again about 2 hours later and he seemed fine for a while, but then he was walking past our female who was sitting on the floor and out of nowhere he snapped at her face. I had taken him to private aggression classes when I first began fostering him and he did well enough to go onto beginning Obedience. I am wondering if maybe he senses that she is the Alpha and is wanting to take her spot? My husband and I have kept them completely separated since yesterday, but are still giving everyone plenty of attention. My private lesson trainer told me yesterday that if he was going for the throat that he meant to kill and that if he was her dog...she would "put him down" because no matter if he is dog aggressive, he should never go after a female. But, I think that he is just being a typical Pit Bull and that maybe we have just been lucky so far that it had not happened before this? I am not taking much stock in her statement and wanted to get the response of people who actually work and love Pit Bull's on a daily basis.
Thanks for your time
Goldenhalo(Samuel's Foster Mama)

[Suki]

First and foremost, welcome, and I'm very glad you're here inquiring and asking, imo, the right questions.

THE number 1 rule of APBT ownership is, "NEVER, never, EVER trust your APBT NOT to fight.
If you abide by this rule, your days of owning this breed will be far less stressful.
Your male is at that age where his propensity to become dog aggressive can/may/or will be manifested. Look at an APBT's history, and it will all be spelled out for you. One day your dog is fine with other dogs, and the next day he's not. Some, dogs, btw, will not fight, but as an owner, I would never count on this.
Now that you're aware of his "behavior", you need to make a decision if he is now going to fit into your life style or not. Since you have witnessed his actions/capabilities, you now need to choose another way to live with this animal. Whether that be by crating him and then rotating him, getting him set up outside on a good chain set up, or isolating him to a room, whichever way you decide, you must understand that supervision with and around him is now imperritive.
And, no offense, dog aggression is dog aggression, male or female. I don't "buy" your friend's advice about never going after a female.
You've seen his true colors, now you must decide what's best to do, in all scenerios. Expect a possible fight and as a responsible APBT owner, be prepared for it.
just my .02

[RJSilverback]

With all due respect the statement "being a typical pitt bull" chaps my ass.

SOME are animal aggressive, SOME arent. Its your responsility to NOT allow the situation to present itself. I know you have to fnd out that first time, but like I always tell my wife, always assume the worst and prevent it from occuring. I dont let my dogs have an opportunity to fight with dogs they havent proven theyre compatable with.
Its a pain in the butt, some dogs just dont get along with others the way we'd like. PEOPLE are the same way though...

With the number of animals in your family it is curious why its just the female he has trouble with.
It could be a dominance thing. He seems a little young to be showing dominance over an established Alpha, BUT he is of the age to start exhibiting aggression if he going to. JMO

The only thing you can do is keep the two apart, I know that wont be easy in your big family environment...If you cant break this behaviour, it will be an issue always.

Id start with forcing dominance over the young dog. Allowing the female to be present. this may get the message across to him. Remember -your the ultimate Alpha in your pack, reinforce that position often, during feeding , play/exercise and discilpine.
As for "putting him down" per your dog's traianer...put him down instead....at least fire him. he's an ass and doesnt derserve to work with you animalor anyone elses.