Working with DA

What do all of you think about the pit bull owners who train their DA pit bull to tolerate other dogs? I see many topics on the subject elsewhere and don't understand why people get so worked up about their DA pit bull. Again, here we have people who can not handle a dog that has DA pumping through their veins and are desperate to seek a way to tone it down.

And as long as I am on the topic, how far should pit bull owners go to rehabilitate a dog that has problems with people? Is it truly doing a service to the breed by keeping a dog that is so dangerous?

 

The only way to handle dog aggression is a leash, chain, or seperation. I don't believe in all that I can train my DA dog to tolerate other dogs. There are different forms of DA you just have to know your dogs and their tolerance level. When you choose to own an american pitbull terrier you accept the fact that dog aggression is in their nature I don't care how severe it is it's an expected trait with these dogs. The only time I would consider these dogs dangerous is if they are human aggressive that is the only time I would put one of mine down. Other than that dog aggression is normal no matter how severe it is.

 

I have never understood why people get themselvs in a tizzy when their pit bull turns out to be DA.

 

Sharon, it's good to see you here! To answer your question, it is a pain in the ass that is why. Isn't it easier owning a dog that remains calm and in control around other dogs? For those people that feel this way they need to find another breed of dog.

 

You can manage DA, but that's about it. And I really don't know why people get worked up about DA. It's a normal trait with this breed. If you can't deal with DA, don't get this breed.

As far as HA, I always say this:

make sure the dog has no health issues, then get a behaviorist and take it from there.

 

Oh hell I have seen it all there was one guy on another forum who claimed he trained his pitbulls so well he could take them all to the dog park off the leash and that he does not believe people should be afraid to take their pitbulls to the dog park just because they are pitbulls :eek::eek::eek:. People just haven't a clue about these dogs:rolleyes:

 

DA is part of the breed. Manage it as far as making sure your dog doesn't latch onto someone else's, but don't try to get your dog to play nice with other dogs.

HA, if it can't be vet fixed or behaviorist fixed, then it's time for the dog to be put to sleep.

 

I agree with the HA thing. If it can't be fixed easily, the dog should be PTS. We can't afford another set of bad headlines. The original pit bull should be resiliant. People blame it on, "the dog was abused, etc.,etc.,etc.,". Well, a properly bred dog can take whatever is dished out and should be able to bounce back with no problems.
I have one right now that doesn't care for strangers. He is 3 years old. Never tried to bite but I don't trust that. I can read his body posture and don't like what I see when he is in public. So, he stays at home.
We socialized the hell out of him from 8 weeks on. Been through basic obedience, has his cgc too. Had a limited show career. Had a problem letting the judges touch him. His OFA exrays came back excellent. But I won't breed him because I think his temperment is genetic. We have his uncle and he is the same way (he's already neutered). Keeping him whole with intentions of trying to weight pull him soon.

 

dog agression can be managed but it also matters how smart the dog is there were many old dogs that would tolerate cold dogs or curs as long as they did not get to worked up but also remember it can happen in a second so i would not recomend letting your dog get used to another persons dog if it is your two dogs that is another story. believe me i am far from an expert but my dog is prety farely calm around other dogs and she will even tolerate them unless they try to dominate. but that is why i keep her away from other dogs the only dog she will let her guard down with is my friends german shepard and she only plays with him for a little then ignores him. these dogs love people and they do not need to be around other dogs to be happy

 

To me it is plain and simple I think HA dogs should be put down. I know it have been said that there were many famous HA dogs but I think with the popularity of the breed and all there irresponible breeding going on right now I would not support it. I also think that if you don't realize that a APBT or bascily anything mixed with an APBT might be aggressive then you should not own one. The first thing that was told to me was never to trust a APBT not to fight. Thats the problem right there is that people get this breed twisted, they want a lil sweet lil poo poo that is going to play and fetch and go to the dog park and watch your lil poo poo play with the other dogs. It doesnt work that way! Most cur or cold dogs could handle the baddest of bad rotties, GSD, Akita or and thing else out there. Seems like to me folks need to wake up and smell the coffee...

 

I personally take a dim view on "rehabbing" human-aggressive or even human-iffy or overly-fearful dogs. For those individual owners who want to go to great lengths to keep their dog, more power to them. I wish them all the best. I don't think that it's of great importance to the breed, however, to save tweaky dogs.

On the subject of DA, it depends on the situation. I don't push my dogs into social interaction with each other once they've shown me their limits. I do expect that they be able to walk by one another on lead, not throw tantrums when one is out and the other is up, and so on. If it's something specific they're fighting over, I remove that trigger and see how things go. All of my dogs have varying degrees of DA, and it's been a learning curve figuring out what triggers what, but we've got a pretty good grasp on everything now. I don't force them outside their comfort zone too often, and they pay me back by not fighting.

When it comes to those situations outside my household, that varies. Priest got a temporary boot from the training club we train at because he lunged at a few dogs. So we're correcting that mess big-time. Obedience, agility, training class, UKC show ring = not the time and place for attitude. At the ADBA shows, I think they pick up on the different environment, and I allow them to act up. In their own yard when a strange dog wanders in, I expect aggression. In fact, it saves me the trouble of running the other dog off. :o

 

The best way to handle DA is to learn how to handle a pitbull in ANY situation. There is nothing like your first experience breaking a pitbull off of another dog. Some dogs are not going to be trained one way or the other with DA. DA is an animal trait. The drive I've seen and experienced in gamebred dogs is an entirely different beast. I have a long story which I don't have time to type but will revist later when I have time.

Regards,

B

 

First of all I am a new poster to this sight. I am a hog hunter and have owned several pits of different bloodlines. I don't think dog aggression is common in all bulldogs. All of our bulldogs have to be around other dogs and have to be trusted. In my personal opinion HA dogs should be culled, just to bad for the breed.

Jeremy

 

It depends what the human aggressions are, is the dog fearful? thats hard to train out, it must be redirected, are there kids in the house or two adults that have the personality and the knowledge to handle an aggressive dog and they put him away when company comes over? even that it's "iffy" in my book, ANY DOG or breed,, it really depends on the aggression and maybe YOUR explantation of aggression is different then MINE.
Some dogs are talkers and a lot of people think the dog is growling at them, that is one explanation.
I would never train or even try to get a bulldog to be "friendly" with other dogs, why? dogs does not need " doggie pals"
I don't believe in doggie parks and playtime.
Many dogs can be therapy dogs, it does not matter the breed, it matters the dog.