First time dog owner

First off let me start by saying that I am sorry if I am not posting in the right section, this is my first post. Just about 2 years ago I was given my first dog from a friend's friend who has a yard of APBT and happened to have a litter. I'll post some photos and let me know what you think of her!

http://i.imgur.com/pwE2rAo.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/Dr4vpb0.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/WZyYYB4.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/Q4Y6jYC.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/vouiUqK.jpg?1

She is a crazy one, but very highly trained. She was trained on the e-collar and I believe it's the only method that would work for this dog, given her drive. I have a couple concerns with her going into the future, and this is where I believe this community can help me out. My girlfriend has always had Dobermans and eventually wants to get one, after extensive research on forums I believe it is going to be very hard to handle. She can coexsist with a dog as long as she is supervised 100 percent. She has snapped at many dogs in the past, even from 4 months old.

Do you think its possible to have her living with another dog?

Another concern I have was an isolated incidence. I brought her to the beach for the first time and she loved it. Afterwards my family and I were talking in a gazebo type area where another dog came up to her off leash without an owner in sight. With her past being the way it has been with strange dogs getting in her face, I immediately blocked this dog from getting in her space. I believe this created a lot of tension. As the owner took control of their dog, she proceeded to snap at it as the dog walked by from a far. My brother in law then came up to my dog from behind, not ever meeting my dog before, and my dog lunged at his face and caused a very tiny cut and broke his glasses. I fault myself 100 percent for creating all of the tension and stress on my dog.

I understand this breed is never supposed to show human aggression, but I was wondering if warranting the circumstances, if this is something I need to be concerned with? (she has never shown any human aggression before, other than some moans/growls when being picked up during her sleep).

My final concern is her exercise. I try and do a lot of activities with her throughout the week, but it is hard being in an apartment. I take her to the dog park by me and play Frisbee. I would consider her highly game just based off of her play habits. She will never give up on tug, Frisbee, swimming, or any activity. It is very hard to get her to exhaustion and I feel like that for her she needs this feeling. I was wondering if anyone had any indoor springpole/exercise ideas possible in an apartment?

Sorry for the lengthy post, and once again sorry if this is in the wrong forum

TLDR: Possible to ever own another dog with APBT? Snapping at human issue? Exercise ideas for the breed indoors?

 

Watch her very closely around people, especially children.
Feed her quality food.
Walk the piss out of here.
Tell your girlfriend to get over the Doberman deal.
Keep her secured.

Pit Bull Chat Forum - Home

 

Tugs? Game?... that's not game, that's drive.

 

Thanks for the advice frogs, what do you think of my dog from the pictures

 

Good looking dog for sure. Treat her like family.

 

Although its possible for your dog to get along with another dog I would advise against it due to your lack in knowledge and experience with this type of breed of dog. If you do decide to get another dog my main advice is to never leave them alone together without your supervision.


Snapping at humans should be corrected and not tolerated.


The best exercise for indoors is a treadmill, the same electrical ones made for humans.

 

Thanks for all of the help. Can someone explain to me why people get these dogs other than companionship? Like what is the purpose of having a yard of gamebred pits if they are not your typical house dog?

 

Well, there is no better canine athlete. A lot of people keep these dogs for dog sport, shows and hog hunting, simply because these dogs don't halfass anything. And that's something you definitely can't say about your average dog.

 

Hi Stella, I've seen the pics and she looks great to me.
As you know APBT's have DA and sometimes (rarely) also HA.
If you can't supervised her with other dogs in the house,If that's not always possible, than crate & rotate.
Never let her alone with (small) children.

Exercise with her, many things you can do outside is Biking/joring offroad or urban the same with a kickbike: Urban/Offroad mushing, you can look @ youtube channel.
A treadmill for inside training is a good one, but not the human electric ones.
The best one is a DOG POWERED treadmill, carpetmill.
You can if you (or handy friends) made one yourself:

How To Build a Carpet Mill/Tread Mill For Your Dog! Part 1! - YouTube
Part 2! How To Build a Carpet Mill/Tread Mill For Your Dog! - YouTube

success.......Jim

 

Damn good advice.

 

Can you tell me why a human electric treadmill is not good for working a dog inside the house??? Things that make you go hmmmm LOL

 

Because if you don't keep a constant eye on the dog and aren't able to tell when it's starting to tire it's very easy to over run the dog. Not a good idea for a first time owner

 

Are you speaking from actual hands on experience or are you just saying shit you heard past on from someone else who has no experience either with using one? LOL

 

I have one and have used it a lot. They're also harder to introduce to a dog than a carpet or slatmill, the noise seems to freak them out a lot more at the start.

 

Well if you say you have used one a lot then who am I to doubt you, but from you comment about a first timer not knowing when a dog gets tired on a electric mill just tells me the opposite. Just watch you tube and see all other types of dog breeds using electric treadmills without any problems, heck even Cesar Milan recommend them as he wouldn't recommend something that was deemed dangerous since his program is watched by many people around the world LOL.


You have to remember these are not professional conditioners competing in any type of competition but rather just your every day joe that wants to modestly exercise his dog to keep them happy and healthy.


Harder to introduce is subjective. Harder for who? You? Tom? Dick? Harry? LOL

 

1. Dog cannot regulate it's speed therefore owner has to set it, first time owner most likely won't know how to assess their dogs level of fitness and know what the best speed will be, can set it too high and over run the dog. Also won't be familiar with the warning signs of fatigue. Notice Cesar and all those other guys do not recommend it as a substitute for walking, only for use in fully necessary situations.

2. Dogs I have, took to a carpet mill very quickly and with little fuss. However, they took a lot longer to become comfortable on an electric mill for any length of time. Some dogs may not have any issues with it at all, I merely stated my experience showed that the electric mill required a more involved training process, however I haven't met a dog that can't have it figured out within week.

I'm not knocking it nor do I disagree with anything you have said. Just simply stating my opinion and experience.

 

Also, it's worth stating I started my dogs on the mills as fully grown adults which probably affected my experience. It would be way easier and less stressful to introduce the dog as a pup

 

Why does the average person need to assess there dogs level of fitness? Is there a best speed? Is a certain speed better then another for just basic daily exercises? Once again the average joe including cesar milan are only using it as a substitute for exercise hence why the original poster asked what exercises are good to do in the HOUSE. They are NOT asking about putting there dog in a keep LOL.


There are a lot of dogs of all breeds that have taken to a e-mill very quickly and some don't that is why I say its subjective but its not really a negative or bad thing.


Back to my original question> WHY IS A HUMAN ELECTRIC TREADMILL NOT GOOD FOR WORKING A DOG IN THE HOUSE????????

 

Sorry, I've only ever had working dogs so I don't think like the 'average joe'. I think we got off topic. It's a tool like anything else and use what you're comfortable with. I use one to help keep fitness during winter for hunting, I have no problems with it.