posted 03-05-2003 01:07 PM            

I also make him sit when were going outside...this makes it much easier to put on his leash and muzzle....it used to be me running around the house to catch him...I've changed that. Also, I make him walk with me in a heel the entire time were outside....sometimes I let him out of the heel when he wants to sniff and stuff...but mostly when were walking through the neighborhood he's in a heel.

posted 03-05-2003 03:58 PM           

Do you always muzzle him when you go for walks? This can also cause stress for him, because he'll feel that he can't defend himself, and actually put on a bigger defensive display (again, possibly an attempt to "scare away" the other dog before IT gets him). I can understand your not wanting him to be able to grab another dog (I deal with the same things with mine), and being muzzled may not even play a part in your "problems", but it is something to give a little thought to.

How does he act when he see one of the dogs that he doesn't like? Hackles raised? Tail Up? Tail down? Tail straight out? Does he stare at the dog, or avert his gaze? Growl? Bark? Whine/scream? Shake? Shift back and forth? Lunge? "Rage" at the end of the lead? Does he usually do this in front of you, behind you, or beside you? Will he even take his eyes off the other dog if you say something to him?

Also, have you ever tried walking him with another dog that he's comfortable with? This alone may calm him down some, because he won't feel as if he's the only one who can "save" himself. Especially if the other dog is friendly with (or at least tolerant of) other dogs. It might also calm you down some to have someone with you to keep some of your attention off all the things that could happen. This is definitely not something that will help every dog, so no guarantees .

posted 03-06-2003 05:47 PM           

True, not ALL pit bulls will fight to the death, but if you've got one that won't, you've probably got a cur on your hands. Also, you said that your pit locked on a blue tick hound...I can guarantee you if he locked on one of my dogs one would have left in a body bag....regardless of if you hollered "Drop It". Prey drive and gameness CANNOT be controlled by a simple command...the key is to avoid situations all together by properly supervising and restraining your own animals at all times.

I rescue pits and have seen my fair share of fights between fosters when I first started. The worse EVER involved my hot headed female and a little rescue pup, Portia. Portia started getting too riled during play and I told my roommate to NEVER let them out together if I wasn't home. So, what does she do? Gets trashed one night and lets them out alone in the yard together. The fight that ensued was HORRIFIC. Lady Red was 2 at the time and Portia was 9 months. They went at it for 20 minutes, with my roommate screaming and crying. When I got home, I had to use my breaking stick to get Portia off of Red's neck. When I surveyed the damage, Lady Red had ripped Portia's head wide open.....the gash was at least 6 inches long and I could see her skull. Red had 18 deep puncture wounds, that later abcesssed and required extensive reconstructive surgery.
$1,600 later, both dogs are fine now, but Red could have easily died from her injuries. Portia got adopted shortly after that (thank god!) to a home with no other pets. These dogs were the BEST of friends before this incident. They just clicked on each other one day and that was it.