posted 03-07-2003 01:22 PM            

Amazing how there are so many different facts on the pit bull. I do not agree with all, but have to comment on the backing out of a fight issue. I'll use Duke as an example. When another dog gets into a fight with him and my guy is holding the leash...all he has to do is say "drop it" and Duke will obey..no matter how intense; however, Duke will not "drop it" in a situation like that for me. He only gets very much into the fighting mode and literally tries to kill the other dog......it is much better now thanks to trainers and behaviorists, but in the beginning of his fights....he meant buisness.

Goob,
I didn't always walk him with a muzzle as I feel very strongly that my dog should be able to protect himself; however, where I live it does not matter if I have my dog on a leash and the other dog is off leash..because of Duke's breed he would be PTS; therefore, I protect him in the longer run and I now carry mace with me so I can stop that charging lunatic dog and Duke doesn't have to protect himself anymore...I do that

Duke is a funny charachter..it all depends on his mood for the day. Some days he'll see a male Golden and turn his head as though the dog isn't even there...other days it's strait to the end of the leash and it don't matter how many tugs I give on that prong collar....he don't care he just wants to fight. The prong collar has helped me a lot to control him....I swear by it. I have been told it is the lazy way to do it, but this was my last step. I tried all the PR training and behaviorists suggestions and they didn't work...so now on to being physical with him because it seems for his charachter he needs to know I'm physically bigger and stronger in order for him to respect me.

Goob as per Duke's reaction - Body language. When he doesn't like the dog he stares directly at them and will lunge once the other dog makes eye contact. His tail is down at first, then when the dog looks his way Duke's tail flies strait up and he lunges while barking or growling. If he doesn't sense a threat from the other dog he will do his best to sniff the ground and avoid the other dog as best he can. At the end of both encounters (bad or good) duke will always shake his whole body...stress reliefe, I believe.

DOC - So sorry to hear about that situation.
I feel the owner should be held responsible. Those dogs should have been kept in a very secure yard and watched if the dog aggression was that bad. I never leave my dog outside un attended EVER.....tooo many things can happen.

posted 03-07-2003 03:30 PM           

You are correct, but the MAJORITY will when given the chance....I'm not trying to say anything bad about your dogs, either, just trying to make sure that novice owners don't EVER forget what kind of power they have in a pit bull...I'm not suggesting fighting either, but I have a gamebred hot headed animal. I hate dogfighting and have done a lot of work to combat it...Goob knows me, and can attest that I am VERY against it.

posted 03-07-2003 09:07 PM           

The lunging while barking/growling sounds like it's defensive, he probably does feel threatened by the other dog staring him down. The ground sniffing is a calming signal, so he's trying to avoid starting conflict with those dogs for some reason? When you come upon another dog, do you tighten the leash, or leave it loose until the last second, when he's about to lunge anyway?

posted 03-10-2003 01:21 PM            

Goob, thanks for the advise on the prong. It's a very controversial training device and was definatley not my first choice...I went to a lot of effort to try and avoid using it; however, I realize for my dog this is the best way to control him. I would not suggest a novice dog owner to use this collar as it does require a specific technique for maximum performance. I didn't know that they broke easily..never heard anyone say anything about that before, but I like to be safer than sorry so I will double it up...thanks!

Regarding the PB that fight to the death....come on people..we all know each dog is unique in personality and each dog is going to repond according to its instincts...some dogs instincts are to kill others are to flee...all depends on the nature of the dog!

posted 03-10-2003 03:39 PM           

My rescue dogs can be seen at this link...they are all rescues except for one, Lady Red. She's my personal dog that was given to me by an x boyfriend....
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291793197

and my personal dogs are here, with the exception of Cassie, who is a rescue that managed to sneak her pics into this album:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291769413

I alos have a 7 week old blue tha tI recently acquired...haven't decided if I'll keep him yet or not, but I'm sure tempted! I'll post the link to his pics later.

posted 03-12-2003 01:16 PM            

I love this breed soooo much

I met a guy yesterday at the pet store with a new Pit Bull cross APBT...she was all blue with a white diamond on her chest...she was sooo cute...never saw a blue in person before...really neat. I talked to him for a while, and it amazed me how little he knew about the breed. I think he was a drug dealer and didn't really care what I had to say, but I made it a point to inform him about not bringing her to a dog park. Weird how people get a dog without knowing squat about the breed they have just taken home, but he did purchase the Bully magazine and IF he reads it...that will help him a lot.

What would one of you do if you saw a possible drug dealer with a new Bully puppy who wasn;t very interested in learning about his lil dog?

posted 03-12-2003 05:29 PM            

Princess, you are lucky to have those contacts.