What to do about an aggressive dog????

Question

I have a 1 year old American bulldog/ pit bull mix.... He is very aggressive and dominant. I have tried training and professional help. He lunged at me this morning and tried to bite me. I have given up.

Answer 1

Your dog is very aggresive and dominant because you allow him to be. I don't know if you possess the capability to train him properly. And if your dog wanted to bite you he would. The lunge was another form of dominance. He could have taken a chunk from your leg if he was interested in drawing blood.

Do you walk the dog? Do you have any household rules you make the dog follow? If you answered "no", start walking the dog now! First thing in the morning, get up and lead him on a long walk. Put the lead on the dog, walk out before him and lead the walk. Don't let the dog go ahead of you. If he charges ahead, pull UP and the lead or stop moving until the dog stops resisting. Then begin again by leading the walk. Repeat this throughout the walk. Make sure you're very observant of your dog's response to other persons and animals while walking. You might find it necessary to correct him at those times as well. Do you have the strength to restrain him should he lunge at another person or animal? If you're even unsure, seek professional help.

After the walk, make sure when you return home and walk in first. That includes any entry way like the yard or the house. Continue to lead your dog in every aspect of his life inside and outside your home. Feed him when you want, pet him when you want and maintain the rules. Make sure everyone else is the house also follows the same guidelines for your dog. If this is not done, the dog can get confused about the do's and don'ts. Think of it this way when dealing with your dog. Always ask yourself two questions: Is what my dog doing now acceptable to me and am I providing my dog with proper direction?

And if you choose to ignore all I've said above, atleast take this piece of advice. Never put the dog down.

Answer 2

You might consider finding it a home with someone who is experienced in more aggressive breeds.

That being said, dogs need an "alpha" figure in their "pack". The fact that your dog is being aggressive and dominant means that you are not fulfilling that role and he believes he is the alpha. If you want to rescue the relationship you must establish that you are the top dog. This does *not* mean beating the puppy into submission. It does, however, mean not tolerating aggression. One of the best ways I have found is to simply push their head to the ground and hold it there for a few moments any time they start getting a bit too "big for their britches" just to remind them where they sit in the pecking order.

You also need to give clear signals as to what is expected. Reward the desired behavior.

In short, for more aggressive breeds you need to think "military dog". They are not happy unless they have a strong drill Sargent, and in the absence of one they are happy to step up to the plate themselves and fill that role.

If your personality does not allow for you to be dominant (nothing wrong with that....) perhaps you should consider a more docile breed like a golden retriever or a Labrador.

Answer 3

I am very sorry you have this problem. Is he neutered? If he is not that is certainly the next step. It sounds like you have done the right thing by turning to professional help. Maybe your vet can recommend someone that specializes in this type of animal behavior. If you have exhausted this option you may have to make a very difficult decision. You will not be able to adopt out an aggressive animal and if you have given up he may need to be euthanized. I hate the prospect of this option and would only do this as a last resort. However, you can not run the risk of this dog hurting you or someone else.

Answer 4

I am so sad for you and your dog.

This is the *exact* reason it is not good to have an Am bulldog bred to anything other than its own breed. Most will cull the litter at birth as it is surely to turn out 1 or 2 in the litter who will be aggressive.

I see 2 options for you: giving him away is not one of them

#1. Put him to sleep with love
#2. Check him out in Schutzhund... see if he is trainable and teach him he can only bite a burlap sleeve and nothing else. He may not be so aggressive as he may have all this prey drive built up in him that needs to be released... How much excersising and play do you do with your dog....??? kongs (will need 2) and frizbees are great for them

Good Luck
sew
Handler/Trainer GSD's
http://360.yahoo.com/sewwoodyou

Answer 5

I watch the Dog Whisperer alot. This is a common problem with this breed. They are strong dogs that are designed to control bulls! If you could watch the show it would really help. He always suggests exercise. Keep him on a leash and make him walk behind you. You need to show him that you are the pack leader. Don't hit him but say "no" and tap his side with bad behavior.Maybe put him in a small pen when he gets out of control.Everything you do show him that you are in charge. When he is good-pet him but don't baby him too much either-then he thinks he owns you when you are with others. Please watch the show. He may even have a website. He works miracles with just exercise,discipline and some affection. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you have children, then you need to git rid of him ASAP.

There are a couple of things that could be causing his agression.

Have your vet check his eyesight. When dogs start to lose thier vision, they can start to snap when you reach for them because to them your hand is coming out of nowhere and will startle them.

Other things, like a collar that is too tight or loud noises can make a dog edgy.

When you took the dog to the trainers, did he improve at all? What did they have to say about him?

Until you decide what to do with him, you do need to make sure he is behind a sturdy fence and not around other people.

Answer 7

That's a tough one. Considering the breed and that it's already showing dominant trates, most areas would require it to be put down, sadly. If training isn't helping, I'm not sure what to tell you. Has the dog had his distemperment shots as well? That is the only other thing I can think of. Good luck.

Answer 8

Better not give up, find a professional trainer before he lunges and bites someone. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of others when you own a pet especially an aggressive and strong pet.

Answer 9

no matter how much u train him and train him and train him, that type of dog (as well as rotties and other bulldogs) r just naturally agressive so its just going 2 keep being aggressive; even if u train it not 2, it will slowly just get back into the habit of being agressive
the best u could do is just put a muzzle on him when u walk him and hope that he cant break off his leash

Answer 10

in the beginning I might desire to sparkling up the certainty which you look it fairly is merely 'bull' breeds that are canines aggressive and attack instruction manual/assistant canines nicely of course darling you haven't any longer been out the abode in a on an analogous time as because of the fact its on no account merely bull breeds that are aggressive (have you ever researched golden retriever assaults?). I even have 8 canines (2 of them take place to be Staffordshire BULL Terriers and 2 are Staffordshire BULL Terrier crosses) I even have under no circumstances had a issue with them being canines/human or animal aggressive so please do no longer plaster the entire breed purple merely because of the fact some have canines aggression. people who've canines aggressive canines might desire to take the superb precautions at the same time with muzzling, huge coaching and records of a thank you to handel their canines, they might desire to additionally carry around a ruin carry on with them so they might minimise any assaults if the canines manages to get lose out of the muzzle. some human beings definitely do no longer comprehend their canines is aggressive, what in the event that they have merely rescued it from the pound and the canines replaced into assessed yet they did no longer discover any aggression then the canines replaced into re homed and without warning grew to grow to be aggressive? asserting 'oh my canines is merely canines aggressive' is a suitable style of behaviour, what do you assume human beings to do? rattling their canines to hell because of the fact they take place to unlike different canines? abuse them, kill them abandon them WHAT? i could fairly shop a canines aggressive canines than it fairly is euthanized. certainly you are able to besides in case you the place a canines lover? i think of confident its the proprietors fault at cases yet no longer continually in case you recognize for particular your canines is canines aggressive then particular take the protection measures yet once you do no longer comprehend then there is not any thank you to ward off what is going to take place! each and every canines bites no longer purely bully breeds so i think of you will possibly desire to do no longer forget that next time you opt for a rant like this!!! in case you study right into a real bully breed you will comprehend that if socialised (the comparable as ANY canines) they are going to be sturdy with different animals.