Pit bull terrier in a multi-dog house?

Question

My husband and I adopted an APBT puppy last week. He's 6 months old, completely adorable and a real sweetheart. I've always loved the breed despite their (undeserved) negative reputation, and grew up with one who was a wonderful dog. I know APBTs were bred for fighting and have an innate dog aggression, but I know people who have raised several with other dogs without incident, so I naively thought we'd have no problems raising him with our two GSDs. Apparently I was wrong. He's snapped at and/or attacked our female several times, once I unforunately got in the middle of it and received a fairly nasty bite from the little guy. Our female is now spending all her time hiding under the bed in fear. I love the puppy already and it would break my heart to give him back to the rescue, but would that be the best course of action? I've read that dog aggression gets worse around a year old and I don't know if I will be able to trust him with our other two dogs. Any advice is appreciated.

In regards to the pup's history, he was found as a stray a month ago so nothing about him is known before that time. He could have been bred for show, born stray, or anything in between...we have no idea and no way of finding out.

Answer 1

We recently got a second dog and have become attached in a very short time. But honestly it is not fair to your other dog to live in such fear. I understand that there have been successful cases of pitbull terriers but there have also been a lot of unsuccessfull ones regardless of how they are raised. The natural aggressiveness of the breed seems to be affecting your home and although the dog may not be fit for your home, hopefully the rescue shelter can find a home that would be suitable for it. You could give it more time but you are also allowing more time for something worse to happen which could cause the dog to have to be put to sleep so it although it may seem very difficult at this time, it may be best to try to let the puppy find a home that would be more suitable. Good luck ,from a true dog lover!

Answer 2

I commend you for opening your home to a breed with such negative attention focused on them.

I am an APBT owner, I have been for the past 5 years. I can tell you that once dog aggression rears it's head it's there for life. You CAN train you pit bull to be less reactive to other dogs. You CAN'T train out dog aggression completely. Some of the things to start doing is to recognize his "triggers". Usually these include food, special toys, high value treats like rawhide chews or bones, overly rough play that escalates into fighting and your attention. Once you recognize what sets him off you can start to avoid having these things out when he's around.

You can also look up something called Crate&Rotate, get onto BADRAPs website for some more in depth information on multiple dog households and try to find a really good APBT forum. That will give you a support base of people who deal with these things everyday and who are knowledgeable about the breed and it's trials. Some good ones I would suggest are http://www.thepitbull-place.com and http://www.pitbullforum.com

You can get a lot of really good information from these sites. You CAN keep all of your animals, but don't kid yourself that it will be easy. There is a ton of work required to keep a peaceful house. Multiple dog household are trying whatever the breed, it just happens that bully breeds tend to make it more so.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

First off, having all your animals fixed can elimanate certain kinds of aggression, so if that is not done, get it done.
Secondly, the situation can be fixed, but the earlier it is done the better and you don't have time to waste doing it yourself. I would suggest getting a trainer involved that has experience with this. A wrong move on your part could make it worse, so I really would get a professional involved.
For now, keep them separated so that the aggression does not have an opportunity to build until you can find someone to help you.
The little guy needs socialization, obedience training, and you need to learn to give proper corrections and all of these can be taken care of by a good trainer.
Good Luck.

Answer 4

Poor dear. Have you been given any infomation about this dogs past. I don't care if it is a pit bull or a Pomeraian, the first six months of a dogs life contain so many mental milestones. This situation is going to take a heavy hand that you may not possess. The first thing that I would do is to contact te rescue and let them know aht is going on and see if they are willing to be helpful in this situation. This is a real red flag situation to give advice on because of all of the ramifications.
Do let me stress that it is really odd that you got bit by this puppy even thoguh it was after the other dog. One of the sad reasons that pit bull hae been so used and abused as fighters is their overwhelming love for humans and unwillingness to bite one (even in the heat of battle) unless otherwise trained to do so. I am not saying that this puppy has been trained for that but it is obviously from the worst of stock.
Again.... this is going t take an extemely heavy hand and and unwillingness to take so much as an inch of aggression in any form from this dog and again it is alot to ask a novice. Get help. Try the rscue and see if they will help...no promises there. If not... contact your closest "bully" club and I guarantee for the integrety of the breed someone WILL help you.
Do what they say......
~Tyed~

Answer 5

My answer depends in part on if your girl has been spayed or not. If she is sweet and loving and has been spayed, then I think it's worth a try. If she hasn't been spayed, then get her spayed first. The others who say absolutely not, she's a pit bull, don't seem to understand that every dog is different and the owner has significant influence. Learn how to introduce a new dog to her, make sure she's well socialized, and monitor her at all times. I have 6 pit bulls, all littermates, 3 boys and 3 girls. After the girls got spayed they calmed down considerably. You have to get them early otherwise their aggressive personalities, because of the hormones, emerge. Good luck.

Answer 6

We adopted our third dog (black lab) about a year ago and we have a part pit bull also. She tried to attack him at first and my mom also got some nasty bites. For about the first week that had to be seperated until two people got home and could put them both on leashes to keep a safe distance away from eachother but get them close enough to get used to eachother. It may be hard work but it will pay off in the end. Now our two dogs are the best of friends and keep eachother company.

Answer 7

It's not really fair to your other dogs to bring in a new dog who attacks them. You may love the new puppy, but what about your other dogs? They came first. It's their home, first and foremost. Why alienate them?

You can try a behaviorist, but if it doesn't work out, then you'll just end up in the same situation but more attached. Nothing against Pit bulls, as most are lovely and friendly dogs. But this one obviously isn't. And it's not very fair to introduce an aggressive dog of ANY breed into a house where other dogs already peacefully live.

I saw find him a new home or take him back. Your other dogs come first.

Answer 8

i have had a few pits - still have one and an other 1/2 pit. I have had luck walking them with other dogs before putting them together in closed quarters. they get to know the other dog while walking on neutral territory and they don't have as much chance to fight because there are lots of other distractions.

maybe you can keep them separated in the home and try taking them on long walks everyday until they seem to get along better.

i hope this helps.

Answer 9

I assume that he is fixed...if not get that done.
I would not correcting this yourself. he is young so there is hope a good trainer can help you. not only having him completely Obed. trained. but a trainer who understand and works with dogs that have dog aggression. he needs walked and trained daily a couple times a day. and right now i would not have him offleash in the house even. so it seems you will have to put a lot of time in to him. also crate training is useful.

pitties can be great dogs with the right handler.

good luck.

Answer 10

Since you adpoted him I suspect he is already neutered so the next course of action is an animal behaviorist. If from the right person they wont have "that innate" dog aggressiveness. Get a professional trainer and work through his problems you sound like a loving home and he deserves you.