Pitbull male?

Question

I have amale pitbull who is 9 months old. He is like one of my kids and he is the sweetest guy. He is very gentle with kids and other pets but latley if i am in the room and someone comes in my house he will growl and bare his teeth. I tried to just tell him no but he will growl until they leave the room or i do and he stays right in front of me. He also does this with my son who is 15 months old but he wont do it with my daughters or my husband. He also does it when i am walking him on the leash and people approach me or my son but again if my husband walks him he will not do it. I wanted to know if anyone knew why he has started this behavior and how i can correct it. I love pitbulls and i want him to be well behaved so he can show people that they really are a good breed with a bad rap but this behavior is not acceptable and i do not know what to do.

He does not growl at my son he growls at people who come near my son

I didnt word the question right and want everyone to know i am not stupid enough to keep a dog that would growl and bare his teeth at my baby. What i was trying to say is that when anyone approachs me or my son he growls at them but he does not growl when people approach my husband or my daughters who are also young 5,6, and 8

Answer 1

Take him to obedience classes, and you have to be in charge. Is he neutered? He's at an age where he testosterone levels are increasing and so is his aggression. Neutering will help some.
This breed can be good, but they were originally bred to fight. That aggression is built inside their genes. This breed is bold and shows no fear. You have to have complete control over him.

I would be very concerned about him growling at your 15month old child. Take him to obedience classes asap! You have a time bomb on your hands.

I see you corrected yourself, I'm glad your sons not being threatened. But you still can't have that behavior. You must go with him to the classed and show him that he has to listen to you. I would hate to see him bite anybody. His aggression towards others isn't good. He could attack someone from what it sounds.

Answer 2

He needs training and he needs it now. As a young male, he is at a point where he is trying to move up in your family "Pack" and he needs to be put in his place, but that doesn't mean hitting. I am not accusing, but just FYI for anyone reading. Training is the key.

You don't say where you live, but look on the web for obedience clubs in your area. The people in the clubs are VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, and will be willing to help. Do this NOW. Do NOT let a minute go by.

Also: a) do not leave him alone with your children and b) get a crate and teach him that the crate is his "Den" and being in the crate is being home.

Also you should read some good dog behavior books, one I can recommend is "how to be your dog's best friend" by the monks of new skete. That book is VERY GOOD.

I have owned a loved a number of wonderful Staffies, and one thing about them is that whatever they do, they tend to keep on doing it, so this behavior needs to be nipped in the bud.

and P.S. to LolaMarigolda - No. This is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER CUTE.

Edit in response to clarification:
I'm glad to hear that he is trying to protect the child (pack puppy in his mind) from what he thinks may be a danger, BUT, he is not qualified to make that decision. I still urge you to find an obeidence club and crate train.

Just FYI, the clubs are very often much cheaper than a professional, and they teach you more. I have had dogs both professionally trained and have gone to the obeidence club. The club is better, and has examinations that can qualify your dog for a CD certificate (companion dog) that some cities require to use public dog parks.

Answer 3

It seems to me with every problem except with your 15 month old son that your dog is very over protective of you. You should try socializing you boy more. If you see no change try a professional. Or is he neutered sometimes neutering will stop aggression. Truefully I can't give you any advice on the baby part I never had a situation like this before. But is he growling at the baby or growling when someone comes near the baby?

Answer 4

I am sure this question will get a lot of attention.

First off the dog is growling and baring his teeth at YOUR child. Unless I read the question wrong I would suggest you contact an animal behaviouralist ASAP and have the dog confined to a crate when you are not activly in control of the dog ex: leash and muzzle. Your child at 15 months old is in direct eye contact with the dog and there for precived as a threat.

I would consider re-homing the dog. I am not sure if his behavour can be trusted around your kids and why risk it. Not to mention others that are in direct danger of this dog. He is preceiving others around you as a threat and can and will eventually attack if not treated ASAP.

I could go into a whole answer about dominace training ect but because you have very small children in the house I won't bother. I am sure I will get a few thumbs down for this answer but honestly, what is more important? The dog or your kids? He is showing ultra aggression at 9months can you imagine him at 2-3yrs of age? You need to have him evaluated by a professional and than go with the recommendation.

I will not keep at dog that shows any aggression without provacation. From what I can understand this dog is doing it unprovoked which makes him unpredictable and dangerous.

I read your correction and still hold true to re-homing the dog. He is still too aggressive for a family with small kids. He needs an experienced owner with the proper knowledge on how best to handle and train him. You have yet to establish pack leader and he is hitting his teen years which makes it awfully hard to establish it now because you two have history.

With small children in the house its an open invation for disaster. People visiting you with small kids the dog can 'defend' your son in a heart beat causing issues you may be unprepared to handle.

If you are dead set on keeping the dog you should consider the following...

Look into liability insurance for the dog as an insurance against possible damages your dog inflicts on others be it personal attack or property attack even dog/dog damages.

Hire a private trainer to come into your home and shadow you for a while. They will evaluate and put together a plan to help re-train both you, your family and the dog to act within a healty pack manner.

Look for a trainer that specializes in these kinds of areas. You want to find one thats right for you. Don't go for the aggressive trainer as this isn't what you want for you and your dog. Dominace training is an actual way of life that re-inforces pack status. Aggressive training will only make his aggression that much more difficult to handle on your own. Pick one that fits your idea of how you'll best act with the dog on your own and family needs.

Have the dog neutered ASAP. Because he is producing homones it may not regress when the dog is fixed. It may not get any worse but that is debatable for some think once agressive it can escalate even neutered.

Crate train! I can't stress that enough. Make sure he is on leash even in the home when you or hubby have direct control on his action. Muzzle him during walks. Some of these may sound harsh but until you get a handle on the problem you need to take strong actions to make sure no one gets hurt in the time it takes you to have him neutered, evaluated and insuranced.

If your gonna own the breed you need to be fully prepared for the worst. I still say for a family of five at the least, is the worng mix for a dog that runs hot like this.

Answer 5

You need to hire a professional who has experience in strong breeds...not one that is prejudiced against pit bulls for any reason! The trainer needs to have an open mind to work with your dog!

Also, you need to scold him for growling. If you let him do it, he may think that it is okay behavior, and keep doing it. Next time he does, scold him in a gentle (but firm!) voice. Do not pet him while he is growling, as this just encourages the behavior (and doesn't calm him down, like many people think). The only time he gets affection is when he allows people to come near you and your son without any tension whatsoever.

How often do you exercise him? Try taking him for a long walk, and tiring him out. If he's tired from the walk, he probably won't care so much about growling.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to make sure your APBT is a role model citizen!

EDIT*
I also agree that the dog needs training immediately...and shouldn't be left unsupervised! The neutering thing is a really good point..I forgot to mention that. Getting him neutered can often help, but I would still focus on training and lots of socialization!

Answer 6

It sounds as if he is feeling as if he is having to be protective over you and the son. Have you enrolled him into obedience classes? If not, do it as quick as yesterday. It would be great if you and your husband could both attend. Training will allow you to bond in a different way, but it will also teach him that you are the one in control who calls the shots. Be sure to enroll in classes with a trainer that uses positive reinforcement techniques...reward the good behavior, ignore the bad. Negative reinforcement has no effect on Pit Bulls and only causes them to fear you...which is not what you want your dog to do. I applaud you for wanting your Bully to set a great example as a breed ambassador, and training will only be a step closer to that! Also, if he is not already neutered...have that done.

Answer 7

He is being protective because he feels you two protect yourselves. while in some ways it is cute; it has the potential to turn into a bigger problem.

The not listening when you tell him to stop shows that he doesn't view you as leader. By not showing this type of behavior with your husband and daughters, he recognizes that he should be submissive to them. As your son matures (and can communicate with the dog), you should take steps to have him give the dog commands while you and your husband stand by to enforce them so that the dog understands that he must be submissive to the child.

I suggest you enroll him in an obedience class where you can be shown the way to take the reins and be the leader. Left unchecked, he has the potential to escalate the behavior and actually bite someone.

These dogs need a certain degree of firmness.

Answer 8

You're in denial about your dog. He's growling and bearing his teeth at your 15 month old son but he's a sweet dog. Uhuh. He's dangerous and needs to be kept away from your son. Even if someone does give you some sound advice on how to deal with this behavior, you're obviously not capable of dealing with this dog.

Get rid of him before you end up at the hospital or in court.

Answer 9

DO NOT LEAVE THIS DOG UNSUPERVISED! Get to a dog training class immediately. Socialization and training are key to having a well rounded safe Pit Bull. This is the first sign of aggression and you are very perceptive! This behavior must be stopped now before it escalates.

Answer 10

he's being protective. telling him no is not enough. dogs communicate in 4 ways: sight, sound, touch and smell. a dog can still function if he's deaf and/or blind, but a dog that can't feel or smell is almost completely cut off from his world. you can't do anything about scent, but you can control him by touch. and i don't mean beating him.

when your dog shows aggression, it is also a form of dominance. he is placing himself at or above your level of authority. either he thinks you need help protecting yourself, or that you can't protect yourself at all. you have to show him that you don't need protection, and that he can't show such behavior without your permission.

when your dog shows aggression, especially while on a walk, give the leash a good yank. it won't hurt him, but it helps show that he is not in charge in any way. it shows that he can't move without you telling him so. another thing you can do is step on his foot. not hard enough to hurt him, but it's also dog language for, "you can't move until i move, so that makes me the one in charge." similarly, give a sharp, loud, yell as you yank on the leash. he can't be dominant if he's scared, right? at home while he's not on a leash is another matter. when a stranger comes in, it will probably be best if you walk in with the stranger. this shows that the newcomer is invited and not invading. also, stand up straight, with your arms kind of puffed out (macho man pose) and advance on your dog. this shows your dominance, and that he is in the wrong for rejecting the newcomer. while doing this, give a clipped, sharp no command.

realize, that 'yelling' at your dog like you would at your child won't work. you don't give a warning "noooo". that won't work. be dominant with a sharp "NO!" visitors might find this amusing and you may look like an idiot but you'll only have to do it a few times before fido figures out what is going on.

good luck!