Friday, April 13, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Emergency dog training tips?!!! please help!?

My family has fallen on some though times and with that being said a family member has been evicted and moving in with me along with her 3 young daughters and their chihuahua until they get their own place which shouldn't be long because she has a job. Just that her eviction is tomorrow and needs somewhere to stay in the mean time. Before I carry along, my question is about my 1 yr old pit bull. He is real sweet heart but he's just too excited for a lot of people's liking. He jumps (a lot) and at 80 pounds that's a very heavy jump. My aunt has a 3 year old daughter I am particularly stressing over. He pulls on the leash very forcefully so I cant take him on long walk and tire him out. Also, even though he is EXTREMELY friendly he is very dominant with other dogs. He doesn't know how to play well with other dogs but he doesn't come at them with bad aggression. My aunt is coming with her chihuahua as well (like i mentioned). I have taken him to dog runs before and i trust him with other dogs, however, i don't trust other dogs with him. A lot of dogs have not taken his forwardness so nicely and the chihuahua is very sweet but snappy! What are some ways I can help my dog?? I would like to know how to correctly train him. I don't want to take him to a shelter because when my aunts gone, so will he and if I had money to room him somewhere, I would. So please no fostering/shelter opinions. I understand this is no overnight remedy. I'm willing to work on it with my family to improve his behavior. Thanks!

Overview of Dog Training



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You need to drain his energy, plain and simple and socialize him more. He will calm down with long walks and lots of exercise. If he pulls, which 90% of pits do because the owners do not know enough to get that under control, you need to get an HALTI. It is not a muzzel, they can fully open their mouth it allows you to control from the head and gives you an advange, their neck is very strong and you will not get the same control with the collar. Every time he rebels because the the HALTI pull up and have him sit until he relaxes then walk again. If he pull to see another dog dont stop and walk forward pulling him. These are two ways for you to show you are the leader and and the boss. Trust me this worked with my 1 yr old HYPER Pit and my 120lb Rotti. If you have a treadmill use that, it will help alot too, its really easy to train. I have trained my 2 Rotti/Cane Corso crosses, my 4 year old lab and 4 month old English Bantam Bulldog. It is really hand for super cold weather or after a walk if they are still not tired. This would be handy for your guy. But stright up, he needs to be walked at LEAST 1 hour a day, at least. After that he will calm down, you also need to let him get used to other dogs and people so he cares less when meeting them. Dog park is always great for that he will get tired out and meet dogs and people all in one shot! Take him for a long walk and time how long it takes for him to calm down each time with visitors, youll see the time gets shorter each time. Lastly Chihuahuas think they are pitbulls. He wont have a problem telling your pit what he thinks. Just be there so your pit doesnt get too excieted and starts pawing at him to play. Like someone said in another reply walk them both for a long time before they meet and then walk them together. Dont stop to let them play make them walk together without any fuss, be determined and dont get fruastrated. Walk them together until they are dead tired. Then bring them to the house together but make sure they are tired. Then have them meet the kids. Teach the kids some commands and how to tell the dog no, this will give them power and the dog will look at them as leaders too. If you dont do anything it will go exactly how you are worried it will, your guy will be excieted and will jump all over everyone and everything. Then he will get locked up in a room while they are there and that is not fair to the dog.

Four Dog Training Tools That You Must Use


  • Your dog must be a mix, because a male PB is 35-60 pounds. I have to wonder why you've allowed such unacceptable behavior, letting your dog jump on people, and allowing him to pull on a leash? I suggest that you contact a trainer and get your dog under control. How about keeping them in separate rooms, or crating them? Should have been properly trained months ago.

  • Have you tried walking the dogs together? - maybe with the family member who is staying? - this can help dogs bond, don't let one walk in front of the other, but next to each other [but no in reaching distance so the other dog doesn't snap] also when you introduce them, if they haven't already, make sure it is on neutral territory [otherwise your dog might get territorial] also keep them both on their leader while introducing them and do a little research on noticing bad body language in dogs, try this site - http://qualityaussies.webs.com/thelangua…
    if you notice any bad behaviors or if one of the dogs looks like it might snap, a tug on the lead will stop it, also you could try shaking a bottle full of stones, the noise distracts the dog [doesn't hurt them] make sure you shake it loud enough.
    if they dogs sniff each other nicely, i recommend using a clicker. click it and give both dogs a treat (you and your aunt to your own dogs)
    this will take time, but it should work.

    and to help with jumping, if he jumps, turn your body away and arms up and shoulder height, with a stern no, this will also take time for your dog to learn not to jump.
    and tell your aunts children when they walk in to ignore the dog, [children can cause dogs to be more hyper, with their squeals when a dog is trying to play with them] and to ignore him until he calms down, then pat him nicely.

    Good luck! - i hope it works!

  • The new dog is small and could be kenneled and managed in the house without to much problem so really that is what I would do first. Your dog can also be kenneled in the house or placed in a bedroom behind a door. Next I would go out and walk the dogs together in a neutral place so they start to bond. I would also if I was you train your own dam dog, you basically are telling the world you have a pit bull that is poorly trained if at all. Look this breed all ready has enough problems and for you to not train one is just so irresponsible.

  • Start with the site below. You should separate the dogs--keep them in different rooms-- if there is any negative behavior.

    Train sit to begin for at least a week before adding another command. Down should be next. You should put your dog on a sit anytime he gets excited around the children and only allow them to be in the same room when they have adult supervision. (This is the only safe way to have young kids and dogs). Good luck.

  • Well, for one thing. Pure-bred apbt's do not get that big. #2. MALE pits make LOUSY house pets just for the reasons you mention. Thats why I always tell people who come on here asking which is better, males or females. Even neutered, the dog aggression does not go away in this breed. (That would be like expecting a pointer to stop pointing after being neutered.) He's only 1 year old which is still considered a pup. And believe me. It's going to get much-much worse. If the chi is an intact male. Its curtains. If you didn't establish yourself as above him in the pack early on when he was small, it will be very difficult now. He may learn to respect you, possibly even obey you. (somewhat.)Depends on his mental stability and his breeding. Good luck, I hope others on here have a more positive out look. But it will take TONS and TONS of training if this dog hasn't gotten too out of control yet. And you can't get that over the internet and without hands on approach.

  • OK, you need to set some ground rules. Its wise to acknowledge a big dog can do more damage than a little dog. And yes, chi's can provoke any dog - that still doesn't make it ok.

    Get a crate. Put it in your kitchen or a well travelled area of the house. Take turns putting each dog in their. Don't use it as a punishment, rather a "secure" place for one dog to observe the other.

    Get both dogs on lead in the house. Jumping can be prevented if the dog is leashed.

    Consider muzzles for both dogs - yes, that is likely not going to go over well.

    I honestly feel you have to be very firm about what they both do. No grey areas.

    Keep all dogs off the couch, and on the floor.

    I have 3 dogs - they have their own beds and they are on-lead in my livingroom because I dont want them playing in my house. In other words, I'm very firm about what they can do.

    With a tiny dog - the risks are greater -so if the Aunt cannot manage her Chi on lead - then agree to have one crated at a time and separate them outdoors.

    In other words, separate them indoors - separate them outdoors - use leashes and crates to manage it.

  • Have you ever watched the show (its me or the dog or dog whisperer) . the problems you have are very common and by changeing simple behaviors you may be able to fix the problems pretty simply. who knows maybe this overlode of people could be the best thing for him . day and night training. but it has to be a team effort tons of praise and hardwork .

    good luck.

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