May 17, 2011
How do you feel about 2 pit bulls in the same household? Am I asking for trouble? Will the pack mentality set in w/ 3 dogs, etc?
Full Question:
Hi Ed.I've emailed you before and I've bought a few of your DVDs. Thanks so much for your continued assistance. Here is my question: "How do you feel about 2 pit bulls in the same household?" From what I have experienced (dog mushing, dog daycare, literature, hands-on experience, etc), as long as dogs receive plenty of exercise, discipline, and routine, they adapt nicely. I currently have a 8.5yr old GSD-mix male and a 3.5 yr old male Pit Bull. They get along GREAT! I'm thinking of expanding the pack. Is this a mistake? I'm a strong alpha leader w/ a good knowledge of dogs and their tendencies. Am I asking for trouble? Will the pack mentality "set in" w/ 3 dogs, etc? Any advice would be apprecitated.
Thanks!
Dave
Ed's Answer:
This can work if you’re willing to make some changes and enforce some basic rules.
Adding a third dog dramatically increases pack drive in dogs. Two dogs are two dogs – three dogs is a dog pack. That's when problems arrive.
If you're blind to the fact that you may have a situation where these dogs can never be out of the crate at the same time – well then odds are it won’t work. The only way things like this work are if people employ sound pack structure training - Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet DVD.
The owners have to establish pack leader rules and enforce them. It involves micro-managing the dogs lives.
With the addition of a pup – that pup should be on leash in the house 100% of the time until its old enough and trained well enough that it can be called back from a high level distraction 100% of the time. The goal of raising the new pup is to become the center of this dogs universe.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
Adding a third dog dramatically increases pack drive in dogs. Two dogs are two dogs – three dogs is a dog pack. That's when problems arrive.
If you're blind to the fact that you may have a situation where these dogs can never be out of the crate at the same time – well then odds are it won’t work. The only way things like this work are if people employ sound pack structure training - Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet DVD.
The owners have to establish pack leader rules and enforce them. It involves micro-managing the dogs lives.
With the addition of a pup – that pup should be on leash in the house 100% of the time until its old enough and trained well enough that it can be called back from a high level distraction 100% of the time. The goal of raising the new pup is to become the center of this dogs universe.
Regards,
Ed Frawley
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