Sorry I posted my message in the wrong category..

Hi, I am a person looking for any advice from any experienced person at raising 2 female pitbulls. I also have a palmaranian (female) and a male cat in the house. (I was to have 1 female pitbull only during the week). My daughter's boyfriend had asked my husband and I if we would allow him to keep his dog at our place during the week to help train her because he worked out of town. We agreed. You know it's winter, gets dark early, it will give us something to do and I have a friend that has 2 cats, an old male golden retriever dog, a female jack russle and a male pitbull all in the same house. The pit is very friendly and is scared to death of the jack russle when she's eating. So, my daughter and I went to the pet store that was getting the dogs from a breeder to pick up 1 puppy. When we got there we were the first one's to arrive after the breeder brought them in so we had our pick between 2 females. The one that my daughter picked at first was real loving and seemed to like her when she picked her up. Wide face and pretty well built for a puppy (Crea). The other female (Jama) was being held by the owner and looked very lonely. Her ear is a little messed up (deformed) and small built, like maybe she was the runt of the litter. She looked up with those sad green eyes like please pick me. Well, that's all it took. My daughter and I both love animals, we would have every stray dog if I had the room and could afford to feed them. So at first I wouldn't even go back where the kennels were because I'm a sucker when it comes to animals. Anyways, the owner and my daughter were looking at the puppies and my daughter asked if we could take both of them home. I said no at first until the owner explained the position she was in. (I know your probably thinking that I was taken over the coals by a pet store owner, but apparently it worked). She was telling us that Jama (the smaller pit) was suppose to be purchased that day but was never picked up. So apparently that person didn't want her. She was explaining to me that if anyone gets word that this dog was there that the wrong people would purchase her. That was the first in 2 years that they had pitbulls in their store. They were about 30 or so miles from a town that uses pitbulls to fight. she said that she would give us a good deal and they would do well together and probably be even better in training. Well, there again that just added to my choice of taking her home.
So the training began. They were 8 wks old when we got them. They do pretty well but all they do is chew your hands. They're beginning to learn the word NO and run to the door to go outside. We are crate training them, but there is always someone at the house with them. We have to keep a very close eye on them because already Jama (the small, lonely one) was attacked by our 20 lb neutered male cat that only has his back claws). He just took all he could take with her and pounced her and wouldn't let her up. We ended up taking her to the vet for cat scratch fever. We could've lost her with the infection and high temperature. She stays pretty clear of the cat now until her sister starts picking at him. He usually runs out of the room or jumps on the back of the couch. The puppies can't jump on the furniture yet. Our palmaranian seems like she hates them. Every chance she gets she growls at them. They bark at her alot, but don't get in her space. Crea is very strong. I think she just realized how strong her jaws are. Jama hasn't yet discoverd that as of yet. Jama is hyper and is an instigater. She picks and chews on Crea until Crea turns on her. Crea tries to turn around and use her back end to push Jama away and Jama just goes back for more. Crea warns her several times and then her fight drive kicks in. She flies into Jama with her teeth showing and growling like she's really pissed. This week for the first time Crea locked her jaw on Jama's throat and I had to litterly pry her jaw open to let go. Jama had a few scratches on her neck but nothing serious. I know this will get worse. We are all attached to all of the pets and everyone on the internet you talk with gives a different opinion on they will do OK, maybe they'll be OK, get rid of one, they'll kill each other. I don't know what to think. I really didn't know much until now about pitbulls. I feel bad that they have such a bad reputation. What is the difference between them and any other dog of a different breed? Is there something very different in pitbulls that it's impossible to make pets out of them? I know everyone probably thinks that this was a really stupid thing to get 2 females, and the breed that they are, but what actually makes them different other than they're very strong and known for fighters? You can make any dog mean. Is it in the training that I need to do something special that ordinarly wouldn't be done with another breed or what? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

YES!!! Pit bulls are very different from other dogs (I own one). From your description it sounds like you bought your dogs from a puppy mill that sells to pet stores, which is the worst place to buy a dog-especially a pit bull. Pit bulls have been bred for hundreds of years to fight and kill other dogs/animals, while maintaining a good disposition towards humans (which some unethical breeders are destroying right now). I hope you are prepared to deal with the situation if your pit decides she wants to kill all the animals in the house. Most pits will realize their genetic heritage at anywhere from 8 months to 2 1/2 years (it can happen in an instant) and will NOT be able to be trusted with other pets-including littermates that have been raised together.

Trying to train two puppies at the same time will be an exercise in futility.

I'm really uneasy about this situation, but I think that anything is possible. Probably a miracle will have to happen. I've been researching and talking to breeders on the internet and the person I talked to has bred red nosed pitbulls for 25 years and said from the paperwork that they were well bred puppies. Top of the line pitbulls. I just haven't heard of anyone raising 2 before. I will never leave them out of their crates when I'm not in the same room. I guess my question was is it possible to raise 2 with other animals and have them all get along?Or is it impossible? They play and chase each other just like any other puppies would do, and usually if one gets too rough and yelps the other backs off or if I think their too rough I seperate them. They seem happy and content and they love people. Their tales wag like there's no tomorrow and after you acknowledge that their there at your feet they leave you alone. I think it's probably possible to train them, but I'm just afraid that when they get a little older and more aggressive towards one another they will get majorly hurt and I won't be able to seperate them. Thanks for your response..

they may grow up to be good with your other pets, but the chances are much greater that one day an incident will occur-and pit bulls will fight to the death. I don't know how many stories I've heard about "best buddies" where the pit bull one day killed another animal out of the blue, regardless of how they were raised. It's been genetically hardwired, and can appear suddenly.

I saw an accidental scrap at an animal shelter, believe me, it's not for the faint of heart. I had seen dogs go at it while growing up on a farm, but this was a different league entirely.

I OWN TO DOMINANT MALE PITBULLS.THIS IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BREED OF DOG.PITBULLS ARE HIGHLY TRAINABLE AND VERY INTELLIGENT DOGS,THEY GET ALONE WITH OTHER ANIMALS WHEN INTRODUCED PROPERLY.BOTH OF MY MALES ARE PROTECTION TRAINED PROSPECTS AND GET ALONE QUIT WELL,REMEMBER YOU ARE THE ALPHA YOUR DOGS ARE TO RESPECT YOU YOU SHOULD NOT ALLOW
THEM TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO..AND KEEP IN MIND THIS BREED IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.I HAVE YET TO SEE A DOG AS TOUGH AS THE APT.BULL TERRIER.WHEN IN THE PROPER HANDS HE CAN BE A DOG PAR/EXCELLENCE IN THE WRONG HANDS HE CAN BE AN UPSET TO THE DOG WORLD.

Posts like this make me cringe. How people can routinely get themselves into situations like this scary. This will not work. Raising two pups at the same time is a bad idea for any breed. You are asking for big time trouble if you raise these two pitbulls together. There is probably a zero percent chance of raising two pitbulls together without having problems. The odds of raising two of the same sex without any problems is even lower than that if that were possible!lol. I'm not talking little problems either. you are already seeing the beginning of what will turn into a major nightmare. You are underestimating this breed's genetic make-up, and you need to gain an understanding of pack behavior. Then to top it off, these pups were aquired from a pet store. MAJOR NO NO! This is not a good situation. My suggestion would be to find a home for one of them and work on making the other a good pet. They unfourtunately have a bad reputation and its situations like yours that lead to circumstances that create this image. When bred and raised properly, an APT is a wonderful dog. Spend your dark winter nights obedience training the one you keep!lol. Please, before its too late. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anything is possible. It's possible these dogs will never fight and/or kill each other or the other animals in the house. And it's possible they won't attack any humans in the house. But you might want to read Ed's posts on his web site about how to respond to a dog attacking you, and how to break up a dog fight, and what the consequences might be if you get caught up in the middle of a dog melee. I'm sure I remember reading about all these topics either in his articles or his questions and answers section. Both mostly you have to ask yourself, why are you interested in challenging the genetic realities of these dogs? I have a nephew who loves and breeds pitbulls. I remember his shock when, shortly after he started breeding, he had two good,loving females tear apart, literally, a third female in about two minutes. He still loves and breeds them, but now he respects them, and is a better breeder for that. Whatever you do, good luck.

If I wanted to pull a sled in the klondike Id get huskies, malamute etc, If I wanted to go duck hunting Id get a lab, cheasapeake bay retriever etc, if I wanted a manstopper Id get a GSD, rott , dobe,etc. If I wanted a dog to fight and kill other dogs Id get a pittbull. Why the hell do you want them at all? Do you want to dog fight? Arte they a penis exstension? Do you feel inadequate? If you want to go off road driving would you buy a cadillac? Use your brain, I can't understand why people get breeds of dog which have been bred for a purpose diametricaly opposed to their needs. Its either ego or stupidity, ego because they feel that their dog trainning skills can somehow over ride hundreds of years of selective breeding. Its hard enough to raise and train a good dog why make it harder by starting with unsuitiable raw material?
Now I know all the people who have these dogs will tell you they are fine and there dogs have never shown any untoward behaviour, just dont let your dogs get around small children when they start to squeal and roll around on the floor.

I've got a friend here who has 6 pitties. He has them seperate 24/7 now, a few weeks back he had three together and they were fine so he thought they'd be OK for 10 mintues whilst he went to the butcher to get some bones. He came back and one was dead and the other 2 took a vet house call and a shit load of stiches and money to fix up. Another time 2 pups started fighting and he had to break them up, he got a small bite, a couple of days latter his arm swelled up and turned lots of preety psychadelic colors. He was a week in hospital on a IV and being given what they call agressive antibiotic therapy. In other words they have to pump him full of antibiotics to stop him dieing. Do your self a favour and use these dogs as compost and get a breed more in keeping with your needs.

These dogs will fight. One has already shown aggression towards the other and it is only a matter of time. Instead of spending time to learn how to break up a dog fight, spend that time keeping these dogs apart and find one a home without other dogs! This will stop a fight from happening in the first place. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Welcome back Brendan! Great to hear from you! Just when the board was starting to get a little dry!lol