Melanie
hi we used to have to have 2 APBT males unneautered togeather and believe me it wasnt pretty. Everything was fine until one of them turned 1 years old. the other was already 2. they would fight over anything and everything somethimes for no reason. my husband was always home when this happened so we could break them up. but one day he was at work and i was home by myself and they got into a fight and i couldnt break them up finally tied 1 to a leash and closed the door on the leash and grabbed the other one but of course i couldnt hold him and he went right back after the other one still tied to door. finally got them separated and one of them was missing most of his ear plus the other ones legs were all ripped up. costly trip to the vet for all this. so after this incident when i know i cant handle them at the same time by myself i separated them. i felt bad as they were both my house dogs but i couldnt handle the fights anymore. after this i would never have 2 male pitbulls together. we have a male and female now together and no problems. both are almost 11 years old had since were pups together.

Dogs of any kind can be kept off the furniture VERY effectively with the use of mouse traps!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> This also works very well if you have a counter thief, or a dog that likes to jump on window ledges to see what's going on out there.
The best way to fix any problem is to set it up! Some of my most satisfying corrections have been experienced from the comfort of my own bed when I heard the snap, snap that indicated that my Dobie bitch Raven, had tried yet again to sleep on MY sofa!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Dog pillow on the floor for dogs, sofa for humans! I do also crate train, but at a certain age, usually around 15-18 months, I like to try ONE dog loose in the house. Home security is no good at all if it's locked in a crate! :rolleyes:
Remove dog from the living room while you set the traps, at least two but more if the comfy spot is large. It is unfair to put cheese in the traps! If you have cats, small dogs or children, you may have to either prevent them from getting near the sofa, or you can also lay a single sheet of newspaper over the traps. When the dog gets on the sofa, he sets the traps off, which hit the newspaper and hopefully scare the crap out of him! (well not literally!) I prefer not to use newspaper since it's a cue that that sofa is loaded for next time. A large dog can take a snap on the nose or toes without doing any damage, but I would not want to see a cat's paw or child's finger in them! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
My bitch Raven eventually got wise to the traps, but she would stay off the couch even if they weren't set. We would just scatter them there when we left the house, or went to bed. Easy enough!
Counter theifs are fun to set up... make yourself a nice big sandwich or deli plate while your dog watches, then take him out of the room. Push the plate far back, so he will have to jump on the counter to reach it, then line the very edge of the counter with mousetraps! Then go have a bath, and listen for the counter attacking your dog!
We have one very aggresive dog, (abused rescue) who would attack the window when anyone came to visit. He was destroying blinds! So, same thing, we lined the window ledge with mousetraps, and had a visitor greet us at that window. It never happened again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
It works very well for garbage buckets too! Be creative!
Good luck! Happy trapping!
Tammy.

yes, mousetraps work really well! You can even put tape on them and stick them on walls of - garbage cans, anyplace they (cats, dogs) are not allowed. My dog Kobra used to get into the trash - one day I heard "rustle rustle rustle SNAP" and not a peep from her - she walked into the room very quietly, very sheepishly - with the mousetrap hanging from her lip. Was very funny.

Molly

Had a dog trainer come to my house a few months ago to evaulate one of my foster dogs. Counter surfing came up in the conversation because so many rescues seem to have this habit.Thought maybe this trainer might have a sugestion on how to deal with this. She goes to the store and buys clear plastic rug runners and flips it over exposing the little grippers on the bottom. By placing a strip of this material upside down on your counter discourages the dog from counter surfing. Have not tried it yet but I have some on hand just in case. Thought maybe I could use it teach my cat to stay off the counter.

Had a dog trainer come to my house a few months ago to evaulate one of my foster dogs. Counter surfing came up in the conversation because so many rescues seem to have this habit.Thought maybe this trainer might have a sugestion on how to deal with this. She goes to the store and buys clear plastic rug runners and flips it over exposing the little grippers on the bottom. By placing a strip of this material upside down on your counter discourages the dog from counter surfing. Have not tried it yet but I have some on hand just in case. Thought maybe I could use it teach my cat to stay off the counter.

the mousetraps would be much more entertaining <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

We have a front and back yard which are separated by a metal fence, would keeping the dogs separate (one in each yard) suffice for during the day while we are at work? They could still interact (see, sniff etc) with each other (which would help with the separation anxiety?)but would not be able to fight. That way we would still have the security of dogs protecting our house, but would have no concerns re: them fighting while we're not home. Then we could keep them in the crates in the evening etc when we're home.

Candace: One fight happened outside, the other occurred inside but progressed to outside. Both were over bones, which was clearly our fault. We now feed them separatly, and I will take on board your thoughts re: giving them treats while apart - thanks.

Aaron: I appreciate your honesty. I'm well aware that we've made a mistake by getting two male dogs of this particular breed. You say "Most people have no clue or don't thihnk their dog will ever get into a fight but when it does, they say "These dogs are bad dogs and are too much for the average person". I don't think APBTs are bad dogs but I must say, I do think they are too much for the average person as the average person is probably not willing or able to put in the amount of time required to properly train such a strong willed and intelligent dog. The average person probably isn't aware of the need to crate these kind of dogs, and the average person probably wants a couple of dogs who play nicely together and keep each other company while the owners are at work. I know this because I was the average person . Now we are trying to be responsible dog owners by implementing effective methods of dealing with our dogs, rather than just saying "Nope, it's too hard, lets give one away and get a mini-foxie instead" Although maybe that is the answer for the happiness of our dogs, would Tyler (our APBT) be happier in a family where he is the only dog? I really don't know, but I do appreciate all of your input and hopefully we'll get this issue sorted somehow.

Oh and thank you everyone for the advice re: getting our dogs off the furniture - I look forward to nice-smelling, hair free lounges

Sorry for the extra long post

Melanie,The metal fence will probably work..no guarantee though.You have to look and see what they do through the fence.I would suggest that the water/food that they each have in those areas are set not at the fenceline.I would also suggest to experiment..and bring just one of them in when you come home and see the reaction of the other.I have 5 shepherds..Each get their time with me in the house.I know that the others stress that they can't come in..but they can live with that.I have Danka in tonight and she is at rest.If Jazena would come in..there would be a challenge..wanting attention from me...Throw in a treat or bone..NO WAY!! Your pups need that one on one attention.Don't worry about the other stressing.If that one likes it on the couch and you can sit close to him..COOL!! If you can take him by collar and move him off..Cool as well!!Be one on one with them separatly.

Aaron, I am very familiar with the breeds in topic.YES..they have been bred for dogfighting but that was not there real purpose initially from long past.Those breeds are just going to waste..because the emphasis on breeding..is aggression.There are many hidden sects whereas they breed specifically for that for a hidden ring of gambling...another F..ing sport.If I had the power and money..I would bust every ring that was involved...Forget the death chair..or gases etc.The noose would be too quick.I would put the breeder ..promoter in an arena..and turn loose a few choice dogs that he and his breeder friends have created.If you care for the breeds in topic..and love them..share knowledge..in a positive manner.

BTW I was joking about getting a mini-foxie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I've copied and pasted this post to the 'living with multiple dogs' section coz I think it's more appropriate than this area - I hope I'm allowed to post the same thing twice???