Ahhhhh..... These are gladiator dogs and will fight to the death! No water, loud noise, or shock collar will stop a full on pit on pit fight!

I have had the breed for 15 years and I use to think that all of them could get along and live in peace. That idea changed the day I had a dead dog from a fight. Totally my fault and it started just like this post. I thought things could change.

Most breeds of dogs will not fight to the death but what makes American Pit Bulls Terriers (APBT) a great breed is "game". The never give up, never stop attitude. American Staffordshire Terriers (AST) came from the same dog until the studbooks closed in the 1970's. Now a lot of drive has been bred out of AST's but they can be dog agro.

We own 17 of these wonder dogs (APBT's) and do all sorts of dog’s sports and they get along just fine with other dogs outside them home. When we come home pack dynamics take over. Normally we can have dogs together till they reach a certain age but the first time they get into a real fight it's time to separate. Normally it's around 12 mo to 24 mo when they start to mature that’s when you start to see issues. Now that's not always the rule, I have had APBT's that are always able to stay with each other without any fighting.
If you are having these issues around your other dogs you have to separate them. If other people in your family are not able to follow and help then place the dog in another home. This breed does not "work things out" on their own. If they do, it will result in a dead dog.

If your AST is dog agro you can help that with training. He should be able to tolerate other dogs in public without going after them. For that you need to find a good trainer to help you work it out. At home, crate and rotate.

If that is too stressful for you, then I really suggest finding the dog another home. There is no trick that can make them get along. If you have this going on around kids then it is really dangerous for them if they get stuck in a dogfight.

I'm sorry I can't give better advice than to keep them separate but take it from someone that has the breed and knows them well.

Before I go back to minding my own business, I have something to say. Lisa is correct; no normal means of breaking up a dog fight will work w/these dogs. I have been very fortunate (and very careful!) not to have a serious problem w/my dogs. I used to foster Pits and never had a problem then, either. I had one incident where Xander broke my storm door and rushed Mia, biting her repeatedly until she'd had it. I was watching her face as I ran to try to grab Xander before she did. Well, I wasn't fast enough, of course. That whole "back legs" thing is not as easy as it sounds. I tried EVERYTHING to get her off of him...some of it was not pretty.

You know what I had when I had her back legs? I had a dog hanging from the mouth of another dog who was hanging from her back legs. These dogs are not quitters. You have zero chance of successful intervention in a dog fight, based on your experience. . SEPARATE them 100% (not hard; I do it with 6!) or rehome one. Your house is a tragedy waiting to happen. The truth hurts.

I re-read some of this post and you should really take the advice of what is being told by so many. I know your heart is in the right place but it's irresponsible owners (not necessarily you, depends on what you decide to do) that really give our breed a bad name.

This breed is seen as a monster to most. If you want to be responsible you have to know that they should be separated. I saw the "child" was 19. If he is not responsible enough to follow a simple rule of not letting the dogs together, there are bigger problems going on. Everyone in the house has to be on board for this to work.

I saw on another post that you break up a dogfight by pulling the dog by the rear legs. That is a good way to get bit. And that means you have not had a serious dog fight yet. Once your dog is mature, that doesn’t work for pits anymore. A breakstick and/or wood or pvc at 2-3 feet long.

Now you can get defensive about everything I said or you can step back and look at what everyone is trying to tell you.
If you are not willing to separate please get rid of one of the dogs. That would be the most responsible thing to do.

I am only posting this video so that you can see first hand what irresponsible pit bull owners look like.

These dogs were allowed to run lose together for many years without any problem. Then one day.....

http://www.keprtv.com/news/35514139.html?video=YHI&t=a

Lisa, I didn't mention the breakstick b/c you really have to know how to use it and be strong enough. Good point about getting bit if the rear leg trick even was enough to get the dog to release. I trusted my female not to redirect to me...I wouldn't trust ANYTHING in this situation to go as planned.

Lisa, that video is pretty much par for the course, IMO. What moron allows more than 2 dogs together at any time??? Gee, guess what, folks? They act like a pack of dogs! I don't have speakers on my work computer, so I missed the dialogue.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

Lisa, I didn't mention the breakstick b/c you really have to know how to use it and be strong enough. Good point about getting bit if the rear leg trick even was enough to get the dog to release. I trusted my female not to redirect to me...I wouldn't trust ANYTHING in this situation to go as planned.

I did a private lesson for a lady last week that got bit by breaking up a dogfight. She did the same thing, pulling the back legs. She got bit really bad in the arm and has a nasty scar. She had a rottie/lab mix and a shep mix.
Back in the old days APBT's would never redirect to a human but with Sh** breeding now , you never know.
If she doesn't know how to use a break stick but wants to keep those dogs, she better learn. I have one in my car and on my back porch just incase. I have never had to use them but you never know.

Jenni, what a handsome boy you have!!

The rear leg advice is taken from here:

http://leerburg.com/dogfight.htm

You hit the nail on the head...$h!+ breeding. I had seen/worked my female in so many different situations that I had a pretty good idea of her temperament...I would never have tried that otherwise. I bet 80% of people don't know their dogs' temp. well enough to chance something like that. I should leave a breakstick outside-good call. I didn't have one b/c it was just the 2 of us outside...then the door latch broke. $h!+ happens no matter how careful you are; people only willing to do "average" things to prevent fights needn't be involved w/our beloved bulldogs...JMO.

Thanks for your compliment on Simon...he is my baby. Don't tell the others.

Alyssa-it's not a question of where it came from, or that it works in many situations...it will not necessarily work on a Pit who is determined, and it is much easier with 2 people.

Edited by Jenni Williams (12/18/2008 03:40 PM)
Edit reason: Read Alyssa's post

Quoted directly from Ed's article:

"Unless you have a lot of experience do not try and break up a dog fight by yourself...

The safest way to break up a dogfight requires 2 people. Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dog back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.

Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart it is critical that the people do not release the dogs or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs."

Note the reference to not being by yourself and needing 2 people, as well as getting bitten in the process. Remember, if you do this alone, and it works, you now have one loose angry dog and one angry dog by the legs. NOT GOOD.

Actually, if you read further on, Ed recommends a method for if you find yourself alone.

The worst case scenario is that you are alone when a serious fight breaks out. There are a couple things that you must keep in mind:

Keep your cool you have a job to do.
Do not waste time screaming at the dogs. It hardly ever works.
Your goal is still the same; you must break up the fight without getting hurt.
Go get a leash (allow the fight to continue while you do this).
Dogs are almost always locked onto one another. Walk up and loop the leash around the back loin of the dog by either threading the leash through the handle or use the clip. I prefer the thread method.
Now slowly back away and drag the dog to a fence or to an object that you can tie the leash to. By doing this, you effectively create an anchor for one of the dogs.
Then walk around and grab the back legs of the second dog and drag it away from the dog that is tied up. Remember to turn and circle as they release.
Drag the dog into a dog pen or another room before you release the back legs.
Go back and take the dog off the fence and put him or her into a dog kennel.
Sit down and have a stiff drink (or two).

Jenni, you are over your PM max. Your sig pic forces right-scrolling and needs to be reduced. Thanks!

And back to the thread.