Quote:

So now Tom is loving, friendly, nice, loves to play and took common commands and corrections happily.

Am I the only one that thinks Tom is a ticking bomb?

I watched an episode of Animal Cops Houston over the holiday. They took 10 or 11 Pits from a home where the dogs were fought. They did not have any problems picking up and dogs and none of them showed aggression to the officers. They explained that the dogs are not handler aggressive, but very dog aggressive (duh). They did not consider any of the dogs suitable for adoption because they could not be trusted around other animals. The SPCA was not going to take a chance that these seemingly friendly dogs weren’t going to get loose and attack a neighbor’s pet.

Yes it sucks, yes the dogs do deserve better. But I don’t want Tom living next door to me. I don’t want him 4 blocks away if I take my dig for a walk.

Keith,
I have to say I agree with your comments. My neighbor had a very aggressive pit bull/lab mix that they finally put to sleep. He got more aggressive as he got older and I never went out with my dogs without being cautious. Their invisible fence system did not keep that dog in and I had to fend him off and out of my yard one too many times. Luckily, nothing bad happened to my dogs, but it attacked another neighbors dog. They finally put the thing to sleep. Sorry, but I didn't feel sorry for the dog and frankly if I were the OP I wouldn't want the liability. I wouldn't trust any dog that has been used for fighting purposes.

Lisa

I agree with all the other in-put you have received. Your goal is not that your dogs get along, your first goal I think and I may be wrong, is to establish your self as the leader and that takes time with each dog. I would do just what you've been advised, separate and work with them individually, let them get used to their new surroundings and you and work from the ground up as if they were little puppies, do the ground work. Ed has wonderful DVD's and articles on this. I would beg you, please protect these dogs from one another. That poor Rottie, he doesn't look happy, put yourself in their place, they came from who knows what backgrounds, and then wham, they are with you and thrown together. Especially the one who was used in fighting, even though he is very sweet, he needs to see the world through different eyes now and you have to show it too him, if a fight started, that would be the worst for each of these dogs. If you do not have room to kennel them separately, maybe you need to give one away.
I appreciate your good intentions, but take your time, be smart protect your dogs and your family.
May God bless you

EASY FOLKS>>> THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME DOGS.those are two therapy dogs owned by the Rescues founder.Both are Well behaved and have never even barked in my presence. They are the first dogs that ALL the dogs meet at out facility. He is alone now, but at the time , she had no choice. 11pm on Christmas eve.

these are them, see two differnt dogs. Ok they are on a human couch, bit they are not my dogs. Ha



Jenni, I thank you so much for your help and the appreciate the time it takes to dissect my gibberish and make proper sense of it all. Your advice is gold to me. Thanks

Thank you all for your help and advice as well. I appreciate the concern for the dogs especially considering the scary looking picture, and the Idea that two fighters are handing out with a new scared Rotti. I assure you that I would NEVER be so Irresponsible, rookie or not. I trust those two with anyone. They know to run and avoid ANY conflict and again, the picture shows a different story but they are very passive and are well behaved with every dog in the rescue ( not my home, but the entire rescue)

 Quote: lisa simms

Keith,
Sorry, but I didn't feel sorry for the dog and frankly if I were the OP I wouldn't want the liability.

I feel sorry for dogs like this since it is not their fault per say, but rather the fault of the owners that let them either continue this behavior or allow it to manifest.
I DO NOT feel sorry for any owner that allows behavior like this to happen and then ends up in a lawsuit and losing.
They always seem to have this bewildered "but it was the dog's fault" excuse.....UGH!!!

Picture or no picture, my advice stands.

If I am following right, you have three recently-acquired adults. Stop there...... no fighting history, no aggression, no bad stuff required to make this a VERY delicate situation.

Three is a pack. These dogs need to bond with you, one at a time. They need to be separated. And the one with the fighting background (all of them, actually) must be 100% under physical control.

I don't even know if my words are strong enough.

I will do my best to spend more one on one time with both parties who fight. Its interesting to hear how your decision to remove the one dog and give him his own apartment in the garage, made such a positive result. See this is Priceless stuff you just don't learn at the training seminars. Fact is, it should take lots more than some course and $350 to be a cert trainer. I have met people giving out advice who know less then I do but don't admit it.

Todays new entry is...
I was happy he is a puppy, but as usual, he has issues. He screams like a fire engine when crated for 10 seconds. I need a sound proof room. If anyone is interested in this puppy, he is Free to anyone in the profession with two references plus a vet check.

See why I am in over my head? meanwhile the phone is ringing off the hook with others begging to save dogs being euthed tonight. It is hard to play God and make a responsible decision. You wish they could all live.

I feel sorry for the dogs as well. It would be the owners making the mistakes and the dogs paying for them. I know there are great pit bull terriers out there as well.


Whatever the situation, it is good that you are asking for advice and help.
Lisa

 Quote: Jennifer Marshal

Crates are your best friends. I recommend keeping these dogs completely seperate from each other - not even allowed to see each other through the crate, or being in the same room as the dog in the crate. You really need to work on your bond and rank with these dogs seperately first. I recommend this for all of your dogs, whether they fight or not. I have done rescue work on a small and informal scale (I did not work with a shelter, I pretty much just took dogs from morons, most of the time with their consent) and no matter the temperament of the dog I kept them seperate from one another for several weeks up to 3 months....

Just emphasizing this crucial info.

 Quote: sharon empson

I agree with all the other in-put you have received. Your goal is not that your dogs get along, your first goal I think and I may be wrong, is to establish your self as the leader and that takes time with each dog. I would do just what you've been advised, separate and work with them individually, let them get used to their new surroundings and you and work from the ground up as if they were little puppies, do the ground work. Ed has wonderful DVDs and articles on this. I would beg you, please protect these dogs from one another. That poor Rottie, he doesn't look happy, put yourself in their place, they came from who knows what backgrounds, and then wham, they are with you and thrown together. Especially the one who was used in fighting, even though he is very sweet, he needs to see the world through different eyes now and you have to show it too him, if a fight started, that would be the worst for each of these dogs. If you do not have room to kennel them separately, maybe you need to give one away.
I appreciate your good intentions, but take your time, be smart protect your dogs and your family.
May God bless you

thank you Sharon. I assure you that I am taking all the advice as serious as cancer. I will also assure you that Each and every animal here ( I have ferrets too!) have their very own crate, and quarters. everyone has "a place". Some enjoy the company of others and lay on one another, others are separated and feel more comfortable alone. Those dogs have their own rooms. The unfair part is that I started by wanting to help 1-2 dogs at a time. Now I have 9 here. there is only so much time in a day, and working individually is the only way I feel confident,safe etc. So its a looong day, and overwhelming for a a new trainer. As I stated, all the classes, clickers, "positive training methods" and the rest, don't help much when dealing with feral or dominant and aggressive dogs. In think that each experience will help me deal with the next, but I want to make sure that my mistakes and decisions don't come at the expense of already stressed animals. With that said, know that they are safe and that I am quite responsible as a person in general.
Lastly, I do have all the DVDs offered here that pertain to pack structure, Dom/aggressive, E collars and more. The only ones I chose not to purchase where the training your puppies ones. Everyone gave me one as presents at one point. so know I am trying my best