I have a 3 year American Bulldog and 5 year old Pit Bull that had always lived well together. A little over a year ago my bulldog had to have a leg amputated after a car hit him. After the surgery he began lashing out and attacking my Pit Bull for no clear reason and without warning. The attacks have escalated to a point where they can not be together, even for a second, for fear he may seriously injure or even kill my other dog. I have asked for help from his breeder, multiple vets, and rescue groups, non of which have been able to assist me. Does anyone know what may be causing these sudden attacks or have advice?

How long after the surgery did you allow the dogs together?

I hurt dog is a weak dog - also pain can cause these reactions. There may not be a warning that you see, but I promise you there is a warning...

Any neuro damage from the car accident?

These dogs will have to be seperated, it doesn't matter what cause the fights, the point is they have been allowed to practice aggression towards each other, at this point unsupervised together time would be out of my mind for the rest of the life of these dogs.

Are these dogs crate trained?

What OB training do you do?

What rules, boundaries, limitations do you have in place for each of them in your home/life?

First check out the groundwork article, then start with marker training (Seperate), then when you have control of both dog (100%), you can start with slow introductions while doing OB. There is no longer any situation that would warrant these two "playing" or "hanging out" together. They are either working (training) while out, supervised with you there, or they are seperated (This last step may be several months or even years down the road. When this last step is implemented then continued to be worked on, is going to depend on you and the dogs.)

I allowed them back together almost immediately after the surgery and the attacks began right away. Neurological damage is something I've been very curious about, since his behavior did seem slightly different after the car, which had a very hard impact. I do not know, however, how to test for that.

You would have to contact a neurologist.

Connie, can you chime in here. Your wealth of knowledge is once again being called on...

I think we should develop some kind of bat signal to let you know we need an expert opinion!

As for now, I would change the way I lived with these dogs and how they lived together - the situation is not ok, especially if there is neuro damage, but even if there isn't.

Connie, can you chime in here.

No question at all (IMO) that you covered it completely with:

These dogs will have to be seperated, it doesn't matter what cause the fights, the point is they have been allowed to practice aggression towards each other, at this point unsupervised together time would be out of my mind for the rest of the life of these dogs.

and


As for now, I would change the way I lived with these dogs and how they lived together - the situation is not ok, especially if there is neuro damage, but even if there isn't.

and

First check out the groundwork article, then start with marker training (Seperate), then when you have control of both dog (100%), you can start with slow introductions while doing OB. There is no longer any situation that would warrant these two "playing" or "hanging out" together. They are either working (training) while out, supervised with you there, or they are seperated (This last step may be several months or even years down the road. When this last step is implemented then continued to be worked on, is going to depend on you and the dogs.)

and


...contact a neurologist.



But points one and two being immediate, as of this minute.

JMO.

"The attacks have escalated to a point where they can not be together, even for a second, for fear he may seriously injure or even kill my other dog. I have asked for help from his breeder, multiple vets, and rescue groups, non of which have been able to assist me. "

The answer really is as simple and straightforward as what Niomi says, regardless of the trigger initially.

I would consider this as having been warned (more than once) and react now to the warnings -- with complete separation, including no stink-eye, no posturing, no nothing that forces either dog to live in anxiety (or terror) or even perception that there is no human pack leader setting rules and determining aggression levels (zero, at least in my home).

You can do this. Many many owners have to (and do) all the time.

Thanks Connie!

Kelly, any chance you can get your dog here?

Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/vth/MedServices/SmallAnimal/Neurology.html

We don't have anything like this where I live, but I hear they are usually your best bet when it comes to things like this. If I ever had something happen to one of my dogs that was beyond the "normal" care parameters, I would not hesitate to find a veterinary teaching hospital down south to go to.