A while back i posted a story about my 2 dominant male pit bull puppies. Well we finally chose one to get rid of based on who got along better with the other household "DOGS".

About 1 month later one of my moms cats that are declawed got outside through a window and just as i had noticed the cat was missing, my fiance let "Tripp" & Sadie our dogs, outside.

Once Tripp and sadie saw that cat outside they chased it around a bit and then tripp mauled it (yet drew no blood) breaking its back leg and neck, he pushed the cats dead limp body around until he saw no movement and then he finally left the cat alone and came to us.

Thats when we realized all the training tips we stay on top of didnt seem to be working...we freaked out, hit them both with a stick pretty hard and through them in a kennel ALL DAY LONG....not in a clear state of mind and forgetting that dogs don't remember things like that for that long.

It's like he will do really good for awhile and then he gets a drive and we cant get him to listen. I almost want to just give up on him. Cause im worried about him ruining my other dogs good behavior. I love him and it was hard enough giving up the other dog but i cant enjoy walking him or taking him anywhere cuz he doesnt like other dogs when hes on a leash.

Today had me thinking even more about giving up on him. I always feed tripp in the kennel and after i had disgarded the dishes i let him out to play. Well sadie decided to sniff his kennel and he attacked her so i grabbed him by the collar and knowing that sadie will listen i kicked sadie to the wall and yelled at her to stay or i would get the wacker out so she stayed and i shoved tripp into the kennel locking it behind him.

I don't know what to do. He can be a really good dog most of the time but when hes not i get all stressed out and worried about EVERYTHING. Any advice woulc be nice.

One more thing before i head out. Tripp keeps eating those nasty Foxtail stickers and well now hes got one stuck in his throat and hes been coughing for 3 days and progressing. We tried a few things like oil in his food to lube it up and that worked a little bit, but he only got maybe half the sticker out is that. We just moved back to my moms so me nor my fiance have jobs at the moment ...therefor we have no vet money.

I mean if it gets really,really bad like as in non stop coughing then my moms husband said that he would help us money wise. But if anyone has any ideas i would apprecciate it. Thanks - Krysta

 Quote:

...we freaked out, hit them both with a stick pretty hard and through them in a kennel ALL DAY LONG...

glad you realize there was no 'training' going on when your timing is zero for the bad behavior, and anger is your motivation.

This entire incident would have been prevented with a reliable 'come'. It sounds like you are entirely overwhelmed and at the end of your rope, so I wonder how your dog instructor/trainer is helping?

I'm currently raising my 3rd puppy and my 2nd GSD, and one thing I learned early is that if what I was doing wasn't working, I now IMMEDIATELY go to get help from someone with more experience. I wasn't born thinking and 'speaking' dog, and would rather learn from someone who has trained worked with HUNDREDS of dogs and learned thru experience what does or does not work the best. Cuts way down on the confusion for the dogs and the anger from me. And I know that when I'm mad, I've 'lost' that training session. And though yelling at and hitting the dogs may get rid of my stress and anger for the moment, the GOAL should be that the incident will NOT happen again. So using some later time to think calmly about what happened, what I could have done differently, and WHAT I CAN NOW DO to set up both my dogs and I for success in the future.

Fact is maybe this dog or this breed, or having a dog at all, maybe too much for you at this stage in your life. When I get a dog/pup, I know it's a commitment for the rest of the dogs life. So whether I have to go to obedience classes forever, or have to pay alot in medical bills for some problem, or find another loving home the dog WILL fit into, THOSE are all considerations I think of BEFORE adding a new pet to my home.

Find the dogs a good home and buy a hamster. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

1. Don't hit your dog with a stick.
2. Don't kick your dog.
3. If you can't control your dogs without resorting to 1 and 2, then you don't need to own them.
4. Your dog needs to see a vet. If you can't afford it, then you need to take the dog to someone that will give it the help it needs.

Im sorry if I come off as harsh, but you really shouldn't have a dog right now. Not only are you not finacially able to give proper care but you know nothing about how to raise a dog. You stated that you know your dog Sadie will listen so you kicked her to the fence and then threatened to get the"wacker." Sounds to me like she must not listen well for you to have done that. Can you blame them for not listening? Your going about training and raising a dog ALL wrong!

Take Toms advice and find them a new home. Its incidents like this that end up badly. Gives decent pet owners a bad name. You beat the dog with a stick for doing something that comes natural to it. Its called Prey drive. You can control prey drive and teach a dog where, with what and when its ok. But at this point your not teaching your dogs anything. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Please find your dogs a new home and next time realize that a dog is a lifetime commitment... financially, mentally, and physically.

You shouldn't be owning dogs, period - much less pit bulls.
In your last post, you were already being sued and your animal was taken by Animal Control. You then *stupidly* left the dog in the care of a 12 and 14 year old who disregarding the command not to let the dog out, which started the problem. Then the dog slips out of his collar, further showing that you do not have proper control or minimal equipment or knowledge to control the dog.

And now the dogs maul and kill a cat. A Neighborhood kid will be next, I'm sure.

Edit:
I read her old post more closely - Animal Control had already Euth'd her old pit bull after it had been in custody for the prescribed period of time. So this irresponsible owner has already killed one of her dogs already. Now her current pit is attacking the other family dogs after having killed the family cat.
This owner is not capable of learning even by tragic events, apparently.



Advice:


1) Ya'll have no money for dog care, ergo you have no business owning the dogs - sell the dogs.
2) Ya'll own a potentially dangerous breed but don't train them ( although you do find the time to abuse them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> ) and you don't pay attention to situations - just sell them.
Or are you going to wait until one of you boneheads let the dogs loose to maul a child?

Some people are not smart enough to own dogs. You fall into this category.

Im glad Will stepped in here. I didnt realize he past problems these people had. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Which just makes it worse.

You people know your dogs are a danger to the public, and on top of it can not provide for the dogs. These dogs should be taken away from you and there should be a court order for you to not be able to own dogs.

I feel for the next victim of these people.

I agree with Will absolutely, but in the interests of not seeing anyone hurt and knowing that us telling Krysta to get rid of the dogs isn't likely to phase her, I'll offer a legitimate alternative. MAYBE there is a chance that Krysta will get wise and make some good choices.



Krysta, if you seriously want to help this dog and are ready to invest the time and some money this is what you need to do.

1. Take the dog to the vet to address the health issue ASAP. . .like today!! Do it.

2. Purchase two (2) dog crates.

3. Purchase a prong collar (german pinch collar).

4. Seperate the two dogs for most of the day, and all night by using the crates. (simple methods for crate training are all over the web and this site, just google it)

5. Keep your APBT under absolute confinement. Don't let him run loose, don't let him get out of your yard, don't leave him in the care of others, crate him when you can't be with him, don't -F- this up. If you think life sucks now, wait till the dog kills someone's dog, cat, or worse and they come after you for damages (at the very least).

6. Purchase Ed's Basic Obedience video. Watch it 3 times while taking notes.

I know this sounds like a cheap sales pitch, but I can't think of a more cost effective way for you to see some basic leash work and obedience training. I don't get paid by Ed or anything, so take me seriously.



7. Train dog to sit, down, come, and a "leave it" command. You should have all the time in the world to do this, you're not working. Two (2) 10 minute training sessions a day will work.

9. Stop hitting and abusing the dogs. Treat them as you would wish to be treated.

10. Come back to the board to ask specific training questions as they pop up.



The only other way to deal with this would be to find an experienced dog trainer who isn't a foo-foo Petsmart trainer. Find a person who understands powerful dogs and isn't afraid to teach you proper handling methods up to and including use of a prong collar.

That's going to be expensive and it's going to take a while to find a good trainer.




If you can't do these things, re-home the dog ASAP. . .as in TODAY.

Another unfortunate Pit Bull unlucky enough to be owned by somebody who shouldnt have a dog.