What exactly is a pit bull?
Animal advocates say that one of the most challenging conversations around pit bulls is defining the breed. The American pit bull terrier is a dog breed recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association. And while the American Kennel Club (AKC) doesn’t recognize pit bulls as a breed, several AKC-recognized breeds do fall into the pit bull class when it comes to breed-specific legislation. Those include the American Staffordshire terrier, the Staffordshire bull terrier, and the English bull terrier. Leading animal advocates say there’s no evidence to suggest that breed-specific legislation makes communities safer. The problem of dog attacks won’t be solved by quick-fix breed-discrimination laws, say ASPCA experts. Instead, animal advocates believe that dangerous-dog laws should be breed-neutral and focus on the behavior of the individual dog and owner.
Once the leash walk introduction proves successful (remember – this can takes a long period of time, not all dogs adjust to one another after one walk) you can move on to a fenced area and begin to introduce the dogs off leash. One handler might work obedience with the leashed dog, while letting the other dog roam around, allowing them to get used to each other’s presence and scent. The best way to go about this is to have the resident dog is loose, while the new dog remains leashed. This gives one dog the ability to safely check things out and move away as needed while you maintain control of the other dog. Make sure the yard or fenced area is free of items that may possibly trigger a fight such as toys, food, bones, etc.
While walking, make sure to let the dogs naturally walk next to one another. Both handlers should maintain a firm hold on the leash, but the handler should try and let the leash have a slight U-shape to allow the dogs to get close to one another. A tight leash communicates tension to your dog, and can lead to issues depending on how sensitive the dog is to this type of walking. Face to face contact between the dogs should be avoided at first, and you should walk parallel to one another, allowing each dog to take the lead at regular intervals every few minutes. Never allow your dog to greet another dog if they are dragging you on the leash, this will just reinforce a negative behavior and tell your dog it is ok to misbehave when approaching new dogs. You need to make it clear to your dog that you determine the who, where and when of meeting.
If the dogs appear to be tolerating one another, you can allow them to briefly sniff one another – not face to face, but using a “T shape” where one dog is able to sniff the midsection of another dog, being called away by their owner after a few minutes or at any sign of aggression. Signs of aggression to watch out for include stiff posturing, lunging, lip curling, growling, lunging, hair standing up on back, air snapping, tail between legs, submissive urinating, and freezing. The introduction should be stopped immediately if either dog exhibits any of these signs of aggression toward one another.
It might be necessary to take multiple walks, in different locations, over a prolonged period of time before the dogs adjust to one another. Multiple introductions in this manner give you a better read for how the dogs will do, and this process should not be rushed if the dogs seem unsure in any way. Stop the introduction if either dog is showing signs of fear or aggression. By interrupting the dogs before things become highly elevated, you can preserve the possibility of a successful interaction at a later time.
The key to introducing your Pit Bull (especially if they already have a tendency for dog aggression) is to have the dogs meet by taking a walk in a neutral area (i.e. somewhere either dog has ever been before). By walking in a neutral area you minimize, if not diminish, the risk of one dog exhibiting any type of territorial behavior. Before going out for the walk, be sure that each dog is properly fitted with a properly fitted collar and sturdy leash. It is not recommended to use choke chains or prong collars when going through the introduction, as you risk injury to your dog if a fight does break out.
How to Get Dogs to Get Along
Every dog owner should take dog-on-dog aggression seriously. Small dogs that become aggressive towards other dogs can be dealt with, but large dogs will tear your arm out of the socket when they lunge on the leash. They might even leave you flat on your face, struggling to hold on. So what do you do when you have a 50-kilo (110 pound) Rott mix that needs to show all the other dogs that he is boss, no matter where you happen to be walking?
Years ago, the standard method to deal with these dogs was to control them with a choke chain and give them a pop before pulling them up tight when they misbehaved. Sometimes it worked, but if the dog had been developing this behavior for years, it usually did not.
According to the dog trainer Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer from TV), all you have to do to end dog-to-dog aggression is establish dominance. The dog will recognize you as a leader and stop being aggressive.
I am not Cesar Millan, and since you probably are not either, this technique does not work for me. Are you going to have better luck? If it only works for him, and only on TV, what good is it to the millions of dogs suffering from dog aggression?
According to dog trainer Dr. Ian Dunbar, dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs have poor social skills and are best trained through classical conditioning. This theory allows you to teach dogs like Pavlov did. By giving treats, the dog will stop acting aggressively towards other dogs.
This article will give you some tips on which method might work best for your dog and allow you to train your dog to get along with other dogs.
Learn how to let your reactive dog meet other dogs
There’s nothing like heading off to the dog park to let your pooch pal around with some new canine buddies. But not all dogs are a fan of making friends with their own kind. Some dogs may be reactive or hide when faced with a new potential canine friend, avoiding other dogs at all costs. This kind of antisocial behavior is especially problematic when adding a new pup to your household.
If your dog seems to hate other dogs, don’t lose hope on your four-legged friend bonding with another pup. Read on to see how to train your pooch to make new furry friends and to be more comfortable around other canines.