[cellerby]

Hi I just got my first pit a week ago. She is 5 mos old. I have 2 maltese already, just wondering if anyone has tips on what I can do to help train them to get along. I thought that pits were good with other dogs if raised with them but now I am reading so much on this site that is saying the opposite. Whats the truth?

[Michele]

Some pit bulls are dog agressive, some are not. If yours is dog agressive, you need to supervise all your dogs when they are together Dog agression is a normal trait with this breed. Learn your dog's body language. With the pit bull, even if the dog is wagging it's tail, that does not always mean they want to play. That could also mean they want to fight.

[cellerby]

So how can I tell if she is DA then. I know that right now she is still young and she tries to paw at them and jumps around a lot, and sometimes even barks at them if they ignor her, but how can I tell if she is just playing?

[Michele]

I think it's pretty safe to assume that if your dog starts growling, hackles are up and going to attack, that your dog is showing signs of DA

http://www.badrap.org/rescue/dogdog.cfm

[fearlessknight]

Just beware that more often than not this breed is DA.....and you can take the necessary precautions...most of the time when people find out their little sweet innocent fido is DA is because they attacked their little "playmate" that they grew up with! This is not what you want to happen...so start now by crating and rotating....and "if" (which is very likely) you need to continue this this, you will be prepared!

[cellerby]

isn't there something you can to to prevent this from happening besides keeping them separated? is there some type of training, or do genetics just take over regardless?

[Michele]

Originally Posted by cellerby isn't there something you can to to prevent this from happening besides keeping them separated? is there some type of training, or do genetics just take over regardless?

It's genetics. You can manage it, but you can't train it out.

[gooddog]

Your other dogs are doing what you should do when your pit shows bad behavior ignore him. what you should do is when he jumps on them remove him from the area. then return him and when he shows good behavior say good dog reward him. Do this as much as you need to. Walk them together and get him trained so you can have a proper bond with him. Get the dog neutered if they are not and Crate training is a good idea for all dogs for many reasons that include transporting. If you keep them socialized and you be in charge of this family(pack) you have a good chance of having this pit respect you and the other dogs.

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by Michele I think it's pretty safe to assume that if your dog starts growling, hackles are up and going to attack, that your dog is showing signs of DA http://www.badrap.org/rescue/dogdog.cfm

Not all DA dogs are verbal though. I've got several that will eye another dog with a wagging (not flagging, but wagging) tail just waiting for it to come within reach.

Starting today, you should NEVER leave the dogs alone together and this includes putting them out into the backyard unattended and when you are gone. Buy a kennel/crate for your 'pit bull' if you don't already have one.

Of course let them continue to socialize & play as long as possible, but watch your dogs closely and watch all body language. All it takes is a split second and a fight can break out. And with the size difference, the end result won't be pretty.

[Michele]

Not all DA dogs are verbal though.

yes, good catch. Thanks Mia

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by cellerby isn't there something you can to to prevent this from happening besides keeping them separated? is there some type of training, or do genetics just take over regardless?

It's like trying to train out the herding instict from a Border Collie or the retrieving instinct out of a Labrador Retriever.

Of course you can manage these behaviors, but you cannot get rid of them. Many hundreds of years of selective breeding has brought about these traits and it would take that many more to get rid of them.

[cellerby]

Thanks, I hope that by training her really well and acting like a good "pack leader" i can prevent anything from happening! I started crate training her from day one, so she is in there at night and during the day when we are gone, so the dogs are never left unattended. I did catch my one maltese sleeping in the bed with Jade during the car ride though, so hopefully this means progress!

[gooddog]

You are doing it right, the more you put into to it the more positive results you will get from it.

[cellerby]

thats what i am hoping for. I do believe they should never be left alone, but I am hoping that through some hard work we can avoid having to do crate and rotate. I would love to be able to have them out together when we are home, but i guess only time will tell.

[cellerby]

I am trying to separate them whenever she jumps on them, but sometimes she can be so psycotically hyper that it is hard to control her. for the first 5 mos she grew up she had no rules and i have only had her for a week but i am finding that as she gets more comfortable the more she picks on them and when i say no and pull her away she just jumps right back at them. i feel like she doesn't take me seriously and i don't know how to change that. I am trying NILIF and I know that she is just a puppy, but I find that she just ends up trying to chew on me half the time when I try and discipline her.