This is what happened to Vick's dogs ...

Totally not cool at all jamf...that's Santa's Little Helper man.

My cousin has four pitbulls. They're very playful but I fear the day they're going to go nutso. The key of course is not to act scared when you're around them...but I really hope she gets rid of them soon. She bought them with her ex-boyfriend (when they were together). I'm hoping she just lets him have the dogs. They split time with them now

Pit Bulls are cool little dogs. They can be great dogs if raised properly, and can become great dogs after being mistreated (rehabilitated, if you will). The best thing for the dog in 757's family is for it to leave the family and go to someone who knows how to handle the dog. Please don't put the dog down. Find a Pit rescue and let them take over the dog.

Generally speaking, most problems with dogs are due to the owners being lazy with training, socialization, and exercise. Keep their mind focused on good activities, and they'll be less likely to focus on things that will get them into trouble.

vNicN-o1VyA

Since I've been here, we've actually gotten Max on a daily walking schedule (they never walked the dog in 3 years) and he's now to the point where he'll sit at the door and cry like a baby until someone takes him. They've also gotten better about leaving things on the floor that he can "take" and get aggressive over. When he gets excited, he will literally "steal" anything he catches a glimpse of (shoe, phone, remote, soda bottle, anything) and will bite when you try and "take" it back. He has a "corner" that he's claimed for himself, where he takes these things. Trying to "take away the corner" does no good. He'll either push the furniture out of the way, or just sit near where the corner should be. I don't know what to do about that, but like I said, finally, after 3 years, they've gotten it through their heads, not to leave things on the floor that he can grab. They've also agreed to have him "fixed", which should have been done when he was a pup, but still have yet to do. They say "money is a factor", so I called SNiPs. They'll do it for $75, but they would rather have "their" vet do it. I'm trying, they seem to be trying. Maxs' vet said, if all else fails, and even after all the "work" and "having him fixed, if all else fails"...we can have him put on doggy prozac.

I've seen some improvement in him. I just worry that, once I'm in a better place and can afford to get out on my own again, the work with him will stop, and it will have been all for nothing.

Well, it definitely sounds like the right steps are being taken, 757. My advice is to keep it up. If there is any place you can take him where he can run free, do that. Take a tennis ball or something else that you can throw and he can chase. Running is a great way to wear out a dog. ;) The time to work on his aggression is when he's tired. Don't back down from him. He needs to learn that you (and your family) are the boss. He's been taught that he's the king. If it takes a muzzle to keep from getting bit, so be it, use a muzzle. Avoid drugging the dog. Keep it up, you're doing a good thing by trying to help this dog!

BTW, here are my baby killers...(Rottweilers)

Boomer -
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v342/229/77/68124641/n68124641_36121894_4179.jpg

Harley -
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v140/229/77/68124641/n68124641_33392534_8888.jpg

I walk him at least an hour a day. I'm kind of nervous about letting him off the leash. Dunno if he'll come back! He's stubborn!

...and yours are adorable! My best friend has a Little Redskins Cheerleader, herself!

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/21/l_4f53a1501fc44db28d69f2d45492ea62.jpg

I walk him at least an hour a day. I'm kind of nervous about letting him off the leash. Dunno if he'll come back! He's stubborn!

...and yours are adorable! My best friend has a Little Redskins Cheerleader, herself!


Yeah, you would definitely need a fenced yard or a loooooong leash.

Cool looking little guy, there!

Many bully breeds have a stronger desire to be alpha than most breeds. They are bred to be confident and courageous. With my dog, when he got possessive with a toy at my daughter once, I rolled him onto his back and had her stand over him and tell him "NO" sternly. Also she feeds him and makes him sit for his food. A great exercize in pecking order is to live by the "sing for your supper" credo. Make the dog earn everything with tricks. Walks, food, attention (most of the time) toys, etc... Even if its just a sit, make him earn it.

The most important thing to remember is that these dog NEEDS exercise, discipline, and love in that order. That was hard for my wife to understand at first, and the dog would walk all over her. You need to get him involved in a training class as well. If he gets off the leash and won't come/recall due to stubborness, you may lose your dog. Worth the $100 bucks and 1 day a week to get a structure going. The cool thing is that most of these dogs respond amazingly well to positive reinforcement training methods because they are so easy to please.

*tip. Train him to "drop it" is easy by exchanging the contested item for a delicious treat. Any dog will drop a remote or tennis ball on the ground on command for a tiny piece of bacon or lunch meat/cheese whatever and some praise. You'll find him bringing random things to you and just dropping them at your feet in time and that should help with the possessive tendencies. Good luck!

I live with them, and my man won't even come to the house anymore. They say "but he's so good 95% of the time..." and won't listen to anything anyone else will say, other than the vet, who told her not to put him down. *shrug* I don't know what else to say or do at this point.

Just call the Dog Whisperer. He will train him! :)

Funny story about my mutt dog. My son is now nine months old and he is crawling. So we decide to make this downstairs room in my house his "safe" room to crawl around in and play. Well my dog needs to be caged during the day when we go to work (I live close enough to home to let him out at lunch) and the cage is in that room.

So we move the cage to a diffrent room he goes crazy barking and everything. Now mind you he has never hated going in the cage, has always gone in since being a puppy. I try a diffrent spot same results. Well this morning I get his treat and he runs down to the room where his cage use to be and stands in that spot where the cage is suppose to be. So funny so I just put the cage back in the orginally spot and he happily went in it.

I think he is just sick of having to change for the baby and that was the last straw! In away I hear him.