I have a human aggresive pitbull?

Question

my pitbull puppy (5 months) was extremely nice and was only scared of some people, but very nice to almost every dog until she was 4 months

when she was 4 months, we went on vacation and she stayed with my cousins who smack her around even though i tell them not to... but, also when we were on vacation, she got very sick, (parvoh, idk how to spell it,) and my aunt told me she was aggressive to the vet, the bassicly first person she was aggresive to

well we brought her back home, and now she is scared of everyone on on the streets... when i walk her, if she see's someone else, her hair goes up and she sometimes barks..

is it possible to get her out of this? we cant go to training classes because we cant afford private ones, and she cant be around other dog's until she is 6 months... pls help

Answer 1

Get her into classes as soon as you can. The longer you let the problem go, the worse it will get-so nip it in the bud!

Answer 2

First and foremost NEVER leave your puppy unattended with these people again! If she must be around them for family functions, make sure every action with her is under supervision and put your foot down. If you tell them not to do something with your dog, they need to listen and if they don't you need to be prepared to make them leave or to leave yourself. Never tolerate any type of abuse of your animal. It is never appropriate with a Pit to smack them around, even in play. This teaches them it is ok to be aggressive.

Second, you need to get a handle on this right away. Other wise it almost certain your dogs life will end with a needle in her leg. Your pup can most certainly be around other breeds before she is 6 months. Keep her up to date on shots and most places will accept her. Most Petco or Petsmart stores have puppy classes for dogs who are under 6 months. These classes help to provide basic training and socialization. Speak with the trainer before you enroll and explain your problem to be sure this is something the trainer feels comfortable they can handle.

On your own there are many ways you can socialize your puppy. To start with never reward her bad behavior. Your probably thinking "but I don't" When your puppy barks or her hair goes up I am betting you attempt to soother her with words or pets to calm her. This is actually rewarding and encouraging her behavior. Start small, at home invite s friend she does not know or one she has barked or hair raised over in the past. Tell your friend that when they come into the room not even to look at your pup. Do not look at her, speak to her, nothing... ignore her completly. You should have her on a stron lead and the moment she shows any sign of aggresion, lead to another room that is quiet with no people. Do not look at her or speak to her, ignore her completly. Once she calms and sits quietly, take her back to the room with your friend. Again the friend should ignore her and so should you. Keep her on the lead and begin a conversation with your friend. If she shows signs of aggresion take her out again and repeat. This can take several tries depending on how bad her aggresion has gotten. Eventually you can have your friend take a step toward you, then two , then shake your hand. Using the exact same process if your pup reacts negativly. Be careful to keep calm yourself and ask your friend to do the saem. Dogs pick up on our energy and if you or your friend is nervous, your pup will be too.

Within a few days it will be time to take your pup outside. All the better if you can get a few friends with a few well mannered dogs to meet you at a park or other place that does not have too many people. Keep your pup on a tight lead and ask that your friends ignore but go about the business of walking with and playing with their own dogs. Have a few bits of your pups favorite treat with you. As you walk her around if she begins to show aggression, immiediatly turn her in the opposite direction. This is where noise will come in handy. You need a noise that will distract her for just one moment and get her to focus on you. A high ptched squel or yip, or a sharp tssss sound should do the trick, the moment she focuses on you and begins to walk away give her a small treat. walk her around again and toward a person if she reacts, use your distraction sound, if she focuses on you and the aggresive beahavior stops, treat her, if not walk the other direction just like the first time. Eventually she will learn that her behavior outdoors gets her nowhere, in fact it gets her in the opposite direction. She will also learn that calm behavior and focusing on you instead keeps her moving forward and gets her a treat.

Eventually you shoul dbe able to move up to people getting very close to you and possibly even being able to pet her. be careful and go slowly. Your goal is first to teach her that fear or aggression will not be rewarded. She must learn that there is nothing to fear. You, the pack leader will not put her in a harmful situation. Aggression will be reprimanded by the pack leader. It will result in her not being with the pack or in her going the other way. You must remain calm and assertive during this process. Never yell and never allow yourself to get nervous. A dog will not trust and follow a nervous or unstable pack leader because it will only lead the pack to detriment.

The secret here is to show her that if ever she is scared or nervous, you will take care of the situation but not by coddling her.

If this does not work then your only other option is to seek out a professional trainer who has experience working with unbalanced dogs. Unfortunatly yes this does cost money, so you may want to start checking out the cost and saving money just in case. Also ask your Vet or local Shelter if they know of any behaviorists who will work according to income. They are out there, I do it myself, simply because there are people who can not afford a lot of money and

Answer 3

ur cousins are definitely stupid,

and i dont know if theres anything u can do until she is 6 months..

just keep taking her for walks and hopefully she will just get used to seeing other dogs.

my pit is 6 months and his hair goes up when he sees other dogs too, but thats because they bark at him first...

have your friends and family come over to meet her so she can get used to strangers..but you make sure you are there as well.

also, i am surprised your dog survived parvo..ur very lucky!

Answer 4

1) Why can't you start classes until she is six months old?  Many places run puppy socialisation classes.  ring around and find one.  Maybe the local shelter can help out or recommend somewhere?

2) Give your cousins a good kick in the **** for being cruel to a helpless animal and NEVER leave a dog with them again.

3) Contact the vet and find out what happened - don't take the word of someone who allows the dog to be hit

4) Give her lots of love and support and try to arrange visits from some kind people to help her trust again.

It is very important that you get this sorted out.  You simply cannot afford to keep any dog that is aggressive especially towards humans.

Answer 5

your idiotic cousins made her aggressive.

now your pitt has bad rep because you left her in a idiot's care.

ask your vet about aggression.  

Answer 6

I'm not sure if you meant they played rough with her or they hit her to discipline her. Hitting a pit bull will cause her to distrust people; she won't know when it's going to come at her again from out of nowhere. So make sure that no one ever hits her again, and be patient with her while she regains trust.  And for the record...no physical roughhousing, no tug of war -- never play games with her that she can win.

If she reacts negatively to someone when you're walking, immediately turn around and walk the other way. This helps accomplish two things: reduces her emotional investment in the situation, and shows her that her behavior isn't going to get her anywhere but back the way she came. Be consistent. If you can get her to the point where she is neutral when seeing strangers on the street, praise and treat.  If no improvement in a month then ask the trainer. You can also use this technique is she exhibits aggression upon seeing strange dogs in public. Good luck.

P.S. Bite inhibition training should have been done from the beginning but if you didn't do it then start doing it any time she mouths you. It might still have an impression on her at her age, and it certainly won't hurt anything to try.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bite2.html

Answer 7

There are many reason to why a dog can be aggressive/unbalanced. Without a really look at your dog, there isn't anyway to help your dog properly. I know you say you can't afford private lessons but im sorry to say the best one way is to find a professional dog trainer that will work on your situation. I guess you have to save up some money, in these case it is very important for you to find professional help before it goes to the danger zone.

For now, try to exercise with your dog more. It helps burns your dog energy and gives her a balanced mind. Remember to let your dog know that you are the owner. Do not let her take charge of you. For example, do you let her on the sofa often? Or when you take her out for walks, does she takes the lead? These are little thing you might want to change to help her change her behaviours.