BigDogBuford wrote:So he doesn't like strange dogs. I don't particularly like strange people either.
mnp13 wrote:Part of owning a Pit Bull is possibly dealing with dog aggression. Don't like it? Don't get a Pit Bull. There are quite literally hundreds of breeds of dogs in the world, there must be another one out there for people who don't like dog aggressive ones.
The fundamental nature of breeds were changed several times before perfection was achieved and a standard was written. Who's to say that there isn't room for improvement even now esp. if it is to benifit the dog to live more peaceably in such a negative society. I'm not talking about adding to the foundation stock to alter the breed entirely. I'm talking abut selective breeding of dogs that are known to be less DA (or not at all) yet still retaine all the other qualities of the breed we adore.
BigDogBuford wrote:Buford doesn't like dogs he doesn't know and frankly I don't feel the need to make him 'play' with them. So he doesn't like strange dogs. I don't particularly like strange people either.
Leslie H wrote:The fundamental nature of breeds were changed several times before perfection was achieved and a standard was written. Who's to say that there isn't room for improvement even now esp. if it is to benifit the dog to live more peaceably in such a negative society. I'm not talking about adding to the foundation stock to alter the breed entirely. I'm talking abut selective breeding of dogs that are known to be less DA (or not at all) yet still retaine all the other qualities of the breed we adore.
Whenever I hear of a breeder intentionally trying to breed out DA, it's usually a safe assumption that they are not a responsible breeder as I define it. First off, it demonstrates a lack of understanding of genetics. It is highly unlikely that the trait of DA is a isolated trait, instead, it is more likely to be linked with other traits. I always think of the Russian attempt at breeding friendlier, more docile foxes, and the unexpected traits that were linked (ear set, color).
At least as important, it shows that they are selecting for factors that are relatively unimportant (IMO), when compared with how small the breedable gene pool actually is. A responsible breeder should take into consideration; compatible pedigree, correct structure and compatible structural faults (don't double up on a fault), health testing including hip/elbow/patella x-rays and cardiologist screenings, and correct temperament and proven working ability/temperament (the latter will rule out uncontrollable DA). If you realized how small the number of breedable dogs there are, based on these criterion(criteria, I forget), then you would know that throwing in no DA is unreasonable.
Finally, when I hear a breeder trying to breed out DA, I realize that they have no real appreciation and understanding of the breed, and they won't be producing anything I'd be interested in, anyway.
Sorry, I'll climb off my high horse. I just get pissed when someone suggests breeding out DA is the hallmark of a responsible APBT breeder.
Leslie H wrote:Sorry, I'll climb off my high horse. I just get pissed when someone suggests breeding out DA is the hallmark of a responsible APBT breeder.
I have noticed since the rotation, that the dogs are much more likely to engage in inappropriate behaviors than they were previously. One of the boys, and possibly both, have been marking a few objects in my house (I have seen Cash do it twice, but suspect that Genghis is overmarking Cash's spots). This is abnormal for them. While both of them would mark each other's spots in the yard, neither of them were lifting their legs in the house. Genghis has also been trying very hard to get into trash, and has also chewed up a couple of objects, something he hasn't done for several years. The last time I saw behavior like this from my dogs was when I had a boyfriend who didn't want the dogs sleeping in the bedroom with us. There was inappropriate behavior, elimination, and chewing during that period, but it disappeared when they were allowed to sleep with me again (this was several years ago, long before I had Cash).
I only have so many hours in the day, and naturally, the dogs being separated means that they each get less attention than they were used to. How do those of you on a rotation schedule handle this, especially if you have dogs who were previously all together and used to having your attention for many hours each day?
DemoDick wrote:Don't focus so much on the quantity of time spent with each dog, focus on the quality.
pitbullgirl42 wrote:I have initiated a rotation and it is going fairly well so far. I'm not thrilled with the idea of my dogs spending hours a day in a crate, so I've avoided that thus far. I have a sunroom, but it's not heated, which is going to pose somewhat of a problem when Chicago winter hits full force! Currently, Cash is in the sunroom (with access to my privacy fenced yard) while Mina and Genghis are in the house, and then we switch. They are alternating nights in my bedroom. Mina and Genghis can be left loose in the house, but Cash is not entirely trustworthy yet when left alone. So on the nights when Mina and Genghis sleep in my room, Cash sleeps in the sunroom. When Cash is in my room, Mina and Genghis have the run of the rest of the house.
pitbullgirl42 wrote:At least at this point, they aren't so intent on going after each other that I think that gating off rooms would be a problem.
pitbullgirl42 wrote:He certainly will need around the clock care for a week, and will have several months until he is back to his normal self. This makes the rotation a lot more complicated.
DemoDick wrote:I have noticed since the rotation, that the dogs are much more likely to engage in inappropriate behaviors than they were previously. One of the boys, and possibly both, have been marking a few objects in my house (I have seen Cash do it twice, but suspect that Genghis is overmarking Cash's spots). This is abnormal for them. While both of them would mark each other's spots in the yard, neither of them were lifting their legs in the house. Genghis has also been trying very hard to get into trash, and has also chewed up a couple of objects, something he hasn't done for several years. The last time I saw behavior like this from my dogs was when I had a boyfriend who didn't want the dogs sleeping in the bedroom with us. There was inappropriate behavior, elimination, and chewing during that period, but it disappeared when they were allowed to sleep with me again (this was several years ago, long before I had Cash).
What you are describing is not uncommon. All of a sudden you are imposing a few boundaries, and it follows that dogs acustomed to doing what they want when the want may start some other undesirable behaviors. The answer, for most people, is NILIF (which is actually a very good way of dealing with any dog who needs boundaries).
However, I would be careful about giving Cash free access to your yard when you are not home; even with a privacy fence. If the issue here really is him "turning on" and not just between him and Genghis specifically then a dog on the other side of the fence could easily give him enough drive to go over the fence. (well, not give him drive, but you know what I mean.)
If you're not home I would never ever trust "gates" that were not basically doors made of metal bars. Determined dogs go through wooden doors, drywall and plenty of other things when they want to, but you have to draw a line somewhere, however a "normal" gate won't stand a chance. You never know when they will decide that they want to be that intent.
I'm assuming that he'll be crated for much of the time, especially at first, so that he doesn't cause any additional trauma to the surgery site? Won't he be on severe restriction for most of the time
pitbullgirl42 wrote:When nobody is home, Cash is closed in the sunroom, with no access to the yard. Genghis and Mina are never really left unsupervised outside because I KNOW that Genghis could go over the fence if he really had motivation to do so. We had a really ballsy squirrel this summer that ran along the top of the fence for a short period of time before Genghis finally nabbed him.
As far as Genghis' recovery, ordinarily, he would be on a dog bed in the living room most of the time, and I would move the bed into my room at night. It's just going to take a bit more work on my part this time around, making sure that everyone is separated.
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