Hello all!
I recently adopted a 10 month old pit bull from a Dallas Police officer. He found Sarge as a puppy in the middle of downtown. Sarge is my second "pit bull" type. Stitch was my first, adopted from the animal shelter in Anchorage, Alaska...We found out a week later he had distemper so far gone the vet recommended Euth. I believe he was an am staff mix, more so than pit. Anyway, back to my fawn brindle beauty!! Sarge was adopted three weeks ago. In that time, we've had him neutered and vetted. The PO said he had the vetting done, but didn't have the paperwork. I'm a little leery, so I redid the process. He is the most precious, people friendly dog I've ever met. We all love him dearly. He will go up to a stranger and let them pet him. Its amazing.
However, he needs some dog/dog manners. He was pretty much so a backyard dog with the PO, so he hasn't had any experience around other dogs. I'm not ready to give up on him socializing with other dogs, but at the moment, we are extremely careful. My best friend has a pack with a pom, pug, Anatolian, and a Aussie. She is wonderful, and is helping me with what we have called "Sarge therapy". It took us 30 minutes today to approach her Aussie pup, who has more nerve than brains apparently. She was trying to stare Sarge down, and she's only 10 weeks old! Anyway, we were only able to allow a brief sniff before we both felt the need to separate them. I know they feed off of our energy and I am trying some calming approaches.
I'm hoping to get some insight and training ideas to help me help Sarge through his fixation on other dogs. It is like he is a completely different dog around other dogs. I had hoped to get him into some dock dogs or TD, as well as get his CGC...but that will not be possible with his dog/dog aggression. If it comes to it, I will accept that he isn't able to be around other dogs...but I'm not ready for that yet. He came in when my two young daughters and I were tickling their dad...and laid down in the middle of us.
I would have posted it to the training forum, but it said I have to post here first. Any help would be appreciated...
Sarge's approach to another dog... Sarge see's dog, fixates (Even with correction), pulls, creeps, lunges....OR He starts grump/whining/barking noises and his jaw is snapping, like teeth chattering.
I'm also wondering if it's walking him past the dogs in our neighborhood. There are several very aggressive dogs who try to attack through the fence.
Any help is appreciated!
Heather, Sarge, and Crew