My boyfriend’s 5 year old pit bill is EXTREMELY aggressive and does not listen AT ALL! She is VERY dominant and jealous of my 10 year old akita, she humps him and tries to take over on his doggy bed even though she has her own bed! She doesn’t like ANY other dogs and WILL attack ANY dog (including little puppies). She has gone after 2 little girls already (successfully bitten one in the face). She does not like me, she does the exact opposite of what I tell her, if I try to discipline her she runs and hides behind my boyfriend or just tries to bite me, she runs and hides under the table or bed and tries to attack me if I simply attempt to put her outside. She has already bitten me once and tries to go after me EVERYTIME my boyfriend and I play around (like she can’t tell the difference between playing and real fear). You can’t eat in front of her because she gets RIGHT up in your face and just begs non-stop, she pees and poops in the house, she digs and tears up the trash all over the place EVERY chance she gets, we have been battling to keep her off the furniture for about 3 years and still she is up on the couch the first 5 minutes we leave her alone! The thing that gets me is she knows when she is in trouble but yet she still continues to disobey?! We have tried SO many different disciplinary techniques but she responds to NOTHING (one time she tore up the trash all over the back yard 3 days in a row even though she got disciplined everytime and knew she was in trouble, she still does it) My boyfriend spoils her and thinks all her behavior traits are normal and ok so he never disciplines her or takes responsibility for when she is bad, I know this is half of the problem. My question is….Is this dog just an untrainable lost cause? Will she EVER stop misbehaving? I don’t know what to do anymore and this dog causes SOOOOO many problems and arguments between my boyfriend and I and I don’t want to break up with him over his stupid dog but he will NEVER get rid of her (even if she attacks ANOTHER child) I really just don’t know what to do?! HELP!! TIPS OR POINTERS?!
The dog has bitten two kids????? I would say it is definitely out of control. Your boyfriend sounds like a moron. I agree with Boston too.
The problem is not with the dog, its with the boyfriend. As long as he treats her like she’s a human and allows her to be the dominant one, she will continue to act like it. Face this truth, then decide if it’s worth staying with a guy who values his dog over you.
your boyfriend did not raise right as a puppy… but its not to late!
At this state and conditition its time to call the Dog Whisperer!
seriously
Try getting another boyfriend.
You could be facing a lawsuit if this behavior keeps up!!! This dog is trouble!! If she attacks another child she could be taken from her loving owner who thinks this behavior is normal. You may also be in trouble for knowingly owning a vicious animal that has attacked children and attacks you also. In my opinion I would get rid of the boyfriend before you get in serious legal trouble.
he not half the problem-he is all the problem…
I agree with boston….get rid of the boyfriend…
Say to him Pick me or your dog! And if its your house kick him out like say if you dont get rid of that dog then get out of my house or if its his house say Im leaving that is is evil! And find another house
I hoped I Helped A lot
She’s not out of control, your boyfriend is. She will not everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr listen to you because she knows she doesn’t have too. Has she ever been obedience trained. You need to have a talk with your bf, these are nice dogs quit letting her run the house. How do you discipline her–put her in a crate and don’t pay attention to her or let her play. Let her out only to use the bathroom. Sorry but your boyfriend is the reason dogs get bad raps.
You’re going to have to lay down the line to him, train the dog or he’ll end up having a dead child from an attack, then he will be sued. Are you ready for this??? because he wants to play macho nothing wrong with my dog?
Your boyfriend not seeing this as a problem is MORE than half of the issue. Consistency is absolutely important here, and your dog obviously does not understand that she is below you, your boyfriend, and all humans in the pack. You say you discipline her and she knows she is in trouble, but if she is still doing it then obviously she doesn’t understand that after all.
The tearing up trash and doing her business in the house is annoying and obviously a problem, but the fact that she is aggressive with other dogs and people (especially children) is a HUGE problem. Not only could someone be terribly injured, killed, or disfigured, but then you will also have lawsuits on your hands and your dog will most certainly be euthanized.
You both have to be ready and willing to see this as a problem, if your boyfriend does not, then yes it is a lost cause for the two of you, but not necessarily for the dog. Both of you will have to be willing to put in the time to get this dog, and yourselves, some serious professional help. Find a trainer who is experienced with strong-willed and aggressive dogs and stick with them. Practice what they tell you to do at home, always. It will take a pretty strict regime for the next several months, maybe even years, before you may be able to give this dog a bit more freedom. Until she knows her place and can be trusted, this will likely mean muzzling her and keeping her on a short leash when outside, making her “work” for privileges (making her sit and stay before getting treats, going outside, cuddling, etc.).
These problems will not go away until you find professional help. Also, if you dump her at a shelter they will most likely euthanize her if they know she is aggressive (they simply cannot adopt out aggressive dogs, and usually do not have the time, funds, or staff to rehabilitate the dog) and if you give her to them under false pretenses you will have done something very irresponsible. If you absolutely cannot work with this dog, please try to find a breed rescue to take the dog. These groups are usually more accepting of difficult cases and are more experienced with working with your specific breed.
Keeping this dog without working with her properly is really just asking for a terrible tragedy and it really is not fair to yourselves, your dog, or the general public. She obviously does not know her place or the boundaries you are trying to set up.
The dog is a spoilt little brat that’s gotten out of control. He’s babied her enough that she’s turned nasty and can get away with it. Dogs don’t “know they did something wrong”, they just respond to your energy. Her response i guess is to run and hide by her daddy or bite.
Frankly I’m surprised he hasn’t had his dog taken away by now. That’s usually what they do if dogs attack people, especially children. I’m guessing no one pressed charges or they didn’t stick?
I can almost guarantee that If his dog attacks ANYONE again he’ll have the dog taken away and they’ll probably put it to sleep. Wave that over his head and threaten to report him if he doesn’t get the dog help through a PROFESSIONAL behaviorist.
If you don’t feel safe with the dog then leave. You shouldn’t have to deal with a dog like that. She can be trained to a point, and can be handled/managed, but it will take the help of a professional behaviorist and a lot of effort on HIS part.
If he isn’t willing to do this for you, and the safety of everyone in the neighborhood, then i would do everyone a favor and report the guy to the cops (they will take his dog when they hear what it has done already, and he’ll be fined and charged for having a dangerous weapon – yes, they can do that!) and dump him.
It may not be what you want to hear, but it’s how i see it and how i would deal with it. What he has is not a dog, but a dangerous weapon that can go off at any time.
P.S. – i love Pit bulls but this is a prime example of why they have such a bad name.
P.P.S. – she wasn’t born this way, your boyfriend made her this way by not socializing and training her properly. Any dog he gets will probably turn out to be like this.
P.P.P.S. – Dogs can be considered as dangerous as loaded guns (some places call dangerous dogs weapons) because they do just as much damage as guns.
This dog CAN be trained. For now, what you need to do is get your boyfriend under control. He needs to realize that he is allowing this dog to run his life.
This dog thinks it is the pack leader. In order to change this, you should hire a Dog Behaviorist. These people will explain to you how dogs think and will correct it’s behavioral problems.
You might have to try the NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) program with your dog. Don’t give her ANYTHING unless she does something for you. When you come home, if she just sits there, do NOT walk up and pet her. Ask her to come.
When feeding her, don’t just set down the plate. Make her sit.
You have to show this dog that you are in charge here, and that you are the Alpha Dog. It will take much work, because it sounds like your dog is a natural born leader, but it will pay off if you follow the NILIF program.
Good luck!
{{…*Spontania *…}}
Train your boyfriend HA HA….then the dog’ll change…