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Pit bull puppy aggression

This week I received the following worrying email.

Hi Alan

I have so much I want to write here, but cannot because I am at
work.   I just stumbled on to your website and you sound so hopeful and positive that I almost cried.  I wished I lived in Spain to talk to you in person!  I would like to talk to you or write you more later on, but for the moment I will tell you my problem. I have a 13 month old Pit Bull - neutered male.  He weighs about 75 lbs, fairly small, but all muscle! I had heard what a great pet these dogs make and I know 2 owners of them and they both said such positive things.  I have met one of the owners 2 pits and they are like Teddy Bears.  So a year ago, an acquaintance of this owner had Pit puppies that needed homes.  I got one.
My puppy, "Snippy", is a very hyperactive dog.  I play with him and walk him daily.  He is an excellent Frisbee catcher.  But his
aggression started developing at about 6 months of age, after he was neutered.  He was born Aug 15, 2006, was neutered in February.  Biting and snapping at people started shortly after that.  In April, I took him to a park where he snapped at strangers on the trail and I realized then I had a problem.  That problem still exists, but it is worse because he is stronger and more powerful. This means I must now have to keep all strangers at a distance from him.  Also, oddly enough, loud noises don't seem to bother him at all. From everything I've been reading, I think it is fear aggression -  if he didn't meet you in the first 6 months of his life - he is not going to warm up to you now.  Also, there are only 2 people living in my house- my 18yr old daughter and myself, so I know he is not socialized.  Now,
this week, I have tried to send him to a doggy day-care and explained the problem to them in detail.  They think he will warm up to people eventually, but he has only gone 2 days this week, and he has to stay in a cage by himself because he will bite anyone that tries to touch him. Now I'm wondering is this doing more harm than good.
I love my dog and he can really be very sweet to me, but I am to the
point of tears, not knowing how to make things more relaxed for all of us. There are not many resources in my area for dog training.  I couldn't even take him to a class anyway, for fear he would get away from me and bite someone.  I've heard it is the owner not the dog that is the problem.  I am trying to read a lot on positive training and aggression, but I need some expert advice on my particular situation and dog.  He seems to be very smart, he knows voice and hand signals for sit, down and shake.  He knows Stay - but had trouble holding that position.  But distractions will make him lose his attention and so obedience from him then, is sometimes difficult.  I have so much to say and will have to continue later.  If you have any advice, I would love to hear from you.

Hello
Are you aware that the Pit Bull is included on the dangerous dogs list in most parts of the world. You have one that 6 months ago has started showing aggression and now is snapping at people. You accept your dog is not socialised with people. This is something he needed from when you first got him as a pup, if you were to suppress his aggressive instinct. The problem is you have done nothing really to help your dog. By not socialising him at all, this has allowed him to feel you are his pack and everyone else is the enemy. Further your restricting your dog from people and possibly other dogs is only making things worse. Staying in a cage at the day care seems totally useless. They should have simply muzzled him and taped up his dew claws, so he could not harm anyone or another dog other than wrestle it to the ground. The problem is they should not be using other people’s dogs or their staff who do not have the skills necessary to retrain you and your dog to become sociable. This is something you should be doing under the guidance of a good behaviourist.
The bite of a German shepherd is about 400 to 700 lbs per square inch. A Rottweiler has between 600 to 900 lbs per square inch. A pit bull is about 1400 lbs per square inch and that is a formidable bite. I must ask you to seriously consider are you skilled enough to train and control such a dog when given the time you have had him; he has become even more aggressive. If your dog does bite anyone and that will be a really bad bite, are you even insured to cover such an event? Is your dog really worth the risk? Whilst your dog can be re-socialised by a good behaviourist, it would be you that must learn to change and it would be you who would have to take him out muzzled and teach him learn to like people.

Thank you so much for responding.  You are right about the day-care – I will not be taking him there anymore.  After 2 days I could see they were not skilled for this. I will search for a behaviourist in the area. Yes, I have realized what you said about me being his pack.  So you think a good behaviourist can actually help me?  Or am I dreaming?  I've even been telling myself it may come to having to put him to sleep and wondering is that really fair.  I don't know. I am so sad over this situation because I know how playful he can be.  Do you have certain readings that you would recommend to me?

Thank you again for writing me back.  You are the first person to speak to me and know what they are talking about and realize my dangerous situation.

Thank you. 

Hello,

Being unable to actually see your dog, I can only visualise him through your eyes so I can only suspect how he is reacting to you and your training. If you ask your local vet to recommend you to a good behaviourist in your area, they can see your dog and your interaction. This way they would have a much better idea of what is happening and may be able to offer you ways of changing it; if it is possible. They may possibly consider the risk that your dog now possesses is too much for you. As for books, you cannot learn to drive a car from a book as it requires motor skills and training your dog is very similar. Misread the book, may only make matters worse. For safety I believe your local behaviourist is the best bet.

Please do keep in touch and tell me how you get on and the results.

Kind regards

Such similar cases are not restricted to Pit Bulls, but all breeds. Whilst it is possible to be positive if I were able to see the dog and owner in this case, but they reside in America. With such a worrying case, it may seem tempting to offer advice without actually seeing the dog and owner, but this is a very risky thing to attempt. It is therefore much safer if I suggest contacting a local behaviourist who can visually assess the situation and make the correct recommendations.

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