Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two male pitbulls, Otis is 3, and BooBoo is 2. I have both since they were puppies. And there was never much problems. Otis was the boss. that was apparent. They have over the last six months started to be jealous of each other getting attention. We have tried to give both much love and attention. It started with little fights that were easily handled by telling them to stop. But has escalated into much more. Otis is more aggressive and seems to keep BooBoo is a constant state of fear. He will not even eat unless he is locked inside and Otis is locked outside. Today a fight started over a ball wich there is always two of. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. Otis attacked BooBoo and we tried with a braker stick , a bat., hot water and finally got them apart after a good 5 minutes and alot of blood. I do not know what to do? Do I need to have one put to sleep or will nuetering them help? I love my dogs and am scared of what may happen. Does anyone have advise?

>>I have two male pitbulls, Otis is 3, and BooBoo is 2. I have both since they were puppies. And there was never much problems. Otis was the boss. that was apparent. They have over the last six months started to be jealous of each other getting attention. We have tried to give both much love and attention. It started with little fights that were easily handled by telling them to stop. But has escalated into much more. Otis is more aggressive and seems to keep BooBoo is a constant state of fear. He will not even eat unless he is locked inside and Otis is locked outside. Today a fight started over a ball wich there is always two of. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. Otis attacked BooBoo and we tried with a braker stick , a bat., hot water and finally got them apart after a good 5 minutes and alot of blood. I do not know what to do? Do I need to have one put to sleep or will nuetering them help? I love my dogs and am scared of what may happen. Does anyone have advise?

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Aggression toward other dogs of the same sex is normal in terriers and is not a reason to put a dog to sleep. You need to separate them, though. If you can keep them separated at your home, that is what a lot of dog pros do. Or you could place one in another home, provided it is a good home.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I'm sorry you are having these problems with your boys. It's very common for same gender dog pairs to have problems, especially in the pitties and terriers. If I were you I would definitely have them both neutered, although at this point in life it may not help aggressiveness as it would have before they matured. I have never had any real big issues with dogs who were altered before they matured (unfortunetly your guys are at the age where the pitties tend to mature 2-3years old). There is a possibility it may help slightly, but it is overall healthier for them physically and mentally to be altered. Also, do not give up complete hope with them being able to get along, but don't let any of this go either. I would be sure to contact a GOOD trainer/behaviorist that is familiar with the breed and try to work with him or her. Also, be sure never to leave the two alone unattended.

My guys have never fought (have had little dominance spats, and have both wanted the same toy before, but wasn't anything dangerous and was easily taken care of between them without any harm done or intention of harm) for real before. However, I would NEVER leave the two alone without supervision. They have to either be in separate rooms, or with me at all times and they're accustomed and will both come with me to any room and follow no matter what's going on. Owning same gender dogs is enough reason to separate them when alone, never mind being pitties who take any threat much more serious than other breeds tend to.

Please Please Please contact a trainer...I'm sure that it will be beneficial to you. Also, have you seen anything about the "dog whisperer" on tv? He's VERY good and does clinics around the country. He has his "pack" of unwanted/abused/neglected dogs that all live together in harmony and 90% of them are pitbulls. I'm sure if you do a google search you may be able to find information!

Good luck!

For the most part I have never known neutering or spaying to curb dog on dog aggression with regards to APBT's especially game bred APBT's
No amount of dog wispering is going to stop what these dogs are bred to excel at. It can't be trained out of them and it can't be surgically removed from them. It is their nature.
One day sooner or later, and it ALWAYS happens eventually, two will fight regardless of gender. It could be a domination issue, etc, but you've got to be prepared to know how to seperate them correctly without panicking.
That dog whisperer guy has what would be considered street or backyard bred dogs with much less drive to them than a classic game bred ABPT. I'm sure those dogs couldn't excert themselves for longer than 10 minutes and would much rather lay around the yard or house. Those are not good examples of a true sporting/working dog I would venture to say that some of those dogs aren't 100% APBT. Nonetheless, an APBT, regardless how watered down the breeding is should always be considered to be a dog that has been bred to be the absolute best at dog on dog aggression.
Anyway, anyone here that keeps more than one APBT must have two breaking sticks and know how to properly use them.
They work much more effectively than whispering "please stop" to your dogs! LOL
Good luck

I must disagree with this post, as it is completely false to state that it will definitely happen. I have had several game bred dogs (purebred from reputable breeders) who have NEVER had an issue with other dogs. YES you have to be more careful with any APBT game bred or not. Most people who have had game bred dogs have not kept breeding for dog on dog aggression, so it is not true to say that any game bred dog will be dog aggressive. Most of the "game bred" dogs are still used for hunting boar (with other dogs, usually other APBT), and for competitions such as weight pull, protection, obedience, etc.

There are definitely advantages to training your dog properly. I still support the gentleman I mentioned prevoiusly, as the dogs he does have (whether pure game bred pits or not) are APBT and other bully breeds who get along. Whether a dog is APBT or Staffy they're still originally bred for fighting and have stronger tendancies to do so.

I have to disagree with you on your statements of gamebred pitbulls. There is a world of difference between a TRUE gamebred dog vs a pet/show or street bred dog.

Gamebred dogs can not be trusted to live civil with each other vs the pet bred or show bred (ukc) dogs.

A game bred dog is just that, his parents and grandparents were bred and raised for the box. Tho all pits and amstaffs were once bred for this purpose, they have been watered down so to speak and there instincts are not as strong as a gamebred dog.
Too many people use this term too loosely.

Also, hog dog men will not use a gamebred dog for hog hunting as they need the dog to catch and hold, not fight the pig as most gamebred dogs will do.

In the world of weight pulling, most of the dogs that compete are not gamebred, but there are a few who do so and excell. Of course they dont come in contact with other dogs while on the track or even in training for that matter.

If you go to a UKC show you wont see any gamebred dogs there. Tho I do know of 1 person who has champed out a gamebred grandson of frisco ROM, its definalty not the norm. If you have ever been to an ADBA show, you will see lots of gamebred dogs and they are far from civil with other dogs.

No amount of training or neutering will stop this behavior. Some dogs can be controlled to a point. His best bet is 1.neuter them as its the right thing to do. 2. Keep them seperate at all times. The signs are there. Now its up to the owner to be responsible with these dogs.

Miragesmon,

I have to ask you, by chance do you live in Mass? Something you posted in an earlier post is very familar.

To be exact, you mention your dog (who is very handsome by the way) that he is a "colby dog". Someone had mentioned this on the Mass APBT board awhile back and posted a pic of a dog that looks just like yours.

I have to ask you, is that dog a rescue? as if he has colby in him, he isnt pure colby. Colbys dont come in that color nor have "rednoses". I have been heavily envolved in colby dogs for a while now and very close to the family. They are great dogs and very easy to train. Tho not really considered "gamebred" dogs, some can be very dog aggressive at times.

If this the same person i speak of, I am the one who gave you info on weight pull training.

good luck with your boy !

Hi mainepitwitch,

Yes, it's the same person, what a coincidence hmm? No he's not all Colby. He is a rescue that I snatched up right before being euthanized (literaly was walking out of the door to visit the vet while I was walking in). They found him locked in a crate in a yard during a rain storm in October, the owner had moved away 2 weeks prior. The old owner's g/f came forward and told the police what had happened (the dog was to be used as a fighting dog and wasn't nearly aggressive enough so was chained and beaten, etc.) and turned over the registration papers. I believe it was his sire who was colby bred and the dam was of another line. I need to get some better pictures up of him, as he was still underweight in the photos I have (that was a couple of weeks after rescuing him), and he's grown into his head a bit.

At one time pit bulls were also known as colby dogs. Old man colby was one of the first to advertise his dogs. Some people thought this was the breed of dog. His family bred many famous dogs. They did not breed any red nose dogs. Years ago it was possible to tell the bloodline of most pit bulls just by looking at the dogs. Colby dogs were a little larger than average.
The dogs nowdays do not really even look like the old time pit bulls. Most are larger, heavy, boxier, more clumsy dogs.
Many years ago there was 3 types of pit bulls. The AKC or staffs, the UKC, and the ADBA. The UKC had the best registration as they didn't allow single dog registration. Later they opened their books once a year. The AKC dogs were staff, pretty to look at but not game at all. The ADBA allowed many to make up their own pedigree and register their dogs.
Nowdays the AKC and the UKC are the same dog. The ADBA remains more like the original pit bull.