Alright, everyone he's here! I thought introductions were handled smoothly, but the cats aren't taking everything that well as I figured they might.

He came into the house, the cats were locked up in a bedroom, let him sniff around and get used to things. Lily (Pomeranian) was out, she kind of freaked out because of his exuberance, but that's normal for her. He was excited, but things calmed down some and we crated him.

Then we let the cats out to investigate.

He got really excited and growled and barked at them and they hissed and are being very avoiding of the living room where his crate is now. Should I be worried that he growled? I think he just wants to play, though when he just came back in the door, he went after one of the cats all excitedly, the cat freaked out. My bad on that, as I should have seen where the cats were, but they ran off and he is again in his crate. Anyway...

I thought that might have been a good way to handle things and introductions at first, but I'm not so sure now.

Any ideas on how to get the cats to relax some and help control the dog's excitement? I know it's a new place and there's going to be a transition period... but I'm not sure where to go from here.

You are going to need a break stick if you decide to keep him. Even if you are just seeing if he fits, get one right now. Every pit bull owner should have one! http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthre...f-a-Breakstick

How is everything going? http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Leash him up and let the cats out. Keep him real close to you and every time he goes for the cats correct him. Keep doing this until he gets the point that the cats aren't friends (yet and maybe never) or toys/prey.

He was in the crate when he first saw them. Sorry I didn't make that clear. He then went outside and came back in and got really excited over the cats, so I should have made sure the cats were put away or something before I did that, but that was when I screwed up.

Now we're alternating between the cats hiding in our laundry room and him being let out with our other dog (who isn't in his way and is on a couch that he's not allowed on where my mom sits and keeps him away from her). Then him being crated or being locked in my bedroom with my while the cats can come out for a while. So like crate and rotate minus the cats being crated. Oh, and when he is out and the cats are in the laundry room, he's on a leash the whole time so I can watch him and control him better. I'm working on teaching him to leave the cats alone, but he's going to have to learn some manners and a lot more training to leave them alone. How exactly should I go about doing that? I've never had a problem with introductions before until now, so this is all kind of new to me, and of course he's my first APBT and probably the most exuberant dog we've ever had, so I'm a little confused as to what to do next.

Things are going okay though, minus the cats. My dog is fine with him as long as he stays out of her face, they went on a walk together with my mom and I earlier and they both did fine.

Also, I'm going to have to get a prong collar or something to teach him to stop pulling as that's definitely a problem.

Edit: Just saw the previous post. Will do that. The cats run whenever he's out though, but I'm going to have to train him to ignore them.

Also... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

http://www.pitbull-chat.com/attachme...735120&thumb=1

Aww, he's cute!

You said he's on a week trial right?
Honestly I think you should let him go back and find a older APBT that knows what is expected of them as your first APBT. I can think of a ton of them in various rescues right now that would better suit you and of course I will help you find one.
Jumping right into a young pit bull isn't the best idea, especially when you yourself said he's the most hyper dog you've had, mix that with being your first APBT I would be worried.

He's on a weekend trial.

And he's already a year old and a rescue dog. I don't mind getting obedience classes for him or anything, I know he's going to need them, he's just got a lot of puppy in him still and he has to learn.

I don't know why I need to be worried, honestly. I mean, I've been working with him already. In the one day he's been here he's already got sit down pat, he's pretty close to learning "down" and I'm working on "stay" with him as well.

We jumped right into owning a pit bull. Lol. I liked the breed before it, but never researched. I still had the "it's all in how you raise them" mentality when a man was standing in petsmart parking lot with a pit bull on a leash and he came up to me saying that he was going to have him destroyed in an hour if I didn't take him. My bleeding heart took him in. I'm a stickler for planning, it's an OCD thing, so I'd done most of my need-to-know breed research by that night. Tyson was the best dog we ever had.

This.
I meant older as in 4-5 not a year...thats still a crazy hyper puppy.

It's not just obedience it's the breed as a whole that you need to learn to be with and how the breed acts,what to expect ect.You cant just jump from a Pomeranian to a full blow young pit bull and expect it to go ok when you couldnt deal with a Basset hound.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm being harsh I'm just being realistic.

Aww he is cute, he reminds me of Gotti we had at the shelter! http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png Good luck with him, be sure to get a breakstick like I said also. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I figured so, so I knew he was going to be pretty puppy-like.

Well, that was why he was on a leash, and it was a surprise "oh I'm going to yank you towards a cat" situation. I know he's in a new environment and the cats are new to him and exciting and he wants to play with them or eat them, whichever it is, but I learned my lesson.

Plus, I had a very energetic Boxer/Pit mix before, like I've said, so I knew he was going to be energetic. He's just a little more energetic than expected. I've realized that though, and he got plenty of exercise today so hopefully he will be tired tonight.

And I don't mind getting obedience training. I've already contacted a trainer who I can set an appointment up with to evaluate him when I'm ready. First off though, I want to get him adjusted to his surroundings and try to keep the peace...

Well that was a wonderful thing for you to do http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/biggrin.png. I've researched before, but a lot of the research you don't understand until you actually have a Pit Bull in your house, at least that's how I feel. A lot of the things I've read and learned from reading on here make a lot more sense now that he's actually here.

You were how old when Roxy was a young hyper dog?
Plus she lived outside, much different then having one inside.

I know he's in a new environment and the cats are new to him and exciting and he wants to play with them or eat them, whichever it is, but I learned my lesson. He's just a little more energetic than expected. There is no room for error in this breed Bri, there's no "I learned my lesson" because learning that lesson could end the life of one of your animals or someone else's.
If you have a older dog these traits are much more mild (most of the time) it's like playing a game on easy vs hard while still learning how the game works.
If you know what to expect in the game after playing it once on easy your gonna be able to play it and do a good job on hard.

And like I said it's not just obedience, he can know all his basic commands doesn't mean he respects you and knows how to act/ whats expected of him.

I've been researching... and I'm learning how Brennan acts. Roxy was a Pit mix. With a LOT of Pit characteristics. It's not like I'm completely inexperienced in the breed. I just have a lot to learn as I've already found out. I don't mind learning. One reason why I'm on this forum.

Second of all, I'm not a hound dog person. There were multiple reasons why a Basset Hound wasn't right for our house.

Brennan already fits in better and is better behaved than Duke was.

I have a feeling that if it was anyone else with their first Pit Bull and coming up with some issues, you'd not be saying a lot of these things and telling me to find an older dog. Just because you know my past history with dogs, I feel sort of singled out. Just saying.

I've grown up a lot and I know how to take care of a dog now. I know that I'm responsible if Brennan does something to one of the cats or Lily. It'd be entirely my fault. But really, with some training and socialization and spending some more time with him, I think he'd be fine. He's a great dog, and he's had a rough life.

Thanks http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/biggrin.png. I definitely am!

I dont think anyone else knows your past yet they are saying the same things?
And how much were you researching pit bulls after Roxy died?
You think that just because your on the forum and now learning that you are now ready to own one?

I have been very active in the breed for years now, including being involved with rescues and dealing with a lot of people involved in this breed. I still wouldnt just jump into a young pitbull it doesnt even cross my mind.
I would be going for a 3-4 yr old.