[milfovoxapl]

Hi, I am the owner of Lolly, a beautiful, well behaved pit bull with no behavior problems--due entirely to the education I received at THIS website.

However I have determined that one of the side effects of having a totally awesome, calm, sweet, obedient pit bull is that others want one too.This is where I have run into a Great. Big. Problem.

A while back a friend of mine began to ask my advice about getting a pit bull, and how to go about it. I told her 1) contact rescue organizations who will help you select a 2) female -- their dog is male 3) that has passed an evaluation of temperament by a professional behaviorist 4) begin her life with you following the NILIF principles 5) begin formal training with a pit bull friendly trainer once She has settled in 6) read all the stickies at this web site like it is your new job.

Needless to say she did the exact opposite of Every. Stinkin'. Thing. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of COURSE now they are having Big Aggression Problems with their adolescent, male, purchased off of Craigs List in a New York Minute, rules the roost, pit bull.

At this point I really, really need to light a fire under her a$$ and get her to TAKE ACTION. She is hopin', & wishin', & dreamin' it will all go away and magically get better. I have TOLD her that bad behavior always, always, always gets worse. I have told her to contact a behaviorist. I have talked & talked & talked.

I need to find some way to make her realize what a disaster this will become. If I can't find some way to get her moving, this dog will hurt someone. He will be a headline. I must find a way to get through to her.

I was thinking that photos of pit bull bites and stories of the behaviors that lead up to the bites might help. Can you help me find links to such photos and stories? Is this a bad idea? I am not trying to sully the breed or create needless panic in her. She has her head firmly planted in a dark hole & she needs a boot in the booty.

Thank you for your help.

[Les Allen]

This may seem harsh, but I strongly suggest you contact a rescue, give them her contact information, and see if any of them can get through to her. Unfortunately she sounds stubborn and not all that bright. I *wish* she had at LEAST gone through a rescue, because then maybe you could get them to "repo" her dog--a lot of shelters/rescues have provisions for that in their contract. Do you know if she was made to sign a contract when she got the dog off craigslist...? I doubt it, but it may be worth looking into.

Stories and pics MIGHT be a good resource, but try contacting a rescue that is not against the breed to provide this kind of information for her.

Good luck!!!

[milfovoxapl]

She did ask me about a rescue but I wasn't sure if they would (or should) take a dog with some serious aggression issues. I suppose I had better do some research and make some phone calls. I will be sure to be very clear about the situation--I don't want to pass this problem "on down the line", and risk someone else getting hurt.

Oh, and no contract--just fifty-bucks-nice-doin'-business-with-ya-goodbye!

[milfovoxapl]

Thanks for the info. I will pass it on to her. I agree about the dog needing put to sleep. So sad, it's like a recipe for "how to ruin your dog"

[Mappaindy]

Does she have good renters/homeowners insurance? Does it specifically cover the dog?

I had a dog I took in off Craigslist and within a week he attacked a child and was put down at my request. I got sued for $29,000. Not only did I get sued for the medical bills, I also got ticketed for Harboring a Vicious Animal, had to go to court and had to spend a year on probation plus I got to pay probation fees and the fees associated with my ticket. He didn't show any aggression before the incident, but he was rather unruly. We were working on basic obedience when he bit. So, yeah. If you can't get her to see sense any other way mention me.

[milfovoxapl]

Wow, that is HORRIBLE! I am so sorry that happened to you. That is a good point about the insurance. I will bring that up, too. Every little bit helps, you know?

[Les Allen]

If the aggression issues are serious, as in, biting people... then the dog should probably be put down. If the dog hasn't shown aggression toward humans then the rescue may be able to work with it. How close are you to Eugene, Oregon? They have a pit-bull rescue there, you might contact them and see if they can help?

[suingincentix]

Contact Ellena from Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue (http://pnwpbr.rescuegroups.org/) and advise her of the situation. It truly sounds like the dog needs to be put down, and Ellena might be able to help advise your friend properly - if your friend will take the word of someone reputable and familiar with the breed.