[Celeliamend]

tracy, show this to your husband:

http://www.nopitbullbans.com/wp-cont...te_1cf54f6.pdf

It is a report on a study done by Cornell University to see if tethering (chaining) adversely affected dogs. The answer in short was no. But you might want to let him read it so he can see the results of a respected & unbiased university study instead of the terror tactics spewed out by PETA, HSUS, etc.

As for the breaking sticks, just go get some & don't even tell him. Just put them in a place where you'll know where they are. When the boys tie up & he sees he can't stop his precious babies from killing one another, you can just step in with the sticks, hand him one & show him the error of his ways!

I just read that study and it is a pretty poor example to show anyone. The set up that they had with the dog's in the pen was horrible it's like comparing apples to oranges.

[wiweimeli]

Good advice given so far, another thing to consider is if you are leaving your dog in a yard alone a fence probably will not keep him in. One of my dogs has no problem jumping my 6 foot fence and if they can't jump they will dig. A tether system is needed to keep him safe and under my supervision instead of running the streets and mine are only outside to potty and play. Unsocialized and untrained dogs are aggressive, doesn't matter how they are kept if the owners lacking. Properly kept chained dogs are no different than any other.
Breaksticks are a great tool, if you don't have one around you will regret it when you need it. Get a couple, you don't want to be running around looking if they fight, put them in accessible spots.

[Kiariitf]

hehehe, I like your thinking. He is so sure his dominant ways will just make them submit. That annoys me to NO END. I mean, I realize I am in Bostonian in the South but come on. Just cause your "the man" doesn't mean these dogs will listen when they are in a fight!

My BF is the same way. We have two APBT and a Golden Retriever.
It annoys me that I do all the training and he isn't learning a thing. I am a (human) behavior specialist by trade, so I do have understanding of how it all works, be it human or animal. He thinks I'm going overboard with my expectations and wanting to be proactive with them, in fear of something bad happening, in the future. It makes me crazy! I like to think that they are capable of fighting and doing damage, so I treat them as if they might and hope that they never will. My three are all very friendly and laid back, but they are still dogs and any dog, no matter the breed, can have a bad day...be in pain or get startled and then react. That can all lead to something bad. Just like most people childproof their homes for kids, I believe that we need to do the same for our pets. Just my opinion....

Hang in there are don't stop doing the research and asking questions. In the end, he'll see that your taking the time to learn about this breed was the responsible thing to do and hopefully he'll learn something. : )

[bestcigsnick]

I was just showing husband the chain set up on one of the pages, along w/ break sticks and he said "No way" to the chains and "For what?" to the stick.

I wasn't quite sure about the chains...so I need some info there. I have always heard that chaining the dogs up make them more prone to attack. Do you find that to be true or completely false? I have noticed that when they are chained they seem a lot more protective of their own space. Do you think that is true?

As far as the break stick, I am getting one and learning to use it. I am sure the 2 male pups will get into it as they get older. It happens now and they are only 4 / 5 months old so I know it is going to happen. I want to be prepared.

[womberte]

Chaining has never proved to make a dog more dangerous. It helps them to be secure. That theory comes from Humaniacs that have know idea what they are talking about. Also those who confuse Bullies for TRUE APBT's..
P.S.
If you have a APBT you need a stick trust me. A real APBT is not letting go on command. It is what it is...This is a different breed. Most people need to educate themselves before they get into this breed of dog.

[gunhijala]

Nope, I haven't found them to be more possessive/aggressive of an area at all. Anyone could walk into my dog's chain spots, and they'd want to be petted. Now if another animal came along that's a different story, but that has nothing to do with them being chained. My boyfriend's son brought his daughter, Abbi, who will be one at end of April, over to Tess and Locus when both were on their chains, and Abbi got a face full of licks from each dog, no aggression.

Cuddles (my lab/ husky mix) lived the majority of her live in a pen, and then when I moved her down here in NC with me, she got her own chain spot. At first, I was nervous that it would be a "step down", however, I feel it was better for her. Now I know I can't say "Cuddles, which do you prefer," but her behavior seemed to be liking the chain more, because she could look at the world clearly instead of threw bars. She hasn't gotten more aggressive. Actually, I caught our neighbor's dog eating her food a few weeks ago, which she would allow the same thing in her pen, when my brother's beagles would sneak in. So, it hasn't changed her behavior at all for the worse.

[Liaptoono]

All my dogs are exposed to chaining and kenneling. To be honest, they prefer the chains. My dogs are the same. Anyone can walk up to them on chain,. My dogs are nanny dogs to two kids. They've never shown any human aggression on chain or otherwise. If your dogs are well cared for, get enough stimulation, etc.... chaining is one of the best ways you can keep your dog secure if you can't be right there to attend to them but want to confine them safely while letting them enjoy some fresh air, especially with a breed that is known for their escape artist antics. One thing I would be VERY careful with concerning chains is having little kids cruising around when they are on chain. None of my kids are allowed any where near a chained dog, not because of aggression issues, but it only took once for one of the dogs to get the chain wrapped around my ankle when they did a quick turn when they spotted a cat, to clue in to how much the CHAIN could hurt a little kid. I remember once actually reading an article online about a little girl that was strangled by a dog that was tied up.

Breaking sticks.... you may never need one but if you ever do and you don't have one, you'll be kickin' yourself forever.

[Queueftof]

Definately get a break stick. A bulldog won't let go

If I didn't live here where it is 120 degrees and if I actually had enough land (Darn city ) I would have chain setups for my dogs, and I don't even own "Pit Bulls". When the weather is nice enough I am sure MOST dogs would prefer to be outside with a 15 ft to 30 ft or however long it is chain than their kennels inside where they can just sit there lmao It's not like they are on 2 feet chains like you see on PETA's website or 'Animal Cops' on Animal Planet

Kudos to you for educating yourself and taking the proper steps to keep your dogs under control!!

[Caregrasy]

Here is a thread on breaksticks:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1513

[erepsysoulptnw]

A proper chain set up and a break stick are two of the best investments a APBT owner can make. You have to understand that when you are getting a breed like the APBT, you are getting a dog that over the years has been bred to WANT to fight other animals.... most are dog aggressive, and prey driven.... Trust me.. you don't want your first fight to be the one that costs your dog its life because it either got loose from the yard and attacked a neighbors dog, or your dogs gets into it with another dog and you can't get them apart because you have no break stick.

Remember you don't train your dog to fight... they are natural fighters... and all the love in the world isn't going to make them like other dogs... you can't hug it out of them.

[Thunderzee]

tracy, show this to your husband:

http://www.nopitbullbans.com/wp-cont...te_1cf54f6.pdf

It is a report on a study done by Cornell University to see if tethering (chaining) adversely affected dogs. The answer in short was no. But you might want to let him read it so he can see the results of a respected & unbiased university study instead of the terror tactics spewed out by PETA, HSUS, etc.

As for the breaking sticks, just go get some & don't even tell him. Just put them in a place where you'll know where they are. When the boys tie up & he sees he can't stop his precious babies from killing one another, you can just step in with the sticks, hand him one & show him the error of his ways!

[nushentelve]

I can't afford to properly fence my yard, so I have to use a chain setup.
well, my dog is still the same lol

here should be a helpfull link about an incident that happend to me a few days ago...
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=26768
this is just how quick accidents happen and how hard it is to controle and maintain an APBT (and mine is just a mutt!)
APBT are VERY stuborn. mine will dig, jump, do everything he can to get to a dog, so I HAVE to chain him, and I'm pretty happy about the results!
I have had him on that metal cord for a few months and now on a chain and he's still the same as he used to be ^^
I can now let him roam around in the yard without having to walk around with him on a leash when it's raining or about everytime he goes out...
(pretty helpfull in the summer when you just want to chill in the sun! ^^)

as NCPG said, a breaking stick and a chain setup are the best investments a bulldog owner can make! (maybe I could even include the flirt and springpole and treadmill (sp?) lol)

[Wluwsdtn]

Great advice here for the OP.

Just remember, you may never need a break stick, but better to have one and not need it, than to need it and not have it. I have the ER bill to prove it, when Mollie got into it with our old boy Maxx. At that time, I didn't have one, and (like a dummy) tried to pry her mouth open with my hand... BIG mistake. She wasn't biting me, but she wasn't letting go either, and the tip of my finger got in her way. It's been just over a year, and my finger is still tender where she got me. The day I got back to work, I had to take off a day because of the pain, I ordered two break sticks from pitbullrescuecentral. I never take Mollie for a walk without it. Better to be safe, than sorry. Your dogs can get along great for 4 years, 3 months, and 27 days, but on day 28, they can get into a fight over a sun ray. It's not worth the risk.

[bestcigsnick]

hehehe, I like your thinking. He is so sure his dominant ways will just make them submit. That annoys me to NO END. I mean, I realize I am in Bostonian in the South but come on. Just cause your "the man" doesn't mean these dogs will listen when they are in a fight!

tracy, show this to your husband:

http://www.nopitbullbans.com/wp-cont...te_1cf54f6.pdf

It is a report on a study done by Cornell University to see if tethering (chaining) adversely affected dogs. The answer in short was no. But you might want to let him read it so he can see the results of a respected & unbiased university study instead of the terror tactics spewed out by PETA, HSUS, etc.

As for the breaking sticks, just go get some & don't even tell him. Just put them in a place where you'll know where they are. When the boys tie up & he sees he can't stop his precious babies from killing one another, you can just step in with the sticks, hand him one & show him the error of his ways!

[softy54534]

My dogs have both a run-line and a 10xsomething pen. They prefer they run-line as they have MUCH more space to do as they please. I also like it better because Delilah has figured out how to climb out of the pen as well as open the latch. Delilah has been on a run-line ever since I've had her and I don't believe it has made her anymore aggressive.

[Thunderzee]

tracy - I had to do the same thing. I an an Ohioan (Toledo) living in Mississippi married to a man from Tennessee. (tell me THAT wasn't a shot of crappy karma! lol.)

When we first got our dogs, he insisted they would not fight if we "raised them right." I lmao, but I gave it a try as I have seen pitties live peacefully. Well, needless to say, when the dogs turned 2 & our sweet loving babies who had been raised together & socialized extensively with other dogs tried killing one another, he was convinced otherwise, esp. after he got the glorious chore of burial duties.

As for sticks, he too was against them until he saw every single old wives' tale about breaking up fighting dogs fail & he got tired of being called home from work to break up the dogs. He is now a strong believer that ALL pit bulls can fight & that breaks sticks are an awesome (& responsible) thing to have!

Your man (like mine) being the all knowing & all powerful southern "man" he may not even look at the Cornell study, but you go girl & do your thing. It's what we Yankee girls have to do b/c I'm found some southern men are as they say down here "useless as tits on a boar hog."

[aliceingoogs]

35 years later and a few tricks learned. Get the "Parting Sticks" and practice first with the mutt and toy.Over and over,both of you. {you can't believe how incompetent the boys, that should know, are}. Most fumble and have Parting sticks that are too short.
We haven't used the axel setup ever as the cable run [a real cable, 1/4 inch or more}has way more good points. Send a PM and we will try to link you to our site and you will see the setup. The Cornell Study is a good source for info on the 2nd rate ground tether. In the beginning a person could start with a T G dog and an axel setup and a plastic barrel and think they were doing their best. Truth is ,if you stick around,you can improve each of these ,or ,stay "dumb as dirt.

[bestcigsnick]

tracy - I had to do the same thing. I an an Ohioan (Toledo) living in Mississippi married to a man from Tennessee. (tell me THAT wasn't a shot of crappy karma! lol.)

When we first got our dogs, he insisted they would not fight if we "raised them right." I lmao, but I gave it a try as I have seen pitties live peacefully. Well, needless to say, when the dogs turned 2 & our sweet loving babies who had been raised together & socialized extensively with other dogs tried killing one another, he was convinced otherwise, esp. after he got the glorious chore of burial duties.

As for sticks, he too was against them until he saw every single old wives' tale about breaking up fighting dogs fail & he got tired of being called home from work to break up the dogs. He is now a strong believer that ALL pit bulls can fight & that breaks sticks are an awesome (& responsible) thing to have!

Your man (like mine) being the all knowing & all powerful southern "man" he may not even look at the Cornell study, but you go girl & do your thing. It's what we Yankee girls have to do b/c I'm found some southern men are as they say down here "useless as tits on a boar hog."