[Bondjrno]

So hey guys, I just got two month old female red nose. Now I've had dogs all my life and most of the time I owned them two at a time. So I know they always play aggresively. But my pops is giving me grief that my new pitt, Ruca, is punking our other dog we've had for over a year now. The male dog is a mix between a weenier dog mixed with something, so its a pretty small dog. Ruca keeps biting him at the neck and he ends up rolling on his back and she keeps at it. I havent heard him yelp or anything, but eventually he'll try escaping from her. So is this something I should worry about continuing as she gets bigger? My dad just says it will cause shes a pitt. He loves her but he doenst want her hurting our other dog. So what do you guys think?

---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------

One more thing.. I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow to get her shots, and I know they will be full of other dogs, what kind of behavior should I look for to see if she is dog aggressive. I've owned one dog aggressive dog in the past and its no fun..

[suingincentix]

If you aren't prepared to own a DA dog, getting a pit bull puppy was a bad idea! Despite anything you do, your dog may be dog aggressive. It all depends on how her genetics are written.

It sounds like she's playing like a typical dog. If your dog is submissive and lets her get out of hand, it can get ugly. If your dog is dominant and finally tells her off for it, it can STILL get ugly. If you are concerned, I would stop their play when it gets to that boy and redirect her attention to something else. Start working with commands that let her know she needs to tone down the play, or stop it all together. And remember to ALWAYS keep the two dogs separate by crating one, or both, when you aren't keeping a close eye on them.

At two months old, it is pretty unlikely your pup will exhibit any dog aggression.

[Bondjrno]

Thank you bud. Yea he doesnt seem like he will tell her to stop. But eventually she stops and they get along ok. I'm planning on getting her a chew toy tomorrow to see if that helps any. And on your suggestion on a crate. How much time is too long to keep a dog in one? It just seems like they need time to roam free.

If she is dog aggresive, will socializing help, or will it just make it more manageable?

Thanks for the help, I appreciate suggestions.

[wmtravelservice]

If she is dog aggressive, taking her around other dogs to "socialize" her is just asking for trouble. If you're not willing to deal with a DA dog, then please rehome now, while she's still a puppy. It's easier to place puppies than older dogs.

If you choose to keep her (which I hope you do), these stickies will help you out.

Training and Socializing Puppies
Crate and Rotate (this is actually very simple once you get a routine)
Responsible uses of a Breakstick
Managing a Multi-Dog Household by PNWPBR

Hope this helps, good luck!

[Bondjrno]

I am willing to deal with her, thats why I'm going through forums looking for help. Thanks.

[Tusanoc]

Just read all the stickies in all the sections.

[suingincentix]

Where does she currently sleep? Crating her at night to sleep would be okay. As for during the day, I wouldn't crate an 8 week old pup for more than 2-3 hours at a time without a potty break. I would feed her in her crate, and give her special toys in there... it makes it a personal, comfortable space At this point, I would only recommend crating her when you have to leave the house and can't supervise the two dogs. Leaving a young pup loose unattended just seems like a bad idea anyways lol

As for dog aggression - begin her training and socializing NOW, while she is still young. I would recommend a puppy class, so she learns to behave around other dogs. It will make for a good foundation if she does "turn on" when she's older and needs more management. Keep in mind - while it sounds like she's just playing now, her dog aggression definitely could expand to your current dog and it may become necessary to always keep them separate when she starts to mature.

[Bondjrno]

Ok cool. Well I got back from the vet, and she seemed ok, there were plenty of dogs there, different sizes, breeds and sex. She would just sit down, when they got close she would sniff them a bit, but she also seemed a bit scared. She peed a couple times, I don't know if it was out of fear, trying to mark territory, or just had to go. Towards the end of the visit, these very hyper dogs came out from getting their shots, and they approached her, she started sniffing one of them and tried jumping on the dog. I stopped her and she tried again later, and stopped her again. I'm hoping this was a good sign.

[suingincentix]

I'm glad the visit went well!

As a puppy of her age, decent behaviour towards other dogs is in no way a sign of how she'll be when she matures. My male APBT loved other dogs when he was younger, and then at about a year and a half decided he was pickier about his dogs friends... and the change became apparent literally overnight. He's only mildly DA, to the point where I would call him "dog reactive" instead... he needs slow introductions as he puffs up and tries to be a bad ass at first, but he likes to play with friendly dogs. However, he is more than willing to scrap if the other dog wants to and he'll back up his initial jerk attitude if the other dog reciprocates. So just keep socializing your girl now, while she's a pup... train her how you want her to behave around other dogs, but always be aware as she matures that her tolerance for dogs can slip away!

[soitlyobserty]

It's very easy to f*ck up a weener dogs back, or any small dog for that matter. I wouldn't let my pups grab a small dog.

[Bondjrno]

Yea, I know they're playing, but it just doesnt look too good. So I take her off, and she gets antsy, because she wants to play and chew. Today I got a big dog cushion and when they started playing and she started biting on his neck and ears, I took her off and gave them the pillow. They took all the energy they were using wrestling and took it out on the pillow. I'm hoping this help.

[soitlyobserty]

Remember it's up to YOU as the human leader to set boundaries and -----> limits for your pup. Because soon the pup will be testing you in all sorts of ways.

[Bondjrno]

Cool.. What kind of play would you say is too much? Like when should I be concerned, when should I step in and split them and discipline her, and when should I let them just be dogs?

[soitlyobserty]

Uh...
Are these the first dogs you have owned?
How old are you?
Are you able to read dog body language at all?
How are your dog handling skills and have you ever done any type of dog training, like Obedience classes?
I will need some info before I can answer your Q's


Letting them just be dogs might get your weenier dog hurt...

[Bondjrno]

No I've had 3 dogs before getting my new pup.First female though. I never been to classes with my dogs, but at the same time I have never had a problem with my dogs. I never had trouble training them, not to do tricks or anyhting but the basic sit, stay, come type of things. And I've actually started to get this pup to do most of those things, shes a little hard headed about coming, and it takes a while to get her to understand stay, but shes learning. The only problem I have been having is she seems real territorial towards the little dog. He cant go near her pee spot with out her chasing him. Every once in a while if he comes to me and wants me to pet him or rub his belly, shell either jump on his shoulders,or get in between me and him. And when I say just be dogs, I mean that they wrestle and she;ll chew on his back and he'll chew on her legs. NONE of them have yelped or bleed or anyhting yet. And my friend tells me I am just being paranoid. I think I'm just playing it safe, what do you think?

[soitlyobserty]

I'd play it safe...
I just got a rescue dog in, she's a brat. She wants to "play"/jump on my cats and smaller dogs. Uh...no.... Those are MY cats and MY small dogs. You, new rescue dog, can not be a brat. If you are then I will snatch you up by the collar or scruff and tell you "NO". If she does it again that shows I was not hard enough on the correction the first time. If she show restraint, and just sniff/walks by, she gets praised. With play, she gets revved up too fast. I warn her by saying "ahhhh, ahh. Be nice!" in a warning tone. Then praising when she is nice. You don't have to beat em, just make sure they know you are meaning what you say.
If both of your dogs are having fun playing, thats fine. When one(the weenier one) starts looking nervous or scared, then step in.

[Bondjrno]

So today I let my pup 3 months old now, play with a friends dog, and was totally cool about it. Let the other dog sniff her bit, something she didnt do at the vets. They ran around for a bit, with no incident. I'm hoping this continues because I have seen threads here, where people say their dogs were chil with other dogs, and eventually "turned on". So we'll see, but this was good to see today.

[suingincentix]

Most bulldogs DO turn on. Dog friendliness as a puppy is NO guarantee. Most puppies are friendly as a survival instinct, but once they begin to mature their genetics have other ideas in the friendly department.

It sounds like she is also really jealous of your other dog, which needs to stop. That can become pretty dangerous for the little one as your girl grows!

[Bondjrno]

Yea the whole jealousy thing is getting a little bit better. Like when people come over she still gets jealous and antsy if they pet him, even if they pet her first. If they want to pet him, she'll sort of get in between them and him. But when its just us, I can get her to calm down and eventually lay down.

[suingincentix]

I would suggest keeping her on a leash when people come over, and making her sit and wait for attention. When she gets inbetween the other dog and people, she needs to be corrected and made to wait for attention.