Royal South Kennels

Aggression

Q: My Pit Bull Terrier is out of control! He is aggressive towards other dogs and people. What can I do?

A: Same-sex aggression and aggression towards other breeds of dogs is well documented with this breed. It is strongly recommended that no more than two Pit Bull Terriers (of opposite sex only) ever be permitted to stay together unattended.

Most behavioral problems are due to a lack of companionship, discipline, activity and exercise.
For a Pit Bull Terrier that is very aggressive with other dogs, a technique is to squirt the terrier in the face with water whenever he growled at other dogs. No scolding or other action is required in this instance - just a surprise squirt.
A Pit Bull Terrier that bites can be a big problem. You must stop this behavior before it becomes dangerous.
Don't allow your Pit Bull Terrier to win any games of aggression. The outcome could certainly send the wrong message to him.
Exercise, exercise, exercise! A tired dog seldom wants to pick a fight.
Never put your hands between two fighting terriers
Pit Bull Terriers require firm, consistent discipline. They are extremely intelligent, continue to test their limits throughout their life.
Pit Bull Terriers can become very possessive of their owner or a favorite member of the family or of what they consider to be their personal property if allowed to do so to the point of showing aggressive protective behavior that must be controlled from an early age.
Pit Bull Terriers can be very destructive if left unattended and unemployed! Most behavioral problems are due to a lack of companionship, discipline, activity and exercise. If you've only seen perfect, well-behaved Pits, they are ones that were lucky enough to be exercised, well socialized, and trained.

Dealing With The Aggressive Dog

Q: I am having aggression problems with my Dealing With The Aggressive Dog

Q: I am having aggression problems with my Pit Bull Terrier. Can you discuss issues related to aggression so I can understand what I can do?

A: The typical dominant dog will growl if you try to move him aside, growl in bed at night if you move, refuse to get off the furniture when told, will not roll over on his/her back and will growl if you attempt it, will attempt to mount a human {also known as "humping"}, food/toy/treat protection, barking as a form of demanding something from you, among many other things. Some dogs will do one of the above and not be a serious problem, but when you put several together there is a problem. If ANY of the above are happening in your home, you need to get a handle on it right away. Don't wait til it gets worse or until you or someone else is bitten. The sooner you get a grip on the situation, the better.

The first things I suggest are keeping the dog off of the furniture at ALL times. No sleeping in bed, no getting on the couch, chairs, etc. This is allowing the dog to be your equal. My dogs sleep in bed and I have no problems. But they also don't have aggression issues.

Control the food. You decide when the dog eats. For a dog with serious issues, feed the dog by hand. Make the dog work for his meals. Don't just toss the food in a bowl and let him have at it. Have him "sit" or any other command, then give him a few pieces of food. Do the same until the food is gone. If the dog refuses to obey the command, the food goes up and that's it for that meal. Trust me, a dog that's hungry will learn to obey commands if they want to eat. Being in charge of the food shows that you are in control and you are alpha in the house.

The same goes for toys and treats. The dog has to earn them. And do not give an unlimited supply. Keep toys hidden and when the dog has behaved very well, let him have one toy.

As Dr. Nicholas Dodman states in his book, "Dogs behaving badly".. "NO FREE LUNCH". The dog has to earn everything from food to affection. And do not let your dog come to you and nudge you for attention. That puts them in control of the situation. Don't praise continuously. Praise right after he has obeyed a command. The dog needs to understand what you want from him. You can't just correct for bad behavior without teaching the dog what correct behavior is.

Another thing to remember is always control play time. If you're playing "fetch", YOU must initiate the game or it doesn't get played. You also determine when it ends. If the dog refuses to bring the ball back and wants to play chase, turn around and walk in the house and the game is over. Dominant dogs love to have control of every situation.

Another thing to remember is to avoid confrontation at this point. If you know that something sets off the dog, try to avoid it. You're trying to teach the dog what's "good" behavior rather than constantly correcting for bad.

If a dog is truly aggressive, do NOT attempt to scruff or alpha roll the dog. An inexperienced person can get seriously injured attempting to do this. In the early stages of aggression {a dog that's just testing the waters to see what he can get away with}, put him in his place right away. Don't wait until you're getting bitten and are fearful of the dog. Dogs sense fear and if your dog knows he can push your buttons, he will do it happily. Body language is very important when dealing with dogs. This is a major way they communicate. Petting a dominant dog on the top of the head can set a dog off.

Nipping and Biting

Q: We're having difficulty with our puppy. He's been nipping and biting and we don't know how to stop it. Can you help?

A: Nipping and biting is how a puppy explores it's world and learns it's boundaries. When you allow a puppy to nip or bite at you, or your clothes, without an appropriate correction or consequences, you are actually teaching this youngster that it is acceptable behavior. Not a good idea in the long run!

Time outs are great, they really teach the puppy that if they can't play nicely, they can't play at all! When I have puppies that bite I have found two types of corrections that work well for me. I don't recommend hitting a puppy or holding a puppy's mouth closed for biting, rather, putting your hand OVER their muzzle and just pushing its lips into the teeth, if they exert pressure downward, they only end up biting themselves. This does two things: it gives them a correction, and simulates another dog putting it's mouth over their muzzle. This mimics a common sign of dominance among canines, allowing you to reemphasize your dominance over them! I also will use a little pinch on the lip as a correction. With both corrections, I give a verbal correction "No bite" and when they stop, I praise them. With perseverance and patience, you will eventually be able to give only a verbal correction and have them stop. With puppies, it is often a good idea to quickly distract them with an appropriate chew toy so they don't go right back to "finger attack" mode!

If the corrections don't seem to work, then give time out, because they are either too wound up or too tired and need a nap! It might seem endless, but keep up the corrections you need to win this battle! Be persistent and they'll soon learn that nipping isn't such a fun game after all!

Separation Anxiety

Q: My Pit Bull Terrier becomes very upset when we leave the house. What can we do?

A: There are three simple steps to help your dog overcome separation anxiety.

Before leaving pay no attention to the dog for 20 - 30 minutes and leave a special toy or treat to distract the dog when you go out and remove the item upon your return.

When returning home, ignore your dog until he is quiet and relaxed, then interact on your own initiative. Do NOT reprimand your dog for destructive behavior or for urinating or defecating in the house.

While you are home, interact with your dog only at your initiative and when the dog is relaxed. Teach your dog to stay calm as you move away, gradually increasing the distance and time away. Put your coat on or play with your keys at times other than before you are going to depart.
Separation anxiety is a behavior that without behavior modification will only become worse. If these few steps do not help out, it is best to talk with your vet about other treatments, or contact a behavior specialist.

In addition consider leaving the TV on or playing music while you are away and possibly placing a t-shirt or something with your scent on it near the crate so your terrier can smell it. It's possible that your scent will help calm him/her.

Boredom vs. Separation Anxiety

Q: Is my Pit Bull Terrier bored or is he suffering from separation anxiety?

A: Separation Anxiety is identifiable by one or more of the following: Excessive vocalization, excessive salivation, shaking, trembling, loss of interest in food if the owner is not present, urinating/defecating in the home, destruction, and in extreme cases... self mutilation

What separates a BORED dog from one who suffers from separation anxiety? The term is used frequently by people who are looking for an explanation for destructive behavior when their dog is left alone. The distinction, however, is that separation anxiety is exactly that. Anxiety. A dog that causes destruction in your home is not necessarily an anxious dog, but could very well be a bored one.

Crate your dog safely. It is much less overwhelming and stressful for a dog to be confined to his own, safe den. An empty house can seem enormous and even frightening for a dog suffering from anxiety. Crating is also a great way to keep the dog away from items he can destroy so that when you come home you won't be angry because you have a huge mess to clean up. Plan feeding schedules so the dog won't have to defecate in the crate while you're gone! Some anxious dogs just can't hold it!

Avoid emotional hellos and goodbyes. Believe it or not, people can really worsen anxiety by putting their dog into emotional overload just before they leave and right when they come home. Keep arrivals and departures emotionless.

Train your dog in basic obedience. Basic obedience training is so helpful in showing a dog his spot in the "pack" or family. A well trained dog is less likely to be subjected to lots of highs and lows (one minute he's a good boy, and the next minute he's driving you nuts). Those highs and lows really worsen anxiety.

BE PATIENT AND CONSISTENT! There is nothing more important in having a healthy relationship with your dog than consistency and patience. It will take you a long way in communicating with your dog and building a strong bond of trust. Very often, anxiety is increased by a family where there is a good cop/bad cop mentality (one spouse is easy and the other is tough), so see to it that your whole family follows the same consistent rules pertaining to your dog.

Submissive Urination

Q: My Pit Bull Terrier urinates whenever we try to pet her. What's wrong with her?

A: To begin with, submissive urination is not a house-training problem. A weak bladder causes it when the dog is excited or frightened. That is why it is seen most often in younger dogs. Submissive urination occurs in both male and female dogs, but is more common in the latter. These two forms of urination are easily diagnosed depending on the context of which they occur. Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened, such as when it is being punished or verbally scolded, or when someone is reaching for it from a dominant posture (direct eye contact, leaning forward over the dog, etc.). Excitement urination occurs most often during greetings and play and is not accompanied by submissive posturing. There are several things that the owner can do to help stop both of these behaviors.

No punishment or scolding should be used. It will only make the problem worse!

Keep greetings low-key when returning home.

Avoid approaching the dog in a dominant posture by:

Avoiding direct eye contact. Dogs assume that direct eye contact is a challenge. For a submissive dog, even a moment's eye contact can be intolerable.
bending down to the dog's level rather than leaning over to pet
Petting from under the chin rather than on top of the head. Dominant dogs often display their control by placing their neck or a paw over another dog's neck or shoulders. When a human pats a dog on the head, a submissive dog perceives it as a display of dominance.

Encourage and reward postures and behaviors that are exclusive of urination. In other words, give them something else to do rather than rolling over and urinating on the floor.

Ignore the dog until it is calm. This may prevent urination. If this does work, you can try adding some very calm words of greeting and gradually add physical affection over the next few minutes. After the physical affection, if your Pit Bull Terrier still has not urinated, tell him/her "good boy/girl" and give them a treat.

Submissive and excitement urination may resolve on their own as the dog matures, if it is not made worse with punishment or inadvertent reinforcement. After trying these suggestions out a couple of times, if you are still having a problem with submissive/excitement urination I would suggest that you have your veterinarian check the animal to rule out any urinary tract infections.

Picky Eaters

Q: I am having problems getting my dog to eat. She's such a picky eater. What can I do?

A: If you are having problems getting your dog to eat and/or have a picky eater here are some guidelines that have worked for us in the past. Please remember this has to be done for two weeks and I can guarantee that your picky eater will eat when you put the food down. Please remember that eating habits are usually created by humans and dogs are not naturally picky eaters. Please don't add anything to the food, such as canned food, gravy, but adding water is OK.

First put the food down and if it is not all gone in 15 minutes then pick it up and wait until the next feeding. I feed twice a day so this would mean if my dog didn't eat in the morning I would wait until that evening. If the dog doesn't eat that evening then pick up the food and wait until the morning. If you feed once a day, then again wait until the next feeding.

VERY Important to Remember: NO DOG IS GOING TO NATURALLY STARVE ITSELF TO DEATH.

This just won't happen, so don't worry about this. It is not going to hurt the dog to miss a couple of meals, but it will show the dog that he/she has to eat when you put the food down for him/her. During this time do not give any extras, such as treats. Remember you are trying to get this dog to eat when you want it and not when it wants to eat.

If you follow this I can guarantee that your dog will be eating normally within two weeks. It has worked for me in the past and I know that it will work for you if you are consistent in your feeding practices. Remember that consistency is the Key to everything with a Pit Bull Terrier.

House Breaking

Q: I'm having trouble housebreaking my Pit Bull Terrier puppy. Help!

A: Housebreaking in theory is very simple. It is finding a means of preventing the puppy from doing his duties in the house and giving him only an opportunity to do it outside. A dog is a strong creature of habit and because he learns by association, he will soon know there is no other place to relieve himself but the great outdoors.

Determine if it is physical or a mental problem. To check if physical problem, see your vet (especially if your previously well-behaved dog has begun housesoiling)
Give your Pit Bull Terrier plenty of exercise. Exercise is not a luxury to a Pit Bull, it's a MUST.
Examine the type and quality of the food you are feeding your terrier. Is it a good quality food? It may have too much soy or corn.
Are you allowing free choice feeding (i.e., is there always food out?). This is usually not a good practice. Feed puppies three times a day and adults twice a day. After 10 to 15 minutes, withdraw the food.
Do not give the puppy any food after 6 P.M. It takes a dog about 6 hours to digest his food and have an elimination as a result of that meal. Any food after 6:00 PM may give him an unexpected urge after he is put to bed.
Always get your dog outside after feeding!
Are you using a crate to help to train the puppy? Take advantage of a very natural instinct of the dog -- his desire to keep his sleeping quarters clean - ie: not to mess his bed.
Always have fresh clean water available during the day. If your dog is inclined to night soil or urinate in the house, use a crate for the night. Do not overcrate or use the crate for punishment. Make it comfortable for the dog.
Get your dog outside to relieve itself on a regular basis. Don't forget how important it is to praise a Pit Bull. They are very praise oriented.
Are you giving the dog the complete run of the house? It might be better to restrict the area of the house free to the dog.
It helps to train a Pit Bull to soil and urinate in the same small area. Have a specific area that the dog is taken to relieve itself. They will catch on more quickly.
The first thing in the morning pick the puppy up and take him outside to relieve himself.
In spite of a rigid routine, your pup may have an occasional accident during his periods of freedom. Here is where correction is necessary. If you catch him in the act, with a loud "NO" put him outside at once. Remember, a dog learns by association and in connection with any act of wrong doing, he must receive some form of discomfort in order to learn that he has done wrong. However, you must catch him in the act - it does absolutely no good to punish him for a mistake he has made an hour or even five minutes earlier.

Eating Grass

Q: Why does my dog eat grass?

A: Grass eating can be due to several reasons. Some dogs will ingest grass to induce vomiting. If you notice your dog is continually eating grass to induce vomiting, we recommend that you take a trip to your Vet.

Some dogs enjoy "grazing". There are several dogs who just like the taste of grass. It's not uncommon for a dog to grab a few blades of grass once in a while. If your lawn is chemically treated, I would try to keep the dog from eating grass. Also, if you go to a dog park or walks anywhere else, I would try to avoid grass eating for this reason.

Some dogs like to run the blades through their mouth to "taste" it and don't actually eat the grass.

If you have a dog that really enjoys eating grass you might want to add a little pureed veggies to their food or herbs. Please discuss any herbs with your veterinarian before feeding them to be sure they are safe.

Stool Eating

Q: My Pit Bull Terrier has begun to eat his own stool. Yuk! Why? What can I do?
A: There can be several causes of stool eating (also known as Copropagia) in dogs.

Terriers fed diets they can't properly digest will eat their stool because they consider it semidigested food rather than waste. Dogs will also eat the stool of other animals whose waste displays similarly appealing characteristics.

A change in diet will possibly solve this problem.

Owners can become obsessed with a dog's stool (due to a medical problem or when the owner takes a heavy handed, highly emotional approach to housebreaking). Your terrier may eat the stool to avoid dealing with your response to it.

It's best to put your emotions on hold and seek to identify and eliminate the real cause of the behavior rather than merely eliminate the behavior itself.

One way to cure the problem is to add a teaspoon of Crushed Pineapple to your dog food, the natural enzymes in the pineapple causes the stools to be less appealing and this will help if not stop the problem. This will take two or three weeks to see any results, so don't expect this to stop over night.