Anyone else have a pit mix?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopted a rescue dog about a year ago. We were told that he was a greyhound mix but according to one of those DNA tests, he is ~ 24% pit and the rest is Golden Retriever, Chow Chow, and Chihuahua.

Anyway, I'm just feeling a little unnerved by him because of the news about that horrible pit attack on the two babies.

He's a sweet dog but can be skittish around strangers. For this reason, we require our kids (youngest is 11 and oldest is 15) to be very careful about how they approach him or pet him. They know to gently put their hand out to allow him to sniff first and not to put their hands on top of his head. We're careful about observing his body language and respecting his boundaries if he seems tense, if he's yawning or licking his lips a lot, if he's giving whale eyes, and especially if his tail is tucked. They know not to approach him on his bed and to never bring friends or strangers around him. He's very open and affectionate with me and DH, probably because we feed him. For exercise and boarding, he goes to a specialty daycare and his file is accompanied by a warning that he might bite so I don't worry about that too much. They know how to handle dogs like him and he has warmed up to the staff considerably. Daycare has definitely been helping his socialization issues. But how do we know if he is a ticking time bomb at home?

He doesn't have the typical pit musculature or jaw, does that matter? He has a long narrow snout and long skinny legs (which may be why the shelter thought he was part greyhound).

I'm just a little unnerved by this idea that a loving family dog who has been nothing but perfect for years can suddenly snap and maul two kids and their mom.

I am unnerved about all the considerations and modifications you have had to make.

OP here. Really how so? All we do is observe his body language and leave him be if it seems like he wants space. We let him come to us when he wants attention (which he often does! He's a sweet dog). He likes our family. I think he sees the five of us as "his pack." He just doesn't like strangers, probably because a stranger scooped him off the street once and stuck him in a terrifying shelter. He's a great, easy dog in other respects - doesn't bark, doesn't shed much, doesn't beg or try to get up onto our counters, he's not clingy, doesn't have any separation anxiety, he gets along great with a wide variety of dogs at his daycare, etc.

Nope don't have one. And nope. I would never visit you if I knew you in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it matter that OP’s kids are older? I wouldn’t keep a dog like this around little kids. But teens should be able to leave the dog alone.

Personally, I wouldn’t. Fear-reactive dogs are dangerous to anyone.

Some dogs are reactive to vacuum cleaners. Would you be afraid of them? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My behaviorist vet says growling is very polite. She told me never scold growling, because you don't want to create a dog that skips the warning growl and goes straight into attack. Dogs only have so many ways to communicate. Growling is scary for humans but the dog doesn’t necessarily mean it to be.

The best kind of reactive dog is the one that barks or growls the moment he starts getting uncomfortable and then keeps his distance. He's making his boundaries crystal clear, he's starting at the lowest level of escalation, and he's heavily telegraphing a desire to avoid conflict. He might be loud and unhappy, but safely navigating his issues is easy.

This is exactly what OP is describing.

The worst kind of reactive dog is perfectly fine right until he isn't and stands his ground the entire time. You can't predict a dog like that. He's also leaving you no choice but to play chicken about which one of you is more dangerous. Unfortunately, training away a dog's signals of discomfort and then "dominating" him is a fabulous way of producing such a dog.

She also called him snappy and he has a bite warning at doggy daycare. (I can't imagine what doggy daycare would agree to take a snappy dog. I hope ours wouldn't.)

OP here. He does have a bite warning at daycare. For new staffers because we know he’s fearful of new people and when he’s anxious, he gets snappy.

However, there are a few mediating factors. 1.) He’s never actually bitten or even seriously nipped anyone. 2.) Going to daycare has really helped his human-reactive behavior. He’s been going for about six months. He’s taken a liking to all of the staff and they tell us that they genuinely love having him there because he’s actually an easy dog when he’s outside with other dogs and we pay extra for him to be outside as much as possible. He’s also very sweet and docile with caregivers he knows and feels comfortable with. Fortunately he absolutely loves going and since it’s become his favorite place, he has very positive associations with the people who work there. He warms up quickly to new staff, probably because they know to let him come to them rather than vice versa. They also seem proud when they “win” over the snappy dog with a bite warning in their file. They all say the same thing to us (we were warned about him but he likes *me*) lol.

I do honestly see improvement in him.

Oh, OP. Why can’t you see what is right in front of you?

Does it make a difference that the daycare says they see enormous progress in him too? He’s a rescue who was traumatized. I don’t think it is surprising if it took a while for him to warm up to us. But he is now.

Hey op you aren't going to get a pat on the head from these pit bull haters. I have two dogs who have pit in them but, very little. thank you for rescuing this dog and taking such good care of him! Plus educating your children on how to be kind.

She’s mostly educating her children on how their personal safety is less important than a dog to OP.

[Anonymous]

I have a pit and an beagle mix. Pit is the sweetest dog in the world. The beagle is so unpredictably and aggressive that I want to euthanize, but DH won’t let me. The beagle was clearly abused before we adopted him, and it’s not his fault, but we can’t have people over because of the beagle. We can’t board him, we can’t take him to the vet unless he is knocked out, we struggle to get a collar on him, and he has bitten us to the point of drawing blood several times.

But I will say the pit’s jaws are incredibly strong. I cannot pry a ball out of his mouth like I could with my now-departed lab. And he is stubborn, so if he really wants what is in his mouth, he will not drop it for anything. I can see how this could be a major problem if he were aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I do know that the situation is not ideal. But, aside from giving up the dog, which we're nowhere near ready to do, what else can we do besides what I already described?

As suggested above by the pit mix owner, you need a comprehensive attack plan. What will you do if the dog attacks? Do you have a plan in place? Have your children been trained about what to do in the event of an attack? Do you have protective devices such as bear spray around the house?

Note that one feature of pit bulls is that they are not deterred by pain when they are attacking, unlike other breeds. But you must, at a minimum, have a comprehensive plan for dealing with an attack. And, I guess, then you cross your fingers.

Please proof this "fact" you are quoting. Yeah, right the German shepherd who is biting you stops when you cry...? Do you even realize how ridiculous you sound?

So you have ten Pinocchio's at least!

Here, maybe you should read about your beloved “nanny dogs” from the most comprehensive book out there on the history of the breed. The pit bull tolerance of pain is well-discussed:

https://www.amazon.com/Dogs-velvet-steel-bulldogs-manual/dp/B007FCUSNK

Of course the author of the book was also eventually convicted of cruelty to animals because of his interest in dog fighting. But he did know his pit bull history.

If you can’t stomach learning the true history of your preferred breed, here is an article about vet observation about pain tolerance:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202004/do-dog-breeds-differ-in-their-sensitivity-pain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My behaviorist vet says growling is very polite. She told me never scold growling, because you don't want to create a dog that skips the warning growl and goes straight into attack. Dogs only have so many ways to communicate. Growling is scary for humans but the dog doesn’t necessarily mean it to be.

The best kind of reactive dog is the one that barks or growls the moment he starts getting uncomfortable and then keeps his distance. He's making his boundaries crystal clear, he's starting at the lowest level of escalation, and he's heavily telegraphing a desire to avoid conflict. He might be loud and unhappy, but safely navigating his issues is easy.

This is exactly what OP is describing.

The worst kind of reactive dog is perfectly fine right until he isn't and stands his ground the entire time. You can't predict a dog like that. He's also leaving you no choice but to play chicken about which one of you is more dangerous. Unfortunately, training away a dog's signals of discomfort and then "dominating" him is a fabulous way of producing such a dog.

She also called him snappy and he has a bite warning at doggy daycare. (I can't imagine what doggy daycare would agree to take a snappy dog. I hope ours wouldn't.)

OP here. He does have a bite warning at daycare. For new staffers because we know he’s fearful of new people and when he’s anxious, he gets snappy.

However, there are a few mediating factors. 1.) He’s never actually bitten or even seriously nipped anyone. 2.) Going to daycare has really helped his human-reactive behavior. He’s been going for about six months. He’s taken a liking to all of the staff and they tell us that they genuinely love having him there because he’s actually an easy dog when he’s outside with other dogs and we pay extra for him to be outside as much as possible. He’s also very sweet and docile with caregivers he knows and feels comfortable with. Fortunately he absolutely loves going and since it’s become his favorite place, he has very positive associations with the people who work there. He warms up quickly to new staff, probably because they know to let him come to them rather than vice versa. They also seem proud when they “win” over the snappy dog with a bite warning in their file. They all say the same thing to us (we were warned about him but he likes *me*) lol.

I do honestly see improvement in him.

Oh, OP. Why can’t you see what is right in front of you?

Does it make a difference that the daycare says they see enormous progress in him too? He’s a rescue who was traumatized. I don’t think it is surprising if it took a while for him to warm up to us. But he is now.

Hey op you aren't going to get a pat on the head from these pit bull haters. I have two dogs who have pit in them but, very little. thank you for rescuing this dog and taking such good care of him! Plus educating your children on how to be kind.

+1

It’s blowing my mind that people are criticizing her for teaching the kids how to interact with dogs safely and respect their boundaries.

Do you guys ever go on “Dog Tok” (dog TikTok)? Lots of stitches of videos on there where behaviorists look at other posters’ videos (usually of kids supposedly doing “cute” things like putting stickers all over a dog or trying to ride a dog or hug a dog) and point out what the dog is really trying to communicate through their body language. Turns out that dogs spend a lot of time being uncomfortable around humans and trying to tolerate it. I bet posters in here are doing it too if they are pooh poohing OP teaching her kids how to pet a dog respectfully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My behaviorist vet says growling is very polite. She told me never scold growling, because you don't want to create a dog that skips the warning growl and goes straight into attack. Dogs only have so many ways to communicate. Growling is scary for humans but the dog doesn’t necessarily mean it to be.

The best kind of reactive dog is the one that barks or growls the moment he starts getting uncomfortable and then keeps his distance. He's making his boundaries crystal clear, he's starting at the lowest level of escalation, and he's heavily telegraphing a desire to avoid conflict. He might be loud and unhappy, but safely navigating his issues is easy.

This is exactly what OP is describing.

The worst kind of reactive dog is perfectly fine right until he isn't and stands his ground the entire time. You can't predict a dog like that. He's also leaving you no choice but to play chicken about which one of you is more dangerous. Unfortunately, training away a dog's signals of discomfort and then "dominating" him is a fabulous way of producing such a dog.

She also called him snappy and he has a bite warning at doggy daycare. (I can't imagine what doggy daycare would agree to take a snappy dog. I hope ours wouldn't.)

OP here. He does have a bite warning at daycare. For new staffers because we know he’s fearful of new people and when he’s anxious, he gets snappy.

However, there are a few mediating factors. 1.) He’s never actually bitten or even seriously nipped anyone. 2.) Going to daycare has really helped his human-reactive behavior. He’s been going for about six months. He’s taken a liking to all of the staff and they tell us that they genuinely love having him there because he’s actually an easy dog when he’s outside with other dogs and we pay extra for him to be outside as much as possible. He’s also very sweet and docile with caregivers he knows and feels comfortable with. Fortunately he absolutely loves going and since it’s become his favorite place, he has very positive associations with the people who work there. He warms up quickly to new staff, probably because they know to let him come to them rather than vice versa. They also seem proud when they “win” over the snappy dog with a bite warning in their file. They all say the same thing to us (we were warned about him but he likes *me*) lol.

I do honestly see improvement in him.

Oh, OP. Why can’t you see what is right in front of you?

Does it make a difference that the daycare says they see enormous progress in him too? He’s a rescue who was traumatized. I don’t think it is surprising if it took a while for him to warm up to us. But he is now.

Not in light of everything else you’ve shared. I’m glad he’s made progress, but that doesn’t make him safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My behaviorist vet says growling is very polite. She told me never scold growling, because you don't want to create a dog that skips the warning growl and goes straight into attack. Dogs only have so many ways to communicate. Growling is scary for humans but the dog doesn’t necessarily mean it to be.

The best kind of reactive dog is the one that barks or growls the moment he starts getting uncomfortable and then keeps his distance. He's making his boundaries crystal clear, he's starting at the lowest level of escalation, and he's heavily telegraphing a desire to avoid conflict. He might be loud and unhappy, but safely navigating his issues is easy.

This is exactly what OP is describing.

The worst kind of reactive dog is perfectly fine right until he isn't and stands his ground the entire time. You can't predict a dog like that. He's also leaving you no choice but to play chicken about which one of you is more dangerous. Unfortunately, training away a dog's signals of discomfort and then "dominating" him is a fabulous way of producing such a dog.

She also called him snappy and he has a bite warning at doggy daycare. (I can't imagine what doggy daycare would agree to take a snappy dog. I hope ours wouldn't.)

OP here. He does have a bite warning at daycare. For new staffers because we know he’s fearful of new people and when he’s anxious, he gets snappy.

However, there are a few mediating factors. 1.) He’s never actually bitten or even seriously nipped anyone. 2.) Going to daycare has really helped his human-reactive behavior. He’s been going for about six months. He’s taken a liking to all of the staff and they tell us that they genuinely love having him there because he’s actually an easy dog when he’s outside with other dogs and we pay extra for him to be outside as much as possible. He’s also very sweet and docile with caregivers he knows and feels comfortable with. Fortunately he absolutely loves going and since it’s become his favorite place, he has very positive associations with the people who work there. He warms up quickly to new staff, probably because they know to let him come to them rather than vice versa. They also seem proud when they “win” over the snappy dog with a bite warning in their file. They all say the same thing to us (we were warned about him but he likes *me*) lol.

I do honestly see improvement in him.

Oh, OP. Why can’t you see what is right in front of you?

Does it make a difference that the daycare says they see enormous progress in him too? He’s a rescue who was traumatized. I don’t think it is surprising if it took a while for him to warm up to us. But he is now.

Hey op you aren't going to get a pat on the head from these pit bull haters. I have two dogs who have pit in them but, very little. thank you for rescuing this dog and taking such good care of him! Plus educating your children on how to be kind.

+1

It’s blowing my mind that people are criticizing her for teaching the kids how to interact with dogs safely and respect their boundaries.

Do you guys ever go on “Dog Tok” (dog TikTok)? Lots of stitches of videos on there where behaviorists look at other posters’ videos (usually of kids supposedly doing “cute” things like putting stickers all over a dog or trying to ride a dog or hug a dog) and point out what the dog is really trying to communicate through their body language. Turns out that dogs spend a lot of time being uncomfortable around humans and trying to tolerate it. I bet posters in here are doing it too if they are pooh poohing OP teaching her kids how to pet a dog respectfully.

OP is somewhat correctly teaching her kids to respect boundaries and she is also at the same time risking the safety of her kids. Some is what she’s doing is outright incorrect, like allowing her kids to play tug of war or giving the dog the preference of its own room (insanely bad training). And even for the stuff she is doing correctly, what she describes is indicative of a dog that is dangerous. Just because idiotic parents on TikTok film their kids behaving badly with dogs doesn’t mean OP is doing the right things. OP can be doing some things right AND the dog can still be dangerous. These are not exclusive facts.

I get that you don’t have much experience with dogs and are idealistic about rescue. That comes across loud and clear. But that doesn’t change the dangerous facts of this situation.

[Anonymous]

I hope that what OP has learned here is to get advice from veterinarians and animal behaviorists, not the RHDCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope that what OP has learned here is to get advice from veterinarians and animal behaviorists, not the RHDCUM

That’s true, but many animal behaviorists are interested in keeping a steady income stream, and won’t be honest about danger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I do know that the situation is not ideal. But, aside from giving up the dog, which we're nowhere near ready to do, what else can we do besides what I already described?

As suggested above by the pit mix owner, you need a comprehensive attack plan. What will you do if the dog attacks? Do you have a plan in place? Have your children been trained about what to do in the event of an attack? Do you have protective devices such as bear spray around the house?

Note that one feature of pit bulls is that they are not deterred by pain when they are attacking, unlike other breeds. But you must, at a minimum, have a comprehensive plan for dealing with an attack. And, I guess, then you cross your fingers.

Please proof this "fact" you are quoting. Yeah, right the German shepherd who is biting you stops when you cry...? Do you even realize how ridiculous you sound?

So you have ten Pinocchio's at least!

Lol are you serious?? The PP meant the DOG is not deterred by pain (hitting it, hurting it, etc.) not the HUMAN. : Wow...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I do know that the situation is not ideal. But, aside from giving up the dog, which we're nowhere near ready to do, what else can we do besides what I already described?

As suggested above by the pit mix owner, you need a comprehensive attack plan. What will you do if the dog attacks? Do you have a plan in place? Have your children been trained about what to do in the event of an attack? Do you have protective devices such as bear spray around the house?

Note that one feature of pit bulls is that they are not deterred by pain when they are attacking, unlike other breeds. But you must, at a minimum, have a comprehensive plan for dealing with an attack. And, I guess, then you cross your fingers.

Please proof this "fact" you are quoting. Yeah, right the German shepherd who is biting you stops when you cry...? Do you even realize how ridiculous you sound?

So you have ten Pinocchio's at least!

Lol are you serious?? The PP meant the DOG is not deterred by pain (hitting it, hurting it, etc.) not the HUMAN. : Wow...

A truly stunning display of stupidity and lack of reading comprehension for that PP. I laughed.

[Anonymous]

The two scariest breeds of dog I’ve encountered are chow chows. They usually only like their owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The two scariest breeds of dog I’ve encountered are chow chows. They usually only like their owners.

They are also aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My behaviorist vet says growling is very polite. She told me never scold growling, because you don't want to create a dog that skips the warning growl and goes straight into attack. Dogs only have so many ways to communicate. Growling is scary for humans but the dog doesn’t necessarily mean it to be.

The best kind of reactive dog is the one that barks or growls the moment he starts getting uncomfortable and then keeps his distance. He's making his boundaries crystal clear, he's starting at the lowest level of escalation, and he's heavily telegraphing a desire to avoid conflict. He might be loud and unhappy, but safely navigating his issues is easy.

This is exactly what OP is describing.

The worst kind of reactive dog is perfectly fine right until he isn't and stands his ground the entire time. You can't predict a dog like that. He's also leaving you no choice but to play chicken about which one of you is more dangerous. Unfortunately, training away a dog's signals of discomfort and then "dominating" him is a fabulous way of producing such a dog.

She also called him snappy and he has a bite warning at doggy daycare. (I can't imagine what doggy daycare would agree to take a snappy dog. I hope ours wouldn't.)

OP here. He does have a bite warning at daycare. For new staffers because we know he’s fearful of new people and when he’s anxious, he gets snappy.

However, there are a few mediating factors. 1.) He’s never actually bitten or even seriously nipped anyone. 2.) Going to daycare has really helped his human-reactive behavior. He’s been going for about six months. He’s taken a liking to all of the staff and they tell us that they genuinely love having him there because he’s actually an easy dog when he’s outside with other dogs and we pay extra for him to be outside as much as possible. He’s also very sweet and docile with caregivers he knows and feels comfortable with. Fortunately he absolutely loves going and since it’s become his favorite place, he has very positive associations with the people who work there. He warms up quickly to new staff, probably because they know to let him come to them rather than vice versa. They also seem proud when they “win” over the snappy dog with a bite warning in their file. They all say the same thing to us (we were warned about him but he likes *me*) lol.

I do honestly see improvement in him.

Keep your “snappy” dog who nips away from me and mine.

I’m sorry your kids can no longer be fully comfortable in their own home.