Aggression Towards Other Dogs
By Lora Bauer
MYTH:"Pit Bulls only fight because their owners want them to. They are very loyal and will do anything to please their owners."
FACT: Pit Bulls do not fight because their owners want them to--they fight because they want to. Because there is a challenger there, directly across from them, ready to rumble. Many Greyhounds live inside their house with a pet cat, but will kill one if they see one running outside. The cat running triggers a deeply ingrained INSTINCT. Same with being face to face with another pit bull that is ready to rumble.
Some Pit Bulls mainly react aggressively to other APBTs, and tend to ignore other dogs. Some dogs are only aggressive towards one sex or the other. Some react aggressively to Border Collies & Aussies, even though other dogs are ignored, because these breeds tend to STARE, which is a threat in dog language. Some will ignore small dogs, even if the small dogs attack them--but anything their size or larger sets them off. Some are the opposite, and have a high prey drive, and go nutso over smaller dogs, not big ones.
And a lot of dogs that act "fight crazy"--lunging, barking, carrying on--are simply BLUFFING; they are really afraid of the other dog, and are hoping if they act "mean" enough, the other dog won't come closer--they don't really WANT to fight. Confident dogs don't need to threaten--they will sit there quietly and alertly--saying "bring it on".
And NONE of them can be "called off" when they are FULLY engaged in a fight-- when they first get started, some can be. But when they are fully engaged, NO. The thrill and rush of the fight, and adrenaline, etc., kind of "override" all training--they almost seem to be "deaf"--they are INTENSELY focused on the other dog; you do not exist.
Pit bulls fight because they were selectively bred for it, for many, many generations. Just like Labs instinctively fetch (even though you don't teach them to do it), or Greyhounds and huskies run, etc. Those dogs do not do what they do because they want to please you--they do it because their wiring tells them it is the right thing to do. No matter how much you train, socialize, etc., there is a good possibility that at some point, your dog is going to decide that it doesn't particularly like other dogs. If you have a greyhound, there is a good possibility that at some point, if your gate is left open, the dog will bolt out and run like the wind, totally ignoring your pleas to come back. If you have a Beagle, it is most likely going to bark a lot and dig holes in your yard.
Dogs want, first and foremost, to please THEMSELVES. Pretty much the ONLY reason the dogs will do things that please US, is because either 1) they get something good when they do it (treat, petted, etc.). or 2) they know bad things will happen if they don't do it (correction, or withholding the good thing). People prefer to anthropomorphize everything dogs do, and consider them little furry people that live to please "mommy" and "daddy"--but in reality, they are animals, and do what makes THEM happy, above all. Most pit bulls think fighting is FUN. That is why they do it.
. She loves everyone and everything big or small. Not a mean bone in her body. She is a big toy freak and still shares her toys with other dogs. Will even share her food and treats as well. Pitts are very smart and are really easy to train. At least in my experience. She learned every command in 5 minutes time. She never once as a pup even tore up anything. And i mean anything and still hasnt till this day. I have never in my life seen a pup not do this. It was really suprising to me. She just became a toy freak. and she doesnt even tear them up. She still has her toys from a puppy. Of course i see now my new boxer pup will probally be the the one to finally destroy them