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I need help for a pitt that has been traumatized
My soon to be sister-in-law has a 6 yr old pitt bull and a boston terrier. She had another pitt a few months ago, but had to put him down. He attacked the other pitt, his father. Now the father growls and snaps at the boston when it gets near his neck, where he was bitten. The issue is getting worse as now he growled and snapped while the boston was in a kennel. This dog never even fought back when he was attacked. Unfortunately my sis-in-law broke up the attack and is equally traumatized by it. She is not able to do the rehab training needed to make this pitt well again. The local shelters will not take him, and make the issue worse telling a fragile woman that her dog will turn on people next. I have bought some time for the dog but unless I find help she has no choice but to put him to sleep as well. We are in Orange county New York. If anyone can help please contact me. Thanks in advance.
Asked by
Morpheus
on Sep 28th 2009
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in Shelters & Rescue
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Answers
The dog does need help.
Dogs will guard the cage, because they view that as their home/territory.
We have one that bluffs like that when the other dogs go around it.
Best to either shut the door so he can't do that or put the crate outside til you want to use it and bring it back in.
If you can find a behaviorist to work with their has to be some in your area.
Try structuring the home more. More walks, some positive obedience, pick up the bowls once he eats, keep the dog calm in house with maybe some one on one attention with a ball and games.
Dieta
answered on 9/29/09.
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Can you try to locate a Pittie rescue? Maybe they could help, even if it is just advice online? A local rescue might be able to advise you on working with a problem dog.
Even if the dog is becomeing dog agressive, it doesn't mean he wil become agressive toward people.
Is the dog fixed? If not, doing so may help with agresson toward other dogs.
Good Luck
Fritz
answered on 9/29/09.
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Like Fritz, I would recommend a Pit Bull rescue group. They will likely have had some experience with situations like this and can advise her. In the meantime, keep the dogs separated until you can address the issue. If your sister-in-law is too fragile to rehab the dog, a breed rescue will give the dog a better chance than an animal shelter.
*Your sister-in-law has been through a violent and traumatic experience - she should get some help, too.
Valentine
answered on 10/5/09.
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Poor boy... It's going to take a lot of love and hard work to rehabilitate this dog.
Is there a rescue in the area he can go to?
It was not right of the shelters to say that he will turn on people next, that is not necessarily true. He has a lot of fear aggression, and may bite if cornered, but it sounds like he is more likely to hide or run away before biting a human.
Whoever he ends up with, he is going to need an animal behaviorist to help... someone with experience in this exact same situation. It is going to take a while... your sister-in-law won't work with him? She would be the best person to do the work, because he already trusts her. Though I do understand why she may not want to, let her know that there is hope for him! Mina is fearfully aggressive towards humans and animals, and is making a wonderful recovery!
Mina
answered on 10/11/09.
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