Hey all, new to the pet side of these forums but I found myself in a pit. I currently have a 10 month old mut (basicly unknown breed) and my buddy has a 3 year old pit bull who he needs someone to watch for the weekend. Now the problem is, the second He brought his dog over mine started to shake in fear as well as instantly barking. He brought his dog home for now until I finish work and I am willing to give this another go, but how can I go about creating a warm environment where everyone will be happy?
If he's started shaking and barking in fear it's better to not try that again they might start to fight to death and nobody wants that. Better off putting 1 dog in a cage and let them take turns
Dogs should be introduced to each other, on leash, in neutral territory to see how they will react to each other. Since your dog didn't have a good response to your friends dog, I wouldn't bring it back to your house. Can you go to your friends house a few times a day to feed his dog and let it out, while he's gone? If not, I would pass on dog sitting this time. Maybe you can get them used to each other by taking them for walks in the park together, or other activities that are not in either one of the dogs personal territories. And try to have them together at your house, or your friends house if all goes well after meetings on neutral ground. Good luck!
Be very careful. I had a black Lab, and my son had a red nosed pit, both sweet dogs and they knew each other well. One afternoon we, my son and I and two of his friends, were looking at a boat he'd just bought and all of a sudden all hell broke loose...within 3 seconds the pit had split the Lab's hind leg open...as soon as I yelled at them they stopped, but the damage was done...cost me $300 to get the Lab sewn up....3 seconds.... Still don't know what set them off...
They are both females but as for going to his house to feed him, he stays over an hour away and only come down once in a blue moon so going there would be out of the question. But I will attempt it once more and if things don't go so well again I have a family friend who owns a local pet spa/kenel in the area take her for the weekend, cheers all!
I wouldn't do it. Pits are not to be trusted. Tell him there is affordable kennels that will hold his dog for a few days.
All their advice is good. Mine is cruel and it probaly isn't worth it in your situation.... I have a bunch of dogs, males and females. Their is always a leader the alpha male. I introduced a gsp male and the alpha and him kinda got along but they always had little skimishes over food and the couch. I always break them up but they never learned...so one evening I had enough and I let them fight. The gsp basicly put the other male in his place and since the night they all get along now that they know the gap is the alpha male now. For you I wouldn't watch the guys dog unless he absolutely needs you to. He can't find somron elese. It's not worth the responsibility of watching someone dog....plus your house is your dogs house....introducing a new dog isn't fair to him. Jes obviously scard. I've seen dogs like that tho...and usuley its all up to the older/bigger dog. If hes nice to the little one great. The little one is just scared. Give them a chance to meet in nutrel ground
Pits have a reputation for a reason. Dogs were bred and domesticated for different reasons, Some were for retrieving ducks, some were for fighting and taking down bears and bulls. You cant just shake off genetics like that in a decade or two. When pits do damage they really do damage, like not just a few stitches on your arm but a new skingrafted face if you're lucky. do not put your ten month old dog in with a 3 year old pit, I wouldnt dream of doing that.
Pits have a reputation, because of the media hype and bad owners. Any dog bite that they claim was a Pit is front page news. When the retraction/correction is printed, because someone was actually attacked by a German Shephard, Rottweiler, or other breed (not a Pit), it's a tiny little tid bit in the back of the paper and you don't hear about it. I've done my research, talked to Vet's, P.O's, and other professionals that deal with Pits regularly, and they all say the same thing - great dogs. German Shepard's are more likely to attack than Pits, even in the best of circumstances, so why don't we go ahead and say that about them too. As a matter of fact, that can be said about any breed. Sorry for derailing your thread OP.
Yeah nature vs nurture I know. It can be a bit of both as well. One day scientists will completely unravel dna and really understand genetics but until then its all just speculation and statistics. Might as well play it safe, OPs dog made up his mind right away anyways.