Dog Training

[Vtec?lol]

I've got a Staffordshire/Lab mix although he looks like a pure pit. He was fixed @7mo old.
The only problem we have is he hates people and other dogs. He loves my immediate family and people he was around as a pup but he want's to end the life of everything that lives. I'm over exaggerating of course. He veryy loving and sweet. Listens to everything I say, most of the time.

Rough housing and aggression were never encouraged nor rewarded.
Barking and growling was also never rewarded. I don't even play tug-o-war with my dogs as it releases natural aggression. I'm very loving with him and stern at the same time. At the point of a finger he'll either sit or go to his safe place.

I've tried to get him registered in classes but they all give me the same shitty answer "We don't train those breeds as there's likely no chance of hope"

They've all told me you can't break this behavior with his breed as staffordshires and pit were bred to be aggressive. Now I know this is true, I know any dog meant to bring in extremely large bulls by the nose needs to be pretty damn tough.

Any tips on breaking this? he's 9mo and him being fixed seams to help a little but not really.
I live in an area with plenty of children and my biggest fear is him breaking through the gate and attacking one of them. Although he's never attacked anyone a day in his life, he has attacked another dog.

His name is Koup Koo Katchu. We just call him Koup. (This has nothing to do with the klan)
Here's a few pics of my favorite guy:

[Exodus_2pt0]

I took a training class years ago and never needed to again.

You need to act like a leader. Start by completely ignoring him unless giving commands. Don't let him get your attention, you get his. No play time, go into lockdown mode until he no longer challenges you.

Also, less words are more. I primarily use sign language with my dogs and have good success. The quieter you are, the more serious they will take you.

If you do this, you will see a difference. There's no quick easy way to train a dog, it is all in the mentality.

[Exodus_2pt0]

BTW, I had a rot, Achilles, that I loved with all my heart. He was the first dog me and my wife had. Very loving of us, but he had a barrier issue and was very dangerous towards strangers.

We tried everything, and in the end had to have him laid to rest. He started to turn on us, and no one could/were willing to help. I still keep his collar on my rear view mirror, gets me upset just thinking about it.

I have had a few dogs since, and learned a ton. You definitely need to make an abrupt and sudden change. As said before, 100% ignore the dog. No chasing, don't repeat yourself, ever. Let him know that you aren't playing games anymore, and he will respond. I have literally stared my dogs down for 15 minutes before just to get them to lay on the ground. It is rough, and takes a ton of patience, but you have to stick it out.

Oh, and physical disapline does not help with aggressive dogs. You must maintain control without even touching the dog. It literally turns into a staring contest, and if you wait it out, he will give. Once you can control him completely in the house, start making your way outside.

[Vtec?lol]

Wow exodus. I'm sorry to hear that. I've had consider the same. This is my last try. He's been growling at the mrs a few times until she said something. This has all been in low lot situations so I'm assuming he didn't see her. I would hate for something like that to happen to the kids so I'm sort of iffy.
Very good info. I've been told the same but never heard the staring contest. I'll have to apply that. Thank you.

[Redfox]

Wow exodus. I'm sorry to hear that. I've had consider the same. This is my last try. He's been growling at the mrs a few times until she said something. This has all been in low lot situations so I'm assuming he didn't see her. I would hate for something like that to happen to the kids so I'm sort of iffy.
Very good info. I've been told the same but never heard the staring contest. I'll have to apply that. Thank you.

Working in the veterinary field, there are some animals that are naturally aggressive. The aggression can be kept at bay if they are given a "job" to do..

Things that show you are the pack leader (as silly as they may sound)

Keeping eye contact and not breaking it. The dog needs to be the one to break the contact. YOU are alpha, therefor, HE must look away and respect that.

Do you take your dog on a daily walk? I'm not talking about the quick in the yard thing. Instinctively dogs are pack animals. There is always an alpha in the pack. Going on a family walk (or pack walk) with the Mrs. and yourself (or whoever lives in the household and is part of the "pack) helps relieve built of tension and the dog gets to check out surroundings with you. Being stuck in a house for too long and not being permitted to leave can make a human stir crazy. A dog is no different. They have no concept of time like we humans do. When you walk your dog, make sure your dog walks BESIDE you, not in front. He is NOT Alpha, YOU and wife are alphas of the pack. He is the lowest in the pack and needs to be treated as such. If he pulls ahead, you stop. Start walking. If he pulls ahead again, you stop. You should always be leading or the dog needs to be to your side, never pulling in front. Your wife needs to hold the leash and do this also.

If the dog growls at you or your wife, stare at the dog. If the dog keeps growling while staring, you need to be intimidating. Firmly and loudly, say NO, BAD, or something he equates to not being good. Stare at him until he looks away. If you aren't afraid of him, you can do what is an "alpha move" of the dog being on its side or back, and you holding the dog down (gently but firmly) and telling the dog "NO!" With my dogs, I would say " I AM ALPHA" stare the dog in the face and the dog should look away. Once the dog realizes you are doing what any alpha in a pack would do, things start to click. My dogs immediately know when I walk up to them to greet me, lay down, and roll on their side/back with their stomach exposed to me. That is a sign of respect and them being submissive to me, because I am the pack leader. It took a while for my bitchy female dog to do it, but she does now.

Another thing, despite how some people think it's cruel or mean..
I eat my dinner, and then I feed my dog. If he belonged to a pack, the alpha of the pack and all the superiors always get to eat first. The others stand, wait, and watch. When the superiors are done, only then are the dogs who are lower in line allowed to eat. Your dog should not eat off your plate, as you are eating, or be given food freely at this point in time. Do not acknowledge the dog while you are eating. When you are done eating, put food in his bowl. If you give table scraps once in a while, only feed the dogs these "meal" scraps in his bowl. He gets them from his bowl. Not your hands while eating, not your plate. He gets them once you have picked over what you want and are done.

Give your dog something to chew on. Have you heard of "Bully sticks"? They are dried bull tendon, and break down and don't cause gastrointestinal problems like rawhides and other bones/chew things for dogs do. They are a little more expensive, but they last much much longer and are more of a challenge to chew than rawhides. This can help relieve aggression because they are being kept busy. I wouldn't suggest giving a whole one, cut it in half, because sometimes dogs can get possessive of their bones. I can take bones from my dogs, stick my hands in their mouth, take their food, because they know they are lower in line and I do what I want when I want. Make your dog sit and lay down before giving this bone.

Another effective toy is a kong. Again, make the dog sit/lay down before giving this to him.


I mentioned earlier about giving your dog a "job" to do. Search google for different "jobs" for dogs and see what fits your and your dog's lifestyle and your dog's personality and abilities.

One other thing. What food are you feeding him? If you have your dog on a higher grade food instead of the shitty walmart stuff "old roy, kibbles and bits" it generally helps the dogs. The corn, dyes, sodium, and shit that's in that food can cause a lot of cramping, gallstones, kidney stones, ulcers, and a lot of other uncomfortable health problems for the dog. Before trying any of these tips out, take your dog for a check up to rule out that he doesn't have any underlying health problems, or dental/oral problems. Sometimes dogs act out for strange reasons.


I wish you luck with your pooch.

[evandael]

^ some good advice.


i've helped watch/care for a british staffordshire. she has a ridiculous amount of energy and needed an outlet, so i took her for runs. at home, if she got too jumpy i just quit playing along, stood there, and stared.

one of the other dogs was a really whiny (but cute) lab that would just bark for no reason. when he did this, the most effective solution was to walk up to him, say NO, and just stare.

good luck with your dog, he is adorable and looks much like Frankie, the pit i've watched/fallen in love with.

[Vtec?lol]

That amazing stuff! Wow.
I tried it soon as I got home and he listens to everything I say now. !!!! Wow!

[Redfox]

That amazing stuff! Wow.
I tried it soon as I got home and he listens to everything I say now. !!!! Wow!

Can't tell if srs..

[Vtec?lol]

Can't tell if srs..

No dude seriously lol. I'm shocked. He pounced and challenged me to a state off. I stared agressively and he backed down and rolled over. I then told him to get up and go to his cage. He went straight there without looking back crazy stuff.
We were laughing our ass off at "I am alpha"

Thank you so much guys. This gives me the confidence I needed to keep at it.

[Redfox]

No dude seriously lol. I'm shocked. He pounced and challenged me to a state off. I stared agressively and he backed down and rolled over. I then told him to get up and go to his cage. He went straight there without looking back crazy stuff.
We were laughing our ass off at "I am alpha"

Thank you so much guys. This gives me the confidence I needed to keep at it.

Very happy for you man! Just keep it up so he knows you're king of the mountain. Stand tall and talk with confidence and don't back down. You're in charge.

[Vtec?lol]

It's just crazy how such a simple solution works.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

thats a cute dog, I'm sorry i don't have any help for you, my dog has always been a big sissy

[Exodus_2pt0]

It's just crazy how such a simple solution works.

I know! I remember my wife was having trouble getting the dog off the bed one day, the more she tried the more he acted like it was play time. She wanted me to "do my thing" and command him to get off, so I told her to take a position physically above him, say "Off" sternly while pointing where she wanted him to go, then simply stare. After a few moments he got up and left.

I'm glad you are seeing the change. The hard part is consistency!

Once he knows that you are the pack leader, he will also understand that the protection of the pack is your responsibility, and the aggression should become less and less of an issue.

[Redfox]

I know! I remember my wife was having trouble getting the dog off the bed one day, the more she tried the more he acted like it was play time. She wanted me to "do my thing" and command him to get off, so I told her to take a position physically above him, say "Off" sternly while pointing where she wanted him to go, then simply stare. After a few moments he got up and left.

I'm glad you are seeing the change. The hard part is consistency!

Once he knows that you are the pack leader, he will also understand that the protection of the pack is your responsibility, and the aggression should become less and less of an issue.

^ This, entirely. Bump the thread in 2 weeks from now and let us know how it's going, and what behaviors you're seeing changed. I'm curious as to how quickly he will respond. Were you more soft with him and a pushover earlier? It's hard not to be sometimes with dogs :)

[evandael]

^ especially adorable ones, like featured in this thread.


man i'm such a softie with my puppers.. they get away with everything.