Teaching an old dog new tricks
BF and I recently rescued a dog. She is part pit and part traveling salesman from what I can tell. I'll post a pic and you all can give me your best guess. Also, I'm guessing she's around 5 years old....
Forum Discussion
Two beautiful girls!
I think a behaviorist might be your best bet here. Rockhillmanor is going to say "obedience school" and that's not wrong. However, you have a powerful breed of dog (love pits, have one!) that is displaying both disrespect and aggression. And sorta kinda not getting along with another dog of a high power breed. Not severe from what you're saying, but... you need to get some guidance, preferably from someone who can see her in her world or interview you in detail.
Obedience school would also be a very good thing. I am not sure it's a substitute for a behaviorist, but it might be.... can't hurt.
DIY strategies while you look for resources for training/behavior. From a "pack structure" perspective, you have a dog who isn't respecting you and your rules. The cure for that is to create respect. There are different ways to do that. One is obedience. Another is walking. When I say walking, I mean structured walking, walking quietly at your side or behind you, not sniffing, peeing (unless you declare a stop) barking or anything else. Walking with you and Bella is ideal as it builds "pack" and will help with that issue. Walking also burns off energy, and so creates less mischief in the house. It's a good thing.
A long down (hour or more) each day also does a lot to establish leadership. There's a way that I start that and if you're interested I'll type it out.
In addition, there's a thing called Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) that you can google. It is a non-confrontational way to establish yourself as the leader. It is a royal PITA to do, don't get me wrong, more than you'll think when you read it. But over the years people who have come in here with various problems and ended up trying it have found it quite effective. Google NILIF and you should find a description of how to do that.
I trust that in the interim, you're not leaving her unsupervised with Bella or access to another animal? Two high power dogs.... not good if they get into it.
I think a behaviorist might be your best bet here. Rockhillmanor is going to say "obedience school" and that's not wrong. However, you have a powerful breed of dog (love pits, have one!) that is displaying both disrespect and aggression. And sorta kinda not getting along with another dog of a high power breed. Not severe from what you're saying, but... you need to get some guidance, preferably from someone who can see her in her world or interview you in detail.
Obedience school would also be a very good thing. I am not sure it's a substitute for a behaviorist, but it might be.... can't hurt.
DIY strategies while you look for resources for training/behavior. From a "pack structure" perspective, you have a dog who isn't respecting you and your rules. The cure for that is to create respect. There are different ways to do that. One is obedience. Another is walking. When I say walking, I mean structured walking, walking quietly at your side or behind you, not sniffing, peeing (unless you declare a stop) barking or anything else. Walking with you and Bella is ideal as it builds "pack" and will help with that issue. Walking also burns off energy, and so creates less mischief in the house. It's a good thing.
A long down (hour or more) each day also does a lot to establish leadership. There's a way that I start that and if you're interested I'll type it out.
In addition, there's a thing called Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) that you can google. It is a non-confrontational way to establish yourself as the leader. It is a royal PITA to do, don't get me wrong, more than you'll think when you read it. But over the years people who have come in here with various problems and ended up trying it have found it quite effective. Google NILIF and you should find a description of how to do that.
I trust that in the interim, you're not leaving her unsupervised with Bella or access to another animal? Two high power dogs.... not good if they get into it.
