My daughter has a pit bull/boxer mix. One VERY strong dog. He is a little over a year old. He was left behind with her by an ex as a puppy. He is very lovable and wussy with her and her 3 young girls, myself, my other daughter and my son. However...other men and boys especially he does NOT like at all. He has not had much obidiance or socialization training. Do you think it is too late? Most people are automatically afraid of him when they hear the word Pit Bull. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Well I am by no means an expert but I would think it depends on the dog. You/your daughter can start obedience training at a reputable place.

It sounds like this dog sees himself as the leader of your pack (family) since he is going into defend mode around other males. It is a dominance role and he must "tell" anyone that challenges him that he is in charge.

They are very strong dogs and exceptionally loyal to thier family. Without knowing the dog I would say it is probably not too late for training. I love pit bulls (raised 4 and had many litters with the momma dog) and it is always hard to hear them get such a bad rap because they can be quite intimidating. I will admit I had one that was a hard headed beast and would not stay in the yard! It always drove me insane but he just wanted to be on the outside. Unfortunatly the last time he got out, I did not find him after a month of looking :( so I imagine someone picked him up.

I wonder how the ex treated him. If not well, it would also explain his behaviour toward men.

edit: nevermind. I just read that he was left there as a puppy.

I really do like the breed (Boxer and Pit actually) but I'm not oblivious to potential problems due to strength and in the case of the Terrier influence, dog aggression.

Really, I think first try not to think of him as a "Pitbull" with all the connotations, he's foremost a dog and that gives you a lot of good stuff to work with.

One years is by no means too late, it's very rarely too late but it is more work to undo the crap that's been created.

One year is also a perfect time to neuter if that hasn't already been done.

Can you tell us more about how his problems manifest?? Most aggression comes from fear and lack of confidence (people and dogs, eh). He may never be the dog he could have been but if you really like him anyway I'd bet you can come up with a really rewarding workable relationship ...g

Thanks everyone.

I guess, with the negative reaction people have to this particular breed of dog, naming him Cujo didn't help. :lol:

It manifests itself with a lot of barking and lunging towards males. I seem to have better luck getting him to listen but then I've been around dogs all my life and my daughter hasn't. We have a fenced in yard and he is on a long chain when outside but as strong as he is I know he could jump the fence if he wants. Although I think we finally found a chain and stake he can't break. *L* My biggest problem is I have 2 grandsons, 8 and 4. They are over here a lot and Cujo doesn't like them simply because they are male. I want to get him used to them but not sure how. I guess I'm thinking if he gets used to the boys it will help to get him used to other males.

He really is a good dog around women. It is just males...I am afraid he might have been teased or mistreated when she wasn't around...actually I'm pretty sure he has been. The last neighborhood she lived in was not totally bad but getting there.

I've done a lot of reading on the Pit bull breed since they came to stay with me...but can't find much on how best to train them.

Thanks again everyone.

Foremost - with your grandsons - don't even try until the problem is solved ... more later ...g

Hi Mary - BTW Welcome to the board, I notice you started right here - you do know it's a Long Hair Board, eh :twisted:

OK - so let's see if I have this right:

Your daughter who has daughters and is living with you has a dog that was given to her by her Ex.

Someone named the dog CUJO !! I have a theory that people who name their dogs things like Cujo, Brutus, Killer, you get the picture, are not encouraging their dog to be a sweet family friendly animal.

The dog is lunging and growling at males.

The dog is on a chain.

You and your daughter do not know the dog's history.

You think getting him used to the two male grandchildren you have might make him more friendly.

Is that about right???

Tell me if I have that right and meantime please do have the dog together with anyone he has ever shown potential aggression towards ...g

Okay....please don't type to me like I'm stupid. I'm not. Perhaps I did not explain things well but I am not stupid.

1. Yes I know this is a long hair board.....and?

2. We know he was taken from his mother at a very young age...to young...6 weeks. We do believe that my daughters ex wanted him to be a "guard" dog.

3. He is NOT an indoor dog. Never was. He was born outside and lived outside since. We do not keep him chained all the time. We let him off to run and play if we are all out there with him which is usually every evening. Not to mention he is on a 50 foot chain.

4. I don't let my grandsons near him or any other male for that matter. I would however like for him to not be agressive towards males. As he "sees" my grandsons most often, FROM A DISTANCE, I was Hoping this would help him get used to males.

5. My daughter has considered giving him away to someone with more experience with this breed....but the girls adore him and he adores the girls. They don't understand why. And we are afraid he may end up at a pound because of his agressive tendancies and put down which we DO NOT want.

6. We, basically, want to know the best way to go about training him or helping him. Any good books or whatever on the subject?

Taking this to e-mail.

Anyone else who is interested in this and has any questions please continue on the thread and I'll try to answer questions and give opinions...

In summary, in order to give any decent suggestions I need to get a really good feel for this situation. I am not currently a trainer but I have access to some really good ones.

My opinion so far:

To change the dog's behaviour you would have to change his situation i.e., if he's lived his life outdoors and partially on a chain in a guard situation that is how his behaviour was formed and will remain unless the situation is changed.

The chain and the fact that he is left outdoors is significant. It greatly enhances the "guard" aspect which is not compatible with being a general confident family dog who is relaxed and knows that you've got things under control - he thinks he needs to make sure HE has things under control. You want this in an independant acting dog like a herder but not if you want a happy, fits into the family type.

It further aggravates aggression towards males he hasn't bonded with if he is on a chain situation where he sees them and alerts to them but cannot get at them, that whole scenario just builds on itself and reinforces - not good!

This situation, in my opinion, requires a lot of desire to make it work and willingness to change the situation and work with a trainer...g

Hmm..I don't know how to change the aggressive towards male only behavior. I did have a Anatolian Sheperd that hated men , also.. He absolutely detested men. Have no idea why. The dog was definitely a liability. I gave him to a friend, who in turn..(because she had a brother living at home..couldn't keep him) gave him to a women that lived alone.

The dog mauled a 5 year old little girl..so apparently, the aggressive behavior went beyond "hate men only"..unfortunately, nobody was aware until it was too late

Siome dogs, just aren't "right"...doesn't matter what the breed is.

If an experienced trainer cannot help you..I would keep him and mAKE sure he cannot get loose to harm anybody..or put him down.

Not any under circumstances would I use your grandsons to "socialise" him. You need an experienced male trainer that is willing to accept the risk.

That opinion being stated - I feel the need to add that aggression towards one sex or even a particular breed of animal is by no means unusual or any indication that the animal isn't "right", although that can happen with any species.

Anatolians are lovely dogs and I've known some really well adjusted ones but they are much less domesticated and bred for companionship than most breeds. Being herders they also are bred to be independent acting.

Why am I saying all this, which really isn't relevant to the thread - guess I just like talking dogs :gabigrin: ...g