We just rescued/adopted a 10-12 week old male, Blue Pit Bull. He was abused and neglected. We are having an issue with him trying to show dominance over us and our 5 other dogs by constantly trying to hump us. Saying "no" and pushing him off is not working. How do I correct this without scaring him more or doing more damage than good? If redirection of attention is suggested, what should we use?
By Kim Brady from Lusby, MD
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Neutering should be done for sure, but he is not sexually mature at this age so that is not the issue. He is insecure based on his background he does not have a lot of confidence in people. He feels the need to control the other dogs and you to be safe. He needs to learn that you are the leaders and you will keep him and the other dogs safe and provide for their well being. the larger your pack the more complicated the dynamics. There are websites and training programs on the web. Also Pitbulls are not an aggressive breed.
The first step would be to get him neutered.
He definitely needs professional training and that includes you and your family being involved in the training! Aggressive dog breeds especially need to know that 'you and your family members' are the Alpha and that he is equal and not Alpha to other pet family members and the sooner the better to ward off potential disasters!
Hi Kim, Here is a web site that is helpful, and they have free podcasts you can listen to on the computer. He does a good job explaining the pack dynamics with multiple dogs. I have six dogs, four males and he has helped me understand some of the issues we've been having with "pack life" :)
In response to what I already wrote about dog aggressive (which can even be poodles) and Merlene's comments this might also be helpful info for you:
"Most pit bulls aren't really as aggressive as they're made out to be. They tend to be loving, gentle and playful. But there are some that have been raised and trained to be highly aggressive. Such pit bulls tend to be more aggressive toward other animals than people. Aggressive pit bulls often have a history of being abused or neglected, and getting trained specifically to fight.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
