DA discussion

I felt like starting a bit of a debate and this was the only topic I could think of that hasn't been fully discussed as far as I know. :p

For those with gamebred dogs, do you encourage your dog to show interest in other dogs, as a sign of a confident, fiesty bulldog? Do you see correcting lunging or anxiety to get at them as a bad thing? Does it (refering to correcting the dog's aggression), in your opinion, take away from the dog's attitude or even ability as a working dog?

I have dealt with many, many dog aggressive dogs! However, I can't say that I have any experience on how putting rules in place for an APBT (therefore controlling his dominance) affects it in the performance aspect...

 

Those of us that have petbulls also have dogs that want to get at other dogs just because it's in them. It may be far removed as you might say, but all my dogs want to get at another dog if it's walking by or on my property. The dog in my Avatar is China's Sire and is a Redboy/Corvino bred dog. He was a pretty spiffy little man in his day. He worked with two other dogs Hogging. China's Dam was a Jeep/Colby bred dog. A real tough one to hold onto when seeing another dog. I have raised China as a pet, but she still shows dog aggresion traits. That being said, I can introduce a pup and she accepts it to a certain degree. I introduced Jordan with no problem and Tinker, after a lesson about the food bowl. If I'm at the leash, I just hold her and try to keep her from pulling me, but I don't correct her. If it is a dog in the yard with the yard dogs, I don't do anything. Just hope he doesn't go near them. If they work or not, the gene's are still there, I think. Just wanted to throw that in there. If I should handle this in another way, please tell me, as I am a student. I never got into the dogs to work them but to have a rock solid companion and China has turned out to be the best dog I have right now. Hope this wasn't to far off topic.

 

many times what you are describing is not a sign of confidence but a sign of bluffing.. a secure confident stable dog sees no reason to act a fool .. it knows when are where to act said part

 

i have never "encouraged" any of my dogs to show interest in other dogs, imho either they will or they wont, and adjust your life/routines accordingly. i dont feel a dog needs chiding.
we had one that wanted to destroy every single dog she came across, my best male wouldnt look twice at another dog unless he felt "challenged"

 

I don't encourage it, but I also know that I am not going to "train" it out of them, nor would I ever try.

I try to get them back focused on what we are doing, but they do lunge if they see other dogs. I just try my best to get them back on task. My dogs aren't gamebred, though.

 

Most people with box dogs dont bring the dog around other dogs but for 1 reason. If you have a "working" dog you dont go walking it around the park and introducing it other dogs and such....

 

I don't bring my dogs to parks. I walk on a road near my house, and unfortunately, some people just let their dogs run free with no supervision, so, that's when I encounter other dogs.

 

When i lived in the country and walked my dogs I wish a dog would run up on me acting crazy. My dogs on a leash, yours aint, sorry. Hard lesson learned. If I dont kick the shit out of the dog then my dog will.


I refuse to be intimidated by a loose dog, I will not walk in fear of an attack or an aggresive animal charging me. Its not fair for me to have to worry about that.

 

I have had the ones that go crazy @ sight of another dog and I have had some that give a (dont fuck with me look). The younger dogs have picked up habits such as barking @ sight of another dog. As for my adults who know its a waste of energy and conserving energy is what they have learned to do. Now they may do some heavy breathing or looking @ every corner of the yard .

I know I drifted away from the topic as I always do but I felt its needed.

Cutt-

 

Of course not, but if you go to a conformation show/weight pull, there will be other dogs around.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is, does anyone here put any rules in place for their dogs? I know most bulldoggers don't but I sometimes wonder why. Is it because they see it as a waste of time or they worry it will ruin the dogs... or maybe some other reason?

 

I dont encourage my dogs to act aggressive towards other dogs/cats/any animal..It is just a natural occurance that happens in most APBT's when they reach maturity(and some before that)..When a dog does start showing inclinations that he/she wants to engage another animal,I simply keep it moving(if we're walking) or ignore him/her(if we're on the yard)..

I personally dont teach any of my dogs tricks(not even the basics) but I do own a yard dog/house dog that will stay at my side like she has been taught schutzun(sp),and this bitch has never been a house dog,nor was she taugh any tricks before she came to my yard..She is extremly well mannered..
I dont/wont "correct" my bulldog for pulling/lunging (acting DA) as I feel that is akin to whipping a whippet for running..
In my opinion the more you repramand/correct/try to establish dominance over your dog the less confident he will be,and these dogs can be ruined..I want a dog to be extremly happy,not afraid(of correction), everytime he sees me..Bonding with your animals is a integral part of being successful regardless of what avenue you pursue with them..

 

I've only got half a gamebred dog, so hopefully my response is allowable. Personally, I feel like there is a time and place for everything. In their own yard, they can act however they feel like acting. At an ADBA show, same thing, have fun. If it's obedience class, or a UKC show, its a different environment, they're wearing different gear, they seem to understand they're not allowed to get away with that mess. It all just depends on where we're at.

 

I have not corrected the behaviour or encouraged it either.

I have one very DA 16 month old pup. He has been that way since I got him at 16 weeks. He wanted to get all my other dogs and he screamed constantly. Correction never worked, I put him in a kennel between my other dogs and he eventuall quited down. He doesn't bark at my dogs or the neighbors dogs but any other animal is fair game.

I show him as best as I can which isn't very well. He is the dog doing flips in the ring and barking his head off. I would love it if he would stand pretty but I don't see that happening. I can control him on walks but with other dogs challenging him in the ring he won't stop. If I try he sits because he is so human submissive. I feel I have a 50/50 chance of placing - some judges like the over the top dogs and others don't.

 

At an ADBA show depending on the judge they like to see a fired up dog in the ring.

I do/did encourage my dogs to act a fool. sssssst ssssst watch that dawg, watch him. get em

 

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear from someone; why. Thank you SPF.
Does anyone disagree with this?

 

Are you trying to start a personal debate?

I do not disagree with it, because that's what works for SPF and his dogs. I personally do correct my dogs when they step out of line, because I want to create a clear understanding of the specific rules that I use to govern my house. I think how people address this issue is directly related to what they do with their dogs. Some people have no need for a dog that obeys certain commands, or does certain activities, so they have no need to control the behaviors that can negatively impact those things. Others do.

And that's all I've got to say 'bout that.

 

Originally Posted by SPF (In my opinion the more you repramand/correct/try to establish dominance over your dog the less confident he will be,and these dogs can be ruined )

I believe it depends on many things, but in my experience it comes down to how the owner/handler/conditioner has learned how to teach properly.
Being able to teach them anything, including tricks, manners and to listen to you, takes a whole lot of time and patience to learn how to do it right and that's where the bonding comes in..TIME & PATIENCE...and when done right will NOT make them less confident, exactly the opposite..
But you can't rush or force them to learn and if you can't get a handle on patience or can't make time, then it's probably best to leave well enough alone.

Just one opinion

 

i feel as though the barking and lunging is simply a threat display and therefore is undesirable however i do encourage focus not fixation if that makes any sense...i want my dog to show interest but i also want my dog to realize that its a waste if i'm not gonna give a greenlight...

 

I hate those people that cant control their dogs.

 

yeah get an APBT and breaks its drive, do whatever it takes

lol