Dog aggression caused by owners

Well I am writting this one because I beleive it should be said: Now I would like a load of input for this one:

A few yrs ago I received a telephone call from a distrought doggie owner: Well the dog would be a Pit Bull. Now as the converstation would begin the woman was recognised as being a total complete mess.

The caller was a young girl may be 18 yrs of age she had a 2 yr old boy and another child on the way. Now the Pit was 6 months old, and showing these behaviors:

1) Child crying, mom goes to comfort boy. Dog steps in front of mom in a full and recognised attack stance. Mom can not move towards kid. Now the kid could go to mom but at no means could mom go to kid when he was crying.

2) Now the girl would go to bed to have this insane dog of 6 months old jump on the bed and just urinate on her. Not on the side of the bed not just on the bed all over her.

Now the owner stated the dog was fine until about 1 month prior to the tel converstation. That was when she found out she would be 2 months pregnant. So I asked her if she had a back yard and if it was fenced. She said no to all the above.

Well I asked her where she was while talking to me? She said in her bedroom. I then asked her where was her dog. She said standing over above me growling at me. I asked her to reach for the dogs callar and get the dog off the bed. She said what callar. I said the dog does not have a collar. Sure can happen mine don't have them on all the time either. She said nope the dog has never ever had one. her boy freind does not beleive in them.

So anyways; How would you have dealt with this situation, how could you have helped her? I know exactly what I said to her and I know I put the fear of God into her.

I'd tell her to take that dog for a one way trip to the vet.

A dog like that has no business being in a novice home with children.

I don't believe that aggression is owner created, I believe that it's genetic. Of course a novice owner doing all the wrong things could help bring out any aggression lying below the surface, but I don't think they create it. There are plenty of perfectly nice dogs that go through abuse, poor handleing, poor training, no training and more and they don't become aggressive.

At six months old, and already showing this level of aggression?? No way would I reccommend re-homing or keeping him. Maybe that seems cold hearted but I don't think every dog can be saved.

Now, I'm guessing that's not what you said. Do tell. What did you say to her?

I would have given her an ear full myself, then probably gone to her and gotten the dog.

From there, I would have seen what could be done with the dog (training, not putting him down.)

I don't think that aggression is purely genetic, but I do believe that some dogs/breeds have a genetic predisposition to aggression. It is the owner's responsibility to train the dog to keep this from surfacing.

Honestly...stupid people make bad dogs. And a bad dog can be more dangerous than a loaded gun.

Just my two cents.

Can't wait to comment on this! Ha! The owner is only 18, already with children and living with boyfriend who obviously encourages this behavior. His refusal to make the dog wear a collar. Red flag. She is nearing the end of her first trimester and this unaltered dog is reaching sexual maturity at a very early age, with what sounds like a very elevated testosterone level. She has a very specific scent only a dog will "get" without going into too much detail. She's allowed him to challenge her, when he's been on the bed, has attempted to mark her, then has allowed the dog back on the bed. He's challenged her, posturing, and she's done nothing. This dog has processed this info. and is establishing a very specific pecking order in his home, as we speak. Because neither adult in this equation has done the appropriate puppy training from 8 weeks of age on, they are not the home for the dog. She is too young, and he, regardless of age, is too inexperienced to correct this behavior. So, the dog will pay. I hope you were able to refer her to the most qualified breed specific rescue, for evaluation and to get the dog out of their home asap.

Pit with attitude


Well spoken; As a trainer in the Ontario area and with the Pit bull breed ban. I stated to her that due to the situation which has been caused by both adults, Her/him. Therefore since it is recognised to me as an allowed behavior and the dog has now shown aggresion and at that unatural aggression for a young dog. I suggested that she either have the dog removed and or trained.

I as well stated to her that this is a class act of child endangerment and will have to be reported if either area has not been complied with. She stated to me that she does not want the dog. Never did. It was her boyfreind. She as well stated that he was the one that pressured the dog into these acts of aggression. I stated to her under the curcomstances as a adult then I must report it. I told her that this in not a personal issue at no given sense. It has nothing to do with the breed itself, It is about getting kids especially young ones out of danger. She stated that he (boyfreind) has decided to take the dog out and leave her. That the dog meant more to him than she or the kids did. I told her GOOD. He was not worth the time of day as far as I am concerned. Better for you and those kids.

Wow. What a great guy!

*nod*

and a pit bull has no business being like that no matter where he's living.

a lot of people seem to be under the impression that pit bulls are generally pushy, dominant dogs. some are, i'm sure, but that's really *not* the norm for this breed. they tend to be on the softer side, though they are terriers, and they tend to be people-pleasers.

i really believe that if your pit bull has a good, solid temperament, you're not going to ruin it by being a complete delinquent. not neutering, not training, not socializing- none of those things should result in a pit bull threatening his family, or any human being.

at six months, that pup could probably be rehomed with an owner who is not an idiot and be a reasonable dog, but there are a kajillion pit bulls out there with solid temperaments, so i agree that the right place for this poor boy is the big dog park in the sky.

Its such a shame that there are so many idiots like this who absolutely ruin dogs. I agree with Alex that behavior is a combination of nature and nurture, genetics and environment. This dog will likely end up being pts regardless of whose hands he's in for now. That gal is soooooooo much better off without that creep. Maybe this was just the thing to change her life in more ways than the dog and for the better, I'm sure.

The dog had no collar, and the owners had no fence? I can imagine how relieved the neighbors must be that the world's greatest boyfriend took his crazy dog and left. What a mess. She's lucky the guy ditched her, but I hope she has enough sense to go after him for child support. I realize she got herself into it, but what a life - living with a kid, a jerk, and the jerk's four-legged id.