So ... my dogs got into a HUGE dog fight yesterday. My husband works in south Texas, Monday thru Friday which leaves me alone to fun the house, and the kennel. I try very hard to run the kennel in a strict manner. We have a teenager that helps out with the kids in the evenings, so she was inside the house. I went outside and opened all the runs and let all the dogs run together (life I do EVERY day) while I cleaned the runs. I forgot something in the house ... went inside and grabbed it and when I went back outside I found a 5 to 1 Pit fight. OMG ... I have never been through anything like that before and I NEVER want to go through that again. The little girl that I posted online for sale is the dog that they all started picking on. She is pretty banged up but made it through the night okay. She didn't wimper, whine or complain through the entire deal. I am so amazed at how strong she is being ...

So I come to this board for help and suggestions ... I don't know what to do. I have only had my pit bulls for a couple of months. I had some high hopes of getting into weight pull and other things and was really looking forward to it. The female that I saw initiating will be put down ... as I am positive she would do it again, if given an opportunity.

I have also been told that once a pit is in a fight, like the one last night, that they will want to fight again and again. I don't want to put all of my dogs down, as I think they were following the Alpha females lead.

I am sore, both physically and emotionally. I don't know what to do and I am open for ANY and ALL suggestions.

Please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tara

I'm sorry to hear that Tara. Man I tell you yard accidents are not fun at all.all I can say is this. Not all the time when a dog fight 1 time they want to fight over and over again but I would say this some bloodlines is rowdy any ways some begin calm but get in a fight then become rowdy. But you know your dogs better than we do so just keep you eye on some of there actions and see if you notice some new attitude movements in your dogs like if they start to wimper and cry to get to another dog but did'nt do that before the fight that would be something to keep your eye on. I hope this helped a little.

THESE ARE PIT BULLS. THEY ARE NOT MENT TO RUN IN A PACK. WHEN YOU ALLOW THEM TO RUN FREE IN A PACK YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.
WHEN I FEED. I LET MY KENNEL DOGS OUT 1 AT A TIME. FEED, WATER, CLEAN UP. THEN I PUT HIM UP . GO TO THE NEXT DOG.
2 PIT BULLS SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT TOGETHER. THEY CAN GET A LONG FOR 10 YEARS. BUT THE 1 DAY THEY GET INTO A FIGHT, 1 MIGHT DIE.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU
RICHARD

Tara,
First off...I would'nt put that dog down that you think initiated the fight...you just might be putting down a future weight pull icon...the problem is not in the dog or dogs,and don't take this the wrong way,but the problem is this...never let these dogs run together under any circumstances regardless,they have to be exercised,fed,trained whatever on a strict individual basis from right now till they die...if not it's only a matter of time before one or more are killed...you can't blame the dogs,they require stringent supervision at all times...now if you raise em and train em properly like the dog whisperer,then maybe...but most folks don't understand dogs the way this man does and neither do they know how to remedy a problem as such! Those dogs just need to be let out one at a time and supervised intently,your new to the dogs and it just sounds like you were a little niave and an accident happened! Be very careful and never let them run together...you may be able to get by with that until they reach 3-6 months old after that forget it.Just remember these dogs have a prey drive that is hard to control.You must be in control and they must know that at all times...but if given an inch there gonna take there chances,so don't afford them or present to them any opportunities if you can avoid it!Hope this helps and you have not done anyting that anybody else has not done...it's how we all learn!


James

Mr. Bates,

I completely understand ... I don't want to put a dog down...But I really don't want her in my yard. She is too much for me right now. I wasn't expecting the drive that she has. None of my other dogs have Bailey's temperment and drive.

Would you or anyone else be willing to take her and work her...If she had the opportunity to be put in an environment with someone that was AWARE and KNOWLEDGABLE about her drive, then she would do much better than where she is now.

I will admit that I wasn't ready for her. Lesson learned ... do research. I feel crappy ... lousy and scared of all of my dogs. The sight that I went through last night is enough that I even feel like placing them all with someone else and not doing that again. I feel like I failed...failed my dogs and failed the breed. It's really hard to say that the breed is a good breed with no problems when you have seen first hand the way that they can get out of control...

I am very serious when I ask EVERYONE on the board ... I don't think I can handle my adult dogs. I got everyone one of them as either an older puppy or as an adult... would it be better to place them and get a puppy and start out slow that way ... or should I keep trying to establish respect with my older dogs?

My Rottweilers are not this way. They don't have the drive ... they don't have the temper and short fuse.

As I said before, please be honest. All advice or suggestions right now would be taken to heart. I don't want to go through this again!

Tara,
First off let me say "I am sorry you had to find out about bull dogs the way you did."
It is never a pretty thing. You were very luck one was not mortally wounded. As stated above, bull dogs are not meant to be pack animals. I have a very large yard, I also have 2 bulldogs, 2 chihuahuas, and 2 standard schnauzers that are house dogs. Every one is allowed out loose in the house only when we are home. When we leave everyone is crated. The two bulldogs are old, one is 12 and the other is 10. They are never allowed alone together. When given the chance both of these dogs can be instigators. They will start a fight just to get one going. But I have always tried to do right and watch their body language with each other. But accidents can and will happen.
Second, I have never meet you and you sound like a wonderful person and very caring of your dogs. But I feel bad that I feel like you did not do enough research about this wonderful breed. No rotties do not have the drive these dogs have, nor will they ever. You stated that you are now afraid of your dogs, they WILL pick up on that. Unfortunately the best thing you can do is get rid of all your bulldogs. Do more research on the breed and when you feel like you are ready to try again and not be scared of them then get back into them. You will love this breed, unfortunately they are not the breed for everyone. They can hurt and even kill each other if not handled properly. I am not trying to be mean, I hate for anyone to have a bad experience with any breed. And if you are only wanting a dog to pull, any dog can pull. It is just none will have the drive for it and as excel in it as well as a bulldog because of their willingness to please. Good luck in your endeavor.

YIS,
Angie

Tara-
All of this is fresh in your mind, the dogs didn't attack you and they haven't been aggressive to you have they? Give it a couple of days. Remember why you were attracted to this breed. It has to be because you love the breed completely with all its faults and treasures.
I have found that most of my dogs come into the dog aggression at 2 to 3 years old. Just know that THEY CAN NOT RUN TOGETHER. I am sorry you had to go through what you did, but now more than ever you learned this side of the breed. Just like a wolf pack there is always an 'omega' (low dog on the totem pole)just be glad they didn't jump a pup.
I never would have thought Kracker would be dog aggressive, until he hit 4 and we started breeding him. Within 1 month he killed Kilo and was ripped from head to toe after meeting a true game breed dog on our yard (Halls bred)Top Moon.
This breed is like no other. They love people with all their heart and are excellent at every sport you put in front of them. Remember that before you decide what you are going to do with them. Being a foster home for rescued pits I see this all the time. If you decide not to keep them and no one from a working home wants them, the MOST humane thing is to put them down. You don't need to give another person the same problem, thats where BAD PRESS comes from. And the rescues around Oklahoma get atleast a dozen calls A DAY on loose or abandoned pits.

JMO
Kaye Langley
http://www.allforpridekennels.com

TAKE UR TYME this is a long haul for anyone geting started in this field of work their is a lot studing an also hand on with the pitbull , but do every thing with common sense rule#1 never feed dogs together #2 never leave them alone only puppies up to the age of 3to 4 months #3 always keep an extra crate on hand in case of a kennel fight.and also have parting stix at every location on your yard & your pocket.#4 FEMALS that are in heat should be at far kennel do to the fact it raise's itense in the air of males and as well females.#5 TRY to keep the same feeding tyme everday develop a tyme sheet.#6 INVEST in a TREADMILL it HELPs when u have more than 3 dogs to walk they are not illegal they are pet exercisers 5to10min a day is good then u can start skipping days and you will see a BIG differece if any more problems contact me at my email or call 610487-4221 ask 4r JAY or Bruce.

DO NOT PUT THE FEMALE down Irepeat do place her down breed the **** out of her she is only doing what she truely is remember if they roam in a pack the natural things come out in them.peace out BLK.

Tara,
To be perfectly honest with you...if that is the way you feel,then it would be best for you to get rid of them all...it just sounds like this breed may be a bit too much for you to handle and understand...once you get scared of them or intimidated by there aggressiveness to the point that you second guess things,then that is probably your wake up call that this breed may not be the breed for you...

I hate that you had the incident that you had,but the truth of the matter is this,feel fortunate that one or several did not die and that you were able to break it up without a break stick being handy.These dogs are serious business dogs and have to be handled responsibly in every facet of the word...I don't want you to feel like you failed,just sounds like whomever your mentorship came from may have misinformed you or conveniently left out some things about the breed...I never try to spruce up the breed just to sell a dog...as a matter of fact I go out of my way to make sure people understand the nature of the breed and what it takes to own/raise one.Judging from what I can read into what you have said...it would be my personal advice for you to educate yourself more on the breed,understand and accept there nature or simply get rid of them...owning these dogs is 365/24/7 all day... every day.

Nobody can make a decision for you...you have to do that on your own...if you have any doubts at all,then I'd say don't own them...go back if you get a chance and just scroll thru the 60+ pages of posts on this board alone and read about what we have preached for years about these dogs...you can learn a ton right here and never leave this board!

In the last few years alone I have personally lost a couple of dogs due to yard accidents and I'll guarantee that nobody is anymore precise when it comes to checking and rechecking,chains,collars,swivels,quick links,stakes etc and replacing them...I just got thru replacing about $500 worth of chains,swivels,collars,quick links etc...and that was only for about 6 dogs and there areas,next month it will be time to redo some more and then the next month and the next and the next...and you can see,these dogs are a revolving door of responsibility,care and maintenance!Hope you find the answers you are searching for!IF YOU HAVE DOUBT>>>GET OUT!

James

couln't have said it better myself, these people know what they're talking about. Good Luck with the dogs, no matter what you decide to do with them.
STEVEN M.

thank you everyone for your advice. I do think that I got in WAY over my head. In my excitement to own them ... I got caught up in the moment. I have owned pits before and I should have known better. I have also let them run as a pack before and all was okay, but I turned my back and that was my fault...not theres.

I have decided ... with long talks with trusted friends and my husband ... that I will be keeping only my male Pit Bull and placing the rest in trusted working homes. I then plan on staying here with this group of people and taking my time to LEARN more about this breed. I don't want to give in or get out...I want to do this the right way. When the time is right ... maybe I will expand. But one male will give me something to pull with and learn with for right now.

If anyone of you are interested in taking my females home with you, please let me know. I really think that the sooner the better. Please email me at goldmountainkennels@yahoo.com if you would be willing to help me out. I want to give them all the best opportunity possible.

I want to tell everyone that I really respect your comments. I was expecting a bashing and you have all told me the truth and tried to keep my spririts up in doing so. THANK YOU! The last few hours have been hard for me. So ... when you get knocked down, I guess you have to get up and try again ... except this time I want to do it right.

Mr. Bates ~ I am only now learning that there are people like you and a few others on this board that are worthy mentors. I have had a breeder in VA tell me that one of the pit bull females she placed in my house back in 2003 was "Suppose to be dog aggressive and that she bred her dogs to be as such". So no ... until this group of people... I have not gotten alot of positive training or information.

Once again ... thank you all for your help and advice.

Tara

Alwats remember that anything can happen at any time. It could have hap[ened to anyone.

TARA DON'T GIVE UP YOU WILL NEED A FEMALE TO BREED TO YOUER MALE THAT IS HOW TO KEEP FROM DEALING WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE AND TO START WITH YOUR OWN QUALITY OF WEIGHTPULLERS OK SO IF THEIR IS ANYTHING YOU AND UR HUSBAND NEEDS JUST PUT IT ON THE BOARD AND ASK FOR B L K BY THE WAY CONTACT THE ADBA FOR THEIR GAZETT MAG THEIR ARE SOME GOOD HELPFULL BREEDERS IN THEIR LIKE DELAWER VALLEY PITT CLUB ASK 4 CHICO OK.

ms.tara i am sorry about your incident but these dogs are not meant to be left unattended,especially after 6-8 mos.our breed is a loving one but they do not get along well with others.you seem to be a responsible owner and love your dogs& trust me this has happened to the best of us.please do not put the female down cause that'll be animal cruelty ,because she was only being a bulldog.good luck in the future,you just learned a lesson in these beautiful animals!!!!!!

An update and some more words...

Thank you all for your advice. It is words and advice that I needed to hear.

After a few days of cooling down, we have decided that the fight was a result of my neglagince, not the dogs...so no one is going to be put down.

Secondly, I am surprised at how quick and how efficient my kennel has become since I have completely quit letting more than one dogs run together. I spent the weekend cleaning out the kennels one at a time and I actually was finished quicker than when I was trying to do them all at once.

Third, my litter black female is recovering quite well. She will def. have some scars, but seems to be doing just great. She was eating and drinking, peeing and well...you know... all weekend. She even tried to chase some cats!

I don't want to give up on the breed or my dogs. I will be keeping a male a female and placing the rest. I hope to start fresh and will be reading back on some previous posts to see what else I can learn. I am also going to try to make it to a pull when one is close the the Dallas area, so that I can learn more about this and the breed.

Thanks again for everyone's help...it looks like my kennel is getting back to normal.

Tara

Hey....all yard accidents suck....but it just sounds like you got in over your head too quick...dont get discouraged because you could be the best pull trainer or judge ever to come around...you never know....also, any dogmen around will tell you that everyday is a learning experience! These dogs teach us new stuff everyday...just when you think you have one thing figured out.....they show you different. I've raised dogs in pairs....and been successful and been ....not successful.! It depends on the dog and the owner on whether or not you can run together or not. They are just too dang competitive and mischevious! Also, a dog will only be as respectful to you...as you are to him/her!!!! Keep that in mind when you train, feed, work, play, or whatever you do with your dog and you will always have a loyal yard!

That is true i agree with you. things always change.

tara don't put her down. althOUgh u had good intentions w/ letting them run free 2gether, Pit's aren't "pack animals". sometimes it doesn't take much 2 trigger these dogs. having them all OUt 2gether like that iz bound 2 bring OUt attitude. god bless and good luck

you still have any to place will have lovin home

Okay ... so I am not putting any one down. I am however placing Bailey, black and white, Granddaughter to Hurricane Rage, a red female with Avant bloodlines and a blue and white female ...

I am keeping my male Killian - unless someone makes a good offer for him ... and the female that was attacked. Which by the way is almost to a COMPLETE recovery. She will have some scarring ... but she is SUCH a FIGHTER!

Please let me know if you are willing to take one of my females. I was in WAY over my head ... and I am trying to get back up to the surface!

Thank you everyone for your kind words or help and support.

Tara