"Help! My Pit Bull keeps attacking my other dog!"

Almost weekly I receive emails or frantic calls from owners whose Pit Bulls have attacked their other dog, or cats, or what-have-you. The story usually goes like this:

"I have had this Pit Bull since he was a puppy, he is now a year old. He has suddenly started attacking my other male dog and I don't know what to do about it. They have always gotten along in the past! Now I am worried my Pit Bull will start attacking me or my spouse or my children!"

In the worst case scenarios, another animal has been killed. It usually ends up being the cats, or small dogs in the household. The Pit Bull is oftentimes on the verge of losing his home and family. The truly sad thing about such events is that they never would have happened in the first place had the owner understood what it meant to bring a Pit Bull into a multi-pet household.

Pit Bulls are animal-aggressive. That means that they have a tendency to fight with other dogs, chase and even kill cats and other small animals. It's breed temperament. The tendency towards this sort of behavior usually begins to manifest itself at about a year of age. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. But in most Pit Bulls, animal-aggression is going to be at least a minor issue for the owner to contend with throughout the dog's life. Animal-aggression does not turn into aggression towards humans. The "taste of blood" does not turn a dog into a bloodthirsty lunatic. Animal-aggression is simply part and parcel of Pit Bull ownership.

For this reason, I usually do not recommend first time owners bringing a Pit Bull into a home that already has other pets, or adding other pets to a home that has just one pet that happens to be a Pit Bull. If a newbie chooses to have a Pit Bull in a multi-pet home, it is ESSENTIAL that the Pit Bull is kept seperated from the other animals, unless someone is around (and I mean "in the same room with") to supervise, 100% of the time. This goes whether there has ever been any exhibited aggression or not.

It's also imperative to note that some Pit Bulls can never do well with other animals, unless they are under strict, on-leash control. Does this include dogs that have been raised with other pets in the same house? YES! Once a dog matures, his whole attitude towards other pets may change. This is why it is important that novice owners only bring adult, properly assessed Pit Bulls into a home with already-established pets.

What if you are already having problems with fights, or your Pit Bull chasing your cat with intent to do harm? The first and most important thing you can do is seperate the animals (at the very least, seperate them when you are not there to watch over them). Next, contact a trainer with experience in the breed (this is important), and have them assess the situation so that you can decide what the next, best step is to ensure your pets (including your Pit Bull) can have a safe, happy home.

It is SO important to research your breed before bringing one into your home. What you may think is the perfect breed for you, may end up being a disastor if you have not properly prepared yourself and your home and family. Knowledge is your best weapon.

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