my 11 month CKC bull terrier is getting very aggressive HELP!!!?

Question

hey there i am seeking guidance in trying to get help on how to treat my bull terrier's aggressiveness. He has gotten really aggressive after having an encounter with my other dog Chihuahua that is 13-14 years old. Ever since that encounter he's been really aggressive towards my other dogs the female Shitzu, and a male Yorkie. They played along fine throughout the time i had the bull terrier. I had him ever since he was 3 months old. What can i do to help my bull terrier from being aggressive. I was thinking of getting him neutered to see if that would calm him down, But i don't know. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, neutering him would probably help, but it wouldn't miraculously solve the problem. Adolescent males his age literally have about ten times the testosterone as a stable adult male, so neutering him now could indeed reduce some hormonal reactivity. Just don't count on it to solve the entire problem; neutering him will not replace much-needed training.



Learn about calming signals so that you can recognize them in your dogs and use them yourself:

http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1



Learn about canine body language:

http://www.wagntrain.com/BodyLanguage.htm

http://www.wagntrain.com/BodyLanguage2.htm



Read this article:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/2327



Suggested books:

"Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog" by Emma Parsons

"The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell

"How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Road Map for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs" by Pam Dennison

"When Pigs Fly!: Training Success with Impossible Dogs" by Jane Killion



You should strongly consider seeking the help of a trainer:

http://www.mastiffonlinecommunity.net/viewtopic.php?t=4276



Here's how to introduce two dogs safely:

http://www.mastiffonlinecommunity.net/viewtopic.php?t=86



Look into training classes for reactive dogs. They're often called "Feisty Fido" classes.



Condition him to associate the presence of your other dogs with good things.

http://pet-training.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_help_a_dog_overcome_a_phobia

http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2010/04/frightened_dog.php

Replace "thunder" with "other dogs."



Good luck!

Answer 2

I had a lot of questions with my pit when she started showing signs of dog aggression, so i bought a book on the bully breeds, American pit terrier, American Staff terrier, bull terrier and american bulldog, and it stated that these breads, can be very good dogs while puppies, but at certain ages can become dog aggressive just because it is in there genes, especially if it has an altercation with another dog..and is not neutered.i would go to your nearest pet or book store and read about your breed, it will help.

Answer 3

Neutering can help a bit, but it cannot be considered a substitution for proper training. Without seeing what the dog is doing specifically, it is hard to give you advice on how to work with him. I would start with the neuter, give him a few weeks to recover and then seek the assistance of a professional trainer in your are who can assess the dog personally.



Dog aggression can be pretty common. It is undesirable, but there can be many underlying reasons for it. It doesn't mean he will become human aggressive. Totally different things.



Until you have the behavior under control, supervise him at all times with other dogs.



I wish you luck with him.

Answer 4

I would seek out the help of a behaviorist, because none of us can give you enough help on here. As for now, just keep him separated from the other dogs by way of baby gate. Sometimes dogs are just aggressive and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Bull terriers are a type of pit bull and it's just in some lines' genes to be dog aggressive. With help, you can get your dog to become much more dog-tolerant.

Answer 5

Neuter him.

If he already is, then take him to a socialization class.