How to Raise a Balanced Pit Bull

Hi Cesar,

I adopted a male pit bull when he was between 8 and 10 weeks old. This is my first pit bull. I have two labs at home, 7 and 10, both males.

I want to know what I need to do to make sure my pit bull never attacks my labs. Can I have any advice on how to do this? My pit is about 5 months old and is getting neutered in a few weeks. I just want to be aware of anything I can do to make sure that he does not become dog or human aggressive.

Thanks!
Ashley Gerenser from PA

Ashley,

First of all, I think it is wonderful that you have decided to neuter your dog. And five or six months is a great age to do it.

How do we keep a powerful breed humble, surrendering, submissive, and peaceful? We never reward excitement. We don't favor any one dog over another. Once you have a pack, you can't favor any particular dog. You need to favor the calm-submissive state of mind. That's what keeps a pack healthy.

When you're feeding three dogs, always choose the dog that is the most calm and submissive to receive the food first. If that happens to be the pit bull, then feed him first. But if he's too exited, he should eat last. Wait until he's achieved the state of mind that you want. That way, he understand that it's the calm-submissive state that makes him part of the group.

If you have a high energy pit bull and lower energy Labradors, then make sure that you challenge the pit bulls more than the other dogs. Always keep the powerful breed very, very tired. And when youre taking them on a walk together, who gets the leash first? The most calm and submissive. When you open the door, who goes out first? Obviously, the human and then the most calm and submissive. If all three of them are in a calm-submissive state, which is ideal, then you can take everyone at the same time!

If you have problems walking all three dogs together, then take them one at a time. Master the walk that way. Then add a second dog to the walk. Then once you have that down, bring the third along. Your goal is to make them a calm-submissive unit, working together.

Stay calm and assertive,
Cesar Millan

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Mon, 03/01/2010 - 7:43pm — DavidG

5 year old rescued Pit

Cesar
I have read two of your books and watched several of your TV series. I have a rescued pit bull that has a great personality. He is great on a leash and very well mannered, he works well off of a leash as well. BUT when it comes to new dogs he wines like he wants to play and will wag his tail and act playful, but when it comes to direct contact he nips at the other dog. He shows no sign of being agitated up to the point where he nips. After the initial contact with the dog he doesnt seem to have any other issues he reacts like the dog isnt even there. We also have a 6 year old Pappillon that he has no issues and hasnt.
He has nipped at my neighbors Shepard and I imediately corrected his and put my dog on his back to let the other dog sniff him while he was in a calm submissive possition, but the Shepard would have nothing to do with my dog once he had made the initial snip. He does not growl or give any sign of agression prior to the snipping
What should I do differently in introducing him to other dogs.
Thank you
Dave

Thu, 02/11/2010 - 7:58pm — Browneyez0706

6 month old Amstaff/Rottweiller mix pups

Hi Cesar,
I brought two (male & female) American Bulldog mix puppies at 6 wks old (siblings) into my home back in September 2009. There was already two male chihuahua mix dogs in my home. Last week the male pit fatally attacked one of the chihuahuas. My fear now is that this male pit will attack others. What should I do? I believe that the chihuahua that was attacked never liked the new dogs and was a bit standoffish towards others. He would snap at me or the children if he was disturbed in any way. The male pit had observed this. So I'm not sure if he attacked to protect my son that was outside playing when this happened! Should I worry about future attacks? Of course I am
more cautious about leaving him unattended outside with the others. The female shows no signs of aggression. She is a happy go lucky girl! But he is very loving towards his humans too! Please advise!

Max and Ruby's mom

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 5:56pm — lacey5

Aggresive Pitbul

I have a wonderful Dog I love him with all my heart. He is a mix between a pitbul and a lab. He is a great dog inside the house he minds, he has a great fun personality and is always in high spirits. He usually learns very fast. But there is one thing I cant get a handle on. I watch your show ever time it is on and I try to apply some of the things that you teach. But I can't seem to get him to listen he is almost two years old. The problem I am having I can't take the dog out of the house he turns into a whole different dog. He wants to kill every dog he see's for no reason. He is very strong and hard for me to handle. I am just a girl and he just drags me. He growls and trys to bite, and if he ever got lose from me I know he would hurt another dog, or even himself as well. I have so much love for dogs and it would devestate me. I love my dog so much and I want him to become a smart well minded dog and reach his full potential. I need some serious help I am not sure where I went wrong. I tried so hard to avoid the aggresive state he is in. Please help me.

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 12:20pm — appollosdad917

cesar my friend......

Cesar my names D.J. Fernandez Jr. I have a year and a half old American red-nose/American Stafford-shire pit bull named Appollo he is very loving to kids and members of my family and also my friends but when were out walking or in the car everyone he lays his eyes on is a enemy how can i stop that behavior hes 70 pounds and still growing..he gets plenty of exercise,discipline and affection i just don't want my Boy Appollo to get hurt or hurt and or kill another dog.....please help me and my dog appollo.

p.s.- YOUR THE MAN

Fri, 01/22/2010 - 3:32pm — airamakabebe

my pitbull

hello cesar, MY name is Airam and i have a pitbull he one year old and he is showin more signs of aggression , and he use play well with other dogs and he jumped my fence and almost attacked a german shapred, i want him to get along with other dogs , he is nice with our little dog though its kind of werid, but i dont want to lose him i love him with my heart i raised him since he was 3 months.And he recently saved my life from a robber who had a knife on me.SO cesar come help me to me he my son , his name is oreo.

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:15am — yesika

pitbull problem!

hey cesar, iam having a problem with my 2 males pitbulls, one is 3yr and the other one is 8months but hes way bigger and stronger and now he want to fight and punk my older dog, i love them both and i would like to know wath can i do so they can be friends, not fight!! the 8m old is very jelaous and he always wants all the attention even when iam peting both at the same time, he pushes him or wants to star fight!! please help me i dont want to get rid of one of them!! thank u cesar, and i wanted you to know iam your fan and i love your show, i love dogs!!! jessika...

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 9:09pm — phoenixrising114

From one APBT lover...

First, if both dogs are not neutered, do that ASAP. It will not fix the problems, but it will help once the testosterone levels have dropped. That can take a few months, so the sooner its done, the better. Second, both dogs, but your younger dog especially, would benefit from basic obedience training, to help establish that there are boundaries. I have found that positive reinforcement has better results with my dogs, pitbull and other bully breeds especially, than traditional correction based training.
Cesar has a new book on raising a balanced dog and several videos that will help. Be the Pack Leader is a book I read that I found especially helpful. Your younger dog needs to understand that this agression is not acceptable and you need to correct it the INSTANT it happens and EVERY TIME it happens. You cannot pet him when he is trying to push the other dog away. You can only pet him when he is being calm and submissive. Do not favor one dog over the other, but reward the dog that is being calm and submisive. That way both dogs learn that its their behavior that dictates when they get affection, or food, or to go outside, or whatever it is that they want.
You also need to master the walk with both dogs. That will go a long way towards helping them understand that they are to follow you, the pack leader, always. PLUS, a tired dog is less likely to fight!

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 4:49pm — amber cangialosi

tank / pitbull

hi cesar

I have a male pitbull that is very dog agressive he is ok with the other dogs that are in the house but is very agressive if they are on the other side of the fence. I have him on a 40 foot tote rope when he goes in the yard cause he jumped the fence and attacked another dog and i could barely get him off
and when he did that the dog warden of are town said he was going to mark him as a dangerous dog so i replaced the fence because i was so scared he would jump over again and put in a six foot fence and then he climed that to get out and the only way he could go out is on the tote rope . I try to walk him and i really have no contol over him he pulls me everywhere and he its like hes dragging me he weighs about 80 pounds and im 115 and im afraid that when he sees a dog he is going to get away because i can not control him. im very afraid that somthing bad will happen. i really want to walk him but he acts crazy when we go because we rarly go and i feel bad i know theres a promblem but i dont know how to fix it and i want to cause i love him very much and but im scared of his behavior when he acts like that.i just want to know if there is any thing i could do for his dog aggression and how hyper he is..thank you so much...

Amber

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 8:51pm — phoenixrising114

Seek professional help immediatley!

If you have not done so already, you should immediately seek the help of an experienced trainer in your area that has worked with powerful breeds. Try contacting a pit bull specific rescue in your area (if there are any) to see if they can recommend someone. Second, if he is not neutered, have that done ASAP. It is not a cure all by any means, but it will help once his testosterone levels have dropped. You can expect it to take a few months before those levels go down completely, so the sooner you do it, the sooner it can help.
You have a breed with a horrible reputation that will not be treated fairly by the authorities in most areas. Most rescues where I live just put pit bulls down. I drove over 3 hours to get my girl for that reason. Your situation is critical because your dog has attacked and been flagged as aggressive and potentially dangerous. If you are too scared to feel you can control him on a walk, you will never be able to better your situation and help yourself and your dog. You need a professional to help you. Please, don't wait until there is another incident! I mean no offense, but he is not getting enough exercise and does not have a strong pack leader to follow, both things that are making his aggression and hyperactivity worse. I can understand the fear you have if you witnessed your pet attack another animal as I have had to break up fights between 2 of my own dogs in the past (one of which had a medical condition that caused heightened aggression.) You cannot let that fear control you. Do your best to forget it happened and move forward. HE doesn't remember it, I promise you!

Thu, 02/25/2010 - 5:03am — yamaira39@live.com

why dont you try to get his

why dont you try to get his dvd i have them and they have help me a lot t