Post by melonie on Apr 7, 2012 15:24:30 GMT -5
This is about Cleveland, and it's been on my mind for a long time...
He is an awesome dog. I love him like mad, and am thankful to have him back in my life. Despite that I have half heartedly tried to find him a different home, one that better suites his needs and personality.
He came back with a few behaviors that I've tried to work on over coming, or adapting to them.
But as time goes by, I am becoming more unsettled by him. I"m not afraid of him myself, but I have gotten scared of what he would do to something or someone else.
He is a dog that should be an only dog, even though he absolutely loves to play with other dogs. He and Winston are best friends.
But that is because Winston is a really good dog and ignores a lot of what Cleveland does.
Cleveland is bossy, and pushy. He wants 100% of anyone's attention at any time he wants it, or if another dog is getting the attention. I've worked on him with that and we have made a bit of progress, but I doubt it will ever be a thing of the past. This is just how he is.
He will redirect onto the nearest dog if he is over excited. He has now done this twice to Winston.
He did it the other day when we were all just chilling on my bed, and Winston walked by him. With no warning he snapped at him.
He will attack Wrinkles if given a chance. I have gotten to the point where I don't need to have the visual barrier. But I still have a 3 foot buffer zone where the dogs can't go nose to nose over the gate.
A week or two ago, I was coming out of the kitchen, I bent back over the gate to give Wrinkles some extra scratches. I felt a dog slink around my legs. As I stood to see who it was, (Cleveland) He very silently tried to bite Wrinkles. I grabbed his collar, and pulled him back through the other gate.
I absolutely can not let him be around Kaiha. (she's now 16 mos)
I have let him meet her and be around her breifly a few times, but with out constant supervision I can't trust him, and with his silent snapping I can't even trust supervision.
He has growled at her more than once, for no reason that I can identify. (first time she was on her moms lap and he was about 4 ft away) He would grumble at her from the crate, even if she wasn't near it. (crates are now out of the livingroom)
Today I took Winston and Cleveland to the store with me. The kids (teenagers that work there) love them and always enjoy petting them etc. My boss was walking up to my car, Winston was all eager to greet him because he loves him. Cleveland lunged across me at him, but hit the glass of the window. I was freakin' pissed. He knows my boss, and has never had issue with him before.
Yesterday he was fine when my ex came over. He had someone with him that is a stranger to both dogs, and Cleveland acted just fine and dandy, all wiggle butt and all.
The dog aggression, and redirect I can manage and understand. I can handle him when Kai is over by crating him in another room, and we really don't bring her over that much.
I talked to his old owner awhile back, Cleveland never growled at their son, who was 3 at the time. But he (Cleveland) never tried to play or interact with him, the kid didn't exist to Cleveland. They had another older pit bull, and they never let either dog alone with the child, just out of common sense.
What I can't handle is what I feel is him becoming more unpredictable.
I don't know what I am doing wrong. He is socialized. He does get his one on one time, his exercise etc.
He is very obedient, but he can be a jerk, and I've found the right tone to use with him that helps snap him back in line.
I don't know what to do with him to make whatever is going on in his thick head settle down. I am scared to try and place him into a home now, which I already had some pretty strict requirements. ( experienced pit bull or other strong dog owner, only dog, no cats, kids etc)
I could never forgive myself if he bit a child or anyone else for that matter.
I have no idea where the nearest dog trainer/behaviorist is, and if I found one, are they pro pit bull and experienced with them?
This is one of many reasons why living in the middle of nowhere sucks!
He is an awesome dog. I love him like mad, and am thankful to have him back in my life. Despite that I have half heartedly tried to find him a different home, one that better suites his needs and personality.
He came back with a few behaviors that I've tried to work on over coming, or adapting to them.
But as time goes by, I am becoming more unsettled by him. I"m not afraid of him myself, but I have gotten scared of what he would do to something or someone else.
He is a dog that should be an only dog, even though he absolutely loves to play with other dogs. He and Winston are best friends.
But that is because Winston is a really good dog and ignores a lot of what Cleveland does.
Cleveland is bossy, and pushy. He wants 100% of anyone's attention at any time he wants it, or if another dog is getting the attention. I've worked on him with that and we have made a bit of progress, but I doubt it will ever be a thing of the past. This is just how he is.
He will redirect onto the nearest dog if he is over excited. He has now done this twice to Winston.
He did it the other day when we were all just chilling on my bed, and Winston walked by him. With no warning he snapped at him.
He will attack Wrinkles if given a chance. I have gotten to the point where I don't need to have the visual barrier. But I still have a 3 foot buffer zone where the dogs can't go nose to nose over the gate.
A week or two ago, I was coming out of the kitchen, I bent back over the gate to give Wrinkles some extra scratches. I felt a dog slink around my legs. As I stood to see who it was, (Cleveland) He very silently tried to bite Wrinkles. I grabbed his collar, and pulled him back through the other gate.
I absolutely can not let him be around Kaiha. (she's now 16 mos)
I have let him meet her and be around her breifly a few times, but with out constant supervision I can't trust him, and with his silent snapping I can't even trust supervision.
He has growled at her more than once, for no reason that I can identify. (first time she was on her moms lap and he was about 4 ft away) He would grumble at her from the crate, even if she wasn't near it. (crates are now out of the livingroom)
Today I took Winston and Cleveland to the store with me. The kids (teenagers that work there) love them and always enjoy petting them etc. My boss was walking up to my car, Winston was all eager to greet him because he loves him. Cleveland lunged across me at him, but hit the glass of the window. I was freakin' pissed. He knows my boss, and has never had issue with him before.
Yesterday he was fine when my ex came over. He had someone with him that is a stranger to both dogs, and Cleveland acted just fine and dandy, all wiggle butt and all.
The dog aggression, and redirect I can manage and understand. I can handle him when Kai is over by crating him in another room, and we really don't bring her over that much.
I talked to his old owner awhile back, Cleveland never growled at their son, who was 3 at the time. But he (Cleveland) never tried to play or interact with him, the kid didn't exist to Cleveland. They had another older pit bull, and they never let either dog alone with the child, just out of common sense.
What I can't handle is what I feel is him becoming more unpredictable.
I don't know what I am doing wrong. He is socialized. He does get his one on one time, his exercise etc.
He is very obedient, but he can be a jerk, and I've found the right tone to use with him that helps snap him back in line.
I don't know what to do with him to make whatever is going on in his thick head settle down. I am scared to try and place him into a home now, which I already had some pretty strict requirements. ( experienced pit bull or other strong dog owner, only dog, no cats, kids etc)
I could never forgive myself if he bit a child or anyone else for that matter.
I have no idea where the nearest dog trainer/behaviorist is, and if I found one, are they pro pit bull and experienced with them?
This is one of many reasons why living in the middle of nowhere sucks!
I look forward to learning much here