mhaze
I Love RPBF!
Posts: 455
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Post by mhaze on May 3, 2012 12:39:07 GMT -5
Poca and Dottie (females) cannot be trusted together, and require strict supervision. (Remember how 'lucky' I was?) They got into a bad fight when I wasn't around. They're ok, and this happened over a month ago.
My girlfriend was supervising yard play, and made the huge mistake of introducing food to the equation (still makes me angry). She thought they were going to kill each other, and barely managed to separate them; getting nicked herself by Dottie in the process.
I stressed the potential to my girlfriend over and over again, but it took a fight for her to finally get it. Now she realizes how tragic that lesson might have been. They aren't under the same roof anymore (Dottie lives with her), but they still see each other ONLY if I am there to supervise. They act like nothing happened. Dottie started it, and Poca obliged.
Interesting anecdote from this: Eko (male) stayed completely out of it while the girls did their best to kill each other.
I've been meaning to share this for a while, but I've just been insanely busy this year. I hope no one here ever has to learn the hard way.
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Post by Dave on May 3, 2012 13:40:19 GMT -5
Fights happen between all dogs. Our kind just get carried away with it. Sure sucks to learn the hard way, though. You got lucky with Eko staying out of it. One-on-one is hard enough, a melee is impossible by yourself.
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Post by melonie on May 3, 2012 13:44:48 GMT -5
Sorry to hear she had to learn the hard way to understand it.
It truly sucks.
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Post by maryellen on May 3, 2012 15:47:36 GMT -5
you are lucky eko stayed away,if rufus saw a fight going on he would have jumped in and helped the dog kick the other dogs ass....
that is sad that it happened:( now that your GF realizes the severity of it, hopefully she will be more aware
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Post by loverocksalot on May 3, 2012 16:14:56 GMT -5
Must have been scary lesson for her.
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Post by adoptapitbull on May 3, 2012 17:33:08 GMT -5
Unfortunately being in the middle of it is the only way to truly learn. It's like when people say, "My chihuahuas fight all the time." "Oh really, do they ever get hurt?" "No, of course not." "Then it's not a fight."
Pit fights SUCK. Period. They especially suck when seemingly dog "friends" suddenly decide to no longer be friends. It's rough on everyone. I hope you and your girlfriend are OK!!
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Post by catstina on May 3, 2012 21:53:10 GMT -5
Very scary! I hope you are all ok!
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mhaze
I Love RPBF!
Posts: 455
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Post by mhaze on May 4, 2012 9:03:09 GMT -5
Lesson learned for sure. She was pretty freaked out at first. She felt like she didn't know her own dog, and it scared her. We're all fine now. The dogs don't seem to hold any grudges.
We started from scratch introduction wise; long walks side by side, etc. Of course we're much stricter about any play activity, and working on curbing rude play more than we did before. Those two aren't allowed to be together unless both of us are there to supervise. We also put everyone away when we're eating. I thought it would be good to shutdown any potential triggers, especially food.
Hopefully we're back on track to having a peaceful existence again.
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Post by marc on May 4, 2012 9:24:57 GMT -5
i am sharing this post with the wife b/c at times i think she believes i'm paranoid with this sort of thing...
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mhaze
I Love RPBF!
Posts: 455
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Post by mhaze on May 4, 2012 9:59:15 GMT -5
i am sharing this post with the wife b/c at times i think she believes i'm paranoid with this sort of thing... Yeah, I think it's difficult for people who haven't witnessed a dog fight to imagine it happening with their dogs. I was very young the first time I saw one (two female GSP's), and it left a big impression on me. I'll also never forget seeing the occasional post-fight patients back when I was a vet tech. Not pretty. |
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Post by sugar on May 4, 2012 10:06:19 GMT -5
Mike: It sucks when you feel like you don't know your own dog because even as much as most people say "I totally understand pitbull (or any dog) behaviors" until you see what they are actually capable of you like to believe deep down that your "little sweetheart baby dog" could never do such a thing.
Glad you all are settling your nerves.
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Post by Dave on May 4, 2012 10:17:42 GMT -5
That's a good plan, Mike.
There are two types of multi-pit owners... those that have had a fight, and those that have not had one yet.
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Post by adoptapitbull on May 4, 2012 16:51:25 GMT -5
That's a good plan, Mike. There are two types of multi-pit owners... those that have had a fight, and those that have not had one yet. That word "yet" is so right. Often I feel people brag about it. "I have (X) Pits and they have never had a fight! I don't tolerate ANY aggression." I want to smack them upside the head when they say that. They're lucky, not God's gift to Pit Bulls. I admit at first I was pretty ignorant because I have Pit mixes (Mav and Cap). I didn't think mixes could fight like purebreds. WRONG! Any dog...mixed or purebred...can be a tenacious fighter. |
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Post by perfectpit on May 4, 2012 17:16:42 GMT -5
Been in that situation twice. But it was my husband who thought they could get along and they didn't have a food trigger. It is really scary and you have to have your senses about you when it is happening to avoid a worse outcome. Glad to hear no one was seriously hurt.
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Post by johnr on May 4, 2012 19:07:40 GMT -5
Fights happen between all dogs. Our kind just get carried away with it. Sure sucks to learn the hard way, though. You got lucky with Eko staying out of it. One-on-one is hard enough, a melee is impossible by yourself. Yes, Pit Bull fights tend to start for the same reasons that other dogs fight. But when Pit Bulls fight, they tend not to keep an eye on the nearest exit or opportunity to stop. They're all in. And the longer it goes, the deeper into it they are. |
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Post by melonie on May 5, 2012 7:59:01 GMT -5
i am sharing this post with the wife b/c at times i think she believes i'm paranoid with this sort of thing... It's good to be paranoid. Once you get too comfortable something will happen. Even though Winston and Cleveland haven't been in a fight with/against each other, they've been involved a fight together. So I know they are capable. Every once in awhile Cleveland gets worked up over something and I now must be careful to get him and Winston separated before something happens, as I know one wrong move, and they could be fighting each other. They are best pals, snuggle buddies, partners in crime. But I don't trust either of them to be alone, or to play hard and rude, or eat together. I'm a mean dogmom I'm sure! A year ago it was a whole different story! |
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Post by johnr on May 5, 2012 9:38:04 GMT -5
i am sharing this post with the wife b/c at times i think she believes i'm paranoid with this sort of thing... Smart move. |
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I look forward to learning much here