Aggressive Pit Bull lives in our neighborhood

Dyan, I don't want to sound like I don't like pit bulls either.  There is one in my immediate family and we love him. I would get some Direct Stop or maybe even something stronger and have it on your hip whenever you go out-regardless of how far away you are going or for how long.  I just keep a can everywhere-our front door, my car, DH has one with his keys, etc. 

I really don't know how to say this without sounding bias.  I love the breed, I work in a shelter where 60% of our dogs are pits and I don't have a problem with the breed.  However, I do beleave that anyone who owns a pitty has a huge responsibility to uphold because of the horrable reputition the dog already has.  It is not fare but with BSL and the media jumping on any little case it can be difficult to own one.  I really do admire thoes who do own them.  Each and every owner who loves their dogs has a dutie to protect the breed by only displaying the best of the best that the breed can be.  Any little setback or thing that can frighten neighbors or the commuity is irresponsible.  If there is even a question that this dog could be dagerious then the owners need to reconsider taking the dog out in public.  They need to find a behaviorist who is experanced and learn how to deal with this problem professionally.  The dog may be a wonderful family pet but if they love the dog they need to protect it.  I fear that this dog's life is threghtned because if even the slightest thing goes wrong the dog may be ordered to be put down.

I live in a neighborhood where it's not at all uncommon to see pit bulls or pit mixes.  Quite a few are loose with no owner in sight most of the time.  We've had our share of encounters and some have been pretty scary.  Not all the scary encounters involved pit bulls. We have a chow down the street who is often out loose and he will charge us if he sees us.  He stops just short of contact but it's not a pleasant experience.  We don't walk our dogs in our neighborhood for this reason.  It's not always convenient to load up four dogs and take them somewhere else to walk but that's what we do.  We do have a secure fenced back yard, so potty breaks aren't ever a problem.  All it takes is one encounter with an aggressive dog to create a dog reactive dog.  

I would keep Gibby on a lead at all times and secure the front door. Habits are hard to break but as much as you both love Gibby, I imagine his safety and yours is worth the effort.  Personally, I would talk to the pit bull owner and find out when they walk their dog so you can walk at a different time.  Since the owner has told you that her dog hates other dogs, you can't take any more chances.  

While it sounds like the Pitty and owners definitely have a lot of red flags, that may have you be on alert for awhile, on the other hand it sounds like Gibby has his own issues too!

 Of course Gibby lately has grown up and decided he needs to protect our house so runs barking at the door with every sound he hears.   I have to be very very careful because my outside door doesn't close by itself very good all the time..and we never got into the habit of making sure its closed good.  Hard to break that now, but Gibby could natually push the door open anyway unless its locked which it never is. 

I guess the only thing we can do is NEVER let Gibby out without being leashed...but I can't get my DH to go along with that...he keeps running him out quickly.

Gibby will come back........won't run away........but I know he would run to that dog....

If this were to ever happen, please keep in mind that any altercation would at that point be your dog's (ie your) fault. That is not to sound mean, but if she is walking her own dog - on leash - down the sidewalk and your own dog takes off to them - off leash - , then regardless of the aggression in the Pitty, it would still be your fault for not having your dog contained.  The only unfair part about the situation is that the Pitbull *may* be blamed because of it's breed, even though it was the leashed one at the time, when in reality it could be ANY breed walking that is DA,  And that wouldn't be very fair, but unfortunately that is what would happen.

The only reason I say that is I have a huge pet peeve from working with DA dogs, when people let their "friendly" dogs (who aren't always that friendly, but often quite rude) run loose or charge to the sidewalk to "say hi" and then blame the responsible owners with the DA dogs for trying to do the right thing by keeping control of their dog! 

The best you can do to make sure that you are being responsible, and keeping everyone safe, is to keep your own dog leashed and contained on your property so that he cannot reach the road and passersby. And to make sure that your door is securely shut - hard habit to break, sure, but again a necessity if you want to keep your dog safe.  It's sooooo easy to preach "that dog is aggressive!!", but if it ends up being YOUR dog who causes the fight, because it pushes through a door and barrels outside, or because it runs up to them off-leash, then it doesn't much matter, does it?  LOL. 

I know it can be hard to have a dog-aggressive dog in your neighbourhood. It takes some getting used to, and you do have to be more cautious. Being more cautious, though, starts with making sure that you have done everything for your own dog and house to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Hate to take offense Kim but those "items" that you pointed out don't sound like issues, but rather Gibby is being a dog, one like many many others..but big.  

That said, I do understand Kim exactly what you are saying because if I were to go searching in this forum for things I have written, we will find me writing about the small dogs in my neighborhood that come charging at my leashed dog that I walk every day,,,and sometimes the owners are laughing because their little dog is running and barking at my giant dog.   And I have said the same thing... that it would be their dogs fault it their dog gets hurt, it would sometimes take as much as slap out of the danes big foot. Unlike you though,  I have always felt that it would be my big dog in trouble rather than the little cutsie dog, because at the end of the day if the authorities are called...they are going to say that the bigger dog hurt the small one.  I feel I need to protect my big dog from these small dogs doing this.       Now this is reversed of course ( of course I still have the other little dogs living here so that problem still goes ) .  The difference would be Gibby would not charge that dog...he would run past him to get to his owner for some lovin.  Which would cause a major problem here.

I feel  bad for these people..they probably took the dog to save him,  and I respect them so much for that, Lord knows more dogs need to be saved.  But you know years ago ( in a different neighborhood ) when I had a shepherd/dane mix that never saw a leash ( except for going to the vet ) she loved laying under our big willow tree in the front yard, people down and across the street had Pittys they were raising and selling no doubt for fighting purposes ( my son played ball with their son and he talked about the treadmills in the house ) and they had a pregnant female that they walked past my house about 2 miles twice a day, and they told me " if your dog ever comes across the street and come by this dog, I'm telling you right now your dog is dead!"   Back then there was rarely news about pitties and fighting...now I would call the police immediately..but the "your dog is dead" doesn't leave my head.

Zebby, your right, this poor dog might be a victim of an ugly seen..I feel this is an accident waiting to happen and I feel really bad for the guy with the little beagle next door, has to be afraid to go in his back yard with his little dog. These are cluster home, we don't have much yards.

Lori thats a great idea....I have a can somewhere and can't find it..I will guy buy another today.  Just in case.

dyan

Hate to take offense Kim but those "items" that you pointed out don't sound like issues, but rather Gibby is being a dog, one like many many others..but big. 

I'm sorry, it was poorly worded. What I mean was that these are all things within Gibby (yes, normal dog things!) that would cause issues within the context of what's going on.

 The leash vs. non-leash thing is irrespective of size. Any dog that is unleashed, that inteferes with leashed dogs (granted - if you are in a leash-only area!), is always going to be at fault, because if the dog was leashed to begin with there should never have been an issue.  If the authorities are called, I would certainly expect (regardless of area, although I'm sure there are cases.....) that the one violating the local leash laws is the one that would be responsible, regardless of size. Obviously you still have to be cautious, certainly, as none of us want to have to experience those situations (I'm the same as you, but in reverse - my usual issues are the large, rude off-leash dogs that will easily hurt a small dog! )

Hopefully these people will do their best to keep things safe, and if they are aware of the issue will be careful with *their* dog.  Like I said, it sounds like a poor situation that may set the dog up to fail, but hopefully I can be wrong. It can definitely be hard, but as mentioned the best things you can do is to protect yourself and your own dog, and to be alert and prepared. If everyone used a little more focus with the situation, then a problem may never come to pass. And it's not even just about "this dog". I live in the country where stuff dosn't "happen much", but the other day there was a still a stray, large-breed dog, unfriendly dog that ran through our property. Thankfully my dogs were indoors, and I have a fenced area for them anyhow, but you just never know. If it's not this Pitbull, it could be another dog. It helps to have preparations in place lest something ever does go wrong.

Kim_MacMillan

If it's not this Pitbull, it could be another dog. It helps to have preparations in place lest something ever does go wrong

Without any doubt.  And you know...I'm sure a lot of people feel almost the same about Gibby.... sometimes he gets his " puppy bad boy " self and starts pulling or jumping or barking...... so I watch him like a hawk. I understand having a dog that people are afraid of. They don't know that my son comes over with his little Chi's all the time.... Gibby mainly ignores them,,,he really loves people. They don't know he goes to play days at Camp Bow Wow a lot.....they see this big guy acting like an idiot occasionally.....( oh to have another male dane ) while  other times sweetly walkng down the street...  but I think the fact that these people have said a few times to me..and to their neighbor that he HATES other dogs...they can't walk him because he HATES other dogs......just makes it all the more scary.  Believe me, I have to walk ALMOST past their house to get out of my development and I always look at their house to see if anything is open.   The couple times they were just coming in from taking the dog out..if they saw me coming, they high tail it in the house. Yes..they are aware, very. And thats good.  I just worry about that accident. The same accident I worried about when I had Bubblegum who didn't seem to like other dogs.  But then that lady from my old neighborhood comes to my ears with " Your dog is dead!"   And I know how strong their jaws are.   

I have to convince my DH to not take him out at dinner time without his leash.  These people own this house..its likely they will be here a long time.

Thanks for your ideas friends.

Dyan, I think the best you can do is to make sure Gibby cannot get to him and carry the Direct Stop to protect yourself in case the pittie gets away from them.   I also think the idea about asking them when they walk is a great one.  This way you can avoid them.  I try to time myself too-we have 8 dogs in 4 houses on my street. 

Do you know that I can not find Direct Stop anywhere today?  Am I looking in the wrong place by trying to find it in the pet store?  I can't find my old can in my house so went to the shopping area that has a lot of stores and could not find it. PetSmart sells a can of something..it was citronella I believe. I didn't get it because I didn't think I would have trouble finding Direct Stop. Probably the can I had wouldn't even work anymore... its so old and never been used.

I might have gotten it in my DHs head to not let Gibby out without his leash..but really.... his back surgery that he had a few years ago has gone bad...he is having a whole lot of problems again....honest..if Gibby wanted to run..he would have to let go...this 6'4" guy has no strength in his legs because of his back again. I just always take care of Gibby as much as I can.

 To be honest, it sounds more like you have the problem than the other owners at this point.  They seem to be trying their best to keep their dog restrained and out of reach of any other dogs.  You on the other hand have already admitted you let your dog out in an unenclosed area without a leash knowing full well you can not verbally control him.  Completely taking the DA dog out of the mix, that is still setting yourself up for a potential disaster.  It is simply not safe for your dog or the general public.

Krissim Klaw

To be honest, it sounds more like you have the problem than the other owners at this point.  They seem to be trying their best to keep their dog restrained and out of reach of any other dogs.  You on the other hand have already admitted you let your dog out in an unenclosed area without a leash knowing full well you can not verbally control him.  Completely taking the DA dog out of the mix, that is still setting yourself up for a potential disaster.  It is simply not safe for your dog or the general public.

Wow!

Potential disaster to take my dog out to pee at the side of my house while I am with him once in a while?  I am not making it safe for the general public?  Please.  While SOME of us have COMPLETE control of our dogs ( you may or you may not )....most don't.  Many people on the dog forums are afraid that if their dogs get out of the house they will run away... not me. Gibby will not go anyway..I can call him back.  JUST not fast enough when we are talking a big strong dog that HATES other dogs.  I don't think you know me or my dogs...many here do.  Gibby is a big goofy Great Dane.

Next door to us our neighbors have (3) pitt bull.  They do have their yard fenced in, but the dogs have gotten out a few times.  I can usually hear them barking when out so I never take Ava out then.  Once in awhile they are out when we are out so far no problems, I trust the two females, but not the male, he is pretty aggressive.  Hope we all stay safe.  I'd keep my dog on a leash always.

Dyan, it's not that anyone thinks Gibby would hurt anyone if he ran over to greet a person or dog.  The problem is, with the pit bull that you've said hates dogs, disaster can strike quickly if Gibby were to run toward this dog.  You said that your husband can't hold him with his bad back and that's understandabe but the potential problem still exists. 

 I personally think the owners of the pit bull have made a very bad mistake and I don't feel like they've done the right thing by taking in this dog.  If something happens, the pit will be killed.  That dog, if truly dog aggressive, needs to be in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing.  That doesn't mean that everyone else in the neighborhood who owns dogs doesn't need to be super cautious and prevent, at all costs, their dog having an encounter with this dog. 

 If Gibby is attacked by this dog, he could very well become dog aggressive himself.  That's not something you want with a dog the size of Gibby.

Your right Jackie..any encounter with that dog could be disaster...for both dogs. Thats why I thought I would bring it here...trying to gather lots of different thoughts.  I know there is nothing I can do except keep my dog away from this big guy....but accidents happen all the time...and I sure don't want any.   I know these people are trying to keep the dog away from others and I hope they manage it.