pit bull owners/fosters: break sticks?

Why exactly do you think you'll even need a break stick? Are you going to have multiple dogs in the household? Do they dogs you are adopting have a history of violence Are any of them going to be crate trained?
Sorry for all the questions.

ORIGINAL: sheprano

Why exactly do you think you'll even need a break stick? Are you going to have multiple dogs in the household? Do they dogs you are adopting have a history of violence Are any of them going to be crate trained?
Sorry for all the questions.

I own a pit bull mix and I'll be fostering a pit bull. I'm almost positive that everything is going to go smooth because the shelter is only going to have me foster a dog that gets along with Ella. The behaviorist/trainer is going to be there during the introduction between Ella and the other dogs. And, OF COURSE, both dogs WILL BE crated. And I'll crate and rotate if I have to. BUT to be safe, I'm going to order these sticks anyway. I'd rather be safe, than sorry.

ORIGINAL: DPU

Chewbecca, that site you referenced in your 1st post does not have a ordering procedure. Did I miss something?

I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. I am seeing green when I know I should be seeing red.

If you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the text, you'll see "order break sticks online", but PBRC is currently out of the break sticks.
I ordered from [linkhttp://obriensk9supply.com/store/index.php?target=products&product_id=1653]this place.[/link] I didn't order from the original site I linked in my first post because I kept clicking on the order button and it wasn't bringing anything up for me to fill out.
I'm going to try these out and see how they work.

The shelter I'm fostering for is the same shelter that I adopted Ella from. The behaviorist/trainer is the same guy that worked with Ella while she was still in the shelter. They're helping to match up a dog that they think will get along with Ella and my family. I trust them. But I don't trust my pit bull to not get b!tchy with another dog.

ORIGINAL: probe1957

ORIGINAL: HKdog
but jab a finger up the butt

LMAO.  I hope Mark doesn't read that.  He will want to know how hard he has to bite you before you...  []

It actually works,not to pleasant for the poker or the pokee... but it is another bit of advice that could work. I really don't think you would have to lube up like the proctologist (sp??)and take your sweet time... it's a pretty tender area...But you do need two people...cuz if I was the dog, I would bite that person that did it to me!!!
Not trying to change the OP post into a joke, but could you imagine what the dog would think if that happened? (haaaaa!?!?! what the he!l ??!!!)

Oh good, he he. I was imagining you were taking in some horrible monster pit bull!
Other techniques I have heard (because it can happen real fast) is if there are two people in the room, each grab the back legs and pull them apart. The water trick will not work, they are to stubborn. I do however think you'll have some warning signs. Yes pit bulls rarely show signs prior to a attack but that dosnt mean you cant sense tension leading up to it.
On the other hand they could get along liek two peas in a pod! We dont have too many multiple pit owners on this site but on two others I visit there are plenty and the number one consenus to maintaing a peacful household is....
- Providing strong leadership in the household
 
I'm sure you know most of this but it never hurts to add....
 
-Strict, strict obediance
-seperate everything
-no tolernace for toy or food stealers
- (one of the most under rated) lots of playtime outside of the house, ie walks, hiking, stuff like that
I mean when you have two kids that have been couped up in the house they will wear on eachotehrs nerves but if you take them to chucky cheese they'll become best of friends again! My friend who has a 2 year old husky brought home a pup 2 months ago and it wasnt going very well. After she started taking them on walsk togehter the mood changed considerably.
 
My uncle always had multiple pit bulls in his home and on his property. A majority were male, unaltered, hog dogs who worked together out in the field. Sure it sounds crazy but I can only remember one fight as a kid and it was because he was dog sitting a friends. He was never fearful of having us kids crawling around underfoot and the reason why is because those dogs wouldnt fart without his approval. Anyone in the house could give them a command and they'd look right to him to confirm the command.....it was a beautiful thing.
 
Also if you have never heard of seen two pit bulls play before I'd like to point out it can be a extremely scary looking and sounding experience. BUT as long as the tails are wagging and it fun play then ok, even biting and scraches but if they wanted to hurt eachotehr you would not be able to mistake it for play.
Oh I'm so excited for you!
 

ORIGINAL: sheprano

Oh good, he he. I was imagining you were taking in some horrible monster pit bull!
Other techniques I have heard (because it can happen real fast) is if there are two people in the room, each grab the back legs and pull them apart.

 
I did see a video of this and it stated that is the only safe way to stop two dogs in a fight.  It also said to constant pinwheel even after they break apart.

Please keep one thing in mind - some jurisdictions will consider a break stick to be dogfighting equipment and it is illegal to own one.  Be sure that your area has no such rule before you purchase one. 
Also, if you have a Pit engaged with another dog, remember that the Pit might grip and hold, but other breeds might use a multiple bite, and if you get them loose and they displace on you, it can get ugly. 

ORIGINAL: sheprano
Oh I'm so excited for you!

Thank you! I'm quite excited as well!
Thanks for the tips. I got a treadmill and I have been slowly introducing Ella to it by first convincing her to get on it with LOTS of praise and then once I did that, I started feeding her on it. She's getting comfortable with it because now she'll watch me while I'm on it. She'll even get on it on her own. I'm doing it this slowly so I don't freak her out and make her scared of it. If she gets scared of it, that'll make my job of getting her to use only that much more difficult. It'll be nice to get her to use since with it being so cold, she hasn't been wanting to go on walks. She wants to get outside, do her business, and run back inside.
So...anyway, I'll have the treadmill to use for the dogs. I went out and bought new toys for the foster, and I have separate dishes for him, too. I've been preparing for a foster for a little while now.
I cannot wait.
But I also know that if Ella ends up too aggressive during the introduction, there is a good chance that I won't be bringing home any dog to foster. I can accept that though. I know that DA is a possibility with pit bulls, and I knew that when I adopted her.
Hopefully they'll be great friends like Ella and my in laws' giant schnauzer are. They're SO cute together. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that they become friends.

And what do you all think of the dogs???
I think both are adorable, but Pablo tugs my little heart strings.

Oh they both look precious to me! How old is Ella?
Also keep in mind that to a certain extent there is going to need to be some issues worked out between the two of them that may include some growling and even lunging. My sister's old man lunges at my girl but his mouth is always closed and he lets her get her way 98% of the time. He is about 9 years old and she will only be two next month.i think its more of a "get outta my way lil girl" typpe thing. He is arthritc and fussy. Maybe a good next question for our experienced i-doggers would be "how to tell the difference between a natural warning dogs give and outright disdain.
I also hope I'm not overstepping my response privileges with all my specualtion, warnings or advice.....its really out of my own frusteration of wanting anotehr dog but not having room yet so I'm learning too, ha ha!

hey, anything that anyone with experience can tell me, is totally welcomed.
This will be my first time fostering and my first time fostering a pit bull and having 2 pit bulls under the same roof.
I realize it's done everyday, but I've seen my girl lunge and high pitch bark at 3 other dogs (though, I do think it's all leash related) and I KNOW that if she would've had her way, she would have been up in their face. But it never got that far because I had control.

I SWEAR, my dog is so very obedient and well behaved, but if I'm walking her and we come across another dog on a leash that she determines she either doesn't like or is uncomfortable with, you'd think she had absolutely NO obedience training what-so-ever. She turns into Super Dummy Dog. She spins in circles, growls, lunges, spins in circles some more, and does this high pitch whiney bark. I love her, but MAN, she can act like a complete fool around other leashed dogs.

ORIGINAL: chewbecca
 She turns into Super Dummy Dog. She spins in circles, growls, lunges, spins in circles some more, and does this high pitch whiney bark. I love her, but MAN, she can act like a complete fool around other leashed dogs.

 
Oh THAT high pitched whiney bark that I like to call the official chewbacca sound? Is that where you got your name from? Rory does that sometimes in the car when she see's a dog walking and peopel look at me like I'm beating her or laugh, haha! Hey at least its excitment and not aggression!

Is that what it is?
There's this guy that has two extremely poofy dogs. I have no idea what kind of dogs they are because I never get close enough and it's always dark out when I come across him. But we stepped out for our walk last night, and this guy comes strolling down the street with these two dogs while he's on his cell phone. Ella, for some reason, get EXTREMELY excited around these dogs. She can see them a block away and goes mad. So she starts doing her little leash dance, and lunging, and doing that high pitched girly bark of hers, and I had to help her into a sit position because she instantly turned stupid and forgot the command.
Once I got her in the sit position, it must've clicked in her head, and she stayed in it. But she continued to do that bark, and I decided it best that we just go the opposite direction of the dogs.

So far I've heard 5 pit bulls do this. One was a big scary male with a spiked collar lookin all mean. The second he saw Rory he turned to mush and starting whining like a lil monkey, as did she, also his tail was wagging and even though the owner looked intimidating too he was actually very nice and knew a lot about his dog. You could tell he loved him, anyhoo we walked up to them, both of us owners thought it would be ok and it was a blur of kisses, tail wags, and sweet hellos. Its a total "OMG, look mom another dog I have to play NOW" sound "eeooo, oooooo eeeee ooowwww ee eee" ha ha I know that looks funy but thats the only way I can describe it, at least with Rory it means let me play!!!

Another way to break up a fight without it escalating is to push the dog who's hangning on TOWARDS the dog s/he's holding onto. If the dog can't breathe, s/he will have to let go!

Oh, and sorry! I forgot to mention Ella's age.

She is 3.
Here she is (I don't know if you've ever seen her before...)