Brindle Pit Bull Hair Problem?

gahustle

lol ... One of the few people who have HELPED!!!!!! and again ill say HELPED. On this thread is spicy, because of the way i was approached by  she or he (cant quite tell from usernames) i read and took the advice.

 even though spicy voiced  opinion about tieing the dog, and learning more about the breed. She also gave me advice that i wanted, wich was the mite problem.

The rest of you just put your two cents in on how i was a bad owner, worried for the dog, and everything else. But i got advice from the lady who owns critturs we have been emailing back and forth ( since the majority of this forum is sad & entertaining lol ) 

I don't believe I insulted you, called you a bad owner or anything else.  I feel slightly insulted myself that you are so disparaging about the replies you got when I put a lot of thought into MY posts, so as not to offend, but to actually try to help.

Nice to know that the forum is "sad and entertaining".  No one here is allowed to insult you based on the choices you have made for the dog, but you are allowed to insult everyone else in this way?

Let me tell you a story about a tie out dog.  One of the dogs my family had when I was growing up.  He was a big dog and strong.  We lived out in the country and one day, an elderly gentleman approached the house to ask for some information.... some directions I think it was.  The dog had been in his kennel, presumably asleep.  Well, when the guy got too close to the house/kennel, the dog came at him and jumped.  The man was knocked down and hit his head.  If we hadn't heard the dog barking we wouldn't have known that guy was there. 

My parents helped him inside and made sit down, made him a drink, apologised profusely and urged him to go the hospital to get checked out.  He ended up in hospital anyway, with haemorraging (sp?)  You know what, taht guy could have died.  As we are in the UK, we have the NHS (ha ha ha, funny joke) but had we lived elsewhere in the world, we may well have had to foot the hospital bill.  My point is, it doesn't matter if your dog is not aggressive.  He can still be dangerous.  The bonus of having him indoors is that the dog is under your direct supervision and no one can happen across him, startle him, tease him (kids are the worst for this!) harm him, steal him, set him loose.... 

Our family were keen on tethering dogs.  Delivery men did not like delivering to our house.  Many of them swatted at the dog as they passed, because they disliked being charged/jumped on and of course this made the dogs defensive against strange men in future.  We had one dog that was put down due to the severe agression he developed. 

The point I am trying so hard to make here is: if you are dead set on keeping a dog outside, then you need to be VERY CAREFUL where you put him.  A kennel and run would be ideal (the dog can feel secure there, rather than trapped and it could even be padlocked against theives for example).  A tie out is much more difficult.  Can visitors to your property get to him, or is your property "secure"?  Choking is, of course, another consideration. 

Just going back to the "jumping up" for a moment - man but that was a problem that was hard to solve in these dogs!  Because they could barely contain themsleves.... remember what I said earlier about frustration and drive?  Looking back, I see that these animals were simply desperate for human contact and companionship and that now makes me very sad. 

When you go out to your pup in the morning, you will be very  glad to see one another - but if you don't want her developing this habit of jumping up, then don't reward her with any attention whatsoever until her paws are firmly on the ground.  I wish we had taught this simple skill to our tethered dogs.... in the long run it might have saved their lives (though for what, I can't imagine).

AuroraLove

I hate to say it but this dog is far better off then a lot of pit bulls in Georgia right now.

....yah, the dog is far better off right now....but how about a year from now? or two years from now? or five years from now?
I have this gut feeling the OP isn't going to be in it with this dog for the long haul. I see pit bulls in GA tossed in shelters, dumped, chained, tortured, fought, starved...it's horrible. Apollo came from southern GA, our transport stated they had NEVER in their life seen so many dogs, mainly pits, in terrible shape...they were wandering in the roads, dumped off the highways, in shelters. No, not all dogs that are chained are neglected, but the majority are- I have seen it.

To the OP, why do you want this dog? You're a young male....in southern GA...is this a status thing? 

Excellent points Chuffy. I fond to often on forums that if people arnt told what they want to hear they assume we are being mean or insulting.

GaHustle, while I have been trying to give you the benefit of the doubt Chuffy makes some good points about the nature of a dog who is kept on a tie out all day 24/7. It dosnt mean he isnt gonna be a good dog but his excitment and protection level certainly is going to be different to that of a house dog.

So maybe so we can all get back on the same page to help out, GaHustle, what do you plan on doing with the dog on a day to day basis?

For example are you gonna exercise, walk, train the dog or bring it inside to hang out? I ask because you said you'll bring the dog inside if their is a weather advisory so I hope you'll train the dog how to behave properly in the house. I personalyl love the fact that my 2 pit bulls behave exceptionally inside my home. I take a LOT of pride in that fact. My dogs know who is boss. They sit and wait for me to prepare their food, they are NOT allowed to get up and cannot proceed to their bowl until I say so.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX50SjKBpO8

They must retreat to their beds prior to getting treats.....the boy was still new at this point.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf3uH47h71Q&feature=related

and I dont have a video yet but when someone knocks on the door they both go to their beds also.

These are smart dogs, even though I'm trying to be diplomatic I think your dog could have much more use then you might first think!

BlackLabbie

....yah, the dog is far better off right now....but how about a year from now? or two years from now? or five years from now?
I have this gut feeling the OP isn't going to be in it with this dog for the long haul. I see pit bulls in GA tossed in shelters, dumped, chained, tortured, fought, starved...it's horrible.

Believe me, I understand and share your opinion. I just dont think a negative or offensive approach is going to solve the issue. The OP isnt going to come here a year from now and say "I failed", maybe if we educate without comments like "is this a status thing" is going to get him to share and hear our point of view.

What if we slowly get through to him and the dog ends up in his bed.....he IS making it a dog house, his intentions arnt horrid at this point. That is if we havnt already scared him away.

Just like the breed he has......lets not set him up for failure. Come on guys.

I know, you're right. I shouldn't be so negative, but when you hear the same story over and over and see the same dogs in shelters abused, neglected, tortured...it's extremely hard not be fed up with this BS.
Do you know how much money I've donated to GA shelters, after I realized what a crisis that state is having with dogs? A lot. It was no accident that I adopted a dog from GA. And most of the money I've donated goes directly to pits, because sadly they're in the worst shape most of the time. It just honestly frustrates the hell out of me to see this is where it all starts...a kid getting a dog, usually as a status symbol, not a companion/pet. Which makes me wonder why wouldn't have your companion/pet dog in the house?

I hope the OP listens to you, spicy_bulldog, and the other pit bull owners on here, I guess that's the only real advice I have.

AuroraLove

Believe me, I understand and share your opinion. I just dont think a negative or offensive approach is going to solve the issue. The OP isnt going to come here a year from now and say "I failed", maybe if we educate without comments like "is this a status thing" is going to get him to share and hear our point of view.

I hear what you are saying, but he was already here months ago and was spouting off on how silly it is to have an inside dog.......there was a thread going on for pages and pages.......was anything absorbed by the OP....I don't think so.....he was defensive and insulting even back then.  That time he had a dog running loose that according to him had run ins with the police, and then the dog was given away.It's not like members here just jumped on him out of nowhere.....

When I first came to this forum I felt I was feeding a good dog food, I was politely told I could do better with the money I was spending, did the research and by golly, I took the advice and was happy what I learned.......thanks nutrition forum.....

snownose

I hear what you are saying, but he was already here months ago and was spouting off on how silly it is to have an inside dog.......there was a thread going on for pages and pages.......was anything absorbed by the OP....I don't think so.....he was defensive and insulting even back then. 

....exactly.

AuroraLove

Believe me, I understand and share your opinion. I just dont think a negative or offensive approach is going to solve the issue.

Although Spicy and I may have had a bit of a disagreement none of that disagreement was directed towards the OP.  Several of us attempted to offer advice (which he asked for) without being offensive towards him.  As Chuffy stated we tried to not offend while actually providing him some info that may help him.  From his last post it is clear he really does not "want to learn and have the best intentions" as he had earlier stated.  Based on his last post if I were a betting man I would not be putting money on that dog living a long happy life!  I hope I am wrong but unfortunately I have seen this same scene play out too many times and it rarely ends up with a happy ending.

Mark

 Since u guys inssit on making this thread about tieing the dog up..

What are your dogs doing right now....inside? What are they doing sitting in the house while your sitting on the computer? Besides sitting in your company being next to you?

I go and excersize everyday. Play basketball and run a mile and back. And when im inside i sit on my ass.  Doing nothing just like you all are doing (sorry for the language but basicly...) Your dog isnt getting exersize. He or she is doing the same thing mine is doing & we're doing. LAYING/ SITTING DOWN  So bringing the dog inside is going to make him a couch potato. Sure he can spend more time with me, he can sit and watch me lay in the bed and watch tv. cause im not going to play with him inside period. Going to work on the computer, and lay in from of the AC and watch MTV When i go outside i usely stay outside for awhile. So The dog will be excersized to no end if it wants to follow me to play basket ball, and run a mile and back (some times longer). On top of that pitbulls are always cute. Ive never seen a adult pitbull that wasnt cute enought o play with. So saying when the dog isnt a puppy he will not be played with isnt the case at all...cause when he is fully adult he will still be just as cute and funny as he is now...Lets see how much typing this response strikes

what happened to the shepherd mix you had? do the two dogs get along? being stressed out will make skin/hair probles worse for the dog(s). I haven't head this whole post, and have no intentions of doing so. I know exactly what it is going to say.

I'm sure you've gotten excellent advise about pits from some pit owners, and some negatives bashing - that's just how things go here.

As for the skin, it needs to be checked by the vet. I would not pay a cent for a dog with existing medical issues, unless it was from a shelter of course. Have the origional owner (current owner) take the dog to the vet for a clean bill of health before making any transactions.  It could be anything, honestly. From demodex to a scar.

Chuffy

man but that was a problem that was hard to solve in these dogs!  Because they could barely contain themsleves.... remember what I said earlier about frustration and drive?  Looking back, I see that these animals were simply desperate for human contact and companionship and that now makes me very sad. 

This is very much what I experienced with a dog that belonged to a friend of the family.  The wife (RIP) loved babies of any kind, but she would unfortunately neglect them as they got older.  A batch of bunnies froze to death because she didn't provide adequate shelter when temperatures dropped.  Her giant hairy St. Bernard mix was exactly what you describe above - SOOOO frustrated.  His dog house was under a tree and his metal chain gave him about 15 feet.  The kids often forgot to feed him or give him water - and most were afraid of him because he would tackle you in his exuberance to have attention.  It was indeed very sad.  He died alone and lonely in his dog house one day.

My own pit has a terrible time containing herself.  She is so demanding of attention that jumping up was a big issue before we began training.  Without consistency, she will readily resort to jumping up to greet people.  She knocks them over in her enthusiasm, cannot contain her licks, just turns herself inside out EACH AND EVERY time she greets someone.  While it's illegal to tether a dog here in this city, if she's ever restrained when people are near but out of reach, she goes batty.  Training helps - but more than anything, time, attention and consistency do more than the 10 weeks of training.  And if nobody has told you this, your pit will NEED things to chew on - talk about frustation.  Without something to chew, Jada will lick herself with unending determination.  Part of that is likely allergies - something else you will learn pits are prone to.  (I didn't know, either - Jada is my first pit and I learned from the folks here how prone pits are to allergies.)

It's worth it to listen to folks like Chuffy and Aurora and the others who are offering help.  Nobody wants to be criticized, but sometimes we need it in order to break through our old ideas and expectations and to ultimately do better by our dogs.  This time, with this dog, you have to do better simply because of the breed you've chosen - you have an obligation to more than just yourself now. 

gahustle

So bringing the dog inside is going to make him a couch potato.

Read my last post, Sure he sits inside right under your feet. But how big is your house? And how much could u REALLY play with your dog inside? And exersize him? 

So i couldnt take my dog out on mile runs either?  The dog sitting inside, isnt going to get much attention. Because my attention is going to be glued to the TV Screen, and glued to the computer screen. But i will go outside where there is nothing to distract me but MY dog.  

I understand, that the dog will be with me inside. I understand the dog may be happier when it has tons of human contact(being inside) But this is what you need to understand. Bringing the dog inside is not going to give him much more attention then he is going to get outside. My GSD i had her in the house whens he was a pup. And all she did was follow me around from my room , to the kitchen back to my room. Follow me room to room. And come back to my room and sit on the floor. Or where ever. It wasnt untill i took her outside that she got attention. Sure she got a pet on the head... But that was probly it.

Are you giving your dog attention right now as your reading this?? NO. your dog is sitting probly at your feet while you watch tv, or search google. 

gahustle

Read my last post, Sure he sits inside right under your feet. But how big is your house? And how much could u REALLY play with your dog inside? And exersize him?   

My PIT BULLS are indoor dogs. We bike or skateboard everyday without fail. On weekends we swim or do more. The reason I say Pit Bull is because they are not regular dogs. I am trying to be helpful here but as mentioned above you may have to set some of your regular ownership methods aside. Your dog can still be lazy chillin outside? Are you insiuating your going to make it work a chain?

Do my dogs look like couch potatoes?

and yes, they still get to laze around IN my home.