miranadobe
Posted : 9/29/2008 3:05:07 PM
LOTS and LOTS of really tough chew toys with constant supervision. Our pit ends up chewing things she's not supposed to when she's bored. Be careful when introducing ANYTHING like that early in the relationship with your pack, though, of course. Our pit will guard her resources from the other dogs - just with growls and moves away, but sometimes has air snapped. Meanwhile I can take anything from her without any issue, and she didn't know me from Adam when I moved in. (ie, there was no reason for her to trust me when I reached in and took it.)
Our pit can be a bully w/other dogs - LOTS of vocalization and pushiness. I cannot tell you what other pits are like because she is the first one I've lived with. I'd just be prepared to give the dogs separate spaces when they are getting accustomed to eachother. "Down time" as it were. Our pit has soooo much energy that she can become annoying to the other dogs (and people, honestly). Again, I can't speak for all pits, just my tiny experience with Jada.
Jada had zero training when I came in, but she's a fast learner. I can't say much for rentention! But she does learn quickly and WANTS to learn. I will say that positive reinforcement training worked better for her than whatever she experienced in the past. She wants to do the right thing, but often can't focus on what that is supposed to be. She spent time avoiding corrections rather than learning to do the right thing - positive reinforcement really worked better for her.
And I second AuroraLove - be prepared to fall in love!