I need help, I think I need to kill two of my dogs.

I first want to say, i love all four of my dogs. I bave spent thouands in medical bills to fix or heal most of them. Now find out why. I have four dogs. Two males, two females. Let's call the two boys, a and b. Then the two girls c and d.
Dog a, is lazy and sleeps inside all day with us and does not want to go out side. Dog b, c, and d love to go out side. A few days about dog, b and c, ganged up on dog d. They really did a number no her. Dog D is in emergency surgery right now. Dog c has gotten into so many fights with our dogs. We thought it was the other dogs. But a few months ago she got in a huge fight with dog d also. And we say it start. We know who started it. Dig b just it into another dog fight just a few mins ago with a dog that is not ours.

I want to give them away to a good home. Buy I really fear that if I do that, they will still or could hurt other dogs. I am not fixing the fighting issue. I don't want to give away my problems. That's a cheat. I have tried keeping them all away from each other. They either jump or dig into they can fight. If I am walking them dog b, and c they even try to fight random people or dogs. I really think I have an issue of safety...

Now I sound like a union guy

I am really sad, and don't know what to do.....

Dogs should only fight to assert dominance if they go further then somethings wrong.

Hi HTP, sorry to hear about your dog issues. But there's hope! I'm a professional dog trainer, and I can tell you that there is ALWAYS hope. Yes, just like people, dogs can be born with chemical imbalances/mental issues, but for 99% of dogs, behavior is either learned or trained into them, whether intentionally or not. So I'm going to throw out a few suggestions. I don't know the history of the dogs or of your relationship with them, so some of these things might not apply, and please don't take offense to any of it. I simply don't know you or your situation, and from my experience, 99% of dog issues are caused, directly or indirectly, by owners who either don't know enough about the breed they chose (people being upset when their terriers dig up their yards, for example...hello...they are called terriers because they "go to ground!") or they don't know enough about canine behavior and are then surprised when the dogs misbehave. Or the owners simply bit off more than they could chew when it comes to time, space, breed, etc.

That said:

Exercise. How much do they get? Dogs that get plenty of exercise are less likely to be destructive and aggressive. The more you can wear them out, the better. It never fails to amaze me how shocked owners are when their previously "bad" dogs are suddenly "good" after the dogs have gotten enough playtime and exercise. Get them to fetch, jog, swim, whatever, several times a day if needed. Dogs MUST have adequate exercise and interaction with their owners.

Spay/Neuter. Both can have calming effects in both sexes.

Females. In a lot of breeds, the females are often the most dominant and aggressive. It's very often best when you have one female from a breed like this to not have other females or they will fight. I've noticed this with my own dog. She gets along with males but not other females. If we ever add another dog to our family, it'll have to be a male or we'll see lots of squabbles over pack dominance.

Boredom. A bored dog is a destructive dog. A group of bored dogs are bullies. Ever see a group of bored teens standing around? Yeah, no good EVER comes of that. Same with dogs. Keep their minds stimulated. Give them jobs...even if the job is something simple as fetching the paper. Give them toys that mentally stimulate or keep them busy -- a Kong filled with peanut butter can keep a dog busy for a quite a while. There are toys they can push with their noses and paws that drop treats out and keep them busy.

Obedience Training. Outside of exercise, this is the single most important thing a dog needs. Not just needs, but NEEDS, especially if it's a large, powerful breed. Visit any reputable K-9 or Schutzhund training kennel and you'll find that the dogs, which are of breeds infamous for being aggressive, don't fight. Why not? Because they are trained not to. Yes, they have also been selected for temperamental suitability, but their aggression is also channeled. You don't have to go to those lengths, of course, but basic obedience training can make a huge difference. The dogs not only gain the needed mental stimulation, but they build confidence, just a like a person does, when they get good at something. Sit, down, stay, heel...basics, and work up from that. You want your dogs to a point where when you tell them to "halt," they stop what they're doing on a dime. It's not hard to do, and just a few minutes of work a day will pay off big time.

One of the best training techniques is to go with diversion rather than correction, especially if you're dealing with aggression. For example, when you take a dog for a walk, and you know it's going to try to pick a fight with another dog, turn and go the other way, or pull it aside well in advance, make him sit in front of you and stay until the dog has gone past. This will eventually teach him that the desired behavior, when encountering a dog (or person) is to sit and stay. Obviously, you need lots of treats and praise, and this is assuming your dog is already well behaved on a leash. If not, teach basic heeling. I highly recommend any of Cesar Milan's books for training.

It really sounds like there's nothing here that can't be fixed. If you don't have the time or desire, it's possible you can find someone who will. I tend to take on "project" dogs...or did until I got my own, so I know there are people out there who are willing to do it.

Best of luck!

Fungus said my thoughts for the most part. I have 2 dogs sped is part pitbull part lab. bingo is a border collie(sped and bingo)when we got the second dog(bingo) it was a bitch, sped would gobble her food and then go after his . any toy bingo grabbed sped took.the food fights were the worse. they have scars from fighting each other. it took a while(3-6mos) and a lot of but kicking &comanding dominant presance showing I was the leader of this pack and what I expected from my pack to get them to accept each other. it worked, I know some would say sped part pitbull and is dangerous but she hasn't bitten anyone, Bingo on the other hand bitten me twice the last time he got the ass kicking of his life and I doubt he'll ever try that again

wirenut11664 said:

Fungus said my thoughts for the most part. I have 2 dogs sped is part pitbull part lab. bingo is a border collie(sped and bingo)when we got the second dog(bingo) it was a bitch, sped would gobble her food and then go after his . any toy bingo grabbed sped took.the food fights were the worse. they have scars from fighting each other. it took a while(3-6mos) and a lot of but kicking &comanding dominant presance showing I was the leader of this pack and what I expected from my pack to get them to accept each other. it worked, I know some would say sped part pitbull and is dangerous but she hasn't bitten anyone, Bingo on the other hand bitten me twice the last time he got the ass kicking of his life and I doubt he'll ever try that again

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Not sure what you mean by "ass kicking," but beating your dog will only make them hand and foot shy, and can lead to fear biting and aggression. The next time a dog growls, snaps, or bites, grab him by the muzzle and scruff and force him to the ground with a VERY firm, "No" or "bad dog." Hold them there for a few seconds - you can even growl and snarl if you don't feel too stupid. It's what an alpha dog does with other pack members, and it's not only much more effective in showing your dog who the alpha is, but it won't result in shyness, fear, or learned aggression.

Daemonica said:

Not sure what you mean by "ass kicking," but beating your dog will only make them hand and foot shy, and can lead to fear biting and aggression. The next time a dog growls, snaps, or bites, grab him by the muzzle and scruff and force him to the ground with a VERY firm, "No" or "bad dog." Hold them there for a few seconds - you can even growl and snarl if you don't feel too stupid. It's what an alpha dog does with other pack members, and it's not only much more effective in showing your dog who the alpha is, but it won't result in shyness, fear, or learned aggression.

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I agree 100%, as a wolf-minded semi-human

Thankyou for saying everything I was going to so clearly and concisely!!

Don't give up hope... Killing your 'problem' is not the answer either, not just giving it away. I know you love your dogs very much but it will not hurt them if you get assertive as outlined here ^

It's not aggression, it's encouraging submission. Lashing out and hitting a dog out of fear/frustration is, encouraging them to reciprocate it. You are alpha wolf. You are their guidance, protection and security. They shoul look to you for everything, even in how they are around eachother. They should trust you're going to be managing the balance of power within the pack.

Contact a rescue group, if they are not agressive with humans they will take them and place them in one dog homes. Dont kill them until you check out your local rescue group

xKuroiTaimax said:

It's not aggression, it's encouraging submission. Lashing out and hitting a dog out of fear/frustration is, encouraging them to reciprocate it. You are alpha wolf. You are their guidance, protection and security. They shoul look to you for everything, even in how they are around eachother. They should trust you're going to be managing the balance of power within the pack.

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Yes, yes, yes! Dogs should never fear their people...they should trust them. With trust comes bonds and positive behavior. Striking a dog is NEVER the answer and only leads to distrust and fear. Thanks for bringing up the "guidance, protection, and security" thing. People often don't consider how much influence they have over their dogs, and a confident, secure dog who understands his place in the pack will respect his alpha if he's trained right. Respect, not fear, should be the goal when correcting a dog's behavior.

Give them to a Rescue shelter.
This is going to sound cruel. You could take them to the Vet and have them put down humanly.
Not like my buddy. Who just took his trash dog out to the Desert and put a bullet in her head. Then drop the body into a abandon mine shaft.

Ringsixty said:

Not like my buddy. Who just took his trash dog out to the Desert and put a bullet in her head. Then drop the body into a abandon mine shaft.

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And that is why I like animals better than most humans. Some people should never be allowed to have pets. Let alone children.

I love my dogs to death. Even the one who started it I was playing with today. They free run on a half acre. There're dog run marks where they run so much. Lol. I just posted this looking for help. I have them in two different areas right now. So thats fine. I cement blocked off the frencing Trying to stop them from digging.

Dog C was a great dog until her. BFF got killed in a dog fight, with dog C. The people next-door there dog broke our fence, and there pit bull killed her best friend. After that she is a total bitch.....

I take good care of her because I know she is sad.

Daemonica said:

And that is why I like animals better than most humans. Some people should never be allowed to have pets. Let alone children.

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Amen, sister. Amen.

Daemonica said:

Yes, yes, yes! Dogs should never fear their people...they should trust them. With trust comes bonds and positive behavior. Striking a dog is NEVER the answer and only leads to distrust and fear. Thanks for bringing up the "guidance, protection, and security" thing. People often don't consider how much influence they have over their dogs, and a confident, secure dog who understands his place in the pack will respect his alpha if he's trained right. Respect, not fear, should be the goal when correcting a dog's behavior.

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i disagree, sometimes you need to give your doggy a slap or two if they deserve it. only way they learn.

Da Almighty Jew said:

i disagree, sometimes you need to give your doggy a slap or two if they deserve it. only way they learn.

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Yep, that's the only way they learn to fear you. If that's your goal, you're on the right track!

Seriously, dogs don't think like humans. They think like dogs, and they don't understand human thought processes. The best, most efficient way to train a dog is to use their canine instincts. Hitting them is not the ONLY way they learn, and it is, in fact, the worst way to train them. I've trained hundreds of dogs and never struck a single one. Without fail, it's always the humans who are harder to train than the dogs. There are times I really think THEY could use a slap or two. Only way they learn...

It amazes me that people will spend hours, days, even months researching the cars they buy, or the best way to grow pot, but when it comes to an intelligent animal with feelings, they spend no time at all in learning how to care for and train that animal. Something wrong with that.

A low growl or warning bark tends to make doggies cease undesirable behaviour with me. It might not stop your dogs in the middle of ripping eachother apart, but I stand by the fact of you want to really get through to them you have to know them, get on a level and speak their language. If I spend the day with dogs I don't speak a word but the message gets across. I think your dogs might feel more secure and confident in you if they feel you understand them. Not trying to anthropomorphise but they will feel confident if they know communication is effective. Like going out for the day an feeling confident because you KNOW you have credit and a clear line/signal on your cell phone, if that analogy makes any sense at all?

you need an obedience trainer. 4 dogs imho is way to much , i hate it when people have like6 cats 4 dogs, 2 birds , 14 snakes..

sunni said:

you need an obedience trainer. 4 dogs imho is way to much , i hate it when people have like6 cats 4 dogs, 2 birds , 14 snakes..

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I don't mind those so much, because after a year they usually have one very big snake ... cn

It depends on how much you can/will invest in those animals and their welfare. In Trinidad I was feeding/grooming/medically treating 5 dogs, a snake, 3 turtles, 2 eels, and a chameleon. But if you're having trouble communicating with/keeping one dog under control Its clear 4 probably isn't the best idea, but you clearly don't want to part with them do I recommend you go the 'investing' stuff. Like Darmonica mentioned, what's their exercise regime like?

xKuroiTaimax said:

It depends on how much you can/will invest in those animals and their welfare. In Trinidad I was feeding/grooming/medically treating 5 dogs, a snake, 3 turtles, 2 eels, and a chameleon. But if you're having trouble communicating with/keeping one dog under control Its clear 4 probably isn't the best idea, but you clearly don't want to part with them do I recommend you go the 'investing' stuff. Like Darmonica mentioned, what's their exercise regime like?

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you also have farm land there, this is only an acer, the thing is dogs run in packs and obviously TS is NOT the pack leader, if hes invested so much money im almost positive he has the funds for obedience training. Dogs are fucking vicious, a lot of animals are, and he either needs to make a choice obedience training or get rid of the dogs. these dogs are clearly vicious heaven forbid a child gets harmed in the process or something of that sort or another dog.

Da Almighty Jew said:

i disagree, sometimes you need to give your doggy a slap or two if they deserve it. only way they learn.

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That's the easy way, because you're lazy.



To the OP, like many have said already. Show obiedience and don't encourage any unnecessary behavior by just accepting it, stand between them and show your dominance when they do that.