I’m a dog trainer & hate a breed with severe behavioral problems – my clients’ pets have been attacked & killed by them
A DOG trainer has shared how they believe that one dog’s bark is in fact not worse than their bite.
They explained how they always had a “ruff” time with the cantankerous canines that have pounced on other pooches.
Redditor Dogtraineranonymous, who has had plenty of experience dealing with dogs with general behavioral problems, is pointing the finger at one problematic pup.
“I hate pitbulls as a breed,” they said.
“I’ve worked with some absolutely phenomenal pits whose owners genuinely put the time and effort into training and understanding their dogs,” they continued.
“However, that would be less than 5% of pitbull owners.”
They were definitely not a fan of this Fido’s temperament.
“Nearly every pitbull I’ve worked with has or eventually developed severe behavioral problems,” they said.
“Pits tend to develop the worst behavioral anxiety due to separation.”
They explained how they have worked with owners whose pitbulls have chewed through crates and doors.
And don’t even think about using an electric collar.
They shared how even those pitbulls who don’t exhibit these behavioral issues usually still exhibit some universal characteristics.
They described the breed as being “high-energy” and “uncontrollable.”
They believed that many pitbull owners simply don’t know how to deal with their dogs.
“These people then resort to corrective measures – which they aren’t using properly, mind you – which causes reactivity and fear responses,” they said.
Still, some of the worst behaviors of the breed proved to have even more severe consequences.
“A client of mine had one of her shih tzus attacked and killed when the neighbor’s pits pulled the poor dog under the fence and mauled him to death,” they said.
“He couldn’t escape because his collar had gotten stuck on the fence,” they continued.
The pitbull ultimately had to be euthanized.
And that wasn’t the only personal story of attack they had to share.
“My best friend’s mother had her two dogs killed when an off-leash pit got a hold of them, they said.
Their own dog training mentor’s pooch also suffered a severe injury and passed away after being no match for two mastiff-pit mixes.
Signs your dog could turn dangerous
Expert advice from Dr. Sara Ochoa, who has been practicing veterinary medicine for over five years.
Ochoa told The U.S. Sun observing a dog’s behavior can provide clues that they might act out.
“A dog that looks tense all over with its fur sticking up or teeth showing is more likely to snap,” she said.
“Staring real hard without blinking could mean trouble too.
“Growling is also a warning the dog is getting mad.”
She said dogs may tuck their tail between their legs when they feel scared or threatened.
“Staying calm and keeping space may help things not to escalate if a dog seems on edge,” she said.
Her boyfriend’s co-worker’s dog was also attacked by an off-the-leash pit mix, but luckily, the pooch survived.
The Redditor and their own dog were launched at more than once by the same pitbull who remains off the leash in his yard.
“I released my dog so I could grab him and hold him back from my pup until his owners grabbed a hold of him,” they said.
“The second time, one of his owners grabbed his collar as he snarled and snapped at us walking passed the yard.”
They explained how the owner described the dog as being “super friendly.”
This trainer wasn’t buying it and had to change their walking route.
They were really outraged, however, when a client brought in a husky puppy who was in need of extensive surgery after having its jaw ripped off after being attacked by yet another pitbull.
The American pit bull terrier is known to be muscular, agile, and physically active, according to the United Kennel Club.
The breed is also known for their confident demeanor.
Another Redditor also weighed in on what it’s like working with the breed.
“I absolutely loved pitbulls and used to preach about problems coming from the owner instead of the dog. Then I became a dog trainer,” said the user.
“Pitbulls are bred for their strong build and bite. They are bred for their prey drive,” they continued.
One user also shared their own views on the breed.
“For pits, any type of over-threshold arousal, whether it’s fear, anxiety, excitement, or other, will react with aggression and a fight response,” they said.