I made the mistake of not neutoring my dogs
as pups. My German Shepherd just turned 2 years old and
ever since then they have been fighting. Meaning agressive
fighting to the point where they want to kill each other.

Both dogs are strong and powerful and I love my Pitbull the
same as I love my Shepherd. (Pitbull is 5 years old).

Is there anything I can do to make them settle down and love
each other the way it use to be 2 weeks ago, when we were
one big happy family.

Please help
Parent's in disstress
USA
alex.jaramillo@verizon.net

A GSD and a Pitbull - wow, you really have a problem there Im afraid. No matter how strong your GSD is I would say he is in real danger from your Pitbull as this is a dog bred to fight and kill, once he locks on what on earth would you do?
I would find a behaviourist FAST and keep your dogs seperate until you get some help, NEVER leave them alone together for even five minutes. I must admit I am frightened for your dogs, and for you, I really hope you can get the help you need, at the end of the day you might have to consider rehoming one of them before something really bad happens.

Hi guest

It's not to late to consider neutering your GSD (or both) now! Your GSD is maturing and is either challenging your Pitbull or no longer backing down when your Pitbull challenges him. Can you identify who is starting these fights and what might be the cause? Are they just in each others face or is there something they are fighting over?
I agree with the suggestion of keeping them apart until you can best work out a plan of addressing this behaviour. It may also be beneficial to muzzle either the instigator or both of them should they meet.
There may have been triggers around like toys or articles to become possessive of, or jealousy if someone else was getting attention. Maybe just too much testosterone about?
If you want the two dogs to get on then you will have more of a chance by stopping this fighting now by keeping them apart to break the habit. There are no guarantees! They may have just decided that they do not like each other after all and this has been building for a while before it has exploded. But with strong handling and supervision at ALL times you may be able to get them to tolerate each other in your company. NEVER leave them unattended and together.

you are going through it now. Boy I would suggest you get some help asap good luck. Hope your doggies can get along soon. ;) Julieann

i agree this is a dangerous situation and you do need to get help i feel to assess the problems and work out what exactly is causing the fights.

It may well be that a reputable behaviourist will help, because neutering can be a complicated business, and the workings of testosterone can be very misunderstood. In many cases the lower ranking dog may be castrated to widen the gap between the dogs, but in some cases it is actually better to castrate them both. You may need someone very knowledgeable to help you with this decision. Make sure the person knows what they are recommending and why :)

If the worst comes to it, you may sadly have to consider rehoming one of the dogs to avoid this situation, as it maybe that there is nothing that can be done to persuade the 2 dogs to live together in harmony. i know you will want to avoid this but it may save a dog's life.

I hope you do get a solution though :)

Your GSD is probably challenging the APBT or not backing down when threatened by the APBT. The APBT will kill the GSD if the dogs get a chance to have a good go at it. It will only take seconds for this to happen. Please keep both apart and separate them by putting the trouble maker out of the room. The APBT may act more aggressivly than the GSD but it may be the GSD that is causing the greif in the first place. Having them dressed may stop the problem. If on the other hand they cant get on with each other you may have to rehome one. I am going to say this at the risk of being shot down. Bull breeds get along better with other bull breeds as they seem to speak the same language. In the past I have found that GSDs are not the best at being sociable when young. You probably have two incompatible dogs.
Hope you get it sorted, professional advice is the best route now.
Regards Mick

I had a neighbour a couple of years ago who left his Staff with a friends 2 GSDs while they all went out for a drink.On returning they found one dead GSD and the other seriously injured-along with a rather bloody Staff who was totally unharmed apart from a couple of minor scrapes.
I would rehome one of the dogs before any great harm is done
I hope it works out.Archer

Which is exactly the point I was trying to make on previous thread that not all SBT are good with other dogs. Obviously before the people went out the staff had shown no signs of aggression as they would not have left them! But the moods of dogs can change and the above is the consequence (sp).
This is why I say never leave them unattended with other dogs as the potential is always there.

Never said it was a good tempered staff did I???The dog was known for being feisty but they thought since the 3 dogs usually got on it would be o.k.
However he did have the sense never to breed from her-which was exactly the point I was trying to make.
To DELIBERATELY breed from aggressive dogs is wrong.Bored now.Enough said.

Well if they knew it was fiesty why leave it unsupervised with other dogs?? :-(
I agree not to breed from an aggresive dog, but at what point do you consider a staffie or any dog to be dog aggressive? i.e. if a staff walks by and stands by other dogs (at a leads distance) without growling but does growel at a strange dog leaping on it is that an agressive dog?
My reply was not directed at you personally it was just that I wanted my post to follow yours as sometimes threads can get a bit lost.
Not wanting an argument just interested in peoples thoughts on where the line is drawn on a dog being aggressive.

y is everyone saying that the pitbull will kill the gsh, i know about the pitbull having the lock jaw, but i have read about a rottweiler killing a pittbull, i think you need to split them up, and get a behavourist in straight away. before they kill each other