Learning about Tank

Good thoughts there Deb (I love you folks!). I know from the day I found Tank and he was following me home that I witnessed a fair few teenagers and adults on the street tried to kick him and hollered at him. A few scared him into running into a busy road where he was almost hit by a bus. That would set any animal up to be wary of strangers I would think.

We unfortunately have a big problem in Toledo with strays and a lot are pits or pit mixes so sad to say, a lot of people in this neighbourhood are pretty mean to dogs. Anyone could see Tank was trying to approach softly but he still was getting a really mean human response. No wonder when he approached me and I was not lashing out at him, he followed me to the school, waited outside and then followed me home. Poor big baby was determined somebody was going to like him I guess.

We walk the dogs multiple times daily and will make sure to see that Tank is well socialized with strangers and other dogs. Right now until we know him really well (and get the Gentle Leader on him) we are keeping him back from much contact other than our immediate family and Gunnar. Just working right now on our bond with him, having him accept us as his pack leaders (so to speak) and of course...the whole no chewing my dang slippers rule! LOL

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Originally Posted by daaangconcepts

(This however doesn't work with "loose" dogs, which I increasingly began to encounter...and is also the reason why we don't go for walks as much as we should:( )

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yea...I learned the hard way that we had TOO many loose muts around our neighborhood!!! I got CHASED by a dog and Sway wanted to EAT IT!!! So I don't walk her much anymore either!!!

FYI...Susan and I live in the same neighborhood ;)

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

yea...I learned the hard way that we had TOO many loose muts around our neighborhood!!! I got CHASED by a dog and Sway wanted to EAT IT!!! So I don't walk her much anymore either!!!

FYI...Susan and I live in the same neighborhood ;)

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Ack sounds like your neighbourhood is like mine. I wouldn't mind so much if these were poor homeless dogs but 90% of these dogs have homes and owners that just open the door and let em out to run...in a city street! Unfortunately our local Dog Warden is so overwhelmed by the dog problem that if you do phone the first thing they want to know is if the dog acted vicious to you personally. If you are honest and say no, then they don't do anything. They are just too busy with the dogs that are a threat and I understand they must deal with that but I feel bad for these dogs that not only bother our dogs but could end up dead under the wheels of a car. :(

I am sure with time he will come along just fine he is very young and even if he had bad experiences, he now can learn to trust people, he did already by trusting you which mean his fears are not that bad, the rest he will learn with time.


Some dog go through so much abuse that reagardless of finding a good person or not you cannot make them trust anyone and sadly those dog will be agressive and likely bite and don't have much chance of a future.

Tank, I am sure will be a sweetheart ;)

"Mr. Sweetheart" is currently attempting to steal Gunnar's big rawhide chewie LOL. He has his own big rawhide chewie, exactly like Gunnar's but apparently hers must be somehow magical and special by all the wrestling, chasing and general puppy snarling going on (on Gunnar's part...she is NO way giving up her nicely chewed chewie for his slobbered on, mostly chewed up already chewie). I must say for a bigger male, he's awfully good with her....he'll push but if she really snarls he'll back right off. Smart male! :)

He's such a cute boy!

I know with my boxer/pit mix back home I socialized her very well as a puppy. As she got older she got a bit more reserved but is always friendly when out and about. The only time she'll show teeth is if someone acts aggressively towards whoever is with her. One time while in town with her I got into an argument with an ex employee, it didn't go so well and I'll admit I was less then professional in my choice of words. The girl raised her hand up to slap me and Rayne gave a low growl, that stopped her and she walked away. Immediately afterwards some friends of mine came up and loved on her and you'd never have guessed she offered to bite.

Now with Kou he is simply a people puppy. If there are people around he is convinced they were put there to pet him. We are socializing him very well especially since our town as BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) that says we have to register him as a dangerous dog when he turns six months along with some other stupid rules but still.

In my experiences with bully breeds they can be worked with to only 'turn on' in the event that their handler/owner is in danger. With yours being older I doubt you can do that but I would work on socializing them both as much as possible so no one accuses you of having crazy evil dogs. Socializing will not make them less protective of you, it will just make them more tolerant of things around them.

As for loose dogs, I always carry a can of Pepper Spray/Mace mixture, even before Kou and I were having walkies. You can get it at almost any gun store and some Walmarts carry it.

I know Toledo has very specific laws for Pits as far as how many you can own and proper restraint while in the yard or on a walk and that sort of thing. I'll have to check about the local laws when I get his tags because he may be part Pit. Who knows though, I'm just guessing by his head, the rest of him doesn't look like a bully breed...almost built like our shepherds were when they were big pups...sort of big and rangy so he could be part of a few breeds and his coat is "wrong" for any bully breed I've ever touched...more either Lab or Shepherd feeling...not tight and smooth to the body like I would expect for a Pitbull.

I'll look into a can I can carry so we won't have a problem with loose dogs approaching ours. It won't cause any real or lasting damage to the other dog though will it?

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Originally Posted by Entropy

As for loose dogs, I always carry a can of Pepper Spray/Mace mixture, even before Kou and I were having walkies. You can get it at almost any gun store and some Walmarts carry it.

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Thats actually a good idea!!

It doesn't hurt them long term though they will think they are dying at the time they get a face full of it.

If you generally run into less agressive dogs I suggest a bottle of 90% vinegar water instead. It will deter most "barky lou's" without the extra skin, eye and nose irritation of the pepper spray. Either option will not hurt them permanently so it really depends on your situation.

Back home I had vinegar water bottles spread throughout my training room in case of odd problems (don't want to go pepper spraying customers dogs)

Also, in some areas with BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) when you get the dog registered as a 'potentially dangerous breed' you're insurance will go up (cheapest I've seen is a 50,000 bond for them)
So, not to sound totally dishonest but unless you HAVE to claim he's part pit I really wouldn't. Just make sure you know the responsibilities you take on with his personality (no matter his breed) and treat situations accordingly.
If Kou wasn't so obviously what he is I'd probably claim he was a boxer mix. Sound dishonest? Maybe, but BSL is foolish and only punishes though of us who are responsible to begin with....Though maybe I could convince people he's a cattle dog/ mix? :D
I'll step away from my soapbox.

Do keep us updated on your boy Jo!