how can i socialize my aggressive dog if i cant even get her near other dogs without it fighting them?

She's an 8yr old large breed dog... why can't you wait for her to pass? Honestly at this age, and with her mix, your better off just letting her live her life dog free. Some dogs just aren't able to be around other dogs, doesn't mean they arent' people friendly they just can't be social. I wouldn't worry about it and DEFINITELY don't put her in a situation where she can injure another animal or human or get hurt herself. Realistically you have 4 years left with her. Just let her live out what time youve got with her as an only dog. Akitas and APBTs are both dogs that need EARLY socialization with dogs and people, that is the only way you can prevent animal aggression, and even then it's not always a given.

Ok PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not listen to the people before me. Those are REALLY dangerous suggestions. You are putting yourself and others at risk of injury by taking any of that advice. Do not try to take your dog to any dog park and jerking on the leash and swatting her is GREAT way for her to associate you with her aggression, which is bad, really bad. Putting a muzzle on her and rolling her onto her back is the same. People don't realize how easily muzzles, even correctly sized, slip off. It's not only dangerous in that respect, if you get it tight enough to stay on no matter what, it will restrict her breathing and stress her out even more which is not conducive to gettin her over dog aggression and again is a way for her to start being threatened and resentful of you. Alpha rolls, meaning rolling her on her side/back, are an outdated method and again, are not a way to facilitate socialization.

Some of what Ceasar Milan says is pretty good, and it works for SOME dogs. People need to realize though, in his "red zone" cases, you don't see all the footage and you don't know exactly what he does. Also, HE is the one who picks the cases he works on, and I can guarantee you he picks the ones he is confident he can handle, if the situation doesn't work out, they can throw away the film.... I know many people are huge fans, but I think attempting anything you see on TV yourself is dangerous. Some of the things are common sense, like asserting dominance by telling your dog calmly to back off, the Nothing In Life Is Free method as well, dog doesn't get ANY resources without giving something, like a sit for food, down for door, stay for couch etc. Unless you want to call HIM to come see your dog, PLEASE don't put yourself or your dog in harms way by attempting to do anything he says. There is a couple at my dog park who LIVE by his methods and their dogs are STILL awful. Their beagle continuously attacks larger dogs and their beagle/boxer mix is very obnoxious and starts scuffles all the time. Neither listen at all and eventually one of them is going to get seriously inured. Please, just let your dog be! Unless you save up the money and are willing to shell out some cash for a professional trainer with experience in aggressive dogs (and none of the P.C. positive reinforcement crap, REAL obedience). Do not attempt to change her by yourself, it's asking for heartache.

I'll star this and hopefully somebody with sense will give you some more advice.

Or look in my contacts and Email Greekman... he is a professional with many years of experience with dogs. As far as I'm concerned anything he says is gold. He should be able to help you out.

And if you really don't want to keep the dog, which I don't agree with but whatever, DO NOT sell her or give her to a shelter. That is again, putting others lives at risk. Please just have your own vet humanely euthanize her. It will be less stressful on her than taking her to a shelter and eventually put down without her loving owner with her. Selling her is a REALLY bad idea, if the dog hurts or kills somebody or a dog, and you didn't tell them the extent of her aggression you can (and should) be held liable. This is a serious matter so please take it seriously and contact a professional.

8 year old akita /pit bull mix that had no socialization at all thru their life time, You are going to have a very hard time changing her mind. She has already bitten people, and been in 3 too many fights with other dogs. If you cannot afford a trainer, then you should use a few bucks and go and buy a good muzzle. She should have been socialized very well as a young dog and while she was growing up. She is your responsibility to keep her from hurting others and their dogs. Muzzle her when ever you take her out anywhere. Do not sell this dog, it's not fair to anyone else that might come along and buy her. She is far too fearful / aggressive in public and she is a huge liability. She should not be sold at all to anyone else.

Why would you consider selling her? She is a dangerous dog. Not because of her BREED or BREED mixture, but because of her temperament and history of biting other animals and people.

If you can't afford to have her trained, she will likely harm someone or someone's animal and that will further imperil both Akita and APBT breeds which are already tops on ban lists, not to mention what would happen to any victims of this dog.

Maybe you could call an Akita rescue and they could give you some advice, but you probably won't like what you will most likely hear when you tell them about your dog's temperament.

Seems the options are to keep her and continue to contain her so she is not a danger to anyone or anyone's animal, or contact your Vet and ask for advice.

You can't socialize this aggressive dog without serious risk if you can't get her near other dogs without her fighting them and you can't afford a qualified trainer who may or may not be able to help her!

Very sorry you are in this position.

No one in their right mind would buy an aggressive dog that is eight years old. You say you were thinking about selling her so you could get another dog. I don't understand that.

Reading your further posting, I am sure you are a kind person that is concerned about this dog, and this is a hard situation to be in, I am sure.

Akitas are that way, friendly and loving with the family, aloof with strangers, and aggressive with other dogs. That being said, the best way to start socializing your dog is to first get a muzzle and place it on the dog. Then have a friend who has a dog that is a sumbmissive type dog come near it. When your dog starts reacting agressively, physically lay you dog down on the ground with his belly up (a sign of submission) and keep her there while the other dog sniffs her. Keep the dog down until she relaxes. When she does relax, let her back up and see what she does. If she starts reacting aggressively again, keep repeating the process until she gets the idea. This is not a fail safe method and even if it works, be careful with her around other dogs. This method will take some time to work.

There is no way to turn an aggressive pit mix into a dog-friendly dog. Pits were created to be aggressive with other dogs like hounds were bred to sniff and track. If she is aggressive with other dogs now, you can never trust her with other dogs. If she has bitten 3 people and attacked two, then you have a dangerously unstable dog. Her "training" for guard dog duty was done poorly and instead of creating a stable, trustworthy dog capable of guarding, it sounds like you have a highly unreliable dog that cannot be trusted. You cannot keep this dog, She needs to be put down. What if she seriously injures a "stranger"? Say, the mother of a child who plays with one of your kids? Or worse---the dog mauls and kills a child? or what if someone she "knows" smells or acts funny one day and the dog attacks? I am sorry to be writing this, but biting 3 and attacking 2 is far too many incidents.Unless you keep her securely confined and never allowed near a human or dog, she will continue to do this. Sorry.

That is unfortunately normal for the Akita breeds. Why do you need to take her around other dogs? Is she happy at home? If yes, than leave it be.

By the way, a lot a Akita's tend to get more aggressive with age and the pain of age. I would not trust her EVER around children. Enjoy her at home.

Edit: Oh by the way I'm not an Akita hater... I adore one of our Akita's' that kennel all the time, he is great w/ the female employees and other dogs. He has attacked men and all of our Akita's have that "off "temperament. 99% of our pitbull patients are perfect angels.

I would highly recommend the website and books of Cesar Milan also known as "The Dog Whisperer". He has rehabilitated many aggressive dogs at his center and writes extensively about dog aggression and what to do about it. He would say that you need to work on being the "pack leader" in your home with your dog so that she doesn't feel that she has to protect herself or you when around other dogs. There's many tips and ways to do this so get his books out of the library as soon as you can. It's extremely important to rehabilitate your dog before she hurts someone or has to be put down or both! Hope this helps! :)

If you are going to listen to anyone here, let it be Jordie 0587!! She is the ONLY one that told you exactly what your dog needs. I am not saying this because she mentioned my name, but, because she is the only one who is correct..

At 8 years old, either keep her at home and let her live the rest of the few years she has left in peace, or put her down!!

You do realize, I am sure, that your dog is a liability and an accident waiting for a lawyer to file it, keep her at home without any exposure to strangers and dogs and let her be in peace..

Jordie, congrats, be proud of yourself for the matturity you are showing and the wisdom you have with dogs at this age!!

it's just her personality

some dogs are really possessive and aggressive

best to make sure she isn't around ppl or other dogs to avoid law suit

or put her to sleep (sorry i know that's mean but it might be good of society)

ok- i personally work with agressive dogs myself so pleas elisten to what i will tell you. it is nt her breed, it is not "the way she is" and it is not incorrectable. you can train her to become social.

1st- buy a soft muzzle. most people see this as cruel but it a safety measure and is necessary if you want to help her.

2. find a friend who has a large dog about the same size of your dog. preferably slightly smaller but not to small as you want one that can handle roughness of play with your dog.. dogs are more comfortable around dogs smaller than them and larger ones can make them feel cornered. make sure your dog is muzzled. itroduce the two slowly both on leashes. if your dog so much as growls or groans, tug the leash firmly and say no and make her sit. continue this process until she stops growling. then slowly let them closer so they can socialize and smell. every aggressive behavior such as growling or jumping aggressively must be corrected. every proper behavior such as polite siffing, licking, or tail wagging should be praised and rewarded with pocket treats.

use this same process with people. again praise her for behaving and correct her for acting in any aggressive manner.

because of he history i would keep her muzzled for a while when in public until you are shure you can trust her. just as a safety measure.

please do not give her up as dogs with her age and temperment often end up in poundes and euthinized. with her breed and size she only has 4-6 years left. she loves you obviousely, and her aggressive patterns are her way of showing you that and protecting you. dont give up on her.

if you have any questions please email me at luvspets@aol.com . like i said i train aggressive dogs myself. if you need help and live close enough to me I would be happy to help you for very low cost or under this circumstance even for free. please dont give up on her. and write to me on how she does, if you have questions, or if you need help.

thank you

danielle