How to Help if My Pit Bull Is Beating Up My Shar-Pei

Aggression is one of the most common problems dog owners experience. If your pit bull is beating up your shar-pei, the consequences can be deadly. Despite the dangers of aggression, it is highly treatable with proper training. In order to keep your shar-pei safe, it's vital to know how to break up dog fights and minimize their likelihood. You will also need a competent dog trainer to help you eliminate your pit bull's aggression.

Things You'll Need

  • Break stick
  • Dog crate
  • Hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your pit bull is actually beating up your shar-pei. Many play behaviors can look a lot like fighting. This, in conjunction with pit bulls' reputation for being aggressive, can cause dog owners to panic needlessly. If both dogs are lowering the fronts of their bodies to the ground in a play bow, they're probably not fighting. If the shar-pei seems to be a willing participant or if the dogs stop growling and jumping on their own, it's probably not a fight.

    • 2

      Know how to break up dog fights. You'll need to be certain that you can protect your dogs if a fight escalates before you can begin to work on eliminating aggression. A break stick, which can be purchased at most pet stores, is the easiest way to break up a fight. Insert this stick into the back of your pit bull's mouth and use it to gently pry open its jaws. Separate the dogs immediately after you have gotten your pit bull to stop biting your shar-pei. If you don't have a break stick, spraying your dogs with a hose may break up the fight. Other distractions, like loud noises and clapping, may also work.

    • 3

      Separate your dogs when you are not home to supervise them. This eliminates the possibility that your dogs will get into a fight that you are not there to stop. Putting each dog in a crate is the simplest way to do this. Dog crates also tend to have a calming effect on dogs and may help to minimize aggression.

    • 4

      Minimize the risks of fighting. Many dogs are aggressively territorial with food and treats. Feed your dogs separately and watch them carefully for any indications that they may be fighting over toys and treats. Remove toys that seem to be a source of conflict.

    • 5

      Take both dogs to the vet to determine if a health problem could be causing the aggression. Some dogs become aggressive when they are in pain. Conversely, your pit bull might behave aggressively toward your shar-pei if the shar-pei is sick.

    • 6

      Ask your vet to recommend a dog trainer. You should use only trainers who utilize positive, reward-based methods. Reward-based training is the most effective approach for aggression. Aggression toward other dogs must be treated by a professional because this behavior tends to escalate if left untreated. If your vet can't refer you to a dog trainer, visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (apdt.com) for a listing of certified dog trainers.