The APBT in a pack setting

Some of us have had this discussion before but I think it's a good topic.
Do you think the APBT could live in a pack setting givin the fact that pack mentality is one of the most primal instincts of a dog??

Yes I think so as long as the pack is not all apbt's LOL

RedDoggy wrote:

I don't. I think it's funny that I watch traing video for APBTs talking about how things were when they ran in packs, and I'm like Pit Bulls were in packs? They tend to be DA, that's what they were bred for, the problem is that a fight in the pack would be to the death if no one was there to stop it. They are great family dogs, but most APBTs don't really care for animal companionship all that much.

I would agree it would have to be a supervised pack you never know when the apbt may want to rumble.

Yeah, lol, we've done this before. All depends on what you consider to be a pit bull. Pack mentality is a basic instinct but an ideal bulldog will not recognize dominance or submission, both fundamentals of pack order. Ideal specimens? No way. Todays pet bull version, maybe. Good topic, boss. I'm interested to read the opinions.

well i'e seen it done before.I don't know how well it works for him but he crates all but one at night and lets them out when they are home during the day. He's had some scuffles but nothing serious. This isn't something that just anybody should attempt!

I don't remember who it was but last time we discussed this someone made a good point that it happened after the disaster from hurricane Katrina. Pitbulls were found running together in packs.

I think it just depends on the individual dogs. If there is a strong Alpha and no other dog tries to step into that role, all can go well...that being said, that is when the problems start.

pitmamma wrote:

I think it just depends on the individual dogs. If there is a strong Alpha and no other dog tries to step into that role, all can go well...that being said, that is when the problems start.

I agree Tami. Harley is great in a "pack" setting (supervised) as long as no other dogs try to be top dog. As soon as that happens Har is removed. That is why I normaly keep him to just Sasha and a very very small select group of dogs.

I would think if it were just two or three it would be a problem. Any more than that they would be fine. Cause then they would probably act more like a pact.

All dogs are idividuals no matter the breed,so i'd say yes in ceartin cases a apbt can live harmonously in a pack with other dogs,but typically id say it isnt the breeds strong suit...........

No I don't think they would be able to live as a pitbull pack. Pitbulls have issues with letting the dogs work out the domanace order. They tend to kill . They usually don't stop fighting "if" the other dog gives a submission sign. They just keep fighting. That would be one tore up pack of dogs that would end up getting eatten my a wild chihuhua pack.lol

Admin wrote:

Pitbulls were found running together in packs.

They are smart dogs

Just to step it up a bit, Gameness can be quickly lost which leads me to believe that even by a fluke if a pack were able to get along long enough to produce off spring and grow, that pack order could be achieved..Did that make sense?

Well my "Pack" gets along great. Granted Tank is an old man and really could care less what goes on around him most of the time, and he's a mix. Sway and Tumble are full sisters and Sway has made her standing above Tumble rather well known and Tumble is content in her spot, she's so horribly submissive. Lugz though we'll see. He's only 7 weeks but the boy is not afriad to take on the two girls, He growled at them when they came inside yesterday, nice deep low...leave me alone growl.

I think it can work, just depends on the dogs. They are however, NEVER together unsupervised. If I am not home they are all in their seperate runs.

Admin wrote:

Just to step it up a bit, Gameness can be quickly lost which leads me to believe that even by a fluke if a pack were able to get along long enough to produce off spring and grow, that pack order could be achieved..Did that make sense?

I'm lost

Eric, I get what you are saying...I think that could work but not always. When those pups grow up most will stay submissive (just due to that is how it works) but there will be one (probably a male) that will get a hair up his a$$ and try to take over. It will most likely not work, he will be weaker, smaller and more inmature....But that doea not mean he will not try. There may even be situations where the siblings will fight to try to pick the order under the alpha. Now if the alpha is a strong alpha he will put a stop to it.
Several years ago I had a pack. There was 8 bulldogs living together in one yard. Never one time was there a fight. The alpha was a female. If two of the other dogs would start in Mia would get in the middle of it and lets just say it stopped real fast. Never lost one dog in that situation.
But I guess my point is, lol, it can and does happen. It just depends on the dynamics of the situation and the individual dogs.

i guess i can see it happening but don't think it would fit ME well to have over 3 bulldogs

pitmamma wrote:

It just depends on the dynamics of the situation and the individual dogs.

That's pretty much it right there. There are many variables that are not established here. The majority of pit buls that people keep are just pet quality dogs, wp dogs, conf dogs. The majority of thoes types are not bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Sure, that makes the idea of a "pack" easier to swallow. So what are we talking about here? Are we talking pets or pits? What constitutes the pack? Dogs living together at someones house or a pack formed out of necessity for survival with no human laedership? Sure there are a lot of dogs that live harmoniously at home with thier human leaders but there are also plenty of yards full of real bulldogs where everyone stays seperated on chain set ups or kennels as a necessity for their survival. The very concept of this dog contradicts every aspect of pack mentality but then again, so do most specimens these days. Let's decide a few factors here and get everyone on the same page.

Agreed Buz

Well I'm talking APBT "PITBULL" bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Living with humans or without i don't see a dog bred tight to accept being # 2 to another same sex dog. i have seen male and female though

Tcarter wrote:

Well I'm talking APBT "PITBULL" bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Living with humans or without i don't see a dog bred tight to accept being # 2 to another same sex dog. i have seen male and female though

And that's it right there, That's all it would take and we all know game dogs don't produce an entire liter of game pups..

Admin wrote:

Tcarter wrote:

Well I'm talking APBT "PITBULL" bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Living with humans or without i don't see a dog bred tight to accept being # 2 to another same sex dog. i have seen male and female though

And that's it right there, That's all it would take and we all know game dogs don't produce an entire liter of game pups..

That is kinda what I was trying to say. As long as no one tries to take over that role then all can be fine. Even if one does try to take over, if he is immedietly put in his place then all can go well. But if you have one that constantly goes for it (more game) then it will not end well, at least for that one.

Admin wrote:

Tcarter wrote:

Well I'm talking APBT "PITBULL" bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Living with humans or without i don't see a dog bred tight to accept being # 2 to another same sex dog. i have seen male and female though

And that's it right there, That's all it would take and we all know game dogs don't produce an entire liter of game pups..

Yeah but if one of them aren't fixed then a litter will occur and there will be that 1 dog that decides it should be the leader and wham O now thats running wild in magic land the stuff that i've seen is lock the femail up during heat

pitmamma wrote:

Admin wrote:

Tcarter wrote:

Well I'm talking APBT "PITBULL" bred with the preservation of the breed in mind. Living with humans or without i don't see a dog bred tight to accept being # 2 to another same sex dog. i have seen male and female though

And that's it right there, That's all it would take and we all know game dogs don't produce an entire liter of game pups..

That is kinda what I was trying to say. As long as no one tries to take over that role then all can be fine. Even if one does try to take over, if he is immedietly put in his place then all can go well. But if you have one that constantly goes for it (more game) then it will not end well, at least for that one.

Yeah, That's how I see it anyway..lol