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Expert: - 1/17/2011


Question
My roommate and I have a sweet 3-year-old pit, well-trained and well-mannered. We have recently introduced a a new roommate, also with a pit (15 months). The new one is much more hyper, and makes ours more hyper as a result. Our household is livelier than I would like it to be. We take them to the dog park and give them exercise. They are good dogs, they aren't the pits that end up on the front page and give the breed a bad image. We're nice people who want nice dogs. The younger one barks at passers-by, so I ask my roommates to keep him in the backyard when unattended. My older dog is an absolute angel when left to his own devices, he's allowed in the front yard by himself (the neighbors love him). I'm hoping that the younger one calms down a little bit over the next couple of months. What advice can you give me? What do you think about medication?

Answer
Hopefully both of these dogs are neutered. That is the single best thing you can do for this dog and any dog. It will calm them both down.

Medication is not an alternative nor will a vet give you any for a dog that is merely hyper. Training will go a long way with a dog like this. I mean, constant, vigilant training.

Barking in the yard is a sign of a dog that is not trained. Untrained dogs bark uncontrollably.

So find a good kennel club nearby that gives dog training course and get him neutered then trained.

That is the best way to keep these dogs happy and alive for a long time.

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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