The Pit Bull Terror?

For many years I have heard the vicious, simple minded, accusations, and stereotypes thrown at Pit Bulls and I have always defended them. Cruel people create cruel dogs, no matter what the breed, to prove my point, I take you to the Philippines.

March 1, 2007 “Chief” a four year old American Pit Bull Terrier laid down his own life for the life of an 87 year old grandmother and her granddaughter, when a cobra was found in their home. Startled the cobra did what startled snakes do and fanned its hood. Chief quickly put himself in between the cobra and the two women serving as a shield when the cobra struck.

Click Here for the entire article.

Now how many people would see this Pittie on the street and think immediately that it would tear them to shreds? Too many. I see it even in my own family, “Stupid bastard’s, everyone of them needs to be killed,” one person said to me. People do not see that it is not in the dogs heart to be a killer. It must be taught and by who? Man. It is by no fault of his own that the Pit Bull got its reputation and it is through no fault of his own that cruel men continue to torture and mentally break dogs until their only will is to fight.

The Pit Bull was first introduced into the Americas in the 1800's by Boston-Irish immigrants when bull baiting was outlawed in England. Since then American breeders have bred more muscle and stronger jaws into them, making them a formidable breed, but what breeders couldn’t do was breed out the loyalty and kindness of these dogs.

Don’t blame the breed blame the deed.

What Makes The Difference

In my years I have seen everything from “Marley” dogs to “Lassie” dogs, from owners like Judd Travers in “Shiloh” to owners like Josh Framm in "Air bud". But no matter the dog, the person, or setting a good dog can be acquired through time and patients.

The most important time for training in a dogs life is between 5 weeks and year. That’s not to say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! However a dog’s mind is most like a sponge when they a younger. With brief training sessions through out the day any puppy can become as excellent as any you see on TV.

But Let me stress this, training is not the same with every dog. A dog is just as unique as you and me. What some dogs will pick up immediately others will not, some dogs are too smart for their own good. Case in point; before I was born my father brought home a Golden Retriever mix, what it was mixed with they never knew. But this dog was far too intelligent (not saying being intelligent is bad!). In my parents generation a dog was a dog, and the entire mind frame of pack mentality was lost on them, so my brother became a litter mate to the new dog. The dog found it pleasing in some way to run over to my brother, two or three at the time, and push him over with his front feet.

“You could tell the dog was just so pleased with himself,” recalls my mother. “Wagging his tail and looking at me like ‘hey mom look what I did!’ he was really like having another child.” She goes on to explain that he was the easiest trained dog in the world. He was potty trained, trained to stay out of the kitchen and knew a slew of tricks.

One day, the little Golden learned a new trick, a trick that probably cost him his visa to the family life. He learned that instead of going out in the snow and cold, he could pee down the register in the house, and no one knew so he didn’t get in trouble. Lovely, insta-urine smell every time the heat kicked on. Needless to say it was the boot for Mr. Golden.

Today we would have worked with the dog, changed his behavior and channeled it into something more productive. My mom admits that it was lack of exercise and things to do that cause the dogs behavior. Retrievers in general need mind stimulating work, that’s what they were bred for. Just like you can’t keep a husky in a cage all day, let him out and expect him to act like a 15 year old poodle. This holds true for most dogs.

Exercise, mental stimulation, and consistency, that’s what makes the difference.

Introducing Sky!

Sky is a very sweet dog but is very timid and shy in her kennel. She cowers at the back of her kennel and can become protective. The noisy, high traffic, shelter environment dose not help this situation in any way.

I try and spend a few minutes sitting at the front of Sky’s cage every day I’m at the shelter. This way she learns that I’m not going to hurt her. Sky will need a calm environment with a handler who is patient and understanding of her shy and timid nature.

With time, positive association, and patients Sky will be on her way to a living a happy life. However I believe a big part of her rehabilitation will be living in a home environment with a loving owner!

Trainer: Julia Fish

Sky is currently adoptable at the Huron Humane Society!

Blue Ribbons Training: The Trainer

Blue Ribbons Training is a small training collaboration of people who love animals. Between us we have more than 12 years training experience. From abused and neglected dogs to puppies who are just starting their training we have experienced it all. I, Julia Fish, strive to educate the public on responsible and reasonable care and training of all dogs. Working for five months with a well known German Shepherd rescue in California, and with animal shelters for years before that, I have over ten years of training experience with shelter dogs, dogs that have been abused, problem dogs, and puppies. I have trained an expanse of breeds from Pit Bulls and Rottweiler’s to Toy Poodles and Chihuahua’s.
My training techniques vary from dog to dog, what may work with one dog may not work with another. That is why I spend time with each dog I train and get to know their personality. For example, a dog that is rough and pulls hard on a leash may not respond to just the simple vocal correction and a gentle pull on the lead while other milder dogs will. For the dog that would not respond to the first correction, a stronger correction is needed, such as a choke chain or a head collar.
This is true also with puppies, not all puppies will potty train the same. Some will pick it up immediately while others will not. No matter the dog or the situation the technique will vary, but I have yet to find a dog I could not train with Time and Patience.
Now, I have started volunteering my time, when not at college, to the Huron Humane Society where I train some of the long term residents there. This blog will mostly be about those dogs and their advancements in training, they will also be recognized when they are adopted along with their new owners.