Another Side of a Vick Dog

Some organizations have called the Vick dogs and other fight bust dogs "killing machines". "They are bred for unstoppable violence", it's been said.

One thing folks that DON'T work with Pit Bulls, live with multiple Pit Bulls or have experience living and working with fight bust dogs (meaning they don't really understand them) fail to point out that Pit Bulls are biddable, willing to please and listen to what their owners want from them. Leo here wants to please and do the right thing in his pack.

Leo also LOVES to play with other dogs. He will listen to me in a flash when I say, "e-a-s-y Leo". He has been one of the best dogs with this lil pup Opal. She LOVES his puppiesh, full of life and happy to be a alive attitude. It's almost as if he's enjoying the time of life he missed - being a puppy. He's now having the fun of being a kid that he missed when he was younger. A very important part of a dog's growing up is learning social structure.

I want to mention that to have good, safe and fun play like this it's best to manage your dogs and be a leader to them. Set them up for success. As said above Pit Bulls take direction well. Use that. Use it to guide them. Dog to dog play is fun when well managed and supervised.

Thanks Leo for coming from where you did and you're still so willing to show our lil one the ropes. What a good hearted soul!

Play on......and be who you are Leo ......we love you just for that.......



Marthina

A New Day for Pit Bulls

We are so proud to see Recycled Love's Sweet Jasmine make the cover of Sports Illustrated. We think they do really wonderful work. To see one the these wonderful dogs make it on the cover of this mag along with a fantastic article by Jim Gorant is truly a new day for Pit Bulls and also makes for a wonderful Christmas.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/

Size Doesn't Matter

Well at least in the case of Dexter and Opal our littlest addition.
Here they are livin it up - Enjoy!

Have a Merry Pit Bull Christmas

We are definately a bit slow getting this out there but we hope you will check out our Calendar for 2009. It would make a great last minute Gift for all of the dog lovers in your life!

http://www.cafepress.com/pitpack/6310689

We want to take this opportunity

to wish all of our wonderful friends

both old and new a

Holiday season filled with Happiness and Joy.

We couldn't do what we do without your love and support!

The Our Pack Gang

Marthina,

Mary,

Stephanie,

&

All of the dogs that have come into our lives this past year!

My Name is Charlotte

I came from a bust earlier in the year. Leo got to do a blog so I thought I'd do one too. I'm a therapy dog just like Leo. I wasn't one of Michael Vick's dogs but that shouldn't matter to anyone right? I'm as wonderful as Leo and I do a great job making people smile and forget about their troubles.

My new people are wonderful to me. I have my brother named Ben who I live with. When we all watch TV I get a pink blanket and Ben gets a blue one. So I'm really good at being a family companion as well as a therapist. This is a picture of me and my brother being silly.

Here I am doing my job.

I'm hoping that all will see our souls inside of us and what wonderful family companions we truly are, even if we're from a fight bust, abuse case or the person who owned us before has a famous name.

The name shouldn't matter.

The place shouldn't matter and what the media says about whether or not we're pets or not (who says they're experts in behavior anyway)

what matters is the lil heart that's beating inside us, like any other dog.

Much love,

Charlotte

Containment

I work with people that have to go to a certain type of hearing because their dog got into trouble. Usually the trouble is lack of containment by the owner. Broken fences, doors or gates being left open, improper leash handling or no leash at all are just a few of the situations that can get your dog into trouble.

In rescue I work specifically with Pit Bulls. In my training business I work with all breeds specializing in dog to dog aggression. There is no “safe” breed to just let out and about in the hood. All dogs and all breeds of dogs will get into trouble without guidance and leadership. A common client I work with regarding this issue that get into trouble or are about to are Lab owners! Some folks think, “well he’s a Lab, he loves everyone, he would never do anything wrong”. Huh! Dogs + no management = trouble. This goes for all dogs of any breed. And we’re not talking BAD people here and we’re not talking criminals or bank robbers owning Pit Bulls. I’m talking about all breeds with very wonderful, kind and productive people that own them that think their dog can manage himself outside on his own. Huh, again!

Pit Bulls will often get more press and more blame than other breeds so it’s very important that you keep your dog safe and secure.

This is not a training tip but a life saving tip. Please go in your yards and check your fences. Lean on them and make sure that they safe and secure with no escape holes or places where your dog can dig out under.

Also, don’t leave your dog in the yard unattended he may do the “Great Escape” deal and slowly dig his way out in sections.

Marthina McClay, CPDT

Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer

Certified Tester/Observer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.

AKC Certified CGC Evaluator

http://www.ourpack.org/

http://www.dogtrainingforpeople.com/

Dreams

There was a time in this country when only whites were allowed to use public bathrooms and drinking fountains along with many other restrictions on public transit systems, in restaurants etc.

I'd like to think that we as a society are passed that now. We don't profile and generalize race and there's equal opportunity for all.... progress!

I liken the earlier profiling of the 1900s to some shelter's "solutions" I've seen in response to some recent fight busts. The solution is to euth fight bust dogs and in many cases not even fight bust dogs, just Pit Bulls which are just dogs, without even evaluating first.

Some folks don't see Pit Bulls as dogs. I'm not even talking about the everyday person that doesn't have enough info to make an educated judgment, I'm talking about the very organizations that are funded and supported to care for dogs. In some areas only certain breeds get a real chance even with people who are often at least somewhat educated in canine behavior. This has actually now become a question of human behavior because we all know in good common sense it's not the dogs fault. When someone that's responsible for the welfare of dogs puts down Pit Bulls uniformly without looking first, something is very wrong with human behavior not dog behavior because just by simple odds alone NOTHING is ALL bad. Come on!

I would like to ask if they have actually lived with a properly evaluated-as-an-individual-fight-bust-dog. Have they seen that dog flourish with proper management around their own animals and their family. Have they watched that dog learn good manners and give back to his community.

I understand it's uncomfortable to try something new where you're not sure of the outcome. BUT - That's what animal welfare is about. It's tough work and if you're interested in learning dog behavior to further help dogs YOU MUST take chances and explore to learn behavior. No learning takes place in a safe little net.

With all the recent success with the former Michael Vick dogs you would think that someone would think twice - hmmmm,maybe I should just check this guy out first before.........you know...... ????????????

Yep, gotta have balls folks or you're not gonna save a rats behind. You have to stick your neck out everyday to help. I see rescues do SO much hard work on a shoestring and the wonderful volunteers that give their valuable time to help those that help the dogs. I see more guts in our Pit Bull dogs than I do in some of the people that "care" for them.

On the same note, I'd like to say THANK YOU to L. A. for taking 5 dogs form a bust and putting them into rescue......thank you for letting them on the bus!

http://www.ktla.com/landing_news/?Police-Bust-Major-Dog-Fighting-Operation=1&blockID=149517&feedID=171

Yes, a lot of work....I have a dream that it's not all for not.

Marthina