Media and Pit Bulls

We have had the good fortune of great media surrounding our dogs in recent years. Most reputable reporters will check quotes with us for accuracy and have no intention of throwing pit bulls under the bus or any other breeds, to "defend" pit bulls, under the bus either.

However, once in a blue moon, unfortunately, we still see reporters trying to make a career for themselves or help sell their paper by misquoting or twisting statements to turn the pit bull image into something it isn't.

This is a photo of Posie. She's our spokesdog for our, Don't Judge, Learn campaign. She looks like what most folks would call a pit bull. Without meeting her, knowing her or taking in a full view of her personality, many things can be said to defame her and a breed that she may, or may not, even be... Well, without media hype she is a dog and family member.

Thank you for supporting our page so we can continue to represent the dogs, factually, without being misquoted, and with correct representation. Please share!

Also, see National Canine Research Council for ACCURATE info http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dogbites/whatisadogbite/ and also see Our Pack's article, The Truth About Pit Bulls www.ourpack.org/truthaboutpitbulls.html

Training tip:
Getting lots of calls and e mails about this lately -Puppy play biting.
Puppy biting is normal. Puppies in their early months should bite when they are young, to learn how to bite softly as an adult. They also learn proper s...

ocial skills from each other by play biting and wrestling.
A yelp will let the pup know that a bite hurts. This is what pups do with each other to signal the one biting to soften his bite. To be able to keep playing, he will soften his bite. Thus he learns that if his mouth is soft, fun continues and if his mouth is hard then the game ends.
If your pup is play biting and bites too hard, give a yelp. If that doesn’t work then give a louder Ouuuch! and just leave the room. End all play at that time for several seconds then return.
After teaching him to soften the bite, teach him not to exert any pressure at all while biting. This way he will use only a gentle mouth as an adult. Be sure to have lots of chew toys available and direct him to the chew toys as well when needed.

If you are concerned or feel that you need more assistance the best thing to do is to hire a trainer to come and help you or enroll in a class near you. Getting advice over the internet for concerning behavior is not the best way to help your dog. Trainers are far more helpful when they can actually see the dog. This training tip is a general tip for young pups with normal play biting behavior. If you feel you need assistance, hire a trainer from this list in your zip code: www.apdt.com

Socializing Our Dogs --
http://www.ourpack.org/socializing.html
I hear the phrase, "it's all in how you raise them" quite a bit. Well, in our experience, we've taken dogs from all sorts of abuse cases such as fighting cases, neglect cases..., etc. But outside of rescue, I'm a trainer by trade and I see all breeds and types of dogs. I've seen dogs grow up in perfect environments that can still have issues. I'm not saying that environment is not important, I want to be clear on that. BUT to say that a dog has to have issues becuase he/she was abused only puts him in a box that can be hard to get out of. Some dogs come out of tough cases just fine and some dogs have issues with a perfect environment. That just tells us that they should be assessed as an individual, based on what they are NOW. Having said this, I'm posting tips on socializing our dogs in positive situations.. It is important to socialize, train and manage throughout a dog's life. However, while at times history is certainly important to take in, in many cases it may be a moot point. Look at him for who/what he is and not what was.

Dexter's Good Dog Recipe

Recipe directions- Take 1 or more dogs, socialize in large amounts. Train to taste. Spay/neuter. Contain, add love, stir in some leadership and top with management. Note: mixture can vary in composition even w...hen using the recipe properly. That's normal. Enjoy! - All dogs are individuals. They respond to training, socializing and the environment differently. We've taken in some dogs from abuse cases that slid right back into life with no problems. Some had a more difficult time. Some dogs that have perfect homes, can also have issues, so this is variable. However, as responsible humans, it's best to set our dogs up for success as much as possible and as early as possible.

Justice for Bernie

Bernie came to Our Pack from a dogfighting case in Ohio. Our devoted volunteer and trainer, Anna Seekamp drove him out to us from New York! He was later adopted from us. His people Lark and John McIntosh and family have provided a wonderful and loving home for him and he has thrived. We love you guys!Today there is also justice. Bernie is upside down with happiness, his previous owner has been bro...ught to justice. Bernie never deserved his previous life. And thanks goes to The Humane Society United States and Animal Farm Foundation for helping the 200 dogs in this case! Thanks also goes to Christina Aquistapace for her loving and caring foster period that helped transition Bernie. Here's the link to the article http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/02/ohio_man_convicted_of_felony_dogfighting_activities.html#.Tz1_c0SZPis.facebook

Ohio and HB 14

These two are relaxing and peaceful because the Ohio House of Representatives agreed with the Senate amendments to HB 14 to remove the statewide "vicious" designation automatically placed on "pit bull" dogs. The bill now goes to the the Governor. His signature is needed next to make it a law. YES!!! Stay tuned.

Pit Bulls and Discrimination

I recently heard a pit bull advocate talking about some of the myths about
pit bulls. Another person asked him if a pit bull's jaws locked. He answered
that they did not lock but their PSI had tested the strongest. The PSI test is
an unsubstantiated test that tested the bite pressure in dogs. The study sets up
articficial circumstances. It doesn't include whether the dog is scared,
agitated etc. I'm assuming that the bite pressure in any test can change from
dog to dog or circumstance to circumstance. This study included a Rottweiler,
German Shepherd, & an American Pit Bull Terrier. In the test the American
Pit Bull Terrier had the weakest bite pressure out of the 3 breeds.
The advocate quoted the study incorrectly first of all, in so many
words indicating that the American Pit Bull Terrier had the strongest bite
pressure. Then he mentionied that it's proven that they're stronger and they
just "don't let go". Huh? Who are "they"? My dogs are pit bull dogs, I don't see
this. I don't see it in many of my clients' dogs. It doesn't mean that some of
our dogs aren't strong but some are weaker than others as well.
We need to look at what OUR dogs are doing, what we actually observe. A
dog's reaction to things in the environment is going to vary from DOG to DOG.
It's an individual thing. A dog "not letting go", as the advocate said, has to
do with behavior, individual behavior, not bite pressure as a constant.

Bite inhibition is the most important point here. This is where a dog
will lower his bite pressure so as not to cause harm. Again, this is a behavior
thing to lower bite pressure. Bascially bite pressure is meanlingless without
the concept of behavior and what sets an individual dog up for a behavior or any
problem behavior.

Please, even advocates need to stop promoting our dogs as some singled out
type, group or profile. It's very damaging, and many things seen in studies may
or may not be true for individual dogs. It does defame our dogs and they deserve
to be judged on their own merit, not a study, not what a famous person said and
so forth. We need to listen to what THAT ONE dog says he is.

Study link: http://dogfacts.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/national-geographics-dr-brady-barrs-bite-pressure-tests/

Fabulous article on a pit bull and his chi buddy...

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45899910/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/t/abandoned-pit-bulls-best-pal-chihuahua/