A Link to Paradise

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera

Tug With Our Pack Alumni

One nice thing about adopting from a Pit Bull rescue such as Our Pack and many others like it is that you get to know like minded folk that also have Pit Bulls. In this pic you see some Our Pack Pit Bulls having a tug of a time.

We believe in continually socializing your dog with dogs that have good chemistry with your dog. Chemistry is a big thing between dogs. It's just like with people. Sometimes you just don't hit if off right away with someone. Maybe you can't even say why or put your finger on it, something just doesn't feel warm and fuzzy with that person. It's the same with all dogs.

Things also go much better when the humans act as leaders and manage things properly, especially when dogs are first introduced. First impressions are everything! See http://www.ourpack.org.dogdogintros.html/

The dogs in this pic have had long term play with each other and know each other well as well as mind their manners while playing. They also have great chemistry with each other.

Note that some dogs don't do well with tug and it's a good idea to not allow this game on the very first date. Through our advanced exercises at our Pit Bull Leash Manners class http://www.ourpack.org/classes.html we teach you how to help your dog to be more under control while playing tug. Sometimes this is all that's needed is an installation of an "off and on switch". However, remember that some dogs like to play this game with their owners only. That's cool too. Huh, you don't even want to see me when I'm losing a game of Scrabble!

My Pit Bull Saved My Life

This story came from one of our adopters who is also a fan our Our Pack. This story is about Ben. He's a regestered therapy dog. He helps people every day but this time he saved a life.

Ben the life saver......

Last night I was making tomato soup from scratch and was heating up olive oil in a pot.

I started cutting onions and just wanted to check up on the recipe on line....that's when I lost track of time. All of a sudden Ben nudged me with his nose, initially very gently but since I ignored it he did it stronger and stronger. At that moment I realized what had happened: because of my stuffed up nose (I have a bad cold) I didn't smell the oil that was about to burst into flames - the whole house was full of smoke!

So Ben actually saved my life - or at least the pot - since the oil was so hot it was about to go up into flames.

It was clear he was going to spend the night with us in our bed!

I love my dog he's smart and full of love.

Anne

Happy Friday

Enjoy Friday and the weekend with a good friend. They mean so much!

BSL Baby Steps

"It's time to end breed discrimination in Ohio

Judge Goulding wrote, "a more uniform, practical, and humane method of regulating dogs, which both preserves the safety of the public and focuses on the dangers and misdeeds of irresponsible dog owners, would seem preferable to the status quo".
Indeed. "

Read the full article here: Toledo Judge Strikes Down Pit Bull Restrictions

Lessons From a Wise Old Soul

You might remember Georgia, she came from a dog fighting case out of Georgia. This poor girl has a piece of her lip missing from the trauma she's experience and many scars. However, she's just the best spirited and the most loving girl anyone could ever meet. She just a wise old soul and has taught us so much. We love her so dearly.

Georgia's now also teaching kids. Our Pack's Mike Scott and Tracey Cutler took Georgia to a mentoring program at a local school for 13 year olds. They discussed some of the myths about Pit Bulls. They discussed resonsibility issues surrounding dogs in general. If you look in the gallery you'll see one young gentleman learning positive reinforcement training with Georgia. The kids had tons of wonderful questions about Georgia and dogs as a whole.

Georgia showed the kids how to be forgiving and what unconditional love is. The kids loved how friendly and cuddly she was and of course she soaked up the kid stuff like a sponge.

Our hope with this school program is that it will prevent future animal abuse
by letting the dogs teach the kids that they are loving and sentient creatures and it's up to humans to care for them. Georgia taught the kids this in her own soft, loving, special way.....thanks Georgia!



Marthina McClay, CPDT Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer
Certified Tester/Observer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.
AKC Certified CGC Evaluator
www.ourpack.org
www.dogtrainingforpeople.com

Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas

There's usually a new dog fad about every decade or so, and it looks like the Chi dogs are in....well, in the shelters for sure.

We've always said that breed is not the issue, and in fact, dogs are not the issue. People are.

It's not always just irresponsibility and a no-care attitude. That is a factor, but we always hammer that one into the ground, right? It's often just an education point. As a dog trainer by trade and a Chi mix owner with a multi-dog Pit Bull home, I see how people can get tripped up, and it's not their fault. Fun and cute movies show movie stars (won't mention names) carrying the cute little chi goobers in their purses wearing the latest Coach doggie T. This can make it hard for some folks to resist going out and getting one of these little characters right away.

In the movies, things always look easy. Dog companionship is rewarding and wonderful, but it is also hard work. Vet visits, providing good food, and daily quality time spent with our loved ones are all essential to a well-balanced dog.

Chi dogs are not accessories. They are beings that feel and need care like any dog. They have their breed traits, but do need to be seen as individual dogs, as does any dog of any breed. We have faced this issue over and over (I'm getting old), with German Shepherds (well, when I was young - there were other "fad" breeds before that), then with Dobermans, which I remember quite well, and the Rotties, then Pit Bulls. Could it now be the Chihuahua's turn?

I'm already seeing the bad reputation that Chis are getting. Again, popular dog, lots of breeding - and often irresponsible breeding at that - and uneducated owners unprepared for what's involved in properly caring for a dog. And there is your recipe for lots of dogs ending up in shelters.

Chihuahuas are great, loving and loyal dogs. I've often made my own jokes about my Chi about how bitchy she is and how scared of her our Pit Bulls used to get. Am I facilitating the bad image that Chis might end up with? I hope not.

As with any dog, Chi dogs need lots of socialization with lots of people early on, lots of dog play and good training. When this happens, things usually turn out great. But when the movies tell us that it's just so easy to get a cute dog, and you don't have to do much and all will be well, owners can be lulled into a false idea that you don't have to do much work at all to care for these dogs. After all, they're really small, right? Then, of course, there are lots of them to choose from, because many breeders will take advantage of the popularity opportunity.

Many dogs can have issues. Chi dogs can sometimes enjoy barking. There are ways to manage and work with this, but Paris Hilton (oops) hasn't sent any instruction on how to do this, so there goes our Chi to the shelter. Then, the dog gets blamed...

Hmmm, where have I heard this story before?

Above is a cute video with a Chi and a Pit Bull playing. This shows how any breed that has been well-socialized with good management and leadership at home, with effective and fun training classes, can set all dogs up for the best chance at success. We do know that genetics play a role, but that's another article.

- Marthina