February 9th, 2010
Over the years I have heard many reasons why Pit Bulls who act aggressive do so. One of the most popular amongst “professionals” and other quasi-certified dog trainers is the are dominant.
People email me daily with things like, “I don’t know why Fido acts this way, I have asserted myself as a the dominant alpha leader.”
I am here to tell you that first, dominance is widely misunderstood and the approaches that people like Cesar Milan and dog trainers like him suggest can create aggression in your dog.
Second, Pit Bulls, on the whole, are high energy, people pleasing, dogs that are quite “soft” or submissive to their owners.
However, those who are lead into believing you must “establish yourself as pack leader” end up establishing themselves as an aggressive, crazed nut job who should be looked upon with suspicion and distrust.
Dominance in dogs is rare. Dominance is caused by people who are lead to believe you have to “be the boss” in order to teach your Pit Bull how to behave.
A study that was published by academics at the University of Bristol’s Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Clinical Applications and Research suggests that dogs who are acting aggressive a not trying to establish dominance.
Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol University, said:
“In our referral clinic we very often see dogs which have learnt to show aggression to avoid anticipated punishment. Owners are often horrified when we explain that their dog is terrified of them, and is showing aggression because of the techniques they have used – but its not their fault when they have been advised to do so, or watched unqualified ‘behaviorists’ recommending such techniques on TV.”
I often say, “be careful who are you listening to.”
People are T.V. may or may not be professionals. Just because someone can push, shove, shhh, or choke a dog into listening does not mean it is right and it certainly doesn’t mean you should listen to them.
Pit Bulls, as I have said, are quite submissive and respond best to owners who understand how to teach their dogs to behave without having to “establish themselves as the pack leader.”
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
PitBullLovers.com
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: dominance, Pit Bulls, pitbulls, training pit bulls | No Comments
February 3rd, 2010
You know I have not cracked on PETA lately and honestly at 2am I am feeling a little frisky. I think to myself, “Why not crack on PETA?” Self replies, “Absolutely, great idea.”
Coffee in hand, with my dogs sleeping next to me (gasp! Pets!) I think I will share some stuff that I have come to learn about PETA.
1. PETA lies. They say one thing and do another. Very David Copperfield of them.
2. PETA uses celebrities who should know better. Now they are trying to get Michael Vick to be their spokes person. What a great match! Dog killers finally unite!
3. “PETA’s “Animal Record” report for 2008, filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shows that the animal rights group killed 95 percent of the dogs and cats in its care last year. During all of 2008, PETA found adoptive homes for just seven pets.” They took in
2,216 dogs and cats. Source: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/
4. Ingrid Newkirk is crazy? Nothing new there. So is anyone who supports PETA. Nuts, complete and total whack jobs.
5. From 1998 to 2008 PETA killed over 21,000 dogs, cats, and “other companion animals.” Source: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/.
6. PETA receives millions in donations for what? To buy a $20,000 large walk in freezer to store the dead bodies of the dead dogs, cats, and “other companion animals” they kill? I would think so.
Ill end this post with a simple suggestion. Do not support PETA and do not support any animal rights organizations. They exist to do one thing. Take your pets and kill them.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
http://www.PitBullLovers.com
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: Peaple for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, PETA kills animals, Pit Bulls, pitbull | No Comments
January 30th, 2010
I was at a local Petsmart the other day looking around for some crates. There was a training class going on and I know the trainer. This isn’t the first time I’ve been at that PetSmart. Anyway, here I am looking around the store and I figured I would need a shopping cart. After all a couple of crates are not that easy to carry.
I head back to the front of the store only to have to weave through 5 dogs doing long downs right in front of the door.
This bothered me greatly because (A) I was there to shop and (B) why right in front the door? What does that teach a dog? To lay there under great stress and fear a correction for moving when a mother and her 2 year old and their dog walks right past them, almost stepping on them?
I didn’t make that last part up. That was not a hypothetical. That was what happened. The dog got up after almost getting run down by a shopping cart holding a 2 year old with a dog on leash beside the cart. The owner runs over, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT” In the most annoying voice you can imagine and pushes the dog back into the down.
I rolled my eyes, walked on, did my shopping, said see ya to the trainer and left. As I was driving home I couldn’t help but think about that dog. Why was it corrected? Why would a pet dog owner need a 45 minute down stay at the main doors of Petsmart? More importantly why would I leave my dog there and go out of site? I was stumped.
I returned to the store a few days later (more shopping for my mongrel horde) and once again, there they were, long downing in the middle of the store in the midst of all the dogs, kids, parents, and shopping carts. I once again was stumped. I asked the trainer, “Why do you teach a long down in the middle of the store?”
The answer? Because I think it is important.
Really, that was the answer. Not an ounce of explanation. It is one of those “just because” reasons.
The long down is a pointless exercise in pet obedience. Why would you ever need to down your dog for 5-10-15-45 minutes with your back turned or you out of sight? There is not one valid reason you would need your dog to do this.
For those reading this that do competitive sports this does not apply to you. Your sport may call for a down-stay with handler out of sight. That is a valid reason to teach it, the sport you compete in calls for it. However a pet dog does not need a 2 hour down stay in the middle of the local pet store while you are shopping or talking to your long lost Uncle.
Every time I go to that PetSmart I see a dog, laying there, people walking around it, petting the dog, small kids running up to the dog, and when the dog breaks, the owners run up, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT” and correct the dog for moving.
The long down, in pet obedience, really doesn’t serve any purpose. If you are trying to proof your Pit Bull against distractions it is far easier to do this in a moving exercise like loose leash walking or some controlled heeling. Maybe even a recall or two while distractions are around. The point here is, when the dog is just laying there what are you rewarding? Laying there?
When you are working in a moving exercise it is much easier to clearly tell the dog, “Yes! You turned away from that food on the ground and kept a good pace with me! Gooood dog!”
If I put my dog in a 20 minute down stay, walk off, return, what happens if the dog gets up the moment I return? You either have to start over or “play” like it was your idea and release the dog. Either way the dog really didn’t learn much.
There are alternatives for Pit Bull owners who are teaching pet obedience. Like the place cue. Or the “chill out” cue that my assistant dog trainer teaches his dogs. This means, go over to that place and relax a while. I’ll be right here with you, but you have to chill out.
Some clicker trainers call this the “settle” cue. Whatever you call it, it means, go lay down, relax, we’re going to be here for a while. It does not mean, you better lay here under heavy distraction and not so much as twitch a nose hair buddy boy!
That is unfair, completely pointless, and useless dog training.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
Owner: http://www.PitBullLovers.com.com
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: dog training, pit bull training, Pit Bulls, pitbulls | No Comments
January 11th, 2010
I have been around Pit bulls for 10 years now. As a dog trainer I see many different breeds of dog and I see many different problems. It is not uncommon for me to receive 50 emails a week about Pit Bulls that are dog aggressive, specifically toward other dogs in the home.
I mention my training background because over the past decade I have seen a trend occurring. It was probably there before I came into the profession but I am telling you this from my experience and my views.
Forced dog cooperation is the trend that is starting to really bother me. Why? Because it is ridiculous. From forced but sniffs, to shocking a dog until it is so freaked out it doesn’t want to bother another dog, to trying to clicker train a dog aggressive dog to like their housemates.
Two things:
1. Get over it. Some dogs don’t like other dogs. And if this really bothers you, choose another breed because Pit Bull Terriers are supposed to be dog aggressive to a certain degree and many breeders still breed for this trait.
2. Stop forcing dogs to like each other. There is nothing wrong with crate and rotate in a house hold. I do it and I know at least 50 other Pit Bull owners that do it and the dogs are no worse for it.
This, “Why can’t we all just get along” nonsense is simply unrealistic. There are dogs out there that should not ever be allowed to be around other dogs. Wait, should you put that dog down then? Nope. Why? Because the social norm is to kill a dog simply based on the fact that it really doesn’t like other dogs?
I have stated in the past that unless a dog is out of its mind dog aggressive, meaning it will kill any other dog it gets at, that the dog should not be put down. A dog that is that out of control either needs to be handled by super responsible owners or put to sleep.
However, most “aggression” emails I get are about two house mates squabbling over something. Not allowing them to squabble in the first place (crate and rotate) solves the problem.
“But Jason, I lovey-dovey-wovey my pibbles! I couldn’t never separate them from their mommy-whommy-mommy” My answer to that is, get another breed and stop acting like their children. They are dogs.
So if you find yourself at the wrong end of a dog fight because you tried to whisper to your dog or
try to shock them into submission or some other nonsense don’t be shocked when the situation gets out of control and something really nasty happens.
However, if you take the simple step of crate and rotate, you’ll save yourself the pain of seeing a real dog fight and spending thousands on vet bills or worse, burying the dog.
Okay, enough ranting for today.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
http://www.pitbulllovers.com
http://www.pitbulltraininghandbook.com
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: dog whispering, Pit Bulls, pitbulls, training | No Comments
