Editors Corner:
Have a Safe and Happy Christmas
Date: December 16th 20th 2005
From: Jason Mann - Senior Editor
Dear friend and Pit Bull Lover Gazette Subscriber,
I would like to take this time to wish you a happy Christmas and a very happy New Year.
This time of year for us Americans can be torture. Fighting the people at the mall, trying to get all our shopping done, then fighting to get out of the mall and trying to wrap all the gifts we purchased can be stressful.
Don't forget your Pit Bull companion this season. An extra bone, a good scratch, and maybe some new toys to replace those mangled ones will help your dog feel a part of the scene. Of course they don't really care, they want your attention all year around. lol. But for us, it does our souls good to include them.
Also, if you are traveling make sure you read Finding a Dog Boarding Kennel for your Pit bull. This article shares some tips on how to find, check out, and book safe boarding.
If you plan on having the family over to your place make sure they know what your dog can and can not have for treats and praise.
This time of year can be frustrating and stressful. I would like to invite you to take an hour or so here and there for yourself and breath. I know it helps me relax when I'm about to pop, maybe it will help you too.
With that said, I hope you enjoy the rest of this months issue. I apologize for not getting it out on the 16th. Next month it will be delivered on time.
From my family to your's, Merry Christmas!
With Warm Regards,
Jason Mann - Senior Editor and Publisher
Pit Bull Training Tip of The Month:
The Swiss Army Behavior
The Go To Bed Exercise
I love this exercise though I don't use it
very much with my girls anymore.
I call it the swiss army behavior because
you can apply this behavior to all kinds of situations.
Actually the use of this is only limited to your
training skills. You can use it any time you need
your dog(s) to go and be calm in a single place.
The final result of this exercise will allow
you to have better control of your pooch in all sorts of situations.
Most importantly, when people come over
to your house. However it can be used
during trips etc...
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
1. A doggy bed.
2. A comfortable doggy mat (optional for outings).
3. Loads of patience.
4. Some yummy treats.
Some trainers will recommend using, "go to bed" as
the command.
I suggest using one word. Like, bed. Or mat. Or
place.
Any word that is short, quick and easy to understand
for dogs.
Let's get started.
Place the bed in an out of the way location
The bed should be out of the way but not away
from the all the action.
Where you spend the most time is a good spot.
You will start with zero (i mean none) distractions.
STEP ONE TO TEACHING THE GO TO BED
Now with his or her bed in place you can begin.
First you want to load up your hand with 10-20
yummy treats.
Now, lure them to the bed.
The moment all four paws are on it, mark it,
with yes! or click and treat.
Now, toss a treat away from the bed so they
have to get off to go get it.
Repeat step one. Lure them to the bed, all
four paws are on, mark it, and treat.
Repeat this 30-40 times.
After which time you will start to lure them
to the bed but before you do give the
command you want to use.
Example: Angel, bed! then I would lure her
to the bed and treat her.
STEP TWO
Once you are luring them to the bed easily (see
food lure exercise in teaching the Heel part one)
you will now ask them to down.
If they don't know the down, now is as good a time
to teach it as any.
Okay back to the exercise.
Give your command and lure them over to the bed.
Wait a beat, ask them to down, or lure them into the down
if they don't know it.
Once they are laying on the bed mark it with yes! or
click and treat.
Place 3-5 treats between their paws and allow
them to eat them in the down position.
As they finish the first batch put another 3-5
treats on the bed between their paws.
(This keeps them in the down position).
Then say, OKAY! and release them off the bed.
Repeat this exercise 20-30 times.
STEP THREE
Adding time to the down.
Give them your command lure them to the bed, lure
or ask them to down, wait 2 seconds, mark it and treat.
Again, placing 3-5 treats on the bed for them
to eat.
Release them and repeat.
You will want to work up to one full minute.
Slowly add more time to the down part of
exercise.
STEP FOUR
The big finish.
What you have done here is shaped the complete
behavior you wanted one step at a time.
Now you will require your dog to put it all
together for a nice finish.
Give the command you have been using
for going to bed.
WAIT.
Three things will happen:
1. They will go to the bed and stand.
2. They will go to the bed and lay down.
3. They will not go to the bed at all.
If Number one happens give them the down
command or lure them into the down and
work on this part again.
If Number Two happens, wait 5 seconds,
and praise the dickens out of them. Jackpot!
6-8 yummy treats on the bed between their
paws 4-5 times in a row.
Then release them with OKAY! or whatever
word you choose for the release.
If number 3 happens repeat the entire
process again. This time going slowly through
each phase.
Your goal is to have number two happen.
When they go to the bed and lay down you
will immediately reward them with 6-8-10
treats on the bed, between their paws
3-6 times in a row.
Then you want to wait a bit longer, then repeat.
IMPORTANT NOTES
This entire process is done with you standing right
next to the bed.
After they are going to the bed and laying down
on command and laying still for one full minute
add 2-3 feet of distance between you and the
bed.
You should ALWAYS go to them and praise
them when they are doing this successfully.
Never leave them on the bed for more than 3-5
minutes and remember to occassionally praise
them and walk over to them and give them
a treat.
This exercise is to help you control your dog
when you need them out of the way or calm.
Like when small kids are over or when lots
of people are around.
You should add distractions to the exercise
after they are successfully going to bed
on command and laying still while you are
10-20 feet away from 5 minutes.
Then add small distractions. At which time
you will once again be standing directly next
to the bed.
If they break the command you should immediately
say, "eh eh!" and walk them all the way back to
the bed.
If they break the command at any time take
them one step back in their training and work
on that point for several more days until
they are successful 90% of the time.
For example, let's imagine they are going to
bed on command and laying down. But as
soon as they lay down the stand back up
and get off the bed.
You would want to take them back to
the down step and work on adding
time to the step again from the beginning
until they are 90% reliable.
(This exercise, the lure, the down, and the release are all covered
in the Pit Bull Lovers private forum. To gain access and to get more hard hitting
training information purchase your copy of The Pit Bull Training
Handbook today)
Pit Bull Health Tip of the Month:
Do Supplements Really Work?
Before I got heavy and out of shape I was a bit
of a health nut. I used to operate a human health
supplement business and through my dealings
learned a bit about nutrition.
Naturally as I started getting more involved
with Pit Bulls and their health I started researching
how supplements can be used in dogs too.
What I found was exactly what you find
for most people. Yes, supplements do
work for a vast majority of dogs taken
them.
However, like all supplements the individual will
react and assimilate the supplements based on
his or her body make up, current state of health,
and consistent use.
Dogs are not any different in this regard either.
I stumbled across one supplement that has
been getting great reviews from users.
It's called, K9Maxx. You may have even
heard of it. Heck, you might even be using it.
Information on K9maxx can be found by clicking here
I really like this supplements make up and plan on
getting a 1 month supply for my girls in a week
or so.
I'll let you know how it goes with them after the
first month of using it.
I'm particular interested in helping honey with
her stiffness and joint problems.
Angel is getting a bit stiff after work outs
so I'm going to use it on her for this too.
Back to the point...
Supplements, when used correctly and mixed
with a proper diet do in fact help the health
of canines.
Of particular interest to me (I am using these)
are vitamin C, vitamin E, Salmon oil and Cod
Liver oil.
The girls are on a dose of each per day.
Again, I'll report back with results and
any changes in their health that result
from these supplements when I start
seeing results. That is IF I start seeing
results.
I can tell you this, Honey's coat seems
to be less dull as a result of the Salmon
and Cod liver oils.
