Pit Bull Health Tip of The Month:
5 Steps to Warm Up Your Pit Bull Properly

Warm ups are important. Their importance is increased during the cold months.

In order to avoid injury you should always give your dog a good 5-10 minute warm up before starting any strenuous activity.

How to warm up your Pit Bull Step One: Walk them out for 3-5 minutes at a brisk pace.

How to warm up your Pit Bull Step Two: Rub their legs and muscles vigoursly for 45-60 seconds each section. Front legs 60 seconds each, back legs 60 seconds each, and then rub their bodies for about 30 seconds.

This helps get the blood flowing and warms up the muscles and joints.

How to warm up your Pit Bull Step Three: Have them trot or jog for 1-2 minutes.

How to warm up your Pit Bull Step Four: Repeat the Rub Down.

How to warm up your Pit Bull Step Five: Have them trot or jog for another 1-2 minutes.

After step five you might want to toss in a stretch or two and then start the activity.

Warm ups will help keep your dog from having cramps, sprains, or more serious injuries during play and exercises.

I would also suggest a vigorous rub down after any exercise as well to increase blood flow, loosen muscles further and to prevent any cramps that may occur when they get home and lay down.

Pit Bull Training Tip of the Month:
Bringing Home Baby: 5 Tips for Expecting Mothers with Pit Bulls

Bringing home a baby is an important step for new Mothers and Fathers. Having a Pit Bull in the house does make things a bit more complicated but if you follow these five tips you will find it much easier to introduce dog and baby.

Tip One: Establish a "bubble" around the baby. I prefer to have this 4-5 feet and this is what I recommend as well. Your dog is not allowed to enter this "bubble" at any time.

Tip Two: The babies room is the babies room. No dogs allowed. This is setting a boundary the dog should not cross. Even if the door is open the dog should not go in. Put up a baby gate to make sure they stay out.

Tip Three: The dog should not be allowed to sniff the baby up close. Dogs have great noses and can smell the new baby from a distance. This will help keep any scratches or accidents from occuring.

Tip Four: When the dog and baby are in the same room the baby should be up off the floor and the dog should always be on the floor. They should not be let down on the floor together.

Tip Five: Gradually as your baby grows and your dog learns manners you can start to allow a bit more freedom between the two. For example, instead of 5 feet the bubble goes to 3 feet.

I personally recommend never allowing your dog near the baby until the baby grows up to be 5-6 years old. I am not saying this because your dog will intentionally hurt your baby but to establish some responsible boundaries for both your baby and your dog.

The number one reason kids are bitten is because they are left alone or people think their dogs are "gentle."

Accidents happen and by not allowing your dog to get near to the baby and vice versa you are setting them up for success by controlling the environment.

Resources:
Where to find Great Gear for Your Pit Bull

The Mt. Bachelor Pad - When I go out on training assignments or hold classes or just go out to hang with the dogs these bad boys are rolled up and ready to roll with us.

The Mt. Bachelor Pad is a portable mat that is durable, comfortable, and provides your dog a nice place to hang out while on outings or in the home.

Comes in Medium only (shown in picture to the right)
NOTE: All three of my dogs fit on the medium pad.

Medium- $49.99 / Plus $11.00 Shipping

Size	Medium
Color	Rust (shown in picture)Sage

The Urban Sprawl^TM Dog Bed - If you want a beefy bed that will provide your dog with ultra comfort this is it. The Urban Sprawl^TM Dog Bed is an outstanding bed if there ever was one.

Comes in Cocoa (shown in picture to the right)

Medium size dimensions are: 36" long by 30" wide by 6" high.

Comes in Medium Size Only - $79.99 / Plus $21 shipping

Size	Medium
Color	Cocoa (shown in picture)

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