Pit Bull Health Tip of The Month:
Urban Mushing? What in the...

Urban mushing is becoming the next weight pull for the American Pit Bull Terrier.

What is urban mushing?

When I was first told about urban mushing I saw a team of sled dogs hooked up to a wheeled cart and a jolly old man yelling, "Mush! Mush!" through the streets of Boston or New York.

I found out urban mushing is a new exercise craze that employs a wheeled scooter, a harness, a dog, and a lot of fun.

Pit Bull Training Tip of the Month:
Dealing with Behavior Problems a Four Prong Approach

Dealing with behavior problems can be a nerve wrecking experience. All is not lost though. You can make dealing with any behavior problem a lot easier if you understand the following four prong approach.

The First Step: Reinforcing wanted behaviors

Reinforcing positive, wanted behaviors is the first step to solving any behavior problem.

For example, if you have a dog that jumps all the time you would start by reinforcing the sit. Especially in areas where your dog is prone to jumping. (e.g. by the front door or when greeting people on the street)

One universal reinforcer (works for about any behavior problem) is rewarding your dog for calm behavior throughout the day.

This will reinforce the idea to your dog that being calm and quiet is a good thing and brings them attention while being loud and annoying brings them nothing rewarding.

The Second Step: Management and Setting Your Dog Up to Succeed

This step is the most important step in the entire process. Why? If your dog is not allowed to engage in the unwanted behavior they will quickly learn to give you the behavior you want.

For example, if you have a dog that bolts out the door you would always make sure he or she is properly confined before opening the door. (e.g. put on a leash, tethered to something, or removed from the room and secured in another part of the house)

By not allowing your dog to engage in undesirable behaviors you are using a technique called, "Extinguishing." Basically if your dog can not have fun doing something bad, they will eventually stop doing it altogether.

The Third Step: Consequences for Actions

Consequences in the training I teach and use is removing something good from the dog when they don't perform the action.

For example, You ask Fritzy to sit. She doesn't. You would say, "eh,eh or no" and then remove your attention and your reward from her. Make a big drama scene and over do it.

This will cause Fritzy to actively seek you out and offer a behavior. If she offers it right, presto! Reward.

Another example is a dog that jumps on guests. If the dog is allowed to jump they will repeat it. If the dog jumps up, step on the leash, give the "eh, eh" and tell the guest to remove all attention from the dog. Once this happens allow the guest to request the dog sit. If he or she sits, presto! Reward.

There must be a reaction to every action your dog takes. Whether positive or negative. It should happen immediately.

The Fourth Step: Consistency

As a professional trainer the first thing I tell people is, if your dog gets away with it once, they will try again and again. If he or she is allowed to do it over and over again, it will become a problem.

For example, if you like it that your dog jumps up into your arms when you pat your chest don't get all huffy when Aunt Sallie gets knocked out the door when she coughs and pats her chest.

You have allowed the dog to jump. The dog does not understand he or she is not allowed to jump at specific times. They see the cue, they jump. They think they see the cue they jump.

If you are not 100% consistent your dog will not be either.

Same rules, same game, all the time, 24/7. This is how you train a dog and solve behavior problems.

Subscriber Questions
What of the people who want to provide a good home for the breed but don't feel comfortable taking on a grown apbt with an unknown past?

I was not surprised when I was asked this question by a lady who had purchased her Pit Bull from a breeder.

Why wouldn't you feel comfortable taking on a full grown American Pit Bull Terrier?

Adopting a full grown Pit Bull vs. buying from a breeder is by far the best choice for people to take. Unless you are planning to show your dog in competition or breed them there are no other reasons why you should buy a dog from a breeder.

MYTH: Full grown Pit Bulls have an unknown past and there for are unpredictable.

Truth: A full grown dog is set. You know their temperament. If you get them from a reputable breed rescue organization you can be 100% certain about dogs, kids, cats, aggression or lack of aggression and temperament.

Notice I bolded, "Breed Rescue Organization." I did that because I do not advocate adopting from shelters.

"Wait on minute! Didn't you just say adopting a Pit Bull is better than buying one?"

Yes. Adopting from a responsible, knowledgeable, breed rescue is better than buying from a breeder. Taking a dog from the shelter, well, not such a good idea in my opinion because shelters don't really have the measures in place to properly temperament test and evaluate Pit Bulls.

When you purchase a puppy from a breeder, unless they are extremely responsible, you gamble on health issues, aggression issues, structure issues, etc...

When you adopt a Pit Bull from a rescue, you know their temperament, you know their health, and you know their structure.

You can also rest assured they have been properly evaluated.

Not all rescues are created equal. You should look for one with people who are very public about the breed. Involved in the breed. Train and work with the breed. And have been doing rescue for 5-25 years.

You should treat them as you would a breeder. Asking question upon question about their knowledge, experience, what measures they have taken with the Pit Bull you are interested in, how long have they had him or her etc...

Do your homework.

I would also like to add that if you are looking at a Pit Bull in a shelter that you question the shelter staff completely.

How do they evaluate the dogs temperament? Are the dogs walked regularly (dogs that are not walked can exhibit problems due to stress from being kenneled)? What is their experience with the breed other than taking them into the shelter? Do they have any Pit friendly programs?

All of these questions should be answered to your liken before you consider adopting a Pit Bull from a shelter. Not that the dog is bad, but rather, that the shelter is ill-equipped to handle the breed and could make a bad decision.

Resources:
Where to find the items and products mentioned in this months issue

Legal Stuff and Conclusion

Every thing in this email is Copyright © 2005. Jason Mann & PitBullLovers.com

You can pass this entire email to friends if you would like as long as it stays unchanged and left as is.

That concludes the legal talk.

In Conclusion

We live in a world that despises us for our choice in dog breed. Sad as it is, I can't help but smile when people ask me, "Are they really mean?"

You might come up with a clever answer, me, being simple, I answer with, "nope." And I go about my day.

Education helps but sometimes I want to be a normal citizen and enjoy my dogs like the next guy.

In the end, I am proud to call myself an American Pit Bull Terrier fancier. I say, be proud and stomp out the predjudice by setting examples. What do you say?

Best Regards,

Jason Mann
Senior editor - The Pit Bull Lover Gazette
Proud Doggy Dad - Angel and Honey. Two of the wildest dogs I've ever had the pleasure of sharing space with.