Can you trust a dog?

“I don’t like one of your ownership rules,” writes an offended website visitor. “‘Never leave a dog alone with a child’?? My dog is totally trustworthy around my kids!”

Trust can be difficult to define. But, in essence, if you trust a dog, you have a feeling of certainty that the dog will not fail your expectations.

What do you expect from your dog? Dogs liv
e in the moment. They do not have morals. Dogs react to instinctual drives; they do not think about how their actions will affect them or others. Only through a great deal of training and effort can we give our dogs a very rudimentary understanding of cause-and-effect. Dogs cannot think at the level that people do.

Some owners expect their dogs to think logically, to have morals, and to behave like people. Such expectations are unrealistic. You can trust that a dog will think and act like a dog. You can also trust that a dog will not behave like a person.

You can expect (or trust) a dog to:

Jump up on people
Bark
Bite
Chase moving objects
Fight
Lick
Whine
Scratch and paw
Run around
If you own a dog, he will not let you down if you expect these behaviors.

You cannot expect (or trust) a dog to:

Distinguish “good guys” from “bad guys”
Suppress predatory instinct when faced with shrill noises and small, fast-moving objects
Lie down and accept a painful or frightening situation
Stay in the yard when the gate is wide open
Do something just because you said so
Be a “good dog” without any guidance or training
Understand human morals, virtues, and expectations

Some people trust dogs to act and think the way people do. These people are offended by responsible ownership rules because the rules do not trust dogs to behave like people. Some people think that when an owner follows the rules of responsible ownership, it is because that owner does not trust his or her dog to behave—that the dog is “bad.”

Responsible dog ownership rules are based on trust—a different definition of trust! The rules trust that dogs will behave like dogs, and the rules help dog owners to maintain that trust. Don’t be offended by responsible dog ownership rules, and don’t be ashamed to follow them! In order to be a responsible dog owner, you can and should trust your dog—to be a dog.

Tips for managing a multi-dog household APBT

Dog aggression is a tricky business. To begin with, dog aggression (aggression directed by dogs toward other dogs) and human aggression (aggression directed toward humans) are entirely separate behaviors. It’s very common for dogs to exhibit some degree of intolerance toward their fellow canines but show only trust and affection for humans. Second, dogs of any breed can be dog aggressive. We at PBRC have lost track of the number of times we have been approached by off-leash aggressive dogs while responsibly walking our leashed pit bulls. Finally, dog aggression is not a matter of simply being dog aggressive or not dog aggressive. As we point out in our Breed Info page, it’s more accurate to think of dog aggression as a spectrum. Some dogs are completely tolerant of other dogs, others are completely intolerant, but most are somewhere in between.

The matter becomes even more complicated with pit-bull-type dogs. While it’s true that fighting was a part of these breeds’ original purpose (part of, but not the only purpose), it is simply wrong to say that pit bulls are “fighting dogs.” Pit bulls are one of the most popular dogs in the United States, but very few of them are actually bred and trained for fighting. The vast majority of pit bulls are bred for family companionship, looks, or nothing in particular. A relative minority are “game bred.” And, as in the case of Michael Vick’s dogs, even pit bulls that have endured the horrors of the pit have proven docile toward other dogs and, most importantly, no worse for the wear in their trust and affection for humans.

As responsible pit bulls owners, we must understand and respect our breed’s heritage, just as Golden Retriever owners or Border Collie owners should respect their breed’s heritage. This means understanding that our beloved dogs may be intolerant of other dogs. At some point, they may even have to forego all interactions with other dogs. We see too many owners forced to rehome their dogs because they simply don’t understand dog-to-dog aggression issues. For this reason, we cannot underemphasize the consequences of misunderstanding dog aggression. Of course, dogs are individuals, and each situation is different, so our recommendations may not apply in all circumstances. Nevertheless, we encourage pit bull owners to follow the guidelines below.

Know Your Dog(s)
Is your dog confident and relaxed around other dogs, or is it insecure and defensive? Is your dog generally tolerant or intolerant toward other dogs? If you have a multi-dog household, are there particular situations that trigger aggression between your dogs (the doorbell, going in and out of the house, toys, food, rawhides, etc.)? Know what triggers aggression and avoid it.

Set Your Dog(s) Up to Succeed
Of course, the very best situation is to have a pit bull as your only pet. Pit bulls are people dogs, anyway. And if they receive enough attention from their family, they won’t need a canine companion to be happy. However, if you prefer having two dogs, and many people do, the next best situation is to have a compatible neutered male and a spayed female, whose interactions are always supervised. If you have multiple pit bulls, a pit bull in a multi-pet home, or more than one of any type of dog, you might find our Crate and Rotate page helpful.

There is a higher incidence of aggressive behavior between dogs of the same sex. Two males or two females will often view each other as rivals, even if they appear to get along most of the time. This is a fact for every breed. Have your dog(s) spayed or neutered as early as your veterinarian finds it appropriate.

Always be prepared. Like humans, dogs develop different personalities as they mature (at around 3 years of age). Most puppies are fine with other dogs; however, all dogs can become intolerant of other dogs as they mature, and pit bulls are no exception. This doesn’t mean that certain dogs could “snap” or “turn.” That’s a completely bogus idea perpetuated by the media. Aside from rare cases in which aggression is suddenly triggered by neurological or pathological disorders, there are always warning signs. Again, know your dog, and set it up to succeed!

Properly introduced, a neutered male and a spayed female with compatible personalities should be fine. They will, however, require strict supervision all their lives.

Train Your Dog
Using positive reinforcement, work on basic commands like sit, down, heel, and stay. Also, work hard on focus and attention. Getting your dog to direct its attention away from distractions and toward you is a foundation of good training.

Never Leave Your Dog Unsupervised With Other Animals
We can't emphasize this enough. If no one is around to keep an eye on them, dogs should be safely crated or in separate rooms, even if they are best friends. Dogs can fight for many reasons—status, food, toys, or rawhides—and if you’re not there to manage them, things could escalate. Your dog does not need “company” when home alone, and the routine of going into a crate every time you leave can be quite comforting for your dog. It also provides you with total piece of mind. There is no chance that your dogs will fight, and they won’t chew up your favorite pair of shoes!

Spay and Neuter
Have your dog(s) spayed or neutered as early as possible. Beyond the benefit of knowing that you will never contribute to pet overpopulation, intact dogs are more likely to show aggression toward other dogs. Females in their reproductive cycles and males that are triggered by sexual hormones tend to be far more reactive.

Monitor Playtime
Pit bulls live to play, and playtime between compatible dogs is a great form of exercise and socialization. But roughhousing can trigger a fight if not kept under control. Pit bulls are scrappy: they like to play rough and can be pretty vocal. Don’t let things go too far. As the leader of your pack, it’s your job to set limits and keep everyone under control.

Always Have Your Dog on a Leash When Walking
Regardless of what breed you own, this should go without saying. It’s a basic rule of dog ownership. If your dog is outside the house and not enclosed within a fenced area, keep him or her on a leash.

Do Not Bring Your Dog to an Off-Leash Dog Park
And avoid any other area where it may come into contact with other dogs running loose. For the reasons we list here, dog parks are poor choice for dogs of all breeds. Dog parks are frequently more about human entertainment than the well being of the dogs. Your dog can get just as much exercise and socialization on a leash.

Early Socialization May Help
But it’s no guarantee that your dog might not become dog aggressive at some point. If you already have a dog and you want to bring a pit bull into your home, your best bet is to adopt a mature dog whose personality is a known quantity.

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Tips & Warnings for Train a Guard dog

If you want to further develop your own understanding of training a dog's protection drives, seek out a responsible group such as a local schutzhund club that emphasizes creating a well-rounded working dog. These dogs are tested for sound temperament and must learn to perform at a high level in tracking and obedience as well as protection work. Find a reputable club that is a member of a national or international schutzhund organization. Before joining, spend some time learning about their organization, talking to members, and watching training sessions to determine whether you have the commitment needed to seriously engage in this demanding dog sport.

The most important aspect of guard dog training is control, which asserts your role as leader and normally comes from time you spend with your dog in enjoyable activities, including obedience training. A dog who is out of control and tries to be dominant can cause serious injuries and is far more of a liability than an asset. Never try to train your dog to bite or attack people. Doing so may be illegal in some states, and you place yourself at risk because you will be liable for injuries that result from an attack.

Top 15 Tips for Being a Responsible Dog Owner

Tips for Dog Owners 


1.  Obedience train your dog so he/she's a star in all situations.

2.  Neuter/Spay your dog to curb territorial aggression, to prevent more (and more and more) unwanted puppies, and prevent your dog from roaming.  All dogs are MUCH nicer to be around when they've been fixed!

3.  Encourage your dog to be a Social Butterfly. Socialize him/her with as many different people as possible such as kids, seniors, disabled folks, and people of all  ethnic groups.

4.  Socialize your dog with other dogs at a level that is GOOD for your dog. 

5.  Become a dedicated student of 'dog body language' and get to know your dog like the back of your hand in order to be able to anticipate and prevent potential dog-dog conflicts.  Learn about behaviors that indicate a dog is raising the stakes during a play session and be ready to intervene and watch for other triggers that could excite your dog into conflict.  Pay careful attention to the behavioral changes that develop as your dog moves through the changes in it's life, particularly any anticipated 'shift' from a social dog to a dog that has less tolerance.  This is common and normal in the terrier breeds, so keep your eye out. 

6.  Respect the leash laws!  Leash laws are a dog owner's best friend.  They help you navigate situations where another dog may provoke your dog into a fight. Know your rights as a dog owner.

7.  Understand that any sign of aggression towards a human is a major red flag and should be dealt with immediately with the help of a BREED EXPERIENCED trainer or behaviorist.  Dogs that show an inability to improve should be safeguarded from the public (in secure housings for example) or in some cases, humanely euthanized.  Pit Bulls were bred to be exceedingly friendly with people. 

8.  Exercise your dogs regularly so she/he can burn off that famous bulldog energy.  Pit bulls are intelligent athletes. Young dogs need at least two hours of your time each day.  A well exercised Pit Bull is a happy Pit Bull as well as it's owner!

9.  Understand that many people have had negative experiences with dogs and are sincerely afraid of them.  Give them reassurance when you can, rather than allow them to be unnecessarily frightened.  Pit Bull owners have to go above and beyond the call of duty sometimes to help some people get over their fear and prejudice. What Pit Bull lovers see as ADORABLE - others may see as scary.

10.  Try to develop a thick skin to help you endure rude or hurtful comments about your pet. 

11.  When out with your dog, pay attention to your surroundings and balance the needs of the public with your dog's needs.  This means picking up dog mess, not letting your dog jump on or annoy others, and avoid off-leash dogs that may run up and instigate a fight.

12.  If worse comes to worse and you have to break up a dogfight, stay calm, take a deep breath and be prepared to do it quickly and safely.  Pit Bull owners should know exactly how to do this with as little fuss as possible. You may want to carry a parting stick with you in areas where you might encounter loose running dogs that may harass or attack your leashed dog. 

13.  Research your dog's breed, including the history and original purpose of terriers so you can understand Pit Bull behavior.  It's no secret that Pit Bulls can show dog intolerance when challenged. Becoming familiar with canine behavior will prove to be a big help so that you can enjoy a great success with your pet.  Spread the word to other Pit Bull owners and be a responsible example for others.

14.  License and microchip your Pit Bull so that if she/he gets lost, your beloved friend can be returned to you.

15.  Despite all the work, enjoy your dog!  Whether your buddy loves a long hike, a fast swim or just a rip snoring power nap, you and your special friend deserve to keep soaking' up all the good bully love!

'Blood Sports': European Dog Fighting History

European history

A dogfight, c. 1785

        Blood sports in general can be traced back to the Roman Empire. In 13 B.C., for instance, the ancient Roman circus slew 600 African beasts. Likewise, under Emperor Claudius's reign, as spectators cheered, 300 bears and 300 Libyan beasts were slain in the Colosseum. Dog fighting, more specifically, can also be traced to ancient Roman times. In 43 AD, for example, dogs fought alongside the Romans and the British in the Roman Conquest of Britain. In this war, the Romans used a breed that originated from Greece called Molossus; the Britons used broad-mouth Mastiffs, which were thought to descend from the Molossus bloodline and which also originated from Greece. Though the British were outnumbered and ultimately lost this war, the Romans were so impressed with the English Mastiffs that they began to import these dogs for use in the Colosseum, as well as for use in times of war. While spectators watched, the imported English Mastiffs were pitted against animals such as wild elephants, lions, bears, bulls, and gladiators.

               Later, the Romans bred and exported fighting dogs to Spain, France and other parts of Europe until eventually these dogs made their way back to England. Though bull baiting and bear baiting were popular throughout the Middle Ages up to the 19th century in Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the British pitted dogs against bulls and bears on a scale like no other. In 12th century England during the feudal era, the landed aristocracy, who held direct military control in decentralized feudal systems and thus owned the animals necessary for waging war, introduced bull baiting and bear baiting to the rest of the British population. In later years, bull baiting and bear baiting became a popular source of entertainment for the British royalty. For instance, Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558-1603, was an avid follower of bull and bear baiting; she bred Mastiffs for baiting and would entertain foreign guests with a fight whenever they visited England. In addition to breeding Mastiffs and entertaining foreign guests with a fight, Queen Elizabeth, and later her successor, King James I, built a number of bear gardens in London. The garden buildings were round and roofless, and housed not only bears, but also bulls and other wild animals that could be used in a fight. Today, a person can visit the Bear Garden museum near the Shakespeare Global Complex in Bankside, Southwark.

             

English Mastiff

             With the popularity of bull and bear baiting, bears needed for such fights soon became scarce. With the scarcity of bear population, the price of bears rose and, because of this, bull baiting became more common in England over time. Bulls who survived the fights were slaughtered afterwards for their meat, as it was believed that the fight caused bull meat to become more tender. In fact, if a bull was offered for sale in the market without having been baited the previous day, butchers were liable to face substantial fines. Animal fights were temporarily suspended in England when Oliver Cromwell seized power, but were reinstated again after the Restoration. Dog fighting, bear baiting, and bull baiting were officially outlawed in England by the Humane Act of 1835. The official ban on all fights, however, actually served to promote dog fighting in England. Since a small amount of space was required for the pit where a dog fight took place, as compared to the ring needed for bull or bear baiting, authorities had a difficult time enforcing the ban on dog fighting.


 List of European Countries -

     Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, U.K, England, United Kingdom, Vatican City (Holy See).

How to Gain a Dog's Trust ?

Steps

1. Acclimate your dog to your house, if he/she is not acclimated already. (i.e. You            just bought your dog)

• Show him/her the whole house. Bedroom(s), Kitchen(s), Living Room, Den and Dining room (if applicable), even your Bathroom(s)!  

2. Once he/she is acclimated, you can begin the trust training. Get everything ready            in the Things You'll Need section below.

3. Get your dog to feel comfortable around you. This includes doing such things as:

• Playing together
• Roughhousing (If you have Medium to X-Large dog, not Toy - Small.)
• "Cuddle." (Most puppies and small dogs love to curl up on the couch)
• Playing "Chase Me." (You run around the house/outside and the dog chases you, this may only work with medium to large dogs.)
• Looking for a toy of his/hers (Hide his/her toy and go find it. Dogs love this game!)
• Giving treats when he/she does something good, or in general. (Don't make it a habit, begging dogs get very tiresome).
• How your dog was raised is a huge part in your friendship, if they were raised in a puppy mill they wont make friends as fast but will really connect to the ones they do make.
• And much more! Some of this stuff depends on the breed and/or size of your dog, so you try to develop a whole bunch of playing ideas, or otherwise!

4.Next, you will have to work on your dog's attention. This includes listening to you             and others.

• Try calling your dog's name. If he/she is smart, they'll come and find you!
• Practice the "Short, Large, and Friendly" maneuver.
  • First, you squat down to your dog's eye level.
  • Then, you open up your arms like you are about to hug a giant.
  • Finally, you don't chase the dog, you act friendly, until the dog comes to you.
• Note: This usually only works with Medium to X-Large dogs.
• This will almost always work when you need to get your dog to come to you, even when he/she is preoccupied with something.

5.Try petting your dog.

• Most dogs have a "Sweet Spot" that they love to get petted on. Once you find your dog's sweet spot, they'll trust you for good. Some sweet spots listed below.
  • Below the ears,
  • Sides of the ears,
  • The ears themselves,
  • The dog equivalent of a cheek (Side of head),
  • The back,
  • The top of the neck,
  • The bottom of the neck,
  • The top of the head,
  • The lower jaw,
  • In between the eyes,
  • The dog equivalent of armpits (Front legs only),
  • The stomach (Not always a safe bet for dogs.This is threatening behavior, only try if you have already developed trust. Puppies can get mad when you rub their stomachs),
  • And finally, the chest.

6. Always feed your dog on time!

• When you feed your dog on time, it is less likely to be hungry throughout the day. This can lead to a better relationship with dogs and, ultimately, a better dog! Keep the same schedule every day for better results.