I just encountered a broad-based opinion on another account and rather than be a mindless reply, I thought I'd share my thoughts here:
The post said,
"Pit bulls are just about the nicest dogs there are. They're among the most tolerant dogs tested by the American temperament test society."
This information is only as good as the people who collected the information. A lot of studies these days seem to have great results, but when you look at who is behind it, it is someone who directly benefits from great results. There are a ton of pitbulls needing homes.....just a thought.
What does "nicest" mean? What does "tolerant" mean? Without knowing the definitions, this could cause people to do some pretty dumb stuff to a pitbull.
It is dangerous to be so broad in one's statement. I judge each dog as an individual. I am personally aware of the damage a pitbull can do, but I would never make a statement one way or the other about them as a breed. That's breedist and ignorant. There are many variations within a breed and environmental factors weigh in heavily on behavior.
Lastly, the opinion was on a page about Juicing. No expert on dogs, I would imagine. Please read critically and think for yourself!!
Here is a video of a pitbull. Is he tolerant or being handled in a way that makes him look tolerant??
Leash skills are everywhere and everything! The skills matter whether you have a leash or not. Communicating clearly to your dog is a skill that most must be taught!
It's great to have manners and control!! Sometimes dogs fight, some are fearful, some have different appetites or foods; there are many reasons that each dog in the home may need a designated space to call his own at mealtime. This way of feeding keeps you in the leadership position and keeps the dogs safe and happy!
This is the first time this man had fed his dogs like this. After a couple of days, the dogs will stop trying him so much and this becomes just the way they eat; in their own bowls and only their own bowls.
Training can bring you a lot of peace!
Many times, we are not aware when the leash is tight. A simple way to raise your awareness is to watch the clasp of the leash that is connected to your dog. If the clasp is pointed at you, the leash is tight. When the clasp dips downward, the leash is loose.
A dog cannot actually pull a person forward unless the person moves his/her feet! You can choose to only walk your dog on a loose leash.
If you want to stop leash pulling, you must decide to change your own behavior. When the leash is tight, stop. When your dog loosens the leash, walk. It may be tedious to teach this, but doesn't it feel better to be doing the right thing that will reach your goal, rather than continue to be dragged around and then get mad??
Here is a simple method to kick the pulling - you can have a helper or do this by yourself with real life things like a treat tossed on the ground, a post your dog want to pee on, or even leaving your own doorway.
Ways to Use Sit for Good Behavior:
Hold your dog’s food bowl. When your dog sits and looks at you, put it down and let him eat.
Put your hand on a doorknob and wait. When your dog sits and looks at you, open the door and let him out.
When getting out of the car, wait until your puppy sits before you open the door and let him out.
Sit on your couch. Ignore your dog. When he sits, invite him up.
Only talk to, touch and look at your dog when he sits in front of you to eliminate jumping up.
While walking your dog on leash, randomly stand still and wait. When your dog sits beside you and looks at you, deliver a treat and start walking again. This will increase focus on you while walking.
Teach your dog manners when meeting people. If your dog pulls on leash to reach people, stop moving forward. When he sits and looks at you, then proceed forward and lead him to say hello. After a few seconds, pull your dog away before he jumps up.
To prevent your dog from busting out of his crate when you open the door, simply stand there and wait until he is seated before releasing him.
If your dog snatches treats from your hands, hold a treat above your dog’s head beyond his reach. Let him jump until he gives up. When he is seated, lower it slowly. If he jumps, raise the treat and start over. If he stays seated, bring the treat to your dog’s mouth.
Puppies are developmentally primed to listen, learn and follow you. You can capitalize on this by practicing your obedience in different environments frequently. Keep at it and when your puppy is full grown, you will have a dream dog!
Cache behavior
Does your dog hide things?
It's so easy to buy things, right? Amazon and Chewy are right at our fingertips.
It's all too common for people to purchase an item to help them change an undesired behavior, like:
1. A slow feeder bowl. These are about $25! They are plastic, which holds bacteria and can lead to diarrhea. Try tossing your dog food in the grass, hand feeding or simply feeding in small portions. When your dog has an impulse issue, don't ignore it! Work through it. How you feed your dog can have an effect on its behavior everywhere.
2. Collars, leashes and harnesses. Everyone has opinion! There is no one item that will help you with leash pulling. Any item will work if used correctly, but that lesson in how to use it, is way more important than your chosen item.
3. Medications and supplements for calming. Your vet is a medical expert! If you ask your vet for help with a behavioral issue, it is often treated with a medicine. Most behavioral issues like anxiety, fear, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and aggression can be helped with behavior training. Only a small percentage need medicine and show a behavior change with meds.
It feels good to make a purchase to help you. You feel like you've done something positive, but in many situations, you end up spending more money than you need to and waste precious time avoiding that actual issue. The dog in this video was described as having severe separation anxiety. He was on medication, has seen trainers and the owner stated that she was unable to leave the home or even go to the bathroom alone. Look at the change in minutes with a simple training protocol.
Keeping your puppy safe is paramount! He is learning about his world and you are his teacher. I do not allow a puppy to pull to people and I don’t allow people to meet puppy without my permission and preparation.
Mat Training for Dog Fighting?
This beautiful boy lives with his brother and they have gotten into some scary fights. Here I am teaching the family how to teach calmness using my mat protocol. Calmness is EVERYTHING!!!!
This is the dog's second round of this lesson. We did not record the first one, but he came out of the crate like a crazy man and had a hard time settling. Here he does better. Each time this is practiced, it will replace crazy with calm and then the dog will internalize the lesson and not need our help anymore. He is learning to calm himself.
This mat training can be used to calm a dog down or to manage behavior all over the house. Way better than yelling at your dog or tossing him in a crate.
Getting your dog to walk nicely on leash, is all about you! Get yourself a trainer and walk with joy!
I worked with Wednesday today and she did well. First time without growling, barking or lunging and first time I took her leash. To see longer videos and follow Wednesday’s training journey from fearful foster to forever home, go to my YouTube and Instagram. I will be sharing different length clips on those platforms.
Wednesday is a 9 month old, female Malinois living in foster care in West Palm Beach, FL. She is available for adoption through American Belgian Malinois Rescue
People tend to want the fastest and the easiest solutions and many feel the clicker is an annoying tool to train a dog. Here are some reasons to use one:
1. It teaches a dog about 40% faster than not using one.
2. It helps people communicate to the dog; especially for those who are slow, handicap, or have trouble being clear with their words and body language.
3. It helps people remember to mark behavior as it happens and makes us focus on what the dog is actually doing.
4. It can teach tiny things like turning the head, or even calmness! It's great for teaching tricks quickly.
5. It's cheap!
6. It's super temporary. Even just clicking something 10 times can help teach a dog what behavior you want him to do and it tends to stay in the memory better.
Even though a clicker can be purchased at stores and online, I always suggest that you read up on how to properly use one or hire a trainer. The tool is only useful when the person holding it uses it correctly!
Everyone Can I get your help? Sunny needs a home! She is a great dog but just needs some help finding her forever family. Can you share this post on your page and any other place that might help? Here is her info:
5 year old, Boxer mix, spayed female
Good with dogs, cats, chickens, kids and all people
Listens well to basic commands
Walks decently on leash - non reactive
She is quiet and sleeps a lot
Enjoys walks and a game of tug twice a day for about 10-20 minutes
No aggression at all
Great in the car
Takes Proin twice a day for spay incontinence- this med is cheap and works great.
Has or had mild allergies to unknown source. She is MUCH improved each day.
Housetrained and crate trained. Can be left alone and free in the house.
Her adoption fee is being taken care of - she is FREE!
Whoever adopts her will have access to me as a support for the rest of her life.
Thanks for sharing. @everyone @followers Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
Sunny has been looking at these stairs for months and today, she decided to check them out. Not sure she’s ever been on stairs before by the look of it. Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
Let's talk about this video. Just watching it gives me anxiety!!
For those that have been following my ordeal of getting bitten last February and having surgery last July, to getting this foster dog to help heal my PTSD.....this was a hard moment for me. I am introducing discipline to Sunny on the first day we had her in our home.
Here is some info that will help you understand. Dogs don't speak english, so we have to show them what we want and don't want.
When we want to teach a dog a new behavior, we mark it or click the moment the behavior occurs and then the dog gets a food reward. This helps the dog understand what we want and what's in it for the dog. It increases that behavior.
When we want a dog to stop a behavior, we can also mark it the moment the behavior occurs and then the dog gets an unpleasant consequence. This helps the dog know what we don't want and what will happen to it. It decreases behavior.
In this case, I use a cookie sheet as a consequence. When the dog
approached the stove, I put the cookie sheet in her face. When she backed up, I removed the cookie sheet from her face.
Now, let me explain what's really going on here!! I have dumbed down my normal technique because i was really scared. I am praying my admission will help me help others or I would never admit it!! I was bitten by a dog that had severe food aggression and have suffered physically, emotionally, and financially for the past 11 months. This simple technique that I have performed hundreds, if not thousands of times, was challenging me.
In this video, my husband is cooking dinner and I want the dog to get away. I could have put her on a leash or in a crate, but I am facing my fears here. Although, I do really use a cookie sheet for some dogs, this dog really didn't need one, but I did! It made me feel safer to block her with a piece of metal rather than myself. I used gentle movements and a sing songy voice to help the dog know I wasn't mad. I was so afraid of any conflict
“repetitions matter more than requests.” -Joe
Sunny and my chicken
Sunny continues to do well!
Sunny has been with me for 15 days. She could be yours! Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
A little impromptu video update on Sunny.
Things are getting pretty routine around here. Her skin and fur look a lot better. She has been put ON Proin for leaking urine and that has resolved. She has STOPPED taking Trazedon,e because she is totally calm. We will focus this week on the basics - come when called, leash and drop it. She knows her name and sit well now, and does a default down a lot! We haven't had any chewing in a few days. She is easily interrupted now and often ignores things altogether. She needed appropriate outlets for her mouth - bully sticks and playtime - and a routine of rewarding the good choices and correcting the poor choices and now we just finetune her behaviors.
Sunny is available for adoption through Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Her progress is on here, Instagram and my Youtube channel.
PLEASE hit the share button when you see her videos. This dog deserves a home and someone out there is going to score a fully trained dog. Thanks!
