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The responsibilities of owning a power breed:the good, the bad and the ugly

4/25/2014

27 Comments

 
With the recent news of "pit bull" attacks in the media and more lives sadly lost, a lot of people have been asking me what my thoughts are, so I want to talk about what I consider "power breeds" and the responsibilities that people need to know about before owning a so called "power breed".  

Let me start by addressing what I mean when I say "power breed".  I consider dogs to be part of the "power breed" group if the breed in general is larger, stronger, more solidly built, has a higher intensity level or has a higher pain tolerance level than the average dog.  A few examples of what I consider power breeds are the American Saffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Rhodesian Ridgback , Mastiff and several others but I think you get the picture.  These are the dogs that end up in the news or that the general population is often afraid of. They are the ones on the breed ban lists and that often have a bad reputation.  

I, myself favor these breeds and do not agree with banning them.  I believe in addressing each dog individually and feel that owners need to be responsible for their dogs no matter what breed they own.   I believe that any dog can bite and can be dangerous in certain circumstances however I believe it is the humans responsibility to properly train their dog and to assume responsibility for his/her actions.  Being responsible for your pet is important no matter what type of animal you own however it becomes more critical when you own a power breed.  Once you agree to own or live with a dog considered to be a power breed, you take on the responsibility of ensuring your dog is not another breed statistic.  These breeds need good, responsible and committed owners.  They need owners that have done their research and know the general needs of their dog.  Owning a bully breed or Doberman is nothing like owning a Yorkie or Shih tzu or even a lab or standard poodle.  Owning a power breed takes strong leadership skills and a willingness for patience and understanding beyond what a normal dog owner will need.  Often times owners of power breeds will need patience and understanding not just for their dog but for the general public's reaction to their dog as well.  

So what do I mean when I say owners need to take responsibility?  I mean that once you own a power breed you know and accept that other people will judge you and your dog based on breed alone.  Insurance agencies, land lords, hotels and sometimes entire cities will ban you and your dog even if your dog has never done anything wrong.  Additionally, any mistake your dog does make will be blown into a much larger scale than if another breed makes the same mistake.  This means that while a Chihuahua can often get away with a play bite or even an intentional nip, your dog will be expected to be on his best behavior at all times because if your power breed bites someone, it will be made into a bigger deal even if that bite was a warning bite or done in play.  Even when your dog is a puppy, people will in general be afraid or mistrusting of him.  A perfect example of this is my dog Ryker.  Ryker is an 8 month old 70lb Doberman Pinscher puppy.  He loves everyone and every thing and has been exposed to as many dogs, other animals and people as I can possibly find.  He comes to almost all of my group training sessions, attends camp with lots of other dogs on days when he can't come with me and in general is well behaved.  However, even though he is just a puppy, people still cross the street when we pass, people still run and avoid us or make comments like "Look at that guard dog"  Even my neighbors that have seen him grow up and have seen neighborhood kids petting him on our walks are still afraid based solely on his breed and how he looks. 

So what can we do as the owners of these wonderful breeds?  We can train our dogs, exercise them appropriately to ensure their stability and know them well enough not to put them in a situation that would set them up for failure.   All dogs need daily exercise and for power breeds this is even more important.  They need to drain their excess energy in an appropriate way.  They need leadership and clear instructions on what you want from them.  Sometimes power breeds come with a protective nature or a higher level of intensity and this will need to be addressed.  They are also often more agile and athletic which means you will need to provide them proper enclosures when you are not at home to monitor them.  Keeping them indoors, sturdy fencing and kennel training are a good idea when you have a power breed.  Most of them can easily jump your six foot wooden fence if they want to and can break out of a kennel in just a few minutes.  Keeping them indoors when you are not home will avoid an incident that is out of your control.  Properly training them to respect boundaries will ensure your dog doesn't break out of a kennel or jump a fence and get into trouble.  Doing research, learning as much as you can before committing or hiring a professional once you have committed may be necessary to ensure you become a great leader for your dog.  Proper socialization is a must for these dogs. In my opinion, positive reinforcement works best for these power breeds, they respond very well to praise and rewards and in general want to please their owners.  Sadly this complete loyalty is often their downfall when irresponsible owners mistreat them, shoot them up with steroids, inbreed them or ask them to do things like fight one another or attack people. So in addition to keeping your own dog under control, you will also be faced with the responsibility of becoming a breed advocate.  This means that once you own a power breed you will want and need to join the fight against banning your breed and help educate the general public that these dogs are not the monsters the media makes them out to be.  There are many ways to help people understand and educate them about your breed.  One way is by socializing your dog and taking him places so people can see him behaving and being friendly.  Also, unless your dog is a show dog, you should spay or neuter him to ensure he doesn't become aggressive or sick from testosterone build up or if you have a female to ensure she doesn't have an unplanned litter.  Pit bulls and other power breeds make up a huge number of shelter dogs that are euthanized each year so breeding them unnecessarily is irresponsible.   Additionally dogs that are unaltered that do not breed can develop health problems and temperament problems from built up testosterone in their system so spaying or neutering is a huge part of your responsibility as an owner.  

I personally work with my dog on basic obedience and I work very hard to stay in control so he trusts me as his leader and won't feel the need to try to take over and lead me.  I also spend a lot of time socializing him with other people, animals, objects and situations so he will be confident and not fearful.  I pay attention to his body language and do not put him in uncomfortable situations where I cannot control the outcome.  If he tells me he is unsure of a person or animal with his body language, I do not force him to meet them. I encourage him to follow me and trust me to know him and I make sure I don't set him up for failure.  Dogs almost always give lots of warning before they bite or attack.  When you have a power breed, it is your job to know your dog well enough to know when he is not comfortable with a situation.  Dog's have great instincts and sometimes they may pick up on something you don't or maybe your dog is young and somewhat fearful.  There is a right way and a wrong way to expose your dog. You want to expose him to as many new things as possible but you want to do it in a controlled environment and in a positive fun way that will reassure him and not make his fear worse.  For example, when Ryker was smaller he was afraid of the big outdoor trash can.  When we would take the trash out he would have a negative reaction.  His reaction included everything from trying to run away to trying to attack the tires.  Once I saw that he was afraid I begin exposing him to the trash can more often and using treats, praise and petting when asking him to approach the can.  Once he was comfortable hanging out around and near the trash can I started slowly moving it, opening the lid and even slamming it as he got more comfortable.  The more reward he received for being comfortable around the trash can the more relaxed he became.  After a few days of practicing and spending more time with a trash can than I ever thought I would, he was comfortable enough to walk in a heal with me while I rolled it out to the street on the gravel drive way.  Now he doesn't pay any attention to the trash can and is happy to walk beside it every week on trash day.  This same exercise  can be done with many scenarios but the overall point is to be in control so that if your dog does make a mistake, it isn't a fatal one.  In this instance when Ryker did react by biting the trash can I was able to correct him and redirect his energy into something more positive so that he could understand that biting was not the appropriate response.  

Dog's are programmed to be part of a pack.  They want to learn and fit in to your world as their owner which means training them is often easier than people think.  The power breeds are no different and if anything many of them are even more trainable than the average dog.  They are often intense and energetic and if you guide them and use that intensity for positive activities they will work for you until they literally can't go on.  These dogs only want to please their owners and should not be punished when their owners ask them to do something inappropriate or teach them the wrong types of activities.  Humans in general need to take responsibility for what they have created in these breeds by years of breeding and planning.  It is our responsibility to ensure these dogs continue to be mans best friend and to help change the public's negative views of them.  We can do that by being responsible owners and helping our dogs to become breed advocates and not another bad statistic.  Sometimes the responsibilities of owning a power breed can feel like a full time job but they are worth it in every way and for me personally it's the most rewarding and fun job I have ever had.  These beautiful breeds deserve to be respected, loved and cherished as the awesome family companions they were meant to be.  If you are thinking of bringing a power breed into your family, do your research, adopt from a reputable shelter or breeder and remember that this is a lifetime commitment for the life of your new dog.   


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Are you interested in your dog becoming a therapy dog?

4/9/2014

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Therapy with animals can be extremely fun and rewarding. There are several ways you can get started but no matter which route you choose the basic “to do” list is the same. First your dog will need to be old enough to have had all his/her shots and will need to have lived with you for at least 6 months. Secondly your dog will need to know his/her basic commands including sit, lie down, stay, leave it, come when called and walk well on leash without a pinch collar. Your dog will need to be well socialized with other people and animals. Doing this from an early age is helpful but all dogs can learn proper socialization skills.




The next step once your dog is well trained and socialized is to find a program that works for you. When I was looking for a Pet therapy group I found the LSU Tiger HATS program. They provide handler training and an extensive website that answers any questions you may have about pet therapy and how it works. You can find their website at http://petpartners.org/. They do not train dogs in their program but do offer handlers insight to what is needed and expected. They also provide the testing that is needed in order to join their group and become an animal therapy team with your dog.




Before you will be allowed to begin practicing therapy with your dog you will go through an extensive test to ensure you and your dog are ready to be a pet therapy team. This test will include having your dog run through the basic obedience commands as well as put him/her through a simulation of a therapy session. This means your dog will be tested on being touched, walking through a crowd, being around noisy people and commotion, being around other animals, being bumped into, being petted clumsily and all over, being hugged or restrained and overall appearance and grooming. You will need to learn how to read your dog's body language and general demeanor so you can provide the best possible outcome to this test and ensure your dog is comfortable with doing what is required of a therapy dog




To prepare your dog for these tests, it is best to begin with basic obedience. Joining a group obedience class is a good way to provide knowledge of basic commands but also to see how your dog will do in a group setting with other dogs and people. You can tell your dog trainer that you plan to pursue pet therapy and your specific needs so they can assist you. Setting up simulations of things like walking through a crowd, yelling, commotion or having several people crowd or pet your dog while providing positive reinforcement and listening to your dogs body language is a great start to ensuring you will pass the tests needed to become a therapy team. If your dog is unsure of a situation, guiding him/her through it with positive reinforcement and encouragement in small doses will go a long way in building your dog up to being able to handle doing therapy work.




It is never too early to begin training your dog. Before your dog is old enough to receive his/her vaccines you can train your puppy by grooming, petting and handling while positively reinforcing good behavior in your home. You can begin leash training in the home and several basic commands like sit, lie down, stand up, leave it and come when called. Once your puppy is fully vaccinated you can begin bringing him/her as many places as possible. The more you introduce your puppy to new people and situations the better socialized and prepared they will be.




If you are interested in doing pet therapy with your dog and would like more information or to receive training, please contact me. I am happy to assist and help you pass the evaluation that you will need to join a therapy program. Pet therapy is one of the most rewarding things I have done with my dog and is such a blessing to the community and those receiving therapy as well as to the person and pet providing therapy.


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Finding the right dog for you.

10/16/2013

1 Comment

 
When deciding to bring a dog into your family there are many things to consider before bringing a dog home.  The first consideration is time.  How much time do you have to devote to a dog or puppy.  The amount of time you have may mean the difference between getting a puppy or adopting an older more low energy dog or it may mean finding a breed that works with your energy level.  If you love to sit on the couch and watch tv, a high energy dog or breed will not be the right dog for you.  There are a lot of great websites with breed information that provide an overview of just about every dog breed you can imagine.  I suggest doing your research.  In addition to researching online, visit your local dog park, ask your vet.  Talk to people that own dogs of the breed you are interested in.  Contact your local shelter or breed rescue.  Often talking to people with experience is the best option because they will give you an honest picture of a dog or breeds needs.  

Once you decide that you do have time for a dog, there are several options on where to get your dog.  At this point you should decide if you would like a mixed breed, pure breed, puppy, adult or senior dog.  No matter what kind of dog you are looking for or what age group you would like, there is most likely a rescue group that can help you.  Rescues are a great resource and are typically made up of volunteers that love the breed or just love dogs and provide a great service to the public.  Rescue dogs almost always come fully vetted, spayed or neutered and often times they have been living in a foster care situation which means that their foster parent will be able to tell you how they are in a home environment.  Rescues often have everything from young puppies to older dogs in need.  If they do not have the dog you want it is usually not long before new dogs come in and need a home.  Another option is to buy a puppy or adult dog from a breeder.  If you choose this option I suggest doing your research and finding a breeder that is knowledgeable and truly cares about the breed and not just making a profit.  Do your research and ask questions.  For example if you are buying a Doberman you should ask about VWD testing, hip dysplasia and if the puppy has a Z factor.  You can find out what questions you should ask by researching the breed you are interested in and what problems or genetic issues they could have.  When visiting a rescue or breeder, pay attention.  If the facility is not clean or animals do not look well kept, you may want to think twice about purchasing a puppy.  Beware of puppy mills or fraudulent people online.  

Once you have decided on how you want to get a new dog or puppy, then its time to decide which one is right for you.  If you are adopting a dog, this process is made a little easier because the rescue facility will often know the dogs and be able to ask you questions and help you match a dog with your personality.  If you are looking at buying a puppy you should meet with the breeder and meet the parents of the puppy you are buying.  You want to make sure the puppies parents have great temperaments and don't have any genetic health issues.  Once you meet the puppies you should take note of how each puppy reacts to its litter mates as well as its owners and you.  Choose a puppy that is most like what you are looking for in a dog.  If you want a dominant playful dog then you should choose the puppy that is showing those types of behaviors.  If you want a more mellow dog then the puppy that is calm and gentle may be the one you choose.  Look closely at the puppies for any signs of health concerns.  They should have clear eyes and noses and an appropriate energy level for their breed and age group.  You want to wait until a puppy is at least 8 weeks old before taking it from its mother.  

I also suggest before bringing home a new dog or puppy, make a schedule and consider how you will incorporate your new pet into your life.  Dogs and puppies need daily care and attention along with exercise to avoid behavioral issues. You should have a plan for where your dog will eat, sleep and exercise before you bring him home.  If you are a first time dog owner you should have a vet lined up as well.  Once you bring your dog home you should make an appointment so that your dog will be established at your vets office in case they have an emergency.  I also recommend purchasing a crate so that your new dog is not set up for failure.  It takes dogs and puppies some time to adjust to a new home environment so they should not be expected to have free run of your home without any issues.  A crate is the easiest way to ensure the safety of your dog and your home while you are away.  I can't stress enough that doing your research will help you to avoid biting off more than you can chew.  If choosing a puppy or dog is done correctly and with care, you will end up with a family companion or best friend for many years to come.  Just remember that getting any type of animal is a commitment and should not be taken lightly or done on a whim.  Careful consideration and planning is necessary to ensure everyone's happiness. 
1 Comment

    Brittany Braud

    Dog Trainer and behaviorist since 2004

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