Pit Bull Chat Forum - Blogs http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php Pit Bull Chat is an educational community of advocates, owners and lovers of the pit bull dog breeds who promotes responsible ownership and rescue work en Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:54:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/005/misc/rss.jpg Pit Bull Chat Forum - Blogs http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php The Prideful Petbull http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=420 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:19:20 GMT I'm new to dog training. Since we've gotten Veronica I've taken a class with her...pretty much consistently in the almost 4 years we've had her; and I read allot about training and canine behavior...because I've decided that my dog is absolutely fascinating and I want to understand every nuance of her magical being.

Along the way I've formed some opinions. I have always preferred positive training methods; even when it was just an academic discussion (because truth be told the only thing I taught my precious Basset Hound Frances Abigail- Ms. Veronica's predecessor...was not to potty in the house).

My preference for positive training is based on the way I look at my relationship with my dog. I want training to enhance our ability to communicate with each other and bring us closer. But even more importantly, I want her to do as I ask not because she's afraid of the consequences if she doesn't - but because she wants to do as I ask.

In retrospect, it's a very, very, very good thing that I think this way, because Veronica is one of those super soft dogs that would really in all honestly, I think "go bad" with correction based training. Sometimes I forget how soft she is because "soft" has nothing to do with being bratty, and willful and pushy and obnoxious - traits that also make up her character. On a good day I find them endearing, and she makes me laugh and I'm glad she is who she is; and on a bad day I want to list her on Craig's List as "free to any home that doesn't blow their brains out after a week" :D

But today I was treated to an illustration of just how soft my dog is, and why I best forget everything I read to the contrary and stick with all positive, all the time. We had a Rally Obedience class. We've been doing Rally for at least a couple of years. I'm actually thinking of competing the next time that a convenient opportunity arises. Veronica is now able to do the courses without food reinforcement (of course she gets the jackpot at the end). Our biggest challenge is her reactivity towards other dogs; and this is something we have been working on diligently for years. It can be very frustrating - 3 steps forward, 2 steps back - even more so, because I'm sure it's me who scews things up not her.

Anyway, we had class today and because of close quarters there is always a part of the course that runs very close to the other dogs; one of whom happens to be Veronica's Arch Nemesis - Romona the Wicked Whippet. (Total mutual dislike down to their toes). I could have held my own pride in check and reminded myself that having to use a treat to keep Veronica focused simply meant "we weren't there yet" - she wasn't ready to pass that closely by her Arch Nemesis in that context and that was OK. But noooooo...I didn't want to use treats at all, I totally ignored the fact that Veronica wasn't ready in favor of my preference which was that we'd worked hard enough and long enough and she knows what I want her to do and how hard is it and she should be ready damn it!

Not only didn't I use treats, I opted for something I rarely (if ever do) I gave a correction. Not a harsh correction by any means. We came to the weave cones - the part of the course that was right next to the dogs - and when Veronica wouldn't focus on me and tried to bark at Romona; I reached down with my left hand and grabbed her snout. I gave it a little shake and a stern "No" and held her snout past the cones. When we were away from the dogs, Veronica decided to turn around and give Romona a little "up yours anorexic bitch" lip; and again I reached down gave her snout a little shake and a stern "No". Feeling all satisfied in my "handling" of the situation we finished the course and took our seats.

Then our turn came again. We cruised through the first half of the course - no treats. "Well, I certainly told her", I thought as we approached the cones and the evil Romona...at which point Veronica stopped dead in her tracks, fell to the floor in a crouch and attempted to crawl away from the cones. Discussion ensued and it has hypothesized that Veronica was a bit traumatized from the snout grabbing. At the risk of sounding anthromorphic, it looked to all the world (well at least all present) that her feelings had been hurt by my public correction, and now she was afraid to try further). Much hoopla and treating ensued; then my trainer got her to reluctantly do some of the course with her because Veronica suddenly decided she could not suffer the possibility of that sort of humilation again. So again, with many, MANY treats (you know the ones I didn't want to use since I'm planning on competing) Veronica finally finished the course looking like a dog that had been pulled from the shelter that morning, never having seen a Rally course in it's life and believing there was a strong possibility that the ceiling could fall on her head at any moment.

Then came our next turn...using the treats but back on track. Not quite...now it's actually worse. This time around Veronica has concluded that it is not safe to be anywhere near the left side of my body - lest I assault her with a humiliating snout shake. She refuses to finish herself left, and takes it upon herself to finish herself right. She also decided that heeling means heeling as far away from me as she can possibly get while still attached to her leash and positioning herself at an angle - to again fend off any vicious attacks from her crazy human. (and at this point let me reiterate, for those of you who don't have that good of a sense of me from other posts...I hardly touched the damn dog!!! I put my hand over her mouth, and when I say gave her muzzle a little shake...I've seen parents shake 2 year olds in the middle of Walmart harder than I shook that dog; I was simply trying for the effect of stern communication). Oh and the best part; twice she tried to leave the course and run to my trainer like she wanted to be saved. Seriously. "Help me Miss Alice, help me; Momma's been abducted by aliens and this woman next to me is a...a...a snout shaker"!!!!!!!

The class was highly amused. It isn't often that this level of drama is introduced to a Rally Obedience class. Usually they're pretty bland. Veronica's runs were starting to look like a Shakesperian tragedy.

Our final run...I knew I had to get her over this and end on a good note. The treats were flying fast and furious, I was praising her up one side and down the other - what a good good girl, wonderful dog, nice job, so smart, good baby ..."...and Veronica finally started to heal from the grave injustice I dealt her earlier. She decided just maybe it was safe to be by my left side...of course I also switched leash hands ( I prefer to hold the leash in my right hand for Rally and have her target my left) - but since in her mind my left hand had grown teeth and was going to eat her face whole - that had to be adjusted.

So...3 steps forward, 2 steps back - I think we're back on track.

In retrospect my pride (I want us to be ready now) got us into the mess just as much as Veronica's pride (I cannot believe you did that to me in front of all those other dogs). So maybe we're a good match for each other. :D

The other lesson learned - I will never, ever (at least with this particular dog) let myself think that a correction is the way to go (other than verbal, of course) and I will from here on out praise her til the cows come home!

]]> Jazzy http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=420 Just joined http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=419 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:14:46 GMT Hi! I am 24 y o with 2 kids and 2 pitbulls. My first is Kiki. She's about 1 1/2. My husband brought her home when she was about 6 or 7 months old, a friend of his found her wandering the streets extremely malnourished with no collar. I came home from work one day and she was in my backyard playing with my son who is 5. I asked my husband if she was a pit. He said no. I took her to the vet and spent a few hundred dollars getting her shots and toys, and I completely fell in love with her by now, and the vet tells me that she IS a pitbull. She said that Kiki is actually what a "traditional pitbull' looks like, not huge block-headed stocky dogs. Learn something new every day huh! Needless to say I was very unhappy my husband lied to me. BUT...I understand why he did.
Some background info--We are originally from Kansas City, Mo. Now if you are at all familiar with laws (or news reports) there you know pits are banned and to have one you must have insurance (I think its $10,000.00 but not completely sure) Every day there was a new story about pitbulls attacking innocent children. I was very set in my opinion that these dogs were vicious, blood hungry animals. We now live in Memphis, TN. No breed bans here.
He got Kiki and wasnt honest about her because he KNEW that she was a good fit for our family but that I would never give her a chance if I knew. and he was right. She has been the best dog I have ever been around. I'm not someone to do something halfway. I have read every article I could find about this breed. I went to the library and checked out books. I talked to other owners. and my opinion changed. I will never own another breed. Kiki is an incredible dog. She can jump over a 6 ft fence. she runs like a rabbit, springing around its hilarious. She sleeps in my son's bed every night. She is fiercely loyal but at the same time open to strangers in the right setting. Come up to me and the kids and my kids after dark and she wont be too receptive. She thinks she is a person. She will sit on the couch on her butt with her chest out so it looks like shes sitting straight up like a human would. She goes everywhere in the car with us, if we go to the store after dark she is watching every person walking on the street. Its amazing how you can go from "hating" a specific breed to being completely in love with them. I have noticed that everyone I meet who owns a pit is nearly fanatical about the breed. Now as much as I love Kiki, she as a female bonded most with my husband and my son. She always wants to ride with him everywhere he goes, often leaving me and the kids at home without either of them which I wasnt comfortable with. So we got Kody. We got him at 10 wks old and he is now about 16 wks. He is the sweetest thing I have ever seen! I'm not sure if its normal but he doesnt want to run and play very often all he wants to do is curl up on the couch with me or my daughter. And he EATS CONSTANTLY I learned very quickly to monitor him when he eats because he wont stop. He is growing so fast! I'm a little concerned because when I love on Kiki, he gets jealous but I have resolved it by petting them simultaneously. We got Kody from a guy who posted him on Craigslist. I wouldnt switch Kody for anything hes perfect but the breeder was pretty shady. On the phone he claimed that his 2 pet pits had accidently mated and he never intended to breed them so now he is just trying to get them to a good home. He seemed like a fellow pit lover so thats why I was okay with getting him from him. But when we got there, the mom had obviously had more than just this litter, and they were all in very poor health. I fell in love with Kody instantly and had to have him but I wish he were a rescue not a way of encouraging that guy to continue to "accidently" allow his dogs to breed.
The funny thing is, I have never been a dog person. I have had a variety of pets growing up, my favorite before now was a calico cat. I've had labs, a yorkie, ya know honestly I cant remember what all breeds we owned. My mom unfortunately contributed a lot to the humane society's issue of getting pets and not being able to care for them. We had to give them away after a while. then wed get a new one. then give it away...not responsible but she honestly meant well. So as I was saying I have never really gotten attached to a dog before. My dogs are amazing. I cant imagine my family without them. I wish more people would give pitbulls a chance. I'm really glad I did!:winter_smilies_0005 ]]> llmommiell http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=419 Mugs part 2 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=418 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:06:11 GMT *i have a bostonterrier. He has been mistaken for a pit 2x. Muggs however is not the normal bostonterrier. He is 40 lbs of muscles. Also, ther was... i have a bostonterrier. He has been mistaken for a pit 2x. Muggs however is not the normal bostonterrier. He is 40 lbs of muscles. Also, ther was this one time my husband had him and he got out of the car. He was standing beside my husband (kris) when a car stopped at a red light in front of them there was a pit inside of the car. The window was rolled down the pit saw muggs and jumped out after muggs. The dog ran to mugs and mug grabbed the pit by the neck and flipped it on its back. Kris was able to get them apart. The guy in the car got out and got is dog. He did not say anything and left (the guy was a off duty police officer).
__________________
:angel09:
]]> SKIGARDNER@GMAIL.COM http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=418 Mugs http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=417 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:04:50 GMT *muggs is a great dog. He has had an eventfull life. My granddad got him for me a wantED a pit but i would not traid muggs for anything now. When we... muggs is a great dog. He has had an eventfull life. My granddad got him for me a wantED a pit but i would not traid muggs for anything now. When we got him he was 5 1/2 weeks old. He had red mange when i got him. We did not find out until is fur started to fall out. He also has seizurs.he has been hit by a car 3x. The last time he broke is pelvis. He also has been bitten by a spider and my grandad had to put a straw down his throat and breath in it to get him to breath agin. I think we got him from bad breeders (i know we got them from bad breeders) we also got a boston from the same ppl and gave it to my greatgrandmother her dog has health problems to.
 ]]> SKIGARDNER@GMAIL.COM http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=417 why do i even bother http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=416 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:58:40 GMT everyone wants to say this and that, when i give advice i am labeled when i ask advice or for help i shouldnt own/breed the dogs. Like i said this... everyone wants to say this and that, when i give advice i am labeled when i ask advice or for help i shouldnt own/breed the dogs. Like i said this whole site is really starting to get on my nerves. People judge too much without knowing all they can. Or they think they know all. What is the point sometimes. I sat here and cried all night and have been crying most of the day trying to figure out why should i even try to make a difference in this town i live when no one else is willing to help me. John just told me last night that we are gunna find a renter and get moved to the new house even though my mother still lives there. I just want to make a difference in this town. But no one seems to be willing to help. I was always tought to fight in what you believe in. And i am no longer seeing the point. Been accused of a dog fighter when my blue dog got cought in a fence while hunting, had bad experiences in this town but i just want to make a difference. I am truelly not seeing the point anymore. The most helpful advice i have gotten so far in from some one on topix saying try to get myself in an office here. Thats been the best. No one saying this is how you need to go about it, this is what you should do none. Just ppl say give your dogs away and dont breed. My dogs offspring have one ribbons and that doesnt seem to matter to anyone. I take pride in my dogs. I put food infront of my kids, then my dogs, if there is money left i feed myself. But i am irrisponsible and white trash according to most people. There has been a lot of stress here since the beginning of november. No one cares around here. Why am i still trying? Making a difference is impossible anymore but i still want to.:( ]]> DoomsDayPits http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=416 Seperation anxiety http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=415 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:34:59 GMT MY DOG MUGGS CAN NOT BE LEFT A LONE. HE WILL TAIR THE HOUSE UP TRING TO GET OUT. WE GOT A PUPPY ZOE AND MUGGS IS NOT AS DISTRUCTIVE AS HE WAS. WHAT... MY DOG MUGGS CAN NOT BE LEFT A LONE. HE WILL TAIR THE HOUSE UP TRING TO GET OUT. WE GOT A PUPPY ZOE AND MUGGS IS NOT AS DISTRUCTIVE AS HE WAS. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP HIM CALM WHEN WERE GONE?:) ]]> SKIGARDNER@GMAIL.COM http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=415 Muggs and zoe http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=414 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:19:32 GMT * :cool:hello my name is ski(sky).i just to tell everyone a little about me and my dogs. I have 2 dog.first i will tell u about muggs he is a seven... :cool:hello my name is ski(sky).i just to tell everyone a little about me and my dogs. I have 2 dog.first i will tell u about muggs he is a seven year old boston terrier. I got him when i was 13 the day befor thanksgiving. I actually wanted a pit bull but my granddad got muggs for me. He is awsome he is all muscles he is about 40 lbs he looks more like a pit and acts more like one.he has been mistaken for one 2 times. Once i was at work and my husband was working like walking distance from are trailer at the time when someone came up to him and said that they just saw animal control go down are street. Kris my husband went back to the trailer b/c he new muggs was behind this. When he got home there was muggs running around in circles as the animal control guy was chasing him. (kris threatend the guy.)the a.c. Guy said they had gotten call about a viscious pit bull running lose (muggs a viscious pit bull lol).muggs is not mean hyper/playfull not mean/viscious. Kris explained to the guy he that muggs was not a pit bull that he was actually a boston and he was seven yrs old and it was my dog and if anything happend to that dog i would kill him (kris). So the guy left. Muggs had pushed the trailer door open enough to get out and thats why he was running loose. There was another time one of kris's buddys came over and ask if he was a pit and asked if zoe are pit was a boxer lol. We found zoe when she was 3 months old skinny and had worms. She is 5 months now she is doing fine. She getting big and more beautiful each day she is a brindal she has more of the red/blonde color on her. Sorry for any typo/runon sentances miss spelled words im at work right now.
 ]]> SKIGARDNER@GMAIL.COM http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=414 ear clipping http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=413 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:13:55 GMT i was wondering if anybody knew if there is a good vet in tampa. One who i can trust to do the operation for my pup. cause i dont want to go and have... i was wondering if anybody knew if there is a good vet in tampa. One who i can trust to do the operation for my pup. cause i dont want to go and have a inexperienced vet who never done one before?????? ]]> boricua_king2k10 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=413 Help peoplee!! =( http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=412 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:47:40 GMT OK, HELLO TO ALL MY FELLOW PITBLL LOVERS, I HAVE A QUESTION AND IM HOPING EVERYONE CAN READ THIS AND HELP ME OUT WITH THIS LIL SITUATION IM HAVING... OK, HELLO TO ALL MY FELLOW PITBLL LOVERS, I HAVE A QUESTION AND IM HOPING EVERYONE CAN READ THIS AND HELP ME OUT WITH THIS LIL SITUATION IM HAVING WITH MY LIL DEVIL PORSCHA ( 8 WEEK OLD FEMALE PIT). IVE HAD PORSCHA SINCE SHE WAS 4 WEEKS OLD, HER MOTHER HAD A LARGE LITTER AND SHE WASNT FEEDING THEM SO I WAS GIVEN HER, (HER MOTHER IS MY EX'S PIT), AND I STARTED BOTTLE FEEDING/WEANING HER. AT FIRST SHE WAS GOING GREAT, SHE LOVED HER MILK DRANK IT WITH NO PROBLEM AND SHED EAT HER DRY AND WET FOOD MIX TOO.. I WAS GIVING HER HEALTHY EXTENTION AND SCIENTIFIC DIET AND SHE LOVED IT, THEN NOW RECENTLY I TOOK HER OFF THE MILK, AND SHES BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH EATING. BEFORE SHE WOULD DRINK LIKE 20 OUNCES OR MORE OF MILK A DAY AND A WHOLE CAN OF WET FOOD MIXED WITH DRY FOOD AND SHE WOULD EAT ALL OF IT.. NOW SHE WONT TOUCH HER WET FOOD AND WHEN SHE EATS SHE JUST PICKS ON THE DRY FOOD LITTLE BY LITTLE AND SHE WONT REALLY SIT AND EAT HER WHOLE SERVINGS. I WAS TOLD TO TRY AND CHANGE HER WET FOOD SO INSTEAD OF SCIENTIFIC DIET I BOUGHT HER HEALTHY EXTENTION WET FOOD AND BENEFUL DRY FOOD AND SHE WAS EATING THE WET FOOD FINE FIRST DAY OR TWO AND SHE STOPPED COMPLETELY, SHE WONT GO NEAR NO WET FOOD AT ALL.. AND THE DRY FOOD I HAVE TO FEED IT TO HER LIKE BY HAND.. IM GOING TODAY TO GET HER FIRST SETOF SHOTS, BUT WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? WHAT SHOULD I DO, AND WHAT IND OF FOOD SHOULD I GIVE HER INSTEAD? SHOULD I KEEP HER ON IT OR CHANGE IT AGAIN.. I HEARD CHANGING FOOD ALOT CANT STRESS THEM OUT.. SHE HASNT BEEN GAINING ALOT OF WEIGHT EITHER, SO I BEEN KINDA HAVING TO FORSE HER TO EAT. I BAUGHT HER THE NUTRIENTS PASTE SO THAT WHATEVER NUTRIENTS SHE ISNT GETTING IT WILL GIVE HER, BUT STILL, IM KINDA ALIL WORRIED.. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE.. I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.. THANKSS PLEASE WRITE ME SOMEONE! =(:(:confused::no2: ]]> PORSCHASPARTAN http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=412 My sweet dog is gone http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=411 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:31:51 GMT I HAD TO HAVE MY PIT PUT DOWN BECAUSE HE NIPPED THE HAND OF A POLICE OFFICER. HE WAS ONLY PROTECTING NOT TRYING TO BE AGGRESSIVLY ATTACTFUL. I MISS... I HAD TO HAVE MY PIT PUT DOWN BECAUSE HE NIPPED THE HAND OF A POLICE OFFICER. HE WAS ONLY PROTECTING NOT TRYING TO BE AGGRESSIVLY ATTACTFUL. I MISS HIM.
WE ALL MISS YOU CUJO! REST IN PEACE ]]> shana carter http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=411 atlanta rescue http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=410 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:09:00 GMT ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) - Dogs have a special place in the heart of many Georgians, especially if it's a dog in need, but some accuse the president of a local dog rescue group of preying on that sympathy.
Rescue groups are non-profits set up to save dogs from being euthanized in area shelters, but is one Georgia group really rescuing dogs or simply lying to its well-meaning supporters?
The state has now suspended Pit Prints' rescue license until the investigation is finished.
this is a link to watch the video
I-Team: Pit Prints 030110 | myfoxatlanta.com ]]> markdr http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=410 My pitt was murdered for being a pit http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=409 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:06:57 GMT Hey guys, on january 31st, 2010 at around 7:45 p.m. my beloved pitbull mix was shot 4 times by the somerville police in nj. we as in my pitt... Hey guys,

on january 31st, 2010 at around 7:45 p.m. my beloved pitbull mix was shot 4 times by the somerville police in nj. we as in my pitt Petey, my pomeranian Fraido and myself were attacked by my neighbors pittbulls. the police showed up and to get the dogs apart they shot my dog who was defending me instead of the instigating dog because my neighbor was actually laying inbetween the dogs. she knew that if the police were called her dog would have been killed. they shot him once in the ribs to get him away and after he ran from the police and tried making it back to me this rogue police officer shot my baby 3 more times directly infront of me. after all that they wouldn't even let me near him to be with him or to comfort him as he past. my heart is absolutely broken my baby was the sweetest dog you could ever come into contact with. he was afraid of his own sneezes he was so sweet. he saved my life and the life of my other dog by throwing himself infront of us.
Im not sure what to do next, i moved from my apt that we lived at together cause its just too hard. But i need to do something else. I can not just go on letting this idiot police officers take matters into there own hands. everyone is telling me to sue, but i don't know if its worth the pain.
Please help me, i feel like i can not move on without my Petey ]]> jhamrah http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=409 Deafniques http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=408 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:27:13 GMT I've had a lot of people on YouTube asking a lot of questions about Mia's deafness, so I have compiled some information that I have found to be most useful when training and living with a deaf pit bull (or any type of deaf dog for that matter).

1. Make sure your dog is actually deaf. I tested Mia's hearing while she was sleeping. I would yell at her and clap and she wouldn't wake unless I was close to her. When I was growing up, my dad used to "listen" to me play the viola by holding a balloon out and feeling the vibrations of the instrument as I played. So I attributed Mia's wakening to vibrations of the sounds if they were made close by. I would later try waking her by flickering the lights and she would wake up immediately. That was the easiest way for me to tell that she was not just a heavy sleeper.

2. Be very social. I started socializing Mia early on because the more comfortable a dog is with other people, babies, children, and other dogs, the better. Of course, that's a general rule, but especially with deaf dogs and ESPECIALLY with the reputation that pits have, you have to be able to trust them around every one and every thing. If a DEAF pit decides to attack, they cant hear you when you try to call them off. I don't think there's a need for me to explain what kind of consequences can result.

3. Keep them well exercized. Since pit bulls need a lot of exercise to keep their frustration and aggression at bay, I just killed two birds with one stone and would take Mia running around the neighborhood and on nature trails where people take their kids and dogs. Sometimes I would even take my dog to parties (see photo where My friend and I were fire fighters and Mia was our dalmation for Halloween)-- anything to get her more used to and less frightened of new situations. I had to know she could adapt to any situation like big crowds and new people. I have found that Mia is very good with children, probably because she can't hear their high pitched voices that bother other dogs.

4. Getting their attention. There are LOTS of ways to get a deaf dog's attention without using your voice. You can stomp on the ground, flicker a light, use a laser, get a vibrating (NOT shock) collar, or wave your hand. Get creative. I used to have another pit that I would just tell to "go get Mia" and he would! But there's no doubt that sometimes you just have to stop being lazy and go get your dog. Be careful when you're trying to wake up a deaf dog, though. Some deaf dogs will nip if they are startled, so I just stand over her while she is sleeping and wait until my scent wakes her up. She has never nipped at me even if she has been startled but I wouldn't want to give her a reason to anyway.

5. Train, train, train! Training a deaf dog is not unlike training a hearing dog. For example, to teach Mia to sit, I would hold her head so she would look at me and do the signal for "sit" and then I would push her backside down or move a treat over her nose so she would sit, then give her the treat. I would do this over and over for about 10 or 15 minutes at a time once or twice a day. Some signs, like come and stay, she picked up on her own just because I did it so often without knowing it ("come" is when I pat my leg. It's something I just did naturally). The key is being consistent with your hand signals.

6. Keep Talking. Even though your dog may not be able to hear, you should still talk to it. Dogs are very intuitive and can read facial expressions and body language that you can't even pick up on. Using your voice makes these subtle clues more natural. Its very hard to feel like you're really scolding the dog without your voice, and the dog can tell this.

7. Your dog can talk too. Just because your dog is deaf does not mean that it won't bark. Mine barks for all kinds of reasons...and sometimes for no reason. Sometimes I think she may think she sees or hears something, so she will let out one sudden bark and then stop. I admit, it's really annoying in the middle of the night.

8. Don't leave them outside. I would not recommend keeping a dog outside all day long if it is primarily white like mine. My vet says white dogs have fair, pink skin so being outside too long can cause them to get sunburned. It can also means that their skin is very sensitive so they can get rashes and other allergic reactions (harmless but obnoxious) if left outside a lot. Trust me, I've learned from experience.

9. Keep them on a leash! Lastly, I would suggest keeping your deaf dog on a leash at all times when outside... even if you do trust him or her. You never know when a cat will taunt it and its best to avoid any car accidents if possible. ]]> Rmarie9 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=408 <![CDATA[What "KILO" Is Made Of... he's TRU To The GAME...]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=407 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:19:01 GMT My Boy Kilo ..He Has Alot Of Great Stuff...You Can Decide... Let Me Know What You Think And Check Out His PIX... HE"S 3X INBRED FROM Southlands"GOATY"X Wiseman's "LITTLE BUG" .....GOATY On His Ped Is j.crenshaws ch.HONEYBUNCH.. FINLEYS ch.BO" J.Crenshaws"TOJO"&DOLLY"..Woods"Snooty",Waltons"Ro xie",Carvers "SELMA CYCLONE" Carvers'TOUCH OF CLASS", J.Crenshaws "ch"JEEP", Genes"HONEY", Mims"RICOCHET" ,Finn&McAdams "FANNIE",James"TATER",Sextons"STORMY MONDAY.....AND Thats What Made South Lands "Goaty"...... Now Dams Side.. Woods"SNOOTY"(ROM),Middletons"BLACK BETTY",Abernathys"BOY",&"MOLLY",J.Crenshaws"ch.JEE P",Brotts"DOTTY",Dunavys"ROWDY" & "RED GIRL",Garners"SPIKE" & "MISS MOLLY",Brots"ch."NINJA",SchoolBoys"MISS ROWDY",Garners"LITTLE GATOR",School Boys "Buggsy"... And Thats What CreatedWisemans"LITTLE BUG" ..all That Created A Bitch By The Name Of "NEGRA" We Then Bred Her BACK to "GOATY" And Created My Bitch By The Name Of "CARA"Then We took "CARA" And Bred Her Back To "NEGRA'S" Brother ... And Created "KILO" He Is 5 & a Half Years Old ...And He Is The Last Of His Line..... SO What Do You Think? Dont Forget To Check Out His PIX. ]]> RudeDogg90744 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=407 Help Rescue stay open http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=406 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:14:34 GMT http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/to-grant-angel4cause-to-stay-open The zoning wants to shut the doors on Angel4Cause because of a hear say... http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/to-...e-to-stay-open


The zoning wants to shut the doors on Angel4Cause because of a hear say NOT A FACT that they are afraid one of our dogs in going to get loose they said it MAY be a safety issue when if fact when we had a hearing meeting a far away neighbor stated that he has to carry a pistol at the bus stop because he is afraid one of our dogs are going to get loose. I think HE is the safety issue. There is absolutely no reports of any of our dogs getting loose. We had a 6 foot privacy fence donated by Ameri Dream fencing company. After Harry Porterfield came out and said what a great thing we are doing and we were on channel 2!!!! We also foster children to teach them compassion with the animals. We have been operating for 2 1/2 years and have fostered and rescued for many rescues including, Midwest rescue, Chicagoland bully breed, don't bully my breed, Animal welfare league, Recylced Rotties, and surrounding states around us. We have all the support of all the local authorities and DCFS. It has cost our rescue 4000.00 and still climbing to hire a court reporter, lawyer, civil engineer, appraiser, and lots of certified mail. That could have been spent on a lot of lives to save. Please lets not take this laying down on a hear say. Please help us continue saving lives!!!!!
Pat Stryszak


]]> Angel4Paws http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=406 Pit Bull - The Endangered Breed http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=405 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:59:07 GMT I'm notorious on pit bull forums for pushing for less dog aggression in the breed. In the past, being terriers, they were always up for a fight, but did not go looking for one. They were such good dogs they were used to advertise products such as Buster Brown shoes and had everyone knows Petey of The Little Rascals. If you had told people back then what the breed would evolve into they would have laughed at you.

Now all you have to do is google the word pit bull to bring up story after story of attacks against people and pets. These stories fuel the BSL that is getting these wonderful dogs banned and killed by the thousands every year. Many shelters euthanize any bully breed or mix that comes in the door regardless of temperament.

Because some people want a "game" dog they fight any mention of breeding less aggressive dogs. No thought is given to what is best for the individual dog or the breed. People want what they want and damn the consequences. Some are even against rescue feeling that only well bred dogs deserve to live.

Pit bulls are terriers first and foremost. As such they will always be active, athletic, somewhat aggressive dogs who are not for everyone. But breeding stable temperaments doesn't mean turning them into a lap dog, it means producing dogs you aren't afraid to own, that won't get your insurance canceled, won't get you in a lawsuit and will get you admiring looks when you are out for a walk.

There are a lot of folks out there fighting for the survival of the breed and the individual dog, but arguing that there is nothing wrong with having a dog who will go after the neighbor's Yorkie is only doing harm to these wonderful dogs.

Stand up for the breed. Stand up for the best in the breed. Not the worst. ]]> JaneGael http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=405 The Life of the Pit Bull Today http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=403 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:29:36 GMT *By Bobby L Porter West Virginia Pit-Bull Lovers Rescue.* I have been meaning to write this post for some time, and I cannot believe it took me so... By Bobby L Porter West Virginia Pit-Bull Lovers Rescue.
I have been meaning to write this post for some time, and I cannot believe it took me so long to do. It is lengthy, but it’s from the heart. This is probably, in my opinion, the most important post I have ever written.
For many, the word “pit bull” conjures up images of horrifying violence: brutal dog fighting, attacks on children, blood, teeth, muscle, and an innate desire to kill, mutilate, and destroy. Public perception of this breed has reached an all-time low, swept away with the hype, hypnotized by the media.

The pit bull that I love is far from this common vision. The pit bull that I know and respect is a beloved family pet, an agile athlete, and most importantly, a best friend. The pit bull I fight for is an 89lb lap dog, a docile and gentle canine. The real pit bull is something we need more of in this country, and this is the real pit bull.

This is my dog, Tank Porter:
An issue this close to my heart does nothing but bring me to tears. I recently started West Virginia Pit-Bull Lovers, to work with a pit bull rescue organization in the city of Oak Hill. Our motto: Changing minds-Saving lives. And that’s exactly what we do.

America has destroyed our pit bulls: they have been bread in backyards by uneducated citizens as a way to make a quick buck with no regard for the dog’s DNA, medical history, or temperament. No other breed has seen this phenomenon of such magnitude. This is the pit bull’s uphill battle, and it’s losing.

Breed specific legislation (BSL) is spreading through the United States to ban and euthanize pit bulls- all pit bulls. The media tell us that these dogs are evil, that they attack on a whim, are unstable and not fit to live in our communities. The sad fact is this: the wrong people got their hands on our pit bulls. Putting this dog in the hands of an uneducated and uncaring owner is like putting a fire hose in the hands of a ten year old child. Unless one knows how to responsibly contain and direct the sheer power and utility, consequences can be dire. This is not a reason to punish everyone for the actions of a select few.

The origin of the pit bull is hard to pin exactly, but the breed first came to America in the 19th century. Brought by the British (who yes, used them originally to fight), they soon began to understand the more humane uses for the dogs. Pit bulls were often used to herd and guard cattle (their high pain threshold guaranteed that they could withstand powerful kicks from the cows and bulls), assist with other heavy pulling/lifting farm work, protect against attacks from wild animals, and as general family pets.

Since then, pits have developed a great deal. They are commonly used as therapy dogs for troubled youth, the sick, and the elderly. Many have become search and rescue specialists. One of the things we are trying to do is to help children who have a hard time reading out loud in front of others. By letting our dogs visit grade school and middle school to help children by letting the Pitbulls work with the kids to practice their skills by reading short stories to the Dogs.
Pit bulls are bread specifically for their human-friendly demeanors. While pit bulls do tend to display aggression toward dogs, dog-dog aggression is a completely different category from dog-human aggression, and should NEVER be associated with one another.

Many breeds display dog-dog aggression and is in no way related solely to pit bulls. The American Kennel Club describes pit bulls as a “friendly” “people-oriented dog that thrives as a member of the family”-a breed of dog “brimming with joy and enthusiasm”.
All this being said, I’d like to list a few

FACTS that are little known to the greater public:
-Pit bulls do not have a locking jaw. Ask any reputable veterinarian, this is a complete myth.
-Pit bulls are wonderful dogs for children. Their pain threshold renders them able to gently put up with the rough play of toddlers and young children. They were even nicknamed “nanny dogs” throughout much of the 1900s. (Don’t put words in my mouth though- children should never be left unsupervised with any animal).

Helen Keller’s therapy dog was a pit bull -The first and most decorated war dog in United States history is Sgt. Stubby, a pit bull who saved his entire unit in WWI. He is still haled as an American hero.
-Out of the 51 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick’s Kennels, 47 have found new homes. Two had to be put down: one for incurable psychological damage, and another for a fatal physical condition. These dogs lived their lives in the midst of fear, pain, and violence and recuperated fully to find loving homes. That is truly a feat of resilience, strength, courage… and an unbreakable love and trust for human beings.

My name is Bobby Porter I am founder of W.V.P.B.L an advocate for our pit bulls; they have no voice of their own. I am an advocate for the responsible pit bull owner: the man or woman who respects what kind of creature the pit bull is, who exercises their pit bull’s body and mind, who does anything and everything to make their pet an ambassador for the breed.

I love these dogs and I would do so much for them. I beg all who read this to take a moment before judging this wonderful dog. Give a pit bull and his responsible owner ten minutes of your time, and I promise you will not regret it.

West Virginia Pit-Bull Lovers & Rescue is devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and securing placement for pit bull and pit bull mixes into responsible, permanent and loving homes.

We are a small group of volunteers based in Oak Hill, West Virginia, who are dedicated to improving the lives of Pit-Bulls and re-establishing the breed as a beloved family pet.

We work directly with local Animal Care and Control shelters to rescue pit bulls with the goal of rehabilitation and permanent placement.

We depend solely on public donations and adoption fees for financial survival. No contribution is too small, and your donations! We have no employees. Contributions, fund raising and our own personal out-of-pocket money is how we take care of all the animals. All the animals in our care receive everything they need as far as medical care, food, shelter, flea and tick prevention and heartworm prevention.

A FINAL NOTE: If you cannot, or are not willing to, invest the time and effort necessary to effectively socialize, train and care for your dog for it’s ENTIRE lifetime - PLEASE DO NOT GET A Pit-Bull or any DOG!!

Each of us has the power to make a meaningful difference in the lives of neglected and abused Pit-Bull. By reporting cases of suspected or known animal cruelty you are offering defenseless animal’s protection and a second chance. You may also be helping other current and future victims. ]]> Wv PitBull Rescue http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=403 Pitbull got shot by cops http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=402 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:19:04 GMT my pitbull got shot by an officer for no reason i want to know what can i do this happen in Fontana CA. the officer was tryiin to come inside my gate... my pitbull got shot by an officer for no reason i want to know what can i do this happen in Fontana CA. the officer was tryiin to come inside my gate because he had a call that there was loud music being played but that was across the street. My little sister was outside wit the dog holding him by his collar so he wont attack the officer my gate was locked so the officer was trying to open it thats when my dog started to bark at the officer so he decided to pull out his gun and shoot my dog. The first bullet graced him in the side of his cheek my dog got scared and ran so the officer fire another round and shot him in the leg my dog didn't stop he kept on walking and the officer was going to shoot him again thats when my sister pushed the officer and told him to stop shooting the dog that he wasn't doing anything and that he wasn't going to bite him the officer said that he shot him because he was in danger of his life, but the thing is that my gate was closed and it had a locked on it.....i have pictures of the officer and videos of how much my dog was bleeding.. Thank god my dog is still alive after of that they took him to the vet and i had to pay all the expenses when they were the ones that shot my dog....this happen 3 days ago.....I really need help I don't know what to do, because that was not right for the officer to shoot my Pit ]]> jR29 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=402 Broken Ears http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=401 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:58:22 GMT A few years ago in college, I had a boyfriend who talked me into getting a dog with him. I admit, I was uninformed and ill-prepared for the adventure... A few years ago in college, I had a boyfriend who talked me into getting a dog with him. I admit, I was uninformed and ill-prepared for the adventure that pet ownership would take me on.

He convinced me to get a pit bull. We came across a $100.00, backyard bred, white pit bull puppy in the paper and decided to go take a look at her. Together, we trudged up the front steps of a run-down home in the slums of Little Rock, Arkansas to see this dog. The place gave me the creeps but when the kid held out his hand to reveal a tiny white, gray-eyed puppy with a pink, polka-dotted nose, everything else in the world faded away. We followed the kid to the back of the house where various barking dogs were chained up and two brown litter-mates roamed around. She was the only girl, and I had to have her. Besides, I was anxious to get away from that place. On the way home, we named her Mia, after my favorite soccer player, Mia Hamm. She was given her shots and was dewormed (much needed: she was a mere 3 lbs at 8 weeks).

And I will never forget the moment I realized Mia was deaf.

My friend and I were playing with her outside. Mia was whimpering because she was too scared to step off the edge of the sidewalk in fear of falling to her death. I was called her name and she turned around and walked the other way. It had been weeks and I was starting to get frustrated by Mia's defiance. My friend jokingly suggested that maybe she was deaf and after pondering the possibility, she added that she had heard some white dogs have hearing problems. I immediately went inside and Googled it.

Sure enough, deafness is common among white dogs and specifically, bully breeds. And contrary to what you might think, I relished the idea of a deaf dog. My boyfriend, however, did not, and began his own search for another "less defective" pit bull.

Let me explain: deafness runs in my family. My dad is deaf, my aunt is deaf, and my grandmother was deaf. My mother teaches American Sign Language and I have been around deaf people my entire life. Not to mention, I love deaf culture. I refused to acknowledge any "disadvantage" my beautiful pit bull puppy might have. Even further, I was determined to disprove any who did not agree with me, my boyfriend included.

I did tons of research (that I should have done before even considering pet ownership) on pit bulls, their temperment, deafness in dogs, and training techniques. I became well informed on the matter and wanted Mia to be a sort of ambassador for people who stigmatize A) pit bulls and B) deaf animals.

It was amazing what Mia could learn once I started signing to her. At 2.5 years of age, she now knows sit, stay, no, lie down, play dead, kiss, come, and go (she will go in the direction you point). I am working with her on dinner time and enough/finish.

I fell head-over-heels for this dog. She has been with me while my entire family moved away, through heartaches that I thought would never mend, through financial troubles, traveling across the United States, and during bouts of depression. She is the one thing that has stayed constant while my entire life has been turned upside down and inside out.

Now, I'm not a terribly religious person, but I know why I could not resist her that first day. It wasn't because she was cute as a button, although that had to be some of the appeal. It was because the Big Man upstairs knew I was understanding enough to work with her, smart enough to train her, and active enough to exercise her. He knew that we were the only ones who could adore eachother the way we do, short-comings and all. We needed eachother.

A video I made of her the day I taught her to "play dead":

]]> Rmarie9 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=401 help! need ideas or thoughts! http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=400 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:46:15 GMT Im fairly new to all of this. I got a pup he is a year in 20 days and i just started training him with weights. HE LOVES IT! I have already noticed... Im fairly new to all of this. I got a pup he is a year in 20 days and i just started training him with weights. HE LOVES IT! I have already noticed improvements in his behavior at home (he aint tearing everything up in the house, getting in the trash ect) hes too tired lol but now i would like to get him in profesional weight pulling but no one in CO seems to no anything about training a dog in this sport. I would like some ideas or thoughts on the topic.
I also started kennel training him but he doesnt seem to like it very much since he came all the way from new york in a kennel on a plane. Any ideas on how to make him go in there to sleep without force?
i have tried throwing treats in there and i even tried to get my big self in there with him he just doesnt like it.

well let me know ]]> dakotah http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=400 Case study. Just for my information. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=399 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:04:23 GMT I've done the research on pit bulls. I have personal experience with them. I know the arguments for and against them because I have been on both sides. Too many people blindly defend one side or the other, which is why I recently decided to take a look at some individual news stories to try and pinpoint what went wrong and what I, as a responsible pit bull owner, would have done differently, if anything at all.

In the news story I read, a Chicago man was killed by his daughter's pit bulls (four adult, two puppies) while she was away.

I'm not sure why anyone would keep SIX PIT BULLS in one household!!! If you are a pit bull owner, you have to know they are a powerful breed. In the event that two or more pit bulls get into it with each other (which is what I suspect happened), someone please tell me how one man is supposed to break up said fight. Even if the woman was home when it happened, if there was a struggle between dogs, I doubt even the two of them could easily break them up. I would be very leary about keeping 2 or more pit bulls in one household. In addition, if you consider how much physical and mental exercise and training a pit bull requires to keep it busy, fit, and challenged (read: keep agression down) I doubt all six of these dogs were getting what they needed from their owner.


One of the first news videos I found on YouTube (after simply searching "pit bull attack" said a woman was attacked by a pit bull and sent to the hospital after it broke the chain it was on. One pit bull was killed on the scene because it charged a Deputy and others (it does not say how many) are being held by the city until it can betermined which one (or ones) attacked the woman.

The most obvious problem is the fact that the dog was chained up (and if you look at the chain in the video, its not a very sturdy one, either). Dogs on chains feel threatened and trapped and are more likely to bite-- that goes for any breed. Also, considering that one dog was shot and there are at least two more in the shelter, that tells me that the owner had AT LEAST three chained up dogs. I doubt that owner had time to run all three (+) dogs a few times a week. I doubt he had the time and energy to properly train all three (+) of those dogs. And judging by the holes in the man's shirt, the condition of the home he lived in, and the lack of teeth that his girlfriend had, I doubt he had the finances to feed, fix, and get the shots for all three (+) of these dogs.

These people don't deserve dogs, much less pit bulls.

I'm sure I will post more... but this is about all the stupidity I can handle for now. ]]> Rmarie9 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=399 Indiana http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=398 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:10:03 GMT LOOKING FOR BREEDERS IN INDIANA BEEN OUT OF THE DOGS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WILL BE SHOPPING FOR A NEW FEMALE SOON MY LAST FEMALE WAS SIRED BY... LOOKING FOR BREEDERS IN INDIANA BEEN OUT OF THE DOGS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WILL BE SHOPPING FOR A NEW FEMALE SOON MY LAST FEMALE WAS SIRED BY HEMMENWAYS RUFUS TO GARNERS SHELLY SO IF ANY BODY WHO KNOWS ANYONE WITH THIS BLOODLINE DROP ME A LINE PLEASE ]]> CHASER71 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=398 <![CDATA[The Pet Bull & The Invaders from Mars.]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=397 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:38:53 GMT Well…technically there are no Invaders from Mars…but try telling that to the Pet Bull. In Veronica’s mind the Invaders are lurking just behind every... Well…technically there are no Invaders from Mars…but try telling that to the Pet Bull.
In Veronica’s mind the Invaders are lurking just behind every really loud noise or really bright light…and they like pet bulls…allot…possibly for dinner with a nice Chianti.

In order to relate the events of the previous night and the triggering of Veronica’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder…I have to provide some back story. It all started on Christmas night of 2007. We were having a lovely holiday visiting relatives deep in the New Hampshire woods. Veronica was lounging by the fire, after a busy day of hiking and sampling hors d’oevers. My brother-in-law announced that he has planning on setting off a lovely firework display after dark. “What a wonderful opportunity for Veronica”!, I thought. Seeing as I made it a point to try and socialize her as much as possible, I thought a brilliant fireworks display would be a nice addition to her education.

Now I can see some of you rolling your eyes. “What was I thinking” you ask? Taking a dog to see fireworks when dogs universally fear and dislike them. Well…yeah. But how was I supposed to know this? In my adult life I have had only 1 previous dog. I enjoyed a glorious 14 years with my precious Basset Hound Frances Abigail…and Frannie…didn’t mind fireworks. In fact for all of Frannie’s life, my mother-in-law was also alive. And that meant that our presence was required every 4th of July for the Lighting of the Lake and the Town of Sutton fireworks display: 2 nights of loud noises and brilliant colors in the sky. All Frannie cared about was who brought the snacks. In her later years she expressed a desire to remain in the car with the air conditioning on…but other than that she could not possibly have been more underwhelmed with the whole situation.

So on that fateful night 2 years ago…I marched Veronica outside to further her education. We were not outside for very long at all. The first display sparkled in the sky and I was lost in my own train of thought: “How pretty! Hmmm…I wonder if that’s a little close to the house…I wonder how much my brother-in-law had to drink and if he really knows what he’s doing, I wonder how the volunteer fire system works…I wonder if any of the volunteer fire fighters are sober, being as it is Christmas night – or maybe they’re really groggy from the intoxicating effects of too much turkey…I sure would hate to burn to a crisp in the middle of nowhere…” And at that precise moment I looked down at Veronica. I have to say I’ve never before (or since for that matter) seen a dog look quite so scared. She was scrunched up like a Halloween cat and her tail was so far underneath her it looked like it was sticking in her mouth. Her eyes were big as saucers. (Writer’s seem to be very fond of that phrase “eyes as big as saucers”…but let me say…if you’ve ever actually seen anyone – person or animal- whose eyes…were “big as saucers”…you know how completely apt the description really is.)

So, upon realizing that Veronica was not having a good time; we immediately went inside…but the damage was done. Veronica was acting like a Vietnam vet who’d just returned stateside. Suddenly the fire she had previously been enjoying…was terrifying. The snap & crackle of burning embers sent her flying into her crate. When we got home she began generalizing her fear to all loud noises and bright lights. Watching her suddenly fixate on overhead lights with a look of trepidation and near panic…was heartbreaking. I thought I broke my dog.

There was nothing to be done…but deal with it. We tried very hard to be comforting while at the same time not reinforcing her fears. When possible we named the objects she was afraid of and clicked and treated and eventually Veronica returned to “normal” with the exception of some greatly reduced, but nonetheless residual fears.

Fast forwarding 2 years…the Invaders returned last night…and they were hungry for pet bull. They came around 1:00 in the morning in the form of a malfunctioning fire alarm. Veronica shot straight up from a deep sleep at the sound of the first shrill beep and froze. I attempted to reassure her that all was well as her Poppa worked on the uncooperative alarm…but she wasn’t having it. She made it to the edge of the bed and pondered the wisdom of escape. I implored her to return and protect her Momma; thinking to tap into the fierce gamebred blood of her distant ancestors…but sadly the decision was made to turn tail and run. One minute she was poised on the edge of the bed; the next she was off the ramp, down the hallway, through the kitchen, across the living room and into her crate.

Thirty minutes later after much banging and cursing and lots of beeping, my dear husband finally admitted defeat and returned to bed. But now…there was a problem. I was supposed to go back to sleep and I had no dog. Well…I had a dog…just at the other end of the house, cowering in a crate. Now I’m sure some would be fine with this arrangement, minus the cowering part of course…but for me, it simply would not do. I believe I mentioned in a previous blog that pet bulls generally speaking have responsibilities, expectations, jobs to do. Veronica’s job is to attend to my emotional needs, keep me company and snuggle with me at night – in short, keep me off Prozac and Xanax. So obviously the current situation was unacceptable.

Nothing to do but fetch my errant dog. Think of it this way…if you obtained a dog to guard your sheep…you couldn’t just have the dog slinking off to sleep in the barn, right? Working dogs must work; so Veronica was coming back to bed. Luckily getting her out of her crate proved to be quite easy, thanks to a more successful educational endeavor. About 1 year ago when her dermatologist recommended weekly baths, Veronica became acquainted with the work of Gandhi and thought to implement the art of peaceful resistance (i.e. drop in her crate like a sack of very heavy potatoes). Of course me being a responsible fur Momma; took this as an opportunity to teach a lesson in basic Physics: 2 matters containing mass cannot occupy in the same space and time. Oh I hear some of you scoffing that this is too complicated and esoteric a lesson for a mere dog to comprehend; however I can assure you that with the aid of a simple demonstration…Veronica grasped the concept after only a handful of lessons. It goes like this: One fur mommy stuffed completely into a crate that is currently occupied by one fur baby, serves to dislodge and effectively eject one fur baby completely out of said crate.

So when I went to collect my cowering pup she came quite willingly out of her crate. She did attempt to defect twice before reaching the bedroom by trying to hide first behind the dining room table; then in the hall bathroom (smart dog; no one would ever think to look for her in a room with a tub in it). But eventually we reached the bed and up she went; and I thought I could finally get some sleep. Veronica on the other hand, wasn’t so certain. There she stood surveying her surroundings waiting for the next whooping war cry from the Invaders. I coaxed her to my side and gave her a smooshing hug. I felt her settle her head on my tummy…but something felt “off”. I opened my eyes and propped my head up. Veronica did indeed have her head settled on my tummy…but the rest of her was standing straight up at rigid attention. Working off the theory that eventually Veronica would get tired of “waiting” and that when nothing happened she would get tired and settle down and go to sleep; I tried to relax and not let the knowledge that I had to get up in 3 hours for work keep me up the remainder of the night.

I wasn’t particularly successful with the relaxing and sleeping; but I did feel Veronica relax and eventually she settled down and snuggled in closer and drifted off to sleep. All was right with the world. I was warm and cozy and I had a big Pet Bull head resting on my stomach so I finally drifted off. Only to be awoken by a near lethal strike to my kidneys. (Or where I, with my limited knowledge of human anatomy, imagine my kidneys to be.) As I took a moment to catch my breath and clear my head, I was treated to a sharp smack in the boob, followed by another accompanied by a high pitched yelping, growly, snuffling sound. It seems the Divine Ms. V. had not entirely recovered from the night’s excitement and was having herself a bit of a nightmare. What could I do except wake her up and tell her she was fine and safe and to go back to sleep. Which I did, and she did; which I know because she slept and I didn’t and the morning came fast and furious anyway. Just another night in Pet Bull land. :D ]]> Jazzy http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=397 Self Massage and Dog Massage http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=396 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:02:25 GMT Corky and I are too similar. When we feel good, we over-do our workouts and then we suffer. :no2: Neither one of us really paces ourselves well. I... Corky and I are too similar. When we feel good, we over-do our workouts and then we suffer. :no2: Neither one of us really paces ourselves well. I think he has bad knees, maybe even loose hips; he's going to the vet on the weekend for an exam. I know I've had bad knees since I was a teenager and two pregnancies and a desk job have wrecked havoc on my hips, hence my on-again and off-again IT band issues. But when we had several warm days we ran every one of them and wound up on the sofa in pain. Well, I was on the sofa, Corky was on the floor. We both need massages to keep us comfortable and active.Since money hasn't started growing on my trees yet, I was thrilled to find that Youtube offers some terrific videos on self-massage:

"How To Use a Foam Roller to Release Your IT Band" - Coach Nicole from Sparkpeople.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
RoHBDim_fzk

"Thigh Massage" - LivingMost Foam Roller
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
dqXQIjUuWvE

The day after I lift heavy weights, a massage of the shoulders and arms feels great:

"Shoulder Massage (Traps)" - Self Massage for Athletes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
oiUixwC2MBQ

"How to Self Massage Arms" - expertvillage
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
zkyVQt9nKlo

You'll find a self-massage video for pretty much every body part. Just watch the key words that you enter or you may end up with a search result that is more *revealing* than you want. :lol:

Massage has gone to the dogs, too. Check these out:

"Dog Massage for Increased Flexibility" - expertvillage www.youtube.com/watch?v=
vze9cDNYHhY

"How to Massage a Dog's Side" - expertvillage
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
fDqHebhNKEY
You will find several videos by Mary with expertvillage.com on Youtube if you just search for "dog massage". ]]> Corky http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=396 Kane =) http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=395 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:56:03 GMT Hey everyone,
I'm Kane...back again. I've been gone for a while cause I've been playin loots!!! I just went to the vet the other day and he said I'm doing very good!! I got TWO shots and medicine that I could EAT!!! I loooved that part heehee. The vet said I will probably grow up to be about 70 pounds!! Mommy and Daddy seem very proud of me because now when I want outside I go over to the door and ring my jingle bell!! Also mommy loves that I put my toys back in the box before i get another one out. I love to warch cartoons...Tom and Jerry are really good! :D My mommy has kinda moved in with me and daddy...for the most part anyways...and I looove it!! Now when I sleep in thebed...I cuddle up to my mommy's chest and head, it's so comfy...but sometimes I snore and wake her up heehee...she doesnt mind tough she always just kisses me and goes back to sleep. well I better get off here...we're leavin to go get my mommy now!!! YAYY!!!!! *BIG DOGGY KISSES*
Love,
Kane Richards ]]> Kane-9 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=395 <![CDATA[What are razor edge and gotti's]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=394 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:53:40 GMT I have a female razor gotti. I didnt know they where considered so bad and widely hated. I still love her and plan on keeping her i just want to know... I have a female razor gotti. I didnt know they where considered so bad and widely hated. I still love her and plan on keeping her i just want to know what exactly she is. Thank you in advance. ]]> tjmapp http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=394 ~*letting out thoughts*~ http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=393 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:31:20 GMT So this is my first blog on this site.. I can honestly say there are times here lately, I don't know what the heck to do with Trooper.. :(

I try my best to find the humor with the issue that has been dealt,yet i'm soo tired of him playing "rough"grabbing my sleeves pulling, tugging, etc..

I just dont get it with him, I would so love to get inside his mind and actually know what he is thinking when he does that stuff.. He knows its wrong, not polite and is acting like a "punk ass" :mad:

To top matters off he tends to listen more to my fianc'e than myself..I'm not sure if its Larry's male tone that tends to sorta scare him, or if I just talk too softly when getting on him... :no2: (don't get me wrong Troop does listen to me , just not exactly like he does with Larry)

Troop is just soo damn stubborn it drives me crazy...My mutt that is now 14yrs old Ole Mighty Little Dog (pit bull/lab) was not anything like he is when she was a pup..

Granted she wasn't exactly an angel at his age either...I still remember coming home to furniture that had magically been re-arranged along with missing parts of the leather in sections lol..and she loved getting into the trash.. yet as far back as I can recall, when she did bite me , it was only once to which I than in advance grabed her to only bite her back on the ear (not exactly hard, just hard enough to allow her to know that it did hurt and was a huge "NO NO") and that was the end of her biting period..

I done the same exact thing with Mr. Trooper yet that failed on me... he seen it more as a game..

During the day he is the sweetest little guy,than the evening rolls around and the next thing you know its like "WHOA"..

I keep telling myself I'm not giving up on this lil guy and his crazy maddness spell that he's in right now.. I know this will pass , and how we are working on this issue with him..

I just can't wait for the day to come, where I don't have to worry about my sleeves being some sort of toy to him :) ]]> Super Trooper http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=393 <![CDATA[♥ hating cruel pit owners♥]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=392 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:08:32 GMT ♥ hey everyone how are y'all doing?...well anyways, my name is Brittany, i am 18 years old and i live in southeast texas....well anyways, the reason why i am writing this blog is because of what i saw today.....I rescued my 1st pit bull today from being abused...one of my brother's friends kicked the hell out of him, so i told him i was taking the dog and that he can buzz off or i would turn him into the police for animal abuse, so he let me take him....i got him home and i gave him a big bowl of water and food....at first, he was scared to go anywhere near it, because either A.) he has never been fed before or B.) his previous owner would beat him everytime he would get near a food bowl....but now he is ok.......he is a amazing dog so far, he likes my lap lolz...he is about 4 to 5 months old and i decided to name him Harley, after my favorite motorcycle lolz....well i just need more info on how to take care of a abused pit, if u can, plz let me know...........thank u for reading and hopefully to hear from you soon, ♥ harley and Brittany :rolleyes: ]]> 1sttimepitbullmother10 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=392 The pet bull plans a night out. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=391 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:23:52 GMT I'll be the first to admit that weeknights in the dead of winter are generally pretty boring around our house. You can't blame the dog for wanting a night out. But who would have ever guessed that she was plotting and conspiring to bring a little excitement to our dull existence.

Now in my defense; I feel compelled to explain that Veronica has never been a voracious chewer. Sure she's retarded enough to eat a stick, or a dirty tissue or a live, squirming bug (you get the idea); but never in her 3 and a half years on the planet has she ever shown more than a passing interest in her squeaky toys. Squeaky toys are meant to be squeaked, tossed in the air and pushed into the lap of the nearest person in the hopes of initiating a rousing game of tug/fetch/keep away. Never has she EATEN a squeaky toy. Until last Tuesday.

I came home from work; 6 pm, earlier than usual, quite exhausted (which is usual). For some unknown reason, I came in the house and was drawn with tunnel vision to the living room floor which was strewn with a myriad of V.'s squeaky toys and my gaze locked on her pink dinosaur. "WHERE is his head"?, I shrieked at my husband, brandishing it in his face like an accusation (Weren't you watching her??) Then ensued a conversation around: am I sure he ever had a head in the first place, how do I know that I didn't pick up his head without thinking about it and throw it away on a previous occasion, and when exactly was the head last seen.

Of course like any good fur mommy I knew without a doubt that Mr. dinosaur had a head last night when we played with him. Since V. goes to her Grammy's during the day, that means that the head disappeared sometime between hubby getting home at 3 pm and me walking in the door at 6 pm.

Being prone to anxiety, and an anticipator of worst case scenarios; I immediately worked myself up into a complete frenzy imaging a life threatening obstruction and informing my husband we may as well "start picking out our next dog". That got hubby mobilized into action. We searched the entire house. We looked high (in case the head got tossed into the Christmas tree; no we haven't taken it down yet) and low (I really need to vacuum under my couch more often). No head.

In an act of sheer desperation I picked up Mr. dinosaur to attempt to re-generate his head through the sheer power of my will; which is when I realized that the situation was actually MUCH more dire. Not only was Mr. dinosaur relieved of his head; but he had thoughtfully been gutted from stem to stern and his entrails devoured (read: the squeaker was missing).

By this point, my anxiety had bled onto my husband and we we're both whipped into a fine frenzy. Thankfully in a moment of lucidity it became perfectly obvious to us that since the head could only possibly have been eaten in the space of the last 3 hours; it was reasonable to make the dog throw up. Of course! Except for the fact that neither of us has ever made a dog throw up before. But how hard can it be, right? Just call the E-vet, get the right dosage of hydrogen peroxide, yadda, yadda. 2 to 3 tablespoons and then 15 minutes later another 2 to 3 tablespoons. If you don't get vomit by then, you probably won't; or so says the nice vet tech who answered the phone. But then he mentioned the possibility of aspirating. Yes, he said it was not common,. Yes he said it was "highly unlikely". However point of fact, you do not use the word aspirate when talking with someone who is on the verge of hysteria. Common @#$%ing sense people!!

So it was decided; as Veronica knew it would be. Off we went to the E-vet. At this point I wasn't aware that we were playing right into her hands...errmm...paws. I felt so bad for her, having to be dragged out on a cold night, going to that cold sterile place where strangers will drag her to a barren back room and poke at her mercilessly.
Uh huh.

We walk in the door to the E-vet, I'm sick to my stomach and shaking. My husband looks as if he is going to burst into tears. The first thing we hear is, "Ooh it's VERONICA"! OK...twilight zone? No, it turns out the gal behind the desk is moonlighting from her job at V.'s regular vet. "Oh I have to come see Veronica" she says; and much cooing ensues and introductions of Veronica to the other staff. Honestly I missed most of it; what with being a complete nervous wreck and all.

So they come to take Veronica away; and she seems to trot off with a spring in her step; unlike how I imagined her; which would have been whimpering and cowering behind me. After about 15 grueling minutes in which time I prayed to a God I don't fully believe in and chomped on nicorette like a horse (and for the first time in 5 years didn't curse my husband for still chewing the damn stuff despite that we both quite smoking 5 years ago); the vet tech finally emerges. V. is fine he assures us, "NO, she did not aspirate". She did throw up the squeaker...but sadly the head is still MIA.

"The doctor thinks she could pass the head", he tells us; but they want to do a "quick" x-ray. Out he goes and I still have no dog. So...wait, wait, wait, chew, chew, chew, pray, examine my spiritual leanings and the fate of my soul, conclude that topic is too overwhelming and best left to another time, inhale, exhale, sigh, twitch, pace, turn to my husband and hiss under my breath, "WTF are they DOING? HOW is this QUICK"?????

25 minutes later the vet comes prancing in with Veronica; practically gushing! "Oh she's a great dog! A GREAT dog! She got tons of attention from everyone in back! We just LOVE her"! At which point the haze of anxiety begins to lift and I am able to appraise the situation clearly. While I was sitting in an 8X8 room with my husband, playing "who's going to snap, crackle, pop first"; V. was holding court in the back room. I looked down at her where she was laying contentedly at my feet. I nudged her with my foot. "You planned this". I mumbled under my breath. V. looked at me with wide eyed innocence.

Then the doctor was talking; didn't see anything, probably pass it, watch for this, this and this; call us if that; go home with my blessing...and this special diet to follow over the next 2 days.

So V. got a night out, plenty of socialization and a diet of boiled chicken and rice, supplemented with unsalted chicken broth mixed with water (2 cups 4 times/day). Being a dog, the whole vomiting thing was viewed as a big negative. From her perspective the whole situation was win-win.

4 days later she is completely fine. Eating (enthusiastically), pooping on schedule, and is as active as normal (which is to say not very) - but she has been snoozing quite comfortably on the couch under her blankies. All squeaky toys have been confiscated and will only be brought out for SUPERVISED play.

And they say dogs aren't capable of complicated thought processes... ]]> Jazzy http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=391 Sore, Itchy Skin http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=390 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:43:27 GMT Since we took him into our home a week ago, the skin around Corky's eyes have gone from bare and pink to itchy, red and even bloody from scratching. His groin is also red, but that hasn't gotten worse and he isn't itching there.

He was on "foster food", whatever was donated. We took him off a new bag of Horizon Canadian Chicken and Rice food that came with him and put him on to Natural Balance Duck and Potato, thinking those were ingredients he was least likely to have been in contact with before, a "novel protein" diet.

He's also had Benadryl for three days and aloe vera rubbed around his eyes for a day. I don't know what else we can use topically around the eyes. Panalog? Polysporin eye ointment? I'm worried about a secondary infection from scratching.

He's wearing boots on his feet that we bought for him but we have to take them off him at night or he'll chew them off.

His rescue group says that in seven months this is the worst he's been so his rash must be environmental, something in my home. He's had a lot of food changes, so they don't think its food. I have severe allergy-induced asthma, so all my cleaners are very mild and unscented. I'm at a loss about environmental triggers for him.

Would shoving his face into snow to retrieve toys make the skin around his eyes itchy and his eyes water? What about wind burn from weather that turned bad quickly when we were out for a run recently? (He's an indoor dog.) Would a new street hockey ball or nylabone cause a reaction?

My questions weren't really answered at the vet clinic tonight, but we do have a treatment plan. We are not certain if Corky has a food allergy, a topical allergy (sidewalk salt?) or demodex mange. He does have a secondary infection from scratching his face and a probable yeast over growth on his face and his groin.

Corky will get:

  • an antibiotic pill twice per day
  • gentle washing of his paw, chin and groin with Nizoral anti-fungal shampoo daily
  • Advantage topical treatment for demodex once every two weeks
  • one Benadryl tablet up to three times a day as needed for itching if it helps
  • Vaseline on his face and boots on his feet to prevent irritation when going out into the cold and salty roads
  • baby socks on his feet in the house to keep him from clawing his face
  • consistent feeding of his novel protein diet with no "junk food", wheat or dairy treats; novel protein treats and raw carrots are ok
  • no medicated ointments on his face which might lead to more rubbing
I'll contact the vet in one week to let her know how he's doing. Once his skin is clear we will mark the calendar and continue treatment for one week. He may stay on the new diet forever, but the main goal now is to clear up the infection and eliminate any possible parasites and fungal overgrowth. If I want to try him on probiotics, I need to get a species-specific one for dogs, not a human formula.

The vet and rescue coordinator decided to skip doing a skin scraping for now. If he clears up right away, we won't need to do it and will have saved the group some money. The vet says that its not uncommon for a dog with demodex to have negative scrapings. If in a few weeks he's still struggling we'll go ahead with it.

If we determine that an allergy is the probable root cause of Corky's itchy skin, he may need allergy testing. That would cost $800. We're hoping it won't come to that and the vet doesn't think it will. ]]> Corky http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=390