Dear Adam:
I purchased your book about 5 months ago, and I was hoping that might would “entitle” me to some advice. First, let me say that I’m very satisfied with my purchase. Not only does it give advice on specific techniques, but, more importantly, it explains the foundation of all training–timing, motivation, consistency–allowing the dog owner to better understand the training process. Also, it does a very good job of explaining that dogs are pack animals–and will test the alpha’s leadership at various times (in my case, all the time)–and how that factors into training. Finally, I like your common sense approach, e.g., “stay” is a double command, if the dog’s not supposed to break a sit or down without the release command, why do we need to tell it to stay.
My question is not about dog training, however, but about breeds of dogs. Specifically, APBTs [American Pit Bull Terriers] and AmStaffs [American Staffordshire Terriers]. The AKC does not recognize the APBT as a breed, however, many dog fanciers recognize the two as separate breeds even though they share a common origin and look very similar. Or, if not separate breeds, two “strains” of the same breed, the AmStaff being bred for “show” and the APBT being bred for “performance” – meaning the gameness of the original dogs has largely been bred out of AmStaffs, but still remains in APBTs. I’d like to hear your take on this subject since you own and have owned APBTs or mixes thereof.
The reason I ask is that I’m considering getting an AmStaff or a Staff Bull Terrier. My wife and I currently own a Dalmatian, however, so I’m a bit concerned about the two getting along, especially when I’m not around. Should I stay away from these breeds? I’ve had one breeder tell me they should be fine if the Staff is introduced as a puppy, while another told me never to leave them together alone. What would be your recommendation (I realize all dogs are individuals and may possess different traits than others of the same breed)?
Thanks,
Ryan Fehlig
Dear Ryan:
Thanks for the kind words. You’ve asked an excellent question!
I love the bull breeds, personally. And while everything you’ve stated is pretty much “right on the money,” … I would suggest that if you decide to adopt one of these breeds you make sure that:
1. The dog you’re adopting is the opposite sex of the dog you already own.
2. If the new dog is a male, then neuter him before he hits sexual maturity. (Before 1 year of age.)
3. If the other dog is a male, then definitely neuter him. (Although this will not be a “cure-all” it may help somewhat.)
It’s true… many of the dogs in this breed seem to have a genetic basis for dog aggression. I don’t think that they come out of the womb being dog aggressive, but rather that they have temperament characteristics that tend to make them more dog aggressive. (i.e., dominance and a strong defensive nature).
As for the difference between the APBT and the AmStaff, the difference is largely one of registration. (AKC vs. UKC). And yes, the AKC version has been bred with more of an emphasis on conformation (like all AKC breeds).
If I were to adopt another bull breed, it would likely be the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (the smallest of the “pit bull” breeds). I like the idea of having a big dog in a small package. But to be honest, I’m really tired of the media stigma that this breed has received. And in real life terms, this means having a dog that you can never really take off leash at a park – not because the dog is dangerous or untrained – but rather because people are so darn afraid of what the media has led them to believe about this breed, that they snatch up their children and run screaming from the park.
On the upside, this stigma can work in your favor, too. Most criminals know that a “pit bull” is the type of dog that you don’t want living in the house that you’re about to rob.
On a personal note, there was a character who let his Rottweiler run off leash at the park I used to train at. This dog had a bad attitude and was a very dominant-aggressive dog. The owner was under the impression that his dog was trained. He’d give multiple commands, such as, ‘Ranger come, come, come, come,’… but all Ranger would do is engage my clients’ dogs and try to initiate a dog fight.
Well, after I adopted Forbes (an APBT-mix that looks like one big muscle and is about as wide as a Mack truck) and started keeping him in a down-stay while I worked with my clients’ dogs… Ranger’s owner suddenly started keeping their dog on a much shorter leash. If he didn’t attach his dog to a leash as soon as he saw me enter the park, then he’d definitely run to grab his dog THE VERY INSTANT that he saw that Ranger wasn’t going to immediately turn and come when called.
I guess that’s what you call motivation, eh?
Yes… it’s probably a macho thing. But IF there is a stigma, then you might as well use it to your advantage to encourage reckless dog owners with untrained dogs to keep their mutts on-leash.
That’s all for now, folks!
Adam
Watch the video related to Pit Bull Terriers
Help answer the question about Pit Bull Terriers
Coat color: Seal in American Pit Bull Terriers (and other breeds)?Two of my dogs have the coat color named "seal" which is a coat that usually looks black, but viewed in different light sources (especially sunlight), appears to be red/brown (I've even seen a blue tint in some light sources). Until now, I've been unable to show this in photos to help explain it…
These are my questions:
How common is this color in the breed American Pit Bull Terrier (which I have)? I have seen it in photos online, but never in real life.
[Disclaimer: I am aware that no color is rare, or more desireable than others, so no lectures on that... Just personal situations where you have seen this color please]
Also– what other breeds carry this coat color?
Picture references so you know what color I am talking about:
Usually appears to be this color:
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/beg006.jpg
And changes to this color in certain lights:
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee334/kwinnypoo/sun022.jpg
About Author
Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider’s Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History.” Get a free copy of his report “Games To Play With Your Dog” when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com
*sub*
can’t believe it’s drawn out of nothing, could be a photography!
Great talent Der Mann.
Do NOT give the dogs their 'territory' in your house. The house is YOURS, not theirs. You are their resource for everything. Put the toys in a place they can not get until you want to play. This tells them you are the boss and in charge. When you separate them, make sure you do not give any love etc. Just correct them with a calm assertive energy. You can love on them when they are both calm etc. The dogs will eventually learn you are boss and stop trying to dominate each other and will eventually like or get along with each other. Good luck!
I work at a local S.P.C.A and we behavior evaluate every single animal that enters our doors. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST PIT BULLS…..IN FACT I OWN ONE that I adopted through my work…..BUT…..if the dog your interested in has been in the shelter for over a year I WOULD HAVE CONCERN……we very rarely allow a animal to sit that long. It would go to a rescue or foster care….Euthanasia as a last resort. Dogs and cats can go what is called ''Cage Crazy'' and begin to develop behavior problems. I would encourage your father to go with you to the shelter and see this dog….ask kennel attendants how they feel about the dog….also since he has been caged for sooooo long he may have potty training problems, and may have developed bad habits like excessive biting/chewing/ and other separation anxiety behaviors
It's really not hard to tell if you look at a couple pictures of both. Boxes are usually taller than pit bulls, they have a very deep chest, there head is very 'squarish'. Pit bulls chests are more wide, there head is wider and there muzzle is not pushed in like a boxer. There is a lot of differences you compare the two. Good for you for considering adoption.
I won't repeat some of the obvious things have already been mentioned, like training, socializing, stc. But here are a few of the not-so-obvious things I would recommend to a new pit bull puppy owner, as I learned the hard way about some of this stuff:
1. Good, strong chew toys are a must. My favorites (and my dog's) incude Black Kong, Tuff Toys ring, and Nylabone. Don't be fooled by big expensive toys claiming to be "indestructable"; my dog has ripped most of those to shreds. The good news is most pet stores, including PetCo and PetSmart, will take toys back or exchange them if your pit has destroyed them.
2. "Busy" toys. A bored pit bull is a destructive pit bull. I like the Kongs for this reason; you can fill it with all kinds of yummy treats to keep your pit busy. I also have a "talking" treat dispenser that keeps my dog busy for a while.
3. A Gentle Leader or Halti. Pit bulls are smart but stubborn dogs, especially when it comes to walking nicely on a leash. They tend to push the envelop, trying to pull you where they want to go. A head collar like the ones mentioned above can help your dog learn to walk without pulling. A trainer or pet store worker can help you find one that works for your dog and show you how to use it, as there is a special technique. My pit bull has benefited alot from using a head collar. The only downside is that uninformed people often mistake it for a muzzle, so you get comments like "Oh, another pit bull that needs a muzzle." But it's worth it once your dog learns how to walk nicely.
4. A crate. Pit bulls tend to be very quick learners anyway when it comes to potty training, but crate training makes it all the easier for you and your dog. Plus, while your dog is going through his annoying chewing phase, a crate comes in handy when you can't supervise all the time (like when you go to work or school). Based on personal experience, I would not leave your dog out of his crate if you can't watch him. I tried this when my dog was a puppy, because I did not want to crate him all the time and he ended up chewing a two-foot section of carpet down to the floorboards while I was at work. Don't underestimate your pit bull's determination!
5. Obedience classes. Try to find a trainer that uses positive reinforcement techniques. Pit bulls (despite common belief) are extremely sensitive dogs and hate doing wrong or getting in trouble by their owners. Punishment (like yelling and hitting) won't work for pit bulls and will only break the bond between you. Obedience classes can help form and solidify this bond, and are a fun activity you can do together. Most importantly, a well-trained, well-behaved pit bull looks great in public and does wonders for the breeds' reputation.
6. Resources, so you can continue to learn and educate others about the breed. As a pit bull owner, it is SO important that you understand the role you play in helping your dog become a good breed ambassador. You need to do your part by getting all the facts, combatting the myths, and standing up to people that put your dog down. Here are some of my favorite resources that helped me tremendously as a new pit bull owner:
- http://www.happypitbull.com
- http://www.stopbsl.com
- http://www.blessthebullys.com
- http://www.understand-a-bull.com
- www. badrap.org
Also, I wanted to mention a REALLY important point about what has been said about dog aggression in other posts here. DO NOT BE FOOLED into thinking that dog aggression can be loved, trained, socialized, or otherwise cast out of your dog if he is genetically inclined to be a dog-aggressive dog. You can take him to all the puppy socialization classes you want, you can train him to be a show dog, and you can love the heck out of him, but dog aggression is a genetic tendency and cannot be avoided if that is how your dog is hardwired. Dog aggression exists on a continuum, ranging from dog social to dog intolerant (aggressive) and everything in between. You would be wise to make sure you ALWAYS supervise your dog around other dogs and pets, and if you dog happens to be dog aggressive, do not punish him for it. You must take proactive measures to always ensure the safety of your dog and that of other dogs and pets by not putting your dog in situations where his dog aggression will be a problem (most often off-leash dog parks or play dates with unknown dogs). I want to stress how important socialization is for other reasons, but it will not "cure" your dog of dog aggression if that is where he lies on the continuum.
Best of luck with your new puppy! I hope that he will become one of the many loving, sweet pit bulls that are excellent breed ambassadors and working hard to change people's minds.
Excellent work. Pleasure to watch. Perfect music
))
This is not a guardian breed and should not act like one.Human aggression of any kind is not an accepted temperament for this breed.This type of behavior should not be tolerated and needs to be addressed.
The dog needs to be evaluated by a professional trainer/behaviorist.Then you can move forward.
I would find it hard to believe this is attention seeking behavior.As I stated earlier they should not display guardian type behavior.
Start by looking through this thread and starting nilif training http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1571.
These are pit bull forums where you can get ideas about training and behavior and all things pit bull.
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/forums.php
http://pitbullforum.com/index.php
If the dog has a genetic issue or a behavior issue you can't control…it needs to be put down.There is no place for a human aggressive pit bull.
Unless you are willing to give up your dog to a search and rescue centre or are a member of one yourself then you can't.
I suggest you take her to do agility or something like that.
I had similar reservations about pits too, but humans are smarter than dogs, aren't they? And our dogs depend entirely upon us. I never could exactly fathom how anyone could get to a point of being mauled or killed by their OWN dog. Or allow their dog to maul or kill a child…Frankly, I couldn't go on living with myself; I don't know how anyone could. And I never, ever want any dog of mine to be taken away from me. So, like you, I threw myself into learning all I could. My pit is two years old now, and I've never enjoyed a dog more.
I do not believe dogs just "snap". I believe many people simply do not understand canine behavior and how to raise a dog. Too many treat their dogs like humans, and then they wonder why the dogs try to boss and dominate everyone around them (including little old men outside smoking cigarettes). Or, in the other extreme, they treat their dogs like something disposable, something to "get rid" of if it becomes a problem. They don't take the trouble to train their dogs. Or they resort to hitting their dogs. NEVER hit a pit bull; it will make him distrust you. He'll always be wondering when it's going to come at him again from out of nowhere.
Although not naturally human-aggressive, pits are highly protective dogs and should be well-socialized. Most ARE dog-aggressive — especially with strange dogs — so always keep him under your control when other dogs are present. My pit plays with a few neighbors' dogs, but I supervise very closely. He might not start a fight, but he would certainly finish it. And the pit is the one that's going to get blamed for it. If mine reacts aggressively to a new dog, I turn him around and walk the other way. It may take several times before he is able to walk calmly past the new dog.
Within the next several weeks, you can get your dog into the habit of "sitting" before you give him anything — food, treat, toy, affection. I prefer "natural method" training — using a dog's natural reflexes (voluntary action) to your advantage. It's a matter of figuring out how to get the behavior you want, and then reinforcing it. For example, if your dog knows you have a bowl of food for him, he'll probably be there wiggling around, wagging his tail, etc. If you just stand there for a moment, he won't go anywhere — but he's not stupid. He's not going to stand up forever. Eventually he will "take a load off"… The instant his rear hits the floor, you say "sit" and then give him the food or whatever. You can also induce him to sit down by moving the food or treat from front to back over his head.
I do not leave my pit outside when I'm not home. He's agile and can jump high, and he could scale my chain-link fence if he really wanted to. Furthermore, I've heard too many stories about pits and other "scary" dogs being poisoned. Or stolen. But… I didn't want my furniture and stuff destroyed so, until he grew up, I crated him. I am away 7-8 hours for work but I go home at lunch. When I'm off work, I try to give my dogs a LOT of activity. I recommend at least one long daily walk to burn off energy, expose him to as many different experiences as possible, provide mental stimulation, and to simply satisfy the canine instinct for migration.
I'll link some articles I found helpful. Your kids can help with bite-inhibition training (mainly, yelp "ow" and go off and ignore the dog for several minutes, any time his teeth touch skin). Kids can also do the "alpha" exercises in the second article. It's important that your dog knows he ranks lower than all humans in the family, and that he doesn't perceive your kids as weaker than himself.
http://canismajor.com/dog/bite2.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/alpha1.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/humandog.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalk.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/jumpingdogs.htm
http://www.cosmos-staffords.co.uk/Training/Flirt_Pole/flirt_pole.html
Multi-dog family? http://www.canismajor.com/dog/feisty.html
About your other questions:
In my opinion, you should keep your puppy safely in a crate most of the time while you're at your family's tomorrow. Parvo is certainly something you don't want to mess around with. And larger dogs can hurt a small puppy's joints, shoulders, etc.
I really don't know why he's jerking in his sleep. It very well could have something to do with his young age. Is he warm enough? Pits have really short coats, and little body fat.
Incredible! He looks so life like. Just amazing…and what a beautiful subject
Nice work, you did pretty good.
Brilliant Willy, Just Brilliant =D
whoa!!it looks like a PICTURE!
ur an amazing painter!:D
Raised togather they will do fine, a well raised pit bull is a joy to have around, i raised dogs and cats togather and never have a problem, It's all in how you raise them,
and I would never cage them while your gone, if someone broke in what good could a caged dog be, they need to be able to move around, and it would make for a better bond between the 2 dogs.
You’re really good man. You’ve got excellent talent.