At Advice Dog we want you to know what is going on in the dog world. We also want you to know what we think.
Recently I have been taken back by Pitbull behavior. These dogs seem like babies to me. This in spite of the fact that I am a man. Knowing that some of these dogs could be man aggressive. They listen on command to sit as well as with a bone. They are happy to be loved and trained. At times they may be protective of me and I welcome that. In some instances I may not welcome a protective dog but in the back of my mind I never know why they are being protective. When danger is stopped the dog is heroic. When innocent people are harmed we need to blame the dog owner. These dogs may have dog senses that overpower the dog world. Training Pitbulls has become an obsession to me. I have begun to realize that I can stop the fear this dog may bring. To me the stocky, muscular build is bringing this fear and the wrong dog owner as well. If your mind set is focused on walking a Pitbull like it is a normal dog then you will be fine. Do not get scared when it is biting the leash or pulling you, just stay calm. Your main priority with a Pitbull is to remain calm and love it like nothing else unconditionally and it will reward your training. It will also protect you and your family. If you have a pure soul you will train this dog and with time you should be able to train it for life with god willing. They are strong, rowdy, willing to escape and challenge you but you can be the top Pitbull.
I would also like to thank the AKC for recognizing another dominant dog and protector the Cane Corso ( the other Italian Mastiff ) a dog that I have unfortunately never had the chance to train. However I have read about this dog and came in contact and watched tape of the dog and this dog is a great companion. I stress companion because if you own a dog like this you are in it for life. It should be brought into the lives of serious and loving dog owners who do love and control dogs no matter what. This massive ancient breed is a proven defender.
What are your inner most fears or excitement with a dog around? When you are around a dog it is normal to show a little fear. As long as the fear in your mind should just be doubt. Know that it is possible to become comfortable around dogs. Each type of dog that you encounter will have a degree of difficulty in its behavior. Some dogs may jump, some may pull, bark or even bite the leash they are on. These are behaviors that dogs have that are not usually meant to scare you. It is just a dog being a dog. By being comfortable and relaxed around a dog you will most definitely be able to deter this behavior. With proper no and yes commands this behavior can be contained and stopped.
If you are excited around a dog there is no problem usually. The excitement you feel around a dog may cause it to be a little too happy. Jumping, barking, licking your face and rolling around may be the dogs most popular ways of showing you they are excited too. Please be a little bit excited around a dog but take it a notch down by being comfortable. When you are comfortable good things come into play. The dog will sit, lay down, open its mouth with its tongue hanging. You want your dogs tongue to hang out of its mouth it is showing you that the dog is calm and happy. At Advice Dog we don't mind fear please just tone it down and turn it into comfortable excitement. When you relax your dog will relax.
When it comes to a dog attack usually people do not know what to do. You can run which may cause the dog to chase. You can defend yourself by grabbing the dog by the collar. There is always the option of looking for higher ground so that the dog can not get you. All of these factors may and usually do increase your chance of being bitten. You do not want to be bitten, you want to escape the situation without a bite. Grabbing the collar and somehow pinning the dog to the ground does work. Climbing on a surface higher than the dog may also work or if the dog is athletic enough it may come up there after you. One other option is to throw a treat at the dog or throw any type of object somewhere around the dog. A treat may stop the dog from attacking because the dog may eat it. An object may divert it's attention away from you and calm it down. I know most dog attacks are unexpected so it would not be a good idea to scare yourself and always carry a bone or some object that you don't want.
However if you do have a mean dog you fear in your neighborhood then carry a bone or an object just in case one day it ventures to close to you. Remember stay calm keep your distance and don't think you are ever going to get attacked. Another important thing is to pretend you don't even see the dog just ignore a dog that may scare you suddenly on a walk or in a house. At one moment when I was younger a situation occurred when a dog decided to attack me and my friend on our bikes. I decided to keep calm while my friend panicked. Luckily for the both of us my friend had a treat to throw the dog and it ate the treats and walked away. The decisive part to the situation was staying calm. A dog can sense fear and will act on it sort of like a Mountain Gorilla. The fun of owning a dog or being around one you do not own should be just fun. Animal lovers occasionally have to protect themselves so try a treat or a treat for no reason. We all need to make friends with all types of dog personalities because the dog should trust us and behave itself. Using wild force on a dog will not help your personal well being.
If you are around dogs often and also dogs that you don't know. You might want to think about getting a rabies vaccination. It is one shot unlike the treatment for being bitten by a rabid dog which could lead to many more shots. It will give you the peace of mind that if you are bitten then you will not have to worry. Safety around dogs is a key part of being a dog owner. In the unpredictable world of dogs having the peace of mind to get a rabies shot. Could not only save you the cost of medical expenses. It could also save your life. Knowing that you are safe from rabies is going to help your mind set around dogs. No one wants to be bitten by a dog but being protected from a bite is what Advice Dog recommends.
When your dog is in your car there are a few things that you should know. Some dogs love cars and others can be somewhat unpredictable. First and foremost I do not recommend leaving your dog in a vehicle alone. If you do leave your dog in your car then don't keep them in there for too long. Also always make sure that there is ventilation in the vehicle. Leaving the windows closed completely can cause your dog to die. Make sure that you have a blanket in your vehicle so the dog does not destroy your interior. Always look for signs of a dog being hyper so you will know when your dog needs to leave your truck or vehicle. If your dog is too hyper it should be taken out of the vehicle. When a dog is out of control or cornered in a vehicle it may bite or become agitated. Do not leave your window down in your vehicle too far just so people walking by your car do not get too close to the dog. If your dog is in a pickup truck bed then make sure that they feel comfortable. Again too much hyperactivity in any type of vehicle setting is not good. Drive carefully with your dog give it space in your vehicle and make sure that the behavior your dog has is normal for you and your vehicles safety. When you hear your dog bark, move around fast or make a high pitch sound they may need to get out of the car and breath more fresh air since vehicles may not have enough in them. To be safe put your dog in the part of your vehicle where no one else is. The back of the vehicle is the best place for your dog.
Electrical collars are a great way to keep your dog in your yard. In an electrical yard kit you will find an electrical collar, wiring and a system that controls the shock and wire as a fence. When your dog goes over the wire, the shock of the collar will take place. It can be a big or little shock. I recommend that you position the system so that the dog receives a medium shock. Usually the dog will yelp but after that it will be careful. Along with the wire, electrical collar and system there will be flags. These flags tell your dog where it can and can not go. They should be lined up around the perimeter of the area that you want your dog to roam in.
These collars may seem harsh depending on how many times it takes your dog to find the designated area. However they are not needed forever. Once the dog realizes where it can and can not go it may or may not need the collar. Some dogs will always need the collar on. Using an electrical collar will help save you the hassle of roping your dog and it will also allow the dog to roam throughout your entire yard. On the other hand you can designate your dog to go where you want it to without confining it. Some dogs may react differently than others to the shock but dogs are tough and the shock can be controlled. To make sure your dog is not shocked too hard. Use discretion on how high you set the shock level depending on the dogs size.
The Scottish Terrier won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Is this a breed that you should own? For a small Terrier you may be getting a dog that is perfect and on the other hand not too large for you to handle. Despite it's size this Scottish dog is actually a good guard dog. It may not be big but in its mind it can achieve anything. The Scottish Terrier or "Scottie" is a breed of Terrier that has a coat ranging from dark grey, black and brindle ( black and brown ). The dog that won the Best in Show had a black coat. It was developed mainly for the purpose of hunting badgers, squirrels and other small vermin. It can be territorial and aggressive towards other small animals if not introduced to them at a young age.
The Scottish Terrier has large paws for it's size and a muscular almost barreled chest. Ranging anywhere from 10 - 11 inches in height and weighing about 19 - 23 pounds it is not the biggest of dogs. It does however represent the Terrier breed with its tenacity and ability to guard when needed. Its main problem with health is that it is prone to cancer. This can be avoided with the proper diet and exercise as all dogs should be maintained through these two factors. In the dog world this is a famous dog among different people and is a proven companion. Known for guarding and loving this is a dog in a small physique that is well worth owning. If you like an established looking dog that is well adapted to a small or large setting you have found a great dog. Again we congratulate the Scottish Terrier for winning the Westminster Best in Show for 2010.
The American Pitbull Terrier really needs to be given some understanding when it comes to its nature. No other dog is as misunderstood. Without knowing it we have slowly begun to admire this dog while it is still under scrutiny for its tough demeanor. Over the years we have seen countless Pitbull attacks reported. The Pitbull is now on television shows that support it which is good for the breed. Let us on one side praise the people who have celebrated this dog and owned it correctly. However let us also make sure that each Pitbull out there is getting proper care and not going to kill someone someday. We need to put the emphasis on the owner and the environment of the dog not just putting the blame on the dog. This is a dog that requires strict obedience training and a calm state of mind to maintain. A tough gladiator type dog breed as the Pitbull has been bred to be needs to be cared for and controlled by its owner completely. This is the now the leading dog attack dog according to many and that is why an experienced owner is needed to care for it. If you are going to contribute to the taboo of this dog then do your research first. Don't just buy it to feel tough.