About American Pit Bull Terriers

Posted on by
Reply

Bit PullThe American Pit Bull, a loyal, strong breed that is devoted to their owners, are often times misunderstood. This breed is always happy to please their owners and the family they live with. They are capable of having the best relationship with those that deserve their friendship. Their loyalty to their owners is one of a kind. Pit Bulls will not forget an owner who is left behind and may even be depressed for the rest of their lives waiting for their beloved owner to come back. This dog will protect his owner against anything, even giving his life along the way.

American Pit Bulls have been banned from some countries because of their strength and negative reputation, most of which is caused by their owners. It’s not that the Pit Bull is not for everybody, it’s that not everybody is for the Pit Bull. Pit Bulls are dogs that are thinking and analyzing every second. If allowed, Pit Bulls will train you, because if they notice that you don’t have the control to be a leader, they will be the strong leader that you need. Pit Bulls were bred as fighting dogs, but this does not mean all Pit Bulls will always fight, just like the son of a world champion boxer who decides he wants to be a doctor. This breed, just like German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Labradors and Chihuahuas, needs to be socialized with dogs and humans, but mostly with dogs. The problem is that when someone has a Pit Bull, they are so scared of their reputation that they keep them only in their houses. As a result, the Pit Bull knows no one else but his family, until one day the owner decides to take him out. The owner, having no previous negative behavior from his dog, expects him to be good with every person or dog he sees without thinking that everything is new and may be scary to the dog.

The other problem is that many people who have a Pit Bull know of their reputation and enjoy having a dog with more aggressive behavior, so they reinforce it. These dogs may end up biting someone thinking that they are pleasing their owner, because their owner reinforced that aggressive behavior.

Different breeds have held the title of “Dangerous Dog” throughout history. In the 19th century, it was the Bloodhound. In the 1960s and 1970s, Dobermans and German Shepherds found themselves in the “dangerous dog” spotlight. The Pit Bull’s turn came in the late 1980′s, when Sports Illustrated plastered a Photo of a snarling dog on its July 1987 cover with the headline “Beware of This Dog.” The story was about Pit Bulls and the widespread problem of dog fighting. Today, statistics show that Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers and Labradors make it first on the list of dogs most likely to bite, and those breeds are the most common dogs used as a family dog more than Pit Bulls. Yes, the Pit Bull is a strong breed, and like any other breed in the hands of the wrong owner can be dangerous. If the owner is responsible and teaches the dog to behave, and gives it the right socialization, they can have a relationship like none other. Socialization is the key. Sadly, Pit Bulls end up in the wrong hands. They enjoy having their mind worked, so obedience and exercise is something they enjoy.

If you have questions about the American Pit Bull Terrier, would like training or a FREE evaluation, feel free to contact John Lugo at 787.486.5672 or jlugo@highlandcanine.com

Crate Training

Posted on by
Reply

How big should it be? Where should I put it? How is the best way to get the dog to go in? What can I do to stop my dog from barking once inside? These are a couple of questions that most people have about crate training. The size of the crate depends on the dog, and the dog should be able to stand up, turn around and lay down easily. We are not talking about a stable for a horse, but we are not talking about a birdcage either. The crate should be placed on an area familiar to the dog, but it cannot be in a crowded place. Remember that being in a crate for the first time can be stressful for your dog. Placing the crate in a familiar area allows the training to be more effective, and the dog will be more relaxed.

The first step in crate training is for the dog to make a good association of the crate, so the dog can start to understand that the crate is not a bad thing that lies on the floor. Do not grab your dog by the collar and drag them inside. Grab a couple of treats, and throw one inside the crate. Do this a couple of times, and every time throw them further back in the crate. Once your dog goes inside, start saying the command you want to say, so he can start analyzing the word with the action. Close the gate of the crate every time he goes inside, and let him out again, every time leaving him longer inside. When he is inside the crate, start to feed and give water to make an even stronger association of it.

Once you start leaving him inside, he will start to bark a lot to get out of the crate. This is normal. Remember that your dog has never been inside a crate before. At Highland Canine we had a puppy named Charlie who has never been in a crate before. Charlie would bark all day and all night until he fell asleep. When he would wake up, it was back to barking. He barked so much that they named him after the basketball player Charles Barkley. Your dog might be barking a lot too. He is going to go through a process that we call extinction. This means he will bark and bark until his barking inside the crate becomes extinct. You must not let him out while he is barking, because he will learn that if he barks you will open the gate of the crate. Just open the gate when he is quiet and calm. Eventually, he will stay more silent every time. One day you may notice he will bark more than the first day, and he will give you a headache and drive you nuts. This is in fact a good thing. It means that the training is coming to an end. This is where most people fail because of the frustration of the dog barking all day more than ever. Don’t lose your patience. Ignore him when he barks, and don’t talk to him or even look at him. After, he will go back to the normal barking and then suddenly cease. Now the crate training has come to an end.

If you have questions about housebreaking or crate training, Feel free to contact John Lugo at 787.486.5672 or jlugo@highlandcanine.com