Dog Tips: Learn How To Read Your Pit Bull Terrier
Dog training is an art and there are right ways to go about it, as well as wrong ways. An often overlooked aspect of dog training is how your dog communicates back to you. If you want to successfully train your American Pit Bull Terrier, youll have to work hard on understanding how he communicates with you.
Youll only be able to form a close bond where you understand your Pit and he understands you, when you can read his non-verbal body language. An excellent way to begin learning about your Pit Bulls body language is to watch his interaction with other dogs. This is just another benefit that youll get from a properly socialized dog.
So what things should you look for specifically? Watch how your dog responds to the movements of other dogs. How does he greet dogs he knows? Dogs he doesnt recognize?
Ask yourself these questions when you are learning about your dogs communication language and actions. Reading books about wolf behavior is another thing that you can do to greatly improve your understanding of dog communication.
Why study wolf behavior? you ask? Wolf behavior and dog behavior are closely related. Since they are both so similar, the interactions of wild wolves gives us a chance to monitor their communication habits without any human interference.
Most dogs, if not all of them, have a habit of licking people’s faces and mouths. You many not understand why dogs do this, but close observation of wolves has shown that wolf puppies are fed by the older wolves in the pack through regurgitation. Mouth and face licking persists as they get older as a way of greeting another animals.
Spend some time trying to understand your dog and closely watching his communication habits. Before long, youll understand him better and the bond you share will be even stronger!
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Feb 07, 2010 | | Dogs
Most modern Pit Bulls are believed to be descended from European bull dogs and different breeds of mastiffs that were once used in farm work. The mastiffs were known for their strength and power, so they were primarily used to help farmers with their bulls when it was time to bring them in from the fields.
The mastiff became known as the bulldog. The dogs main purpose was to protect the farmer from being gored by an enraged bull. The dog usually accomplished this task by biting onto the bull and hanging on until the bull relented. Since these dogs were used for protection from angry bulls, they had to have tremendous strength in their jaws and bodies. They also had to be stubborn enough to hang onto a stampeding bull, no matter what the bull did to them, to protect the farmer they worked for.
As time passed, these dogs started being used in bull and bear baiting. During this time it is believed some bulldogs were also bred with terriers to help make them better suited for these sports. By mixing with the terrier breed, the dogs were smaller and a great deal more agile than the regular bulldog. They also had more muscular bodies, which helped to enhance their damage producing ability. These sports were most popular in England around the early nineteenth century. In the year 1835, English Parliament banned the sports of bull and bear baiting, stating that it was much too cruel to the animals involved. The sport lost popularity, and eventually died completely out after a few years.
Dog fighting soon took the place of the previously banned bull and bear baiting sports. Breeders began trying to produce dogs that were geared to be excellent fighters. They tried to enhance the dogs agility, strength, and musculature to make them more formidable opponents. Breeders also tried to breed the most intelligent dogs, so they would be less likely to make mistakes in fighting, and also so they would only be aggressive toward other dogs, not humans they may encounter. One of the rules of dog fighting was that the owner of the dog had to be able to enter the ring during a fight, pick his dog up, and take it completely out of the fighting ring without the dog biting him. If the dog bit the owner during this time, the dog was immediately killed.
Also in the 1800s Pit Bulls started becoming popular pets, not just for dog fighting and farming. The dog became a mascot during World War 1 and could be seen on many war posters, which helped to increase its popularity. They were popular because of their high intelligence and devotion to their masters. In the early 1900s pit bulls began being used in movies as well.
The Pit Bull is a dog with a very detailed history, and is still quite popular today. The breed does receive a lot of negative criticism, but with the right owners, still make terrific pets.
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Jan 30, 2010 | | Dogs
Everyday, people witness countless acts of heroism, big and small. Heroes, too, come in different shapes and sizes, forms and breeds, man and animals alike. Dolphins, seals, horses, cats and whales are just a few from the animal kingdom that displays tremendous protective instincts that save man from all sorts of danger. But nothing beats the mans best friend.
After displays of great courage and bravery during World War I, dogs have seen a different light. They were thrust into the limelight unknowingly. Since then, dogs have been called to as all time heroes recognized, rescued, trained and cared for by man. All kinds of award were given to dogs to celebrate their heroism and saving prowess such as the Dog Hero of the Year Award.
The dogs carry on a long line of lifesavers. They have shown unthinkable acts of saving adults and children alike in grave danger like fire, drowning, road and home accidents, intruders and robbers, and even in a huge tragedy like 9/11. The images of heroic dogs finding possible survivors or even lost bodies under rubbles and debris in ground zero crushed the hearts of many Americans.
These canine heroes come from all breeds, backgrounds and locations. Take note, they are not pedigreed. These dog heroes are not at all dominated by big dogs, though they are often used for the purpose of national security. Their breeds vary from the famous German Shepherd, Saint Bernard and Collies (remember Lassie?) to Poodle, Labrador, American Pit Bull Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Doberman, Pinscher, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Shetland, Sheepdog, Terrier and Weimaraner.
During the Vietnam War, 4,000 dogs were recruited to assist and protect U.S. troops, thus prevented an estimate of 10,000 plus American casualties. At that time, they were considered surplus armaments. They were either euthanized or left to their fates in Vietnam. Now, books and documentaries preserved the memories of countless canines that aided in the protection of mankind.
Today, dog heroes play an even more critical role in the fight against terrorism. The ability of dogs to detect bombs is already proven since World War I. A German shepherds nose has 250 billion smelling cells to give it the ability to detect a target odor amidst all other odors.
Breeds do not guarantee a dog hero status. Like men, dogs need a rare set of attributes to stand out: intelligence, being calm even in the presence of loud noise, focus amidst distractions and a compulsive desire to play with a toy. After all, the game is to find the scent and get the toy.
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Jan 29, 2010 | | Dogs
Dog Health Checkups Are Essential For The Health Of Your Pit Bull Terrier
All responsible dog owners know that when your pet shows signs of feeling ill or gets injured that it’s time for a visit to the veterinarian.
Naturally, it is important to take your pet to the vet when there is a problem, but many people forget the importance of taking their pets to the doctor when they are healthy! Taking your Pit Bull to the vet for routine well check-ups and vaccinations can prevent many serious medical conditions, and treat others early on before they have a chance to progress and endanger your Pit Bulls health.
No matter how good the care you provide for your Pit Bull is, you may miss early signs of disease that the vet would be able to spot at a routine visit. Catching many diseases early can help prevent them from becoming major health issues. Animals often try to hide any sign of illness, because it can be a sign of weakness to other animals. Your Pit Bulls ability to hide symptoms makes them that much harder to catch early on.
Taking your Pit Bull for preventative care can often save you quite a bit of money. Diseases left untreated can be very costly to treat, amassing tremendous bills along the way. By early diagnosis and treatment, you can prevent it from ever getting to that level, therefore saving yourself a lot of money.
By having routine visits with your Pit Bull, your veterinarian will learn what is normal for your dog, as no two animals are quite the same. In learning what is considered normal for your Pit Bull, your vet will be better able to tell when something isnt quite right, and provide prompt medical treatment. Your vet will keep records of every visit, so that he can refer back to them, which will help in treating old problems, and diagnosing new ones.
At your yearly well checkup, your vet will also check to see if your Pit Bull is getting the right diet he needs. The vet will suggest changes to help if your Pit Bill is overweight, or malnourished. This can be vital to your pets health. Obesity is a major problem that can cause your pet to suffer from a variety of medical problems. It is also crucial that he get proper nutrition, and your vet can prescribe supplements as needed.
Providing routine veterinary care is a vital part of taking care of your Pit Bull. You are responsible for his well-being, and your vet can help you make sure everything is as it should be. Please dont take these yearly preventative check-ups for granted, your Pit Bulls health depends on them.
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Jan 28, 2010 | | Dogs
Dog Dental Heath Care For Your American Pit Bull Terrier
One of the most often overlooked areas in care of Pit Bulls involves dental health. It is important not only in caring for his teeth, but in also protecting his overall well being. Being able to chew food properly affects digestion, which can lead to all kinds of health problems for your Pit Bull. Learning how to care for your Pit Bulls dental health needs at home can save you a lot of out of pocket expense over your Pit Bulls lifetime.
Believe it or not, you should try to brush your dogs teeth at least once everyday. Just like you, your Pit Bull will have plaque and tartar that can destroy his teeth or lead to gum disease. It could result in your Pit Bull losing his teeth, or developing an infection.
If you havent already developed a dental hygiene routine for your Pit Bull, you may need to take it slow and easy to get him used to the idea. Begin by getting him used to you holding him and looking inside his mouth. If you have an older Pit Bull, just holding the dog long enough to look in his mouth may be a challenge at first. Once you get him comfortable with you holding him and looking inside his mouth, start lifting up his lips and moving his tongue around so you can actually see his teeth. These first couple steps may take your Pit Bull some time to get used to, so be patient.
Once he is comfortable with you messing with his mouth, see your veterinarian to get a toothpaste recommended for him. Start by using the toothpaste on your finger for a few days, to get him used to the taste and feeling of you rubbing his teeth. Your Pit Bull will probably enjoy this, especially if he gets flavored toothpaste. He will definitely love the extra attention.
Eventually, your Pit Bull will let you brush his teeth, which will help protect his teeth and health. Dental problems in Pit Bulls can be very painful for them, and can often be hard to treat successfully.
If by some chance you have a Pit Bull that absolutely will not let you near his mouth, let alone brush his teeth, there are some alternative ways to ensure his dental health. Your veterinarian can recommend a good dental rinse that can be added to your Pit Bulls water bowl to help rid the teeth of debris. Chew toys will also help clean the teeth and keep his bones strong and healthy. Be careful when buying chew toys for your Pit Bull to make certain the toy isnt hard enough to damage his teeth, and is large enough so he cant get choked on it.
There are some dog foods now available that are supposed to provide dental care, which actually means that the food sticks to plaque and tartar as the dog chews, therefore getting it off the teeth.
Remember, that to provide proper care for your Pit Bull, you cannot omit his dental health. By taking the time to provide dental care when your Pit Bull is a puppy, you can start ensuring his dental health in the beginning, which will save you a lot of costly vet bills as time goes by.
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Jan 23, 2010 | | Dogs
Crate Training Your Pit Bull Terrier Puppy: How Big Should The Dog Crate Be?
Were you aware that crate training your Pit Bull terrier is the responsible thing to do as a dog owner, and that everyone should be doing this? Properly crate training your Pit is one of the best things that you could possibly do, and Im going to explain exactly how to do it correctly. If youre not exactly sure what I mean by crate training, dont worry. This article is going to break everything down for you in easy to understand language.
When you first bring your Pit Bull terrier pup home, it is important that you show him exactly what his territory is. It is at this point in time that youll introduce him to his crate.
Place you Pits crate in a designated room or area of the house so that he can go there to rest and relax. This is very important and should not be a high traffic area.
You can purchase a crate at your local pet supply superstore or you could make one yourself if youre so inclined. A wire crate with partitions is preferred, so that you can section it off when hes little, then expand the partition as he grows. The crate should also have a washable tray below that slides out for easy cleaning.
I would recommend a large crate for your Pit Bull, then set the partitions so that your puppy has enough room to stand up and lay down. You dont want him to have excess room however as this will give him a place to go potty without him having to lay in it.
Using partitions is more important than the size of the crate you purchase. Make sure that you use them to limit your puppies free space inside the crate and be consistent with the routine. Congratulations on being a responsible Pit Bull terrier owner!
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Jan 02, 2010 | | Dogs
Before crate training your Pit Bull puppy, you’ll need to acquire a crate. There are many types and variations of crates available for purchase. It is important to pick the type of crate that will best suit the needs of both you and your puppy.
You should also take into consideration the size of your dog now, and how large he may be when fully grown to avoid having to purchase more than one crate. It is also important to remember that the crate will be his own individual space, and you want to make it as comfortable as possible so that your Pit Bull will enjoy his time there.
Since the puppy will be spending a lot of time in his crate, you should put several of his favorite toys and treats in the crate for him. Keep in mind that any toy you purchase should be large enough for the dog not to be able to swallow it, to avoid any injury to your pet. Having toys to chew own will not only give the dog something to chew that he cant destroy, but it will help to prevent boredom while he is in the crate.
Due to the strength of the Pit Bull, it is important to purchase tough toys that are made to last. They tend to really like Kong toys, and they can be stuffed with treats, which will usually keep him interested at least for a couple of hours, or until he gets all the treats. You can also purchase bones and toys that are especially made for Pit Bulls, they are tougher and usually safer for them to have than regular toys and bones. Regular bones, such as rawhide bones, can be dangerous for Pit Bulls, because they are strong enough to chew off bits of bone and get them lodged in their digestive tract.
If your Pit Bull will be spending more than two hours in the crate, it is a good idea to equip it with a water bottle in case he gets thirsty. Many pet stores sell the same type of water bottles that are used for hamsters or gerbils, just in larger sizes. These tend to work well in the Pit Bulls crate.
You should also put some kind of bedding in the crate to help your Pit Bull puppy be more comfortable. Old towels or soft blankets usually suit this purpose very well. Occasionally Pit Bull puppies will chew their bedding, if this happens, be sure to remove all the pieces so that the puppy doesnt swallow them. If the puppy wets his bedding, just remove it until the puppy stops using his crate as a bathroom, then put it back in.
Since the crate is your Pit Bulls own private space, it is important not to let children or visitors play with him while he is in his crate. He should be left alone to play or rest as he likes. If someone wants to play with him, he should be taken out of his crate first. You want your Pit to like being in his crate, and feel comfortable spending time there.
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Jan 02, 2010 | | Dogs
Crate Training Your American Pit Bull Terrier: Will It Help Your Dog?
Crate training is one of the most often misunderstood dog training techniques. Many questions often come up when discussing the topic of crate training such as: How can I use crate training to teach my dog to behave?, What are the pros and cons of crate training?, and Is crate training safe to use as part of my overall dog training program?
This article will definitely help you understand crate training and what it will do to you Pit Bull terrier. After youre done reading, Im confident that youll have a much better understanding of crate training.
I get many questions from new dog owners on the subject of crate training. Most people really have no idea what crate training is or what purpose it serves. Quite simply, a dog crate is an enclosed cage area that prevents your dog from getting into trouble.
You can crate train your Pit Bull both inside the house or outside. Youll want your dog to have plenty of room to stand up and lay down.
So what are the benefits of you crate training your Pit Bull? There are many few reasons why crate training your Pit is a good idea. One reason is that a crate will prevent your Pit from destroying the inside of your house when you are away. Eventually, youll be able to leave your dog loose when leaving the house and he wont be destructive while youre gone.
Another example of when crate training can be helpful is when youre traveling in your vehicle for a long period of time. Allowing your dog to rest in his crate during the trip will ease his fear if he has any issues with traveling.
Lastly, crate training is a vital component to properly house training a new puppy. Using a crate to assist in potty training is a very good idea and will help cut your pups learning curve down drastically.
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Jan 01, 2010 | | Dogs
Making the decision to add a Pit Bull terrier to your household can be difficult. There are several things that should be taken into account before you go buy your puppy. You should do some research into the breed, so that you can learn all about the personality traits characteristic of Pit Bull terriers. It would also be beneficial to learn about behavior traits, and proper care of the dog so that you can be prepared before you bring your new puppy home. And of course, you must decide if you want a male or female.
There are many places that one can purchase Pit Bull terriers from. Probably the best way to find a reputable source would be through the American Pit Bill Terrier Club. By attending some of their meetings, and talking to some of the members there, you can get information on different breeders, and their opinions on who is the best to purchase from. They are probably already Pit Bull terrier owners, and should be a good source of information not only on the best breeder to purchase from, but general tips about raising a Pit Bull terrier puppy as well.
Your local veterinarian can also be a good source for selecting a Pit Bull terrier breeder to purchase your puppy from. They most likely have a lot of contact with local breeders, as they probably care for their puppies.
If you are interested in a puppy with a pure bloodline, for example, a dog for breeding purposes, you should probably not buy your puppy from a pet store. The puppies there are gotten from several different sources, and it would be very hard to trace their bloodlines for that reason. The prices at pet shops are usually higher, and it would be easy for the unsuspecting shopper to be taken advantage of.
The breeder listings in dog magazines and some newspapers could also be a good resource. They will help you get in contact with different breeders so that you can try to make the best decision. It is important to interview the breeders so that you can compare them and make the best purchase. You should find out how long they have been breeding Pit Bulls, what kind of conditions the puppies are kept in, how they are fed, what kind of contact they have with other dogs and people, and how they are cared for in general. If buying from a breeder that has a business of breeding dogs, you could also check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of complaints have been made against them if any.
Dont buy the first Pit Bull terrier puppy you see from the first breeder you meet. Spend time with several breeders and puppies so that you can see for yourself the puppys individual personality. You will be much happier in the end by making a well informed decision in purchasing your Pit Bull terrier puppy.
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Dec 23, 2009 | | Dogs
Choosing The Right Dog Obedience Trainer For Your Pit Bull Terrier
Many pet owners enjoy the challenge of training their dogs. If the dog is the type that seems to enjoy being trained, it can be a very rewarding experience for both owner and pet. Pit Bulls have the reputation for being stubborn, and few will say its not true. To say that the stubborn streak makes the dog untrainable however is completely false.
Take a Pit Bull and owner who have a good trusting relationship with one another and youll see a dog who is not only willing to learn, but also learns quickly. If a person who has never trained a dog wants to have his Pit Bull trained, he has two choices. The owner can either train their Pit Bull themselves, or hire a dog trainer to do it for them.
If you have no practical experience training dogs, but still want to try it yourself, then you will need to study up on the various training methods used by top trainers. Heading off to the local library is one way to do this at no cost, as well as researching the subject on the internet. If you have a dog that you feel may be a problem to train, skip the do it yourself and go straight for the trainer.
It will do you well to remember that a person does not need a license to be a dog trainer. Anyone who wishes can set up shop when they want and start accepting clients. Its for this reason youll want to check out any individual who provides dog training before you leave your Pit Bull in their care.
Choosing the right trainer may seem like a daunting task, but it is necessary to have a trainer who has enough experience and knowledge so that the trainer doesnt create more problems than he fixes. Find out how many years the trainer has been in business of trainer other peoples dogs. Get at least three references that you can call to ask what type of experiences they have had with their trainer.
Certain dogs, such as Pit Bulls, may have an independent streak when it comes to training. Ask the trainer how they handle dogs which may be harder to train. This is important even if your dog does well with you, he may do otherwise with a stranger. If your dog exhibits stubborn behavior, youll want to know how the trainer will handle it. You certainly dont want your Pit Bull mistreated by a short tempered trainer.
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Dec 23, 2009 | | Dogs