How to Train Pitbull Puppies to Be Guard Dogs

The appearance and maligned reputation of an American Pit Bull Terrier is an advantage to any successful Pit Bull guard dog. A guard dog is a dog that is trained to attack or restrain an intruder in order to protect their family and home. Contrary to popular belief there is some controversy over whether Pit Bulls make good guard dogs. Some say that Pit Bulls are not successful guard dogs. According to Pit Bull Rescue San Diego, Pit Bulls love humans and as a result they will treat strangers as friends and not as a threat; however, Dog Breed Info Center claims that Pit Bulls make good guard dogs and they have been successful at guarding their owners property. None the less it's important to understand that with adequate training any dog can be trained to become a guard dog, even a Pit Bull puppy.

Background on Dog Fighting

At the Beginning...

Dogfighting has been around since the 1800's in some form, and maybe even earlier. But why?

The development of modern dogfighting that is found in Europe and North and South America can be clearly traced to 1835, when "bull-baiting" was banned in England. When the ban was created, the owners of "bulldogs”, which had been used to bait bulls, bears and other animals, began to pit dog against dog. The largest, heaviest bull dogs were soon crossed with smaller, quicker terriers to make the "bull terriers" who became the common breed today - pit bulls.

All Dogs?

Not just any dog can be trained to fight. Many dogs are born with a temper, but most fights between two dogs, like in the park, usually end quickly, with one backing down.

To breed successful fighting dogs, that willingness to back down had to be eliminated. Fighting dogs continue to attack, regardless of the submission signals of an opponent. Similarly, these dogs will continue to fight even though badly injured. Gameness—a dog's willingness or desire to fight—is the most admired trait in fighting dogs.

Who's Involved?

Most law enforcement experts divide dogfight activity into three categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting and professional activity:

Street fighters engage in dog fights that are informal, street corner, back alley and playground activities. Stripped of the rules and formality of the traditional pit fight, these are spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions or the simple taunt, "My dog can kill yours." Many of these participants lack even a semblance of respect for the animals they fight, forcing them to train while wearing heavy chains to build stamina, and picking street fights in which they could get seriously hurt. Many of the dogs are bred to be a threat not only to other dogs, but to people as well - with tragic consequences.
Street fights are frequently associated with gang activities. The fights may be conducted with money, drugs or bragging rights as the primary payoff. There is often no attempt to care for animals injured in the fight and police or animal control officers frequently encounter dead or dying animals in the aftermath of such fights. This activity is very difficult to respond to unless it is reported immediately. Professional fighters and hobbyists decry the techniques and results of these newcomers to the "blood sport."

Hobbyist fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a sideline for both "entertainment" and to attempt to supplement income. They pay more attention to care and breeding of the dogs and are more likely to be traveling across state lines for events.

Professional dog fighters often have large numbers of animals (often 50 or more) and earn money from breeding, selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road. They often pay particular attention to promoting established winning bloodlines and to long-term conditioning of animals. They regularly dispose of animals that are not successful fighters or breeders using a variety of methods, including shooting and blunt force trauma. Unlike professional dog fighters of the past, both professionals and hobbyists of today may dispose of dogs that are too human-aggressive for the pit by selling them to street fighters or others who are simply looking for an aggressive dog - thus contributing to the dog bite problem.
In recent years, a fourth category of dog fighters seems to be emerging, with some wealthier individuals from the sports and entertainment worlds allegedly using their financial resources to promote "professional" dog fighting enterprises, which essentially use the philosophy and training techniques usually associated with street fighting.

Why Do People Get Involved?

For a lot of people, it's about ego - breeding fighting dogs makes them feel tough. Some fighters liken dog fighting to boxing, and see the owner as coach and the dog as prize fighter.

While some might typify dog fighting as a symptom of urban decay, not every dog fighter is poor. There are people who promote or participate in dog fighting from every community and background. Licensed vets are often well paid to provide care for dogs at fights. Audiences contain lawyers, judges and teachers drawn in by the excitement and thrill. To them, dog fighting is not brutal, it is an art.

What’s Up With Dog Fighting Now?

Beyond the "traditional" fighting, now, more commonly, dog fights are informal street corner activities. These are spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions or the simple taunt, "My dog can kill yours." Many of these participants lack any respect for the animals, forcing them to train wearing heavy chains to build stamina and picking street fights in which they could get seriously hurt. And many of the dogs are bred to be a threat not only to other dogs, but to people as well—with tragic consequences.

Humane societies and law enforcement officials have been fighting long and hard to put an end to dog fighting, but even after raids, arrests and jail time, people who fight are back in the ring. To get rid of dogfighting, experts in gangs, drug abuse, poverty, education and psychology, as well as law enforcement, are needed to understand and combat dog fighting at each level. Preventing today's youthful spectators from becoming tomorrow's dog fighters is the challenge the humane community faces for the future.

What is it About Pit Bulls?

Pit Bull. Two simple words, but so very charged, the reaction to which varies wildly. There are their fearful detractors, those who would have them demonized, having fallen prey to the dogs’ misrepresentation in the media. And then there are their champions, who are struggling to change the tide of public opinion. “Pit Bull” is, in fact, a loose term for many distinct “bully” breed dogs, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There is a general misunderstanding of the nature of dogs that fall into the Pit Bull camp, one that can be blamed largely on the sad fact that any aggressive attack is often inaccurately blamed on the scapegoated Pit Bull with little concern as to the offender’s actual breed. According to testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, the Golden Retriever, Poodle, Border Collie, English Setter, and numerous other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than the breeds commonly referred to as Pit Bulls. While the average score of the 231 breeds tested was a mere 82.4 percent, Pit Bulls scored a 86.5 percent (the higher the score the better).

In truth, bully breeds are goofy, loyal, lovey dogs, by and large fantastic with children. In the UK, they were known as “nanny” dogs, and many Victorian illustrations of family life portray a sweet Pit Bull-type dog overseeing his chubby, beribboned charges.

Yes, this personable package comes wrapped in a powerhouse of a body, one that historically was bred for the cruel blood sport of dog fighting, but these dogs are anything but mean by nature. Sure, some, if left unchecked, have more of a tendency toward dog-aggression than, say, the average affable Labrador Retriever does, but if ever there was a testament to the underlying sweet nature of these dogs, it is seen in the rehabilitation stories of the Pit Bulls seized from Bad Newz Kennels, the Virginia dogfighting ring that was run by NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

Subject to some of the worst humanity has to offer, these were dogs that were caged or chained alone in the woods, tortured, and forced to fight, the torn-apart losers of the battles callously dumped in mass graves, the females tethered to rape tables. And yet, thanks to public outcry and an unprecedented ruling by the judge overseeing the Vick case, nearly $1 million was put aside for the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs. With the help of a great many caring individuals and organizations who were unwilling to see them put down after having suffered only abuse at the hands of humans, these former dog-ring fighters have now been adopted into homes with other dogs, and are volunteering in elder-care facilities and schools to help children learn to read.

Hector, one of the Bad Newz victims, bears deep scars on his chest. He was adopted by Roo Yori, best known as the guardian of Wallace the Pit Bill, a national flying-disc champ (see the Summer 2010 issue of Modern Dog for photos of Wallace and his high-flying Frisbee grabs). Hector is now ensconced in the Yori household, where he happily shares a home with Yori, his wife, Clara, and Wallace, as well as a Rat Terrier named Scooby, Angus, a black Lab mix, and Mindy Lou, a toy Australian Shepherd. What better testament to the forgiving nature of these animals? As Jim Gorant, author of The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption (Gotham, 2010) has noted, “Generalizations and preconceptions are as unhelpful and counterproductive for Pit Bulls as they are for people.”

There is much work to do, though, to change public opinion. Many, many dogs falling into the Pit Bull camp, lumped together under this one inaccurate label, are crowding shelters, their numbers vast, the available homes few. Moved by the plight of these dogs, Brooklyn-based photographer Bethany Obrecht turned her lens to some of these animals, who hopefully faced her camera.

Sadly, most of the dogs Obrecht photographed didn’t make it, victims of an overburdened shelter system and an uninformed public. We’re hoping we can change that with a positive public relations campaign taking aim at their misrepresentation and drawing attention to the plight of legion Pit Bull-type dogs in desperate need of a home. Adopt a sweet, goofy, grinning Pit Bull today. We’re willing to bet you won’t regret it.

The truth about rottweiler tails

There is plenty of inaccurate information circulating on the internet about Rottweilers with natural tails, much of it written by people that have only owned docked Rottweilers and would NEVER consider owning a Rottweiler with a natural tail. I stopped docking in 1999 and I have owned only Rottweilers with natural tails for the past 10 years, almost immediately after the law change in Germany. I have been to countless shows with an abundant number of tailed Rottweilers, including the Klubsieger Show in Germany and the IFR World Show (where tails are the norm) and have seen the varieties of different tail carriages and sets.
There was an article on the internet that appeared when the FCI Breed Standard was first changed that describes the disastrous effect the natural tail would have on our breed. The article describes tail sets that don't exist in quality breedings any more than they existed prior to the standard change and depicts structure changes that would be necessary for a tailed dog that simply aren't true.
This photo is from an article on a anti-natural tail website depicting the Rottweiler that "we recognize"

This drawing describes a tail set as seen in Sweden

This tail only belongs on an Akita! 

This photo describes the tail as an elongation of the topline.

A Rottweiler's natural tail is carried hanging while at rest, and often over the back when excited. It normally has a slight curve. A Rottweiler does not hold it's tail in a stiff position sticking straight out from the body, but it can be captured appearing to stick straight out by a camera, with the picture taken at exactly the right moment, as the tail wags back an forth

Some additional reasons the against natural tails:

"To add a long, heavy tail to the structure described in the standards would change the center of gravity, moving it towards the rear of the dog..."

"...would lessen the Rottweiler's ability as an endurance trotter, unless the croup we desire today changes."

"...the Rottweiler's presently desired croup and tail set would have to change to accommodate an undocked tail."

"I also would expect to see the undocked Rottweiler change proportion, too, and become a longer dog." 

The author would have us believe that a natural tailed Rottweiler might look like this

The truth is, this Rottweiler has a falling croup, and was born with a falling croup with or without a tail!

Does this croup somehow become more correct without the tail?

The structure is already determined at birth, the genetics for the croup and tail set were already set in place before the puppy arrived in this world. The puppy was born with a tail and the croup remains the same whether left natural or docked by the breeder.

Using the author's own drawing, it is easy to see how correct structure remains unchanged, with or without a tail

The authors depiction of a docked Rottweiler with correct structure

The author's tail taken from the tailed dog with a falling croup

There you have it. A dog with a tail, with the same structure as the dog without the tail.

The tail structure can be faulty and the breed standard clearly describes a faulty tail as "kink tail, ring-tail, with strong lateral deviation"

Ring tail without lateral deviation

Ring tail with lateral deviation

Kinked tail

We successfully finished one of the first tailed dogs in Canada - where they allow both docked and tailed dogs in the show ring (CanCh USRC NYS'04 SWRYS'03&'04 NCRSA'04 SWRSA'05 Redwood Krest's Friday CS BH). Now there are MANY finished Canadian Champions! Both AKC and CKC judges have put up quality dogs, Friday received a 5 point major in Canada under a well known, highly regarded AKC judge. When I approached him after the show and told him "Thank you for finding my dog with the tail." he simply replied "What's not to find, he is a beautiful, correct Rottweiler and the tail doesn't make a bit of difference." Hmmm, Apparently the judges are still able to assess a dog's structure with a natural tail.

...tail selection will suddenly move from no consideration at all to major consideration in the selection of breeding stock"

We have had many litters with natural tails and have found no need to change our breeding program to accommodate some imaginary problem with the tails or structure. Despite the fact that they were previously removed, the tails still knew what they were supposed to be if left intact. Ring tails and kinked tails do occur - in some bloodlines more than others - however they have no impact on the health of the dog, they are a simple cosmetic fault.

"...a long tail would probably become injured by beating it against the wall, the table, etc."

A Rottweiler is no more prone to tail injuries than any other natural tailed dog. Would it be logical to argue that all dogs breeds should be docked to protect against tail injury? Tail sprains and injuries happen to all natural tail breeds but this has never been used as a reasonable argument to support docking of all dog breeds.

Docked or natural in the U.S. is purely personal preference. The presence of a tail has not, and will not change the structure of the breed, it is the breeders that change the structure of the breed. In the United States of America, ALL Rottweiler fanciers should striving for the same thing...

AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has a long history of being a physically active, muscular, very agile breed, and has maintained breed type for over 150 years. Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Quality is never to be sacrificed in favor of size. Characteristics that very clearly indicate crossing with other breeds are not to be tolerated.

UKC is unwilling to condone the validity of using exaggerated specimens of this breed in a breeding program and, to preserve its health and vibrancy, cautions judges about awarding wins to these representatives.

HISTORY

Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull-and-terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier’s many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Lure Coursing, Dock Jumping and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.

Rottweiler Training And The Facts You Need To Know

The Rottweiler is a very special dog breed who has many incredible characteristics and personality traits. However these very same wonderful characteristics are what can get you into some decent trouble down the road if you don't undergo proper Rottweiler training. Before you start training you're Rottweiler, you have to understand their specific traits and personality, so that you can properly stimulate them.

- The Rottweiler is a very loyal dog that needs to always be close to their family. Like most German breeds, they seem to become closer to one particular member within the family more then others. The individual who becomes closest (the "master") to their Rottweiler should be the one that is engaged in training most heavily.

- Because the Rottweiler is so loyal and family oriented, it is always very eager to please its owner/s. This makes Rottweiler training far easier then many other breeds, and the owner can take advantage of this trait and increase the success rate of the training.

- The Rottweiler is a breed that can be very aggressive and dominate if it does not undergo proper Rottweiler training. Rottweiler's by nature are dominate dogs and need to be put in place (never by force) by a dominate and assertive owner. This breed is not recommended for timid individuals.

- The Rottweiler is very protective of its family and home, and it's because of this trait that if not trained properly it can become far too protective, aggressive and wary of any people other then family in its home or even on walks. It is very important that this breed be properly socialized at a young age and it taken out into public settings often. It should also be mentioned that if you don't usually have guests in your home and socialize your Rottweiler among them, they may be okay with outside the home, but within it.

Like any other breed of dog the Rottweiler needs to undergo specific Rottweiler training to ensure that it grows up to be a great family pet and well mannered dog. Too often throughout my career as a trainer and breeder have I seen many people try to train their Rottweiler's like their Labs, and of course pay the price in the long run. Make sure that you are armed with the proper knowledge and resources to make sure that this doesn't happen to you during you're Rottweiler training.

HEALTH Rottweiler

HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA

Hip dysplasia is a skeletal defect in dogs. In hip dysplasia, the ball portion (femoral head) of the hip is not securely seated in the socket portion (acetabulum). This condition is especially common in working and sporting breeds of dogs. Certain breeds are definitely predisposed.

Normal Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is an inherited problem which is not usually present at birth. It develops within the first 6-8 months of life. The exact cause is unknown, but it is generally accepted that the condition is from the combined action of an unknown number of genes. Nutrition and environment are also believed to be contributing factors.

Concerned dog breeders and veterinarians have tried to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia through selective breeding. X-rays has been performed on potential breeding pairs in an effort to determine the status of the hip joints. Some progress has been made toward reducing the severity and incidence of canine hip dysplasia, but progress has been slow.

Hip dysplasia is defined as a biomechanical disease. That is, the muscles do not develop and reach maturity at the same rate as the bones. Since the hip depends on muscle power to be stable, it can pull apart and trigger a series of events resulting in hip dysplasia.

If a pup is so poorly developed that it cannot walk, then the demands of the musculoskeletal support system are greater than the strength of the surrounding musculature. The muscles and ligaments are unable to maintain the needed relationship between the femoral head and the acetabulum.

This results in a partial or incomplete dislocation of the femoral head. The acetabulum is unable to develop properly if the femoral head is dislocated, and is shallower than normal when the pup reaches maturity. When the femoral head is dislocated, its cartilage covering is subjected to wear and tear. This eventually leads to a miss-shaped femoral head , and osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.

The degree of hip dysplasia (mild, moderate, or severe) does not effect the signs exhibited by the affected dog. Signs may range from no symptoms to a pronounced disability. Symptoms can appear any time after 4 weeks of age, but are generally not detected, except in severe cases, until after 6 months of age.

CLINICAL SIGNS OF CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA INCLUDE:

• Lameness after prolonged exercise
• A waddling or swaying gait
• Morning stiffness
• Difficulty in standing up
• Reluctance to move
• Change in temperament
• Pain when moving the hip joints
• Limping
(These signs often appear worse on cold damp days)

Early clinical signs are caused by the stretching and tearing of the joint. This pain may disappear as scar tissue forms, and the puppy seems to get better. Unfortunately arthritis continues to get worse and eventually signs of pain appear again. Early treatment will slow or stop the development of arthritis.

The diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia is bases upon: history, symptoms, a complete physical exam, and X-rays. X-rays are necessary to confirm hip dysplasia. They can show:

• the shape and depth of the acetabulum
• the shape contour and position of the femoral head
• degenerative joint disease

TREATMENT

Hip dysplasia can be treated surgically, medically, or a combination of both. There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but with appropriate veterinary care affected dogs can live long, healthy, active lives. Non-surgical treatment can include:

• enforced cage rest when the dog is experiencing discomfort
• mild analgesics
• anti-inflammatory drugs

There are several surgical procedures that can be attempted in young dogs, and if the disease is not severe:

• Cutting of the femur and/or the pelvis and repositioning the joint. This is recommended for dogs 6-12 months of age only.
• Cutting the pectineus muscle. This is useful in relieving pain in certain cases, but has no effect upon the progression of the disease.
• Removal of the femoral head and neck. and formation of a "false joint" between the proximal femur and the pelvic musculature. Small and medium sized dogs usually do better with this procedure than larger dogs.
• Total hip replacement. Although this procedure is expensive, many dogs are able to return to full activity.