Pit Bulls in the Dog Park - Part 3 of 4

Hi everyone!  Last week I left you with some questions to share with your family and friends, sorta like a little "pop quiz" and I am excited to hear how you did on the answers. 

Just as a refresh, here are the questions, along with the answers:

1.  TRUE OR FALSE -- "Smart Socializing" involves setting your dog up for only positive dog-dog interactions.

TRUE! - The more positive interaction ANY dog gets with other dogs, the more likely he will develop and maintain dog-tolerant behavior for life.
Right: This female puppy's all-positive exposure to this well-socialized adult dog was planned for her benefit. She grew up to be a 'Dog Selective' adult meaning, she's easily offended by rude behavior from strange dogs, but she enjoys many trusted dog friends for play and socializing fun.
- See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

TRUE!  The more positive dog-dog interactions your dog has, the more his chances are increased that he will be dog tolerant.  Even a dog that starts out with selective tolerance for other dogs can be trained to be dog tolerant by intentionally setting him up with positive dog-dog play time.

TRUE! - The more positive interaction ANY dog gets with other dogs, the more likely he will develop and maintain dog-tolerant behavior for life.
Right: This female puppy's all-positive exposure to this well-socialized adult dog was planned for her benefit. She grew up to be a 'Dog Selective' adult meaning, she's easily offended by rude behavior from strange dogs, but she enjoys many trusted dog friends for play and socializing fun.
- See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

TRUE! - The more positive interaction ANY dog gets with other dogs, the more likely he will develop and maintain dog-tolerant behavior for life.
Right: This female puppy's all-positive exposure to this well-socialized adult dog was planned for her benefit. She grew up to be a 'Dog Selective' adult meaning, she's easily offended by rude behavior from strange dogs, but she enjoys many trusted dog friends for play and socializing fun.
- See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

2.  TRUE OR FALSE -- Dog parks are a dependable place to begin socializing your dog.


FALSE!  Dog parks are a great place for dogs to interact and run off their energy.  But, the dog park is not a good place for all dogs, and that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your dog.  The dog park is definitely not the place to train your dog to be sociable.  The tricky part about a dog park for dogs that aren't yet well-socialized is that it forces the dog to come face-to-face with situations that make him feel uncomfortable, and this may trigger defensiveness and other reactions that break into a fight.  And as I said before, if you want your dog to be properly socialized for life, you really don't want him to ever be in a fight if you can avoid it. 









3.  TRUE OR FALSE -- My dog is really good with the other dogs in my home, and with my cousin's dog that lives close by.  Doesn't that mean he will be fine with all other dogs he meets?


FALSE, FALSE FALSE.  Your dog's reaction to canine family members can be very different from his reaction to dogs who are not part of his family.  There are many situations where 3 dogs can live together in perfect harmony, all with different levels of "social."  They can be "dog social," "dog tolerant" and "dog aggressive," but never show their differences to each other in the comfort of their own home.  It is important to know your dog's individual social limitations so that you don't set him up for failure.  Here is a great link from our friends at Bad Rap that talks more about this topic:

http://www.badrap.org/node/97






4.  TRUE OR FALSE -- It's OK to wait until your dog experiences his first fight to know it's time to begin managing and training him about good doggie citizenship.


FALSE. You want to avoid at all cost your dog ever getting into a fight with another dog.  Dogs learn from their bad experiences just like we do, and a bad fight will likely leave him with a lasting impression that will affect his future tolerance for other dogs.

A dog’s first fight is always the one you want to avoid. Why? A bad fight can make a huge impression on your dog and cause him to have a shorter fuse the next time a dog-dog conflict comes up. Dogs learn from their bad experiences just like we do, so it’s best to protect them from conflict. - See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

5.  TRUE OR FALSE -- A good way to socialize a dog is to let her walk up to other dogs she doesn't know while on her daily walk.


FALSE.  The tension that builds at the end of a leash can lead to very intense "arguments" between two dogs that don't know each other.  Also, allowing your dog to participate in this type of greeting can set the stage for him pulling wildly on his leash the next time he passes a dog on a leash that he wants to meet.  It can also lead to a fight (and that's not something you ever want to happen).

I used to be very leash aggressive and still have my times when I need to be reminded how to behave.  My mom got this crazy idea from some book that she read and she started giving me treats every time we would see a dog approaching us on a leash.  Not just any treats, but my favorite, all time, best ever, good girl Annie treats.  Cheese, bacon, and chicken lead the list of things she carries around with us when we go for a walk.  Sometimes I think she is crazy, but it is working.  I am almost at the point where I think I will be able to pass another dog on the same side of the sidewalk and not pitch one of my little frantic fits.  (I have it down really well now that I don't pay any mind to other dogs if we are on the other side of the street.)  Also, it's important to share with you that my "leash behavior" has nothing to do with how I act toward other dogs (or any other animals) when I am off leash.  I am a very good girl at the dog park, and really hate it when other dogs get into brawls.  Makes me sad, and sometimes I run through their little group just to break them up (and it usually works!).

Here's a little tip for when someone tries to approach your dog with their dog on a leash.  Just smile and step in front of your dog and say politely, "sorry we are in training.  We are not ready for a meeting right now."   


How did you do?  I would really love to read your comments and ideas.

Also, I would really like to say that I am really glad that the dog park rules say that dogs can't be in the dog park with their leashes on.  Never, nada.  Dogs don't always show their true colors when they are at the end of a leash (me!!!) and if your dog doesn't do well off-leash around dogs, then either you need to work with your dog a little more in a smaller group, or he isn't cut out to be in the dog park at all.  He's still a great dog, but his social circle just needs to be a little smaller.  I would volunteer to be part of a small play group with any dog that is having trouble at the dog park.  Just comment here and we can make a play-date!



 

Pit Bulls At The Dog Park (Part 2 of 4-Part Series)

It's Part 2 of my 4-part series on the Dog Park, and I can't wait to tell you what happened this week!  Are you ready?  Momma took my sister and me to the Dog Park and we had a great time.  Whew ... I wasn't sure when I was going to get to go back, but it finally happened.  I love our dog park and I think the people who worked so hard to build it must really love dogs ... a lot!!!  I just wish people would behave themselves at the dog park.  Yes, I said people.  I think following the rules at the dog park is a great way to say thank you for all the hard work that went into making the dog park a reality for all of us.   

Do you know why I decided to call this little series "Pit Bulls at the Dog Park"?  There are actually several reasons:  (1) I am a pit bull, and I love the dog park; (2) there are a lot of people who don't understand me and my breed, and I want to raise awareness of what's true about us; and (3) there have been some really bad situations at our dog park that reportedly involve pit bull type dogs poor judgment being used by individual dogs that are not properly socialized.

I have a theory about why so many people lately have been complaining about pit bulls in our dog park here in Warren County.  You know me -- when I have a theory (aka opinion) I'm probably going to share it with you.  Here are a few of my thinkings:

There are a lot of pit bull type/ pit-mixed breeds in our county -- a lot more than you think.  We have lived behind closed doors for a long time because there has not been an off-leash area where we can run and be free until just last year, and in many cases our owners don't routinely take us places because of the troubling comments and gestures that we experience when we are go out in public (it's embarrassing).  In some households, dogs (not just pitties) are not exercised or stimulated on a regular basis, and have never had interaction with other dogs on any level since they were adopted.  In many cases, this is a "perfect storm" in the making, and taking ANY unsocialized dog to the dog park with no advance preparation is a recipe for disaster, and it's not fair to a dog who thinks he's just doing what he's s'posed to be doing.    

How is a dog owner supposed to know how their dog is going to act around other dogs if they have never been around other dogs?  Is the dog park the place to first get this question answered?  Lordy, no!!!  What if your dog has herding tendencies with other dogs and you have never taken the time to discover/address/manage this issue before opening that gate to the dog park?  What if your dog (who has never been around other dogs) is big and burly and is irritated by a smaller dog running around his hind legs and jumping up trying to sniff his butt say hello? How is he going to react?  Are you a gambling person who wants to wait to find out the answer to that question after you are in the dog park with 25 other dogs?  What if your dog is a terrier -- boston terrier, pit bull terrier, westhighland white terrier -- and, like many terrier type dogs, has a strong chase drive?  If she has never been around another dog (other than a family dog she sees everyday and who is not a good test of a dog's tolerance for other dogs), what are you going to do when you open that gate to the dog park and your terrier with years of pent-up energy and no effective behavior management chases after a little Yorkie, picks him up and shakes him like a rag bone?  Is that your dog's fault, or is it the result of poor owner management?  


I wish that all the people who use the park knew how to use common sense when it comes to dog-dog meetings.  Momma says that most people are smart and have common sense, but the few that leave their brains at home when they bring their dogs to the park are the ones who cause us to have to leave before we are done playing.  

I have come up with a few true/false questions I want to share with you.  Do you know the answers?  I hope they can be conversation starters in your family this week and I will give you the answers to them next week.

1.  TRUE OR FALSE -- "Smart Socializing" involves setting your dog up for only positive dog-dog interactions.

2.  TRUE OR FALSE -- Dog parks are a dependable place to begin socializing your dog.

3.  TRUE OR FALSE -- My dog is really good with the other dogs in my home, and with my cousin's dog that lives close by.  Doesn't that mean he will be fine with all other dogs he meets?

4.  TRUE OR FALSE -- It's OK to wait until your dog experiences his first fight to know it's time to begin managing and training him about good doggie citizenship.

5.  TRUE OR FALSE -- A good way to socialize a dog is to let her walk up to other dogs she doesn't know while on her daily walk.

That's it for this week.  I can't wait to see how many humans pass this basic Good Owner Management Quiz.  Will you get 100%?   I know you will!!! 

Smart Socializing involves setting your dog up for success with only positive dog-dog interactions. - See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

Smart Socializing involves setting your dog up for success with only positive dog-dog interactions. - See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

Smart Socializing involves setting your dog up for success with only positive dog-dog interactions. - See more at: http://www.badrap.org/node/98#sthash.SVY1Z54l.dpuf

Pit Bulls at the Dog Park

FIRST OF A 4-PART SERIES.

I love the Dog Park, and can't wait to start going there again.  It's my favorite thing to do and every time I see my momma get her shoes on I think we are going there and I get very, very excited.  There's just one problem, though -- we haven't been there in a very long time.  Momma has been trying to figure out when is a good time to go back and she can't figure out the answer, so I decided to write about it.  I think the solution is going to come from everyone who uses the Dog Park putting their heads together and coming up with a solution.  I love my readers, and I just know that together we can come up with the answer (which will make this little pittie a very, very happy girl).

The reason I haven't been to the dog park recently is that my momma has seen some really poor choices being made by humans when they bring their dogs to the park, and she doesn't want me and my sister Zoie to be involved or injured when things go badly.  Momma is a pretty calm person and when we get hurt she doesn't get too upset -- after all (she says) dogs will be dogs and scuffles happen.  That's not what's bugging her and it's not just a little scuffle here and there that has me and my sister sitting on the sidelines right now. As much as I hate not being a part of what's going on at my very own the dog park, I agree that things need to change, not only for me and my sister, but for all the dogs that deserve to enjoy the freedom of an off-leash park.  Here are some of my thinkings that I want to share:

No matter the breed of your dog, it might not be a good idea to take him to the dog park. Ever. 

Yep, that's right.  Some dogs don't like the dog park, and some dogs don't belong there even if they seem to like it.  Forget about the breed of your dog or the dogs you see when you go to the dog park.  Look at how YOUR dog is acting and you will know if he likes it or if he belongs there at all.  Dogs, like humans, have good days and bad days.  If you get to the dog park and your dog is having an "off" day, leave and come back another day.  Or come back in a few hours when a different mix of dogs are in the park. Or it might be that you should not ever come back  There is nothing wrong with your dog if he just simply doesn't like the dog park.  It might be his age, his individual temperament or just the day.  Only you know your dog well enough to answer the questions that must be answered in order to keep him and others safe in the dog park.

My big brother Sampson is a great example of a dog that does not belong in the dog park -- never, ever.  At home he is a big marshmallow (and a goofball), but at the park he is timid (I call him crazy) and likes to keep to himself.  Kinda funny for a guy that weighs 157 pounds, huh?  He runs around the perimeter of the fence and doesn't really want anything to do with other dogs.  If a dog approaches him while he is in the park, he barks and snarls and sounds really scary, like the lion on the Wizard of Oz.  That's all fine and dandy, until he did it to a dog that took issue with his Unacceptable Behavior, and there was a fight.  No blood, just a brawl.  Momma doesn't take Sampson to the park anymore.  This is a picture of my brother, Sampson.  He's a Giant Goofball.  

Yes, it is a full-sized couch and he takes up all the room.

 
The dog park is NOT the place to teach your dog to be sociable with other dogs.  

This is the one that's got me sitting on the sidelines right now.  Almost every time we have been to the dog park, my momma hears people talking about how they haven't had their dog around other dogs in years and they are so glad that our county has a dog park because now they can bring their dog to the park so they can be socialized.  Holy crap on a crackerOh my goodness, those are some short visits to the park when momma overhears stuff like that.  She can't get my sister and me out of the park fast enough when she hears that we're in the park with dogs that haven't been taught how to get along with other dogs. One thing that really gets momma's goat is when people say they just adopted a dog from the shelter and the next day they have them out at the dog park, sometimes even after being told by the shelter staff that the dog is not dog friendly.  That's a whole 4-part series all by itself.       

If you take your dog to the dog park and he's not ready to be there, or doesn't belong there, you are setting him up to fail, plain and simple.  At the dog park, adrenalin runs high and excitement is the theme of the day.  Taking your dog to the park without FIRST properly socializing him is like sending someone to take a test when they have never taken the class.  If you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Now, I know right now you are scratching your head and wondering if I'm out of my pretty little pittie brain.  Nope, I'm dead serious.  Teach your dog to get along with other dogs BEFORE you bring him to the dog park.  Here are some ideas from our friends at badrap.org about how to do that ....

"Creating fun socializing opportunities for your dog starts with finding other conscientious dog owners. Find them by signing up for obedience classes, meetup groups or dog sports ...to meet potential play partners for your pet. Another way to socialize your dog is to sign up as a foster home for a local rescue group.

Some maintain small play groups for their neighborhoods dogs in backyards, fenced in ball fields and small, low traffic parks. If yours does not, see if you can't find one or two dog owners in your area who might be willing to start a small social group.

Our dogs benefit from building up a large list of 'dog friendships,' much in the same way parents seek out good playmates for their small children.  If your dog just isn't fond of other dogs - No sweat. He gets the fun of enjoying play time with you all to himself. Dogs don't have to have other dog friends in order to be happy."

There are as many different reasons as there are breeds of dogs why some many dogs don't do well around other dogs, at home or at the dog park.  It's OK --there is nothing wrong with your dog.  He just needs you to understand him as an individual.  It's that simple.
 

What's up with the people that never have any issues with their dogs at the dog park?  

Dogs that have no problem playing and interacting with larger groups of dogs in rowdy play sessions are generally younger dogs.  But, as that same dog starts to get older and "feel his stuff," it's actually pretty normal for him to be less patient with other dogs' uninvited advances and rude behavior.  And it's all about perception.  What seemed like play and fun rowdiness to him at an earlier age may become very annoying to him as an adult dog.

No matter how much good socializing and training you've done, your dog's tolerance can still disappear if he's triggered into conflict by another dog's challenge, a tussle over a toy, a tug-o-war game or even a friendly wrestling match that gets a little "too exciting."

You NEVER want your dog to fight at the Dog Park.  Wanna know why?
  
In addition to the obvious reasons of your dog being injured or causing injury to another dog, big vet bills, problems with law enforcement, and liability concerns, there's another BIG reason you don't want your dog to ever fight another dog:

If you want to increase the odds of your dog remaining dog tolerant forever, NEVER let him get into his first fight.  According to experts, "whether or not your dog starts it, many a dog is forever changed by his first fight and may never be the same around other dogs again." 

And finally, on a personal note, for all pit bull families out there, during this time of breed prejudice, please remember that even the smallest display of bravado involving pit bull type dogs is going to set off alarm bells in onlookers and tarnish the reputation of our breed more and more.  It's not fair, but it's the reality we're facing right now.   Take your dog to the dog park and help him to enjoy it to the fullest  Be present with your dog and be his leader at all times while in the park.  Correct "snarly" or "rowdy" play BEFORE it escalates.  There is nothing wrong with teaching your dog an appropriate level of play when engaged with other dogs.  Save the snarly stuff for rag bones and tug of war with you at home.  He can be taught to understand the difference and he will love you for it. 

Wanna be a hero to your dog?  Be a fair player at the dog park and teach your dog to do the same. If it doesn't work for your dog, tell him it's OK to just stay home.


See you next week for Part 2 of our 4-part series on "Pit Bulls in the Dog Park."  Have a great week!!!

My Friend Cookie

I hope it's OK with all my fans and readers, but I would like to take a week off from giving my advices and opinions and tell you about a very special girl named Cookie who has found her way into my heart.

Cookie is a pittie (just like me) at the Humane Society of Warren County (where I used to be) and she has been there a long time (just like me before I got my Furever Family).  Here's the most important part -- she is really tired of being at the shelter and does not like HATES her kennel (just like me!)  She needs everyone's help to find her way out of the shelter.  I'm helping her send out her S.O.S. so she can find her Real Family very soon.

I feel like I'm the right girl to tell you about what Cookie is experiencing because we have so much in common, and I know she just wants to feel like herself again.  I think Cookie is one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen.  She is beautiful inside and out, and if you could really see her when she is outside or on an outing with Jessica (her Good Buddy), she is full of charm and energy and personality.

But in the shelter these days she doesn't really seem like she is very interested in entertaining guests or chatting with passersby, at least not while she is in her kennel.  She has been at the shelter since September 2012 and she is bummed that it's taking so long to bust out.  People walk by her kennel and say things like "Look at that sad girl."  But that's not the real Cookie.  When her Good Buddy Jessica comes to visit (twice a week as faithful as the sun and the moon), Cookie blossoms into her real self.

  

Cookie loves all of her special humans at the shelter, but she has the most fun and adventures with Jessica.  She gets to go outside and play games and learn new things.  Good Buddies have lots of time to spend with just their one lucky dog, and Cookie really loves her Good Buddy time because it gives her a chance to be herself.  Sometimes Cookie enjoys just hanging out at the shelter and playing with her special toys.  Other times, she goes on car rides (and on very special days she goes to Wendy's for cheeseburgers).

There are some days that she is just pooped after doing so many fun things, and all she wants to do is lie in the cool, green grass.

 And after running and playing ... and running some more ... sometimes Cookie just likes to close her eyes and take a snooze.  

 Cookie will very honestly tell you that she would strongly prefer to be the only dog in her Furever Home.  She grew up with kitties, but since she has been at the shelter for so long now, and she doesn't always feel like her normal, happy self, she doesn't like cats as much as she used to.  I think she could get used to cats again, with no trouble at all.  I know how it feels to be so stressed in the shelter that you don't have patience for other animals.  I was the same way after I had been there for a long time.  But once I got to my real home, (and I could tell it was my Furever Home almost on the first day), I started being really nice to the other dogs and cats in the house.  Some dogs don't like other dogs, and some don't like kitties either, and that might just be Cookie.  I just wanted to share a few of my advices on how I felt when I finally knew I was never going back to the shelter.  It makes a huge difference when you know for sure it's your Furever Home and you start to breathe and relax and trust, and there's someone in your life that loves lives to give you belly rubs as much as you like to get them.  It's the best.

Cookie is a smart girl.  She is a quick learner and a lover of people.  When she is out of the shelter, she is vibrant, bright and animated.  She is a young girl with a long and happy life waiting ahead of her. She wants her own spot on a couch, she wants her own window to sit and watch the joggers go by, and she wants her own mailman to bark at (OK, well ... she'll probably have to learn not to do that).  She really wants her own family with her own spot in the family SUV, so she can go on real family vacations.

Cookie would like to invite you to a special bake sale being held in her honor at Walmart in Front Royal on May 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's called "Cookies for Cookie."  A bunch of Cookie's very favorite humans have organized this event to help more people get to know more about Cookie so that she can find her Furever Family very, very soon. 

There are lots of ways you can help my friend Cookie to find her Furever Family.  Maybe you are her Furever Family.  If you are, then come and meet her at 1245 Progress Road, Front Royal, VA  22630.  The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday except Wednesday.  If you need a little time with Cookie to decide if it's a good fit, there's this thing called "Foster to Adopt."  (That's how I got my chance to use my disarming charm on  my "foster" parents ... it worked even better quicker than I thought it would).  Or you can share her pictures and her story in this blog post so that more people get to read about her, and then they will share, and pretty soon the whole world will know about my friend Cookie.  That would make me very happy.

Thank you for getting to know Cookie a little better.  She is a very sweet girl.  We're kinda like soul sisters.   

Please Just Call Me A Dog

Dear Annie,

If you could choose something to tell people about yourself, or about pit bull-type dogs in general, what would it be?

Signed,
Curious

Dear Curious,

Wow, I'm flattered and bewildered all at the same time.  I'm not really sure where to start.  I think first of all I would like everyone to know that I am not perfect. 

I am still learning good doggie manners.  I work on them all the time, and I'm a good girl, but I still have my weaknesses.  For example, I guard things.  I don't know why, and I am getting much better.  I don't do anything about it, I don't make a noise, or show one bit of aggression.  I just guard.  My food, my bed, the gate at the dog park, my toys, the pot roast in the crock pot, whatever seems important to me, I guard it.  Until one of my parents catches me doing it, and then I stop because I am "reminded" that I'm not supposed to be doing it.  I don't like it when I get  The Look or when my mom makes that funny noise that means "stop right this minute."  My mom says it is called "resource guarding" and I have to stop doing it.  Lots of dogs do it, but it doesn't make it right.  I don't do it as much as I used to, and I've almost broken the habit, but it has taken a long time.  It's very hard to break bad habits.   

I think it must be really hard for people to break bad habits, also, and I think people are in the bad habit of saying things about pit bull-type dogs that make us look bad, even when they don't realize that what they are saying might be harmful.  My least favorite thing for people to say to me is "Annie, you are the most well-behaved pit bull I have ever met."  Arrrrgggghhhh.

It's not that I'm not well-behaved, thank you very much, but what are they comparing me to?  What would be music to my ears is "Annie, you are the most well-behaved dog I have ever met."  Now that's what I'm talking about.  My parents did not have to train me any special way because I am a pit bull, they just had to teach me basic doggie manners and how to share and how to trust.  How I turned out had nothing to do with my breed, it had everything to do with the fact that I am a good dog.  And I am a dog that didn't get a really good start in life, so all this learning business had to come a little later in life.   

When someone tells me that I am the "best pit bull" they have ever met, what are they saying about my friend Cookie who is still waiting at the shelter?  Cookie is a very good dog, and she loves the outdoors and will never turn down a good game of fetch.

She loves the outdoors.

And she loves to get her belly rubbed.

It makes her smile.

My mom has a friend who recently said that when she hears someone say "she's the nicest pittie I've ever met," it sounds the same as if they were saying "she's the nicest felon I've ever met."  Now I know things come out wrong sometimes, and no one who has ever tried to pay us a compliment by saying this has ever intended it to come out wrong, but it sends a message to those who really don't know our breed very well that this "good pittie" is not the norm. And that's just not the truth.

So now, you wanna see some more really great pictures?  Our shelter has these really wonderful photographers (named Sue, Anna Marie and Franzi) and they spend time with all my brothers and sisters at the shelter and take pictures of them that make them look like movie stars.  Here's just a little sample of their work ....

This is Bella.  She came to the shelter as a stray and has Good Buddies who are teaching her to walk like a lady on a leash and other basic and important manners. I'm kinda jealous how she gets her one ear to do funny things.  I think it gives her a style advantage.

This handsome young boy is Dakota, and while we don't look alike, we actually are a LOT alike.  Remember, I told you about my parents having to teach me about not guarding things I love?  Well, this boy is going to be working really hard with his Good Buddy on basic manners and obedience to overcome some guarding/herding tendencies of his own.  Good luck, Dakota, I know you are going to be fine.  You just need to get your mind on other more important fun stuff.

This is Grace and she is simply beautiful.  Her Good Buddies are Joe and Amber and they are the answer to her prayers.  Grace really doesn't like the shelter, and it makes her anxious (boy, do I know that feeling).  This Saturday, Grace gets to go to the place where I get my nails done for a total beauty treatment.  She is going to get her furs all cleaned and brushed, her nails trimmed, the whole works.  I can't wait to hear how much she likes it. 

This is Genesis, but her best friends at the shelter call her Ginny.  (See her ear ... I am sooooo jealous!)  She works with 2 Good Buddies, and she is doing great, learning manners, and charming her Good Buddy Tom with kisses on his cheek.  That's the way to do it, Ginny ... keep up the good work!

And this is Karma.  She is a very young girl with lots of energy and enthusiasm.  Her Good Buddy is teaching her basic manners as well as impressing upon her that nibbling on fingers (even gently, as a puppy will do) is not a good way to make new friends.  Now tell me, if you saw this picture of Karma in the kennel, would your heart have fluttered like it did just now, or do you agree these pictures really tell you more about the individual dog?   

I love these pictures, and yes, most of them are pit bull types.  But they are ALL dogs. 
I love these pictures because they save lives.  And so do you when  you share them, and for that I thank you.

See you next week. 

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window? (Ask Annie 4-27-2013)

Dear Annie,

Can you help me understand why so many people say it is not a good idea to buy a puppy from a pet store?  I have 2 dogs that I bought as puppies from a pet store.  I feel so sorry for them.  Don't they need to be rescued, too?

Signed,
Animal Lover

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Dear Animal Lover,

Thank you for asking this question.  You have asked a very important question and I have taken some extra time to gather information about pet stores and puppy mills. It wasn't that I am not sure how I feel about pet stores -- I'm very positive that I dislike them very, very much.  I am just so passionate about it that I wanted to be sure to give you as many facts and information about it as possible, and also do a very good job. 

First of all, the reason I hate really dislike pet stores is because virtually all pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills.  (My mom won't let me use the word hate, even when I want need to.)  Puppy mills are terrible, terrible places and they do terrible things to dogs and puppies.  Here is a little information on why puppy mills are so bad (it is really not going to be easy to read what I am going to write about puppy mills, but it is true, and it's important to me for my readers to know about it):

A puppy mill is a crude, outdoor breeding farm that mass-produces puppies for sale to pet stores, and regularly supplies dogs to laboratories and animal brokers. If one of these breeding farms is breeding more than 3 females dogs at a time, it is considered a puppy mill.  Dogs in puppy mills are farmed as "livestock" and they are viewed as a cash crop.  Expenses are kept down to maximize profits, and the puppies and the momma dogs suffer for it.

In puppy mills, large groups of puppies "live" together in small crates, and their crates are stacked on top of each other, forcing the dogs in the bottom rows of crates to be urinated and defecated on.  Not only do the poor puppies on the bottom rows get very dirty and even sick, the constant standing in urine causes discomfort (or worse) to their paws.

Being an adult female dog in a puppy mill is a life sentence of torture.  The adult females are chained together with male dogs for weeks at a time to facilitate breeding.  They are forced to become pregnant over and over again, doing the hard work of carrying and delivering litter after litter, and they never get to live a normal life.  They are killed or auctioned off when they are no longer able to produce a profitable litter of puppies for the puppy mill.

Puppies are generally taken from their mothers at about 7 weeks of age.  They are sold to brokers who pack them in crates and ship them to the pet stores who have purchased them.  The conditions during transport are often so bad that not all of the puppies survive.  Those that do survive are often infected with contagious viruses, respiratory ailments and parasites.  Since the puppy mills and pet stores are trying to always watch their profits and keep themselves in the "black," the puppies (even the sick ones) often go without veterinary care.  Since the parents of these puppies were not well cared for either, the puppies in a pet store (i.e., from a puppy mill) are usually not healthy, and often have health issues related to overbreeding, and are at high risk for behavioral and temperament problems because of inbreeding.  They are almost never properly socialized because they lack proper, positive contact with humans. 

You know one of the strangest things about puppy mill/pet store puppies?  They often end up in shelters.  Yes, that's right.  They rarely get the attention they need to become well-adjusted, and since they are not properly socialized, the person who spent upwards of $1,000 for the "doggie in the window," they are often returned to the store where they were purchased, but more often are dropped off at shelters.  

By their very existence, puppy mills doom other animals. The marketing of approximately 1 million puppy mill animals each year prevents many people from adopting animals from pounds and shelters. It also undercuts the spay/neuter efforts of animal advocacy organizations.

SHOULD YOU BUY A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE?  NO!!!!  As long as pet store customers purchase puppies, puppy mills will have a market. If you purchase a puppy, another animal will take it’s place. The mothers of the pups will continue to suffer.  And the circle will never end. Puppy mills will continue to do what they do for as long as unsuspecting people continue to buy puppies at the pet store.  Don't fall for their marketing tactics ... they are going to tell you that the dogs they are selling come from "reputable breeders," and they will try and persuade you with well-rehearsed sales tactics, but please don't fall for it.  It's not true.  No matter how believable they sound.  Reputable breeders don't sell to pet stores.  

Here's something I just found out about:  When you buy a puppy online, in reality you are often buying from a retailer who gets their puppies from a puppy mill. 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME GOOD NEWS?  About one-fourth of the dogs at shelters are purebred dogs and puppies, and most of them are there for reasons other than  "dog behavior" issues.  They are healthy and well-socialized and they are waiting for you to adopt them.  You will usually get to hear about the dog's temperament, likes, dislikes, health issues, and other important background information, either because the former owner shared it with the shelter when the dog was surrendered, or the caring shelter staff has spent time with the dog, and gotten to know him personally.  They have great human contact and our shelter even has play groups for their dogs.  In our shelter, we have the Good Buddy Program, and it's a sure bet that if you adopt a dog that has had a Good Buddy, you are going to get lots of input about the dog. 



HOW DO YOU HELP SHUT DOWN PUPPY MILLS?  Don't buy a puppy from a pet store, OR online.   

It seems to me that not only is it a good thing to rescue/adopt a dog from a shelter, it's the best chance for getting a Really Good Dog.

ADOPT, DON'T SHOP!

What's Wrong With Those Shelter Dogs?

Over the past 2-3 months I have had the unexpected pleasure of being involved very closely and directly with the dogs at the Humane Society of Warren County, as the leader of the Good Buddy Program.  I hesitate to call  myself the "leader," but rather think of myself more as an organizer, or facilitator, to a group of selfless and talented volunteers who understand the temporary interruption that these dogs are experiencing and they want to help them through it.  And help them through it they do, with flying colors.

Because of this program, and the volunteers who make it work, dogs come into the program, and they get adopted -- with a very high success rate.

Tucker - Adopted

Caliber - Adopted

 It is undoubtedly the most challenging and rewarding volunteer undertaking of my life, and the question is already echoing in my head "who rescued who?" when it comes down to how much this work and my involvement with this wonderful group of dogs and people are transforming my life.  I dedicate this blog post to those volunteers who make this program work, and to the dogs, who need to be heard, through our voices. 

Sasha - Adopted

So, the question is asked, and asked often, "if these dogs are so wonderful, they why are they in the shelter?"  It's a question I used to ask as a younger and less experienced human being, so I don't judge those that ask it.  It just means more to me now than ever to bring the question out into the open and answer it.  Because there are hundreds of answers, but then only one answer.  Stated another way, there are hundreds of reasons why a dog might end up in a shelter, but it is rarely because the dog did anything wrong.


What does go wrong that make them "homeless shelter dogs"?

Beowolf - Adopted

Someone buys a small puppy and then it gets big.  Really big.  And eats too much, costs too much, is too hard to handle outside, needs too much space.  Dogs don't usually end up at the shelter because they did not get as big as expected.

Piper - Adopted

Training issues are a big reason dogs end up at the shelter.  Someone buys a dog because the dog is cute, or reminds them of Lassie, or Petey, or Benji.  But then they are surprised that the dog is not also as "smart" as those dogs on TV, or the cute little dog on the commercial.  It is a very unrealistic expectation to believe that a dog (even if it's not a puppy) will already know how to behave in his new home without being taught.

Enzo - Adopted

Some owners have to have a certain breed because they like how the breed looks.  However, many dogs, Shih Tzus, Westhighland White Terriers, Poodles, all have to be groomed regularly to maintain that "look," and this is also very expensive.
 

Hunter - Adopted

Sometimes dogs are surrendered to the shelter because their lifespan turns out to be longer than the owner expected. Yes, it's true, and I have seen it happen in my extended family, so as horrific as it sounds, it happens.  Some people really do believe that the average total lifespan for a dog is 5-6 years.  Barring health problems, and depending on breed, a dog can live for as long as 15-20 years.


Some people feel "cheated" when that purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback they just paid hundreds of dollars for has too many flaws and will never be "show" material.  Disappointed, and possibly even angry, they surrender the dog to the shelter.

Boss - Adopted

Sometimes dogs are surrendered because of a "lifestyle mismatch."  I know someone quite well who continues to insist that she must have a Westhighland White Terrier.  Over and over again, she gets one, and then gets rid of it because it's too "high energy."  Surprise!!!  Westies, for all their cuteness and adoreable-ness are sporting dogs and they like to be in motion.  Almost all the time.

The daily care and feeding of a dog is non-optional, and when a dog "belongs" to a child in the house, and then the child loses interest in caring for the dog, often the parents take the dog to the shelter, either to "teach the child a lesson" or because of work constraints, they feel they are left with no other choice.

Coco - Adopted (and her puppies)

Many times, a family gets a dog (not from a shelter) and fails to have it spayed or neutered, either because they don't understand the importance of it, or they want their children to experience the "miracle of birth."  The puppies are born, and quickly become an inconvenience and a huge expense. To the shelter they go. 

New baby, new house, new landlord, health issues, new job, military deployment ... the list goes on.  But you get the picture.  Nothing mentioned so far could be considered the dog's "fault," and in a few cases, it's not necessarily one human's "fault," either.  Life isn't fair, and many indviduals and families put a different emphasis on the importance of their dog's place in their family.  Some dogs are not considered family members at all.

Harry - Adopted

BSL (Breed Specific Legislation), as ineffective as it is, forces many perfectly good (PERFECTLY GOOD) dogs to end up in shelters.  It is an ongoing battle, and it appears the tide is beginning to turn for the better.

A dog is often brought in to the shelter as a stray by Animal Control or a concerned citizen.  They need to learn basic commands, housebreaking, leash walking, but they are often still good dogs.


Sometimes a dog is brought to the shelter as the victim of abuse or neglect -- a problem created by a human, not the dog. In the end, these dogs often make the best additions to a new family because they have gone from a neglectful home to a loving home and they "get it."

Jezebel - Adopted

There is a saying that says you can't pick your family members, but that's really not true ... not when there are always wonderful dogs waiting to be adopted at your local animal shelter.  
 

Lucy - Adopted

Brandy - Adopted

Cid - Adopted

Athena - Adopted

Bones - Adopted

Tessie - Adopted