FULL FOCUS ON THE BLACK AMERICAN BULLDOGS

I've had the pleasure to meet everyone of these beautiful American Bulldogs. Francesco Arnone is the owner. He is one of  few passionate breeders continuing the "Black American Bulldog" I'd like to take the time to give him credit and my support in his quest in producing not only a fine looking dog but dogs that have the temperament of quality and integrity. FULL FOCUS AMERICAN BULLDOGS - Steve The Dog Trainer

DOG RESCUE'S HIS FRIEND (ANOTHER DOG) COOL VIDEO

Dogs have feelings. PERIOD watch this video, i can say that im proud to work with dogs..... 


steve the dog trainer

TIME MAGAZINE: DEBUNKING ALPHA DOG MYTH

My rebuttal to this article is the entry, please read this and see what i have to say about it. As always share your comments.


Taken from TIME magazine: written by JENINNE LEE-ST. JOHN



Dogs are descended from wolves. Wolves live in hierarchical packs in which the aggressive alpha male rules over everyone else. Therefore, humans need to dominate their pet dogs to get them to behave.

This logic has dominated the canine-rearing conversation for more than five years, thanks mostly to National Geographic's award-winning show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.But many experts say Millan's philosophy is based on now-debunked animal studies and that some of his techniques — most famously the alpha roll, in which he pins a dog on its back and holds it by the throat — are downright cruel.

Rival trainer Victoria Stilwell has launched a competitive assault on Dog Whisperer by starring on Animal Planet's It's Me or the Dog and by spreading her system of positive-reinforcement training virtually and with troops on the ground: this June she launched a podcast (available on positively.com and iTunes) and franchised her methods to a first batch of 20 dog trainers in the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Greece. She uses positivity as a counterpoint to dominance theory and reserves her aggression for the poorly behaving humans.

The debate has its roots in 1940s studies of captive wolves gathered from various places that, when forced to live together, naturally competed for status. Acclaimed animal behaviorist Rudolph Schenkel dubbed the male and female who won out the alpha pair. As it turns out, this research was based on a faulty premise: wolves in the wild, says L. David Mech, founder of the Minnesota-based International Wolf Center, actually live in nuclear families, not randomly assembled units, in which the mother and father are the pack leaders and their offspring's status is based on birth order. Mech, who used to ascribe to alpha-wolf theory but has reversed course in recent years, says the pack's hierarchy does not involve anyone fighting to the top of the group, because just like in a human family, the youngsters naturally follow their parents' lead.

Says Bonnie Beaver, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): "We are on record as opposing some of the things Cesar Millan does because they're wrong." Likewise, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) issued a position statement last year arguing against the aggressive-submissive dichotomy.

It is leadership by showing a good example, not dominance, that AVSAB says owners should strive for in relation to their dogs. The organization's statement, which does not explicitly name Millan but references his terminology and some of his controversial techniques, argues that dominant-submissive relationships that do occur in nature are a means to allocate resources — a problem that rarely exists between dogs and their owners. (Nor even, AVSAB notes, among feral dogs, which live in small, scavenging groups without alphas controlling access to food and mates.) House pets, on the contrary, bark too much, jump up on you, ignore your commands, growl and nip at you because they have been inadvertently rewarded for this behavior or because they have not been trained to act differently.

To be sure, Millan's approach to retraining is sometimes warm and fuzzy, and he has much common ground with positive-reinforcement trainers like Stilwell. Both trainers strive — as much as possible with a nonspeaking animal — to determine the psychological cause of a pup's misbehavior. Both encourage people to ignore dogs' annoying habits so as not to accidentally reward them with attention. Both agree that punishment is only effective during or within half a second after the offending behavior: yell at Butch for peeing in your kitchen after he's already walked away, and Butch will think he's in trouble for walking away. Both trainers obviously love animals.

But, AVSAB says, calling a dog's behavior aggressive, as Millan often does, should be reserved for the most violent animals, and some critics even dislike the quick smacks on the flank he gives to focus a dog's attention. "Discipline doesn't come in the form of screaming at your dog, hitting your dog or putting it into an alpha roll," says Stilwell. "When you do that, instinct tells the dog to shut down, which is mistaken for calming, but really you're making the dog more insecure."

Such insecurity can have unintended consequences. For one thing, rather than submit, your pets might lash out at you. "They may react with aggression, not because they are trying to be dominant but because the human threatening them makes them afraid," AVSAB says. For another, even if a dog looks subdued, you don't know what's going on inside. "Fear increases cortisol," says AVMA's Beaver, a professor at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine. "Long-term fear increases it significantly and can lead to long-term health problems associated with stress" — a point that Stilwell, in her melodious British accent, likes to point out to her clients on TV.

Take the example of Atlanta couple Louie Newman and Judy Griffin, who already had two Lhasa apsos when they adopted a rescue poodle named Manny. Not only did Manny pick fights with the other dogs, he also would attack Newman whenever he went near his wife or even tried to hand her the remote control. Newman and Griffin thought Manny wanted to control everyone, but Stilwell told them he was just trying to figure out his status in the household. "She said he was always tense. He didn't ever blink. I would've never thought to check if my dog blinked," says Newman, a recording executive in Nashville, who learned to relax when approaching Manny and to court him with treats. "He was really insecure. Who would have thought that? He acted like he owned the house."
Of course, letting Manny's whims rule the roost was one of the couple's big mistakes. The question is to what extent they, or any dog owner, should put him in his place. With Stilwell gearing up for her third American TV season and Millan in the middle of his sixth, the answer may be a lot simpler and less dramatic than producers would have us think. "All I have to be is one position higher than that dog," says Beaver. "I raise him to see me as a leader. Not an alpha, a leader."

METHOD'S? WHAT METHODS... DOG ARE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL

     Great article on TIME magazine (internet) that brought up some fallacies towards the public's idea of dog training. The last few years i've been asked about Cesar Milan's methods. It's been met with mixed reviews but mostly positive ones in favor of him cause the majority of the public have no idea what it takes to train a dog. He's accomplished much since he's been on TV but also given the public a rather "get it done now" attitude. Victoria Stilwell is the new trainer on the block and I've given her a lot of props for her way of dealing with owners and there dogs yet she too has made dog training look easy for the public. If you have an plumbing problem you call a plumber. If you have an electricity issue you call an electrician but when you have a dog problem, you either ask your friends/family or simply look at what they are doing and try to solve them yourself. Truly it is not as simple as that. 


     My reason's for this entry on my blog is to share my opinion (we all have one) in what I believe is REAL behind dog training. To also share my beliefs in the methods we see on TV and how we can better live with our dogs knowing what we've created today and how to deal with it for the future. 


     I've always said there isn't a true method in training dogs."If you train 10 dogs the same way, 9 dogs aren't trained right!" Let me explain, ANY teacher will vouch. You have 20+ (in LAUSD 30+ lol) kids in your classroom and as a teacher they realize that kids learn at different rates and with a different approach. Dogs are NO different, one of the most popular methods of the last 30 years has been the Koehler method. In our industry, it's called the "force method" where you basically enforce by "motivating dogs by anticipation of punishment" (the red light effect, we all know that RED LIGHTS means to stop but it was embedded in our heads by law and of our upbringing - family members. If we break the law, we pay a consequence) 


     I've seen many, many dogs fail from it. Why? you simply can't force every dog to do what you want them to do. Some dogs simply don't have the mental nerves to handle the corrections that is brought forth with this method which in turn is why there are other ways (methods) to approach and reach the same results. 

     "If you treat a dog like a human, he'll turn around and treat you like a dog" (remember that) is what i've said since i began training dogs. We live in a world where we're humanizing our dogs. Most of the material and methods you find are from 20 to 30 years ago. New books are not so new, it is information that have been copy/pasted and no one's really written anything about it. 


     A prevalent issue today that wasn't 20+ years ago is "Separation Anxiety" 20+ years ago, owners simply left there dogs outside and never allowed them into homes. Dogs were dogs, backyard pets that only saw human contact whenever someone came outside to clean, feed, and/or lounge in yards. Dogs were never allowed to be in homes let alone furniture, in the bed or around family gatherings. 


     All has changed, we live in a world that dogs are allowed in all the above situations but even more so. This new way of living with our pets have brought on new habits and new problems that dog trainers have to deal with and the books of past never made a mention of it cause it was not prevalent. Which brings me to the methods that are being used today, dogs need to be addressed and trained differently than before. I call it the "Humanization of the Dog World"


     Some see Mr. Milan's method's as "downright cruel" The article makes a mention of the "Hierarchical packs in which the aggressive alpha male rules over everyone else. Therefore, humans need to dominate their pet dogs to get them to behave" It furthers states that it is now a DEBUNKED MYTH. I tend to disagree with this statement, mainly for the reasons that dogs are pack animals and that they see humans in 3 ways: "either your above them, equal to them or below them" just as we humans view each other but not for the same reasons. Dogs need direction, they've been domesticated for the purpose of fulfilling the needs we needed them for at the time. Now-a-days we allow technology to do mostly everything but dogs still play a major role in our society.


     Ms. Stilwell's wants the viewer to see it differently, she "uses positivity as a counterpoint to dominance theory and reserves her aggression for the poorly behaving humans" WHY? She wants to make money, who doesn't. She has to appear different to the public and have her own method of training. She's done a fantastic job in getting owners to see there problems and learning how to deal with them, i've said that since I watched her show. All in all, owners are the one's to blame NOT the dogs. I've stated to my clients that in the last thousands of years, dogs have not changed. WE HAVE!


     Which is why I began writing this entry in the first place, to explain that NO ONE'S method is better than the next. We all simply want dogs to be better family members. So why not find the method that works with the type of dog you have. 


     Both trainers love dogs, its obvious. They both have an understanding that dogs don't talk back so it is important to understand what's going on in the dogs head before passing judgement. Yet I disagree with this statement as well:


     "Both agree that punishment is only effective during or within half a second after the offending behavior: yell at Butch for peeing in your kitchen after he's already walked away, and Butch will think he's in trouble for walking away" 


     How many times have you left your home, come back an hour or so later and found your dog hiding from something they've done? From chewing up a pair of shoes or Peeing on the kitchen floor they realize they've done wrong and therefore begin the process guilt by hiding. It could've happened 2 mins before you got home. DOGS have no concept of time so they don't understand if it's been a one minute or one hour. They know what's wrong and right. So why wouldn't you not correct the dog for this behavior and let them know what they did wrong?


     "If you treat a dog like a human, he'll treat you like a dog" remember that statement above? this is the humanizing of your dog, once it feels accepted as a family member (a human) it begins to act as if home is a den and whatever goes, GOES. Urinating, chewing, jumping and such is accepted in a dogs den so why not your home. Dogs don't have the capacity to treat you like a human cause there dogs, we humans can mimic and THINK we are dogs. 


     Now for the importance's of this entry,"In order to correct a problem, you have to allow the problem to happen" a simple philosophy that must be understood when dealing with your dog. Dogs are all the same, it's a matter of cause an effect. They do something wrong, we teach them how to do it right with all the AVAILABLE methods to get it done. Not what 2 people and there methods have to say. You have one using the words "Dominance" and another saying "Leadership" but there both the same. Look, they are both right is my point but to get the bottom of it all available methods should be seek and understanding the type of dog you own will help you better navigate through the madness of dealing with dog training. 


     I always say "dogs need affection but more importantly they need direction" so love them all you want but remember they're still dogs, teach them and stop "enabling" your dogs by looking for excuses. Look at yourself in the mirror and see what your doing wrong, a method I found when dealing with dogs is simple: do the opposite of what your dogs wants to do and usually it will work in your favor. (if he wants to walk fast, walk slow. if he wants to go right, go left. if he wants to hump your leg, don't allow him) simple method that no one can take credit for, just one that seems to work with many dogs but again not all. 


     

Boy, 2, is fatally mauled by family dog in San Diego

I hate to post these types of stories, my condolences to the family!!!!! I stated in my twitter account that when you read about these types of stories, think of the situation before passing judgement on a breed. This dog was probably not trained/socialized well enough and left in a backyard/garage and anyone including the child can be subject to be bitten. This is a Shepherd we are talking about, for once at least it wasn't a Pit Bull....

Boy, 2, is fatally mauled by family dog in San Diego

A 2-year-old boy was fatally mauled Saturday morning by a German shepherd in the family home in off-base military housing in San Diego, police said.

The child was rushed to Rady Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The family lives in military housing in the Tierrasanta neighborhood; the father is forward deployed. The dog was the family pet.

The boy's mother was sleeping at the time of the incident, police said. The death is under investigation.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Rabid dogs roam holiday hotspot, kill at least 78

Vaccinating your dogs is very important no matter what country you live in, as in Bali Indonesia an epidemic of rather large proportions is hitting home. Please read, as always your comments are welcomed. 

Steve the Dog Trainer.....

By MARGIE MASON, AP Medical Writer 

BALI, Indonesia – Putu Valentino Rosiadi should have started third grade this month. But instead of buying a new school uniform and notebooks, his father mournfully cradles a black-and-white photo.
The 8-year-old was next door when a stray dog jumped him in May, ripping its teeth into the boy's right calf. He was stitched up at a local hospital and sent home. His family was told no cases of rabies had been reported in their area.

Earlier this month, a high fever hit him. Valentino died two days later.
"He was delirious. There was foam coming out of his mouth," said the boy's father, Komang Suda, 32. "Every time we tried to give him water, it was like he went into shock. He was shaking and very agitated."

A rabies epidemic has gripped Bali, an island of 3 million people and one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Seventy-eight deaths have officially been logged in the past two years, including that of a 40-year-old woman a week ago, and many other deaths have likely gone unreported.
The Indonesian government says it's overwhelmed, with more than 30,000 dog bites reported in just the first half of this year across Bali. In a highly criticized move, officials killed about 200,000 dogs, instead of initially conducting mass vaccinations as recommended by the World Health Organization.

"We have a serious problem with the anti-rabies vaccine for humans ... we are very short of treatment across the island," said Nyoman Sutedja, chief of Bali's provincial health ministry, who expects all stocks to run out by next month. "We need help."
Hospitals across Bali have faced periodic shortages of free post-exposure vaccines since the outbreak began, leaving poor residents with few options. The shots remain available at pharmacies, but many Balinese cannot afford them.

"The sad part is they get to the hospital and they get turned away because they don't have any vaccines," said Janice Girardi, an American who runs the nonprofit Bali Animal Welfare Association, which has vaccinated 45,000 dogs and recently received funding to conduct an islandwide campaign. "Then they go home and die."

Several countries, including the United States and Australia, have issued travel warnings advising vacationers to consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccinations before arriving and to avoid contact with dogs while in Bali. A handful of foreign tourists have reported dog bites, but none have been fatal.
Shots given immediately after contact with saliva from a rabid animal can easily prevent death. But once symptoms appear, treatment is useless.

Rabies kills some 55,000 people annually — mostly children — with nearly 60 percent of those deaths from dog bites in Asia, according to the WHO. The disease still exists in the U.S., but human deaths are extremely rare. Nearly all bites occur from wild animals, such as raccoons or bats.
The rabies incubation period can last from a few weeks to months or even beyond a year. Flulike symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and fever, are the first signs of infection, followed by agitation, breathing problems, fear of water, paralysis and coma.

Bali dogs, often covered in a scaly mange, are a common sight across the island. They roam beaches and hang out in packs, lounging around temples and markets. Many are kept as guard dogs, but as part of the island's Hindu tradition, most are typically allowed to run and breed freely. They forage for food from restaurants and garbage heaps, and have largely coexisted peacefully with locals and tourists. The entire island remained free of rabies until the first case was reported in November 2008.
Some believe rabid dogs from the neighboring island of Flores may have carried the virus with them into Bali aboard boats. Many Indonesian sailors refuse to leave port without their dogs, convinced canines are a source of good luck at sea.

"Culturally, it is difficult to convince people that dogs can carry disease," Sutedja said. "In the traditional Balinese faith people believe that dogs will take them to heaven."
Once rabies arrived, the virus spread quickly because a mass vaccination campaign was slow to start. Government officials opted to kill dogs in areas where human rabies cases occurred, using strychnine-filled meatballs and blow darts.

A third of the island's estimated 600,000 dogs have been killed since the outbreak began, Sutedja said. But he admitted the problem has only worsened with more puppies being born along with a spike in dog bites. Only about a quarter of Bali's dogs are kept as pets.
"The government doesn't want to do what everybody tells them from the WHO on down," said Dr. Henry Wilde, a rabies expert at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, which serves as a WHO collaborating center on the disease. "It's a virtually hopeless situation."
Because dogs are territorial, vaccinating an entire village creates a natural barrier to keep rabid strays out, Wilde said. He added that in some cases, vaccinated dogs were being killed. About 70 percent of the dog population must be vaccinated to control the spread of the virus, but so far only about 20 percent of Bali's dogs have been reached.
Sutedja said the government has responded seriously to the threat, fearing dog attacks could damage its lucrative tourism industry, which so far has remained strong.

The island, known for its sun, surf and shopping, has slowly rebounded from two suicide bombings in 2002 and 2005 that killed more than 220 people. Many hope next month's release of the movie "Eat Pray Love," filmed on location in Bali with Julia Roberts, will attract hordes of new visitors.
But Valentino's father is a world away. He sits quietly outside his tiny two-room brick house nestled among lush banana trees near the western border with Java, about 100 kilometers from the five-star beach resorts and exquisite restaurants bustling with tourists.
Since the dog that attacked his son was killed and never tested for rabies, no one can say for sure whether his boy was infected with the deadly virus. Doctors maintain a rare autoimmune disease was to blame. Sutedja, however, said rabies is the suspected cause because dogs in the village had tested positive for the disease.

"I'm definitely upset, but there's not much I can do," said the boy's father, as a warm summer rain poured down. "My kid is dead and nothing can bring him back."

BSL 861 - Pit Bull

Scott Andrade of BreedMagazine and I did this video a couple of years ago in order to bring awareness to SB 861, it was a spoof of what the NBA was using for there commercial's at the time with players. In order to get the word across we created these video's, different approaches needs to be taking. We had fun in the making of the  video's and I'll post them all up for your viewing.... as always your comments are appreciated..... 




steve the dog trainer

WHAT TO DO WHEN ANIMAL CONTROL COMES KNOCKING

WHAT TO DO WHEN ANIMAL CONTROL COMES KNOCKING

 by George J. Eigenhauser Jr.

SOMEONE SENT THIS ON MY FB, VERY INTERESTING.... PLEASE READ AND SHARE.

Steve the dog trainer......

ANTI-DOG ENFORCEMENT

What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know:

Dog owners and ethical breeders are increasingly being targeted. Disgruntled neighbors may

retaliate against dog owners, and many other reasons drive complaints and anti-dog enforcement

action, which many times may be conducted illegally. The following text outlines methods of

inquiry and enforcement that may be used by local officials in an attempt to enforce ordinances in

your community and suggested techniques of response. These techniques are entirely legal and

based upon the rights of citizens as stated by the US Constitution. No breeder or rescuer wants to

have Animal Control come knocking on the door ... but, if they do, it will help if you know what

your options are. Remember, Animal Control is law enforcement. They are bound by the same

Constitution as any other government agency. To protect yourself, you need to know your rights.

These vary slightly one jurisdiction to another, but some general principles apply. One rule applies

everywhere: NEVER physically resist an officer.

When Animal Control is At Your Door:

1. Do not let them in, no matter how much they ask. Animal Control generally cannot enter your

home without a warrant, or without your permission. While regular police can enter in emergency

situations when human life is at risk (i.e., they hear gunshots or a scream inside), there are few, if

any, situations in which Animal Control can enter your home without a warrant. Simply tell them

(very politely) they may not come in.

2. If you let them in, anything they find in "plain sight" can be used against you. In some

circumstances, Animal Control officers , unable to find a legitimate reason to make an arrest, have

reported building or zoning violations. This may include caging you attached to a wall without a

building permit, that extra outlet in the puppy room, having more pets than allowed by zoning, even

extension cords in violation of fire codes! No matter how clean your kennel, if they want to find

a violation ... they will.

3. Do not talk to them from an open doorway. Step outside and close (lock it, if possible) the

door behind you. This is necessary because:

A) Anything they see through the open door is in "plain sight" and may be the basis for an

arrest or probable cause for a search warrant.

B) If they make an arrest or even feel threatened, they are usually permitted to search for

weapons in your immediate area. Do you keep a baseball bat behind the front door for your

protection? Even if you don't, once they step inside to look, they are in your home and may

continue to search.

C) It is hard not to be intimidated by someone in authority. Some animal control is even done

by local police, who carry guns. It is easy for them to get "in your face", causing you to back up

into your home. Once you go in, it will be interpreted as an invitation to follow.

4. If they claim to have a warrant, demand to see it. In general, a search warrant must be signed

by a judge. A warrant to search your home for dogs does NOT include an inventory of your jewelry

box. A warrant to search your kennel in the garage or in the barn does not include a search of your

home.

5. In some locations, dog owners may have obtained special "breeder or rescue permits" that

stipulate that Animal Control has your permission to enter your kennel at any time. If you have

signed such a permit, they still cannot enter against your wishes since you can revoke permission

at any time. However, if you refuse permission, it may allow them to cancel your permit, so you

have to weigh the consequences.

6. WARNING -- anyone in lawful possession of the premises may be able to give permission

for a search. Make sure your roommate, babysitter, dog sitter, housekeeper, etc. know they should

NEVER let animal control into your home or on your property (i.e., backyard, garage, barn, etc.).

How to Handle Questions:

1. Don't answer any questions beyond identifying yourself for the officer. Anything you say to the

officer in your defense cannot be used in court (hearsay). Anything you say that is harmful to you

will be used in court (confessions are not considered hearsay). You cannot win except by remaining

silent.

2. Be polite, but firm. Do not argue, bad-mouth, curse, threaten, or try to intimidate the officer.

3 Do not lie to an officer; however, it is NOT a lie to exercise your right to remain silent.

4. Keep your hands in plain sight. People have been shot by police when common objects, such as

a wallet, were mistaken for a gun.

5. Do not touch the officer in any way. Do not physically resist an officer, no matter how unlawful

his or her actions.

6. Don't try to tell your side of the story; it cannot help.

7. Do not threaten the officer that you plan to file a complaint for their actions.

8. If the questioning persists, demand to speak to a lawyer first. Repeat as necessary.

Gathering The Facts:

1. Get the name and badge number of each officer involved. If he/she does not volunteer this

information, ask.

2. Ask the name of the agency they represent. Different agencies have different enforcement

responsibilities.

3. Ask why they are there. Request factual basis of the complaint and complainant's identity.

4. If they have other people with them (HSUS, press, etc.), get names and organizations for all

present.

5. Note names & addresses of any witnesses to the encounter.

6. If you are physically injured by an officer, take photographs of injuries immediately, but do not

forego proper medical treatment as soon as possible.

7. Write down all information, as well as date and time of incident, immediately while details are

still fresh in your mind.

8. If your rights are violated, file a complaint with the appropriate body.

If You Are Arrested:

1. REMAIN SILENT -- answer no questions until you have consulted with a lawyer.

2. DON'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING -- you will have time for explanations after you talk to your

lawyer.

3. They must allow you a phone call (for calling a lawyer or to arrange bail) within a reasonable

amount of time. They are NOT allowed to listen to your phone call to your attorney, but may

"monitor" the rooms for "your protection". Do not say anything you do not want overheard; save

that until after you are out on bail.

Telephone Inquiries or Threats:

You may receive telephone inquiries concerning the number of dogs you own and whether any dogs

or puppies are for sale.

Other questions may also be asked. Your response should be to inquire "Are you interested in a

puppy?". If the answer is "yes", ask for the person's name and phone number. Suggest that you or

a responsible breeder will contact that person at a more convenient time for you.

If the answer is friendly and genuinely inquisitive, invite the person to look at your puppies.

If you are asked, "What is the price of your pups?", simply say that puppies of this breed are being

sold for between "X" and "Y" dollars. NEVER say that you are selling them.

If you are asked, "Are these your puppies?", you should ask, "Why do you want to know?"

If conversation indicates the person represents County Clerk's Office or other official body, ask for:

--- Full name, title & phone number

--- Agency's full name and address

--- Supervisor's full name and phone number

--- Nature of inquiry (what it is about)

--- Why the inquiry is being made

--- How your name and phone number were obtained

--- Ask that all future questions from that agency be submitted in writing

Preventative Measures:

1. Always keep your kennel clean and take good care of your animals.

2. Consider a PO Box or other address for business cards and advertisements. Keep descriptions

of your location general (i.e., Southern California, rather than the name of the city where you live).

The internet can provide anonymity for initial contacts. You can even buy a "remote prefix" to get

a number from a nearby community forwarded to your phone or to a voice mail. Avoid local

newspaper classifieds, they are often monitored.

3. Screen any potential puppy buyers carefully. Always be alert that they may be Animal Control

or even Animal Rights working under cover.

4. Don't allow strangers into your home until you have screened them.

5. Be fair and honest in all of your dealings, and be on good terms with your neighbors. Most

animal control contacts are complaint-driven. Some complaints may arise as harassment by people

with unrelated grievances against you. It may be a disgruntled dog buyer or a cranky neighbor who

does not like you parking in front of his house.

6. Anything about you that can be observed in "plain sight" from the street or sidewalk can become

probable cause for a warrant. Even areas on your property open to visitors can be dangerous. Be

aware of which areas of your home and property are visible from the outside and plan accordingly.

7. If you are confronted by Animal Control and turn them away, assume they will be back. Use the

time available to make sure everything is clean and presentable. If you are over the limit on the

number of pets, find friends who can provide temporary shelter for your dogs.

Whatever you do, stay calm and keep your wits about you.

Just say "NO", no matter what threats or promises of leniency they make.

When in doubt, SAY NOTHING, and speak to a lawyer ASAP.

*Mr Eigenhauser is an attorney at law licensed in the State of California

since 1979 and practices in the areas of civil litigation and estate planning.

TOP TEN AGGRESSIVE BREEDS

Here is a list of the top 10 dangerous breeds as per the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 

1) American Pit Bull Terrier

2) Rottweiler

3) German Shepards

4) Siberean Husky

5)Alaskan Malamute

6)Doberman Pincher

7) Chow Chow

8) Great Dane 

9) Saint Bernard

10) Akitas

If you notice the breeds you'll see that breeds that not only are common but most wouldn't agree for them to be on there yet they are. WHY? because they actually bite people as much or more than a breed (Pit Bull) than people would come to believe. This list is not based on the amount of bites but by the way the CDC thinks is most aggressive. Do your research before judging a breed, any breed for that matter. It is a must to fight against the banning of a specific dog breed, give them the power to allow a breed to become extinct/banned then it would be easier for another breed to be banished too. 

WORLDWIDE BABY

I received an email from someone in Malaysia. I'd like to share it with my readers so you can see that people all across the world have the same issues as we here in the states.  The email has been formatted and cut down for posting issues. As always your comments are appreciated.....




Hello Mr.Steve and greetings from the country Malaysia.. My name is Amit and i have watched your videos on You Tube such as the Kennel Maintanence etc. I have recomended it to all my friends and work colleagues who have home kennels and we all thank you so much for the inspiration and tips that you have provided, it has been a great help and keep the excellent work..

All my life Mr Steve, i have had been a dog lover just like you and the breed that fascinates me is the Doberman.. Im 29 years old male i have grown up with Dobermans ever since i was a kid.. My grandfather started the Dobe trend and it has stucked in my family ever since..

The reason that i am writing this email to you is that i would very much thankful if you advice me on this situation that i am facing currently..

The other day i took my dobe out for a walk. He's a 1 year 6 months old, trained in obedience and is always on the HEEL command when he's out for walks but unfortunately the other day he dashed out upon seing a squirel and i fell on the road obtaining bruises on my elbows and knees..

After getting controlled , i will forever regret what i did which was landing a kick in his hips..!!

I know that i should have never done that and i will never ever forgive myself for doing so.. What happen was he snapped and growled at me WHICH HE HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE!!!! I WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK WHEN HE DID THAT MR STEVE.. Im in a position where i feel disappointed and sad with his reaction towards me, i dont know whether its fear or something else. Each time when i check his teeth or give him a bath i have this constant thing running in my mind that he might snap again or i would be bitten.I think my interest and love for the Doberman breed will eventually fade away based on this incident..

I have spoken to a small number of people here in my country. Many say that the dog has an issue with temperament and that he has to be put to SLEEP!!!!!!!!Some say that it was my fault where by i shouldn't have kicked him in the first place and because he felt pain,that's the reason why his reaction was such..Well,i have set aside all this comments because they were not given to me by a profesional.

We love him alot especially me. I still remember the day i held him in my arms and brought him back home when he was just 1 1/2 months and he has been with us ever since..i have not shared this incident with any of my family members as i thought that it would be best if i seeked professional advice from someone like you first..

please help Mr Steve.. thank you..

Regards,

Mr Amit-Malaysia

BELOW IS MY ANSWER TO HIS EMAIL

Mr Bhatti,

I appreciate the email and happy to hear that my videos/words are being followed even across the world. 

I like to ask questions to find out more about your dog and of your lifestyle but i will also try my best to answer your question/concerns.

Before attempting to answer, i would like to take this time to ask my questions: 1) has he shown any aggression since 2) have you noticed him focusing on kids, if so do you think he'll do anything to them VERY IMPORTANT 3) a dog with a temperament issue would show aggression early and often, can you say that he's been doing this for awhile 4) is he dog aggressive and/or animals VERY IMPORTANT 5) does he allow you to pet him or put your hands in his dog bowl while eating 6) how is he when he meets people, is he happy or do you think he's gotten worse in this area as he's gotten older 7) is he a natural dominant dog where he carries his tail/head up high as he walks around you and others  - when answering these questions, you must be absolutely honest in answering them in order for me to give you my best answer. 

*Dogs have feelings with that being said it's a possibility that when you kicked him he reacted towards you in that manner not in anger but because he was caught off guard and that was his reaction (ex. imagine you and a friend are walking, you think your playing w/him by kicking him from behind. What do you think he'll say to you? more than likely he'll be upset and yell/possibly swing at you) This is normally called "Mis-directed Aggression" and the reason why im putting this first. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THIS COULD BE YOUR ISSUE.

*Nervous Aggression can also be a trigger, now from what i've read and from your answers to the questions will determine if it's that or not. A nervous aggressive dog will react like this from puppyhood, they usually are dogs that want little to no inner-actions with people but it's mainly because of lack of socialization and/or bad temperaments because of inferior breeding. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS IT EITHER

*Predatory Aggression can and possibly be another answer to this issue and the reason why i asked earlier if he focuses on kids and have aggression towards dogs/animals. When a dog has this type of aggression they are like children in that they'll want whatever there going after first and be the only one with it. If stopped then they'll react aggressively, not necessarily to bite you but to scare you away from the chase so they can be the only one to get it. THIS CAN BE YOUR ISSUE TOO but i would need the answers to the questions to better give a precise answer. 

*Another possibility is that it could've come from a "fear aggression" issue. A dog does not know how to tell you NO or GO AWAY so when they feel vulnerable the only way a dog knows how to react is to SNAP at you. So far I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS IT

There are other types of "aggression" behaviors to mention but i strongly feel that they have nothing to do with the issues your dog is having. 

As important as to know what his issue is but how do you deal with it. Keep in mind that neutering is not a definite answer to anything. I always say that "you will not solve a behavioral problem with a hormonal solution" A reputable trainer can help you with these issues, it is a must if you want to keep your dog to train him more in obedience and get a better control of him with focus work (which is ironically the problem that led him to go after the squirrel in the first place) so you can get him under YOUR control. 

Dogs with aggression issues will only get worse. One of the things that concerns me is that knowing the issue, if he did it once the possibility will be that he will do it again. 

One last thing i would like to say is that by all means, do not judge the breed by your dogs actions. From your email you mentioned that the breed has been in your family for years. I really hope you change your opinion and think on a more individual basis. As stated earlier with more information i can throughly answer your concerns and dicipher what's right and wrong with your dog. Hopefully i gave you a better perspective of your dog and please answer those questions and I will answer them to give you a more exact of your dog. 

DOGS AT WORK

According to a CNN poll in 2006, 75% of all dog owners would work longer hours if they can take there dogs to work. Here's a company that does just that....

TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT

 No Dogs Allowed

I was very impressed with this blog that a fellow follower on "Twitter" had on her blog that i asked to use it for mine and obviously she said yes so here it is. A great view from a fellow pet owner on this whole thing of wanting ownership of a pet while living under someone else roof......

I never thought it would be so hard to find a small, dog friendly apartment. But it is. And it is a HUGE rip-off.

I understand how pets can damage a property, but property owners have used this to exploit and take advantage of pet owners. Especially dog owners. Pet rent? Pet references? My dog is does not have a job, thus should not have additional rent tacked on. And as for references, I understand this is for safety and insurance, but who would you even call? My vet? The San Diego Police? I can assure you, my dog doesn’t have a criminal record.

DEPOSITS

Pet deposits are out of control. I thought they whole point of a security deposit was to cover all damage, why single out pet owners and make them pay more? You don’t make people with children pay more and they can do even more damage. You don’t charge extra for people who drink and I’ve known several people who love to punch holes in walls while intoxicated. I refuse to pay a deposit that is more or equal to what I paid for my dog in the first place. There is no way she can do $500+ in damage. She hasn’t even cost me that much in damage personally and she’s eaten A LOT of my things.

If you own a house made of socks, then I understand.

BREED

I have a hard enough time with my 30lbs French Bulldog mix; I can’t imagine what people go through with larger dogs.

Also with larger dogs come the breed restrictions. I know that insurance companies often set up these rules, identifying certain breeds that are known for biting. But that doesn’t mean EVERY Pitbull or German Shepherd or Rottweiler is going to attack anything that moves. It should be on a case-by-case basis. If the dog has completed training such as AKC Good Citizen, the restriction should be waived.

Oh and fun fact, little dogs like Chihuahuas are responsible for more bites but because they seem less threatening/are less likely to seriously injure a person, they don’t get reported. But they can still send you to get stitches like any other dog.

CATS

I don’t understand why property owners think cats do less damage. Cats go the bathroom INSIDE the house. Given, in a litter box, but that is not always the case. Have you been to a cat shelter? Cat pee is so much worse than dog pee. It literally stings your nose. Not to mention they puke hairballs all over the place and they shed just as much. They can tear up carpet with their claws even more than a dog can. Yes, dogs can chew things, but to charge upwards of $200 more for them or not even allow them at all is ridiculous.

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

There are simple ways I believe property owners can make sure a pet is not going to destroy their place they are renting to you.

1) Have the owner provide a training certificate if they have one. Basic dog training not only covers sit and stay, but housebreaking and obedience. I have one for Olive. This shows that your new tenant has made the investment in training their dog and you’re most likely going to end up with a well-behaved animal.

2) Meet the dog. If a pet is going to live in your property, you should at least come in contact with it. Is it friendly? Does your tenant take care of their animal? All good things to know when entering into an agreement on pets. My last landlord allowed us to have 2 dogs, but upon meeting them, loved them so much he only charged us for one of them.

3) Set a reasonable deposit based on the property. Look into how much it would be to replace the carpet, how much it would be to clean the floors if need be etc and make your decision based on fact, not just an arbitrary amount. Then you can justify why you need an additional deposit.

4) Ask the right questions. Is your pet indoor or outdoor? Are they on flea medication? Are they housebroken?  How long do you leave them alone for? These will set your mind at ease and you can get a better sense of how it is going to work out with a pet owner.

5) Don’t be so quick to judge! Just because someone has a dog does not mean they are going to destroy things. There are plenty of responsible pet owners out there that will keep their living space immaculate. Again, treat every case individually like you would for tenants without pets. You could have an easier time finding good, responsible people to occupy your property.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR DOG STAY HOME ALONE!

Have you ever come home from a hard day's work to find your couch cushion destroyed? You're not alone. Many dogs experience "separation distress," or the inability to adapt to stress or conditions causing stress.

While this is a worrisome issue for dog owners, animal behaviorist Mary Burch and the American Kennel Club offer tips for leaving your dog at home alone:
.Start slowly. Leave your pup home alone for a very short time and see how he reacts. The biggest mistake dog owners make is leaving for an entire day of work for the dog's first time alone.

Systematic training. If your dog starts to act destructive, bark loudly or relieve himself as soon as you walk out the door, try training him in a systematic way. Decide on a phrase you'll use when telling your dog that you are leaving the house. Walk out and then immediately open the door and come back in. If your pooch gets excited and begins jumping on you, don't pet or reward him. Wait until he's calm, and then praise him.

Repeat your phrase for leaving the house, and this time when you walk out and close the door, wait a couple of seconds before returning. Add a few seconds each time.

A bored dog. Another tool is to provide toys so your pup does not get bored. Make sure that the toys you provide are not items that can be chewed up and cause choking or intestinal problems if accidentally ingested. There are also toys that you can put a treat such as peanut

butter in — these will keep your dog busy while they work on getting the reward from the toy.

Take care of physical needs. It is very important to take your dog out to relieve himself and provide clean, fresh water before you leave him alone for an extended period of time. Also, give your pup a chance to exercise. Taking your dog for a short walk or playing with him before you go to work will go a long way toward having a relaxed dog alone in the house. 

 

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Posted: 06/04/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

Updated: 06/04/2010 01:08:50 PM PDT

THIS IS SAD, KITTENS FED TO PIT BULL

Source: ONE NewsTe Ahu Aaron Mankelow

• WATCH the video (1:46)

A Gisborne man has pleaded guilty to feeding five live kittens to his pit bull terrier.
 
Te Ahu Mankelow, 31, appeared in the Gisborne District Court on Monday on five charges of wilful ill treatment of an animal.

Mankelow gave no explanation as to why he fed five live kittens to his pet pit bull terrier, Pipi.

He hid from the media outside court, but there was no escaping the ONE News camera inside the courtroom.

"The defendant's dog attacked the kittens one by one, biting them and breaking their bones. At least one kitten was obliterated. When the kittens struggled away, the defendant picked them up and threw them back to his dog," prosecutor Vicki Thorpe told the court.

The SPCA says Mankelow was at a party at a house when his pit bull terrier smelt something in a box in a car parked in the driveway. When he looked he discovered kittens.

He then took them to a tree behind the house, gave them to his dog and encouraged it to eat them.

The vicious attack was videoed, but the SPCA is not releasing the gruesome footage until sentencing.

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Mankelow's sister, Vonita Mankelow, says her brother was just being "silly".

"He has definitely learnt his lesson of how serious the offence is that he done. But I don't think he should go to jail. It's just a silly thing he did that has really got out of control," she says.

The SPCA claims Te Ahu Mankelow had trained his pit bull terrier to kill. They have been forced to put it down because it was considered too dangerous.

Mankelow will be sentenced next month. Wilful ill treatment of an animal carries a maximum jail term of three years.

In another case, in the Pukekohe District Court, Judge Sharon McAuslan jailed David Hamuera Snook for two years and four months for tearing the head off a kitten in front of his former partner and children.

He was also banned from owning or exercising animals for five years and Judge McAusland described the killing as "callous, brutal and cruel".

SAD NEWS, PLEASE READ

This is an excerpt of a mauling that happened this past week, very sad news and something i wish no family to go through. Let me state this, some have said to me that i shouldn't be writing or posting articles like this. WHY? cause it shed's a bad light on the PIT BULL breed. My response is simple, good and bad things need to be told as to help educate and rid away with the stupid ass people who do wrong with the breed. My condolence goes to the family of the young child, lets help rid of the problem people.... Not the dogs.... 

stevethedogtrainer

A 2-year-old San Bernardino boy died early Friday after he was mauled by the family’s pit bull, authorities said.
“It was a tragic accident,” said Sgt. Travis Walker of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. “The dog was a family pet.”
The boy, who suffered major head trauma, was in the backyard with the dog when the attack occurred about 7:20 p.m. Thursday at the family home in the 1500 block of Kendall Drive.
Investigators are not sure what spurred the attack.

Scott Andrade, of Breed fame made a few comments as well, here are his words..... 

*There are questions that  always seem to remain in regards to tragedies such as this…

Was this dog socialized?

Was this dog familiar with the baby?

Was this dog trained in obedience or otherwise?

Was the dog crate trained?

Was there an adult supervising the dog and child at all times?

These questions are not intended to disrespect the family involved or anyone else involved. I just feel that these are the types of questions that need to be asked before an incident like this takes place.

Please remember that no none, pit bull aficionados included, wants to hear about this happening…period! I would care to say that timing is everything and this may not have been the right time for this family to have a baby and a dog (any breed of dog) residing in the same house. I am a grandfather of a very active 4 year old. Although our pit bull named “Super” and my grandson get along very well, we can never leave the two of them alone under any circumstance at all. We love our dog yet need to remain realistic and remember that this is an animal. The lack of direct communication and understanding between an animal and humans is an obvious thing and should be well respected.

As i stated earlier on, my grandson is an active child and have witnessed his “over-enthusiasm” with our dog. Children are prone to climb, poke, tug and pull on on puppies and kittens as well. We may never know what provoked this dog in San Bernardino to act out this vicious attack on this child.

please comment on this sad topic with your own comments. These types of attacks may be the “nail in the coffin” in regards to a ban on pits.

         www.stevethedogtrainer.blogspot.com       www.breedmagazine.tv

GERMANY'S BSL

      This piece was written by my partner in BREED, Scott Andrade. Please read on and see what is being done overseas as well as what can possibly be done here in the states. As always, comments are always appreciated.




The laws:

Laws differ in Germany’s 16 states, but in Hesse, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine – Westphalia, they contain some version of the following provisions:

Category I dogs  - dangerous breeds that cannot be imported, bred or sold  includes the American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Neapolitan Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Roman Fighting Dog (what they have that labeled as beats me?), Chinese Fighting Dog, Bandog and Tosa Inu. These dogs must be registered and sterilized.

Category II dogs – potentially dangerous dogs that can be owned, imported, bred and sold if they pass a temperament test and are free of aggressive actions for three years – include Akbash, Briard, Beauceron, Bullmastiff, Doberman, Komondor, Kuvasz, Maremma, Pyrenean Mountain Dog (otherwise known as Great Pyrenees), Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Tibetan Mastiff, and 15 other breeds that are virtually unknown in the US.

Category III dogs – Those dogs that weigh more than 20 kilos (44 pounds) or are taller than 40 centimeters (15.75 inches). These dogs must be on a leash in developed areas and will be moved to Category II if they show aggression.

According to some stories, owners of banned breeds are required to place a red banner on their doors to identify their premises as harboring one of these breeds; dogs are being abandoned in the streets and killed by the dozens in animal shelters; and licenses to keep banned breeds cost $600-1000 in US dollars.

The temperament test given to the dogs lasts about three hours According to an eye-witness report posted on the Internet. [2] It includes an assessment of the dog’s attitude towards other dogs and people and to stimuli that startle (an umbrella opening, a mock attack), and about an hour of instruction to dog owners.

Opposition

Germany’s VDH – the German Kennel Club – will conduct the temperament evaluations of the dogs in some areas and The Kennel Club in Britain has written to FCI and to German Chancellor Schroeder in opposition to the sweeping bans and controls on these breeds.

“We have now spoken to dozens of worried parties, including German dog owners, who feel that this situation is spiraling out of control, largely due to media hysteria and the determination of Government Ministers to ensure these breeds are effectively phased out,” wrote Roger French, chief executive of The Kennel Club.

“Our External Affaires Department has been contacted on a number of occasions over the past week by German television companies, who would appear to be of the view that these dogs are a liability and should be destroyed as quickly as possible.”

Dog owners have started world-wide protests promoted on mailing lists and websites on the Internet that range from boycotts on products made by German companies and German tourism to a campaign to display red and black ribbons in sympathy with the banned dogs and their owners and to draw attention to the situation in that country.

Potential

France has recently restricted pit bull dogs and is considering further breed controls, and there is also talk of expanding Germany’s breed bans and restrictions to all the countries of the European Union.

The original ban in Germany was proposed by a member of the Green Party, an organization with strong ties to animal rights and environmental causes. The 12-point platform commonly called the animal rights agenda was originally drafted for inclusion into the 1987 US Green platform. The Greens are gaining notice in the US; Ralph Nader is getting some press coverage as the party candidate for President this year.

NAIA deplores actions taken against dogs simply because of their breed or mix. Communities do have a responsibility to enact and enforce laws that protect residents from dangerous or vicious animals. On the other hand dog owners have a right to own and enjoy dogs as pets when they raise, train and socialize their dogs appropriately and comply with all public safety laws.

Breed Foundation believes that responsible dog ownership is the key: Experience has shown that when laws are reasonable and dog owners take their obligations seriously, fear subsides, confrontations diminish and the rights of both dog owners and their neighbors remain protected.