Weight Pull Saved My Dog-Life!

KWP

Kristina with Brutus & Argo

As a naive and amateur dog owner, I made the mistake of rescuing a second dog without really understanding the first. Within 4 months, I had two young, male dogs in my house with more energy than I could handle. Although feeling like I had made a huge mistake, I couldn’t imagine sending a pup back to the shelter.

Then comes in Mutt Magic….

Aja evaluated my crew and told me that I needed to gain control of my dogs and give them an outlet for their energy. I remember her saying, “that energy has to go somewhere and right now they are negatively directing it towards each other”. With Aja’s help, she taught me how gain control through obedience work and loose-leash walking.

However, once I had the basics, our regular exercise routine was not enough; my dogs still yearned for more.

Aja introduces weight pull…..What is weight pull, you ask?

It is a physical activity where a dog wears a full body harness to pull weight. The harness is crafted to fit across the dog’s chest which is a canine’s powerhouse for pulling. It also crosses along the back to distribute the weight evenly. The dog is not harmed in any way because the harness is supporting the dog’s natural strength. Any breed is capable of weight pull as long as they have a properly fitted harness. In fact, weight pull is an international competitive sport. However, I practice for conditioning.

What are the benefits and why do I say weight pull saved my  dog-life?

1. Burn off the energy: Aja said I needed to see physical fatigue during our walks not just panting dogs. When we get home, my dogs sprawl out on the floor with a look of satisfaction. All their energy has been exerted leaving them calm and free from mental anxiety giving me more control in the house.

2. Walking with a purpose: my dogs know that when it comes time to pull we are on a mission and no one is stopping us! They walk looking straight ahead, they know our path and where we are going. They also know that they will be rewarded with K9 Kraving for dinner.

3. Fully body workout: dogs by nature are always on the move even though we’ve turned them into couch potatoes. My dogs pull 30 – 40lbs and walk between 2-3 miles. This is known as drag weight pull. By keeping them active with regular exercise it promotes good health and longevity.

4. More bonding time: Obviously, I get to spend GOOD QUALITY time with my dogs during their walk. In addition, my dogs stay separated from each other most of the day but after our training we all get to spend time together.

It’s been 9 months since we took in our second rescue and about 8 months since we started working with Aja. Had it not been for her help in obedience training in combination with adequate exercise, we might not have been able to keep both of our pups. So if you’re looking for a way to train, bond, or exercise, weight pull may be for you. Just make sure that you get the right equipment, learn the right way to start the training, and always use a leash when drag weight pulling!

Happy tails!

 

 

Be a LEADER!!

Most dogs, like most people, are natural followers. In fact, humans have bred dogs to follow our leadership for thousands of years. Even if you’re not a natural-born leader, your dog needs you to learn to be one for his sake!

Many behavioral problems are a result of a lack of leadership in the home. (As you well know I’ll say: The rest are likely a result of a lack of exercise!) Leadership related behavioral problems can be seen in anxious dogs and dominant dogs alike. In fact, a simple lack of leadership that can magnify fear, anxiety, dominance, and many other common behavioral concerns. Leadership is essential for a newly adopted dog, as well as one that has been in your home for years.

So, what are some actions that you can take to become a better leader for your dog? An easy start is a “Nothing in Life is Free” program (NILF, for short). This means that your dog must work for everything that she gets. It can include sitting and waiting for food (being on a feeding schedule, if free-fed), performing obedience for affection and/or treats, having a handler enter/exit doors first (This includes being let into the yard!), and staying off of the furniture. These are some simple, but highly effective, changes that can be made. The best part? They won’t take extra time in your daily routine!

One more note to make regarding leadership: It’s important to remember that in a pack of dogs, it’s always the submissive dog to initiate play and interaction from the other dogs. (Watch them at the dog park, it’s true!) Because of this, be sure that your dog is the one to initiate play time with you, and not the other way around. If you initiate ball play, you’re inadvertently putting yourself in a submissive position. Wait for your dog to request play time or affection. From there, you have the choice to play or not- and now you’re the leader. Simple!

Visit us online: www.muttmagic.com OR www.baltimorecrateescape.com

Starting a training journal

Keeping a training journal while working with your dogs can be very rewarding. I often suggest this to clients that own dogs with behavioral concerns when they enter into a training program, although this can be very useful for all dogs. I keep one for each of my dogs, in fact. Now that we’re well into the new year, I can look back to last year’s entries to see how my dogs have progressed, and what still needs to be worked on. Perfect!

What should go in a journal entry?

Every month, I create a calendar as the first entry. Then, I mark each date that I’ve trained. I also mark when I’ve exercised the dogs, what the exercise routine was, and what the temperature was outside. This way, I have an overview that I can easily reference that shows how many days the dogs and I have worked together and what we’ve done.

Following the calendar page, I enter detailed information regarding what was accomplished on each training date. Did the dogs do anything well? Did they need more attention on certain aspects of what we worked on? How was their endurance when exercising? These details will help you to adjust your next training and/or exercise session.

Next, once you’ve progressed and have several entries, you can look back to see how far you’ve come! I suggest monthly and yearly reviews. This is particularly beneficial if you’re trying to accomplish something specific like behavior management, competitive obedience, or endurance training. It can be used for anything, however. If you come up with a new use for journaling your dog’s progress, please share it with us! info@muttmagic.com

Visit us online: www.muttmagic.com

Controlling your dog in-home with new visitors

A very common question I receive is, “How do I control my dog when people come over to visit?” The best training techniques I can suggest would be to pattern train boundary training and target training. Commonly used in our classes, the “Place” and “Touch” commands are a great way to teach your dog what is expected during the excitement of a new visitor. When pattern trained (always performing them in that order- “Place” and then “Touch”) this further engrains the lesson in your dog’s mind.

Starting with “Place,” which is the command we use for boundary training exercises, you will teach your dog that he needs to remain in his area until he’s released. This will allow your guest to come in and settle, while your dog manages his excitement levels in his own area. You may learn how this is done by visiting our YouTube video, online. (Links at the bottom of this article)Next, once your dog is calm, you will work on the “Touch” command, which is what we use for target training exercises. This shows your dog what is expected in a proper greeting.

The combination of these commands can prevent problem behaviors resulting from both fear, and excitement. Of course, if your dog isn’t already familiar with these, she won’t remain in “place” when you go to the door tomorrow, but working these commands daily and building distractions regularly is the way to go!

To get started, you may view how-to videos on our blog, here!

Appropriately Exercising Your Dog in the Heat

Heat can be very dangerous to our pets. Last month, I repeated an essay by Dawn Rexroad on the “Hidden Dangers of Summer,” which included information on parasites that are common, as well as how to recognize and, more importantly, prevent, heat stroke. This month, let’s address how to safely exercise your dog so that he doesn’t go stir crazy during the summer months we should all enjoy!

Especially during these months, when I ask clients the question I always ask “How much exercise does your dog get?” The answer is often “Plenty, her tongue is hanging on the ground by the time we’re done!” While panting can be a sign that the dog is winded, it can also be a sign that the dog is hot, or even stressed. Panting alone cannot be an indicator of adequate exercise. However, if you notice a fat, swollen tongue, that is probably a sign that you need to make an effort to cool your dog down.

So, how do we safely ensure that the dogs get the amount of exercise that they need? I don’t recall a summer where we’ve had this many days over 100 degrees in a row, but it’s time to start getting creative! Personally, I’ve been making an effort to go to bed early and wake up to walk dogs at a safe time. I learned that even 8am is too late to walk the dogs the distance they need to go for proper exercise. So, we’ve been getting up and walking at 7am. Late night walks are an option for those that are night owls, as well. Swimming can be a GREAT way to exercise dogs and keep them cool, if your dog is inclined to like the water. Fortunately, swimming is also an activity that we can join them in, staying cool ourselves! Last, indoor activities can suffice in some cases. For some dogs that I normally walk in the afternoon, I’ll give them a quick potty break, and then give them a run on a treadmill (if one is available and when the dog has been introduced to it properly).

While there is no substitute for proper exercise, other activities such as teaching new commands using target training (watch: teaching touch), playing hide and seek, and having interactive toys and puzzles for your dog to play with are good ideas. These will all burn some mental energy, which can help keep them entertained during the day when it’s not safe to play outside.

Be creative; exercise and train safely. Enjoy your summer!

Please visit Mutt Magic online: www.muttmagic.com AND The Crate Escape: http://crateescape.muttmagic.com

Popularity and Population Density of the “pit bull”

Puppy

Photo courtesy of Bartlett Image.

With this recent Maryland ruling that “pit bull” dogs are inherently dangerous, it’s time to take a look at the popularity and population density of the breed. It’s absurd, even for owners of a docile dog of any breed, to think that there aren’t variations in the breed as well as responsibility in ownership. Because your dog does not bite, does not mean that other dogs haven’t. For the victims of dog bites, we are doing an injustice by thinking this way. Let’s take a look at some real information, instead.

I’m going to address a few breeds in particular for the simple reason that they have had marked increases in popularity over certain time frames, NOT because I believe that any other breed is better than the dogs addressed. It’s true that, as the population density of a particular breed goes up, the bite statistics go up. Let’s ignore the numerous reasons bite statistics are inaccurate, for now.

Right now on average, our local shelters have a 66% “pit bull” population versus all other breeds. (Based on five local area shelters. See breakdown at the end of article) The population density is higher the closer to the city, as one may expect. It is historically true for all dogs, that the higher the popularity of a breed, the higher the number of that breed in the shelter. 66% is probably a low estimate to the actual “pit bull” density in our area because two of the five shelters surveyed are limited admittance, and one specifically has a limited number of “pit bulls” allowed into the program. The population of “pit bull” type dogs has been significantly increasing over the last ten years or so. In fact, during the years of 1997-2007, the AKC Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a smaller relative of the UKC’s American Pit Bull Terrier, has seen a 69% AKC registration  increase. (http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=popular_pooches)

Just 20 years ago, in the 1990’s, “the years following the release of the second movie [101 Dalmatians], the Dalmatian breed suffered greatly at the hands of irresponsible breeders and inexperienced owners. . . Dalmatians were abandoned in large numbers by their original owners and left with animal shelters.” (http://aquariumcouncil.org/docs/library/2/Release_Nemo_FINAL.PDF)  This goes to show that the popularity of a breed will show in the shelters. Ten years following this, the“AKC registrations of Dalmatians decreased 90%.” . . .as did their numbers in the shelter. (http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=popular_pooches) If we go back 30 years, “The cocker spaniel was the most popular dog of the 1980s. It earned the No. 1 most registered dog breed spot from 1983 to 1990.” http://www.ehow.com/list_7738692_top-breeds-dogs-1980s.html#ixzz1uUGkPeNe During this same time frame, it was noted in a Palm Beach County Comparison of most severe bites by dog breed, that the Cocker Spaniel ranked #2 in 1988, during its reign of popularity. (http://www.nokillnow.com/DogBiteStudies.pdf) Is the Cocker Spaniel an “inherently dangerous” dog? I think not!

So, what’s the solution to the problem? (The problem being an over population of a specific breed, not a court ruling) Pet owners: Spay and Neuter your pets. Reputable breeders: Heavily screen potential new owners. Require spay/neuter contracts for pet dogs. Let’s address the over population and responsibility in ownership. It’s the only thing that’s going to save our dogs.

Statistics of “pit bull” density in 5 local shelters in Maryland:

TOTALS FOR ALL LOCAL SHELTERS COMBINED

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 196

Number of all other dogs- 102

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelters- 66%

MD SPCA: 3300 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD

Limited admittance shelter. Only selected dogs enter the program. Limited pit bulls allowed.

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 7

Number of all other dogs- 23

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelter- 30% (As of 5/1/12)

Baltimore Humane: 1601 Nicodemus Rd., Reisterstown, MD

Limited admittance shelter.

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 31

Number of all other dogs- 6

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelter- 84% (As of 5/1/12)

BARCS: 301 Stockholm St., Baltimore, MD

Open admittance shelter. City’s animal control drop.

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 135

Number of all other dogs- 41

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelter- 77% (As of 5/2/12)

Harford County Humane Society: 2208 Connolly Rd., Fallston, MD

Open admittance shelter. Harford County’s animal control drop.

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 17

Number of all other dogs- 16

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelter- 52% (As of 5/2/12)

Baltimore County Shelter: 13800 Manor Rd., Baldwin, MD

Open admittance shelter. Baltimore County’s animal control drop.

Number of pit bulls/mixes- 6

Number of all other dogs- 16

Percentage of pit bulls/mixes in shelter- 27% (As of 5/2/12)

Maryland Common Law Ruling: Inherently dangerous dogs

The Harris Crew

Photo courtesy of Bartlett Image.

Over the last 6 years that Mutt Magic Training has been in operation, I have been fighting against the stigma of being a “pit bull trainer.” In order to do so, I try to highlight as many other breeds as possible, and try to keep the business out of situations that may align us as such. At Mutt Magic, we are “dog trainers” and work with dog behavior. We do not discriminate on breed, and we enjoy working with all breeds, big and small!

All of that said, the time is appropriate for a statement to be made in regard to the recent Tracey v. Solesky appeal ruling, a case that has brought attention to the breed since 2007 because of a violent attack on two young boys. Most of the responses I’ve read so far have been from breed owners and are kneejerk reactions along the lines of “my dear sweet baby pet would never. . .” which is probably true. However, I’m going to address this as an individual who has been in the breed for going on 12 years. I own the breed, and I personally train and compete on a national level with these dogs. I have been running Mutt Magic for the past 6 years, and we certainly have our share of pit bulls and mixes come through our classes. We work with approximately 50 dogs per week, which include breeds of all varieties. I sit on the Board of Directors for The Working Pit Bull Terrier Club of America (WPBTCA) which hosts events throughout the year to showcase the amazing working abilities of these animals. Additionally, I sit on what was formerly Baltimore City’s Vicious Dog Hearing board. (Now the Animal Matters Hearing Panel) In fact, it was because of this court case that I applied to be on the Panel, back in 2007. My experience has a wide variety and I can truly say that I have seen the entire spectrum in regard to the breed. I can also say that I don’t believe this ruling will ultimately result in justice for the parties involved, but will rather pose severe injustice to responsible dog owners in the State of Maryland.

If by chance you’ve missed the recent news, the Tracey v. Solesky case was a civil lawsuit involving Dorothy Tracey, the landlord of 27-year-old dog owner. The dog in question violently attacked two young boys, Dominic and Scotty. It’s true that their lives will never be the same as a result of this. It’s true that they deserve justice. Period. End of statement. This recent ruling did not come to existence in regard to the responsibility of the dog owner; while that aspect makes my blood boil, I won’t touch on it. Rather, this ruling changes common law to determine responsibility of the landlord. (Yes, it changes liability for owners, too.) In the past, under common law, a landlord was only determined to be liable if the dog in question had been previously deemed dangerous. The case has reached the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, which has the authority to revise common law. Under interpretations of the common law as it was previously written, there was no basis for the landlord to be responsible in this case. As a result of this ruling, the common law has now been modified to state that dogs of specific breeds (pit bull-type) are automatically deemed dangerous, and liability claims may be made against the landlord, provided that there was knowledge of the dog at the property, without the need for the individual dog to be previously deemed dangerous, as is still the case with all other breeds of dogs. Directly from the opinion written by the court: “Because of its aggressive and vicious nature and its capability to inflict serious and sometimes fatal injuries, pit bulls and cross-bred pit bulls are inherently dangerous.”  (http://mdcourts.gov/opinions/coa/2012/53a11.pdf)

While reading through the opinion written by retired Judge Dale Cathell (specially assigned), it is very one-sided, and at times even paints a factually inaccurate picture of the breed.  It states that “over the last thirteen years, there have been no less than seven instances,” involving pit bulls. It doesn’t state how many incidents have involved other dogs. I’m sad to make this statement, but certainly there have been more than seven serious dog attacks in the state in the past thirteen years. Additionally, it uses incidents involving “bull terriers” and “terriers” in general to vilify the pit bull and to support the claim that pit bulls are inherently dangerous. A “Bull Terrier” is a breed of its own, and while I don’t intend to malign another breed in defense, it’s also not appropriate to use an incident involving another breed to malign the pit bull. Knowing that such a broad use of the “pit bull” breed has been used to make this determination should ultimately make us question the validity of the original statement that the breed is “inherently dangerous.”

The dissenting opinion has clearly done more balanced research on the breed(s) involved, and on dogs, in general. Written by Judge Clayton Greene, Jr, I think that his early question/answer in his dissent says it all: “What expert testimony or factual predicate is contained within this record to support a factual finding that pit bulls and mixed-breed pit bulls are inherently dangerous? I have considered the record and found no such factual predicate.” Additionally, he notes: “Succumbing to the allure of bad facts leads inevitably to the development of bad law.” YES!

There is no apparent definition of a pit bull written by the court in this ruling. The court only references “pit bull, or pit bull crosses.” What does that mean? The dissenting opinion notes that “According to some experts, there are more than twenty-five breeds of dogs commonly mistaken for pit bulls.” (To test this, I encourage everybody to visit this site: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html.) In an attempt to get a clarification regarding the breeds that may be effected by this decision, Judge Greene also writes that pit bull is typically known as a “generic category encompassing the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Pit Bull Terrier” And that, “Neither the American Kennel Club nor the United Kennel Club recognizes all three breeds, and the breed descriptions and standards provided by the two organizations differ.” Very true.

This is a very sad day for responsible pit bull owners everywhere, and this change in common law has serious effects on our rights as dog owners; rights that are afforded to owners of all other breeds. I will end the interpretation of what I’ve read here, and will leave you all with this information: The American Temperament Test Society (http://atts.org) tests breeds of dogs to determine stability in temperament based on a standardized test that is the same for all breeds. The American Pit Bull Terrier passes the test with a rate of 86.8%. According to the AKC, the top three most popular dogs in America for 2011 were the Labrador Retriever (passing ATTS tests at 92.3%), the German Shepherd Dog (passing ATTS tests at 84.6%), and the Beagle (passing ATTS tests at 80%). According to this, the “pit bull” has just as stable a temperament as the most popular dogs in the country. In the past, pit bulls have been known as “Nanny Dogs” and even “War Heroes.” In the past, German Shepherd Dogs, Rottweilers, and Dobermans have been under the spotlight as inherently dangerous dogs. Right now it’s the pit bull’s turn to be vilified. What breed will be next?

Please visit Mutt Magic online, at: www.muttmagic.com

Food Recall!!

As yet another food recall is being listed, this time by Diamond, it’s time to address the health and safety of your dog’s diet. This particular recall is regarding salmonella concerns. For those of us that feed a raw diet, our dogs could possibly be exposed to salmonella, and are not falling ill from it. So, why is salmonella such a concern in dry kibble dog food?

In order for kibble to be processed into it’s dry form, it must include fillers of some kind. Corn, or other grain, are the main fillers (also often highly allergenic!) Our dogs are officially classified as omnivores, but their large canine teeth and short digestive tract suggest that their diet is to be comprised of primarily meat. It’s true that dogs on a raw diet are typically not susceptible to suffering from a salmonella infection because food does not stay in the system long enough for the bacteria to form into a harmful state. However, because grains in dry kibbles are not well digested by dogs, the food stays in the system much longer. The length of time that dry food stays in the digestive tract can make bacteria that would normally not be an issue, cause severe infection!

So, the solution? Of course, I recommend getting your dog onto a healthy raw diet. Thankfully, here in Maryland we not only have a great locally made raw food, but are home to the ONLY dog food that is USDA certified: K-9 Kraving. What does this mean? The plant is inspected by the USDA on a daily basis, food is cold processed to prevent harmful bacteria, and all food is human grade and processed on human grade equipment. To learn more about the diet and the process, you may watch this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/FWu1U0_k2Uk

Be an educated consumer! Feed your dog the natural way to keep him or her safe.

For information on K-9 Kraving, or to place an order, please contact Aja: aja@muttmagic.com, 410-889-9352, www.muttmagic.com

Everyday dog needs

Some dogs are content with simple provisions of food, shelter, and our affection. Of course, these are the basic necessities of pet ownership. However, most dogs need more than this, and failure to provide the other essentials can make for not only an unhappy and disobedient dog, but a sad owner, too! If you’re the lucky one whose dog waits patiently by the door for you to get home, feed him, and give him a pat on the head, kudos. If not, please read on for important tips on how to fulfill another three of your dog’s needs to keep him well balanced in the home.

The number one thing that many dogs could use more of is exercise. Aside from keeping your dog trim, healthy, and in good shape, the appropriate amount of exercise can also keep behavioral issues from surfacing. A great example of this is Star, a now 6-year-old rescue dog that came into my home when she was 1.5-years-old. When she arrived, I was heavy into biking the dogs using a Springer. Star would get several 4 mile runs along side of my bike per week. Somehow, she was arriving home from her runs just as energized as when we left, however. As she was settling into her home here, she developed sores on her feet from chewing on them. After ruling out anything medical, I bumped up her exercise routine. Now, after her runs, we would play ball in the yard until she was visibly tired. Her sores healed and she was now a relaxed, happy dog. The 4 mile runs weren’t enough for the 1.5-year-old Star!! Thankfully for all of us, most dogs don’t need this excessive amount of exercise. Thankfully for me, the 6-year-old Star doesn’t need that much anymore, either! The sores on her feet are a great example of how an unfulfilled exercise need can manifest into a behavioral problem, however. Behavioral problems aren’t all like Star’s. Some dogs may bark, whine, fuss with housemates, chew, or otherwise be destructive around the house. Many of these behaviors can be corrected by more exercise.

The next need that dogs benefit from, is discipline. This is not to be read “punishment,” because discipline has a very different meaning. Most dogs, like people, don’t desire to be the leader. They are much more happy and content with structure, and being given a clear role in the household. If they are forced to take on this leadership role (even if it’s not intentional!) many problems can develop. Anxiety is one great example of many behavioral issues that can benefit from additional discipline. Anxiety  is something that is being seen more and more in our pet dogs. In fact, it is being seen to the extent that it is being medicated. Of course, there are dogs out there that are simply imbalanced. However, a lot of the anxiety cases that I see can be remedied with more discipline in the home! What exactly does this
mean? Beginning a “Nothing in life is free” (NILF) routine with your dog in the home is a great start. With this, your dog needs to earn everything that she gets. This means that in order to receive even the basics- food and affection, she must do something. The task and reward should be balanced. For example: sitting, waiting as a food bowl is placed on the ground, and giving attention, earns the ability to be released to eat a meal. Such strong discipline is not needed to earn a pat on the head. It is one of your dog’s basic needs, however, and discipline can fix certain behavioral issues.

The last need to be addressed (for now) is that of mental stimulation. Smart dogs get into trouble. It’s true!! If your dog is not being mentally challenged, he may decide to challenge himself, and that rarely ends with a happy owner. Some dogs need more stimulation than others. Thankfully, the range of options to entertain your dog is almost endless. A food or puzzle toy for your dog to work on while you’re away is a good idea for some, while other dogs may benefit more from the interaction they get with you in a training class. Some may need the interaction of a dog walker or daycare during the day. There are even dogs out there that will need to learn something new every week to keep them out of trouble. . .if you own one of these guys, you’ll know it! In these cases, you have the rare ability to get truly creative with entertaining your dog. If you run out of creative energy, picking up a “dog tricks” book can jump start you into a one-dog circus act that will surly keep your dog (and house guests) entertained.

As we all know, most of our relationships with our dogs are very complex in nature. I like to sum it up by my favorite quote, by an unknown author: “He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” Often, it is a lack of one or more of the needs discussed that can lead to kinks in the relationship with our dogs. Thankfully, the fixes are within our abilities. Train safe, and be well.
Aja Harris

Owner/Trainer/Behaviorist

Mutt Magic Training

www.muttmagic.com