Why I like Pit Bulls

When I first started training the only group of dogs I worried about were the bull terriers. I started my police career in the 80s. Back then the pit bull was very popular with the people who were making and dealing drugs. The would often have several dogs staked out with overlapping circles. The theory was that the dogs would delay the police if they came to raid.

I have a fellow deputy who once had to shoot a pit bull off his arm when the dog would not let go. We were particularly wary of their reputation for the strength of their jaw. I listened to more than one bandit brag about how he had bred his dogs for the aggression.

Fortunately for me, the first bull terriers to come into my center were four American Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They belong to my friend and groomer, Kris. She has been raising and showing these dogs for some time and the male she brought in was in the top ten for the breed.

Knowing that Kris is also a trainer and has very good control of her dogs lessened my worries. I found them to be sweet, easy to train and eager to learn. Now Kris does not train in the Manners in Minutes system, but wanted to see it for herself since like many good trainers she is always looking for something to make what she does better.

When I commented on how nice the dogs were to work with Kris explained that when the dogs were still fighting in the pits before it was outlawed, they were too valuable to let them fight to the death. So the owner had to be able to go into the pit and get his dog out without getting bit by either dog. By breeding they are gentle and sweet to humans.

Later when discussing training bulls with the developer of Manners in Minutes training, Pat Muller, Pat also added that during the period when the dogs were still fighting, they were the family pet during the rest of the week. At the first sign of excessive aggression, especially around the owners children, the dog was put down. So over time only the gentlest and sweetest of the bulls (around humans) were bred.

Since then I have worked with a number of Staffordshires, Am Staffs, and Pit Bulls. I look forward to everyone of them. They have all trained well and are some of the best dogs I have turned out were from these breeds.

The lesson from all this is that any dog is dangerous if it isn’t properly trained and socialized. Pit Bulls aren’t more likely to bite than any other breed. As a matter of fact, the most popular breed in this country is the Lab. And Labs are also the dog breed most often reported to the police or animal control is the Lab.

Books shouldn’t be judged by their covers, and dogs shouldn’t be judged by their breeds.

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Coping with the Sudden Loss of a Pet

Two of my clients and friends recently lost their beloved pet dog to a sudden illness. The loss was totally unexpected as the dog was only four years old, and was in apparently good health. While its always difficult to say goodbye to our companions, such a sudden loss can be extremely difficult to face.

When a pet dies suddenly, even if we are not at fault, we may blame ourselves. "I should have been more careful, more tolerant, more aware, more ... ". When we may have some responsibility in our pets death, it is even more difficult to face the guilt.

I have owned many dogs during my lifetime. Some have died relatively young, some have died accidental deaths, and some have lived full lives before their deaths. In some cases, I had to make the decision to euthanize my companion because he or she was in pain, or even worse, because I did not have the financial ability to pay for extended treatment. After these many years, I know for sure that I will eventually lose my pet, but it never stops me from engaging in the joy that I know a relationship with a pet can bring.

Grief is a personal journey. When I am faced with the loss of a pet, I recall the good things that my pet and I did together. I recall the time that I spent with my pet, as well as the money that I did not spend on clothes or cars so that I could spend that money on my pet.

Especially if I feel implicated in some way in my pets death, either by action or inaction, I try to remember that no one is perfect in their ability to care for their pet. We all make mistakes from time to time. And our pets may not be able to tell us that they are hurting. From personal experience I know that making the choice to euthanize can be devastating.

I take time to grieve. For people who do not hold pets dear to their hearts, it is hard to understand the depth of the grief that we pet lovers can experience upon the loss of a pet. Be kind to yourself during this period. One of the most therapeutic ways that I grieve is to make a detailed photo album/scrapbook of my pet. This helps me to remember the fun times that we had together, from infancy to death.

I try to memorialize my pet by purchasing something permanent to remember him or her by. One of my favorites is a beautiful plant or tree, planted in memory of my pet. Others may give a gift to an animal charity or veterinary medical research to remember a pet.

I wait for a while before purchasing or obtaining another pet. If you get another pet too soon after the death of a beloved companion, especially a tragic death, it is likely that for the first 2 or 3 years of the new pets life you may unintentionally compare your new pet to the old pet. The period of grieving that you need is individual.

Some people believe that they can never get another pet because it is too painful to lose them. My philosophy is that choosing another pet to fill a void is an honor to your previous pet. You are not replacing your beloved pet, and you will always have his or her memory, but you remember the fun and know that you can provide a good home to a new pet.

The words of the Garth Brooks song "Last Dance" perfectly describe my feelings about the circle of life that we experience with our pets.

http://www.planetgarth.com/lyrics/the_dance.shtml

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