One of the reasons I strive for my girls to live a good life and look forward to having a few more APBT's is Body! Bodacious is a nominee for the 2012 Hero Dog Awards in the Therapy Dog category. I met Body at an ADBA show in our area. She was stunning! Undeniably a beautiful representation of an American Pitbull Terrier. I was able to pet her and feel the warmth and healing energy she gives. She is one of the sweetest dogs I've met. I was looking forward to working and training our new pup and Body was my role model(still is).At that time we had Queenie our 1st APBT. We were faced with aggression issues that possibly due to a poor breeding program and our ignorance we over looked during our purchase. The breeder initially was cooperative and our communication seemed good until it became non-existent. This person was obviously just trying to make some money. The breeder seemed to have some knowledge about APBT's (which at the time we lacked). So, need less to say we now know that this breeder (A backyard breeder)lacked the proper knowledge and respect for the APBT breed. I mention this to better explain that with our first APBT we had an unfortunate time. Our Queenie has some aggression issues that with proper training and socialization we have been able to work with. She does well around people and can eat right next to our rescued APBT(Blondie). As Queenie got older she developed horrible skin rashes and an ear infection. As well as numerous stomache problems. The vet said that eventually her inner ear would have to be removed. Our vet did recommend that we change her food because she was possibly allergic to something in it. So we did and found that she has a very bad grain allergy. She is doing well now and no inner ear removal needed. We are always working to improve on her socialization skills. Bodi gave me hope. I knew that I had to make the best of our situation and give Queenie the opportunity to live. Meeting Body led me to believe that the APBT was much more than a nice looking "pitbull". There is a deep history of the APBT breed. A history that any "pitbull" owner should research about to better understand their own dog. Where I grew up many of the people lack the knowledge and respect to preserve the integrity of these fine dogs. I'm now aware as a proud owner of two "pitbulls" that these dogs are resilient,courageous, and lovingly devoted. After the ADBA show I did more research on Bodacious and found out that she was a therapy dog. She is truly an amazing dog. Body represents what all dog owners should strive for with their own dogs. She is already a hero to many,including me. Please check out her story and vote for her daily & share via fb, twitter, forums, e-mails.
Please Share! Below is her direct link.
http://www.herodogawards.org/vote/?nominee=27592664
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fancy Pups? Is that so?
Personally speaking pet stores should just stick to selling animal supplies and not animals. Now I'm not an extremist and clearly my main issue is with dogs and cats that are being sold in many pet shops. It's obvious that many people are going to buy pets from pet stores because it's easy. You have what you think you want right before you. The sad part is that it's very possible that just about 60-90% of the dogs being sold in a pet store are coming from puppy mills. The problem with these dogs is mainly that they are poorly bred. They are more likely to have serious health issues. Which results in many dead dogs and dogs doomed to live a very poor quality of life which was never their choice.
So why am I writing about this? People need to know. People that are thinking about getting a pet should at least research the place they are going to get their animal from.
Recently a close family member of mine without my knowledge went to get a puppy from an infamous pet store in central,NJ. He fell in love with a cute german shepherd pup. She was sweet and mellow. It was a birthday gift. Now there was a moment of uncertainty where my family member noticed the puppy was breathing slightly irregular. Well all "the family" eventually met the new addition. The pup was a little down sort of too mellow. She was taken to the vet for a checkup.
Little did we know that the vet had a troubled history with the very owner of the pet store in central,nj. So when the vet heard where this pup came from he immediately began to talk about the owners past with him, and irresponsibility in regards to remedying and acknowledging the health issues some of the puppies he sold had.
The vet actually felt horrible that my family member had fallen into this persons hands and didn't even charge him to check out the dog. During that checkup my family member was told by the vet the dog had a hernia a congenital hernia. It was a dog that was unfit to be sold. This hernia would cost possibly $1,400-4,000 to surgically fix. Even with surgery there was still a high risk of complications.
Obviously we now had to do research on this pet store. Which we found that many customers had quite unfortunate experiences of puppies passing or dogs with costly health issues. Now the owner himself believes that these cases are not relative because out of the thousands of dogs he's sold just these few were sick. Yet they are relative because we are speaking about a living being that he had the power to make the right decision to not sale. Maybe and hopefully this man can try to make better choices, but this is his livelihood. I cant stress this enough, DONT support these pet stores because the reality is that with our demands to have pets so readily available. Places such as puppy mills will never cease to exist. Avoid the heartache and headache. Do your research find out where these stores are actually getting these dogs from. If for some reason your not able to obtain well rounded and truthful information then move on and be patient in your search for a pet.
Needless to say the German shepherd pup had to be returned. The owner did give a refund but initially seemed to be giving the run around and never truly acknowledged that this German shepherd puppy was seriously ill. To him it was just kennel cough curable with antibiotics. This puppy was seen by two regular veterinarians and a specialist vet. X-rays were done in which the hernia was clearly confirmed.
To us it was obvious this man was ignorant or just in denial. It was devastating and the whole family was troubled with the fact that this dog was suffering and the only choice was to give her back, and hope that this man would do the right thing. This situation was perhaps a learning experience that could've been avoided with research and patience. We are trying to move on while at the same time raising awareness.
These puppies can look very cute at the pet store. I can't say this enough don't let your heart fool your common sense!
I made a list for anyone looking for a pet. I'm generally referring to dogs but this list can be applied when looking for cats, fish, guinea pigs, etc.
Tips and Guidelines for getting a dog:
• PATIENCE.
• RESEARCH extensively. Figure out what kind of dog you like and one that can fit into your lifestyle. Take into consideration the care required for the type of dog you have in mind. Look into the cost for a veterinarian, dog food, collars, etc. Also if you have kids you may want to look into breeds that may actually have a history of doing well with children. Research the breed, it's standards, top organizations, breeders, bloodlines, and it's history. Above all make sure your willing to dedicate the time to train, care, and love this animal.
• DONT buy from a pet store or a back yard breeder. Look into different registries and legitimate kennels with guarantee's that have produced good dogs to your liking. Obviously these pups will cost more money but it's well worth it when knowing that this dog is not only a pet, but a new family member. Please note: that some breeders would like to get to know you and may initially not be quite as willing to just sell anyone a dog. They usually want to make sure that you are able to care for the dog and that you know about the breed. This is a good thing! They actually care about the dogs they produce and are more likely to sell you a great pet quality animal.
• Again, Be Patient. Develop your own list of preferably breeders and research each one. Try to get in contact. Check out their dogs and see when they will be producing a litter.
• Make your choice, make the proper arrangements/contracts with the breeder. Set up shipping, deposits, and pick a vet. Get a crate, food bowls, collars, leash, puppy pads, puppy food, baby wipes, a nice bed, and a few durable toys all these things should be according to your type of dog.
• Last but not least if you forget all else, just remember to have Patience, do your research, and make sure you have taken all the appropriate steps to care for this animal.
I hope that who ever reads this post can honestly understand the facts about pet stores and the unfortunate direct results of puppy mills. Just make sure that at the very least wherever you go to purchase an animal, just google it!
ZZPF6EHAPJE9
So why am I writing about this? People need to know. People that are thinking about getting a pet should at least research the place they are going to get their animal from.
Recently a close family member of mine without my knowledge went to get a puppy from an infamous pet store in central,NJ. He fell in love with a cute german shepherd pup. She was sweet and mellow. It was a birthday gift. Now there was a moment of uncertainty where my family member noticed the puppy was breathing slightly irregular. Well all "the family" eventually met the new addition. The pup was a little down sort of too mellow. She was taken to the vet for a checkup.
Little did we know that the vet had a troubled history with the very owner of the pet store in central,nj. So when the vet heard where this pup came from he immediately began to talk about the owners past with him, and irresponsibility in regards to remedying and acknowledging the health issues some of the puppies he sold had.
The vet actually felt horrible that my family member had fallen into this persons hands and didn't even charge him to check out the dog. During that checkup my family member was told by the vet the dog had a hernia a congenital hernia. It was a dog that was unfit to be sold. This hernia would cost possibly $1,400-4,000 to surgically fix. Even with surgery there was still a high risk of complications.
Obviously we now had to do research on this pet store. Which we found that many customers had quite unfortunate experiences of puppies passing or dogs with costly health issues. Now the owner himself believes that these cases are not relative because out of the thousands of dogs he's sold just these few were sick. Yet they are relative because we are speaking about a living being that he had the power to make the right decision to not sale. Maybe and hopefully this man can try to make better choices, but this is his livelihood. I cant stress this enough, DONT support these pet stores because the reality is that with our demands to have pets so readily available. Places such as puppy mills will never cease to exist. Avoid the heartache and headache. Do your research find out where these stores are actually getting these dogs from. If for some reason your not able to obtain well rounded and truthful information then move on and be patient in your search for a pet.
Needless to say the German shepherd pup had to be returned. The owner did give a refund but initially seemed to be giving the run around and never truly acknowledged that this German shepherd puppy was seriously ill. To him it was just kennel cough curable with antibiotics. This puppy was seen by two regular veterinarians and a specialist vet. X-rays were done in which the hernia was clearly confirmed.
To us it was obvious this man was ignorant or just in denial. It was devastating and the whole family was troubled with the fact that this dog was suffering and the only choice was to give her back, and hope that this man would do the right thing. This situation was perhaps a learning experience that could've been avoided with research and patience. We are trying to move on while at the same time raising awareness.
These puppies can look very cute at the pet store. I can't say this enough don't let your heart fool your common sense!
I made a list for anyone looking for a pet. I'm generally referring to dogs but this list can be applied when looking for cats, fish, guinea pigs, etc.
Tips and Guidelines for getting a dog:
• PATIENCE.
• RESEARCH extensively. Figure out what kind of dog you like and one that can fit into your lifestyle. Take into consideration the care required for the type of dog you have in mind. Look into the cost for a veterinarian, dog food, collars, etc. Also if you have kids you may want to look into breeds that may actually have a history of doing well with children. Research the breed, it's standards, top organizations, breeders, bloodlines, and it's history. Above all make sure your willing to dedicate the time to train, care, and love this animal.
• DONT buy from a pet store or a back yard breeder. Look into different registries and legitimate kennels with guarantee's that have produced good dogs to your liking. Obviously these pups will cost more money but it's well worth it when knowing that this dog is not only a pet, but a new family member. Please note: that some breeders would like to get to know you and may initially not be quite as willing to just sell anyone a dog. They usually want to make sure that you are able to care for the dog and that you know about the breed. This is a good thing! They actually care about the dogs they produce and are more likely to sell you a great pet quality animal.
• Again, Be Patient. Develop your own list of preferably breeders and research each one. Try to get in contact. Check out their dogs and see when they will be producing a litter.
• Make your choice, make the proper arrangements/contracts with the breeder. Set up shipping, deposits, and pick a vet. Get a crate, food bowls, collars, leash, puppy pads, puppy food, baby wipes, a nice bed, and a few durable toys all these things should be according to your type of dog.
• Last but not least if you forget all else, just remember to have Patience, do your research, and make sure you have taken all the appropriate steps to care for this animal.
I hope that who ever reads this post can honestly understand the facts about pet stores and the unfortunate direct results of puppy mills. Just make sure that at the very least wherever you go to purchase an animal, just google it!
ZZPF6EHAPJE9
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"Pitbull" is it a breed? Take a guess..
"Pit bull"- is any of several breeds of dogs. Your guess is as good as mine.;) All the breeds improperly identified as only a "pitbull" may share a similar history. Many dogs medium to large breeds were used for bull and bear-baiting. It was quite the spectacle and apparently great entertainment in the past. Usually these events took place in a sort of "pit" and the dogs were trained to basically bring down a bear or a bull. Overtime it translated into dog fighting which was easy to do, and became quite a popular sort of sport in which many earned their livelihood. So you see the term "pitbull" refers to a general group of dogs that were used for the events I described before hand. What breeds can be categorized as "pitbulls" too many in my opinion. So "pitbull" is not an actual breed but a generalization, a category, or better yet just a term that is quite possibly used ignorantly to identify and generalize dogs. The term "pitbull" has meaning but in no way defines or is the name of an existing breed. I personally don't have an issue with this term and use it quite frequently. My issue is the stigma attached to it and the fact that "pitbull" or term in itself is not a breed but is used to identify and group certain dogs, which are euthanized for upholding BSL. Ok, so maybe I do have an issue with this term. Just food for thought.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Staffy are Pitbulls,duh!
I decided to expand, explain, and inform bully breed lovers and curious folks about the differences of American bullies,APBT's, Staffy's, and Amstaff's. All these bully breeds look very similar but all are slightly different yet usually categorized as "Pitbulls". I hate when people assume a bully looking dog is a just a "pitbull". Its drives me nuts!!! Let me begin with Staffordshire bull terriers.Yes I admit I have a soft spot for these dogs, who doesnt?
- Your typical Staffy is not very big, it shouldn't be fat! Here is a good chart, a little redundant but informative.
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| This Chart/Picture does not belong to me ,but its a great representation of an Staffordshire Bull terrier |
- Height at shoulder: 14 to 16 inches. Weight: Dogs, 28 to 38 pounds; bitches, 24 to 34 pounds, these heights being related to weights. Non-conformity with these limits is a fault. In proportion, the length of back, from withers to tail set, is equal to the distance from withers to ground.
 |
| Again this is not my photo and only using to show a proper representation of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
Many people that see a Staffy usually do not have the knowledge to identify any differences between APBT's or pitbull considered dogs. It's obvious that they are smaller in size but they do have very refined characteristics and are very good looking, and almost always look in proportion. I dont like to get into colors and the variations because a lot of people make mistakes in identifying the right color of their dog. I would say that most notable associations have a standard and references on how to figure out what kind of dog you have. I would hope everyone does their best to purchase or adopt dogs of this breed with legit paper work. Its good to be able to have a good history or knowledge of kennels that provide staffies, and do your homework to find out more about bloodlines among these dogs.
Now I've chosen to begin with my favorite type of "bully" breed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier because explainably there are many differences and similarities among American Pit Bull Terriers,American Staffordshire Terriers,Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Bulldogs. Argueably there are many sub breeds that is beleived to come from the Staffordshire bull terrier. There are other breeds that may be relative such as the boxer, mastiffs,which can go back to dogs like the Cordoba fighting dog to mention one(this breed is believed to be extinct), but the Dogo Argetino currently exists which is derived from the Cordoba fighting dog. All are lovely breeds that I'm very thankful for the older breeders for conciously breeding. We must understand that many breeders of these types of dogs have there version of the ultimate dog. I've posted a list below from wikipedia.They are links to descriptions of different dogs that were, or unfortunately still are considered fighting dogs. Some of these dogs may have paved the way for some of the bully breeds today. Just about all the dogs listed have bull and bear-baiting in common. This was a very popular practice in the past in many different countries. Of course dogs were used for this! Thanks to wikipedia here is the list with links that go back to the wikipedia website in which you can find great descriptions of each breed and its history.
- Blue Paul Terrier (extinct)
- Bull and Terrier (extinct)
- Cordoba Fighting Dog (extinct)
- Dogo Cubano (extinct)
- English White Terrier (extinct)
- Molossus (extinct)
- Old English Bulldog (extinct)
- Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Dog)
- Perro de Presa Mallorquin (Ca de Bou)
Bull/Bear baiting and dog fighting was very popular among these types of dogs. However during those times many breeders and owners like today had their preferences which brought about all these different breeds.
AKC began recognizing Staffordshire bull terriers in the 1970's. Now I have to acknowledge the fact that this breed is relatively new in the US. So, the early development of this breed can be traced down to the Roman empire,possibly Egypt, and Germany. However Its most well known that the current Staffordshire bull terrier can be credited to England, who kindly refers to the Staffy as "The Nanny Dog".
I will be moving briefly into American Staffordshire Terriers and the Irish bull terrier in my next post to give credit where it may be due! I will continue redesigning my blog and making it more informative. I'm continuing to do research, as well as creating a better blog for those of us who arent interested in only pets. Gearing my blog to those who truly understand that there are more to "pitbulls" than the myths and media portrayal. My blog is to show many of us bully breed lovers and non lovers a good and a responsible way of having a bully breed dog and preserving the integrity of that particular breed. Stop over breeding! Inform yourself and inform others. There is much to be acknowledged from the Staffordhire Bull terriers abundant history. So I encourage all to go to www.staffordmall.com, it's a great website for anyone interested in this particular breed.
My post are my opinions, however most of my information is taken from books I've read, websites, and information from people I know. Just a reminder that I'm a blogger(Not a historian) simply expressing my love for APBT's and other breeds alike. All opinions and possibly corrections are welcomed please join me and leave comments.
My post are my opinions, however most of my information is taken from books I've read, websites, and information from people I know. Just a reminder that I'm a blogger(Not a historian) simply expressing my love for APBT's and other breeds alike. All opinions and possibly corrections are welcomed please join me and leave comments.
Monday, September 26, 2011
(Woodstown,NJ/ADBA dog Show2011)
So far everything is good, went to the ADBA Tri-state dog show in Woodstown, NJ. I honestly felt a little out of place. Don't get me wrong I fully support these types of organizations and what they do for the APBT breed. Interesting side note is that there are many different organizations that have dog shows in which the APBT or SBT breeds can participate. Dogs must enter with legit paperwork in which its bloodlines/kennels can be traced. Something just didn't feel quite right to me and maybe missing(my own APBT). Maybe it was just me, I dont know. However the ADBA also has fun classes for those of us who have altered dogs. There were many great looking dogs at the show and I also met a pup from patch o pits who's quite the cutey. It gave me puppy fever. I took my girls, which I will be working with more thoroughly to train and bring to the next dog show in the area. I have to find organizations that allow my girls to participate. I cant wait for us to walk in with our APBT pup and bask in the experience of showing the results of our care. Sincerely hoping that in the next year or so we can have a pup with us soon, and to start showing him in the ADBA ring among others. Looking forward and preparing to make sure that with our next pup we can be blessed with a good tempered dog and work towards the CGC certification. Until then I will continue to find useful ways of training my girls so that they excel and live a good quality of life.
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