The Real Pit Bull Blog

"I'm a Pit Bull parent, and...."

2012-01-17T11:46:00.006-05:00

Last week we posed this fill-in-the-blank question on Facebook: "I'm a Pit Bull parent, and...."

We got such a wide variety of responses from all sorts of people whose lives are enriched by their Pit Bulls in all sorts of ways. Below is a compilation of those responses.

Lovemybully76: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and proud of it!"

Fureverywhere: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and I learn something new from my Ophie every day!"

CA Puzio: "I am a Pit Bull Parent and it has changed my life, for together we have learned to self realize and cope with the anxiety within."

Catstina: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and I'm studying to be a Psychologist."

JohnR: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and am typical of MANY people who work professionally with animals: Pit Bulls are my favorite breed of dog!"

Dlester: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and grateful every day."

Pitbullmamaliz: "I'm a Pit Bull parent, and through her I've had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people with the biggest hearts."

Wannabeowner: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and have the cuddliest, snuggliest, silliest dog EVER!"

Daves: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and my only regret is that I didn't become one sooner."

Erins66: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and I vote."

Barbara Cooper: ‎"I'm a Pit Bull parent, and Terrojax is God's gift to me. He came to me as an owner surrender and found out the next day he had parvo. I nursed him back to health and now he is an awesome 6 year old. I am hard of hearing and he is my ears. He is my best friend and companion. I love my hairy son. I was not sure of him at first because of all the publicity you hear. You just have to live with him to know. Thank you for my best friend. Terrojax momma loves you bunches."

Thérése Weiner: "I teach children with multiple disabilities and I'm a proud American Pit Bull Terrier parent. Several of my dogs are certified working therapy dogs. So you can say, we put the pits in the hos'pit'al & the bull in the reading programs at the li-bull-ary among the other venues we work."

Patti Deschaine: "I'm a pit bull parent of two of the most fantastic, loving animals I have ever known. More like four legged, speech challenged children. So connected to my pitties!"

Cheryl Clauss: "I am a pitbull parent to 9 month old Sapphira, a blue fawn, and aunt to 5 yr old Knucklehead. The depth of love this breed shows to their humans is amazing! We don't "own" pitbulls, we are their people!"

Meghan Ridings Cabalar: "I am a Pit Bull parent and my 2 Pits live with my 4 children and are around the children I babysit and provide excellent love and companionship to us all!"

Will Rice: ‎"I'm a Pit Bull parent, and a foster parent to children in need, and an adoptive parent to a son I love, and a United Methodist Pastor."

Kelly Andrews: ‎"I am a Pit Pull parent to a special needs Pit Bull who loves to be the surrogate momma to orphan kittens!"

Kevin Knabe: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and proud to have such a loving, smart, American breed of dog(APBT that is!)"

Julia Fabiani: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and I am a responsible owner who takes time to educate people who either don't know about them, or have misconceptions."

Julie Strader: ‎"I'm a Pit Bull parent, and every day is a gift of love, cuddling, butt wiggles, and clownish fun!"

Talia Miller: "I'm a Pit Bull parent, and I couldnt imagine not being one ever."

Adrea Garcia-Smith: "I'm a Pit Bull parent, and our boys Roscoe & Hendrix are just the sweetest, goofiest Pits around and are very smart!! They love my 3 girls and cuddling in bed with them!! They're big babies."

Stacey Allen Suazo: "I am a Pit Bull parent, an attorney, a professional dog trainer, a business owner, a wife and a mother. I am a responsible parent who teaches my dogs and children how to behave responsibly around others. After 30+ years of having multiple dogs in my life, my Pit Bull has been the best behaved and easiest to train pet I've ever had. He rewards me and my family each day with boundless devotion and love. My Pit Bull is neutered, well-socialized, and lives inside with our family."

Yajaira Rivera: "I am a Pit Bull parent and I am blessed with such a breed. Smart, beautiful, loving, loyal and goofy :) Diesel is his name and love him so much.... we are inseparable."

Alexandra Beck: "I am a Pit Bull parent, teacher, and guardian, and veterinary nurse. I wished and waited for a dog exactly like my Luna: sweet, smart, affectionate, loyal and kind - a true best friend. It was worth the wait!"

Cindy Tierney: "I am a Pit Bull parent and proud of it, would never get a different breed."

Tammy Gravely Townsend: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and advocate for the breed I love the most. I am a mother, a grandmother and Pit Bulls are a part of my family. Can't imagine life without Pit Bulls."

Sarah Edewaard Hamilton: "I am a Pit Bull parent w/two spoiled rotten extremely lovable pits that make me so happy when I come home and just want to be loved on and cuddled. They are sweet, extremely smart and very loyal. Oh and the most important, they LOVE children."

Maggie Van Etten: "I am a Pit Bull parent of Nina the Elderbull and volunteer for a Pit Bull focused rescue and have never met a Pit Bull I didn't fall in love with, LOL! But then again, that's easy to do!"

Brooke Watkins: "I am a Pit Bull parent to a wonderful sweet Pit Bull whom is very intelligent, smart, and loving. She is easy to train and picks stuff up quickly. She loves my boyfriend's kids and shows enormous amounts of Affection by giving tons of kisses as often as we let her. I wouldn't give her up for anything, and I love taking her everywhere with me and showing people how well behaved she is and all of the tricks and commands she knows."

Sarah Edewaard Hamilton: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and our dogs' names are Angel (she lives up to that name) & Rebel (he's 5 mo. and so much fun)."

Nola-And Tom Petty: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and wouldn't have it any other way & enjoy filling people in of the FACTS instead of all the Pit Pull myths!"

Emily Sieger: "I am a Pit Bull parent, whose rescued gamebred APBT was the favorite therapy dog of all the residents at my mom's nursing home because of his loving gentle nature."

Carol Brown Hunt: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and I have never met a sweeter or more loyal dog....It all depends on how they are raised and taken care of....and loved by their family."

Jennifer Swensen: :I am a Pit Bull parent, and I am responsible and proud to be owned by a Pit Bull."

Claudia Chain: "I am a Pit Bull parent and I am glad I didn't listen to the people who said that my dog was going to eat me in my sleep."

Ana Beck: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and I will NEVER apologize for it!! My Pit is a sweet, loving, loyal, and irreplaceable member of my family. I challenge anyone who doesn't like Pit Bulls to come spend an afternoon with mine. Watch my nephew cuddle and take naps with him, watch him play with other dogs, and watch him try to give his chew toys to my dad's Cockatiel and then say they aren't trustworthy pets. I love my Pit and I won't apologize for it!!"

Sue Stiely: "I am a Pit Bull parent of 6 girls over the years and will never be without one. I try to educate to the best of my abililty and two of my girls were certified tehrapy dogs. I have had dogs who were quite dog friendly, and some that were not so dog friendly, but I knew their behaviors, stayed aware and have never had one incident involving my dogs or others. I don't ever want to lose the oppurtunity to own the breed and do my best to improve thier reputation."

Victory Plumbing: "I'm a Pit Bull grandparent! After losing my own dog Buddy after 16 yrs, my son's dog Bailie has filled the void of the loss. I don't want anything but a Pit Bull for my next dog."

Nicholas Overturf: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and I have never had such a loving, obedient and beautiful animal in all my life. I miss you Baby Grrr..."

Susan Grattan: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and my baby girl Halo is my life. She is always there when I cry, laugh, or just need a hug or high five."

Melissa Long Truempy: "I am a Pit Bull parent, and I have a 56 pound lap dog/teddy bear/lover boy/and playmate for my seven year old daughter. He is 1 year old today, and has a 10 1/2 year old Pittie sister-who happens to be the smartest dog I've ever known! Both rescue pups, both unique, both irreplaceable."

Chelsey Johnson: "I'm a Pit Bull parent & she is the most loving and loyal dog I could ever ask for."

Amy Hendrickson: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and my dogs both have their CGC, one has his TT and he's doing great in both agility and flyball."

Perfectpit: "I'm a Pit Bull parent and I am blessed every day with his unconditional love and devotion."

Kenzie Smith: "I am a Pit Bull parent and proud of it!!"

Life and times of a fight bust dog: Sedona update!

2011-10-27T11:08:00.011-04:00

October 1st marked a year since Sedona (one of the dogs from the OHIO200 case which was the largest single-yard fight bust in history), came into RPB's adoption program, and she just celebrated 6 months in her forever home with her adoptive dad Dave, and new brother and sister Rocky and Lola. We thought it would be nice to share some recent pictures and video footage of Sedona to celebrate her progress, as well as an update from Dave:

"Living with Sedona these past six months has been a learning experience for both of us. Yes, she has her baggage like most rescued dogs, but she’s been slow to let it go. Continuing what The Real Pit Bull staff began, to teach her to be a pet, has been very rewarding. Sedona is coming out of her shell a little more every day, and her highest achievement thus far has been her first group trail hike recently, with more than a dozen strangers and their dogs. Sedona really shone and impressed me so much on this two hour hike. Everyone was very supportive, and Sedona made more than a few friends that day.

Sedona and housemates Lola and Rocky have adjusted to each other and live in harmony. She really is happy to have the other two dogs around, and is a complete clown around the house. Just like any other Pit Bull she is prone to zoomies, loves her treat ball, enjoys her bones and screams for joy when I come home. Sedona continues to make good progress with her leash manners, and is learning how to interact with strangers. Her CGC is a long term goal that we keep our eyes on, and we will keep working at her socialization issues until the day comes when I can say she’s just like other dogs, but she will always be one Very Special Little Dog."

Playtime between Sedona and Rocky:

Sedona came to us with extreme generalized fear and was far from an easy case. Despite her "emotional issues", she continues to show true Pit Bulldog spirit: an attitude of try, try again, as well as 100% reliability around people despite her very real fear. Dave has been an amazing blessing to Sedona and is one of those adoptive homes rescue organizations dream of: complete and utter dedication to his dogs and acceptance of who they are as individuals.

Volunteer Spotlight

2011-10-26T09:12:00.007-04:00

Carolann Puzio is one of our volunteers, and she specializes in lecturing on responsible dog caretaking and dispelling Pit Bull myths. She and her dog Rocky (who has his Canine Good Citizen certificate, has passed a Temperament Test, and is a certified Therapy Dog) spent Pit Bull Awareness Day teaching enthusiastic (potential) dog parents about Preparing for a Four Legged Friend.

Like so many, Carolann found herself an "accidental Pit Bull parent" when she adopted Rocky from a shelter. She fell in love with her adopted dog, then the breed as a whole, and eventually found herself a breed activist when she teamed up with RPB.

Thanks Carolann for your dedication and eagerness. You are a truly valued member of the RPB family!

Watch for more lectures from Carolann and her sidekick Rocky on various topics in the upcoming months.....

"Had to Shares"

2011-10-21T10:10:00.003-04:00

Hello Bully is awesome. We love them and think they rock, especially for the work they did on the OH200 bust (it's been a year since that bust! Wow, how this year flew by......) They also put together this lovely tribute. Take a few minutes to watch this, it's worth it for the before-and-afters. Just have a tissue handy (you've been warned!)

October is Pit Bull Awareness Month and Oct 22nd is National Pit Bull Awareness Day. This fantastic campaign was started by Bless the Bullys' founder, Jodi Preis. All month long, Bless the Bullys has been honoring Pit Bull advocates on their blog. It was so cool to wake up this morning to a Facebook post letting me know that I was today's featured honoree. It really is an honor. You can read the blog by clicking here.

Tellin' it like it is, no apologies.

2011-10-19T12:02:00.003-04:00

RPB is a teeny tiny org with minimal funding. Ok, I say this not to whine and moan, or hint that we need donations (even though we do, *hint hint*). I say this because when fundraising or promotional opportunities arise, ones that could get us some exposure, perhaps generate some donations, and also raise awareness for the breed, that's pretty darn cool!

Those opportunities don't come along very often, however, for RPB.

RPB is a fairly no-nonsense organization. We advocate hard for responsible breed caretaking, and talk a lot about what it’s REALLY like to live with Pit Bulls; we don’t just lean towards the "cute and cuddly" stuff. We also discuss some of the things that aren’t so fuzzy about the breed that people need to be aware of before they decide to bring one home. We don’t rewrite history (the breed wasn’t originally the “nanny dog” or bred for hunting or herding or farm work). There are “easy” Pit Bull temperament traits, and there are “not so easy” temperament traits. There are things about the breed that make them super easy dogs to call your own, and things that make them rather difficult – we tell it all, like it is.

RPB is called The REAL Pit Bull because we don't sugarcoat, make stuff up, or twist facts just because sometimes facts aren’t so pretty. Marketing goes a long way in the nonprofit world - same as in the world of for-profit corporations, make no mistake. Nonprofits need to market to fund their organization’s efforts. That’s part of life. But RPB's concern has always been first and foremost the dogs, the people who interact with them, and bringing the truth to light. The REAL Pit Bull - as in the breed, the American PIT BULL Terrier - isn't a product to sell to the masses, it's not Coca-Cola, or Starbucks, or the latest must-have smart phone. We DON'T want everyone to "buy" our product. We want smart decision-making, educated consumers, and people to realize that hey, maybe these aren't the dogs for their particular homes. So we don’t market to the masses – we market to the truth-seekers, the fact-finders, those who have a true interest in the BREED.

We also promote nondiscriminatory dangerous dog laws. We believe we have the right, express that we have the right, and fight for the RIGHT to choose whatever breed we think is the best match for our homes. We each have a RIGHT to become caretakers of the American Pit Bull Terrier if we so choose. A person's right to own a Pit Bull - or ANY dog - should come into question ONLY when such a person has proven themselves to be irresponsible, abusive, or criminal - putting other people and/or animals in harm's way.

We fight Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) because it tramples our rights, hurts the innocent (dog and human alike), and assumes guilt before any act has even been committed. We argue against BSL on principal, using logic. BSL penalizes innocent companion animals and their families, costs tax payers money for no good reason, and gives the public a false sense of security.

RPB does NOT fight BSL by sugarcoating or hard-selling the Pit Bull. We feel such a methodology does more harm than good. We never use tactics that include falsifying the history or temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier, denying it for what it truly is, or promoting it as "America's dog, the dog for everyone, the dog that can even babysit your kid!"

Popularity is this breed’s downfall. Ignorant, uneducated, negligent and outright criminal people who mishandle the Pit Bull are causing its demise. Promoting the breed – even when intentions are good – is one of the worst things you can do to the dogs. As we like to say, “We promote education and responsibility and if you decide the Pit Bull is the right breed for you, then we encourage you to rescue one.” We do NOT promote the breed itself and we do NOT encourage any average person who may be thinking about getting a dog to run out and adopt a Pit Bull. The last thing this breed needs is to become more popular. While some people get all giddy and excited to see a Pit Bull portrayed in some big way in a positive light, we cringe – we know that kind of exposure, not coupled with education, will only lead to more well-intentioned yet potentially harmful situations.

I suppose all of this doesn't make our organization or our "product" as "consumer-friendly" or as marketable. But we're ok with that.

Recently a documentary was filmed and put into circulation, meant to be used as a tool to combat BSL. We’ve watched as, over the past year, organization after organization has hosted screenings of this movie, benefitted in some way, and helped to spread the anti-BSL message. Pit Bull advocates are raving about it. Earlier this year, before practically anyone had seen this documentary, I contacted the moviemaker and asked if RPB could receive a copy to check out the movie, make sure it was preaching a message we could get behind, and then possibly host a screening. The email we received in reply stunned me. The gist of the reply? “No.”

RPB was told we were "not a fit" for this movie because we, as an organization, hold the position that the Pit Bull is NOT the breed for everyone. Um…..what?

Let me restate this loud and clear: THE PIT BULL IS NOT THE BREED FOR EVERYONE! No breed is. THE END. We don’t apologize for this position. In the right hands a particular breed could be awesome; in the wrong hands it could be a disaster. This isn't a Pit Bull-only caveat - it's an across-the-board thing that applies to ALL BREEDS. I dare you to find one reputable sanctioned breed club or ethical rescue that says, "EVERYONE SHOULD GO OUT and get 'This Breed' because OMG it is just SO AWESOME, the best thing EVER, the perfect match for every home, and so so so cute, and great, and wonderful, and you're an idiot if you don't have one!"

Yet here RPB was being told that no, we couldn’t get an advanced copy of this movie. The moviemaker even went out of their way to tell me that yes, they do allow organizations to view advanced copies to make sure the movie meshes with their individual missions. But nope, sorry, RPB wasn’t gonna get one. Because apparently we don’t pimp out Pit Bulls? The moviemaker was not amenable to even discussing the matter. I was told that if I wanted, I could pay to go so some other organization’s screening, and IF I liked the movie, the moviemaker and I could “revisit” the idea of a benefit screening for RPB at a later date. I was so blown away, baffled, and frankly insulted that I just threw my hands up and said, “Oh well.”

Neither I nor anyone else at RPB has seen this movie. We haven’t “revisited” anything with its creator. We’ve sat by quietly as what feels like every other Pit Bull organization in the country has hosted a screening of this film, and RPB – one of the oldest and most outspoken advocates for the Pit Bull, an anti-BSL 501(c)3 nonprofit charity – was told we weren’t allowed to see a copy because the moviemaker wasn’t “comfortable” sending us one due to “conflicting viewpoints”.

Over the past year, from so-called Pit Bull organizations, we’ve seen less and less breed-focused material, and more non-specific material aimed at pushing Pit Bulls or dogs labeled “Pit Bulls” out of shelter doors with minimal if any breed-specific education given to the adoptive homes, and organizations working at convincing people to adopt Pit Bulls when those individuals haven’t done any breed research. Talking about breed traits has become taboo. Suggesting that Pit Bulls or “pit bull type dogs” are not the dogs for everyone apparently gets you blackballed from certain segments of the Pit Bull advocacy community. Fighting BSL has become all about denying breed idiosyncrasies, promoting and getting MORE Pit Bulls into the spotlight (in other words, INCREASING their popularity), insisting you can’t ever assume breed (and hence assume breed behavioral traits) just by looking at a dog, and calling every dog or breed remotely resembling a Pit Bull a “pit bull type dog” (including breeds with completely different histories and temperaments).

The popular tactic of "fighting" BSL and "helping" Pit Bulls has become a game of dodge ball, where the goal is to avoid addressing REAL issues and instead use semantics and deny, avoid, and twist truths.

We don't play that game.

RPB will keep chugging along and doing what we do. (We’ve been doing this work since 1997. I’ve personally been living with, loving, and devoted entirely to this breed since 1994.) We will keep counseling guardians with Pit Bulls who got in over their heads when a rescue or shelter placed a dog into a home without any breed education. We’ll preach responsible guardianship until we are blue in the face. Breed traits WILL be talked about. Historical fact will be promoted and fallacy will be shot down. We’ll fight BSL and offer alternatives, show up at town hall meetings, distribute information and work to save homeless Pit Bulls.

What we won’t ever do is turn our back on our breed, the American PIT BULL Terrier – no matter how difficult the struggle becomes, no matter how difficult it is to face facts and even if it means we don’t always get to hang with the “cool kids” or miss out on some fundraising opportunities.

And for all you truth-seekers, fact-fiends, the curious, the confused, and even the on-the-fencers – we’re here, for you, to help and guide and educate. And we’ll always be real with you.

“Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too Day”

2011-08-23T12:16:00.013-04:00

L’Oréal hosted the 8th Annual “Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too Day” with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. And The Real Pit Bull was there in full effect. We had our booth set up, ready to inform and educate people on what this wonderful breed is all about. I figured I would see a few Pit Bulls here and there but to my surprise there were more than I expected.

There were plenty of other breeds there as well, as you'll see in the gallery below. The event had lots of food (for dogs and people), refreshments and plenty of activities for everyone. Here are some photos from the event for your enjoyment

Bust dogs just wanna have fun!

2011-08-12T11:02:00.011-04:00

Sedona from the OH200 bust last year wasn't 100% convinced that the agility equipment was supposed to be a good time, but she was willing to try it out anyway.

Sedona and her dad recently hung out at North Jersey's Dog Dome for some socialization and exercise. Big strides for this little girl who wouldn't even leave her crate the first few days after she was placed in foster care with RPB. Sedona found her forever home back in April and is doing wonderfully.

Fight bust dogs really DO just want to have a good time and a chance to be normal dogs. All they need is some love and a nurturing environment to teach them that they can!

Your Dog Is Worth It Too! Event 8/20

2011-08-12T10:51:00.004-04:00

The Real Pit Bull, Inc will host our Pit Bull Education booth at this year's Loreal Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too event, to be held at the Loreal facility in Cranbury, NJ on August 20th.

This is the first year we'll be attending and we're super stoked! We've heard great things about this day, the proceeds of which benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure of Central and South Jersey.

RPB staff, volunteers and canine alumni will be in attendance. Please join us!

We love our Pit Bulls in so many ways...

2011-04-04T22:56:00.021-04:00

...some would call us "crazy", but at RPB we prefer the term "passionate". We wanted to share some pix we received recently showing the love Pit Bull guardians have for these amazing dogs - what better way than through tattoos. Here are some recent submissions we've received. It never ceases to amaze us how dedicated people are to their Pit Bulldogs. Has to tell ya something - these are so much more than "just dogs": they are our life, our family, our best friends.

Enjoy!

Sharah Gomez shared her Jersey and Ruben tattoo.

Randi was so inspired by Vick Dog Jonny Justice that she permanently demonstrated her admiration by getting this lovely tattoo:

Sarge's Kim Wolf tattooed her beloved Elberbull on her foot:

Bev Waltons' gorgeous Pit Bull:

Jenna McFall's Jack the Ripper, RIP:

And I figured I'd share my own tattoo of Krash, the inspiration behind RPB, and my AmStaff Luca:

Yo!

2011-03-18T15:32:00.004-04:00

The RPB t-shirts will be ordered on March 31st, and will go out as soon as we get them (turnaround time is about 2 weeks). If you haven't already ordered one (or more!) of these shirts, you can let us know what you need via Paypal.com (support@realpitbull.com is the email). The shirts are $15/ea. and a great way to make a statement regarding your unwillingness to tolerate discrimination.

"Judge all the same by what's on the inside and not by a name."

---->We're havin' a CGC party! Your Pit Bull can test for a $20 fee (which benefits RPB, of course), or you can just come hang for free. Interested? Email: info@realpitbull.com

Pre-Order Your RPB T-Shirts Today!

2011-03-02T09:45:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends!

Our t-shirt slogan contest was a success! For more about the t-shirt and the contest, please click here:

http://therealpitbullblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-our-tee-shirt-slogan-contest.html

We are now getting ready to place an order for t-shirts. Shirts will be black with light blue text on the back, reading:

"Judge all the same by what's on the inside and not by a name."

The RPB logo (which is the likeness of Krash, one amazing Pit Bull and the "dog behind RPB"), will be featured on the front of the shirt, in light blue.

We were all set to place an order, but unexpected vet bills ate up our t-shirt fund in February. (This is rescue work! Always expect the unexpected!) Now we are accepting "pre orders", which means you pay now and your shirt will be shipped to you as soon as they are printed up (target: end of March).

Shirts are $15.00 and you can pay through our Paypal.com account using the email: support@realpitbull.com

Please be sure to indicate you are ordering a shirt as well as the sizes and quantity you would like. Pre-ordering t-shirts is a great way to support RPB, help us pay recent vet bills for our OH200 bust dog, Sedona (who is doing fine and is healthy now!), and show your love for Pit Bulls by way of a great shirt that sports a great message.

Any questions? Info@realpitbull.com

Playtime!

2011-01-28T20:31:00.007-05:00

Supervised, calm play between Luca the senior AmStaff and Sedona who is a bust dog. Luca is a little unsure of Sedona's energetic play style but he wants to engage and she is respecting his boundaries after he gives a little "that's rude" growl early in the vid. Notice that Luca "shakes off" at one point. That is an indicator of mild stress (not all stress is bad, remember) but since his overall demeanor is relaxed with a softly wagging tail and overall inquisitive attitude, and Sedona is not overwhelming him, I allow the play to continue.

Shortly after the video ends, I break the dogs and let them take a time-out. Even though this session went beautifully and both dogs were appropriate, I chose to interrupt them after a short while to "end on a good note". This is opposed to allowing them to continue on until someone gets tired and cranky, and hurt feelings ensue.

(Ignore my "omg" in the background - I was responding to someone I was talking to on the phone while taking this video ;-) )

Shout out to Paws4Change.com!

2011-01-25T09:48:00.003-05:00

Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to your Pioneers page. I'm flattered.

Paws 4 Change is a wonderful website dedicated to creative education on important animal welfare issues. They are very pro-Pit Bull and have been super supportive of RPB (they created our public service announcement and got it on the air for us).

Please support this website by visiting and sharing with your friends and family.

~Mary

Snippets from Sedona

2011-01-21T09:10:00.007-05:00

Foster mom note: Sedona is one of the Ohio 200 Bust Dogs saved thanks to grand efforts by HSUS, Hello Bully and others. Sedona's been living with yours truly and my elder AmStaff Luca since October 1st. It's been a trip, to say the least.

Sedona is a bunch of personality traits all rolled up into something equalling awesome. The longer I have her and the more time she has acclimating to the real world (aka what exists past the end of a chain), the more I see this little dog's unbroken spirit, her zest for life, and her endless capability for love - and to be loved. Some days, looking at her gentle smiling little face, I could just cry. Other days she makes me laugh hysterically. Still other days - when she's taking running leaps onto the couch and dive bombing poor Luca - I feel like I must have been crazy to take on this tiny bundle of insane joy. Most of the time I am so thankful that I was blessed enough to have crossed paths with this dog.

"Snippets from Sedona" will be occasional posts that give a Sedona-eye's-view of the world, in her own words. Hopefully you'll get to know her personality a little, her unique take on life, and gain a little insight into the mind of one of those supposedly dastardly, dreadful "fighting Pit Bulls".

And maybe somewhere along the way, you'll fall in love and realize that adopting Sedona is something you just can't NOT do. If you find yourself in such a situation, please be sure to email me for an application: Mary@realpitbull.com

I'll miss her when she's gone on to bigger and better things in a new forever home, but Luca would be glad to get his spot on the couch back.

=======================================

This is right after I jumped on the bed, and right before Foster Mom told me to get off the freshly-washed blankets n stuff with my dirty outside paws.

I don't get wut the big deal is. And I feel I am far too cute to be told what to do. Just look at me. This is one of my 'sad faces', by the wayz. It is sad face 1. I didn't have time to unleash sad face 2 which usually allows me to get whatever I want in any situation. Foster Mom has gotten wise to the various levels of sad face and mostly acts too fast and makes me stop whatever I am doing before I have time to hit her with sad face 2. But lately, sad face 2 hasn't been working anywayz. She's getting wise to my ways......note to self: must forego sad face 1 and 2 in favor of sad face 3. This should be far more effective. Foster Mom won't know what hit her......

Announcing our tee shirt slogan contest winner!

2011-01-20T08:44:00.005-05:00

We recevied a bunch of wonderful contributions when we announced our slogan contest late last year. After much deliberating, we settled on a slogan written by RPB Forum member, Shandee. The slogan is paraphrased from a poem written by Shandee. So, here we are proud to unveil the winner:

"Judge all the same by what's on the inside and not by a name."

The poem itself is beautiful and expresses a sentiment we should all carry and hold close to our hearts:

Darkness
If there were darkness
And no more light
Who would we hate?
Who would we fight?
We would have to judge
All the people the same
By what's on the inside
And not on their name
The color of their skin
Their height or their weight
None of which would matter
It's their heart and soul we'd appreciate
If there were darkness
And no more light
Might not be bad
We could all learn to be kind

From Shandee:

My family brought home our first Pit Bull when I was 13 years old, I knew then I had found my favorite breed. I began my research and decided I wanted another when I was on my own, so a little over a year ago I brought home my sweet girl Aida. And of course not too long after that I saved a sweet little boy, my Pit Bull mix Bruiser, from a very neglectful home. I can say having two dogs of any kind can be stressful at times, so I started my search for help. That's when I came across The Real Pit Bull forum and with the help of the amazing members I now have two very well behaved pups that are the best breed ambassadors in my neighborhood. Also with help from Mary I have many ideas for bringing about awareness for the breed. The love of the breed came naturally and quickly, the inspiration to do more came from the sparkle in Aida's eyes, and of course the encouragement and ideas came from all the wonderful members of the forum. Without them I'd just love the breed, but now I know how to create something bigger, and hope they'll be there along the way.

Thank you, Shandee, for being a part of the effort to save the image of the Pit Bull and being such a wonderful parent to your babies. We're so glad to have you as part of the RPBF team!

Tee shirts will be available shortly for $15. The black shirts with light blue print will feature our logo on the front and the slogan on the back. If you'd like to pre-order to make sure we'll have your size available, please drop as a line at info@realpitbull.com with the size and quantity you want. We'll let you know how and when to pay once our printer is ready with the shirts.

Georgia pup, all gown's up!

2011-01-19T10:55:00.006-05:00

Jackie was the little Pit mix girl pup who came to NJ from a Georgia shelter last spring. Nurtured by her wonderful, caring foster mom Mariah, Jackie waited patiently for her forever home.

She found that perfect home with Marc and Dana from Southern NJ right before the holidays. We just wanted to update everyone who followed Jackie's story to let you all know she has indeed found a home, as well as post a few pictures of her in her new home, enjoying the good life.

Oh good grief.

2011-01-18T11:52:00.020-05:00

A huge eye-rolling emoticon needs to be inserted right here. This ridiculous article was brought to our attention right after we posted a blog on how to pursue a career in dog training which included a bunch of caveats like the field being completely unregulated, with no licensing requirements, and anyone being able to call themselves a trainer with little or no real education. The WA state-based trainer Scott Bennett did a great job driving these points home.

By far, it seems most trainers are opposed to laws that discriminate against dogs of a certain appearance or breed. Those with an understanding of natural canine behavior and how organisms learn recognize that aggression is strongly environmentally influenced, dogs do not attack or kill for the fun of it, aggression is a fear or defense-based behavior, and improper socialization, management and training are prime contributing factors to dog bites - NOT breed. There is insignificant evidence supporting the notion that any breed posesses "genetically-based aggression" as a trait.

Every so often however some "expert" pops up out of no where with opinions that are based on a severe lack of knowledge and dubious sources. Mr. Bennett, for instance, quotes a debunked "report"supposedly proving Pit Bulls (as a breed) attack more than any other dogs.

Hyperbolic statements like "loves/likes/desires to kill" commonly blab out of the mouths of the ill-informed, but educated animal trainers stay away from such anthropomorphisms because they are unscientific and unrepresentative of what we know about the forces driving animal behavior. Fighting is not something Pit Bulls enjoy, fighting is defensive behavior that dogs engage in when they feel threatened. This is behavior dogs learn as an effective means of protecting their own butts. It works, they repeat it.

And the ol' battle cry of "Pit Bulls are bred to fight/kill/maim" becomes a little silly when you realize most Pit Bulls today have been bred to be companions and are far removed from their ancestors. Most breeds were created for tasks (including some requiring aggression) for which they are no longer used. Even Pit Bulls that have been used for dog fighting or are directly out of fighting stock have proven capable of existing peacefully with other dogs and with people (as demonstrated by the dogs from the Micheal Vick case, as well as from the MO500 and OH200 busts, for example).

The statements in the article made regarding the supposedly vastly superior physical ability of all Pit Bulls over other breeds demand proof: who says? what study? Guess what? There IS no study. These are comments coming from someone with merely an opinion, and nothing more. There is no proof to substantiate the claims made that Pit Bulls are stronger/faster/more athletic than any other breed.

Unfortunately, Pit Bulls are "the in thing". Not just amongst a so-called bad element, but also amongst dog people who have good intentions but little to no understanding of the breed, related issues, and dog behavior. Everyone likes to consider themselves an expert on something controversial and "hot". But before you listen to the words coming out of someone's mouth, take the time to consider their actual (not perceived) knowledge, their sources, and their possible motives.

While personally I have no idea how alienating a large potential client-base of Pit Bull parents could be good for Mr. Bennett's business, I do know that the statements made in his article are detrimental to a breed that RPB fights tooth and nail to protect. There are lots of silly comments made about Pit Bulls all across the 'Net daily, but this short article was so chock-full of the ridiculous that it was a good chance to address common nonsense in one shot.

Here's one more piece of reading material: last week I did a short interview which was also posted on Examiner.com. This one's on the fallacy of breed-based statistics.

As for Mr. Bennett and others of his ilk: pretending you know what you are talking about doesn't mean you actually do.

So you wanna be a dog trainer?

2011-01-18T09:26:00.007-05:00

RPB receives numerous emails from people interested in becoming dog trainers, particularly Pit Bull specialists. We thought it would be helpful to throw together a blog on some things to consider if you are thinking about embarking on the journey to become a humane, well-educated trainer.

But first, please consider the following: there are no regulatory practices in dog training or education of dog trainers. There is no licensing for dog trainers. ANYONE can claim to be a dog trainer or "behaviorist". So be sure to please read this short article. This will help you understand why not only as a consumer is it important to be choosy about the trainer you hire, but also to be cautious about what certifications and education you pursue if you are looking to become a trainer yourself.

So, what is the process of becoming a dog trainer? Who do you talk to, what school do you enroll in? Keeping in mind that the field of dog training is not regulated, extreme caution is warranted when choosing an educational route. Some of the best trainers are self-taught. They start by training their own dogs, then the dogs of family, friends and neighbors. They read the latest and greatest training books, they attend seminars. Then they begin taking paid clients.

It really is a good idea to pursue some sort of organized, concentrated education via a dog training school. There are many, many schools out there but very few are actually worth the money (and dog trainer schools can be very expensive). Beware "online schools" that certify you in weeks or months and then send you out as a "certified master trainer" or something along those lines. There are several excellent organizations and companies that offer genuinely valuable online education but these can never, ever replace hands-on instruction. Two avenues for online learning include E-trainingfordogs.com and Companion Animal Sciences Institute.

Learning from an actual trainer in a real-world training environment is by far the best way to go about educating yourself. Some are lucky enough to be able to apprentice with good trainers. Sometimes an appreticeship develops after you've enrolled in a trainer's programs with your own dog, and you later begin assisting in classes, and so on. Schools that offer genuinely valuable hands-on learning are not as easy to find. Several schools to consider include the Karen Pryor Academy, The San Francisco Academy for Dog Trainers and Pat Miller's trainer certification program. Any school you choose should include a curriculum that focuses on use of positive reinforcement to teach dogs and solve behavioral issues. Avoid schools that offer such certifications as "master dog trainer" or use prong, choke or shock collars as their tools of choice.

A large majority of dog trainers remain self-taught. These trainers can go on to validate their education by pursuing a certification called the CPDT - or Certified Pet Dog Trainer. This certification is offered through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and remains the only independent certification for dog trainers. Another certification available is offered through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Both of these certifications are available to those who have completed certain educational and experiential prerequisites but neither require graduation from any specific "dog trainer school".

Educating yourself via books, DVDs, and seminars is extremely important. There is a very large number of resources available. DogWise.com offers a huge array of books and even offers lists of recommended reading for those pursuing CCPDT and/or IAABC certifications. An excellent source for DVDs is TawzerDogVideos.com.

Independent hands-on work with dogs is essential no matter what, and a great way to get this experience is via apprenticeships with or assisting local trainers; working with dogs of friends, family and neighbors; volunteering with shelters or rescues. Documenting the hours logged actually training and handlings dogs, as well as keeping case studies will be helpful later on when you seek certification through CCPDT or IAABC.

There is no quick or easy way to become a dog trainer. This fast-growing field is full of trainers with limited knowledge who bill themselves as experts and charge huge sums of money as they utilize inhumane/old fashioned training methods, or fail to help individual dogs with serious behavior issues that require a more knowledgeable professional. To become truly proficient in this field, you must spend years learning and working with dogs. Even once you become a professional dog trainer, your educational experience will never end - there will always be a new book to read, a new DVD to view, a new seminar to attend. This field is largely self-policed, so it is up to you to insist for yourself that you hold yourself to the highest educational and ethical standards. Dogs and their people will be relying on you for your help and expertise and in some cases, the situations you encounter may even be life or death scenarios for the dog involved. This is not a line of work to enter into without much forethought, or take lightly.

The above recommendations apply to those seeking to become dog trainers and/or behavior consultants. If you are seeking to become a behaviorist, education to the Masters level or higher through a legitimate grad school is a must. Courses of study that behaviorists pursue include behavior analysis, animal behavior, clinical behaviorism, and veterinary behaviorism. Since there are no laws governing use of terms such as "dog trainer" or "behaviorist", many people who label themselves behaviorists actually aren't - in other words, they do not have the college degrees that should accompany usage of such a label.

(Disclaimer: the mention of the above schools, organizations and resources is for your convenience only. RPB is not affiliated in any way with the above and we are not responsible for the use or misuse of the provided resources. It is up to you to do the proper research before pursuing any work or education in this field.)

Just had to share!

2011-01-17T10:28:00.006-05:00

Here is our co-director Michele's dog Harley relaxing over the weekend. It is definitely indoor snuggly weather in NJ. Between all the snow and the bitter cold, who wants to go outdoors! Certainly not Harley.....

Harley was a rescued street pup and is Michele's biggest inspiration for working to save the breed. These dogs have a way of sneaking their way into your life and then turning you into an advocate before you even know what's happening. That's the power of the Pit Bull!

Examiner.com Interview

2011-01-16T20:15:00.005-05:00

Shain Kirby interviewed me this week about aggression and bite statistics in response to growing concern over the possible introduction of state-wide BSL in Texas. Here is an excerpt - read the entire interview at the below link.

It should be noted that Centers for Disease Control no longer monitor breeds involved in attacks (they ceased doing so in the 1990s). They found this method of statistical record keeping to be unsuccessful and insignificant. Various polls and statistics from other sources are only as good as the data collection methodology. I would ignore any "breed bite statistics" unless there has been a sound, scientific collection of said statistics that involved proof of breed for dogs labeled as "pit bulls" (and there are none that exist to my knowledge). In regards to breed bite statistics, the term "pit bull" does not refer to any breed, but refers to dogs that simply look a certain way. How anyone could consider such so-called "breed statistics" relevant when they do not even refer to a specific breed is a mystery to me.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Interview with Mary Harwelik - Aggressive Dog Trainer Specialist. - Dallas Libertarian | Examiner.com: Click here.

Watch your language!

2010-12-28T21:21:00.025-05:00

"Bully"; "bully breed"; "pit bull-type dog"; "APBT" "Pit Bull".

People are confused about terminology, and we want to help you make some sense of it all.

Over the past decade or so, many new terms have gained widespread usage in Pit Bull circles. Most of these terms have no official definition and the user can ascribe whatever meaning he or she chooses in the moment. It's pretty common to see one term used in multiple, contradictory ways.

A prime example of misleading, confusing term-usage is "bully breed". It gets used:

* to refer to a group of similar breeds with no clear boundaries or definitions
* interchangeably with "Pit Bull"
* to reference a breed, as in "the bully breed" (what the heck is "the bully breed"?)

"Pit bull type dog" is being used in much the same way as "bully breed" is now. People are using it to refer to a myriad of breeds not even closely related to Pit Bulls. It's causing mass confusion and the side effect is a LOT more dogs are being described as Pit Bulls when they are anything but (we've seen Dogos repeatedly lumped in as "pit bull type dogs" lately, for instance).

For these reasons, RPB uses neither the term "pit bull type dog" nor "bully breed".

The mixed up, mish-mosh of words being thrown around, misused, misapplied, and improperly defined is really grating, and has resulted in a lot of *head-on-desk* moments for us lately. A huge stumbling block to creating united efforts to save and protect Pit Bulls is a complete lack of a common language amongst guardians, advocates, and rescuers. It's pretty difficult to do your job when communication is hampered due to language barriers.

The Real Pit Bull is here to educate, encourage, support, and yes, learn, too! We've upgraded our vocabulary over the years, tweaked our use of certain terminology, and dropped certain idioms altogether. Why? Because words are powerful and important; they are never "just words". Words can hurt and words can heal. Misuse of terms, vague definitions, and sloppy wording make everyone's job more difficult; common, positive, precise language brings people together and helps facilitate beneficial change.

With these thoughts in mind, here are some entries from our Pit Bull lexicon:

-Pit Bull - We only use it to refer to the AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER or dogs thought to be purebred American Pit Bull Terriers. It is ridiculous to call anything but APBTs "Pit Bulls", and we've got plenty to say as to why, but we'll save that for another blog. For now, let's just leave it at this: if you insist on using "pit bull" as a group name for a variety of breeds and dogs with certain overly-general physical traits, PLEASE DON'T use APBT-specific breed info (such as history, breed personality traits, famous APBTs, and so on) when refering to said group.

Example: don't say, "Pit bull is just a category and not a breed and there is no such thing as a 'pit bull' ", then go on to quote a bunch of APBT-specific facts, features, and figures after you just got done insisting "pit bull" does not refer to a specific breed.

-Pit Bull mix - Breed rescue is guess work! Period. Most of the time NO breed rescue group has proof that the dogs they are pulling into their programs are bonafide, 100% purebred. That doesn't mean that experts in their breed of choice cannot make good guesses as to whether or not a dog brought into rescue is or is not the breed its supposed to be. Sometimes a dog kinda-sorta looks like its all or mostly Pit Bull, but just not quite. These are the dogs we call Pit Bull mixes.

-"There are many breeds mistaken for or incorrectly called Pit Bulls (APBTs)" - we use this phrase when addressing the fact that lots of breeds through the years have been misidentified or incorrectly called "Pit Bulls". The widespread misapplication of the shorthand form of the APBT's name started mostly with the media and subsequently with legislators who, when drafting BSL, wanted to make sure they included the two breeds - the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - that looked very similar and had similar histories to the American Pit Bull Terrier (and arguably, the AmStaff IS the same thing as the APBT, anyway).

-Dog-sensitive - as a breed temperament trait. We define dog-sensitivity as, "The tendency to become stressed, anxious, fearful or defensive around other dogs." Yes, we are *gasp!* generalizing! If we can generalize that this breed is great with people, we can generalize that this breed is also prone to dog-sensitivity.

-Cruelty/abuse victim - the term we use for dogs who have been abused - regardless of that abuse (including dogs that have suffered at the hands of dog fighters).

Terms and phrases we strongly urge you to avoid:

-Bait dog
-"Pit Bulls are great dogs when raised right!"
-"It's all how you raise them."
-"Pit Bulls are a dog-aggressive breed" or "Pit Bulls are genetically prone to aggression" (aggression is a behavior, not a trait!)
-"There is no such thing as a pit bull"
-Bully breed or Pit bull type dog (meaningless terms with no clear definitions or usage-boundaries)

Radio Interview on Fight Bust Dogs w/Mary Harwelik

2010-12-28T10:32:00.005-05:00

Listen to this interview conducted by our friend The Jersey Dog Trainer. Thanks Renee, for allowing this subject to get air time!

Link to Audio.

Once upon a time, there was a website called realpitbull.com

2010-12-03T17:30:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, circa 1997, a website called The Real Pit Bull (RPB) was launched by a dog trainer/behavior specialist who was also a breed guardian. The goal of this website was to provide factual information on a breed officially known as the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), but called “Pit Bull” for short by its fanciers. (Just like Labrador Retrievers are called “Labs”, Rottweilers are called “Rotts”, German Shepherds are called “Shepherds”, and Golden Retrievers are called “Goldens”, the American Pit Bull Terrier is called “Pit Bull” for short. Most breeds have a nickname that breed fanciers use to refer to their dogs. “Greater Swiss Mountain Dog” doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely as “Swissy”, nor does “American Pit Bull Terrier” come out as easily as “Pit Bull”.)

The name “The Real Pit Bull” was chosen for two reasons: “Real” because the typical portrayal of the breed in the media and the idea people held about the dogs in general (both pro and con) was so often so far from reality that it was basically fiction; and “Pit Bull” because it was easy shorthand used to refer to the breed. The Real Pit Bull seemed like an apropos name.

The original RPB website was bare-bones and consisted of the usual basics: breed history, debunked myths, and temperament information. The website quickly became a go-to source for information in the online community and as word of the site spread – and the site itself grew – it also became a contact point for the media, general public, and Pit Bull guardians seeking more information about the breed, behavior, care, and training.

Somewhere along the way, RPB became much more than a website. It morphed into an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with real-world services in the form of dog training and behavioral help, lectures, hard copy educational material, hosting of educational booths at fairs, rescue and placement of Pit Bulls, and more. Meanwhile, RPB has continued to provide a constant stream of free information online to anyone who needs it. Today, www.RealPitBull.com is one of the oldest and largest breed information websites on the Internet and we’re pretty proud of that.

Through the years, the breed education and advocacy landscape has evolved, in some ways changing drastically: in many ways for the better, but in some ways not so much. RPB has always kept its proverbial finger on the pulse of the Pit Bull education/rescue/advocacy world, and as such we’ve evolved as necessary as well. Evolution in our case comes in the form of learning through experience, always striving to do what is best for the dogs and the breed as a whole, and adapting to the needs of an ever-growing community of breed guardians. But most importantly, we strive to live up to the name The REAL Pit Bull – our main goal is to represent the truth, reality, the real-deal story on the Pit Bull breed. Never sugar-coated, never watered down.

RPB was originally created to help preserve and protect a breed of dog; we saw a need and we jumped in to help. RPB is a purebred rescue, advocacy, and education organization. We will continue to work to save a breed that continues to be ostracized, misunderstood, and ignored by many (even those, ironically enough purporting to love and advocate for ‘pit bulls’).

There are many organizations, groups, and individuals whose focus is on saving dogs in general, or dogs that happen to look a certain way, or mixes of all sorts, or dogs lumped into arbitrary/unofficial groups. RPB is dedicated solely to the American PIT BULL Terrier breed. And we are so proud to stand up for and next to these amazing dogs who continue to inspire us every single day.

We have always been, are, and always will be APBT and PROUD.

Fight Bust Dogs Demystified

2010-11-23T10:21:00.005-05:00

We often get asked about dogs rescued from “fight busts”: what are they like? Can they really learn to live as “normal dogs”? Isn’t there a worry that they are going to “snap”? Ex-fighting Pit Bulls have always had their own set of myths surrounding them. RPB has been working hard for many years for ex-fighting dog equality and it’s only been in recent years that these victims of abuse have begun getting second chances at life through rescue initiatives. Here we’re happy to present some responses to common questions about these misunderstood dogs.

Can dogs rescued from fight busts live safely with people and other dogs?

There are quite a few dogs rescued from fight bust cases that are currently living in homes across the country, with other dogs, very successfully. So the simple answer is, yes. There is a big misconception about ex-fighting dogs, that they are somehow different than your average shelter-pulled Pit Bull. But the fact of the matter is, just like with dogs from shelters, there is a wide variety of personality and temperament types in fight bust dogs – and a large number of Pit Bulls rescued from fighting cases end up having really excellent temperaments that make them great companion animals.

The Pit Bull breed is very resilient; they can bounce back from even horrible abuse or neglect. Traditional American Pit Bull Terrier temperament is human-friendly; they are big-time people pleasers. When a dog has a good temperament, he’ll have that temperament for life, even after experiencing extreme abuse. The essence of the Pit Bull is soundness and stability around people and the ability to co-exist with other dogs. That essence doesn’t evaporate even after the dog has experienced abuse or neglect. The dog just needs an environment that will provide nurturing and allow him a chance to shine, and be who he really is. That’s what we do when we pull dogs from fight situations and bring them into our rescue program. We give them the opportunity to show their true essence.

Do the dogs have to be trained to fight or is it something they do naturally?

Dogs fight – it is common behavior across all breeds. Fighting is defensive behavior; all dogs have teeth, all dogs can protect themselves if need be. So no, dogs do not need to be trained to fight; working with dogs in our classes, dog-sensitivity or outright defensive aggression towards other dogs is a common behavioral problem. It is not something that is specifically “trained” or “taught” to the dog, but inadvertently or, in the case of fight bust dogs specifically, conditioned into the dog by the environment.

Pit Bulls that are used for fighting are living in an environment which encourages – conditions - fighting behavior. The dogs are not given proper socialization so they do not learn how to interact appropriately with other members of their species. The only exposure they get to other dogs is from being chained in close proximity to each other: they can see, smell and hear each other, but cannot interact. Or else they are facing off in the pit. So you have dogs that are constantly in a state of frustration and stress; then when they get a chance to actually interact with other dogs, it’s in a combative situation where they are literally fighting for their lives. This is not an environment that is conducive to building friendly, happy-go-lucky intra-canine relationships.

But here is the interesting thing: many of these dogs, when taken out of the fighting environment, morph fairly seamlessly into the role of companion animal and learn to have canine friends. It’s like they are just waiting to be given a chance to show who they really are. They are just domestic dogs that were born into horrendous circumstances. When you place them into a sane environment, you get a sane dog. It really is that simple.

Fight bust dogs need the opportunity to learn that they can be peaceful with other dogs and that they do not have to fight for their lives. These dogs don’t want to fight; they were just never shown that they don’t have to. They have to learn new behavior, to learn that they have other options.

But can you ever really trust one of these ex-fighting dogs?

No human is infallible, and neither is any animal. If you say that rescued fight bust dogs cannot be trusted, you’d have to say NO dog can be trusted. No one can guarantee ANY dog would never bite or attack, no matter where it came from or what its background.

So let’s rephrase the question: “Can rescued fight bust dogs be as trustworthy as any other dog?” The answer is, “Yes, absolutely.”

What sort of temperaments do fight bust dogs have?

In general, the dogs coming into rescue show temperaments that are typical of the breed: they love people, they are friendly, they learn quickly, they make great companion dogs, they need to be managed appropriately around other dogs because they may be dog-sensitive but no more so than Pit Bulls coming from any other situation. The thing that may surprise people is that some dogs come off yards already really liking other dogs. Sedona, who is currently undergoing socialization and training through our Karma Dog program, is from a suspected dog fighting situation, and she really likes other dogs. She has shown nothing but sociability with other members of her species, right from day one.

Sedona is currently living with a retired show AmStaff, who is not dog-social at all. Sedona is actually helping him come out of his shell and learn to interact with another dog. How amazing is it that the fight bust dog is helping the retired show dog with his canine social skills? This is a prime example of the fallacy of labels being predictive of behavior. Put any label you want on a dog, but labels don’t dictate behavior; the situations dogs come from aren’t necessarily predictive of future behavior, either. Every dog needs to be taken on a case by case basis.

Do fight bust dogs need a lot of training and socialization when they come to you?

Yes, they do. Where they come from, the dogs don’t get socialization, they do not undergo any sort of companion dog training. They are basically left chained up in a yard, bred, and fought. So when we bring a fight bust dog into a foster home, that dog is initially shell shocked and has no clue what domestic life is all about. They don’t know what a couch is, they don’t understand sounds coming from the TV, and they don’t know how to navigate stairs. They require a lot of remedial socialization. That is the biggest issue these dogs face: remedial socialization.

The ideal socialization period for dogs is up through the age of 16 weeks. That is when they are most receptive to learning about their environment, what is and is not safe, and how to navigate a human world. With fight bust dogs, we’re dealing with dogs that are 1 year, 2 years, 6-plus years old that have never been off the dog fighter’s yard. They don’t know what life is like past the end of a chain. So when they come into rescue, we are definitely in for an uphill battle in terms of making up for lost socialization time. We need to start from the ground up.

When Sedona came into our program for instance, she did not have any understanding of human gesturing, how to follow a treat to be lured into position, and the sound of a clicker caused her to tremble and retreat in fear. But she is learning, and starting to get that life can actually be fun and enjoyable, and training time is now a game she is getting into. Figuring out that she can sit for treats was a huge epiphany for her. We celebrated big time when she figured out “Oooo butt-on-floor equals something yummy! I get it, I get it!”

How are Pit Bulls rescued from fight busts different from dogs saved from other sorts of abusive situations? Are there similarities?

Mostly, fight bust dogs are the same as any other dogs coming from extreme abuse situations like hoarding, puppymills, etc.: they experience pain, receive no love or kind words from a human, are kept in relative isolation, and experience extreme neglect. All the symptoms that go along with that sort of cruelty are present in fight bust dogs: fear, withdrawal, avoidance, lack of trust, physical and emotional trauma. Fight bust dogs need to learn to trust, they need to physically and emotionally heal, to learn that life can be beautiful and enjoyable.

One thing that does make fight bust dogs stand out from dogs from other abuse situations is that Pit Bulls tend to be more resilient than your average dog of another breed. If other breeds went through what fight bust Pit Bulls go through, there would likely be a lot fewer that could be saved, socialized, trained and moved into a home life as companion dogs. Pit Bulls have good bounce-back. The breed is just such a human-oriented and intelligent breed that they can withstand so much abuse and neglect and as soon as they are given a little bit of love and care, they just go, “Oh hey, this is awesome, I love everyone now!” and they are off and running.

The main point that needs to be driven home is that fight bust dogs are VICTIMS of ABUSE. They should be afforded the same care and consideration as dogs coming from any other abuse situation.

Why we do what we do.

2010-11-10T18:16:00.007-05:00

Remember this doll? Tess was the little stray bulldawg girl found wondering around an area know for gang activity and epidemic Pit Bull breeding. Tess eventually wiggled and bully-smiled her way into the hearts and home of Stacey and Dave (we wish every application we received led to a home like this). Stacey recently sent us an update on Tess:

Tess is absolutely amazing. She is the missing piece to our canine family. Tess settled into life with us almost immediately. She quickly discovered that there was plenty of food, treats, and toys to go around. She and Mickey are now completely inseparable, as you can see from the attached picture. Tess loves her "Daddy" above all else. She loves to stand up and hug him when he walks through the door in the evenings. She is super friendly to everyone she meets. Tess has just completed her first round of training and will be continuing on after the holidays. I believe with some work, she will be able to pass her CGC and Temperament tests, in the hopes that she and Mickey can become therapy dogs and even better representatives of their amazing breed!

Thank you Stacey and Dave for giving this wonderful girl the home she deserves!

It's T-Shirt Tiiiiiiiiiime!

2010-11-02T13:47:00.003-04:00

T-shirt Slogan Contest time, that is!

Now through November 30th, submit your unique Pit Bull-related slogans (as many as you wish), and the favorite will be printed on new RPB t-shirts. The author of the winning slogan will receive a t-shirt and other goodies.

So get those creative juices flowing, and send your slogans to: Info@realpitbull.com.

Slogans submitted become the property of RPB, Inc - and we may very well use your slogan in another manner if it is not the one selected to appear on our t-shirts.

Kong stuffin' season!

2010-10-31T14:03:00.003-04:00

Stuffed Kongs are always a favorite around here. Now that the weather is getting cold and the days are shortening - which probably means less outdoor exercise for the dogs - it's a good idea to have some Kongs ready to go to keep boredom at bay. There are a bazillion Kong stuffing recipes online. Some simple, some quite elaborate. But here is the "Pit Bull Special" that we use - quick and easy and totally nom!

Take some kibble and soak it in water so it's kind of mushy. Then mix a nice scoop of peanut butter (use a brand that doesn't add refined sugar) with the soft kibble and mix/mush it all together. Fill the Kong with the mix, and lastly, as a garnish, stuff a biscuit down into the Kong but leave part of it sticking out the top. Put the Kong in the freezer and let the filler get hard but not TOO hard - frozen but not rock solid/icy. Lastly, give to your Pit Bull and watch him or her enjoy!

That Kong is STUFFED - but not for long! The "Pit Bull Special" - 100% Luca Approved.

Cruelty is cruelty, regardless of breed.

2010-10-28T08:59:00.004-04:00

It was only earlier this month when we read about the chainsaw decapitation of a Pit Bull in New Mexico, which resulted in an 8 year prison sentence for the man responsible.

This past weekend another dog was found dead, this time cut in half and left morbidly on display on a porch in Northeast Philadelphia. The dog, named Chico, was a Siberian Husky.

These are absolutely horrifying stories of dogs who were brutally murdered at the hands of human beings. Breed should be irrelevent when such attrocities are commited against dogs, and we should all rise up as one and demand justice any time abuse is brought to our attention.

Everytime we read stories like these it becomes a little more difficult to comprehend how dogs get labeled as the "bad guys", how anyone could believe targeting and banning dogs that look a certain way will somehow make society safer, the idea that humans need more protection from animals than they do from us, a little more laughable. When is the last time you heard of a dog sawing off a human's head in retaliation?

Sedona! Taking prelim apps

2010-10-28T08:44:00.004-04:00

We've had Sedona - one of the Ohio200 - in our program since Oct 1; per RPB policy, after the initial on-site evaluation, Sedona's been undergoing a more extensive 30 day evaluation in a home environment and is almost ready to make her debut as an RPB "Karma Dog".

Sedona is being heavily socialized - life on a chain has cost her some points in the social butterfly department but she tries so hard to be brave and is learning every day to trust a little more. She's a little flower that just needs some help blooming. She is about to begin CGC training and ready to start thinking about choosing a lifelong human partner.

RPB is now accepting preliminary applications on Sedona. She is not ready to leave our program just yet, but if you've fallen in love with Those Ears and are considering adoption, please feel free to email us for the necessary paperwork to get the ball moving.

For more information on RPB and our Karma Dog program which matches APBT "Spokesdogs" with exemplary human guardians, visit: Karma Dogs!.

Silly little bulldawg.

2010-10-14T17:09:00.004-04:00

Here's Sedona, one of the "Ohio 200" Pit Bulls from a bust back in August. She's been here in Jersey for less than 2 weeks, but she's quickly figuring out how to turn on the cute full blast.

October is an Event-full Month for RPB

2010-10-06T09:11:00.005-04:00

Fall is the perfect season for events, and there are two fabulous dates that you'll seriously need to add to your calendars.

First, on October 10th, Bark in the Park takes place at gorgeous Liberty State Park right on the Hudson. We host a booth at this event every year; it is a wonderful, Pit-friendly day that should not be missed.

Then on October 23rd, it's the 4th annual Pit Bull Awareness Day. A great event to check out is the Pinups for Pitbulls Awareness Day and 2011 Calendar Release Party in Philadelphia at Shampoo.

Don't forget to celebrate Pit Bulls all month long in honor of Pit Bull Awareness Day, and let us know how YOU plan to celebrate, support, and bring awareness to Pit Bulls on our Facebook page. Pit Bull Awareness Day was founded by Bless the Bullys, and we wholeheartedly support and thank them for the work they do for Pit Bulls and bull breed-type dogs.

Say "Hi" to Sedona!

2010-10-04T08:37:00.004-04:00

Meet Sedona, the newest addition to the RPB "Karma Dog" Pit Bull rescue program. Sedona comes from a cruelty case, one of many dogs that have been pulled into rescue by groups from a recent out-of-state bust. She's got an absolutely FABULOUS smile, if you can't tell from her picture.

We picked her up on Saturday from Animal Farm Foundation, who temporarily housed her for RPB. Right now, she is chilling out and decompressing after her trip. She's had a rough start in life, but is settling in nicely and already learning the basics: like how to walk on leash and the joy of stuffed Kongs.

Sedona will go through training with RPB volunteers, work towards earning her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, and then will be placed into a lucky home.

Follow this blog to read about Sedona's new life, her training, and for continued updates on how she is doing.

Want to make a donation to RPB on Sedona's behalf? Click the ChipIn below! Your donation will help cover veterinary costs for Sedona's care.

Evolve.

2010-09-17T09:25:00.003-04:00

The other night I watched a clip from a well-known trainer’s TV show, cringing the entire 7 minutes, wanting to run screaming from the room – no, better yet, reach through the computer screen and do whatever I needed to do to get this guy to quit hurting this poor dog. By the end of the clip, my fists were clenched and my heart was pumping. “Chill out”, I thought to myself. “Getting this worked up isn’t healthy or productive.”

Later, in response to this same clip, some comments were made on Facebook. One comment, echoing an opinion repeated time and again, said something like: “Everyone has their own methods, [this trainer] is only trying to help this dog and his people – who are you to judge!”

The techniques I witnessed in this clip, commonly used by Mr. TV Trainer, were muzzling, a tightly noosed-leash, forcing the dog to the floor, flipping the dog on his back and holding him down, and general psychological brutalization until the dog becomes exhausted physically and mentally, and just gives up. These are techniques stemming from an archaic and brutal mindset that was essentially the ONLY mindset in dog training for a long period of time: use force, fear, pain to get the dog to “submit”. At any cost.

I took my first obedience training class around 1988. Every dog wore a choke collar in class. Every dog was supposedly “bad” because he was trying to dominate his human. Every dog supposedly "needed" to be jerked, pushed, and pulled into compliance and “submission”.

Over the course of the next 10 years, I worked under 5 trainers, all who used the same method, all of whom scoffed at the idea of using food to “reward” a dog’s behavior. I will never forget what one trainer said to me, “I want my dog to work to please ME, not for a FOOD BRIBE!” It made sense at the time, but my training mindset hadn’t yet evolved to the point of being able to comprehend that my dogs weren’t working for me when they sat-heeled-stayed-downed-performed a nice recall; they were only working to avoid the inevitable leash-jerk.

The problem was that this training method often didn’t work. Dogs remained aggressive, got worse, and sometimes were euthanized. When I came face to face with the “euthanasia suggestion” made by a trainer regarding my OWN dog and some behavioral issues that weren't responding to the "jerk til he behaves" technique, I launched into survival mode – my DOG’S survival – which started an evolution of my training mindset.

Something wasn’t right, here. I didn’t think my dog needed to die. Maybe I needed to evolve and try something else.

Right around the time the limitations of this jerk-push-pull method began to become clear to me, I started hearing more about training with the dreaded “food reward” and something called clicker training. More information in the form of books and videos was becoming available. I started reading, watching, listening, and experimenting with these evolutionary training techniques. And guess what? They worked! In fact, they worked so well that eventually I completely gave up everything I had been previously taught about dog training, and put this new education into fulltime practice. Talk about a mindset evolution.

I’m honestly not sure what happened to those original 5 trainers I once worked with. Whether they, too, eventually evolved, or instead continue to metaphorically dwell in the Dog Trainer Dark Ages, I may never know. The method they once taught me has not died out, that much is known. All I have to do is turn on my TV, and there I see Mr. TV Trainer using those same, un-evolved, archaic techniques (albeit explained in more sparkly, New Agey language, suitable for wide-scale public consumption).

If those techniques employed by Mr. TV Trainer and my original 5 trainers are so un-evolved, limiting, and non-functional, why are they still around? Well, hmmm. Why do some people refuse to be educated about Pit Bulls, and why, despite all the information and evidence to show they aren’t a “dangerous breed” do some people insist on banning and killing them?

Educating oneself – in effect, evolving one’s mindset – is not always a comfortable process, especially when you are married to ideas that you’ve been acting upon for a long while. There was a time that I thought Pit Bulls were a “bad breed”, just because that’s what I’d been told. But I wasn’t attached to that idea; for a while I didn’t think much about the breed at all. Eventually I came upon information that lead me to became a huge breed advocate; it was an easy transition. Evolving my mindset about dog training methods wasn’t so easy – I had been using with some measure of success a specific method for a long time. It took probably a period of 4 or 5 years before I completely gave up the “old” method, and my training mindset evolved to the point of fully accepting the new.

An evolved, enlightened training method brings with it a new respect for, understanding of, and appreciation of dogs. That training method I once used now seems not only old-fashioned, but downright cruel – and totally unnecessary. When I watch Mr. TV Trainer and others like him, a sense of frustration builds: why can’t they just evolve, too???

One day, perhaps, all mindsets about training – and about Pit Bulls – will evolve to a more enlightened state. Many people already have enlightened attitudes about training and about Pit Bulls; they are setting good example, educating, and encouraging elevated thinking. I’m hopeful and optimistic; just like the breed I work with on a regular basis, clicking and treating them towards better behavior.

Prologue:

My dog – the one my EX-trainer told me needed to die – went on to live a long, happy life following the evolution of my training method. That problematic behavior went away. As it turns out, he was the most amazing dog I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with, and the inspiration behind The Real Pit Bull, Inc.

The dog that Mr. TV Trainer was trying to “help” in the clip I mentioned above ended up back in a shelter eventually; I’ve heard he was subsequently euthanized.

Refusal to evolve has its price – and in dog training, as in the "Pit Bull Wars", the dogs are the ones who sadly have to pay it.

~Mary

BSL Beat-down! Go Garfield!

2010-05-12T13:18:00.003-04:00

Concerned Pit Bull parents in the city of Garfield came out in droves last night to defend their dogs in the face of a restrictive proposed Pit Bull ordinance that would have required high insurance, muzzling, special leashing requirements, among other things. I attended the meeting to introduce RPB to the council members and let them know that we are here to help educate and address responsible dog care and public safety concerns involving Pit Bulls and dogs in general in their city.

The breed specific legislation was defeated unanimously; in fact the Mayor made it known from the very start of the evening that they would defeat the BSL during this meeting. Regardless, even after the announcement was made, for 2 hours, the public was allowed to step up to the podium and talk about why they believed singling out Pit Bulls was the wrong way to address the very real public safety issue of dog attacks.

There was such a wide range of attendees speaking up for the breed. From NAIA, NJ Federation of Dog Clubs, and American Rottweiler Club reps, to dog trainers, to an adorable young boy who stood before the council and proclaimed his love for his Pit Bull - people from all over, not just Garfield, took to the mic and articulated many reasons why BSL is discriminatory, prejudiced, unfair, and ineffective.

I think my favorite part of the evening was when one councilman stated that this proposed Pit Bull ordinance was a "knee jerk reaction". After the deluge of emails, letters, phone calls, graphs, pictures, etc that rained down upon the council, they realized how misguided that knee jerk reaction actually was. And their eyes were opened. Someone on the council used the term "enlightened". How wonderful it was that not only did a bunch of people come together for the breed and make a difference, but the city council itself was open and willing to be educated and listen.

The point driven home to me was that our elected representatives need to hear from their constituents. They need to know what the public wants, and why they want it. If you don't want anti-Pit Bull laws cropping up in your city-county-state, GET INVOLVED. The city council of Garfield admitted that they had received bad information and had no idea that NJ's state law preempts any local law that would attempt to regulate specific breeds. Because concerned citizens spoke up, the council realized that not only was the proposed Pit Bull ordinance a bad idea from a practical standpoint, it was outright illegal.

I left the meeting feeling an overwhelming sense of pride at being part of the Pit Bull world. Here, people from all walks of life, with many different stories and experiences, came together to support a common goal: preservation of the rights of the breed we all love. Professionalism, courtesy, and gratitude were pervasive. It was obvious the city council was grateful and impressed by the caliber of the attendees, and they thanked everyone for sharing, educating, and for being involved in the process.

On May 27th, at 7pm, another meeting addressing animal welfare issues will take place. One subject will be how best to deal with the issue of dangerous dogs, enforcement of laws, and possibly drafting new laws that would target irresponsible behavior of HUMANS and not punish dogs based on what they happen to look like. Councilwoman Tana Raymond (who proposed the Pit Bull ordinance in the first place) will be in attendance and very strongly encouraged the public to attend and offer alternatives and feedback. She wants people in her city to be safe. Now, because of the input of many, she wants to help make them safe withOUT a breed specific ordinance. It is imperative that the public attend the May 27th meeting and help the Councilwoman and city of Garfield in their admirable mission of increased public safety.

RPB would specifically like to thank: Maryellen Errigo and Rufus (who was our Pit Bull spokesdog for the evening), Debbie Viney from Liberty Humane, Little Darling & Pin Ups for Pit Bulls (who sent a massive amount of information to the city council prior to this meeting), the American Dog Owners Association, Amanda Sheldon who organized the Prevent BSL In Garfield, NJ Facebook group and did wonders to keep people informed and bring everyone together to fight for the dogs, several concerned area residents who met me at the meeting to offer their support and voice their opposition to the ordinance (yo, Diana and Herminia!), and to everyone else who came out, spoke up, and MADE A DIFFERENCE! - thank you!

JAC's Paws for a Cause

2010-05-05T20:06:00.002-04:00

An event report from RPB volunteer, Elise Linden:

On Sunday May 2, 2010, The Real Pit Bull participated in Jersey Animal Coalition's Paws for a Cause event in Maplewood, NJ. Though there was initially a threat of rain, it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. The event was fun and lively with music, games, food and vendors. Lots of families, lots of dogs. During the event, we met many of JAC's wonderful Pit Bull "alumni" and current adoptable Pit Bulls. All the dogs enjoyed fresh water and treats at our table. Their people received lots of information including a copy of our free booklet, Introduction to the Pit Bull. The doggies also got a tennis ball/sock toy take home surprise! Folks seemed to truly appreciate the existence of RPB and there was a strong sense of camaraderie centered around the need to stand up for the breed. It was uplifting to be around so much positive energy; we had a great time and are grateful to JAC for allowing us to participate in this event.

Jersey Animal coalition (JAC) is an all volunteer, non-profit, no-kill rescue organization, founded in 1989 whose mission is "to preserve life." JAC has its own shelter in Maplewood. JAC rescues and cares for many, many Pit Bulls.

We are so grateful to Elise for manning the RPB booth at the JAC event!

It's time to paaaaaaaaaaaarrrr-TAY!

2010-05-03T20:10:00.002-04:00

Hey you Pit Bull-lovin' party animals! Sunrays Pit Bull Rescue is hosting a for-humans-only event this coming Saturday, May 8th at 7pm at Cold Nose Lodge. RPB will be there presenting the All About Pit Bulls lecture, and providing training tips and tricks.

Join us for a night of education, food, and fun! The event is pot-luck, so bring your favorite foods to share with the group. Email Sonya @ SunRaysPitBulls@aol.com to RSVP.

Get a cool tee, support RPB!

2010-05-01T18:54:00.003-04:00

Go to www.pitbullshirt.com to order your shirt. Through the month of May, when you mention The Real Pit Bull at checkout, we'll get 10% of the purchase price! Several designs to choose from.

Pit Bull School! New Classes Starting

2010-04-23T07:15:00.002-04:00

On June 5th, two new classes begin -

Click Bulls! - our 6-week basic manners and Pit Bull education class @ 10am

CGC Prep - the follow-up to the Click Bulls! class (and for those dogs and humans who are already clicker savvy and want to prep for the Canine Good Citizen test), @ 11am. This is a 4-week class and culminates with the dog/human teams testing for the CGC.

Classes are held in Garwood, NJ at a public park.

To sign up, please email: Training@realpitbull.com

You can learn more about Pit Bull School at the website!

NJ BSL

2010-04-21T16:00:00.002-04:00

The town of Garfield is proposing breed restrictions despite the illegality of such laws in the state of New Jersey. A public hearing will be held on April 27th. If you care about your freedoms and your dog's right to live side by side with you, please attend and speak up for our breed! Don't worry about having to be eloquent or knowing all the ins and outs of fighting BSL. Just showing up and opposing these measures is important. RPB members will be present as well, and if you'd like to join us, please let us know.

If you cannot attend, please write or call the Mayor's Office:

Mayor Frank Calandriello
Garfield City Council
111 Outwater Lane
Garfield, New Jersey 07026

Contact the City Clerk's office at (973) 340-2001 for more information.

And for some great information on defeating anti-dog laws, visit
Understand-a-bull.com

Can We Talk? - The need to breed

2010-04-21T15:46:00.015-04:00

We've chosen a real hot button issue as the first installment of
our new occasional blog feature called "Can We Talk?" which will
encourage open but polite discourse on a number of pressing topics.

The breeding of Pit Bulls can stir up fiery debate at the drop of a hat - is breeding across-the-board bad, or is it something that under some circumstances is okay, but mostly and usually is not? For most of us involved in the rescue side of things, the answer to the "how do you feel about breeding" question comes as quickly as the words can leave the lips (or get typed on the computer screen): "NO to breeding! TOO many Pit Bulls are homeless and dying!"

The Real Pit Bull does not promote nor encourage breeding. That is the organization's official stand, all of our board members and volunteers concur that there are too many breeders, too many Pit Bulls, and we'd be so much better off if 99.999999999999% of those producing puppies just STOPPED already, goshdarnit! (We'll concede the rare ethical breeder - in fact, we'll even applaud them!)

Although there are no exact numbers, by some estimates, hundreds of thousands of Pit Bulls, or more, die each year because no on wants them, they are abandoned or neglected, or tortured to death. All of these dogs end up in bad situations because of careless breeding practices and subsequent bad placement with irresponsible people.

Stop for a moment and imagine a pile of dead Pit Bulls: hundreds of thousands, or a million of them. Their limp, lifeless bodies wasting away. And that is exactly what it is: a huge, deplorable waste.

If that image of a monstrous pile of decomposing Pit Bulls stirs anger and disgust - good! That's the whole point. And just in case you missed the point: there are TOO MANY PIT BULLS and they are DYING in humungous numbers. Just being tossed out like garbage in a landfill!

Yet there seems to be some incorrigible need amongst a certain segment of Pit Bull caregivers to breed their dogs. This is such a head-scratcher, and one reason we've chosen to do this blog post - we really want to know WHY? WHY breed??? (That’s not a rhetorical question!)

We've probably all had the experience of walking down the street with our neutered or spayed Pit Bull, only to have some random person pull up in a car beside us and say, "Nice pit, do you wanna breed him?" And how many times have you had to suppress the need to scream, holler, stamp your feet, and pull your hair out as, for the billionth time, someone's just told you how much they love Pit Bulls and plan on breeding their dog. And those are just the casual backyard breeder encounters.

Only the brave and truly strong-of-stomach dare embark on a "pit bull breeder" search on Google. The number of breeders out there is truly staggering.

For a couple grand (or six!) you too could become the owner of a rare, special, awesome-tastic, blue-nose Pit with a 30 inch head. Titles? Health certificates? Who needs 'em! These pups will weigh 100 pounds at 6 months of age! Git ‘em while they’re hot!

And there are hundreds of breeders producing the same thing. Rare? As rare as pebbles of sand on a beach. Don't believe it? Visit a shelter - you'll have no problem finding one of those "big blue pits" and for only a mere fraction of what breeders will charge you. In fact, name any color-size-style-sex-height-weight-personality Pit Bull you want, and we can point you in the direction of exactly what you are looking for, currently available at your local shelter or rescue.

Have you ever come across a breeder who told you, "I don't really love my dogs or the breed as a whole, and in fact I know I am part of the problem but I don't care, I'm going to keep breeding anyway"?

If you are a breeder reading this, surely you will proudly state how much you love Pit Bulls and that all your puppies get good homes and offer up a million reasons why you aren't like those other, "bad breeders".

Trouble is, everyone thinks what THEY are doing is "different" and "okay". Trouble is, from where us RPB folk are standing, you all look the same.

So help us - RPB, all of the people in rescue - tell you apart. Why, as a breeder, are YOU different? Why is it ethical for YOU to breed? Why breed at all?

Why do YOU feel the need to breed?

Happy Springtime News Updates!

2010-04-08T21:01:00.004-04:00

Spring came bright and early in New Jersey this year, and the blooming flowers brought with them all sorts of Pit Bull goodness. While we've been enjoying the blue-skied 80-degree days, we've also been plugging away to bring some great new programs to the Garden State.

By far, the biggest news we've got to report is that we are about to launch a unique and exciting Pit Bull foster slash placement slash advocacy program. We're not gonna give the details just yet - we'll let the excited suspense build for a little while, first.

Pit Bull School is back in session, totally revamped and with some completely new classes. The 6-week Click Bulls! breed basics and manners class has start dates set for 4/10 and 6/5, and new start dates will be added all the time. We've also got the CGC Prep class, the all-new Strut Your Stuff socialization and distraction 'round town class, and an end of season fundraiser walk for grads and others we're calling Pit Bull Promenade. You can learn more about Pit Bull School and how to enroll by visiting the website.

If you are in the Pit Bull rescue and advocacy field and would like to connect with other like-minded, kindred souls, please be sure to register and participate on The Pit Bull Roundtable on the RPBF forum. We brainstorm, laugh together, cry together, and are just *there* for each other. We all know how difficult and sometimes draining this work can be - this board is a way we can ease the burden and give back to each other, not to mention LEARN (we've got some exceptionally bright bulbs who participate). It's fun, informal, and really informative. Drop us a line and let us know you'd like to join the 'Table after you've registered on the forum and we'll give you the easy details on how to proceed.

Our free All About Pit Bulls lecture which covers breed basics and beyond in a fun and question-encouraged setting is making the rounds; we have a lecture planned for 4/24 in Berkeley Heights NJ at the public library on Plainfield Ave (please RSVP to attend, by emailing: Info@realpitbull.com ), June 8th in Jersey City, plus we have plans-in-the-works for lectures in south Jersey as well as the Philly area.

Can We Talk?

There are a bazillion issues Pit Bull advocates care about and would like to address, and just as many ways we all think those issues should be addressed. Sometimes it's difficult to come to grips with the really tough stuff, especially when we all think there are different means to the same end.

The new RPB Blog feature called Can We Talk? will attempt to wrestle with some of those aforementioned issues by opening up a dialog with you, the Pit Bull lover and adovacate, as we dissect various topics and create an atmosphere of friendly, open chit-chat.

What does it mean to be a responsible Pit Bull parent? What can we do about over-breeding and related fads? Does it really matter what training method you use to train your dog? What's the difference between breed "promotion" and "positive advocacy"? We'd like to talk!

Foster Parents Needed!

Interested? Please let us know. Snowflake's such a trooper, and her bright, sunny attitude remains intact even though she's been at the shelter for close to a year now.

Snowflake is the real deal, with a temperament to die for and she just needs someone to give her a chance to bloom! If you are interested in fostering Snowy, contact us!

Beautiful Faces - pt 1

2010-03-18T21:36:00.004-04:00

Some pix from our friends on Facebook. These dogs are too lovely not to share.

Enjoy!

Eva

Phife

Ben

Angel

Spring is in the Air - Time for some training!

2010-03-08T13:20:00.004-05:00

It's 59 today here in NJ today. The blue skies and warmer weather are a big relief after a long, cold, messy winter. If you've been feeling cooped up and your dog's manners could use some refining after an extended bout of cabin fever, consider signing up for our Click Bulls! course. This 6-week breed-specific course covers all the basics of humane, science-based clicker training, management and preps your dog for the next-level CGC course. If you are looking to lay the foundation as you work your dog u p to breed ambassador-status, this class is for you. Spots are limited to 5, and the cost for the cost is $50, paid in full no later than 3/3. Classes are held in Unami Park in Cranford. If you'd like a sign up form or more information, please email: training@realpitbull.com

Sugar says "Yayyyy! Warm weather has arrived!" This sun-lovin' darlin' is available for adoption. Please contact us if you are interested.

The Click Bulls! course is for dogs who just need to learn some general leash manners and foundational skills; if you are having behavioral issues like dog-directed aggression, or other problems in your home, you may consider a private, in-home session. These sessions are offered courtesy of Peaceable Canines Dog Training, and the cost is $125/single session, or $300/three sessions. Email: realpitbull@gmail.com for more information on private sessions.

We have tentative plans for our first Pit Bull Fundamentals lecture in May. If you are a new Pit Bull parent, considering bringing a Pit Bull home, or are curious about the breed in general, this lecture will give you a good basic understanding of what these dogs are all about. We'll post more details as soon as we've firmed something up.

Are you interested in getting involved? Now that the weather is warmer we could use help manning tables at events, assistants for classes, and free-lance fundraisers. If you are in the Union County area and would like to be a foster home for a needy dog, please let us know.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Hit us up! info@realpitbull.com

They make it so easy!

2010-03-06T17:57:00.007-05:00

We hear a lot of really whacky comments from people who are understandably upset about dog attacks, but don't really have all the facts as they relate to the Pit Bull breed and dog bites in general. Here, we tackle some of those comments.....and offer some easy, sane responses up in exchange.

"Pit Bulls are bred to be dangerous". First of all, none of us at RPB ever recall reading a history on or standard for the breed that included the need for the breed to 'be dangerous'. As a breed, they are actually required to be extremely GOOD with people, very biddable. Second of all, what does 'dangerous' mean, really? According to the CDC, playgrounds cause more injuries and deaths than Pit Bulls. Are playgrounds 'created to be dangerous'? Are they an acceptable risk? Or are they just too dangerous to exist? Hey, life is dangerous. That's just.....life.

"Pit Bulls have a gene that causes them to 'snap' at any time". Hmm, really. Research to substantiate your claim, please? It's ok, you can get back to us on that one.

"There are more fatal attacks committed by Pit Bulls than any other breed". This is an oldie but goodie - it's been bandied about forever. We recently sent a notice debunking this claim to the Huffington Post in response to a REALLY silly (even by over-the-top media standards) essay. Here's what we said: the Centers for Disease control have ceased compiling dog bite statistics based on breed because they recognize that such data is impossible to gather accurately. Statistics on dog bites based on breed have been called into question by many, including the American Veterinary Medical Association. Not to mention, for the purposes of bite statistics, the term "pit bull" doesn't even reference a single breed of dog: it references AT LEAST 3, along with mixed breeds and dogs merely looking a certain way. To compare "pit bull attack fatality stats" against those of "any other breed" means you are comparing attacks by MANY breeds and "types" against the bite stats of just ONE other breed. Hardly accurate or a fair representation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed, aka Pit Bull.

But let's put the whole "dog bite deaths" thing into perspective for a moment, huh?

In 2008, there were 376 murders in our home state of New Jersey. Here are the NJ stats on dog bite deaths. Between 2000 and 2009, there were 2 deaths related to dog attacks.

Annually there are typically around 30-something dog bite deaths NATION-WIDE (in 2009 there were 33).

Here are some more numbers: In 2000, there were 435,000 tobacco-related deaths; (18.1% of total US deaths), poor diet and physical inactivity accounted for another 400,000 deaths; (16.6%), and alcohol consumption 85,000 deaths (3.5%).

Humans continue to be the biggest threat to themselves and to each other. You're worried about a Pit Bull killing you? You are a WAY bigger threat to yourself.

So pardon us if we are scratching our heads over all the hysteria. The chances of being killed by ANY dog, let alone a Pit Bull are so small as to practically not even warrant consideration. It should also be noted that non-fatal dog bites in general are on the decline. We as well as other groups continue to work hard to ensure safe, happy interactions between people and dogs, and apparently what we are all doing is working.

"Pit Bull bans don't cost us anything and would make us safer!" This was an interesting comment from someone who seems to think laws and their subsequent enforcement appear out of thin air and cost nothing to uphold. There was some interesting data gathered on the expense of enforcing a breed ban in Prince Georges County, Maryland. It cost $500,000 a year to enforce the ban. Maybe an acceptable expense? But the data determined “the public safety benefit is unmeasurable.” In other words, it was impossible to tell if a ban had any effect whatsoever, although it was determined that the ban impeded animal control's ability to appropriately respond to complaints in general, so there is reason to believe bans actually make people less safe not more.

Baltimore's BSL cost is $750,000/annually; the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act (which is a laughing stock in its inability to have controlled and eliminated the problem of the country's vicious dogs) cost $14 million to enforce between 1991 and 1996.

Breed specific legislation does NOT make us safer, and the costs of useless laws could be better spent on improving other areas of public safety. Calgary has a very interesting dog law that does not single out breeds and has been shown to be incredibly effective. They have seen a 70% drop in dog bites overall. They are at their lowest level in 25 years.

Bad information tends to get passed around quite easily, especially so when the subject matter is gossipy or fear-inducing. With the subject of Pit Bulls, not only do many urban legends refuse to die (although advocates are slowly but surely beating them down), and get passed back and forth between family, friends, neighbors and beyond, there are some really out of control organizations with dubious agendas that are nothing more than irrational fear mongers when it comes to the breed. Groups like PETA (an extremist animal rights group that actively works to outlaw pet ownership) and another org that concerns itself with dog bites (run by a disgruntled attack victim with an axe to grind), are great for spouting debunked myths, and unscientific "stats" that were simply compiled by scouring newspaper headlines. If the CDC couldn't reliably collect breed-based bite stats, what makes the untrained members of certain agenda-pushing groups think they can do any better?

Sometimes people are so blinded by their anger, ignorance and fear that they are unwilling to see the facts or listen to reason. With the sheer number of Pit Bulls out there, logically if you follow the rationale of the "anti's", we should be reading about attacks every hour on the hour. I mean if they really are this vicious then surely people would be killed left and right, Pit Bulls would be running rampant in the streets attacking people. But that clearly isn't the case.

Some days ya really just have to ask, "If you don't know what you're talking about can you please just STFU?"

Let's expand our compassion footprint.

2010-02-24T20:10:00.002-05:00

From a blog on PsychologyToday.com, by Marc Bekoff.

Animals say, "Treat us better or leave us alone."

What do animals want from us? Their manifesto.

In Light of Recent Attacks: Sympathy for the Victims & Some Important Points to Consider

2010-02-24T17:16:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend, three Pit Bull attacks in Philly made headlines. A woman's wrist was severely injured when her neighbor's dog bit her. Philip Sheriff was attacked by two Pit Bulls his friends were walking; doctors are fighting to save this poor child’s arm. And most tragically, Christine Staab lost her life when her mother's Pit Bull attacked her after she fell during a fight the two were having in her mother's home.

One attack is bad enough, three is just unbearably heartbreaking on so many levels. As Pit Bull advocates, we are quick to jump to the defense of a breed, argue against breed bans, and to point out irresponsible human behavior. But what often gets lost to the point, is that part of the anger and upset felt is due to the fact that humans are being needlessly hurt. Lives forever changed. When the finger is pointed at the wrong suspect, the real "bad guys" get away unnoticed. And go on to cause more harm down the road. We want less attacks, not more – and so we are angry; angry that a breed gets blamed, and attention is taken away from real solutions that might actually have a real impact.

In cases of "pit bull attacks", when the finger is pointed at the breed for being the 'bad guy', the real issues (irresponsible, ignorant humans and negligent behavior) get overshadowed, nothing gets solved. And more - not less -attacks are the result.

Let's take the Sheriff case for instance. In the above report, there are some very glaring red flags - namely young children unsupervised walking two dogs much stronger than they, dogs that were found as strays merely 3 months prior to this attack. That hints at an unknown history, new dogs that might not have been properly evaluated for temperament, nor received proper training or socialization. The dogs, obviously out of control since one broke free and began to run off, ended up fighting. When two dogs fight, a young child can very easily become the initially-unintended target.

In the case of Christine Staab, there was a dog placed in the confusing, frightening situation of his human facing a perceived threat. Dogs allowed free reign in the midst of domestic disturbances - which can be extremely agitating to dogs – dogs who can very easily in the midst of confusion, yelling, and thrown objects, act in defense by attacking one of the involved humans.

We expect dogs to protect us when there is a threat, be docile and our best friends at all other times, and remain calm and collected no matter what chaotic situations we place them in as long as WE personally deem the situation "non-threatening". That is an awful lot of pressure placed on dogs, and when dogs make "mistakes", instead of owning up to human fallacy (hey parents, kids shouldn't walk dogs they are physically incapable of handling, and adults shouldn't scream and throw things at each other in the presence of dogs who may feel a need to defend self, human guardian, or property), we point the finger at the easy target: a "bad" breed.

Why exactly do dogs act aggressively, or attack? The underlying factor is fear of harm: a need to protect, defend, remain safe. This is true of ALL dogs. When dogs are placed into situations where a human is incapable of providing a safe, controlled environment, the dog is set up to fail and the humans are left in a vulnerable position. But this is what humans consistently do with dogs: set them up to fail. Dogs are not socialized yet forced to exist in a world that demands they always "act nice"; don't receive proper training but are expected to always behave; are mismanaged and abused and expected to "take it"; do not receive health care; are not spayed and neutered (intact male dogs are the biggest culprits in attacks); kept on chains (which are another factor implicated in attacks); kept by humans who lack even a basic understanding of dog behavior and can very easily miss warning signs that their dogs are presenting signs of potentially dangerous behavioral issues; left alone with children and the elderly; [omit a myriad other examples for sake of space and time].

Erasing a dog breed as if it alone is the problem – or even just PART of the problem – will leave ban supporters clamoring unsatisfied when the next wave of popularity sweeps dogdom and another breed becomes victims to the whims and ignorance of humans. What then? More breeds banned? Where do we draw the line? When do we expect humans to take responsibility for what is, in fact, theirs to be responsible for? Instead we lay blame at the feet of an animal; ban a breed, as if that will suddenly solve all our problems. So we can keep attempting to wipe out dog breeds until we are left with none, or we can begin to address societal issues that bring us to these discussions in the first place. And we can start expecting people to actually be responsible for their dogs, to engage in proper management, care, training. To educate themselves on at least the basics of dog behavior and learning. And to face the consequences when they fail to live up to their responsibilities.

Paws For Change

2010-02-23T18:28:00.002-05:00

Remember that heart-string-tugging anti-BSL vid we posted a little while back? How about a whole website of similar videos, dedicated to bringing awareness to important animal issues, including BSL? Our friend and animal advocate Aubrie Kavanaugh has created a wonderful website showcasing her work. Please check it out and be sure to share it with any and all who could benefit from this important effort.

Thank you for doing this, Aubrie. The animals have a wonderful friend in their corner!

Paws4Change.com

Philly-steria

2010-02-22T19:18:00.004-05:00

3 dog attacks made the news this weekend in Philly and South Jersey papers. All 3 were reported to be "pit bull attacks". The BSL hysteria is already in the air.

The after-effects of these attacks remain to be seen, but RPB would like to take a moment to remind everyone that dogs are animals, with instincts and behaviors unique to their species. As a whole, dogs have much more to fear from humans than humans have to fear from dogs. Having said that, dogs can and do bite, and oftentimes cause serious harm or, extremely rarely, even death (there has not been a fatal Pit Bull attack in PA in the past 45 years; there HAVE been 19 other attacks, but NONE were committed by Pit Bulls). An argument between humans, erratic behavior, unsupervised children and dogs, can all be contributing factors in attacks. Spending time researching attacks, and gaining even a rudimentary grasp of canine behavior, can help one make sense of such incidents, and shed much light on the how's and why's, and more importantly the prevention of dog attacks.

Using a breed of dog as a scapegoat while ignoring normal dog behavior, contributing abuse/neglect, and human-canine interaction patterns, as well as the usual common denominators in dog attacks, will simply mean more human pain and suffering, not to mention persecution of innocent animals.

New Book Showcases Inspiring Rescue Stories

2010-02-10T08:53:00.002-05:00

NEW LIVES: Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing and Giving Hope is by Joanna Wannan. It tells of 18 dogs from rescues, abusive situations, and the streets, who are now working in animal therapy and as service dogs. One of those dogs is Our Pack's Vick Dog, Leo. You can get more information on the book by visiting, 3 Black Dogs.

The organization is also running a contest where people can create a short video telling their own rescue stories. Details are at: Inspiring Rescue Stories.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your rescued Pit Bull's life, and expose the breed to some really positive press.

Tid Bits

2009-11-14T12:12:00.004-05:00

The benefit yoga classes held last month, thanks to Sachiko Eubanks and the wonderful breed-friendly yoginis over at Prana, was a success! Our bank account is feeling a little fatter because of the generosity of spirit demonstrated by the yoga community in Geneva, IL. We thank you!

On Thursday, I spoke about the breed on a half hour radio program hosted by positive dog trainer Renee Premaza. The program, called Thursdays In The Dog House on Philly WNJC-1360 AM discusses all manner of dog-related topics on a weekly basis. It's really very excellent, so please keep your ears out for it!

You can listen to the program I was on here. I had a great time talking about my favorite subject, and Renee wants me to come back to continue our breed discussion. Looking forward to it!

RPB's fall fundraiser, Thank-A-Bull, is turning into more of a mini awareness campaign than a straight-up donation op. There are some lovely submissions from people whose lives have been touched by these amazing creatures we call Pit Bulls. Some of the submissions have been tear-inducers, like this one,

"I would like to thank my pack of bullies for giving me a reason to live. I have been fighting an incurable form of leukemia and they are truly the reason I fight so hard to stay well."

....and all have been uniquely touching.

We'll keep adding to the page as the submissions come in, and we are hoping to see this page grow into something special.

You can submit your own thank-you note and photo by emailing us here: info@realpitbull.com and then making a suggested PayPal donation of $1, 5, or 10. The deadline is Dec 1.

In Your Hands

2009-11-13T06:55:00.003-05:00

Beautiful anti-BSL vid from Aubrie Kavanaugh. Aubrie, you nailed it, sister. Bravo.

The PEOPLE Problem...plus a KILLER response to a stupid question.

2009-11-04T07:21:00.008-05:00

We are a little late in getting this up, but wanted to post this here, anyway. This Newsweek opinion piece by writer Joan Raymond touches on some central issues in the Pit Bull advocacy world. It also showcases Villa Lobos, and Tia's new show, Pit Bulls & Parolees (please check this out, and if you haven't seen the first episode yet, we warn you - it's tear-inducing!).

Whether there are points to agree or disagree with in the article, the central theme that PEOPLE are to blame for so-called "Pit Bull problems" is the main point to take away; more often than ever before, opinion pieces about the breed popping up in the media have taken an approach that suggests dogs are innocent, and people are the ones who need to get their acts together.

(The article also sparked this write-up).

In other news........

Our friend Gale from Mutts n Stuff in St Louis is receiving maaaaaajor props for the (polite but oh-so-effective) verbal smack down she gave a reporter who interviewed her and Smiley King Elvis recently. Is it any wonder we love this woman???

News & Updates

2009-10-19T17:17:00.002-04:00

The REAL Pit Bull is holding a luncheon fundraiser on October 24th (which is National Pit Bull Awareness Day), at the Linden Chevys Tex Mex on Stiles Street/Rt 1.

If you bring THIS FLIER with you, and indicate on your bill that you are there for the fundraiser, 10% of the cost of your meal will be donated to RPB. It’s that simple to help Pit Bulls! You can go eat any time during normal business hours, but RPB officers will be in attendance from 12 noon to 2 pm. Come out, have some food, and raise your glass to Pit Bulls! What a great way to come together and bring positive energy and awareness to Pit Bull issues.

We also are planning a Thanksgiving fundraiser, to be announced soon, that will allow you to speak your mind, share photos of your dogs, and express thanks for this amazing breed we know as the American PIT BULL Terrier. Keep checking the blog and our EVENTS page for updates.

Liberty Human’s Bark in the Park was held Oct. 11th in lovely Liberty State Park, and we had a blast. What a great day filled with caring people, fun events, and lots of bulldawg smiles. We are SO looking forward to next year!

The first frost hit this morning in northern NJ, and the temps are dropping steadily. For that reason, our weekly Pit Bull training classes – held outdoors in a local park – are on hiatus until we find suitable indoor quarters, or spring hits: whichever comes first! Ah the perils of Northeast living! In the mean time, if you have indoor space in the Union County area you’d like to donate on a weekly/hourly basis, please LET US KNOW.

Our Click Bulls! and Pit Bull Fundamentals lectures will be going strong all year, so be sure to keep checking the HOME ROOM for new dates. Please SIGN UP for the Pit Bull School announcements list, as well.

Blissin' Out Over Pit Bulls

2009-10-19T16:56:00.003-04:00

Yoga’s all about being present in the moment, and let’s face it – Pit Bulls are pretty darn good at doing just that. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human quite master the Savasana pose or Upward Dog the way a Pit Bull can. Somehow, Pit Bulls and yoga seem to go together. (Or maybe that’s just me!)

Thanks to Illinois-based yoga instructor and dog trainer Sachiko Eubanks, RPB is using yoga to help bring awareness to the plight of the Pit Bull.

Sachiko approached us about doing benefit classes after we put out the call on Facebook that we were looking for a teacher who’d be interested in combining yoga with Pit Bull education. Sachiko ran with the idea, telling us she wanted to use her yoga classes as a platform to educate. She is donating to RPB the profits from today’s class, plus ones on the 20th and 22nd. She also created a wonderful display in the studio, so students all week can view material on the breed.

I have been studying yoga for 9 years and teaching for 5 years. "Karma Yoga" (giving back something to society through yoga) is a big part of practice. Last year, my dog of 15 years died (she was a Lab/Grey hound mix), and I then adopted Mac, a Pit Bull mix puppy.

I wanted to be a part of educating people about the breed and especially BSL. I am hoping that more people will have true understanding of the breed and BSL through our event at the studio this week.

Coincidentally (or does the Universe just work in mysterious ways?), the studio Sachiko teaches at – Prana Yoga - is located in Geneva – very close to Elgin, where residents are currently fighting to keep BSL out of their city. What a prime time to help bring educational materials and a sense of mindfulness to the public!

We are SO grateful to Sachiko for her generosity and appreciative of her giving spirit. Ironically, she thanked US for allowing her this opportunity to educate. We are the ones who are thankful though, and we just know Sachiko’s karma is heading through the roof right about now.

If you’d like to head out to Prana Yoga Studio to take a class or check out some educational breed material, please visit: Prana Yoga Center

Sachiko's classes will be held on 10/19 at 1pm, 10/20 at 9am, and 10/22 at 5:45pm. There will also be a raffle with the prize being a 10-class card (worth over $100).

Help! My Breed's Name Has Been Hijacked!

2009-10-13T18:37:00.004-04:00

I used to know what other advocates meant when they used the name "Pit Bull". Usually it referred to the APBT. Sometimes it encompassed the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier as well (the former for all intents and purposes is an APBT anyway; the latter not so much - close enough, though!) But nowadays, as I browse the various "Pit Bull" education sites on the web, it has become increasingly clear that my breed's name has been hijacked!

The name "Pit Bull" is ending up in the names of organizations that aren't APBT-focused. It is being used interchangeably with the term "bully breeds" (which is an unofficial, ever-changing category of breeds and mixes). One "educational" site told me "Pit Bull" is a derogatory term that essentially means "vicious dog". And another "Pit Bull" site actually included mastiff breeds in its statement of purpose.

Oftentimes, under the guise of "Pit Bull education", APBT temperament and history is being appropriated for the use of educating on a number of related (but separate) breeds and even breeds that have completely different histories and temperaments.

There is much confusion about what a real, sound, temperament-correct APBT is. If the guarding-prone American Bulldog, or the human-sensitive Dogo Argentino are "Pit Bulls", does that mean that guarding behavior and human sensitivity are acceptable behaviors in the APBT as well? When we talk about Pit Bulls being love bugs with humans, and uber-sound around friends and strangers alike, we cannot simultaneously be talking about a variety of breeds that might have very different temperaments. Calling that Dogo mix in your rescue program a "Pit Bull" when it has a very different temperament than an APBT, is harmful to the APBT breed as a whole.

Responsible Rescue means proper breed-ID along with appropriate education:

When New Hope Pit Bull Rescue brought Jasper (ABOVE) into their program, they went out of their way to make sure he got appropriately labeled. As he matured both physically and temperamentally, it became clear that he was not a purebred Pit Bull, and was most likely an American Bulldog or AB mix. Jasper is the perfect example of a dog that would have been mislabeled a "pit bull" by many people, but just happened to end up in a rescue group that knew what they were doing, and hence got a more accurate ID.

RPB works very hard at educating on proper breed names, identification, and appropriate labeling. Misapplication of the name "Pit Bull" (which RPB uses as shorthand for "APBT") is something we are constantly fighting against. The APBT is THE ONLY BREED that has the words PIT BULL in its official name, and it is really aggravating that so many other breeds and mixes are inappropriately being called "Pit Bulls", too. Because what happens when those mislabeled breeds end up in the newspaper labeled as "Pit Bulls"? The American PIT BULL Terrier breed as a whole ends up being the fall guy. Just look at any piece of BSL across the globe - the first (and oftentimes only) breed mentioned is the APBT.

Instead of leading the media and law makers, advocates have allowed the media and law makers to define "Pit Bull" for them. In the 90s, when Pit Bull Hysteria reached a fever-pitch, reporters were quick to use the label "Pit Bull" - even when the dog in question wasn't actually an APBT. Legislators followed suit with the whole "label based on looks" thing. For some reason, instead of insisting on proper breed identification, many advocates fell in line with the media and law makers and began using the term PIT BULL in just as broad a way. The pattern I've noticed is this: if a breed looks like an APBT, is a breed that might have been targeted somewhere in BSL, is a bull or mastiff breed, or has vaguely similar history to the APBT - call it a "Pit Bull".

The "Pit Bull" that attacks someone and ends up a headline might not actually be an APBT. But the breed that is actually officially known as the (American) PIT BULL (Terrier) will get the blame. The actual dog could be an American Bulldog, a Boxer mix, a dog that looks similar to an APBT but has no papers proving it is such, or any number of breeds/mixes. But thanks to the insistence of many that "Pit Bull" really IS just a label to be slapped on a bunch of breeds and dogs that merely look a certain way, there really is no way to argue with the media. "Pit Bull" is being used in whatever way the user deems appropriate.

It is wonderful that there are ever-increasing numbers of people willing to stand up for what is right, to fight against BSL and try to help save the lives of dogs. It is just a shame that the term "Pit Bull" is being misused to such a wide extent, as this is confusing, misleading, and even detrimental to the work we are all trying to do as educators and advocates.

We here at RPB are PROUD of our breed's nickname, PIT BULL. We use the name PIT BULL *only* when referencing the American Pit Bull Terrier. We do NOT support the use of "Pit Bull" as a catch-all term, and we demand that the media use proper breed names when identifying dogs involved in attacks - and when a dog's breed cannot definitively be identified, reporters shouldn't guess! "Pit Bull" should not be the default! We encourage rescues to properly identify the dogs they bring into their programs. An American Bulldog is NOT a Pit Bull - it is a different breed, with a different temperament. The same goes for Pit Bull mixes, Staffy Bulls, 'American Bullys', Bull Terriers, the mastiff breeds, and so on. And education on the unique histories and temperaments of each of those breeds must go along with proper labeling and identification.

We can't educate on "Pit Bulls" when we are actually talking about a wide variety of different breeds. "Pit Bull" should be used to refer to ONE specific breed. It is not a catch-all, not a category.

Another for the WTF Files

2009-10-09T17:47:00.001-04:00

Is it any wonder Pit Bull advocates are constantly up in arms over the way our breed is portrayed in the media?

Read this report, headlined "Animal officer dies after pit bull encounter" carefully. Note the line that indicates the DOG had NOTHING TO DO with the ACO's death.

Then tell me that the press doesn't bend over backwards to print the words "pit bull". No integrity at all. Such a shame.

Chaos or Calm? The choice should be obvious.

2009-10-06T17:10:00.006-04:00

There was a video clip from a(n) (in)famous TV trainer's show floating around the internet recently. I had the misfortune of viewing this clip (oh, the 'joys' of needing to be up-to-date on all the news and happenings in the training and Pit Bull advocacy worlds!), and quite literally was horrified. This TV show had hit a new low. The clip showed two Pit Bulls fighting, one dog latched onto the other's lip. The people supposedly in charge were absolutely not, and I cringed in sympathy for the dogs involved in this disaster.

While the star of the show is supposedly both a Pit Bull advocate and someone who knows about "rehabilitating" aggressive dogs, nothing about this clip should have convinced anyone he was either of those things. The dogs were completely set up to fail - a dog with known issues let loose among a group of other dogs, with the star rattling on about how such a situation was likely to trigger a fight (DUH!). Surprise-surprise, a fight breaks out. To make matters worse, the camera person makes sure to capture all the chaos, a close-up of one dog latched onto the other's lip, and "demonstrating" the apparent persistence of a Pit Bull once it grabs onto another dog. Just the sort of exposure the breed needs, right? I can't imagine any true Pit Bull advocate being ok with this sort of footage airing.

I won't link the video here because the last thing I want to do is give this charlatan any more exposure (plus yes, the clip shows the breed in a really bad light), but it was just another in a long line of crappy "rehabilitation" efforts demonstrated on this dude's show. Time and again, this program demonstrates how to set dogs up for failure, teach them to practice bad behavior, then beat them for doing exactly what you'd expect them to do (bite or fight) in the given scenario.

The reason I bring this up is to point out the WRONG way to do things, and contrast this with the RIGHT way. The right way may not be exciting or dramatic enough for a TV program, but it is humane and effective - which is way more important!

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending an Emma Parsons seminar. Emma is the creator of the Click to Calm method of modifying aggressive behavior in dogs (particularly dogs aggressive to other dogs). Unlike you-know-who mentioned above, Emma's whole goal as a trainer and behavioral consultant is to set the dog up to SUCCEED. What does that mean, exactly? It means the dog is put in situations where he or she has the opportunity to learn appropriate behaviors and NOT PRACTICE aggressive behaviors.

Those who understand behavior and learning understand that the more an animal gets to "practice" (and hence gain reinforcement for) a behavior, the more difficult it is to eliminate that behavior. So the earmark of any good behavior modification program is that it always sets the dog up to 'do the right thing' and NEVER EVER purposely sets a dog up to fail (IE. practice aggression).

The seminar also included demonstrations of the Click to Calm method on real, live aggressive dogs. During two days worth of demonstrations, there was NOT ONE aggressive outburst. Emma is so skilled at working dogs at their comfort levels while also teaching them new and better ways to behave as she gradually increases the difficultly level, that no dog felt threatened or the need to aggress or bite. All the dogs learned new skills and coping mechanisms, and none of the dogs got to practice aggressive behavior. They all stayed calm, and in a state conducive to learning.

What many fail to realize, is that aggression is always about making some scary or uncomfortable thing go away. That old "alpha dog" theory has been thrown away, and we now know that dogs aren't trying to "dominate us" when they aggress. Dogs who aggress are seriously stressed, frightened, uncomfortable, in pain, or fearing for their safety. To put a dog in a stressful environment that actually induces an aggressive reaction, then yank, jerk, alpha-roll, or string up the dog for aggressing, is abusive and most CERTAINLY not training or behavior modification.

Don't fall for the charade of a "rehabilitator" who is constantly pushing dogs to the chaotic points of extreme stress and aggression! Proper behavior modification is about making a dog feel safe, comfortable, and proving to him or her that there is no need to aggress. This is done through positive experience, gradual exposure, teaching new behaviors, and SETTING THE DOG UP FOR SUCCESS at each step along the way. Training and behavior modification sessions should be calm, gentle, and relaxed.

A new beginning for one of the MoBust dogs....

2009-09-30T17:35:00.003-04:00

Many of you were aghast and saddened by the face of Fay, one of the dogs that was confiscated in the largest dog fighting raid in history. Missing her lips, her toothy expression is a stark, in-yer-face example of the horrors of dog fighting.

But Fay won't be a statistic. We learned today that Fay will be headed to Mutts N Stuff, the St Louis MO-based bully breed rescue that has been working so hard to care for all the dogs confiscated in the bust.

Congratulations to Fay! If you would like to help support the work of Mutts N Stuff, and to support dogs like Fay, please visit the website to donate.

Philly Rescue Doin' It Right

2009-09-17T06:12:00.008-04:00

There are so many unsung heroes in rescue, those people who day after day dedicate their lives to saving the lives of dogs. They are in rescue not for fame, not for money, but for the DOGS.. We wanted to spotlight just one of those rescues. Run by Rosemary DiStefano, Faith's Hope in Philadelphia is one of those little gems of the rescue world: dedicated, educated, and ethical. Rosemary knows her stuff, and if you are looking for a REAL Pit Bull - solid, stable, with typical breed temperament - please consider one of the dogs from Faith's Hope.

RPB is proud to support the work of Faith's Hope and we encourage you to do so as well by making a donation, large or small. You can donate through PayPal.com below.

Here are just a few of the adoptable dogs now available through Faith's Hope:

Meet Spock, and his to-die-for ears! This guy's a total lover-boy, and a solid 40 lbs of Pit Bull goodness. He is a terrific dog, sweet and loving and wants nothing more than to be with you all day and cuddle up all night.

Heeeere's Herbie! Check out that face! How cute is this APBT/AmBull mix? He is not only adorable, he is a terrific dog: sweet, friendly, smart. He wants to be your best buddy EVER. He doesn't ask for much - a comfy bed, some yummy treats and some nice walks. Herbie is currently being treated for heartworm, poor baby, but will be ready for his new home as soon as he's better.

Doesn't this just make you feel all warm and fuzzy??

2009-09-16T13:37:00.004-04:00

St. Louis group building refuge for dogs rescued from dog fighting.....READ MORE!

We love you, Mutts N' Stuff!! Give Phoenix a smooch!

More nonsensical sound bites....

2009-09-16T13:23:00.005-04:00

Parade Magazine printed some crummy quotes from DC Councilman Jim Graham, in its recent article “Preventing Fatal Dog Attacks”.

“Anyone who has been near a pit bull can tell you why they need to be banned,” Graham says. “There is something endemic in this breed that prompts violence and cruelty when raised in the wrong hands.”

ANYone? REALLY, Councilman? Sure about that statement?

And I guess the Councilman didn’t get the memo on the Vick dogs. Talk about dogs being ‘raised in the wrong hands’. Just as predicted, those Vick dogs sure turned out to be 'violent and cruel’.

All we are asking for is a little responsibility – research and educate yourself before you make statements that hold the power to influence legislation that would tear families apart and cause the unnecessary death of companion animals.

Oh, who will save us from the PANdemic of stupid!

The wheels of justice turn + MoBust Updates

2009-09-15T19:09:00.010-04:00

News fresh out of Missouri ...4 dog fighters charged in the MoBust case have pleaded guilty. As the wheels of justice turn, the dogs remain in a secret location and have not yet begun any moves into rescue. But we look forward to the day when as many as possible will find the love they so deeply deserve.

RPB wanted to take this opportunity to recognize the groups that have been working with the now over 500 dogs in Mo. since DAY ONE. Special gratitude towards the people at HSMO, Mutts-n-Stuff, Broken Hearts-Mended Souls, and PBRC volunteers for coming together to assist the MoBust dogs in the day to day, unglamorous tasks that come with caring for such a large number of animals. A special thank you to RPBF member and all-around breed activist SuziRiot for sacrificing her Labor day weekend in order to clean kennels, stuff Kongs, and love on the dogs. (And who knows, maybe Suzi will find a love of her own in the massive sea of Missouri dogs?)

Additionally, New Hope Pit Bull Rescue and Our Pack, Inc are closely following the progress of this historical case, working in partnership with the locals.

If you are looking for a way to help, PLEASE consider donating to HSMO.

Another great way to show your support is to purchase a “Save the Dogs” t-shirt, which will benefit Mutts-n-Stuff and help fund their new project, The Phoenix House which will be a temporary home for rescued fight bust dogs as they make their transition from shelter life to rescue program ambassador dogs.

To order this shirt, send your payment of $20 to:

Muttsnstuff
PO Box 187
Foristell, MO 63348

Or order through Paypal.com ( use email address: MuttsNStuff@yahoo.com ) Sizes are S, M, L, XL, XXL. Be sure to specify which you'd like, as well as provide all your contact info. when you order.

Everyone deserves a second chance?

2009-09-02T18:32:00.002-04:00

Or should second chances be reserved for those who have made ONE mistake, admitted their guilt, and shown through actions that they are willing and ABLE to make a change?

Rosemary DiStefano from Faith's Hope Rescue - straight from the trenches - said it best,

"Please someone tell me again why this man deserves a "second chance?" Why he deserves to play professional football again and make millions of dollars when those of us down here in the trenches trying to help the dogs he so casually murdered struggle every single day?

Never mind his debt to "society?" How exactly has he paid his debt to the dogs he killed and fought? Why does he deserve to be an HSUS spokesperson when others who have worked tirelessly for years and years to make a difference and who have saved countless animals get to do so with no recognition whatsoever? Yet, this man gets an ovation when he walks out on the field? Please explain to me what he has done to deserve such an ovation? The NFL, the Eagles but especially the citizens of this city that filled that stadium to watch football and applaud Michael Vick ought to be hanging their heads in shame!"

Take That, Eagles

Lest we forget....

2009-08-28T09:41:00.005-04:00

With dog fighting and Vick all over the media, it is very easy to lose sight of what the modern day APBT is really about - family friend, service dog, partner. The breed was once held in very high regard in American society. Today, it is extremely popular as a companion animal.

Unbalanced emphasis on abuse and illegal activity - as if the dog fighters, criminals, animal abusers are the only ones who own the breed - can backfire. Organizations such as PETA have used examples of widespread abuse as reason to ban the breed. The general public, although sympathetic to the Pit Bull's problems, see no cause to keep the breed alive. It is too bad that more focus isn't placed on the typical Pit Bull, living in the typical home, and doing typical Pit Bull things. Perhaps when society begins to see these dogs in a more realistic light, we will make some real progress.

Chako's new America's Dog campaign is a great step in the right direction.....

Thank you to Chako for a great vid!

A Blancing Act

2009-08-27T17:38:00.006-04:00

Beliefs on Pit Bulls are often extreme. Whether you are berating them as vicious monsters, or cooing that they are as sweet and gentle as baby bunnies, either way, your opinion is likely to be very strong. Even in groups consisting only of breed advocates, you will find harshly contrasting ideas about what, temperamentally, the APBT is at its core, particularly when you hit on the subject of dog-directed aggression.

Over the past 15 years that I have been involved with this breed, there has been a gradual shift towards more sane, *balanced* thinking about Pit Bulls and the behavioral issue of dog-directed aggression. We're (the Pit Bull advocacy world) moving farther away from that extreme end of the spectrum that says, "This breed is dog-aggressive, PERIOD. They are born that way and will always fight!" and instead looking at the breed from a more reasoned, scientific place.

I think it's rad that people are thinking and experimenting and giving the DOGS a chance to tell us who and what they are. The old battle cry of "Never trust a Pit Bull not to fight" has been outdated for a while now (not sure if it ever was really useful, period) and everyone's coming up with new and better ways to educate and represent our dogs.

My hope is that we can stay balanced as a movement (Pit Bull education and rescue), and not - in the process of defending our dogs - move too far in either direction and end up misrepresenting what they are. I've heard from many people who have taken offense to this or that on the RPB website; usually it's in response to something about Pit Bulls oftentimes having issues with other dogs. We've actually had people come at us as if we were the enemy, that, somehow, by suggesting the breed was prone to certain (undesirable) behaviors, we were insulting their dog and the breed as a whole. In some ways, I can understand this. When your breed has been brutalized and discriminated against, it is easy to be sensitive and work a little harder than you should to paint a picture that is perhaps overly rosy.

The other end of the spectrum is still a problem too - I recently heard from a person who thought I was crazy and an animal rights extremist because realpitbull.com states that it is a myth that Pit Bulls 'love to fight', and that given the opportunity to learn to display other behaviors, are more than willing to mingle peacefully with other dogs. This person was nearly irate that we dared make such a bold statement. "They DO love to fight! That is why Poodles run away from a fight, and Pit Bulls run towards it". As a dog trainer, I can assure you, any breed can and will move towards another dog in an effort to attack, and aggression is always based on a desire to make the target go away. It's not a want or a love, it's a perceived need to get that target AWAY that drives aggression: in Pit Bulls, or ANY breed. We still have such a long way to go in the education department.

Pit Bulls are just dogs; they display dog behavior. There is nothing a Pit Bull does that every other breed in the world hasn't done at some point or another. They are also a unique breed (isn't every breed unique?) and because they are a breed, certain generalizations about their temperaments and oft-seen behavioral issues can be made. I hope we don't lose sight of the fact of what we actually have in these dogs. I also hope we can keep probing and asking questions and seeking truth and balance so we can help the breed flourish and prosper - conservatively, with the RIGHT guardians.

Vick.

2009-08-26T18:59:00.005-04:00

As an organization, The Real Pit Bull has avoided coming out with an official statement regarding Michael Vick. RPB already has an official statement on dog fighting - zero tolerance, no excuses. In one sense, Vick is just another dog fighter. He was caught, he was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, served his time.

Vick is now a free man, signed with a new NFL team, and gearing up for his first game. You might say this story has run full circle, and as Pit Bull advocacy organizations, perhaps we should all just "move on”.

Oh? Move on?

What makes the Vick case different from other dog fighting cases - keeps it in the spotlight and emotions surrounding it high - is Vick’s celebrity and the especially brutal torture and death of the dogs who never made it out of Bad Newz kennels alive. For many, the torture is what cannot be "moved on" from. What drives the continued protests. What keeps so many from forgiving a man who hasn't convinced them he is truly sorry anyway.

When the news broke that Vick signed with a new team, a collective cry of renewed outrage arose. This outrage was immediately met with an attitude of, "He served his time, leave him alone". Vick has a legal right to pursue employment - and he has. The NFL is within their perfect right to reinstate him - and they have. Any NFL team can sign him right up - and one has. Poor Vick, right? Oh just leave him be!

Vick actually seems to be doing just fine. In fact, huge numbers of people seem to be willing to just forgive and forget. What most strikes me is the quickness with which so many look past Vick's actions, or dismiss sadistic abuse on animals with a simple, "But he paid his dues - he went to prison". I recently read an email that said in part, "We shouldn't judge Vick. Besides, I don't think Vick was even directly involved. He just bankrolled the kennel." It is a common misconception that Vick wasn't directly involved. He was. He used his own hands to kill dogs. Vick's dogs were routinely, systematically, tortured than killed. And Vick not only paid for it, he helped do it. As for not judging....Humans make judgments every day. About what to wear, what to drive, what to buy, what to eat for dinner, what organizations or companies to support, and what people to associate with. We have an ability to judge right and wrong and to recognize that our behavior will shape others' judgments of us. Judging a person based on good deeds is no different from judging a person based on bad deeds. Just like Michael Vick was judged as a football player prior to his arrest and conviction, so is he now judged for his severe abuse of dogs.

And here's a judgment football fans will have to make: whether or not to give money to an organization that now employs Vick, allows him to pick up right where he left off, and pays him a hefty sum to do so. All before any actions to back up the few apologetic words Vick has so-far spoken.

If the NFL and the Eagles have a right to embrace Vick and allow him to return to the fold with nary a stipulation placed on him, those who have NOT forgotten the abuse, have NOT been able to simply "move on" have a right to protest, to let their feelings be known, and to take their money elsewhere.

Caution: This collar can be hazardous to your dog's mental health!

2009-08-26T18:14:00.010-04:00

Not too long ago, website feedback came in from a person who had an issue with our anti-shock collar and anti-punitive training stance. In a nutshell, this person claimed there was no negative fallout from shock collar usage, and that it was a fine tool for training that didn't cause pain to the dog. I responded with many valid, scientific reasons why RPB does not advocate use of shock collars, and why I as a certified trainer actively work to dissuade people from using such devices on their dogs. (I never received a reply....)

"There is never any reason for pets to be shocked as a part of therapy or treatment…There are now terrific scientific and research data that show the harm that shock collars can do behaviorally." - Karen Overall, PhD

What I found most disturbing by this person's email wasn't that she used shock collars to train dogs, but the fact that she obviously considered herself an educated trainer and yet still lacked even a fundamental understanding of how and why shock collars work. I'm not sure if this person was self-taught, or had learned from other shock collar trainers. But what I am sure about is that a person presenting themselves as 'educated' was spreading misinformation about a training device that could do some serious emotional harm to a dog, not to mention the physical pain it could cause.

The truth is, there is lots of bad and misguided training advice out there. Dog guardians are often misled - purposefully or ignorantly, even innocently - by those who stand in an authoritative position. One aspect of RPB's mission is to educate and guide Pit Bull guardians in the humane, practical training and behavioral management of their dogs. We as an organization are often in a very good position to steer people towards valid, scientific sources of information on dog behavior and training. Pit Bull parents can learn hands-on in my positive clicker classes about teaching their dogs new behaviors, and solving common behavioral issues in a humane, pain-free way.

No guardian wants to physically hurt or cause emotional stress to their beloved dog. I wouldn't think for a minute that shocking a dog sounds good to any sane individual. Sometimes people *just don't know*! That's where RPB comes in...

Here is a great article from Dog Sports Magazine on shock collars and why they can be problematic. It is important, before you use any device, to understand it. Don't take a professional's word for it. And always trust your gut!

Vick Signs With the Philly Eagles

2009-08-14T07:21:00.002-04:00

Source: ESPN.

And HSUS' odd partnership with Vick is taken to the streets.

Some days you just gotta wake up, hug the dogs, and move on.

When the Past & Present Collide

2009-08-13T13:27:00.006-04:00

With all the talk about fighting dogs recently – the big busts, for instance, and the finally-wide-spread realization that fighting dogs are actually victims that deserve a chance at life – we thought we’d talk a little bit about breed history, and how it relates to the dogs today: both those rescued fighters AND the typical Pit Bull that shares a home with humans as a companion dog.

Pit Bulls as a breed were originally created to fight other dogs in the pit. This much we know as fact. Something else we know as fact: Pit Bulls from the very beginning have also been…Companion Dogs! The scrappy, brave fighting dog also a family animal? You betcha! The APBT breed has historically walked parallel paths – one of fighting dog, one of family, farm, and companion dog. Through the course of the breed’s history, these two paths often crossed and at times they were barely distinguishable from each other. A fighting dog might be a companion dog might be a fighting dog; and sometimes a dog was just a companion, sometimes just a fighting dog. But the breed had two distinct roles and it often hopped from one to the other.

Eventually, the fighting path began to fade away, grown over with the thoughts and ideals of more humane, enlightened attitudes. What was left for the APBT? The job of purely companion dog within the modern dog fancy. People continued to keep the breed as a pet, a show dog, a working dog. Hey! These are the jobs these dogs are REALLY good at, anyway. There is a reason that the breed has flourished since the outlawing of the so-called ‘sport’ of dog fighting.

When people ask, “Why are Pit Bulls good companions when they were bred to fight other dogs?”, the simple answer is, “But they have always been companion dogs too! We just eliminated one crappy element: the dog fighting!”

Well, not REALLY eliminated. Because despite its felony status, dog fighting still continues on today. Pit Bulls, although legally freed from the cruelty of dog fighting, are still in reality subjected to this brutality.

RPB has always recommended that rescued Pit Bulls be treated the same, regardless of their backgrounds: dog dumped by someone who lacked the means to care for him, or dog rescued from a fighting bust. A Pit Bull is a Pit Bull is a Pit Bull. A fighting dog isn’t so different from the companion dog snoring on your couch (gawd we love those bulldawg snores!) It’s just that one dog had the misfortune of being born into a dog fighter’s yard. The other landed on your couch.

And sometimes....a dog goes *from* the fighter’s yard TO a savior’s couch!

This has been happening more and more as of late, due to new attitudes about the rescued canine victims of fight abuse. Dogs being confiscated from dog fighter raids are starting to trickle down into rescue on a greater scale. And guess where they end up? In new homes, as companion dogs. Wow!

In a sense, times have changed little. Some Pit Bulls are still companion dogs. Some Pit Bulls – sadly, tragically – are still fighting dogs. And some Pit Bulls are just lucky enough to be given the opportunity to make that leap from fighter to companion dog.

We hope and pray to doG for the day when NO Pit Bull will ever to be placed on the path to fighting dog. But until that day comes, the way is paved for the rescued victims to cross over onto the path of loved, cherished, family companion.

The majority of Pit Bulls today will never be within sniffing distance of a fighting pit. But they are still playing one role they've always played throughout their history, in good times and bad: loving, intelligent companion, partner, best friend, and family member. And these dogs are so good at what they do that we think their future in this job is pretty much nailed down.

To learn more about breed history and dog fighting, visit our fresh page, Dog Fighting: Then, Now.

In the wake of multi-state raid, still more bust dogs...

2009-08-12T17:49:00.004-04:00

Who could deny that raids removing dogs from the miserable world of fighting are a reason to celebrate? Especially now that bust dogs are actually getting a chance at moving into rescue instead of being slaughtered en masse once they are 'saved' from the dog fighters. But after the initial "Whew, glad those dogs got outta there!" jubilation, a whole new reality sets in: very often, the dogs hit a dead end after they are confiscated.

What will happen to the dogs, where will they go? Will rescues be able to find room? Will an already incredibly burdened system be able to deal with such large numbers of dogs coming in all at once?

Many are still reeling from the news that the largest dog fighting raid in history meant confiscation of nearly 500 dogs.

Then we heard the news that Indiana netted another 100 dogs from yet another raid....

It becomes rather overwhelming, doesn't it? All these dogs, very limited resources. In the coming months, Pit Bull people are going to have to be on their toes and ready to go to the aid of these dogs. Lining up to be a foster, donations of money, goods, or time, are ways you can help. RPB will continue to post information on the organizations involved in helping the MoBust, Indiana, and other bust dogs.

The people helping the Pit Bulls need help to do their jobs. Let's collectively be there for them, and all help the dogs TOGETHER.

A Bust Dog's Thoughts

2009-08-12T17:38:00.003-04:00

Meet Smiley King Elvis, one of the dogs rescued by HSMO and Mutts N Stuff in St Louis, and one of the Stoddard bust case happy endings.

I cannot believe it is over a month that my family been at the secret bunker. When the Stoddard dog-fighting bust happened in 2007 right after Vick, I had to stay a year before my old "owner" would let me go. I was very fortunate that HSMO and MuttsnStuff did not forget about me. I received treats, basic obedience, and wonderful massages. This kind woman at HSMO use to take me on walks and feed me part of her chicken sandwich. We would talk about the day, I would listen her voice her frustrations over the current laws that watched over me. I always gave her soft kisses telling her it was okay and that I understood. What she did not realize that I never had it as good as I did with her.

Since my case, the laws have changed and I am hoping my family will be release soon. The dogs from the Missouri Dog fighting Bust have to be kept in the secret bunker until they are released by the courts. All of the dogs from that bust are still being held. Please send positive thoughts that all the dogs will be released and that loving rescue groups will help the dogs that can adjust to living in a home.

Let's lighten the mood and let me tell you a funny story. My brother Willie Jake from the Stoddard bust is such a hoot. Willie had the hardest time understanding glass patio doors. Of course being chained up in the middle of the woods, we never saw such a thing before. He could see through to the other side so he could not figure out what he kept stopping him. I would snicker from my crate and would smile each time he hit the glass. You know how brothers can be to each other. One day, Willie got it. His foster mom jumped with JOY and patio door is now safe from Willie Jake. So then Willie Jake went to a tennis court and guess what...yep you guessed it...he ran into the net. Oh boy, I am glad its not genetic.

I am signing off for now. If you have any question, please ask! My life changes could fill a computer about the transformation from a victim of dog fighting to couch potato. Time to have an energy bar and pass out on the couch.

Love,
Smiley King Elvis

Official MoBust Press Release

2009-08-12T17:31:00.004-04:00

Wanted to share this. RPB is directing those who wish to make donations to send them to HSMO. HSMO is the org housing the 400+ dogs as the legalities are being worked out. Eventually these dogs will be released to the below orgs.

http://www.topix.net/content/prweb/2009/....a-second-chance

Rescue Groups Work with Humane Society of Missouri to Give Rescued Pit Bulls a Second Chance

PRWeb

August 12, 2009

* Original PRWeb article: Rescue Groups Work with Humane Society of Missouri to Give Rescued Pit Bulls a Second Chance Read the original story

- Rescue groups nationwide are working with the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) to care for the more than 400 dogs rescued in connection with the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. The dogs were seized in a multi-state raid by federal and state officers in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. The fate of the dogs will be decided by the federal courts in forfeiture proceedings separate from the criminal cases.

Several rescue groups that have experience with the breeds of animals rescued have offered their help to care for and eventually receive some of the dogs. Groups involved so far in these efforts include Mutts-n-Stuff, based in Missouri; Our Pack, based in California; Broken Hearts, Mended Souls, based in Missouri; PBRC.net, an online rescue resource; Brew City Bully Club, based in Wisconsin; Dumb Friends League, based in Colorado; and New Hope Pit Bull Rescue, based in South Carolina.

'We are very grateful that these groups have stepped up to help us care for and eventually give some of them a second chance,' said Debbie Hill, vice president of Operations for the Humane Society of Missouri and incident commander for the emergency temporary shelter. 'We hope to place as many of these dogs as possible, so we need more groups and individuals like them to contact us offering places for these deserving animals.'

At least two of the organizations have experience successfully placing dogs that came from high-profile dog-fighting cases into new homes. Mutts-n-Stuff Pit Bull Rescue helped care for and socialize ten of the 22 pit bulls rescued by HSMO in a raid in Stoddard County, Mo. in 2007. 'Mutts-n-Stuff is committed to helping HSMO care for and place these dogs,' said Gale Frey, the rescue group's founder. 'We were there for the Stoddard County animals; we will be there for these dogs, too.'

Our Pack Pit Bull Rescue also took in dogs from the Stoddard County case and from the notorious Michael Vick case in 2007. According to Marthina McClay, founder of Our Pack, 'In our experience, many of the dogs from these cases can shed their sad history and be adopted as family pets. Some have even been trained to become therapy dogs.' Her proof, she says, is Leo, a dog rescued from the Vick case who she trained to become a therapy dog in just five weeks. 'These dogs have big, big hearts, and all it takes to change their outlook is someone to love them back.'

Groups or individuals interested in receiving some of these animals should immediately contact the Humane Society of Missouri at 314-802-5712.

Media Contact:
Our Pack, Inc.
Marthina McClay
408-460-4244

Copyright © 2009 PRWeb, All Rights Reserved.

Bust Dog Business

2009-08-10T17:35:00.002-04:00

RPB is following the MoBust case carefully and we are so excited by the outpouring of support for these dogs. We'll post more details as we are able.

In the mean time, Our Pack, Inc. recently posted a lovely blog with some insight. Please check it out:

Missouri Bust Update.

Coming Together for Bust Dogs

2009-07-27T13:28:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month, a story broke about over 400 dogs and puppies that had been confiscated in the 'largest fighting raid in history'.

The dogs will eventually be evaluated and then placed into foster care. But for now, they are currently being housed by the Humane Society of Missouri, who needs help with the care of the dogs. Help can come in a variety of forms, including donations of heavy duty toys (black Kongs, for instance). Industrial fans are also needed.

RPB is encouraging donations be made to the shelter, or through Mutts N Stuff (one of the rescues involved in the Vick case), who is helping with the MO. dogs and coordinating care efforts.

Muttsnstuff
PO Box 187
Foristell, MO 63348

or PayPal www.muttsandstuff.com

PLEASE mark any donations: FIGHT BUST

Mutts N Stuff is going to be actively invovled in working with these dogs and deserves your help and support.

It's been really great seeing people and organizations rally around these dogs to give them a chance at a loving, happy life. This is a case where we can all be involved to make a difference.

High price tags don't keep these dogs out of the system....

2009-06-23T07:04:00.003-04:00

As a follow-up to our "American Bully" blog, we thought we'd post some pix of bully-style dogs that showed up in rescue recently. These dogs are often paraded around like expensive accessories by their humans. But despite paying wads of cash and status earned among peers, at the end of the day, when the person at the end of the leash decides a dog is too much work these pricey "American Bullies" often get dumped in the shelters like trash. This is happening at an alarming rate - but considering how many bully-style breeders there are out there, the numbers are not surprising.

If you are looking for a nice companion, maybe you'll consider one of these sweet mush-faces. And remember, Don't Feed The Unethical Breeders - keep your money out of their hands.

Guiness was heartworm positive and very sick when he ended up in the loving care of Bama Bully in Alabama.

Odie wasn't far behind - pneumonia-stricken, this boy needed help, and he got it, once again thanks to Bama Bully.

Sassy was emaciated when she came to New Hope Pit Bull Rescue in South Carolina. She's filled out a bit since then, as you can see.

Both Bama Bully and New Hope PBR are members of the Pit Bull Rescue Alliance, founding members along with The Real Pit Bull.

Guardians of the Breed's Future

2009-06-19T13:27:00.004-04:00

What's the difference between an owner and a guardian? Anyone can choose to own a Pit Bull, but someone who takes it upon themselves to be a 'breed guardian' is going the extra mile to not only properly look out for their own dog, but for the future of Pit Bulls everywhere.

The term 'guardian' in animal circles is a controversial one. Legally, the designation 'owner' gives a person more leeway as far as what they can do to their dog and how exactly they care for it. Some feel that removing the legal term 'owner' and replacing it with 'guardian' puts too much power in the hands of the state - and that too many restrictions will be placed on how people can care for or train their dogs. Dogs are currently viewed as property that one 'owns' under the law. What humans can legally do to their 'property' is pretty wide open - and there are limited legal means available to prosecute all but the most heinous animal abuses, as discovered by anyone who's been in the frustrating position of trying to get something done about a starving, neglected dog chained out in a yard somewhere. In the eyes of some, a legally changed designation for companion animals might be a leg up in the fight against animal abuse.

RPB chooses to use the word 'guardian' to drive home a very important point: anyone can OWN a dog, but being a true guardian of your dog, and its breed as a whole, takes something more. Pit Bull owners who take on the added role of breed advocate - unceasingly educating themselves, always uber responsible, going the extra mile for their own dogs and other Pit Bulls, continually assuring they positively portray the breed to the world, and taking the time to educate others - are, in our opinion, deserving of a title a little more extravagant than 'owner'. Such people are the true guardians of the breed and its future, doing all in their power to contribute to a bright and beautiful world for the dogs we all cherish.

In a perfect world, all Pit Bulls would have guardians – heck, all dogs regardless of their breed would! In this world, the guardians are the ones who are paving the way for the breed's continued, bettered existence in this world.

Whatever you choose to call yourself - owner, guardian, parent, caregiver, dogmom, dogdad - it is you, the responsible, caring, ethical advocate, who is safeguarding this breed. And for that, we recognize, admire, and applaud you. The breed would be lost without you!

Fad Alert!

2009-06-12T17:15:00.002-04:00

The 'bully movement' is yet another exploitative subset propagated by unscrupulous individuals in the Pit Bull world: unethical backyard breeders, abusive 'gamedog' breeders, puppy millers under the guise of 'show dog producers', and now the 'bully style' or 'American Bully' breeder. Each of these groups are uniquely problematic from the standpoint of Pit Bull rescue and advocacy, but share commonality in that the dogs suffer in the name of selfish human endeavor.

The American Bully fad is the result of breeders wanting bigger, beefier Pit Bulls that are meaner looking and carry a higher price tag. The American Bully breeders blatantly ignore APBT breed history and standards, breed whatever sort of 'look' best suits them (the Pocket Bully is another version of the bully style dog - what comes next is anyone's guess), and then peddle the dogs to the public. The dogs are simultaneously represented as Pit Bulls through registration with the UKC, and as a 'new breed', the American Bully, through registration with the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC). And although the fad claims that the American Bully is just a 'cross' of AmStaff and APBT bloodlines, it seems obvious that many of these dogs are actually mixed with mastiff and bulldog breeds to create the huge heads, and short, fiddle-fronted bodies seen on many American Bullies.

American Bully breeders that we've talked to have made a lot of claims. The ironic thing is that they have ALL quickly admitted there are MANY unethical, irresponsible bully style breeders out there who are giving the 'movement' a bad name. These same breeders have all insisted they were 'different'. Still, none of these breeders were able to offer proof of health certifications from organizations like OFA or PennHip, none of their dogs had legitimate all-breed titles (from AKC, UKC, ARBA, or any other legitimate all-breed registry), and while all of these breeders registered their dogs as American Pit Bull Terriers with the UKC, it was obvious they were blatantly snubbing their noses at the UKC standard for the breed – of course, because by definition, the American Bully does NOT conform to the APBT standard. If it did, it wouldn’t be an ‘American Bully’.

But confusingly, all of these breeders seemed to think of their dogs both as APBTs *and* as this supposedly new 'breed', the American Bully. No wonder the public is confused!

"BULLY, WHERE'S YER BREEDER?" This guy would be considered an 'American Bully'. He ended up in a shelter, but thankfully was adopted into a wonderful home where he is spoiled and loved.

Despite the huge price tags these dogs carry, they are still ending up in shelters in record numbers. From single dogs to whole kennels-full, American Bullies are finding themselves homeless and on death's doorstep. These are nice dogs, who, through no faults of their own, are ending up in bad situations. No need to spend thousands on a dog from a bully style breeder - you can adopt your own American Bully from your local shelter or rescue group.

For more on the 'bully style' fad, please see the RPB article, Bully: This, That and the Other Thing.

It was a blast!

2009-06-10T17:04:00.003-04:00

Pit Bull-palooza was this past weekend, and we're just now recovering. It was a crazy, wonderful event that showcased the diversity of the Pit Bull community, and a willingness to come together to support a common cause: the dogs!

A CGC test was held in conjunction with the event and out of 10 Pit Bulls tested, all 10 passed! Other highlights include a raffle, our Ask the Trainer Booth (headed by positive trainer-extraordinaire Inna Krasnovsky from Wag the Dog of NYC), bake sale with incredibly yummy homemade goodness (RPB's own Michele Ursino slaved for long hours in the kitchen to support this effort), and of course some amazing Pit Bulls in attendance.

An event like this could never get off the ground without oodles of support, and we'd like to extend special thanks to all our vendors, who braved mud, troublesome unloading-loading conditions, and impromptu changes to the set up area. You are all heroes for the bulldawgs!

The guys from Rescue Ink pose with Rufus, our CGC helper dog for the day.

The RPB Booth

Restin' up after some weight pull practice.

Our DJ, Anthony, taking a break with Rocky.

If you have any memorable pix from the event, please send em on over: realpitbull@gmail.com

Academic Home Run for the Breed

2009-06-08T13:23:00.002-04:00

Early this year, RPB was contacted for help with some questions being posed by a Masters student from the University of Maryland named Bethany Gibson. Bethany was working on her thesis. The subject? BSL and the Pit Bull - which was interesting because, despite being a dog lover, Bethany was not knowledgeable about Pit Bulls or BSL. Yet she felt compelled to write about the important subject of public safety & dog attacks, breed discrimination, and how such things impact people and Pit Bulls. We just received a copy of the finalized thesis (which won Best Thesis in her graduating class - congrats, Bethany!), and were so impressed! It is a wonderful piece that would certainly prove beneficial in the fight against discrimination and ineffective laws that do little if anything to protect the public. Bethany hopes to take her thesis - titled Demonizing the Pit Bull: Breed Specific Legislation & the Circuit of Communication - further by having it printed in academic journals.

The work of people like Bethany is so important in that it legitimizes what all of us breed advocates have been saying: deed not breed. Sound examination of the topics at hand prove time and again that the breed is not to blame, and that BSL is not the answer.

CGC Testing for Pit Bulls

2009-06-02T16:56:00.005-04:00

The AKC Canine Good Citizen test (CGC) is a great way to showcase your dog's good manners - and then have them officially recognized. AKC started the CGC program to help encourage responsible dog guardianship and promote dogs as safe, reliable furry citizens. The test - which is officiated by certified evaluators - is open to all dogs, regardless of age, breed, or mix. A dog will be tested on ten items, each designed to show basic manners and the guardian's ability to control their dog.

For formally abused, rescued Pit Bulls, the CGC has become a bit of a badge of honor - sort of an 'nah-nah told ya so' in the face of the naysayers. Dogs like Leo, rescued from Michael Vick's dog fighting operation, as well as countless others, prove to the world that abused dogs CAN learn to trust and go on to live normal lives. For many of them, the CGC is the official 'stamp' of approval proving it's more than just talk - these dogs really ARE as good as we all say they are. Guardians of all Pit Bulls, regardless of where they came from, can take that extra important step to show they are committed to being responsible and show the world that Pit Bulls are sound, stable, wonderful dogs. The CGC is that step.

The CGC test items are:

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7: Coming when called
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
Test 10: Supervised separation

Get your Pit Bull CGC certified through Pit Bull School. Or come out to Pit Bull-palooza this Sunday, June 7th, to have your dog tested.

What's love got to do with it?

2009-06-01T17:08:00.003-04:00

So after a recent conversation with yet another breeder whose love for his dogs and the APBT seems to manifest itself in a need to breed them, I had to stop and wonder what exactly makes people believe that love for Pit Bulls means they have to produce more of them.

Are these people unaware of all the dogs in shelters, themselves having been produced by people who 'loved' them? Do they mistakenly believe that there is a shortage of Pit Bulls and that the breed is in danger of dying out? Doubtful, since I have yet to come across one such breeder who denied 'caring about' homeless Pit Bulls and admitting there are lots of careless breeders 'littering' shelters all across the country. When love of the breed for me translates into saving homeless and abused Pit Bulls, teaching responsible guardianship, and educating on the importance of spaying and neutering, it is difficult for me to understand when others breed their underage, unproven, un-health tested dogs in the name of 'love'.

Love for me means looking past oneself and considering fully the life and well being of the loved one. Love is about making decisions after considering long and hard the impact those decisions will have on the welfare and future of a loved one. When you do something in the name of love, ask yourself if that love translates ultimately into a better life for the one you love; and whether they would choose for themselves what you are choosing for them.

Dogs are at our mercy. We make decisions every day for our dogs that they cannot make for themselves. Dogs can't say they don't want to go through the stress of producing puppies, or expose themselves to the health risks. They can't tell you they are worried sick about where their babies will ultimately end up, or that they think too many of their kind are already dying in shelters. Our dogs don't know about BSL and how Pit Bulls in the wrong hands put them all at risk every day. And thank doG they cannot see or dwell on the horrific abuse suffered by their brethren, the carelessly produced dogs of breeders and those who thought it would be ok to 'have just one litter'.

And it is because our dogs cannot make decisions about their own lives, can't give us input about what THEY want, that we owe it to them to look deep within ourselves each time we make decisions that could seriously effect their lives, and the lives of other Pit Bulls.

Love is a tricky thing - it's not so much a word as a concept with actions balanced on top of it. Anyone can use the word, but it is action that demonstrates the essence of what love is. And while I do believe that many breeders DO love their dogs, I think they have a misguided understand of how that love should translate into action. And when every action a breed guardian makes ultimately affects all of us and our dogs, it's a desperate hope on my part that someday, very soon, those breeders will come to understand what love truly is.

~Mary

Click Bulls!

2009-04-21T06:54:00.005-04:00

RPB is firmly dedicated to positive, pain free training methods/techniques, and strongly promotes the clicker training method. Any breed can learn new behaviors through clicker training, but Pit Bulls - with their enthusiastic and human-connected personalities - seem to especially benefit from this humane, hands-off training method that allows dog and handler to work as a team. Clicker training can be used to teach dogs traditional obedience exercises, tricks, and intricate behaviors not readily taught with less-precise training techniques. It can even be used to help resolve behavioral problems.

So what's clicker training? In a nutshell, it is a method which uses a 'marker' (in this case, a small plastic clicker) to 'bridge' (connect) a behavior with a reward (food). The click tells the dog he or she did the right thing, and that a reward for that right thing is now on the way. Because the clicker connects very clearly in the dog's mind the delivery of the food with a behavior, new behaviors can be learned in a very short period (in some cases, in a 5 or 10 min training session). The dog doesn't have to figure out what the reward's for (a problem with some other methods), it's very clear!

What's so great about clicker training is that it allows a dog to be an active part of the learning process. Instead of 'doing' something 'to' your dog, with clicker training you and your dog are both participating together. Clicker trained dogs tend to be very happy, willing participants in the training game. There's no fighting, clashing or conflict - it's all about learning in a pain-free, non-frightening way. Clicker training does not employ prong collars, choke chains, shock collars, or other 'traditional' training tools or techniques like scruff shakes or alpha rolls.

From the angle of breed advocacy, clicker training is a chance to show that APBTs are sensitive, smart dogs who don't need to be manhandled, jerked around, alpha-rolled, or otherwise physically dominated in order for them to learn new behaviors or be under control. Pit Bulls are actually very sensitive, intelligent, deferential dogs who learn best when respectful, non-invasive, and gentle training techniques are used.

If you are interested in learning more about clicker training, and are in the central/north NJ area, you may wish to check out Pit Bull School clicker classes, taught by RPB founder/director Mary Harwelik. If you are outside the area, there are plenty of online resources to help you locate a trainer or even learn online how to train your dog using this scientifically valid, cutting edge training method. Here are some of our favorites:

ClickerTraining.com
ClickerLessons.com
ClickerSolutions.com

And please continue to watch our blog for more information on clicker training, Pit Bull School, and positive promotion of our breed through positive training!

The 'Logic' Of BSL

2009-04-20T17:05:00.007-04:00

This Bay City Times (MI) article demanding a statewide ban of Pit Bulls is so full of contradictory nonsense that it really makes ya wonder if the editors over there failed to even show up for work the day it was printed. You know that the pushers of BSL discrimination are getting desperate when they point to Rottweiler, American Bulldog, and Aussie mix attacks as good reasons to support a Pit Bull ban.

Aye yi yi.

Your vote could be worth a million bucks....

2009-04-15T05:43:00.005-04:00

....to Pit Bulls and the other animals at Liberty Humane Society, in Jersey City, NJ.

LHS is a fantastic shelter doing right by Pit Bulls here in North Jersey. They have made it to the Top 10 in Zootoo.com's Million Dollar Shelter Makeover contest. The top ten! Out of all the shelters in the country! A million bux could sure save a lot of Pit Bulls. Do the dogs a favor and take a couple minutes of your day to do the following:

1) Sign up at Zootoo.com - it's FREE!
2) Upload a pic to your profile - also FREE!
3) Then go VOTE for Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City, NJ -
America Votes! (MAKE SURE YOU VOTE for LIBERTY HUMANE SOCIETY in NJ, as there is another Liberty Humane that made the top ten as well, but it is a completely different organization, in a different state.)

You can keep voting, 10 times a day, through Sunday the 19th.

Can you imagine? A million dollars for Pit Bulls!

Fight Bust Dog Summit Results

2009-04-13T17:17:00.003-04:00

Last Wednesday, animal welfare groups concerned with Pit Bull issues convened in Las Vegas in order to meet with the Humane Society of the United States. The driving force behind this meeting was HSUS' across-the-board policy which stated that all dogs seized from dog fighting busts were supposedly too aggressive and dangerous to ever be adopted out as companion animals. HSUS wanted to revisit the policy (coincodence this occurred shortly after the huge uproar over the dogs seized from Ed Faron's property were promptly distroyed?), and ultimately revised it to suggest that fight bust dogs be evaluated and placed on a contingent basis.

HSUS and Best Friends - who helped organize this meeting - issued the following statement:

Animal Welfare Groups Announce New Collaboration to Save Pit Bulls

Best Friends Animal Society and The Humane Society of the United States announced that a summit meeting held this week in Las Vegas to discuss the disposition of dogs seized from dogfighting operations has led to a coalition of groups working together to help the canine victims of organized violence.

Among the outcomes of the meeting:

* The HSUS has a new policy of recommending that all dogs seized from fighting operations be professionally evaluated, according to agreed upon standards, to determine whether they are suitable candidates for adoption. Dogs deemed suitable for placement should be offered as appropriate to adopters or to approved rescue organizations. The HSUS will update its law enforcement training manual and other materials to reflect this change in policy.
* The groups agree that all dogs should be treated as individuals, and they are the true victims of this organized crime. They also agree to support law enforcement and animal control agencies when decisions must be made regarding the dogs deemed unsuitable for adoption and in cases when rescue organizations and adopters are unable, within a reasonable timeframe, to accept dogs from such raids that have been offered for adoption.
* The organizations will form a working group to develop future protocols for cooperation in addressing the needs of dogs seized in raids, such as how to assist with the housing of fighting dogs, how to conduct professional evaluations, and how to screen potential adopters.

The summit meeting was convened to address the matter of dogs seized as a result of cruelty investigations, particularly due to the increase in HSUS-led enforcement actions against dogfighters. Participants at the meeting included Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States, BAD RAP, ASPCA, National Animal Control Association, Maddie’s Fund, Nevada Humane Society, and Spartanburg Humane Society.

Whether or not the new HSUS policy will significantly impact the lives of fight bust dogs remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain - the fact that these issues are finally being discussed on a broad scale is a win for the dogs in and of itself. It's our hope that this summit meeting will ultimately mean more dogs saved from the atrocities of dog fighting and given a chance to live normal lives.

ChatGabGossipShareListenLearnGrow...on The RPB Forum !

2009-04-01T17:08:00.002-04:00

The Real Pit Bull Forum is a little over a year old now (we celebrated our One Year Anniversary in January). If you haven't heard about the forum or visited yet, RPBF is a small, tight-knit community of like-minded folks - guardians, rescue peeps, trainers, show people, admirers - gathered together to talk about - WHAT ELSE?? - Pit Bulls, and all relevant topics. What's cool about the folks on RPBF are their friendly, open and supportive attitudes. When RPBF first launched, we hoped it would become a beacon of light in the breed community, and ya know what? It's shinin' bright thanks to the fabulous people who participate! We are SO proud of this forum and its members, and hope you'll come check us out and get involved. We promise it's a lil different than what you're used to in a Pit Bull forum. And a whole lotta fun.

Check it out at RealPitBullForum.com!

Come join the Forum! Everyone's doin' it!

Pit Bull School's Now in Session!

2009-04-01T13:32:00.003-04:00

Introducing Pit Bull-specific classes! These classes are to be held in Union County NJ, each Saturday morning at 10am, starting April 18, and taught by Mary Harwelik, CPDT.

The goal of these classes is to create well-behaved, desensitized dogs that can respond to cues despite distractions, while simultaneously molding confident, capable handlers. Since the classes are drop in, they are designed to allow the handler/dog team to go at their own pace, work on the exercises they want, and enjoy the benefits of controlled socialization. Feedback, support and instruction will be a big part of these classs, however the format will be casual.

The curriculum will be based on a variety of programs, including Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed and Emma Parsons' Click to Calm (these books are recommended to ALL owners of reactive or 'feisty' canines). We will be working on lots of creative, fun exercises meant to build confidence and rapport between dog and owner.

These classes are meant for Pit Bulls (American Pit Bull Terriers/APBTs/AmStaffs), PitMixes and pseudo Pit Bulls (those dogs of unknown origin likely to be mistaken for Pit Bulls and breeds commonly mistaken for Pit Bulls). Dogs may be reactive towards other dogs, BUT human-aggressive dogs or dogs who are reactive to humans won't be able to attend this class.

Rescues and shelters, send your volunteers and foster homes to class for FREE!

Visit: Pit Bull School for more information.

Come celebrate Pit Bulls with us!

2009-03-31T18:48:00.005-04:00

Pit Bull-palooza has been confirmed for Sunday, June 7th from 11am to 3pm, rain or shine! This event includes CGC testing, weight pull demos, vendors (breed-specific, rescue and dog-specific), adoptable Pit Bulls, a mini lecture on the breed, music, and the RPB Pit Bull Ed Booth. For more info and upates, visit our Events page.

Come join us for this very special event celebrating our wonderful dogs, and be sure to bring the kids and your people & pooch-friendly Pit Bulls!

Spring is in the air!

2009-03-21T08:53:00.004-04:00

We love this time of year. It's warming up on the Northeast Coast, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. And while we trudged through a rough winter with plenty of depressing economical & social news, and what often felt like 1 step forward - 10 steps back for APBT activism and advocacy, there were also glimmers of hope that indicate better times are on the horizon. From the huge news of HSUS shifting its policy to give fight bust dogs a chance, to Ohio Rep Sears standing up for what's just and challenging the state's labeling of all Pit Bulls as vicious by introducing HB 79, to a victory for Pit Bulls in anti-breed Miami-Dade County, there is PLENTY going on to keep us cheerful and hopeful.

RPB is big on positivity and focusing on what's going right. Energy is transformational, for both the good and the bad, so focusing too much of it on what's wrong can end up giving the 'dark forces' more power. A shift in perspective to positive things & outcomes is oftentimes when big things happen - and that perspective shift can also keep you from being burdened by what sometimes feels like an overwhelming amount of negativity. There's lots that's right within the APBT world right now, thanks to so many dedicated people and their amazingly tireless efforts. So this spring, let's count our blessings, let's clear out the cobwebs of doom and gloom, as we put our noses to the grindstone - refreshed and renewed - to continue the fight for our dogs. And if you ever find yourself lagging and dragging, tired and trudging, take a moment to snuggle into some silky Pit Bull fur, and contemplate the joy and zest for life that these dogs embody every single day of their lives.

HSUS Policy Shift

2009-02-24T17:25:00.002-05:00

Today, we have something more than Mardi Gras to celebrate. Towards the end of the day on Monday, RPB received word that HSUS had introduced an interim policy that, get this, instructs decision makers in bust dogs cases to evaluate the dogs as individuals! Yes, you read right - HSUS' long-standing policy which called for the automatic descruction of dogs seized in fighting raids is being reviewed in April. Thanks to the hard work of Best Friends and other Pit Bull advocacy groups on this one. The internet is abuzz today with talk about this exciting news.

A meeting of the minds

February 23, 2009 : 8:44 PM ET
The Humane Society of the United States on February 23 issued an interim policy recommending all dogs be evaluated as individuals, and is calling a meeting of leading animal welfare organizations concerning dogs victimized by dog fighting.

Wayne Pacelle, chief executive officer and president of the Humane Society of the United States, suggested the meeting of major stakeholders in Las Vegas to work through the associated issues. This meeting is in response to concerns expressed by Best Friends Animal Society in December 2008 regarding HSUS policies related to animals confiscated in dog-fighting busts.

Pacelle said the meeting, scheduled for April, will include the participation of national stakeholder organizations that deal with pit bulls. The meeting was in the planning stages before Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson Jr. ruled that 145 pit bulls, including approximately 70 puppies, confiscated from Wildside Kennels in Wilkes County, North Carolina, would be euthanized without evaluation to determine suitability for placement.

The new interim policy announced by the HSUS, pending the outcome of the meeting, recommends that local law enforcement and animal control evaluate such dogs as individuals rather than as a category before any decision is made regarding their future.

“We expect government, corporations, and individuals to constantly re-evaluate how they deal with animal issues,” Pacelle said. “Likewise, we regularly review our own policies and procedures here at HSUS, and we think it is important to talk with professional colleagues in the movement to examine issues related to the disposition of fighting dogs.

“I am pleased to discuss these issues with personnel from Best Friends and other organizations interested in the welfare of pit bulls.”

Julie Castle, director of Community Programs and Services for Best Friends said, “There had been more than enough airing of feelings and outrage that the dogs were not evaluated prior to being summarily euthanized. It was time to hit the reset button on this in order to move things forward in a constructive way. Mr. Pacelle was open and receptive to what we had to say and we are looking forward to our meetings in April.”

Best Friends, through its campaign, “Pit Bulls: Saving America’s Dogs,” is looking forward working cooperatively with HSUS, according to Castle.

The campaign is aimed in part at educating the public and the media about pit bulls in order to help save the breed’s reputation. “Our goal is to bring positive change to lives and image of pit bulls,” she said.

Written by Best Friends staff
Photo of Meryl, a Vicktory dog, by Gary Kalpakoff

We ARE making progress, and this latest victory comes at a much needed time, when many of us are still reeling over the descruction of the Wilkesboro, NC bust dogs. These dogs - and others - haven't died in vain. Not only has this case been the seeming catalyst for change at HSUS, but it gave birth to a fight bust dog coalition consisting of concerned Pit Bull groups - RPB included - with Best Friends at the helm. Is 2009 showing more promising things for Pit Bulls than any previous year in recent memory? You betcha!

Rescuing High Profile Dogs

2009-02-19T17:54:00.002-05:00

The opinion mill is stirring now that the dogs seized in the raid of Wildside Kennels have been killed and the cries of grief are being heard from rescues, sanctuaries and individuals. While many groups wanted to go out of their way to save these dogs, there is another side of the fence that is saying something doesn't seem right or fair when rescues and other organizations make room for these 'big name' dogs when just as many if not more typical, everyday Pit Bulls are dying locally every day.

RPB's stance is that a group should work within its home base state to rescue dogs and not spend unreasonable time, money, and resources trying to bring dogs in from all over the country because some dog somewhere else has some special appeal. It is the duty, afterall, of a rescue to look after the welfare of the Pit Bulls in its own area.

However, Pit Bull rescue people are in a unique situation, because of the prejudice our breed faces. Sometimes, bending over backwards to accomodate a nice dog from a far-away shelter that hasn't exactly been Pit-friendly up to this point ends up helping more dogs in the long run. The power of a successful adoption and team work between organizations - even across states - should not be underestimated.

In these fight bust cases, the overall message that gets sent when these dogs are given a chance is that Pit Bulls, regardless of where they came from or what their breeding is, are worth something and are dogs that can live within society; they aren't the monsters of media infamy, nor do they deserve to die just because HSUS or PETA says they do. The success of the Vick dogs surely has made some people stop and notice. What if no one stepped up to help those dogs? We would be short a heck of a lot of really powerful media that would have never been generated by rescue of those 'everyday' dogs. One reason RPB joined the other groups that had filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Vick dogs was specifically to help future bust dogs - big name or not, here in NJ and beyond - get a chance. If the Vick dogs could get a lot of positive press, proving that fight bust dogs could certainly make wonderful pets, what could that do for other dogs down the road? And the Pit Bull breed in general?

Although from the vantage point that allows one to see the grand scheme of things, the BYB bred dog whose owner just got sick of and dumped at the shelter is worth the same as any of the Vick or Faron dogs, rescue people need to make difficult decisions about rescuing some dogs over others. Every ethical rescuer asks themselves before making these decisions, "Which action ultimately has the most positive, far reaching effect on the breed as a whole?"

On a more everyday, mundane level, rescues make choices like this all the time - when they choose the happy, correct, friendly Pit Bull over the adorable, sweet, but extremely fearful or reactive Pit Bull. Why? Not because one dog has more or less worth, but because rescue is NOT just about *that dog, in the moment* - it is about all future Pit Bulls that are effected by the actions of every rescue, and the actions of rescued dogs.

Pit Bull rescue isn't straightforward. All dog rescues deal with issues of money, limited time, and limited resources. But additionally, Pit Bull advocacy groups must deal with breed image, public scrutiny, anti-breed laws, and the powerful large-scale humane organizations like HSUS and PETA often preaching very anti-breed rhetoric, all as they juggle their ultimate goal of helping as many dogs as possible and reclaiming the dignity of and a future for the APBT.

Rescuing a Pit Bull is never just about rescuing 'a dog'. It is about saving all Pit Bulls that come after; it's about saving a breed. And the actions of ethical Pit Bull rescuers reflect that reality.

Temperament Evaluation & The Essential Pit Bull Booket

2009-02-03T18:02:00.003-05:00

Temperament evaluation for Pit Bulls that will be placed into homes is of utmost importance. It truly is important for ALL dogs no matter the breed. Although humane adoption groups are advocates for the dogs first and foremost, they should ethically also be advocates for humans and hence look to place dogs that have the temperaments that would make them good companions and productive canine members of society. Making exceptions or shrugging off troubling behavior very often ends badly for all parties involved – including the dog!

The situation with Pit Bulls is dire. The breed is under a microscope and hence every negative incident that occurs is a nail in the breed’s coffin. When a Golden Retriever or a Dachshund or a Dalmatian bites someone seriously, there is no concerted effort to destroy the breeds or ban them from society. But when a Pit Bull lays teeth on a human, all hell breaks loose. So while it is of course necessary to carefully evaluate and THEN place ANY breed of dog into a new home (a bite is a bite, after all, no matter the breed – they all hurt, they all are potentially physically and mentally scarring), with Pit Bulls, organizations need to go the extra mile just to safeguard the breed’s future.

In order to help shelters and rescues struggling to do right by their dogs, The Essential Pit Bull was written. The booklet aims to help organizations identify sound, normal dog behavior and specifically behavioral traits known to be demonstrated in temperament-correct Pit Bulls. The evaluation in the booklet is typical in many ways, but broken down in such a way as to describe ideal – and not-so-ideal – behavioral responses as they pertain specifically to Pit Bulls. And since we all know that no breed is for everyone, The Essential Pit Bull offers plenty of suggestions for placing Pit Bulls into homes that would do best with the breed.

The booklet also categorizes dogs based on responses to tests. Instead of a simple pass/fail grade, the EPB evaluation breaks behavioral responses down further in order to help organizations make the very best decisions when placing their dogs.The categories are A (suitable for novice homes), B (typical Pit Bulls), C (dogs best suited to very experienced homes), and X (dogs not suitable for adoption that should be humanely euthanized).

A breed-specific temperament and evaluation booklet could have been written about any breed. All breeds have unique quirks and traits that define Breed Essence. This booklet just happens to be about Pit Bulls.

The new booklet The Essential Pit Bull, is now available to rescue and shelter groups through RPB’s shop @

http://www.cafepress.com/realpitbull

"Fight dog paraphernalia"? Really?

2008-12-28T11:55:00.003-05:00

A springpole or a treadmill or a historical book on fighting dogs does NOT = evidence of dog fighting, no matter how many times certain humane groups or the media say otherwise.

Springpoles have been painted as an especially ominous 'tool', and we're often told how dog fighters use these things to strengthen the jaws of Pit Bulls. "Pit Bulls are forced to hang with their jaws from ropes dangling from a spring in an effort to strengthen their jaws", a news blurb might 'inform'. Well, the truth of the matter is that a dog cannot be forced to hang from anything they don't want to hang onto, and springpoles have nothing to do with 'strengthening a fighting dog's jaws' and everything to do with fun and appropriate exercise for LOTS of dogs, regardless of breed.

But don't take OUR word for it. Check out this video of a bunch of BORDER COLLIES enjoying their springpole. And yes, that's a Pit Bull guy trying his best to keep up with the springpole pro Collies.

Show that you're....Responsi-bull n' Proud!

2008-12-22T17:46:00.003-05:00

RPB's 2009 calendar is ready to go! Each month features a blurb on responsible ownership and a darling Pit Bull face starin' back at you.

These calendars directly support the efforts of The Real Pit Bull - when you purchase one you not only help spread the word about responsible ownership, you also help RPB do its work!

You can purchase the calendar securely via Cafepress.com:
http://www.cafepress.com/realpitbull.341584887

It's that time of year again...

2008-12-10T17:02:00.003-05:00

It’s getting cold, the days are shorter, snow and ice are on the way, and human minds turn to thoughts of food, fun, festivities, and all the stress that goes along with the holidays.

People are snuggled warm in their homes, idyllic visions of simpler days gone by, counting their blessings in this less-than-ideal economic climate.

Whenever the seasons change and the weather grows bitter, I often lay awake in bed at night, unable to shake the images of freezing dogs exposed to the elements. Then my mind wanders to those dogs starving to death, being exposed to unspeakable cruelties, languishing behind bars in shelters. Those poor helpless little souls in pain, waiting. For what, they do not know, but wait they do, nonetheless. And I wish I could do more. I wish people paid attention. I wish animals didn’t have to suffer because of the flaws of humans. I wish I wish I wish.

This is the time of year when wishes are supposed to come true. When the kindness of man is supposed to extend beyond himself to touch the lives of those who cannot help themselves. When miracles can occur. Pit Bulls in need do not get to celebrate the holidays, they do not get a break from pain, they get no hiatus from hunger. So please, this holiday season before you sit down for that big family meal, before you unwrap the presents, please pause to think about the lives of those less fortunate, be they human or animal, and count your blessings. Then perhaps, share a blessing or two with someone who is in need.

~Mary, CPDT
RPB Director

Donate to The Real Pit Bull through safe and secure PayPal.com:

Cultivating Gratitude

2008-11-27T07:24:00.005-05:00

On this day held aside to give thanks and count blessings, we may sit and take stock of the previous year, spend time with our family, look into the eyes of our gentle dogs and offer a silent 'thank you' to the universe for having blessed us with such amazing Pit Bull-shaped souls. This is the one day of the year where gratitude is the main focus and being thankful takes front and center stage. But in life in general, and particularly in our work as advocates and activists, it can be difficult to cultivate a grateful attitude that becomes a part of who we are and how we live day to day.

We see much pain and suffering we are unable to ease, feel trapped because 'there is only so much' we can do, feel hopeless when the problem seems so big. Focusing on these things can become draining, and too much attention drawn to 'failures' can be defeating and actually undermine our cause and the work we do for Pit Bulls. Sometimes, we begin drowning in the negative, virtually ignoring the life-rafts of our successes which are right within our grasp.

It is important to take stock daily of what we DO have to be thankful for in the Pit Bull advocacy community, and to cultivate gratitude for what we've personally been able to accomplish for the dogs, as well as the wonderful people working for the same causes.

This past year we have a lot to feel grateful for, and we've seen things we never thought we'd see: More groups & individuals than ever working and sacrificing for Pit Bulls; people willing to come together to work for the greater good; the results of a celebrity fight bust which generated more positive press for the breed than seen in the last 1o years combined; a day set aside for country-wide celebration of the breed that seems to be growing more every year; and all the little, quiet successes that you may not hear about - the dogs that have been saved, their wounded souls made whole again. Every single one of these rescues is a miracle and we should all feel a strong sense of gratitude for each and every one.

Cicero said, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

Gratitude props us up, and is a platform on which we are meant to use our other virtues. It is a mindset of positivity, of thankfulness, of gratefulness that gives us strength do what we have to do for the dogs.

So today, on this Thanksgiving, take stock of what you feel grateful for. And each day, cultivate an attitude of gratitude for what's been accomplished, for all the success - both big and small - and for all the other people who are doing amazing things for the APBT. Perhaps we can take a lesson from our dogs, who, in many cases despite incredibly hard, abusive, painful lives, show us more gratitude than could ever be measured, each and every day.

Introducing the New RPB Logo....and the Dog Behind the Organization

2008-11-25T18:28:00.005-05:00

This logo is now available on an assortment of products at our Cafepress.com store:

www.cafepress.com/realpitbull.

The proceeds from the sales of these items directly benefit RPB, and make great holiday gifts! *hint hint!*

The dog in the logo is Krash, my first APBT and the love of my life. He is the dog that inspired me to originally start the realpitbull.com website and continues to inspire the work I do for the breed through RPB. This is a dog that won many friends for the breed, and caused others to seriously reconsider their erroneous ideas on Pit Bulls. He was a people-person to the core and loved everyone he ever met. Many people, upon first meeting Krash, would comment, “He seems like a little person!” and indeed he had an inner quality that defied the simple definition of “dog”. But he was a Pit Bull through and through, my best friend, my heart.

In a way, Krash represents all Pit Bulls, since he was such a typical bulldog: a stoic nature, human-loving heart, beauty and almost uncanny intelligence – these are the qualities the breed possesses, and Krash had more than his fair share.

Krash passed away from hemangiosarcoma in early 2005, but his spirit continues to act as a beacon of guiding light, and it is with great honor that I present to you a logo that captures the likeness of a truly great dog.

~Mary
Founder/Director

Oh how we love our Pit Bulls!

2008-11-04T17:00:00.004-05:00

How do I love Pit Bulls? Let me count the ways!

I love how Pit Bulls cuddle with me on cold winter nights; it doesn't even matter that they steal the covers.

I love how Pit Bulls can make me laugh even when I've had The Worst Day Known to Woman.

I love how Pit Bulls snort and chirp and purr and chortle. Better than having a canary!

I love how Pit Bulls have bionic hairs that are impervious to all methods of sweeping, cleaning, vacuuming and scrubbing of fabrics. OK, maybe I don't necessarily love the cleaning part, but I DO love silken Pit Bull fur, and the cleaning is definitely worth the aggravation just so long as I get to nuzzle a check on a soft, sleek Pit Bull forehead - every day, multiple times a day.

I love how Pit Bulls come in almost every color of the rainbow, and some pretty snazzy ones that don't!

I love how Pit Bulls insist on climbing in your lap, even when they weigh as much as a small pony, or at least feel like they weigh that much.

I love how Pit Bulls do the Happy Pit Bull Tap Dance.

I love how my Pit Bull looks at me with adoration, and I know - just KNOW - from that look that the heart of the Pit Bull is overflowing with pure love.

From top to bottom...Piglet, belonging to Jessica Bernt;
Marjorie Dutra's Kayna; Hazel & Lissa Arsenault; Alexis N Xena, both belonging to Stephanie Morales; Sweetest dreams!

RPB's First Online Fundraiser is Underway!

2008-10-29T13:30:00.005-04:00

The end of October marked the beginning of The REAL Pit Bull's first official online fundraiser, which will run through the end of Dec. 08. The goal is set at $1,000, and the earnings will go towards implementation of programs, creation of educational material, and the day to day workings of RPB. In 2009, RPB will also be designating additional funds to help individual dogs and the efforts of groups and individuals to save Pit Bulls. Your donation helps! Just click on the Chip In link below.

If everyone who reads this blog, views our website, or visits our Myspace page donated $1.00 or even .50, we'd more than meet our desired goal - we'd far surpass it. We hope you'll decide to donate what you can.

RPB has been in existence since 1997, and operates one of the most respected online sources for breed information, www.realpitbull.com; we also provide free educational services like handouts, brochures, and The Real Pit Bull Forum (www.realpitbullforum.com ) , as well as behavioral advice via phone, email and in person. RPB is a constant advocate for the APBT, speaking in public and to the media about the breed, working to help promote responsible ownership, and educating on ethical rescue practices.

Ethical Considerations of Rescue Work

2008-10-24T17:12:00.003-04:00

There are many, many APBT rescue groups in the USA, with more being formed with what seems like daily regularity. And while the work of those dedicated to helping individual dogs and restoring the breed’s reputation is noble in theory, it’s not always so noble in individual practice. Sadly, ‘rescue’ isn’t always synonymous with ‘ethical’.

Rescue work is a complicated, heart-rending, expensive undertaking that only those with the best of intentions for the FUTURE of the breed should pursue. This means that rescues must have a firm grasp of The Big Picture, recognize that they cannot ‘save them all’, and be 100% dedicated to thoroughly educating themselves on the breed BEFORE they open their doors up and present themselves as breed experts. And egos must be left behind. Rescue work is about the DOGS. Period.

Several years ago, a group of reputable advocacy organizations penned The Code of Ethics for Pit Bull Rescue. The impetus for writing this ethical document was not to try and control or judge the work of other groups, but rather to help guide and educate those newer to the world of APBT rescue. There is no ‘manual’ on how to do this work ‘right’, and experience, while often the best teacher, can sometimes come at the price of devastating mistakes and mishaps. The COE, as it’s been come to be known, was meant to help steer newer rescues on the path of least mistakes. The COE was also meant to help aid the public in spotting those APBT rescues that may not have the best ethics.

Ethics in rescue must always come first. Rescue is not a race to place the most individual dogs, or raise the most money, or build the biggest name. It’s about preserving the future of the breed, educating those who would impact the APBT breed, saving the best breed ambassadors, and committing to the public to always be open and honest about practices.

Breed rescue and advocacy is not for everyone, but if a person chooses to pursue this path, they must do so with the desire to always represent the field of rescue work to the best of their ability. They owe it to others who stand beside them on the front lines, and most of all, they owe it to the dogs.