Pit Bull School! New Classes Starting

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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?"