{"id":116,"date":"2011-03-22T11:04:22","date_gmt":"2011-03-22T15:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/?p=116"},"modified":"2011-03-22T11:04:22","modified_gmt":"2011-03-22T15:04:22","slug":"random-dog-training-thoughts-by-amber-stacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/random-dog-training-thoughts-by-amber-stacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Random Dog Training Thoughts (By: Amber Stacy)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"Although I specifically mention Pit Bulls, I also write for all breeds.\u00a0 They all need homes, leaders, guidance, socialization, training and responsible owners.<\/p>\n

I always have wondering thoughts at the end of every day since I have become more engulfed in the dog world.\u00a0 Specifically, over a certain breed that I opened my mind and home up to nine years ago.\u00a0 I volunteer at a local shelter and I have a job to help people work with their dogs, which have developed behavior problems.\u00a0 I teach people how to communicate and develop relationships with their own dogs.\u00a0 I have seen bonds form, and I have seen bonds break when the people don\u2019t want to change their ways.\u00a0 I see the dog walking in with a crying owner, but their mind is made up even knowing there is no room for the dog, so the dog is euthanized.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, a girl, was mauled by two dogs.\u00a0 Now the world is in yet another upheaval and fingers are being pointed to what could be the wrong end of the leash.\u00a0 While a breed ban is the answer for most people, others see it a different way.\u00a0 Some see it as statistics that are far less alarming than the people victimized by drunk drivers, cancer, violence and natural disaster.\u00a0 While some turn a blind eye, others are there fighting for those who don\u2019t have voices, who can\u2019t speak for themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dog-fighting busts are becoming the headlines more often as well.\u00a0 While some say the dogs are vicious and can\u2019t be trusted, ex-fight dogs are now being used as therapy dogs, giving children confidence while they learn to read.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Shelters, rescues and fosters are at their max with dogs right now no matter where you go.\u00a0 Not just with Pitties, but with all breeds.\u00a0 Where did we go wrong?\u00a0 One is finally adopted out while two more come in.\u00a0 More and more dogs are being surrendered over behavior issues.\u00a0 There is no room, so the dog is euthanized, or another one that has been in the shelter for a year is euthanized because he is getting stressed and depressed, and this will make room for one more dog that could get adopted.<\/p>\n

Even knowing about all the homeless dogs, you still want to breed or buy?\u00a0 Back-yard, puppy mill, or work\/show?\u00a0 What\u2019s the difference you ask?\u00a0 Back-yard breeders and puppy mill breeders only care about one thing.\u00a0 That\u2019s the green.\u00a0 They will continue breeding whatever is popular at the time and over produce and give these dogs to anyone.\u00a0 Instead of saying what they don\u2019t do, let\u2019s focus on what real breeders do.\u00a0 The goal is to continue a strong line of genetics for work or show.\u00a0 The dogs that are chosen are stable in temperament, healthy and everything the breed is said to be.\u00a0 The breeders will have you fill out paperwork, do a house check, will call for updates, will want to know if something happens and you can no longer care for the dog, what your plans will be.\u00a0 They will want to make sure the breed you are looking at will fit in with your lifestyle.\u00a0 They will take the dog back even to ensure it goes to another responsible owner.\u00a0 They will encourage you to work or show your dog as well, as this is what they were breeding for.\u00a0 The temperament and health of the next generation is more important than breeding for size, color, or quantity.\u00a0 Really, not caring about temperament and health of the dog are where many genetic problems begin.<\/p>\n

Socialization!\u00a0 Puppies need to learn how to communicate with other dogs.\u00a0 They need to learn how to behave around people and not be overly shy or fearful.\u00a0 If they don\u2019t learn when they are puppies, they will not learn when they are adults.\u00a0 When presented with a new situation, as adults, they didn\u2019t learn how to handle when they were puppies, the result will be a fight or flight response.\u00a0 I question every news story I read and wonder if the dog was properly socialized.<\/p>\n

Dogs are dogs!\u00a0 They are prey animals, which means they will chase after anything that runs.\u00a0 It\u2019s instinct to them, and that\u2019s something you cannot take away.\u00a0 Not letting them get this energy out, not giving them an outlet for their instincts create behavior problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dogs need leaders and get stressed if they feel the need to take the leader position.\u00a0 It\u2019s our responsibility to be this leader for our dogs.\u00a0 Once again, behavior problems develop if they take this role on.\u00a0 Basic training is a great way to create a bond.\u00a0 Hitting, screaming at and getting frustrated with your dog sends the wrong messages, and you will not be looked at as a benevolent leader.<\/p>\n

Dogs are a lifelong commitment.\u00a0 We can\u2019t turn our backs on them or throw them away once we are bored of them, they don\u2019t \u2018obey\u2019 you, or we realize they are more work than we can handle.\u00a0 Please research before getting a dog.\u00a0 Find one that fits your lifestyle.\u00a0 Learn about their temperaments to both animals and people, find out how much exercise the breed requires both mentally and physically.\u00a0 Open your mind when it comes to training and accept advice when it comes to crating, housebreaking, and behavior modification.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although I specifically mention Pit Bulls, I also write for all breeds.\u00a0 They all need homes, leaders, guidance, socialization, training and responsible owners. I always have wondering thoughts at the end of every day since I have become more engulfed in the dog world.\u00a0 Specifically,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[45,16,79,9,62,22,37,78,44,48,39,3,51,41,43,6],"class_list":["post-116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog_posts","tag-aggression","tag-amber-stacy","tag-attack","tag-baltimore","tag-breeding","tag-canine-good-citizen","tag-challenge","tag-dog-bite","tag-dog-social-behavior","tag-dog-training","tag-enrichment","tag-mutt-magic","tag-obedience","tag-puppies","tag-socialization","tag-training"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116\/revisions\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muttmagic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}