Pit Bulls: Legit Dog Breed or Mixed Mongrel

Pit Bulls: Legit Dog Breed or Mixed Mongrel
By Jason Mann

I'll get straight to it. Pit Bulls are a legit dog breed but they are known by their official name of American Pit Bull Terrier.

Anything else is not a Pit Bull nor should it be called a Pit Bull.

How did the whole "pit bull" thing spin out of control?

Good question so here is my answer...

Fanciers of the breed refer to their dogs using a variety of terms. Most common are, Pit Bull, Pit Bulldog, Pit Bull Terrier, or plain old, bulldog.

Where the whole thing got out of hand was when people who did not know what a real Pit Bull looked like started calling anything that resembled the dogs, "pit bulls" and viola!, we are more confused than ever.

There are many breeds of dogs that are similar in appearance and origin as the American Pit Bull Terrier and this, once again, has led to the problem of misidentifying other breeds as Pit Bulls.

A few breeds that are often mistaken for American Pit Bull Terriers (aka Pit Bulls) are:


1. American Bulldogs.
2. Cane Corso's.
3. Presa Canerio's.
4. Dogo Argentino's.
5. Mixed breed dogs of any of the above breeds.
6. Mastiffs.
7. Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
8. Bull Terriers.


The list goes on and on but the reality of it is this...

The only dog on planet earth that is a "Pit Bull" is the American Pit Bull Terrier. This the only breed on earth that has "Pit Bull" in it's official name.

So why doesn't the American Kennel Club recognize Pit Bulls as a breed?

For starters, remember when we talked about how people started calling anything that resembled an American Pit Bull Terrier a "pit bull" well there is reason number one.

Another reason is they are quite uptight and think that any dog not recognized by them is not a purebred dog. This is the farthest thing from the truth but millions of people buy into their ideology and promote incorrect information.

For proof one only needs to seek out the United Kennel Club or the American Dog Breeders Association to see what a real Pit Bull is and that American Pit Bull Terriers are in fact a purebred dog.

American Pit Bull Terriers (real Pit Bulls) are loyal, strong, and love a challenge. That is why they are working dogs that excel at hard work that other breeds shrink from.

Their love of people is legendary and that is why they are so easy to exploit and are being exploited daily by thousands of ignorant, greedy, sadistic people that use them for the wrong reasons.

So to sum up this article and put a final answer to the question, Are Pit Bulls a legit breed or a mixed mongrel...

The real Pit Bull or the American Pit Bull Terrier is in fact a legit breed of dog that excels at almost any task they are put to.

For more information on American Pit Bull Terriers try visiting PitBullLovers.com where you will find helpful information on topics like breed facts, photos, and training Pit Bulls.

Teaching Your Dog to Sit and Fetch

Teaching Your Dog to Sit and Fetch
By Jon Leger

Dog training is a must for all dogs. Dog training is more than just telling your dog to stop doing what he's doing, it is the process of teaching a dog to exhibit certain desired dog behavior in specific circumstances. Proper dog training is not a "quick fix" - it is an ongoing, life-long process. Behavior dog training is very important in today's society because many people take their dogs every where they go.

All dog training is not created equal. Positive dog training is quickly becoming the preferred method of dog training. This method of training is possible for just about every young dog.

Dog training is more than just training your dog, it involves teaching the owner–you. Going through dog training is something every dog owner should do. Dog training is like going to school all over again. Training is all about communication, and you need to learn to communicate with your dog. I once was told that 90% of dog training is teaching the owners.

One of the basic obedience training points relevant in this regard is teaching your dog to sit on command. Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing you will train your dog to do. To start the training: say “sit” while gently pressing her rump down and holding a treat above your dog’s head. When a dog is forced to look upward, he will automatically sit on his hind legs.

When you want your dog to sit, hold a treat a bit above her head and say "sit”. As the dog sits, say "sit" again and then immediately give him the treat. Your dog should drop into a 'sit' position in order to reach the food.

One of my favorite commands to teach my dogs is “fetch”. Teaching your dog to fetch promotes bonding and is a great way to give your dog some exercise. To do this, first throw a ball (not too far though), and give the command "Fetch". As he inevitably starts to run towards it, yell “fetch” again. Instead of a ball, you could use the object your dog loves most, as this makes him want to fetch it. Do not play fetch with heavy items or sticks, however, as this can damage the dog’s teeth or otherwise injure the dog.

A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is an important command in dog training as well. Since it is more involved, that will be the subject of another article.

The most basic of dog training is to get your dog to sit, stay and fetch. As I said before, proper dog training is not a "quick fix": it is an ongoing, life-long process. Dog training is a very physical activity, so be prepared to be tired. And dog training is never without risk of injury, either, especially with more aggressive breeds.

That said, dog training is certainly a must for all dogs. One major mistake many pet owners make is to assume that the dog training is over. Training your dog continues throughout your dog’s life. It’s all about communication.

Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier than you would expect, especially if you can get help from a good dog training guide or book.

Learn to train your dog the easy way with Jonathan's free five day email dog training course.

3 Ways to Use Dog Kennel Fence Wisely

3 Ways to Use Dog Kennel Fence Wisely
By Jason Mann

Dogs are excellent at escaping. Some breeds are better at it than others but on the whole when a dog wants out they usually achieve their objective.

Keep your dog at home while at the time providing a safe barrier to keep them in is easier than you might think.

One method is to use dog kennel fence to keep your fiesty fido safely at home. Let's take a look at three ways you can use dog kennel fence to achieve your objective.

1. Build a pen. If you have a small to medium dog you can use dog kennel fence to build a play pen of sorts for your dog.

Building an exercise or play pen is cost effective and fairly simple.

Determine how big of an area you want to use and then consider your dogs size and abilities before investing.

This way you save yourself from having to modify or go back and fix the pen when your dog gets out.

Give them enough room to exercise in but make the pen high enough and strong enough so they can't push over the walls or jump out.

2. Build a full blown outdoor kennel.

With some wood and dog kennel fence you might want to choose to build a full blown outdoor dog kennel for your pal.

Once again you need to determine the space, your dogs size and abilities, and your budget before getting started.

Outdoor dog kennels give your dog plenty of room to move around in and you peace of mind knowing they aren't going to running the streets or worse, end up dead, because they escaped from the yard.

3. Keeping your dog out of specific areas.

Some folks have gardens they love while others love that maple tree and still others love their porch area.

Dog kennel fence can be used to keep your dog out of these areas as well as keeping your dog in the yard.

You can wrap it around the porch or that maple tree that you admire to keep your dog from soiling the area around them or tearing up things that you put on your porch.

For more information about various dog kennel fence options try visiting DogKennelsForSale.biz there you will find helpful tips on building your own dog kennel, chain link dog kennels, and dog kennel fence suppliers.

Dog Urination – Know the Reasons for Dog Urination Problems

Dog Urination – Know the Reasons for Dog Urination Problems
By Rena Murray

Besides the basic elimination reason every creature on the planet has for "doing business," there are other dog instinctive behaviors which cause our four-legged friends to have dog urination problems. They run the gamut from the dog pack instincts of dog territory marking and dog scent mixing to female dog urination, dog mating behaviors, submissive urination, fear-based urination, excitement urination, and dangerous disrespect of owner authority. So let's explore what these mean and what you can do about them.

The quest for dominance frequently manifests in dog territory marking, even dog home urination to claim that territory. What does that mean? A male dog may begin to mark in the house if another dog is brought in and not made to be part of the pack. If you decide to bring a new dog home, walk your present dog and the new one together, with you in front and in between them, prior to bringing the new dog inside. Do the walk every day for at least forty-five minutes. If you already have more than one dog, you will need to do this with each one. The dogs will take at least two months to adjust to one another. Treat them equally, as favoritism is sure to cause a fight.

Female dogs sometimes pee where the male did. Pack members often cover each other's scent. Either there is jealousy involved, or the dogs are making sure the neighboring packs know right away that there is more than one dog here. Outside, don't worry. If inside, immediately do a mixture of vinegar, Dawn, and water to remove the scent, or else you will have repeated peeing by all the dogs. If jealousy is involved, then get help to address that issue.

There are occasions when a male dog urinates on a female before he mates with her. It is a way of claiming her that is declared for some distance.

A dog who pees on his human is neither scared of him nor even claiming him. He is showing the utmost disrespect. In horror I heard a wife's account of her naïve husband's child-like report: "Mommy, Doggie peed on Daddy." Then he said, "That's all right, Doggie. You couldn't help it." NO! Doggie did not have an elimination need! That was pure and utter, intentional disrespect that is symptomatic of far deeper issues. If your dog does this, do not wait. Consult a professional IMMEDIATELY!

Submissive urination is very common, too. An animal who does this should be removed from the situation. Do not discipline the dog; remove him. Showing anger might scare him enough to release his bowels completely. Clean up the spot when the dog is out of sight, then bring him back. Repeat the situation over and over. Remove him when he pees, and pet him when he doesn't. Avoid this common mistake: Do not pet him to reassure him if he pees, as that is reinforcement of the unwanted behavior.

Fear-based urination is the hardest of all the reasons to combat. Do not stand in front of the dog and pull him. He will shut down and empty his bowels every time. Instead, put the leash on the top of his neck and pull UP when the dog resists. Do not make eye contact with him until he surrenders and follows you. A look at the wrong moment is sometimes just enough for the dog to shut down.

Excitement urination is among the most common, and luckily simplest, dog urination problem to cure. Let's say Pepper squats every time a visitor comes in. What happens is that Pepper is already excited when the company comes. No one may touch her, talk to her, or look at her until she has relaxed completely. Remember, giving Pepper affection when excited will only increase the excitement and intensify the dog urination problem. To address the underlying cause, see our articles on controlling over excitement for further help with Pepper.

GET HELP from Rena Murray at the Dog Obedience Training website. An accomplished Dog Behavior Modification expert, Dog Obedience Trainer, and Platinum Expert Author, Rena provides self-help articles and a free e-mail newsletter: PAW PERSUASION POINTERS to help people better understand communication and control of their dogs, debunk dog training myths, explore right and wrong dog training techniques for specific situations, address destructive dog behavior, excessive and obsessive dog behavior, and other canine issues, from new puppy to old dog. Subscribe for free at http://www.PawPersuasion.com , visit Rena's BLOG - http://www.pawpersuasion.com/blog/ and Contact Rena for a Consultation .

6 Reasons - Why I Should Treat My Dog For Fleas?

6 Reasons - Why I Should Treat My Dog For Fleas?
by Tom Selwyn

Have you ever been bitten by a dreaded flea it's not very nice, itchy big red lump and very irritating. So in saying that magnify that irritating feeling by say 50 little biting fleas and just think how that must feel to your dog it must drive them nuts. If your wondering how i came up with the figure 50 i just picked the number out of the air. I'm sure your dog doesn't have that many fleas.

When your dog picks up fleas usually from his surrounding it doesn't take long before your house becomes infested with eggs and larvae. Once the dogs surroundings are infested it is a lot more difficult to eliminate the problem.

So to avoid dreaded fleas taking over your home and biting everything in sight here are a couple of good reasons why we should apply a prevention is better then cure attitude.

1. Fleas cause itching and distress to you and your dog. 2. The skin can become inflamed and infected when the dog scratches. 3. Flea bites can trigger an allergic reaction in some dogs. 4. Large infestations of fleas can suck so much blood that the dog can become anaemic (low in red blood cells) 5. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, when grooming themselves they swallow a flea and then become infested. 6. And the most irritating thing about fleas is they bite people causing redness and itchiness.

So how do you tell if your dog has fleas? Well... apart from your dog scratching his skin off. Theirs another test we do called the Wet Paper Test firstly comb your dogs coat vigorously then tap the comb so the debris from the comb goes onto a wet piece of white paper then just leave it for a few minutes if flea dirt is present you will see black particles surrounded by a rusty red pigment.

This red pigment is your dogs blood which has been swallowed by the flea. Occasionally you find some dogs that lick themselves so much that you won't see any of the above signs, even if they have fleas.

So if your friend is always itchy it's a pretty good indication that your old mates got fleas. One of the main areas where infestations begin is usually where the dog sleeps so a good idea is to invest in a flea free bed so the eggs and larvae can't nest. Also using a recommended flea treatment on a regular basis will reduce flea problems.

For quality flea free bedding to reduce flea problems visit us at http://www.phoopups.com.au/bedding.htm Where smart dogs shop...

Sit Stay Fetch Review

Sit Stay Fetch Review
By Mark Southy

Sit Stay Fetch is one of the more popular dog training products on the internet and for good reason. The 186 page book is broken down into different sections, each one dealing with a different aspect of dog ownership. Each section is broken down into 5 or 6 subsections and a review of that particular section. The review is particularly nice as it condenses the important aspects of each section onto one page for easy reference. That’s not to say that skipping to the end of each section is the best way to utilize this book. There is a wealth of information contained in each section as well as case studies for particular doggy problems (aggression, barking, chewing, leaping on furniture, leaping on people, etc.)

The initial chapters are mainly for people considering a dog or who have recently obtained a puppy. These chapters focus on aspects such as choosing a breed, responsible ownership, canine growth stages, and choosing your vet. The third chapter is where the dog training begins. The types of training are outlined as well as some secrets to training a dog. Crate training is also discussed in this area as well. For people who already have dogs, the first three chapters don’t really provide a lot of pertinent information; however, for someone looking to get a dog, these chapters are invaluable.

The fourth chapter gives insight into how dogs use their senses and how their body language gives an insight into their feelings and attitudes. I found it interesting that you can dog’s are very expressive and their moods are often overlooked by their owners. This chapter also covers how dogs communicate with one another as well as the similarities between wolves and dogs.

Of the remaining chapters, two are devoted to dog problems, two are devoted to teaching commands, and one deals with the positives and negatives of dog whispering. The two chapters dealing with problems are two of the longest chapters in the book. The first chapter on dog problems deals with behaviors such as aggression, biting, chewing, digging, and barking. Case studies are provided with many of the issues to show why a dog may be exhibiting these problems. The second chapter on dog problems deals with allergies, fleas, chasing cars, and jumping on people. Again, relevant examples are provided with each section to further illustrate the issue at hand.

The chapters dealing with dog commands are divided into basic or starting commands and advanced commands. Some of the basic commands include “Come”, “Sit”, “Down”, “Heel”, and “Stand.” These commands are provided in an easy to follow method and can be implemented fairly quickly with some practice. What I liked is that there’s a training schedule provided to assist with training the dog. The advanced commands section covers “Catch,” “Fetch”, “Shake”, and “Rollover.” Based on my experience, some of these commands are more difficult than others to train a dog on and it’s not recommended that teaching these commands begins until the dog is over 6 months old and has mastered the basic commands from the earlier chapter.

Sit Stay Fetch is a good product that touches on a lot of overlooked aspects of owning a dog. Even some less than common problems are discussed and recommendations are given on how to address these problems. I found this book to be laid out in a logical manner with the training aspects occupying a majority of the pages, but with other areas such as body language and sense getting a good deal of coverage as well. The author also does a good job of supporting the product by providing a free newsletter that contains more tips for solving dog problems. Granted, you do not need to read every chapter in order to address a particular problem, but it is nice to see that a just about every common dog problem is addressed.

I give Sit Stay Fetch Two Paws Up!!!

Mark South writes reviews of Clickbank products at http://clickbank-reviews.blogspot.com

You can find a direct link to Sit, Stay, Fetch! in our Recommended Product area or click here.

Canine Hip Dysplasia and Large Breed Dogs

Canine Hip Dysplasia and Large Breed Dogs
by Rebecca Prescott


Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic issue that starts to appear from the ages of 4 to 12 months. Not all puppies in a litter will develop it, though if your dog has canine hip dysplasia, she should not be bred.

Larger breed dogs have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, due to the greater weight these joints will have to bear. But it's important to realize that small dogs can be affected also. Large breed dogs at risk include rottweilers, german shephards, golden retrievers, dalmations, and blood hounds.

Canine hip dysplasia affects the ball and socket joint of the hip. The head of the large bone in the dog's leg doesn't fit snugly into the hip socket. The problem is that the socket itself is not well developed, and it creates a lot of stress on the joint. The muscles don't develop as quickly as the bone grows, and a situation is created where the weight the joint has to bear is greater than the capacity of the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the joint. Thus joint instability develops. This in turn leads to a greater wear and tear than the joint would normally experience.

Canine hip dysplasia ranges from mild to moderate. In mild cases, the space between the joints is greater than normal and the ball at the top of the hip bone is part way out of its socket. Fortunately, in mild cases, there are no associated arthritic changes in the joint.

In moderate canine hip dysplasia, the top part of the normally rounded hip bone begins to flatten, and it sits only loosely in the joint. Bone spurs begin to develop, and arthritic changes start to happen.

Unfortunately, in severe hip dysplasia, there is definite arthritis present. And once arthritis appears in the joint, the condition is irreversible. In the severe cases such as this, the hip bone is completely out of the joint. The silver lining is, however, that not all dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis will become lame. Some may become lame as puppies, some may not ever become lame.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

* walking with a limp * a swaying gait * bunny hopping when running * difficulty in the back legs when getting up * pain in the hip * when the puppy is lying on its back, its back legs may not extend towards the front legs without pain

The only way to find out if your dog definitely has hip dysplasia is if he has an x-ray by a vet. This normally means the dog will have to be heavily sedated, or go under anaesthetic.

Tips To Prevent Canine Hip Dysplasia

* Don't feed a growing dog a diet too high in calories. It's important that the growing dog's nutritional needs are met, but excessive weight, and rapid weight gain, create more of a load for the joints to bear. If a dog is genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia, this can delay the beginning of symptoms, or reduce the chance of it developing into a more severe form.

* Be careful about the type of exercise growing dogs get. Jumping up and down from heights, and standing on their back legs, such as when they stand against a fence or window to look over it, can aggravate the joints whilst they are growing quickly.

* Buy dogs from a reputable breeder. If one parent dog has hip dysplasia, the risk of it occurring in the litter is doubled. Good breeders take care to prevent this situation from occurring. The pedigrees of dogs can be checked to see whether they have been certified as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) in the US. Their website is www.offa.org

Other organizations that check for markers of hip normalcy in dogs are PennHip and the GDC (Genetic Disease Control in Animals). Large breed dogs have a greater chance of developing hip dysplasia, and prospective owners would be wise to take this precaution.

References: J Griffin and L Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook

Large breed dog articles, with photos, include these on the bloodhound dog breed, and the dalamation.