poodlefan

I think your definition of a working dog is the first of this variety I've ever seen. "Working dogs" to most people I know are generally dogs who are members of the Working Group (Group 5) or dogs who actually perform a certain task for a living. I said some people are attracted to the breed because of its bad image. Are you denying that? I've not been trying to insinuate anything. You said people wanted pits because they were "actual working dogs". I've been trying to get you to tell me what's so unique about this breed in terms of "working ability" and I've failed dismally. Many breeds, conform to your definition of a working dog. I still don't understand why people need to look to a this restricted breed for any particularly unique characteristic.

Another option to consider is the CCrates, Securapen. It's metal but folds far flatter and is lighter than a 'normal' crate and can often fit more than one dog. They ain't cheap but you'll only ever have to buy once. No seams to tear, fabric to eat and they don't get smelly. Securapens are a popular choice for containing dogs around my way.

Rhaps: I don't consider most dog sports to be "work" anymore than I consider my poodles to be "actual working dogs". By your definition they are. Even dog sports like herding and retrieving are highly stylised versions of the work done by dogs who do those activities for a job. Most dog sports are not traditional work for most of the dogs that compete in them and in the 10 odd years I've done them, I've seen ONE APBT in a trial ring in anything. I've seen an Irish Wolfhound do flyball, a Great Dane do agility (and an Afghan) a pug that got tracking and higher obedience titles.. nothing breed specific or "working" lines about those dogs. My poodles lure course but were not selectively bred for that activity. I am aware that weight pulls are an APBT activity in the states but other breeds including ASTs are just as capable of doing these things as a pittie. So when you talked about APBT fanciers wanting "working" dogs, I thought there must be a legal, breed specific job for them. Apparently not. Responsibly owned Restricted Breeds could not compete in these sports in BSL states anyway due to the muzzling and leash restrictions they are subject to. My conclusion must be that many dog buyers could buy non-Restricted Breeds for the type of "work" you were discussing. Some other factors must be influencing their choices.

Really? What sort of work do they want them to do in your average suburban neighbourhood? What sort of work will the dog of an 18 year old guy living at home, who needed his parents permission to get a dog, need to perform? Do you think someone in that situation, who doesn't have fencing secure enough to contain a "working dog" is the kind of owner the breed needs to move ahead? Personally I think the fact that the breed IS banned is what attracts a certain type of buyer.. the "oh wow, I've got a dog so dangerous its illegal to own one" brigade. All the more reason to ditch BSL. who are you to state that im 18? dont state my age if you DONT know it. Was I wrong? Or did you misinform another forum of your age? Google is a powerful thing my friend.

Wings would be better.. more work for growing jaws and teeth.

What brand of dry dog food do you feed? A lot of dry dog foods contain a fair proportion indigestable fillers like cereal and beet pulp. I've seen a few dogs fed poor kibble who produce poos the consistency and colour of caramel mousse. Most dog rolls have a fair water content and a healthy measure of preservatives to boot. An expensive way to soften poo IMO. The easiest way to feed a growing pup well is a premium brand dog food. People here seem to like Royal Canin a fair bit. The more challenging way is to feed kibble and raw or straight raw food. However, for a growing puppy who needs to work her jaws as she develops, I'd be adding digestible bone in the form of chicken wings today!! It will have the added bonus of firming up that poop. No need to feed mince when she can mince her own bones!! She will benefit from the effort.

Hence my question about exercise. Is he still confined inside? How much is he getting. You've indicated that his mental stimulation (ie obedience training) has decreased.. this will not be helping. He sounds to me like a dog that is literally jumping out of his skin....

Gee, no great surprise .. he's a gundog after all! Next time he does it.. yell "get OFF" in the loudest decibel growly voice you can muster and kick your heel up behind you. Really tell him. He should be shocked and stop. Continue on as if nothing had happened. If that doesn't work. I'd be taking him by the collar.. and tellng him GET OFF and pulling him off. Your dealing with the canine equivalent of a 16 year old boy here Pooch. He's full of testosterone, thinks he's bullet proof and you're not to be taken seriously. You've tried being nice, now its 'consequences' time. He finds this behaviour rewarding. Unless you make it unrewarding, he has no motivation to stop it. Distraction or transferring the behaviour into a more positive one isn't working. Time for a suitable aversive. This is hardly 'positive' training.. but you want to nip this in the bud NOW. How much exercise is he getting now?

What Spotty said!

Not my post I'm afraid. You still haven't answered the question Rhaps.. what sort of "work" do people who want APBTs want them to perform. Last time I checked we were talking about a particular case and a particular dog.. the one most people posting in this thread are concerned about. My background is dog sports, not much showing until now. I know some owners of working bred herding breeds and owners of working gundogs and I know how seriously they take the responsiblity for owning a dog like that in suburbia. I don't know how you've concluded I think APBT owners know nothing about working dogs, I just don't know what "work" their owners expect them to perform. How many of them do any kind of "work" at all?

Rhaps: Really? What sort of work do they want them to do in your average suburban neighbourhood? What sort of work will the dog of an 18 year old guy living at home, who needed his parents permission to get a dog, need to perform? Do you think someone in that situation, who doesn't have fencing secure enough to contain a "working dog" is the kind of owner the breed needs to move ahead? Personally I think the fact that the breed IS banned is what attracts a certain type of buyer.. the "oh wow, I've got a dog so dangerous its illegal to own one" brigade. All the more reason to ditch BSL.

I draw the line at helping people break the law. My advice is limited to trying to do the right thing by the dog. I make no apologies for that regardless of how stupid the law is. He'll need it. Once the first person in the neighbourhood complains to his parents about the "menace" in the household, I expect there will be difficulties. No dog should have to pay the price for human error but they do, all too frequently. ;) ETA: No one would be more delighted than me to have my "panic" and "melodrama" proved unnecessary. You clearly have no idea how haughty you sound. Catch more bees with honey? Flyspray could do a better job than you've just done. Ouch!

Howard made his great escape from the puppy pen on day 2. Thank God for friends who did puppy day care.

Does Zippa have a registered (pedigree) name?

I draw the line at helping people break the law. My advice is limited to trying to do the right thing by the dog. I make no apologies for that regardless of how stupid the law is. He'll need it. Once the first person in the neighbourhood complains to his parents about the "menace" in the household, I expect there will be difficulties. No dog should have to pay the price for human error but they do, all too frequently. ETA: No one would be more delighted than me to have my "panic" and "melodrama" proved unnecessary.

I wonder when any vet last saw a case of distemper.. could explain why they haven't diagnosed anything yet.

Severe allergy? Blocked or faulty tear ducts? Tick? Tetanus Just had a quick google.. quite a few sites mention the pulled back ears as a symptom.

That actually made me laugh out loud. Talk about leaping to wildly erroneous conclusions without bothering to check the simplest facts. Also I'm rather fond of poodles. He has the puppy already, he's asking for constructive help & advice on how best to care for her, not hysterical drama mongering. Erroneous conclusions? The "facts" I based my conclusions on Wobbly were provided in your post: Gee no gender stereotyping there. ;) Seems to me that you're displaying more hysteria (although anatomically impossible) than anyone else here. Yep, he's got a banned breed. He expects sympathy and reckons he'll be victimised. Which part of banned is he missing? It's like expecting sympathy and support for street racing, drink driving or speeding in my eyes.. if you do it knowningly, suck it up and pay the consequences. Don't bleat about how cops pick on you cos you drive a fully sic WRX. There is some good advice here. 1. Do not tether the dog. 2. Abide by the requirements for a restricted breed. 3. Socialise and train it. I fail to see why it is so unpalatable when abiding by it may keep the dog safe.

He's being told by some in the breed that most posters are being overly "negative" BB. All I can say is I hope he does right by the dog and this doesn't end badly.

I love it! There is nothing like coming to a forum for advise and having to put up with the dribble that comes out of some of the mouths here... :D I missed seeing the photo of your new little one but enjoy every moment. The advice, very correctly, has to centre on the fact that this dog has been obtained in breach of the laws of the state in which it lives. The "negativity" I've read urges the owner to comply with restricted breed legislation, NOT to chain it up and to do the right thing by a dog that, if impounded probably faces a death sentence. No point taking a sunshine and lollipops approach to what may end up a life and death issue. What crap. APBTs got on the RB list and die because people don't do right by them. How "negative" is that? Being a restricted breed is a matter of law, not behaviour. A Dangerous Dog is a behaviourally based declaration. And playing the gender card Wobbly is pretty feeble. Amazing how a bit of conflict brings out a person's true colours but I suppose you're hardly the first male to suggest that having a uterus dictates how people might think. Next you'll be targeting my breed of choice for ridicule. IF APBT owners can behave responsibly, there's every chance that breed restrictions can be overturned eventually. That's not the case now. Of course, here in the beautiful ACT, we don't have any breed restrictions. I'll fight tooth and nail to keep it that way but that cause will not be assisted by any APBT owner who doesn't carefully think through their dog's purchase, containment and upbringing. Shoving a middle finger up at dog related legislation plays right into the hands of the dog haters in our community - and there are plenty of them.

Glad it wasn't a grass seed - those can be nasty.

Taking it for a walk, to the dog park or in your car, it will still be a Restricted Breed and you have the added bonus of having an APBT that is pretty much exactly the type that any member of the public would pick as one. If it so much as scratches in public, someone will probably report you. You got the dog sydking, now suck it up and don't become the type of owner that got them on the restricted list in the first place - an irresponsible one. The dog need only be caged when not inside with you. For many dogs that would only be when you aren't home. Many dogs walk very happily in a muzzle - ask racing Greyhound owners.

What do you feed her? Has the vet indicated what the source of infection is? If its yeast, I'd be removing all grain from her diet as a matter of priority.

MEU, the last thing I would recommend to anyone with an aggressive dog is to create situations where the dog becomes aggressive. It's unsafe for you, for your dog AND for the other dog. Get professional help rather than experimenting. You could lmake matters worse.

I think people that get off on being aggressive and confrontational may try to select a dog with aggressive tendencies. We've had a few visits here from folk who seemed hell bent on having an attack trained dog.