You can teach this command to your dog even if you haven't train him to sit down yet. First, get your dog's attention and show him that you have a treat in your hand (a piece of hotdog will do). Then put the treat in front of your dog's nose. Say the word "Down" in a calm-assertive way and move the treat slowly to the ground. At this point the dog should have followed the treat and put his elbows and chest to the ground. Once the dog's elbows and hocks are on the ground,mark the behavior by giving the dog the treat and pat him on the back for a job well done!
Practice this command 5-6 times a day until the dog fully understands the command.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
My Twitter
I just signed up at Twitter. For updates and new blogposts for A Dog's World follow me at Twitter. My username is dencio30. Have a great day!!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
2nd Dog Training Lesson: The Stay Command
The stay command is one of the most important command that our pet dogs must learn. It teaches dogs self-control, discipline and promotes mental stimulation. It can also prevent your dog from any possible harm inside the house if he's off-leash.
Unlike most commands, a marker is not given when the dog stays still rather the marker is given after a dog stays still for a particular length of time doing nothing. Before teaching the stay command, the dog must learn first how to sit
First thing to do is,look for a place where there is zero distraction, like a quiet room where your dog can fully concentrate on training. Have your dog sit in front of you. Put your palm in front of your dog's face and give the stay command. At this this point the dog has not learned anything yet but once you have given the signal observe how long your dog will stay.
In my case, the first time I taught the stay command,I timed my dog for an initial ten seconds (make it short first, to make room for success.) After ten seconds, while still maintaining the sit position praise and reward the dog with a treat. If within 10 seconds the dog attempts to break his position, say a simple "No!" or "uh-um bad dog" and hold his position by putting your left hand on his butt and your right hand on his chest to correct the behavior. Give again the stay command and make him stay for another 10 seconds. If the dog is successful,praise and treat to mark the behavior, to make the dog understand that when he stays he'll get something good in return.
Repeat the procedure but this time gradually increase the length of time that the dog needs to stay in the sitting position but do not change the environment. If the dog already understands to associate the command to the desired behavior you can gradually increase the distraction. (If you are in a quiet room,you can turn on your TV or radio to add distraction).
At this point, the dog is now used to simple distractions (TV,radio,people creating noise,..etc),you and your dog can now go outdoors to make your dog learn to execute the stay command with more distractions.
Unlike most commands, a marker is not given when the dog stays still rather the marker is given after a dog stays still for a particular length of time doing nothing. Before teaching the stay command, the dog must learn first how to sit
First thing to do is,look for a place where there is zero distraction, like a quiet room where your dog can fully concentrate on training. Have your dog sit in front of you. Put your palm in front of your dog's face and give the stay command. At this this point the dog has not learned anything yet but once you have given the signal observe how long your dog will stay.
In my case, the first time I taught the stay command,I timed my dog for an initial ten seconds (make it short first, to make room for success.) After ten seconds, while still maintaining the sit position praise and reward the dog with a treat. If within 10 seconds the dog attempts to break his position, say a simple "No!" or "uh-um bad dog" and hold his position by putting your left hand on his butt and your right hand on his chest to correct the behavior. Give again the stay command and make him stay for another 10 seconds. If the dog is successful,praise and treat to mark the behavior, to make the dog understand that when he stays he'll get something good in return.
Repeat the procedure but this time gradually increase the length of time that the dog needs to stay in the sitting position but do not change the environment. If the dog already understands to associate the command to the desired behavior you can gradually increase the distraction. (If you are in a quiet room,you can turn on your TV or radio to add distraction).
At this point, the dog is now used to simple distractions (TV,radio,people creating noise,..etc),you and your dog can now go outdoors to make your dog learn to execute the stay command with more distractions.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Teaching Your Dog the "Sit Command"
One of the most important commands that we should our puppies is the 'sit command.' Teaching our dog to sit prevents our dogs from jumping on someone. Giving him the command to sit before he eats his meal teaches him that you are the leader. Having a dog who knows to execute this command in the presence of friends and strangers makes him a very desirable canine friend.
There are two ways to teach a dog how to sit. The first method I tried was using a choke collar. Slip the collar to the dogs neck just below his jaw. Say the command "Sit" and mildly jerck the leash upward that would force him to place his butt on the floor. Once you see his butt touch the floor in a sitting position,reward the puppy with a praise and treat to reinforce to the dog's mind that when he sits he receives something nice. This method worked for me.
If you don't have a choke collar,another way of teaching the dog how to sit is by using a treat usually a piece of meat,hotdog or any of your dog's favorite treat. You can also use yout dog's favorite toy. Stand in front of your dog,give the "Sit" and move the treat up towards the top of its head. At this point the dog should have lift its head and his bottom should go down. As soon as he place his bottom on the right sitting position, praise him by saying "Sit, Good Boy! Sit",and give the treat. Do this several times for 5-10 minutes a day.
If your dog doesn't respond to your command,do not give him his treat and ignore him for a moment. That tells him that he doesn't get a praise and reward if he does not follow your command. If you're going to teach a dog a new command, go to a room or place where there is no distraction. As your dog understands the commands you can gradually increase the distraction.
Always remember keep training session short and fun to avoid your dog to get bored.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
10 Dog Diseases That Dogs Are Suffering Worldwide
Here is the list of the common dog diseases that dogs suffer from worldwide.(Not in particlular order.)
1. Parvovirus - Parvovirus is a worldwide dog disease. It is extremely contagious, especially among puppies, and can overwhelm a dog leading to death within 48 to 72 hours after exposure. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Parvo vaccination is essential with booster shots as recommended.
2. Canine Distemper - Distemper is a very serious viral disease. Puppies from three to six months old are particularly susceptible. It is characterized by lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting.
3. Rabies - Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is fatal to humans,dogs and other mammals if symptoms appear. Symptoms include irritability,fever,headache,and fear of water or hydrophobia. That is why state laws uniformly requires rabies vaccination to stop the spread of this deadly disease
4. Kennel Cough - It is a respiratory disease prevalent in kennels and shelters, Symptoms can include a dry hacking cough along with inflammation of the larynx, bronchial tubes and trachea. Vaccination, as often as every six months is recommended.
5. Leptospirosis - It is a disease of worldwide significance that infects both animals and humans. It is transmitted between animals through contact with infected urine; venereal and placental transfer; bite wounds; or the ingestion of infected tissue. Symptoms include fever,anorexia,vomiting,dehydration and increased thirst.
6. Heartworm - Heartworms are parasites that grow and multipliy, infesting the chambers in the heart, arteries in the lungs. It is spread through bites from mosquito hosts. Symptoms appear gradually, usually manifested in easy tiring, lethargy and a soft cough. If not treated, it eventually brings on death by congestive heart failure in a once active animal.
7. Coronavirus - Canine Coronavirus (CCV) is the second leading viral cause of diarrhea in puppies.
8. Obesity - Just like in humans, dogs also suffer from being overweight that would result to serious medical problem. Limit food intake and provide your pets the adequate exercise that they need.
9. Lyme Disease - It is a bacterial disease that is spread by ticks. The early signs of Lyme disease in dogs are supposed to be loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. Lameness may occur at the same time or may occur later. In some dogs, enlargement of the lymph nodes (usually generalized enlargement) occurs. Treatment is with tetracycline, an antibiotic.
10. Infectious Canine Hepatitis - Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the liver and other organs, and is caused by Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1). It is spread only among domestic dogs and wild dogs such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes and is not related to human hepatitis. Symptoms range widely, from mild to severe, and include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, light-colored stool, and stomach enlargement. Vaccination is recommended.
1. Parvovirus - Parvovirus is a worldwide dog disease. It is extremely contagious, especially among puppies, and can overwhelm a dog leading to death within 48 to 72 hours after exposure. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Parvo vaccination is essential with booster shots as recommended.
2. Canine Distemper - Distemper is a very serious viral disease. Puppies from three to six months old are particularly susceptible. It is characterized by lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting.
3. Rabies - Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is fatal to humans,dogs and other mammals if symptoms appear. Symptoms include irritability,fever,headache,and fear of water or hydrophobia. That is why state laws uniformly requires rabies vaccination to stop the spread of this deadly disease
4. Kennel Cough - It is a respiratory disease prevalent in kennels and shelters, Symptoms can include a dry hacking cough along with inflammation of the larynx, bronchial tubes and trachea. Vaccination, as often as every six months is recommended.
5. Leptospirosis - It is a disease of worldwide significance that infects both animals and humans. It is transmitted between animals through contact with infected urine; venereal and placental transfer; bite wounds; or the ingestion of infected tissue. Symptoms include fever,anorexia,vomiting,dehydration and increased thirst.
6. Heartworm - Heartworms are parasites that grow and multipliy, infesting the chambers in the heart, arteries in the lungs. It is spread through bites from mosquito hosts. Symptoms appear gradually, usually manifested in easy tiring, lethargy and a soft cough. If not treated, it eventually brings on death by congestive heart failure in a once active animal.
7. Coronavirus - Canine Coronavirus (CCV) is the second leading viral cause of diarrhea in puppies.
8. Obesity - Just like in humans, dogs also suffer from being overweight that would result to serious medical problem. Limit food intake and provide your pets the adequate exercise that they need.
9. Lyme Disease - It is a bacterial disease that is spread by ticks. The early signs of Lyme disease in dogs are supposed to be loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. Lameness may occur at the same time or may occur later. In some dogs, enlargement of the lymph nodes (usually generalized enlargement) occurs. Treatment is with tetracycline, an antibiotic.
10. Infectious Canine Hepatitis - Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the liver and other organs, and is caused by Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1). It is spread only among domestic dogs and wild dogs such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes and is not related to human hepatitis. Symptoms range widely, from mild to severe, and include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, light-colored stool, and stomach enlargement. Vaccination is recommended.
No.1 Pet Killer
Do you know what the number one cause of dog and cat mortality around the world that kills more pets than any other animal related disease?
Euthanasia, or "putting to sleep" unwanted animals in numerous shelters around the world kills more animals than any other disease. In the United States alone, millions of dogs and cats are 'put to sleep' (estimated to be 3-10 million deaths) mainly because they were unwanted or because they have a behavioral problem.
To minimize the incidence of animals being euthanized in shelters,people should be educated about ethical breeding and to spay or neuter stray dogs and cats to curb the rising population of unwanted animals.
Euthanasia, or "putting to sleep" unwanted animals in numerous shelters around the world kills more animals than any other disease. In the United States alone, millions of dogs and cats are 'put to sleep' (estimated to be 3-10 million deaths) mainly because they were unwanted or because they have a behavioral problem.
To minimize the incidence of animals being euthanized in shelters,people should be educated about ethical breeding and to spay or neuter stray dogs and cats to curb the rising population of unwanted animals.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
#2 Featured Dog Breed
The Chihuahua belongs to the toy dog group; it is a small dog with an apple-domed head and a slightlyt pointed muzzle. It has round, large, very dark eyes, sometimes dark ruby or luminous in color. The trademark large ears should be held erect. Puppies have a soft spot or "molera" on the top of the skull. The bone usually closes the gap by adulthood. The body is cobby (stout), longer than it is tall, and the tail is sickle-shaped - curled over the back or to the side. Besides the common short-haired variety there is also a long- haired type. Colors include fawn, sand, chestnut, silver and steel blue, but any color is accepted, including black & tan and parti-color. The dog is more robust than he looks, with a level back, and legs coming down straight and square.
Graceful, alert and swift-moving with a saucy expression, Chihuahuas are highly intelligent and should not be underestimated even though small in size. The breed can be any color – solid, marked or splashed and the coat may be long or short. These sassy little dogs are well known as "purse dogs" like the famous Bruiser in the movie Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon.
However,do not underestimate this breed's size as it has terrier like qualities.The Chihuahua is a good companion however it can be extremely loyal to the point it would be suspicious with people except to the owner. It should be treated like how you discipline large dogs. Humans have the tendency to treat this little dog like a cute baby that it would lead to unwanted and destructive behavior such as biting and excessive barking. Socialization,training and regular exercise is a must to make the Chihuahua a desirable member of the family
source: http://www.akc.org/breeds/chihuahua/index.cfm
6 Foods you should not give to your Dog
You may not be aware of it, but some treats that we give to our dogs might be toxic either in small or large amounts. These foods should be avoided at all cost if we want our bestfriends to live a long and happy life.
Here they are:
1. First and foremost, do not give cooked bones to your pet. Cooked bones splinters and could destroy the intestinal tract of the dog's digestive system.
2. Chocolates,coffee,tea and other caffeinated drinks are also bad. It disrupts the heart and nervous system of dogs.
3. Avoid giving your dogs grapes and raisins. They contain unknown toxins that damages the kidney.
4. Large amounts of cooked liver causes Vitamin A toxicity which impacts muscles and bones.
5. Keep your dog away from nuts it might choke your pet because fo their small size. Keep them also from mushrooms, onions and garlic.
6. Bread is also bad for dogs. It could cause bloating which is a very serious medical case for dogs. It could kill them in a matter of hours.
If you think your dogs ingested some of these toxic food, call your vet for immediate assistance as soon as possible.
Here they are:
1. First and foremost, do not give cooked bones to your pet. Cooked bones splinters and could destroy the intestinal tract of the dog's digestive system.
2. Chocolates,coffee,tea and other caffeinated drinks are also bad. It disrupts the heart and nervous system of dogs.
3. Avoid giving your dogs grapes and raisins. They contain unknown toxins that damages the kidney.
4. Large amounts of cooked liver causes Vitamin A toxicity which impacts muscles and bones.
5. Keep your dog away from nuts it might choke your pet because fo their small size. Keep them also from mushrooms, onions and garlic.
6. Bread is also bad for dogs. It could cause bloating which is a very serious medical case for dogs. It could kill them in a matter of hours.
If you think your dogs ingested some of these toxic food, call your vet for immediate assistance as soon as possible.
About Dog Allergies
Dogs can react to many substances like inhalants and certain kind of foods,my pitbull for example is allergic to chicken. He develops red marks on his groin area and in the hind legs. Other known symptoms include hair loss,chronic hot spots,poor coat,stomach upset. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of allergy. The moment I saw the symptoms I quickly put chicken on my banned list of foods for my dog and called my vet for consultation.
Foods that might affect your dog depends on his body's reaction to allergens, some dogs are allergic to beef, some are allergic to this brand of dog food, some are allergic to chicken...etc...etc. If you discovered that a certain food caused an allergic reaction to your dog quickly remove that food from your dog's diet.
Other allergens that you need to watch out for that might cause allergic reaction to your pets are dusts,molds,fibers,clothings,and fleas.
Vets would usually prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids.
Foods that might affect your dog depends on his body's reaction to allergens, some dogs are allergic to beef, some are allergic to this brand of dog food, some are allergic to chicken...etc...etc. If you discovered that a certain food caused an allergic reaction to your dog quickly remove that food from your dog's diet.
Other allergens that you need to watch out for that might cause allergic reaction to your pets are dusts,molds,fibers,clothings,and fleas.
Vets would usually prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids.
3 Benefits of Walking Your Dog
Every afternoon during the weekdays, I make sure I walk my dog for one to two hours after I arrive from the office. Dog walking builds strong bond between the dog and its master. It keeps both the owner and the dog physically fit.
First,whenever I bring my dog outside for a walk, I never fail to meet and make new friends with other people. Having my pitbull at my side made me a more sociable person (by nature I'm a shy person).
Another benefit of walking your dog is that they are not only physically exercised but they are also mentally stimulated as well. It curbs their boredom of being confined at home thus making them happy when you allow them to discover the outside environment and socializing them with other dogs and new people.
Lastly,dog walking also avoids unwanted behaviors such as chewing,biting,excessive barking, digging and other destructive and undesirable behaviors.
As for my pet Itachi, I make sure that I give him the adequate amount of exercise and attention to keep him healthy and a good canine citizen. Since he's a pit bull,the more I give time for him to make him physically and mentally active to control his aggressive tendency towards other dogs.
First,whenever I bring my dog outside for a walk, I never fail to meet and make new friends with other people. Having my pitbull at my side made me a more sociable person (by nature I'm a shy person).
Another benefit of walking your dog is that they are not only physically exercised but they are also mentally stimulated as well. It curbs their boredom of being confined at home thus making them happy when you allow them to discover the outside environment and socializing them with other dogs and new people.
Lastly,dog walking also avoids unwanted behaviors such as chewing,biting,excessive barking, digging and other destructive and undesirable behaviors.
As for my pet Itachi, I make sure that I give him the adequate amount of exercise and attention to keep him healthy and a good canine citizen. Since he's a pit bull,the more I give time for him to make him physically and mentally active to control his aggressive tendency towards other dogs.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Featured Dog Breed
AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
Terrier Group
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised October 21, 2004 .........
History
General Appearance
Characteristics
Head
Neck
Forequarters
Body
Hindquarters
Feet
Tail
Coat
Color
Height and Weight
Gait
Disqualifications
Terrier Group
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised October 21, 2004 .........
History
- Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.
The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. U.K.C. founder C. Z. Bennett assigned U.K.C. registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett's Ring in 1898.
General Appearance
- The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
Characteristics
- The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.
The American Pit Bull Terrier has always been capable of doing a wide variety of jobs so exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's versatility.
Head
- The APBT head is unique and a key element of breed type. It is large and broad, giving the impression of great power, but it is not disproportionate to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well defined, moderately deep stop. Supraorbital arches over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced. The head is well chiseled, blending strength, elegance, and character.
SKULL - The skull is large, flat or slightly rounded, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull tapers just slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the forehead, which give the APBT his unique expression.
MUZZLE - The muzzle is broad and deep with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose, and a slight falling away under the eyes. The length of muzzle is shorter than the length of skull, with a ratio of approximately 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is well developed, wide and deep. Lips are clean and tight.
Faults: Snipey muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.
TEETH - The American Pit Bull Terrier has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.
Fault: Level bite.
Serious Faults: Undershot, or overshot bite; wry mouth; missing teeth (this does not apply to teeth that have been lost or removed by a veterinarian).
NOSE - The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color.
EYES - Eyes are medium size, round to almond-shaped, and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue, which is a serious fault. Haw should not be visible.
Serious Faults: Bulging eyes; both eyes not matched in color; blue eyes.
EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.
Neck
- The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends into well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is tight and without dewlap.
Faults: Neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck; ewe neck; dewlap.
Forequarters
- The shoulder blades are long, wide, muscular, and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.
The forelegs are strong and muscular. The elbows are set close to the body. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are set moderately wide apart and perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.
Faults: Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied-in; down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over; toeing in or out.
Body
- The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline inclines very slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping downward.
Hindquarters
- The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and moderately broad. The rump is well filled in on each side of the tail and deep from the pelvis to the crotch. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent and the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another.
Faults: Narrow hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from pelvis to crotch; lack of muscle; straight or over angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.
Feet
- The feet are round, proportionate to the size of the dog, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Fault: Splayed feet.
Tail
- The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline, and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the backline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried in a raised, upright position (challenge tail), but never curled over the back (gay tail).
Fault: Long tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock).
Serious faults: Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.
Disqualification: Bobbed tail.
Coat
- The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.
Faults: Curly, wavy, or sparse coat.
Disqualification: Long coat.
Color
- Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for merle.
Disqualification: Merle
Height and Weight
- The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.
Gait
- The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see something new and exciting. When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Faults: Legs not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling; sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.
Disqualifications
- Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Bobbed tail. Albinism. Merle. Long coat.
Note: Although some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with U.K.C. policy regarding dog temperament at U.K.C. events.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Choosing a Dog Breed
Choosing a dog breed or choosing to have a pet dog at all is a very important decision. You need a lot of research to do in order to find out what dog breed is suitable for you and your family, and whether to really get a dog or not.
These are some important points to consider in choosing a breed of dog to own.
1. Time - Dogs are social animals, they need adequate time of bonding and interacting with their master/owner. Playing or training them several hours a day would be enough but If you don't have enough time; consider getting a pet fish or bird.
2. Space - Do you have enough space to accomodate your dog? If you live in a small apartment,make sure you can give your dogs their needs because some dogs do not do well in a very small space. Make sure you give them a lot of exercise. But there are some dogs that can do well in living in apartments ,for example some mastiffs are very docile that you can leave them do nothing while you're gone.
3. Lifestyle - If you're living a very sedentary lifestyle don't get a working dog such as Border Collies, Jack Russel terrier, Labrador retrievers and other performance dogs. They require a lot of physical activities. Not giving them their canine needs would result to boredom that will result to unwanted and destructive behavior which all of us owners don't want to happen. If you still want to get a dog consider some toy breeds or other breeds that are docile in nature.
4. Training - Regardless of the breed you choose, training is essential, we don't want our dogs to develop destructive and undesirable behaviors. Through training, we can make our canine friends good pets. If you think you cannot fulfill this obligation of training your dogs, it's better to not get a dog at all.
5. Grooming - If you could tolerate dog hairs scattered in your house, if you don't have allergies, it's ok to have furry dogs such as a Chow chow, Poodle, Shi Tzu or a Golden retriever. These dogs require a lot of grooming. If you are prepared to allocate money for grooming furry dog breeds then go get one.
6. Dog Gender- Choosing a dog whether if it's a male or female has it's consequences. If you're going to choose a male, be prepared for escape acts as male dogs can smell females in heat several miles away. They are also prone to dog aggression because of high levels of testosterone specially breeds that are known to be dog aggressive such as the terrier group, specifically the American Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrier, the English Bulldog and others that exhibits high levels of dog aggression. If you're going to get a female, be prepared for unwanted guests to circle around your house when she's in heat.
If you're looking for dogs that performs for a specific purpose such as guarding, herding, sports, tracking,retrieving and protection purposes go to akc.org or ukc.org to know specific breeds that performs these particular tasks that I have mentioned.
If you don't have enough time,space,or money to take care of the needs of your future pet dog specially a purebred one, consider cancelling your plan of getting one but if you insist why not adopt a mutt or rescued dog from an animal shelter.
These are some important points to consider in choosing a breed of dog to own.
1. Time - Dogs are social animals, they need adequate time of bonding and interacting with their master/owner. Playing or training them several hours a day would be enough but If you don't have enough time; consider getting a pet fish or bird.
2. Space - Do you have enough space to accomodate your dog? If you live in a small apartment,make sure you can give your dogs their needs because some dogs do not do well in a very small space. Make sure you give them a lot of exercise. But there are some dogs that can do well in living in apartments ,for example some mastiffs are very docile that you can leave them do nothing while you're gone.
3. Lifestyle - If you're living a very sedentary lifestyle don't get a working dog such as Border Collies, Jack Russel terrier, Labrador retrievers and other performance dogs. They require a lot of physical activities. Not giving them their canine needs would result to boredom that will result to unwanted and destructive behavior which all of us owners don't want to happen. If you still want to get a dog consider some toy breeds or other breeds that are docile in nature.
4. Training - Regardless of the breed you choose, training is essential, we don't want our dogs to develop destructive and undesirable behaviors. Through training, we can make our canine friends good pets. If you think you cannot fulfill this obligation of training your dogs, it's better to not get a dog at all.
5. Grooming - If you could tolerate dog hairs scattered in your house, if you don't have allergies, it's ok to have furry dogs such as a Chow chow, Poodle, Shi Tzu or a Golden retriever. These dogs require a lot of grooming. If you are prepared to allocate money for grooming furry dog breeds then go get one.
6. Dog Gender- Choosing a dog whether if it's a male or female has it's consequences. If you're going to choose a male, be prepared for escape acts as male dogs can smell females in heat several miles away. They are also prone to dog aggression because of high levels of testosterone specially breeds that are known to be dog aggressive such as the terrier group, specifically the American Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrier, the English Bulldog and others that exhibits high levels of dog aggression. If you're going to get a female, be prepared for unwanted guests to circle around your house when she's in heat.
If you're looking for dogs that performs for a specific purpose such as guarding, herding, sports, tracking,retrieving and protection purposes go to akc.org or ukc.org to know specific breeds that performs these particular tasks that I have mentioned.
If you don't have enough time,space,or money to take care of the needs of your future pet dog specially a purebred one, consider cancelling your plan of getting one but if you insist why not adopt a mutt or rescued dog from an animal shelter.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Welcome to the Dog's World
Welcome to my blog! If you are a dog owner, or someone who's looking for a dog and have not yet decided which dog you want to have or simply love dogs this is the right place for you. In this blog, I'll feature articles about different dog breeds,help you how to choose a breed,tips on providing them good nutrition,provide you health information and dog training tips,responsible ownership and everything you need else you need to know about living with a dog.
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