Dog Toys

Dog toys are essential to keeping most dogs, not all, entertained. Toys help enhance exercise and playtime. They can enhance dental care (ropes). And, play toys can enhance the dog’s chewing urges on things he’s supposed to chew.

I find that PetStages Dog Toys has a great assortment of toys that can suit dogs of all ages. Most of the toys are more geared towards smaller and medium sized dogs, but the chew toys, comfort toys, and teething toys, can work wonders on the new APBT puppy.

You can find other great toys that will keep your pup entertained. You can try Kong Toys, ropes, squeaky toys, and other toys such as treat releasers, puzzle games, and tennis balls. In most cases, dogs, like children, will have their favorite type of toy. My APBT puppy loves ropes; they help release her chew inhibitions and increase dental care.

Not every dog likes every toy. And, not every dog likes toys. But, it’s up to you, the pet parent, to find your pup’s favorite, which may even be the paper towel roll or a balled up piece of paper. But, in any cases, find what your dog likes, and stick with it…

APBT Dog

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a great and loyal breed. They would die defending their pet parents, and that's not exaggeration.

Like other breeds the American Pit Bull and its cousin bully breed dogs deserve rehabilitation and the chance for a new life in a new home. Just because they may have a history in the pit, doesn't mean that they should be discriminated against as a viscious, man-eating breed. That was a past, and unfortunate present, but not all individuals in a breed should suffer as a part.



This sad past, present, and hopefully, unlikely future should not be affected by breed specific legislations. As once these laws begin to take affect in more than a handful of cities, it will overtake our nation. This is not the world I want to see, and it is not the world I want my APBT puppy growing up to know.



I'm tired of seeing this poor breed and its bully counterparts being shoved into the euthanasia room at the city pound becuase they were born with a bad reputation. It's just not fair. This sort of discrimination was fought against when humans were involved (Nazi Germany and Slavery amongst a few other times), who will fight for our dogs?!

The American Pit Bull Terrier is the true American breed, not the Labrador Retriever or the Golden Retriever, but the AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER! This breed is a famous breed that shares a strong portion of the American history. They are a part of search and rescue groups, pet therapy organizations, drug dogs, military companions, and other wonderful groups across the United States that help aid our country.

And, lately, I've seen APBT puppies in Old Navy commercials. I'm sure that I'm one of the hopeful APBT lovers that hope that this will be the start of a new age and a new beginning for the breed that has so stolen our hearts.

Dealing with reckless owners and very dangerous dogs

Published on Friday, December 14, 2007

When it comes to laws that regulate “dangerous dogs,” there is at least one fact that is hard to dispute: Dogs permitted by their owners to run loose and dogs who attack people or other animals are real and often serious problems in communities across the country. The more vexing and contentious issue arises in figuring out how to best address this. While many states, including New York, Texas and Illinois, favor laws that identify, track and regulate dangerous dogs regardless of breed and prohibit “breed-specific” laws that either regulate or ban a certain breed of dog, some local governments have enacted breed-specific laws. However, the problem of “dangerous dogs” will not be remedied by the “quick fix” of breed-specific laws.

There is no evidence that breed-specific laws—which are costly and difficult to enforce—make communities safer for human families or for the companion animals who are a part of so many households. And it turns out, such laws also have negative and wholly unintended consequences.

For example, a task force formed in 2003 to study the effectiveness of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, pit bull ban estimated that the county spends more than $250,000 each year to enforce the ban. Further, in a report to the County Council, the task force noted that “public safety is not improved as a result of [the ban],” and that “there is no transgression committed by owner or animal that is not covered by another, non-breed specific portion of the Animal Control Code (i.e., vicious animal, nuisance animal, leash laws).” The task force recommended that Prince George’s County repeal the ban.

Breed-specific laws also cause unintended hardship to responsible owners of entirely friendly, properly supervised and well-socialized dogs who happen to fall within the regulated breed category. Regulated breeds, it is worth noting, have expanded in some localities to include not just American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, bull terriers and Rottweilers, but also a variety of other dogs, including American bulldogs, mastiffs, Dalmatians, chow chows, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers and any mix of these breeds. Although these dog owners have done nothing to endanger the public, they may be required to comply with onerous regulations. Sadly, these responsible caretakers may be forced to choose between costly compliance and giving up their beloved companion.

Moreover, in their study of human fatalities resulting from dog bites, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) did not support the breed-specific approach. They cited, among other problems, the inaccuracy of dog bite data and the difficulty in identifying dog breeds (especially true of mixed breeds). They also noted the likelihood that as certain breeds are regulated, those who exploit dogs by making them aggressive will merely turn to other, unregulated breeds.

Significantly, the CDC also noted how many other factors beyond breed may affect a dog’s tendency toward aggression—things such as heredity, sex, early experience, reproductive status and socialization and training.
These last two concerns seem well-founded given that more than 70 percent of all dog bite cases involve unneutered male dogs, and that an unneutered male dog is 2.6 times more likely to bite than is a neutered dog. In addition, a chained or tethered dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than a dog who is not chained or tethered. Further, 97 percent of dogs involved in fatal dog attacks in 2006 were not spayed/neutered; 78 percent were maintained not as pets but rather for guarding, image enhancement, fighting or breeding; and 84 percent were maintained by reckless owners—abused or neglected, not humanely controlled or contained, or allowed to interact with children unsupervised.

Perhaps the most unintended yet harmful consequence of breed-specific laws is their tendency to compromise rather than enhance public safety. When limited animal control resources are used to regulate or ban a certain breed of dog, without regard to behavior, the focus is shifted away from routine, effective enforcement of laws that have the best chance of making our communities safer: dog license laws, leash laws, animal fighting laws, anti-tethering laws, laws facilitating spaying and neutering and laws that require all dog owners to control their dogs, regardless of breed.

Unfortunately, these laws are often only enforced when a tragedy occurs, rather than as a routine function of law enforcement and animal control.

Solutions

Recognizing that the problem of dangerous dogs requires serious attention, the ASPCA seeks effective enforcement of breed-neutral laws that hold dog owners accountable for the actions of their animals. The ASPCA believes that this is the most reliable way to control aggressive dogs and reckless owners.

(Source: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys - Defending Dog - Bull Breed Alliance of Tennessee

Vick's Sentence Shows America's Racist Ways

New America Media, Commentary, Charles Jones, Posted: Dec
11, 2007

Editor's Note: Atlanta Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick was
sentenced to two years in prison for running a dogfighting ring out
of his home and some dog-lovers are up in arms over – what they say –
is not enough time. But New America Media commentator Charles Jones
says that the reaction of some Americans to the Vick case gives away
their contradictory views regarding black men.

Michael Vick doesn't deserve the almost two years the Feds slapped
on him this week for fighting and killing pit bulls. But he was
lucky to get 23 months – it's not the five or six years I thought he
would get. I'm sure that Michael Vick is as close to elated as
possible, under the circumstances.

With Vick's sentencing out of the way, maybe his critics can back
off and stop couch quarterbacking his legal proceedings. If there is
any good luck Vick has had over this past year, it's that the dog-
loving world isn't his judge and jury. If they were, he would have
been lucky to get off with the legal maximum.

When I checked out comments responding to an article about his
sentencing, I wasn't surprised to see the PETA (People for Ethical
Treatment of Animals) crowd disgruntled about how "short" his prison
term is. I wasn't even surprised to see the number of people who
actually equate the value of a dog's life to that of a human. People
who seriously feel that Vick should be executed or banned from pro-
football for life just rub me the wrong way – especially because a
lot of what I've heard in the media concerning this case has racist
undertones.

Black people have a history in this country of having our lives
valued at less than those of dogs. We were only 3/5th human after
all.

I know, some of you are thinking: "Race-card! Race-card! Out of
context!"

But, consider this contradiction: Vick and co. were fighting pit
bulls – a breed that has been deemed so vicious that mainstream
America is increasingly working toward eradicating them. Cities like
San Francisco have adopted strict neutering and euthanization laws
for these dogs. Mainstream America hates, fears and mistrusts pit
bulls damn near as much as they do young African Americans like
Michael Vick.

Maybe that's why the hood loves pit bulls so much. Maybe it's that
they are as feared and mistrusted by mainstream society as we are –
and they make people think twice about robbing your house.

My neighbor is a 10-year PETA member. This neighbor not only stays
away from pit bulls, but even complained (and exaggerated) to my
landlord that a "vicious dog" was roaming the complex when I allowed
my two-year-old daughter to play outside our apartment with a
friend's two-and-a-half- month-old pit bull puppy. My landlord
freaked, the puppy was banned from the property and I was threatened
with eviction if he was ever seen within our gates again. I have
personal experience with how people deal with pit bulls.

So to feign this care for all dogs and fake like the fact that
Vick is black has nothing to do with the public vitriol that
surrounds him is just dog doo-doo. Michael Vick is in prison where
men and women all over this country are beaten, raped and stabbed
daily. And he'll be there for at least two years. To say that he
deserves a murder sentence because he abused or even killed a few
dogs belonging to a breed that the powers that be would like to kill
off, is ludicrous and shows how very little a young black male's
life means to America at the subconscious core of her being.

Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys - Defending Dog - Bull Breed Alliance of
Tennessee

'Best friend' bites tot

Although, I personally, do not agree with the manner that was taken after the dog bit the child, they chose to euthanize him. Although, the cause of the bite was not aggressive, as the dog wanted food, the future of the dog could have been different versus euthansia. I believe that the dog could have found a home with another family.


Wed, December 12, 2007
By JENNIFER O'BRIEN, SUN MEDIA

MOM MEDICINE: Melissa Price kisses her 22-month-old daughter, Ava, the day after child was bitten by Mugsy, her family's pit bull. (DEREK RUTTAN Sun Media)

A London toddler is recovering after the family pit bull terrier ripped into her cheek, leaving her with about 25 stitches.

Ava Price, 22 months old, spent several hours in hospital, 45 minutes getting stitches and will likely need reconstructive surgery by age 10.

The pit bull, Ava's "best friend," is to be put down.

The attack occurred Monday when the girl was left alone in a toy room with the dog, as she had been "100 times before," only this time the dog had a bone, said Melissa Price, Ava's mother.

"We had this dog for eight months and we all loved and cherished this dog and at no point did we think that she was aggressive or going to be aggressive," said Price, who has three other kids at home.

"But now, I truly don't think a pit bull should be a family pet," she said.

London police investigated, and no charges were laid.

Price said a visit from Children's Aid yesterday went "fine."

She agreed to talk to reporters about the case, hoping to provide a warning to other families with pit bulls.

Ontario banned the squat, muscular dogs in 2005, the first North American jurisdiction to do so, after a series of highly publicized attacks on humans and other dogs.

Pit bulls already in Ontario before the ban took effect were spared, but subjected to tough restrictions under the law, such as mandatory muzzles when the dogs are in public.

"I love that dog to pieces -- I still wish she was here with us -- and I still do not support the ban on pit bulls," Price said.

"But I do not think a pit bull is a good family pet, especially if you have small children."

Ava Price, 22 months old, received 25 stitches on her face; the pit bull will be put down.

Despite a painful looking gash yesterday, Ava happily sipped back juice and climbed around her mom's legs.

"They were best friends," said Price of Ava and Mugsy. "She would hop on (the dog's) back and ride her like a horse, and they would chase each other all around the house.

"She's going to miss her."

As her mom spoke, Ava puttered around the living room coffee table, eating and dropping some hot dog pieces.

"She's dropping hot dogs on the floor for the dog," said Jenny, a community support worker that visits the family through the city's Hostel to Homes program.

Like other relatives and friends in the busy home yesterday, Jenny -- who declined to give her last name -- praised Mugsy as a good- natured dog loved by Ava and Price's other children.

Ava's siblings said they were devastated to learn Mugsy would be destroyed.

"I'm sad," said Nicholas, 9.

Added seven-year-old Mariah: "I want (Mugsy) to come back, but we can't have a doggy."

On Monday, Mugsy had a bone in the toy room, said Price, who thinks Ava must have tried to take the bone.

She imagines Mugsy bit Ava in an attempt to get the bone, but instead tore into her right cheek, which was left hanging.

Price was in the kitchen, about two metres away, and said she didn't hear anything.

But a cousin who was visiting heard a whimper, went into the hall and found Ava sitting on the floor and holding her cheek.

Mugsy was in the corner, "looking frightened," said Price.

"I truly, honestly believe the baby was playing with the dog . . . Judging by the bloody trail marks, it looks like the baby was trying to take her bone and (the dog) bit her face," said Price.

"I always had an understanding there was a chance of a pit bull being dangerous, but I gave this dog a chance."

Mugsy has been quarantined with Animal Care & Control, said Jay Stanford, London's manager of environmental services.

"The owners have signed over to have the dog be destroyed, so they have taken responsibility, " said Stanford.

The family could be charged under a city bylaw since the dog wasn't licensed, he said.

THE LAW ON PIT BULLS
- Ontario banned the powerful, broad-shouldered dogs in March 2005 and slapped restrictions on existing ones.
- In London, the dogs make up about four per cent of the city's 25,000 licensed dogs, but chew up a quarter of the time spent on animal control, a city report says.

San Antonio City Council Approves Controversial Ordinance (Texas)

New Pet Ordinance Approved San Antonio City Council Approves Controversial Ordinance

SAN ANTONIO -- Local pet owners take notice – the city of San Antonio has a new ordinance with many new rules.

City Council members spent most of Thursday discussing the ordinance before unanimously passing it.

The ordinance includes new definitions defining dangerous animals, fines for animal cruelty, licensing for breeders and other fees.

Thirty residents – both for and against the ordinance – spoke before the council voted.

Effective immediately, animals deemed dangerous will have to wear a special collar, be kept in an enclosure, be muzzled when outside the enclosure and will have a microchip implanted by the city.

Owners will also have to post warning signs alerting of the dangerous animal.

Jef Hale, the director of Animal Care Services, said his staff will do their best to balance public safety as well as the rights of pet owners.

Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys - Defending Dog - Bull Breed Alliance of Tennessee

Pet Names

Pet names can be important in how people see your dog. So, when choosing a name, there are different things you may want to consider.

Think about personality.

Make it short so that the dog won't confuse its name with commands.

Consider uniqueness. (Think about your favorite book, movie, band, car, food, drink, etc.)

When it comes to naming an American Pit Bull Terrier, you always want to consider what image you want to portray. I mean if you name a poodle, 'Killer,' it doesn't give the same connotation as an APBT with the same name. In many situations, giving American Pit Bulls a strong, dominant name can, and more than likely, will strike fear on others.

There are so many names that are in-between names. You know, those that are vicious sounded yet not whimpy, either.

You can consider a variety of names for you APBT, in many cases personality is the key.