Why Should You Adopt A Dog?

Even the vicious American Pit Bulls and mixes thereof, need to be adopted from pet shelters. There are so many myths about adopting dogs and other pets from animal shelters, but there are even more about adopting Pit Bulls and mixes from shelters and pit bull rescues.(By the way the picture to the left, is of Bubba a blue APBT that is wearing a gentle leader, NOT a muzzle, and has been up for adoption; the picture was posted by jumping lab on Flickr.com.)

Many people believe that because the dog is at the shelter it is prone to being agressive and it'll never be able to live in a home environment with a family. Both of these are of course not true.

I've known many a purebred and mix Pit Bull and pit bull type dogs get adopted from shelters and end up in loving homes as indoor, family pets. It's possible. It really is.

For general information about adopting dogs and puppies from shelters, you can check out the following article, just remember that the same rules apply to adopting American Pit Bull Terriers and mixes thereof. The only difference is that you want to make sure that the dog is 100% able to live in your family with your lifestyle. Ask the shelter if it's possible to foster the dog for a few days to a week to decide if the dog will truly fit, as you'd hate to have to bring him back if otherwise.

Anyway, here's the article. I hope it's helpful.

Why Should You Adopt a Dog

Housetraining Puppies

When bringing home a new puppy or dog, you want to make it a part of the family, so why throw it in the backyard? Let the new dog hang out inside and really be a part of the family.

The tip is good housetraining. Once you get housetraining down, your dog or puppy will tell you when he's ready to go outside instead of soiling your carpet, tile, or hardwood floors.

There are several methods to successful housetraining. The easiest of which is crate training, followed by a few lesser used and known methods. Find the best that is easiest for you and your dog.

How to House Train Your Puppy

How Puppies Learn

When training a puppy, it's best to understand how puppies learn so that you can ensure successful training. Puppies do best with repetition and practice. You also want to implement positive training sessions.

When training your new puppy, make sure to make the experience a pleasant one. The more enjoyable and fun the training sessions, the more your puppy will get out of it.

Puppies are like sponges and will soak up everything, so watch out what you do around them that may possible increase an unwanted or wanted behavior in the future.

For more information about raising and training puppies, plus to find out how puppies learn, check out the following link.

How Do Puppies Learn?

Schedule of Puppy Vaccinations

It's very important to keep up with your puppy's vaccinations in order to prevent core and non-core diseases. In order to ensure a long and healthy life, core vaccinations are definitely a must have.

Core vaccinations include: Parvo, distemper, infectious hepatitis, rabies.

Non-core vaccinations include: Parainfluenza, Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough), Leptospirosis, Lyme.

For more information, check out
Schedule of Puppy Vaccinations and Common Diseases

Dog GPS Tracking Devices

GPS tracking devices are a great means of tracking your dog in field events and if you have a large yard area, but I wouldn't use them as a sole means of tracking for your dog. Pet GPS tracking devices are run off of batteries, so the batteries can die; they also only have a certain distance from the home that they'll track, so once the dog has surpassed that distance, they no longer track properly. Also, because they are a little bulky, they can be easily spotted and removed by a passerby, or they can get stuck on something and possibly slip off.

Although, there are so many reasons as to why they may not work, they are a good investment for those with large yards and those who use their dogs in field events.

For more information about pet tracking device, check out
Dog GPS Tracking Devices

Puppy Temperament Tests

When picking out a puppy from a litter at the breeder's house or at the shelter, there are several temperament tests that you should perform to make sure that the puppy you choose is the right puppy for you.

There are different tests to determine dominance vs submission, dependence vs independence, prey drive, retrieval drive, and sound sensitivity.

You want to make sure to appropriately match the puppy's temperament with your experience as a dog owner and trainer. You don't want to bring hom an overly dominant and independent puppy if you have minimal experience with dogs.

To check out the exact tests, click
Puppy Temperament Tests

Dog Training

Anyone who either has a Pit Bull or knows someone who does, knows and understands the amount of training that goes into keeping them socialized and well-behaved. American Pit Bull Terriers can be very strong willed and stubborn dogs, not to mention dominant, if you let them have the run of the house without proper training, that is.

I've comprised a fairly comprehensive list of dog training techniques and tips that you will find at the link below. I hope that anyone considering bringing a Pit Bull or a mix into their life reads the article and finds the various links and hubs about dog training useful.

Just remember that training begins the day you bring the dog home, and you should not stop training even when you think your dog is 100%. Continue dog training in regards to basic obedience for the entrie span of the dog's life. Move onto tricks and other commands, as you will to keep the dog mentally stimulated, as well.

Dog Training Tips, Help, and Techniques

How to Choose a Dog Crate

When choosing a dog crate, you want to take into account where you're going to put the crate, what style of crate, and what size crate. All three of these things will determine what crate is best for you and your dog.

Remember to never put more than one dog per crate, even puppies, because when you can't watch the dogs, you can't stop or interrupt a quarrel, which can result in a trip to the vet to treat minor to sever injuries.

Choosing the right dog crate is important in successful house training and safety. It prevents the dog from tearing up your house and potentially injuring himself. Plus, to most dogs, the crate is a place of security where he can retreat to be alone and rest.

The one main component to proper crate training is that you never use the crate as a means of punishment.

For more information, check out
How to Choose a Dog Crate

Tough Dog Toys

I know it's been a while.. Honestly, I've had other things on my mind, and well I just plain forgot how far behind I've gotten with blogging.

Well, as promise a LONG time ago, here's a fun article about the trials and tribulations of picking out a dog toy that will outlast the toughest chewers.

Although, to date, I haven't been the most successful at finding the perfect one, maybe some of the stories and pictures will help you find the one for your dog. I mean, yea Pit Bull tend to be tough chewers, but not all chew the same rate or have the same destructive tendencies.

You'll find the tire toy and yanker's toys, as well as a few others. The site will be updated as I try more and more toys. I currently need to add the firehouse dog toy, which sadly to say was completely and udderly destroyed in about two days.

Anyway, for more information, check below.

Tough Dog Toys: Destruction of the Dog Toy