Comments on: Ahimsa Pit Bull Muzzle Myths http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/2008/04/30/pit-bull-seminar-myths/ News, Tips, and Information Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:28:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Cris Cartledge http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/2008/04/30/pit-bull-seminar-myths/#comment-117 Cris Cartledge Thu, 29 May 2008 17:42:37 +0000 http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/?p=108#comment-117 I myself attended one of Grisha’s Bully Breed Seminar and I found the seminar to be extremely informative. We were provided with a wealth of information about the various responsibilities involved with owning such a dog. Grisha discussed topics which included training, exercise, socialization, mental stimulation, aggression, management and safety. She did discuss the use of muzzles in certain situations as a safety measure, but in no way did she ever state that all bully breed dogs require a muzzle. Her emphasis was the option for the proper and appropriate use of a muzzle on certain dogs. Not on all dogs. Grisha also discussed leashes, collars, crate training, training tools, etc. Muzzles were not the emphasis of the seminar. Personally I was impressed that she was able to pack so much information in a reasonable amount of time. ‘Pit bull’ owners have to be more diligent and responsible than the average dog owner, that is a fact; it's not fair but still a fact. In order for us owners to bring about a more positive perception of these wonderful breeds we need to know and learn everything we can to take of these great canines. That includes keeping us educated about proper diet, training, socialization, and the proper use of various tools – including muzzles. We all need to talk, the more we talk, the more we can learn. Personally, the more I can learn about the needs of my bully mix and the needs of the many bully breed dogs I’ve fostered for the last 3 years – the better I can provide a higher quality of life for these beautiful dogs. I myself attended one of Grisha’s Bully Breed Seminar and I found the seminar to be extremely informative. We were provided with a wealth of information about the various responsibilities involved with owning such a dog. Grisha discussed topics which included training, exercise, socialization, mental stimulation, aggression, management and safety. She did discuss the use of muzzles in certain situations as a safety measure, but in no way did she ever state that all bully breed dogs require a muzzle. Her emphasis was the option for the proper and appropriate use of a muzzle on certain dogs. Not on all dogs.
Grisha also discussed leashes, collars, crate training, training tools, etc. Muzzles were not the emphasis of the seminar. Personally I was impressed that she was able to pack so much information in a reasonable amount of time.
‘Pit bull’ owners have to be more diligent and responsible than the average dog owner, that is a fact; it’s not fair but still a fact. In order for us owners to bring about a more positive perception of these wonderful breeds we need to know and learn everything we can to take of these great canines. That includes keeping us educated about proper diet, training, socialization, and the proper use of various tools – including muzzles. We all need to talk, the more we talk, the more we can learn. Personally, the more I can learn about the needs of my bully mix and the needs of the many bully breed dogs I’ve fostered for the last 3 years – the better I can provide a higher quality of life for these beautiful dogs.

]]> By: Jill http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/2008/04/30/pit-bull-seminar-myths/#comment-111 Jill Thu, 01 May 2008 16:06:13 +0000 http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/?p=108#comment-111 I agree. I think this is really a discussion about safety equipment versus politics. Of course I don't want people to perceive my bully dog as dangerous. But if I have the ability to use very inexpensive safety equipment ($13) to prevent an injury to another dog while doing a dog introduction, I'm going to do it. I'm also not going to cut out the seat belts of my car, for the same reason. I'm a good driver, have over 30 years of experience driving, and have never been responsible for an accident. But I still wear seat belts. I don't worry about other people seeing me wear them and thinking, "hey, she's wearing a seat belt, which must mean she's an unsafe driver". It's safety equipment - designed to prevent a costly injury due to what....what are we really worried about? Answer: AN ACCIDENT. Are we so vain that we believe we can control 100% of the elements that go into a dog introduction? Can we guarantee that we've done enough pre-work? Are we able to predict, with 100% accuracy, the behavior of our own dog, of the other dog, of the handler of the other dog? And of the environment? Of course not. Are we so overly confident, that we are saying we NEVER make mistakes? Do bridges not collapse? Do planes not crash? Are hospital patients never given the wrong medication? Do we sometimes, even surprise ourselves with our OWN behavior? While these probabilities of disaster are small, they still happen, and we still should take steps to prevent them. And although I may have worked for literally months on getting my dog ready for a close up introduction with another dog, I'm willing to put a piece of plastic on her head that costs me $13 to prevent an accident. This is really all we're talking about. Safety equipment to prevent accidents. Plain and simple. I'm not disabling the air bags in my car, or cutting out my seat belts, or removing the smoke detectors in my house...or after spending many, many weeks working on gradually introducing my dog to another dog...going to stop using my muzzle as a way to guarantee 100%, that an accident doesn't happen. I agree. I think this is really a discussion about safety equipment versus politics. Of course I don’t want people to perceive my bully dog as dangerous. But if I have the ability to use very inexpensive safety equipment ($13) to prevent an injury to another dog while doing a dog introduction, I’m going to do it.

I’m also not going to cut out the seat belts of my car, for the same reason. I’m a good driver, have over 30 years of experience driving, and have never been responsible for an accident. But I still wear seat belts. I don’t worry about other people seeing me wear them and thinking, “hey, she’s wearing a seat belt, which must mean she’s an unsafe driver”. It’s safety equipment - designed to prevent a costly injury due to what….what are we really worried about? Answer: AN ACCIDENT.

Are we so vain that we believe we can control 100% of the elements that go into a dog introduction? Can we guarantee that we’ve done enough pre-work? Are we able to predict, with 100% accuracy, the behavior of our own dog, of the other dog, of the handler of the other dog? And of the environment? Of course not.

Are we so overly confident, that we are saying we NEVER make mistakes? Do bridges not collapse? Do planes not crash? Are hospital patients never given the wrong medication? Do we sometimes, even surprise ourselves with our OWN behavior?

While these probabilities of disaster are small, they still happen, and we still should take steps to prevent them. And although I may have worked for literally months on getting my dog ready for a close up introduction with another dog, I’m willing to put a piece of plastic on her head that costs me $13 to prevent an accident. This is really all we’re talking about. Safety equipment to prevent accidents. Plain and simple.

I’m not disabling the air bags in my car, or cutting out my seat belts, or removing the smoke detectors in my house…or after spending many, many weeks working on gradually introducing my dog to another dog…going to stop using my muzzle as a way to guarantee 100%, that an accident doesn’t happen.

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