Which is exactly OUR point as this dog 
is constantly accused of being a "pitbull"!
Posted on 04/16/2009 5:47:41 AM PDT by meandog
Any dog who can pretend to snore while keeping one eye open on the sly is a keeper for sure! And as far as her new family is concerned—not to mention the entire neighborhood—Scarlet the pit bull is more than just a keeper. She’s an inspiration. Wes and Melissia McBride of Rolla, Missouri, were on the Best Friends website hoping to find a dog to adopt. At first, they thought perhaps one of the Vicktory dogs, but most of them are still not ready for homes. When they contacted Best Friends, the adoption staffers pointed them toward Scarlet on Adorable Adoptables. Melissia says that one look at Scarlet’s picture was all it took—oh, and it didn’t hurt one bit that Scarlet’s description said she is a snuggler! It was time to come out and meet her.
If they had any doubts whatsoever, they were laid to rest the moment they laid eyes on Scarlet. To set the scene, Scarlet came riding up in a golf cart for that first “meet and greet.” As soon as she saw them, Scarlet ran over and jumped up to pass out some slobbery kisses! It was love at first sight both ways.
And it has been love at first sight ever since. Back home, Scarlet and the four kids in the family (ages seven through fourteen) are inseparable. She knows when their school bus arrives and everything. When the kids get home, Scarlet is there, ready to say hello. All the other school kids love her, too, as does the rest of the neighborhood and every customer who sets foot in the store where Wes and Melissia work.
You see, they bring Scarlet to work, where she feels obligated to greet every single stranger as though the person was a favorite aunt or uncle. You can’t help but love this girl! "She’s a real spokesman for her breed," says Melissia. People who used to have negative feelings about pitties are changing their minds after a few minutes with Scarlet.
Scarlet came to Best Friends years ago as a survivor from Hurricane Katrina. Only a youngster back then, Scarlet has been biding her time, waiting for the perfect home. Looks like she finally found it! Congrats, Scarlet. You deserve to have an entire town fall in love with you.
> Nope! There would only be a discipline problem if the command wasn’t obeyed which has never happened..
It is a discipline problem whether you realize it or not. First, your dog should never be in a position of using something that is “yours”. That all too easily lends itself to dispute should your dog decide to test its position in your Pack, as most dogs occasionally do.
Second, your dog should never be in a position where its eye-level is elevated relative to humans. Never. A dog on a couch has its eye level at about three-year-old height: which is the age where a surprising number of kids get bitten. In the face.
In the photos you also see several pictures of the dog looking down on the human. That too is a big mistake.
> I’d hate to be around your dogs if you don’t realize this and I am seriously beginning to question your claim as a trainer.
Fortunately for me, I do not need to prove my credentials as a dog trainer to you. My dogs behave well and, for me, that is sufficient proof of my credibility. Equally fortunately for my dogs, they will never need to learn bad habits from you.
It sounds to me like both you and your dogs may be in need of remedial training.
> Incidentally, a dog often confused with your “Dog of Peace” discription is considered a hero by your country’s armed forces: Click Here for the story of Caesar.
Caesar was a Bulldog. Only a ninny mistakes a Bulldog for a Pit Bull.
> Guess old DieHard didn’t much like the idea of the ANZAC forces honoring a “Dog of Peace”?
A Bulldog is not a Pit Bull.
ROTFLOL...I'm traing dogs not pre-school children! In dog training a command is given and it is obeyed or training is unaccomplished. I could care less where a dog chooses to lie but when I command it to come, sit, stay, heel, lie, attack, release or "get off the couch" it better do what and when it is commanded to do (which, in my case, ALWAYS happens).
Fortunately for me, I do not need to prove my credentials as a dog trainer to you. My dogs behave well and, for me, that is sufficient proof of my credibility.
As for me!
Which is exactly OUR point as this dog is constantly accused of being a "pitbull"!
Take a deep breath, DieHard, because I believe you're confusing the English Bulldog (mascot, incidentally of my alma mater) with what is probably the Olde English Bulldogge...this might help you in distingishing "bully" breeds: click here
The point being, (and please review my profile page) many folks over here and, I now really suspect in New Zealand as well, cannot tell what exactly a so-called "pitbull" actually looks like. So, to you and other "pitbull" experts here please take this test click here ...of course we'll have to depend upon your honesty in disclosing your answer.
> The point being, (and please review my profile page) many folks over here and, I now really suspect in New Zealand as well, cannot tell what exactly a so-called “pitbull” actually looks like.
“Pit Bulls” are not a breed, as I have said for a very long time on many threads. They are a mungrel aggregation of random dogs bred for vicious temperament, usually by NZ motorcycle gangs, often for fighting and always for intimidation purposes. They are virtually untrainable and they have no merit.
None of the dogs on your profile page are “Pit Bulls” as I would understand the term.
Here's some that you might understand are PBTs click here
Incidentally, I reviewed your profile page and see that you describe yourself as "extremely patriotic." During Vietnam (yes, I am that old) I was associated (no combat) with some Kiwis of the 1st Batt. Royal NZ Infantry Regiment (they still feature red square diamond insignia on their uniform, I believe) in DaNang. They were very professional soldiers and a credit to their country. NZ also sent in an artillery battery somewhere down south of the country (one of the providences) which was extremely effective in keeping many Americans alive today.
It all depends on the dog as an individual, as well as the preferences of the owner. This dog might be laid back enough tha she can be treated this way.
My dog leans, climbs on the furniture, and pushes people with his head when he’s testing his boundaries. When he’s well behaved, he lies on the floor and doesn’t come near unless he’s called. I prefer this to the super friendly, bouncy personality that some pits have.
Even my chihuahua, who is driven by instinct to burrow into the nearest armpit he can find, will only do so when invited.
Include me with Kanawa. I have 30 years experience with dogs and I disagree with you. 15 of those years were spent raising and TRAINING wolf hybrids. I respect your opinions on many things, but this time I disagree.
> I have 30 years experience with dogs and I disagree with you.
Fair enough — given that this thread examines a number of dog issues, on which of these issues do you disagree with me?
> NZ also sent in an artillery battery somewhere down south of the country (one of the providences) which was extremely effective in keeping many Americans alive today.
Yes indeed, two of the battery are members of our local RSA. From time to time I’ve enjoyed a pint or three with them.
This dog came from the Best Friends Animal Society, whose dog trainers are incredibly experienced with working with dogs that have all kinds of issues, from serious aggression against people, to severe shyness, to PTSD due to coming out of a war zone in Lebanon (just an example of a few types of cases they work with). They were also responsible for bringing 22 of Michael Vick's pit bulls back to DogTown to rehabilitate them. The dogs are making amazing progress, this coming from one of the trainers I spoke with. Work with them is continuing, and one of them is close to adoption!! (story below)
Their dog trainers are very aware of signs of dominance & potential aggression, and watch the dogs they are training very carefully for those signs. I work with an animal rescue group not all that far from Best Friends, and see their adoption/dog training staff on a semi-regular basis. I also have been out to DogTown, their actual facility in Kanab, Utah. Does this make me personally an expert in dog behavior? No, and I'm not claiming to be. I can simply say the first sentence confidently because I have personally talked with their trainers, and have seen some of their techniques while I was at their facility.
Best Friends trainers are especially aware of signs of dominance/aggression of their own dogs. These pictures were sent to, and posted by, Best Friends on their own website. I feel very certain that if the trainers saw these pictures & had even a bit of concern over what they saw, that they would not post them. I'm sure they would instead contact the adoptive family that the dog is with & talk with them about it.
If Best Friends is not concerned about Scarlet showing dominant behavior based on those pictures, especially how well they know the signs & they know that particular dog, there's really no reason for anyone else to have that concern. Since they are not, I know I am not / :-)
As far as the dog laying on the couch, Best Friends clearly is not a bit concerned about that either, or they would not have posted the picture, as it would show a bad example for others.
There's another pit bull named Halle that was rehabilitated at Best Friends...Halle was actually one of the Michael Vick dogs (now known as the Vicktory dogs at Best Friends). Halle went to a home where after a 6-month waiting period, she can be adopted! I know I've told Halle's story before, but it's worth repeating, because the picture that accompanied Halle's story on the Best Friends website shows Halle laying on the couch with her friend (and likely soon to be brother, Tacoma, also a pit bull). Again, if Best Friends was concerned that that could be a sign of dominance, they would have contacted the family instead of posting the picture of what would be a "bad example".
Here's that picture of Halle & Tacoma:
Also, check out this video taken of Halle while she was at Best Friends.
I can understand where some of you would have those concerns after watching "Dog Whisperer", or elsewhere, but I hope you can see another side of it now by other (numerous) dog trainers who are experts in behavior (especially coming from their own pit bulls & other dogs).
Actually, they have their own show on National Geographic, the same channel that airs the "Dog Whisperer". It is called "DogTown", and is really worth watching. It follows the trainers around as they work with various dogs. You should check it out!! It airs on Friday evenings, but I'm almost positive they have reruns of it during the following week.
DogTown on National Geographic
Getting back to what this thread was originally about ~ thanks so much for posting this, meandog! I love reading about success stories like this!!
:-)
Thank you for al that great information......
Without wanting to belabor a point or bad-mouth fellow dog trainers, dog training has not really changed much in hundreds or even thousands of years. It is not a good idea to allow dogs onto furniture and it is not a good idea to tolerate dominant behaviors. Never has been: and I was taught how to train dogs properly. So I guess I remain unconvinced and skeptical, tho’ willing to keep an open mind.
Obviously I am hoping that Scarlet works out fine because it would be churlish not to hope that.
Equally, if Best Friends Animal Society can do something positive for Vick’s dogs that can only be a good thing: no dog deserves to be put thru what they went thru. Not even Pit Bulls, a mixed variety of mungrel mutt for which I have little time and even less use. (and no I don’t mean Staffys or Kanawa’s dog &tc)
Speaking personally, rehabilitating pit-fighting dogs is not a task I would relish, and I’d probably decline. It would be a difficult and dangerous task, and I would never be comfortable that I’d done the job adequately. So if Best Friends Animal Society can rehabilitate them reliably and effectively, good on ‘em. It is a better alternative to euthanizing them, which would be the only other humane alternative.
Best Friends is my charity of choice. I even have a credit card where my points go to them. I think the way they were able to help the Vick dogs was an amazing story, but I have supported them since way before. It’s a great organization.
Great story. Thanks.
As for the ‘experts’ coming outta the woodwork tell them all...Bite it. :)
Here's a photo of my rottie exhibiting dangerously dominant behavior while being brushed:
She's allowed on one loveseat to rest her sore old hips...but even though she's the primary occupant of said loveseat, she gets off without even a mutter if a human wants to sit there.
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