huski

I use my 4ft leather leash all the time in trialling! I can't use anything other than leather, yuck! But I have a 1/2 inch one braided one I always use for trialling

GSD PLEASE. It's crucial after ANY training session! (and before and during and...)

Bec means she put Daisy to bed and then Bec consumes multiple bottles of wine and then everything is simple after that ;) It works like magic every time!!

As long as your dog is fit and healthy and you are committed to doing some training I don't see a reason why you couldn't give agility a go. There are beginners classes around that are suitable for dogs who haven't had that much previous training, although some places require you to have basic obedience first. My dog is four years old and we have only just started agility this year, we come from an obedience background though so that made it easier in some ways because I'd already done a lot of drive building, shaping (so my dog had learnt how to learn) and she already works very reliably off leash.

If I am having a bad training session I put the dog away, let myself chill out and then get them out later and ask for something relatively simple.

We're heading off to the Rally seminar at Metro tonight, hope to see some DOLers there!

But it's not about what people should and shouldn't do. The fact is that when pits are shown in videos like the one in the OP wearing heavy leather collars and harnesses, demonstrating how strong and fast and athletic they are, how their tough owners have tattoos of them etc is only going to reinforce the perception people already have about them. Pits can make great loving family pets - why not display that angle instead of how strong and powerful they are? This video wasn't aimed at pit lovers, it was aimed at the general public. If it was made just for pit owners to appreciate their own dogs then that would be different. I LOVE to see highly prey drive, strong, fast and athletic dogs, I think they look great but I'm not the GP and I'm not the kind of person whose mind you need to change about the breed.

Of course it shouldn't matter but the fact is that when we are talking about the public's perception of the breed then unfortunately, yes, image goes a LONG way in changing or further confirming the perceptions people already have about it. It's easy enough to say that people shouldn't think that way but the fact is that they do.

But he's preaching to the converted (so to speak). I bet everyone on his FB viewing the video are pro-PB, anti-BSL. And if his target audience were people who already love the PB and see how BSL is ineffective, then I guess that's fine. I would assume that wasn't his target audience though and I guarantee he wouldn't get the same great feedback from the people it's aimed at

Really? They are like bums these day's. Yes, totally agree. As I said, I have a couple myself. Still, in the world of symbolism, they are not thought of as wholesome, family orientated images regardless of what you or I think of them and they are best not linked with a breed that currently is not thought of in a postive light. Marketing is largely about selling a perception. Absolutely, and we have to consider the kind of target audience the video (I assume) was aimed at. The general public who already have a set perception about BSL, PBs and their owners.

I am sure many people don't read too much into it, but I was looking at it from a marketing perspective, and considering how effective a video like this will be for the target audience. I would assume that the maker of the video wasn't making it for people who already love the breed, she was making it for the general public who already have a set opinion about BSL and PBs. Is reinforcing the opinions the GP have of the breed 'harming' it? Not trying to pick on K&P either, but as she posted the video for general DOL opinion, I just thought I'd give my two cents. Who knows, perhaps it will encourage the video maker to think about making a video that is going to be more effective for their target audience

Hey! Daisy IS fast! I saw her! LOL well she did have a go running some obstacles straight AFTER you already had run with your dogs - any dog would look slow in comparison!! She's plenty fast enough for me We'll be back in Sydney for the agility workshop in November so you can see Speedy GonBeagle again then (hopefully she won't get into...something... and get bloated again though)

For me it was a number of things. 1) The way the video was put together was not particularly effective. For example - all the 'negative' press that pitbulls get shown at the beginning - I think this could have been refuted a lot better and more clearly than it was in the video. It was just like the video maker went "first I'll show the bad press, but then I'll intersperse it with some other pro pitbull stuff and then I'll show some pitbull pics and then I'll show some clips/pictures of dogs fighting and then I'll show another cute puppy picture and then I'll show some tattoos." It lacked substance and lacked a real core argument and point IMO, it didn't really address any arguments put forth about banning pitbulls, it basically just showed some cute (in the video maker's opinion) pictures of pitbulls. 2) Showing pictures of pitbulls in heavy leather collars and harnesses, looking 'tough', displaying their power and athleticism and showing the many tattoos PB owners get of their dogs only enhances the opinion the general public have of the breed. If you want to make an anti-BSL, pro PB video, make it so it appeals to the general public not just people who already love the breed or disagree with BSL. Address the concerns the GP have of the breed rather than further encouraging the stereotypes associated with the breed and the people who own them. 3) What was the point of showing the dogs being used in dog fighting? IMO it wasn't clear. Was it to show us that people use them for the wrong reasons? If so, that's not going to convince the general public that BSL is wrong or ineffective. It just encourages their view that irresponsible people are drawn to the breed. I could go on but I think I've made my point as I said, I understand that the video maker loves PBs and wants to make them look good but I think she missed the mark. People need to remember that this is not about convincing people who already love the breed that they are awesome but teaching Joe Bloggs that you run into on the street who knows nothing about the breed beyond what they read and see in the media that BSL is ineffective.

So what are you saying Matthew? That labs, beagles etc can't bite people? That only certain types of dogs have the potential to be aggressive? If a lab or beagle bit someone, what would your reaction be?

Oh of course! The only dogs that have the potential to be dangerous are pitbulls. This dog must have been a pitbull in disguise.

LOL I'm so glad I don't have a fast dog, I'm unco enough as it is :laugh:

I get what the maker of the video was trying to achieve but from a marketing perspective I'm with the other posters who have said similar things, I think it missed the mark.

Hmmm, I wonder if it's resource guarding related behaviour. Definitely agree with the above recommendations to contact a professional, and soon! K9 Pro does have a waiting list for consults but we always have emergency consults available if you need to get in ASAP.

Awww love it!

Woohoo - Go Kath and Coco!!!! makes that eight hour drive worth it!!

Good on you for recognising you need some help! IMO your best bet is to get professional help. If you let us know whereabouts you are located, we can refer you to someone in your area

You know what scares me? People like Matthew B, who is a good representation of the general public's view about pit bulls and dog attacks, that seem to think that only certain breeds or types of dogs can bite, hurt and attack people, children, other dogs and animals. THAT attitude is truly terrifying. I wish people would focus on the fact that any dog can and will bite and that dog attacks are completely preventable.

:love:

Apart from a little feathering on the legs and ears you've described my Little Em to a tee. But I would call her incredibly focussed when working and very snuggly at home, rather than clingy. A lot of people have trouble with the "birdy" nature of spaniels (esp from working lines) and Em is over the top nuts about birds - however......when we are training she ignores them as I've worked on that from the beginning. Here she is at I am currently preparing her to compete in a novice retrieving trial (waiting for my firearms license!), novice obedience and has just started agility prep class (but came into season). She turns 1 today Happy birthday Em :love:

And based on that logic Labradors are large powerful dogs that should be similary restricted. riggggght. Labradors weren't bred to fight. Pitbulls were (and in many cases, still are). The stupidity of your argument is breathtaking. Oh - so labradors can't bite people. Nothing stupid about that. Oh, wait...