 Give the Pits a job?
#361717 - 05/22/2012 03:05 AM |
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I had an idea today when I was in a shelter full of pit bulls. I got home and looked on petfinder, and there are 132 pitbulls in rescues or shelters within 60 miles of my house. If I broaden the search to 100 miles, it jumps to over 400 dogs. Why not put these guys to work doing detection for the military or police departments. Pits make great detection dogs if they have the right temperament and nerves. Wouldn't that be better than having them rot away in a shelter, waiting to be euthanized?
I have watched a couple of episodes of the show Pit Bulls and Parolees, but I wasn't really impressed. They do their best to save a lot of dogs, but there isn't much training going on. They just concentrate on finding them suitable homes.
I think a couple of motivated trainers with a seemingly endless supply of pitbulls could save some lives down range, and find some drugs back home.
Plus, I think it would do the breed image some good if the project got any publicity.
Whaddya think?
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361720 - 05/22/2012 05:55 AM |
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I think it's an awesome idea, and I know a third generation APBT breeder/trainer who may feel the same way. Do you have any ideas about how to organize and coordinate, taking into account the distances between us? Also,I would help any way I can, but am limited in resources.
Sadie |
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361724 - 05/22/2012 09:42 AM |
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In an ideal world, this would work, and I'm sure there are plenty of dogs in the shelters who could make it as DD's. However, the odds are stacked against the pits as soon as they're born. BYB's don't care about spine health, hip and elbow dysplasia, or weak knees that are prone to blowing out requiring thousands of dollars to repair. They also don't care about the health of the dog's mind, and many of them breed for color and 'big bone' while the bitch is a nervous ninny and the dog is a fear biter.
I'd be more than happy to support shelter dogs being taken in by trainers for this sort of thing, but I think it's best to keep ears and eyes open when it comes to breeds. So many will not make the cut or it will be more expensive in the long run.
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361726 - 05/22/2012 10:04 AM |
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I like the idea too, I know the odds are stacked against them but I have seen a lot of really nice ones in structure and temperament in shelters where I volunteered.
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361731 - 05/22/2012 10:46 AM |
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I think it's a great idea, and if I could actually get a job training them and/or taking care of them, I would do it in a heart beat if it would still keep a roof over my head and food on the table!
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361734 - 05/22/2012 11:21 AM |
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I've thought about that before, I think its a great idea! I would myself, love to even go to a shelter and them pay me to make the dogs or the bad ones at least, more adoptable. Better yet take good dogs out of there and train them to work! Win-win I say.
A tired dog is a good dog, a trained dog is a better dog. |
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361738 - 05/22/2012 02:17 PM |
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While it's true any dog that has what it takes can make a good detector dog. I've had two pits in our program. One I retired at 12 and another was poisoned (it was really that good a drug dog). Just because there are large numbers does not mean however they would all make good detector dogs. As you well know, only a small percentage make to training, with even a few of those not completing training.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again. |
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361749 - 05/22/2012 03:12 PM |
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Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
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Hi David -
A great thought -and nothing like a well bred AmStaff for pure versatility/utility IMHO.
http://www.workingpitbull.com/activities2ndpage.html
...and probably no better authority on their potential than Diane Jessup.
I feel the main imperative now to restore the image is to work towards keeping them out of the hands of thugs. An general desciption of "pit bull" (like "shepard" or "spaniel") in a shelter today will get you a mixed bag of strengths/deficits...
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David Winners ]
#361751 - 05/22/2012 03:30 PM |
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It seems to me every police department in the country could use a drug dog, and I bet they'd have one if they weren't so pricey. With their short coat a pit could be more vehicle friendly than a double coated GSD. I think many are more chilled out than a working GSD or Mal too, easier for a novice handler officer perhaps.
Where I lived, the "mean" dogs were shepherds and rottweilers. The pits were sweet. They seemed a bit stubborn and dull.
I bet they would make great nose dogs.
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Re: Give the Pits a job?
[Re: David C.Frost ]
#361802 - 05/22/2012 08:15 PM |
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DUP
Edited by David Winners (05/22/2012 08:15 PM)
Edit reason: dup
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