ADOPTION GUIDELINES & USEFUL TIPS

CRATE TRAINING The dogs that come into our care are crate trained immediately after being transferred to foster care. We use large and extra-large wire crates. Our favorite is Life Stage dog crate - Model 1648 Size: 48 L x 30 W x 36 H" and Model 1642 Size: 42 L x 26 W x 28 H". You can find those crates at a reasonable price in Missouri. Dressler's Dog Supplies in KCKS. Hoss's palace Dogs are den animals - A crate is a safe den. Wolves "crate" their youngsters when they go on a hunt by keeping them in the den. Leaving the pups free to roam at will would mean a sure death. The den is a safe place that assures the survival of the pack. By crating our dogs, we only imitate a natural behavior impregnated in their genetic make-up. The crate however, should never be used for punishment. It is used when the puppy or adult cannot be properly supervised and therefore should only be used in a positive aspect. Keeping toys and treats in the crate will help assuring the dogs enjoy their time. Eventually, your pet will consider the crate as a “den” and will go in it on its own for rest or for solitude. Many people prefer large or extra-large "wire" crates for their Pit Bulls. Dogs feel less confined in a wire crate and able to stretch. Collapsible crates can easily be moved from room to room. Furthermore, crating is a great way to housebreak a pet. By instinct, dogs will not eliminate in the area in which they sleep. (This is if they can help it. Sometimes a dog cannot control his bowel movements due to intestinal parasites or other circumstances. Make sure you have a veterinarian examine your dog if they are repeatedly having bowel movements in their crate before concluding that it is a behavior problem.) When housebreaking a dog, it is recommended to start off by having a crate that does not allow “too much” room for your pet. If you have a large crate, you can section off areas with dividers. If there is more space in the crate than the comfortable length of your dog, then there is too much space. Again, this applies only "if you are trying to housebreak". Too much space gives the dog the chance to use a corner of the crate for elimination. By having just enough space to sleep comfortably, your dog will try to hold it longer. This gives the puppy the knowledge that he has the ability to hold it for periods of time and that he doesn't have to eliminate whenever he has the urge. Remember that a puppy does not have the same organ development and bowel control that an adult has and needs to be taken outside more often than an adult. Make sure to take the dog to the same area in your yard so that he/she can smell where they have eliminated before. That way, they can understand better what you are asking of them. Remember to praise the dog enthusiastically when they do what they were asked to do. Restrict food and water according to indications on bag. With a good routine planned out, your crate can be a very effective tool for housebreaking. As a responsible Pit Bull owner, you should be aware that a crate is essential to a happy household if you have other pets. You should never leave your Pit Bull out with other animals when you are not there to supervise. It is well known that Pit Bulls can and most likely will develop a certain degree of animal aggression at some point in their life. Fights can happen with every breed, but Pit Bulls were bred to never quit. If you are not there to break up a potential fight, you could come home to a devastating situation. By crating while away, you are assured that your pets will be safe and happy when you return. If you have a dog that is known to be animal-aggressive and you have other pets, you don’t have to send him to the pound! Just use the crate and rotation routine for your pets. Let out one or more non-aggressive animals at certain times and then give the other pets a chance out at other times. With a simple change in routine life, you can keep ALL of your pets and have them in a loving and safe environment. The crate is there to make your relationship with your pet a happy and successful one. You can avoid the need to correct your dog if he has done nothing wrong during your absence. You can save that time for positive activities such as play or training. You won’t have to come home to a house that has been chewed on, pooped on, and thoroughly destroyed and your dog will not end up relinquished to the back yard. Voila! Peace of mind for everyone!!   LEASHES & COLLARS Pit Bulls are very strong and we bred to have a high pain tolerance level, especially in the neck area. They need solid and sturdy collars that wont break under tension. We recommend a leash and collar of good quality material such as nylon or leather. Whatever material it is, make sure that it can withstand the strength of your Pit Bull. It would be terrible if you couldn't hold your dog back from a dangerous situation simply because you didn't have the proper tool. Do NOT use snap-lock collars with a Pit Bull - Two-Ply Nylon or leather buckle collars are recommended. "Gentle Leaders" work like magic with strong powerful dogs that pull hard on the leash. We highly recommend them as they help establish positive leadership and provide good control. Remember that a well behaved Pit Bull in public will help improve the image of the breed. We suggest using a regular collar in addition to the GL until the dog is used to it. GL collars should only be used when the dog is on-leash. More info Here The leash should be wide, strong, and not too long (4 to 6 feet). Leashes with an additional loop added on about a foot up from the collar clip, allowing you to hold your dog close to you when you see danger ahead are recommended. Never use a retractable leash for a Pit Bull (or in fact, any dog). They are way too long, are weak, and do not give you proper control when in public situations. The key to being a responsible Pit Bull owner is foreseeing problems BEFORE they occur! The only way to make other people see that Pit Bulls are good dogs is to put our dogs in situations where they cannot fail! Please do not use tough looking devices such as “junkyard chain” and spike collars to walk your Pit Bull in public. The goal of every responsible and caring owner should be to change the public image of Pit Bulls as being kind and gentle dogs who deserve to live in our homes and communities.   PROPER DIET, VACCINATION AND PARASITE MANAGEMENT Many Pit Bulls are prone to mild skin problems and allergies. We have found that "Lamb & Rice formulas" work best for this breed and prevent skin irritations. The dogs in our program are fed "Nutro Natural Choice" Lamb & Rice formula, or "Diamond" Lamb & Rice Formula. The dogs are given ivermectin (heartworm prevention) once a month and Frontline in season. For more info about heartworms please read this excellent article written by one of our volunteers.