Positive Reinforcement Training And A “Strong” Dog!

You have a “strong” dog so you must need to use lots of force to control them, right?   Wrong!

Using positive reinforcement is not only based in science, it is also a fast, effective and fun way of teaching your dog new behaviours.  It establishes a pattern of learning and trust allowing you to bond more deeply with your dog.  You can increase desired behaviours and decrease unwanted ones.  Positive reinforcement training uses rewards not force!

Many behavioural problems can be solved by channelling your dog’s energy into something constructive.  Is your dog constantly getting himself into trouble?.... “Jambo – Staffy Bull Terrier Trick Dog Champion” is very mischievous and has bundles of energy, but working with him to learn new “tricks” helps to use up some of this energy while, at the same time, creating new positive behaviours!  (I put the word “tricks” in inverted commas as even behaviours like “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “come”, “leave it” etc. are taught as “tricks”.)

As most of you probably know, Jambo is the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier to achieve the Title of Trick Dog Champion.   He achieved this title at just 16 months old!   I think you could say that Jambo is a typical “Bully” – he has a lot of energy!  He was a very “nippy” puppy and he was also the ultimate thief – his favourite game was “snatch, grab, run and destroy”!   How did we go from this to him being a Trick Dog Champion?  The answer is simple – I use rewards!

All dogs (in fact all animals) learn in the same way. They repeat behaviours they find rewarding and they avoid doing things that they find unpleasant.  You can therefore train with rewards or punishment.  You can reward them for walking on a loose leash (reinforce the behaviour you like and want to see more of) or you can punish them with a choke, prong or e-collar.   If you choose the punishment route, it will work, but at what cost to your dog’s physical and mental well-being and at what cost to your relationship?   Why train with force, pain and fear when you can train with rewards?

Some people mistakenly believe that “Strong” dogs need a “strong” hand.  There is lots of talk about being your dog’s “pack leader”; about not letting them “dominate” you; that you need to have the physical strength to be able to handle one of these dogs; that you need to “keep them in their place” and “show them who is boss”,  that you have to be a certain sort of person to “own” one of these dogs!   I’ve got to admit that when I read a lot of the “training” advice written about “strong” breeds it makes me despair.

I’ve had the pleasure of being “guardian”/”Mum” to a Dobermann, two Staffordshire Bull Terriers and a German Shepherd Dog.   I was brought up with German Shepherds, Border Collies and Chow Chows.   Apart from the Border Collies, I think all of these breeds are what people would call “strong” dogs.  My dogs have always been loved and cherished as an integral part of my family.   Of course we have certain “rules”, but I don’t use fear, force or intimidation to implement them.   It’s quite simple really:  I use rewards and reinforce the behaviour I want to see more of!

Any animal can be taught using Positive Reinforcement so there really is NO excuse for using force!   Take the time to teach your dog what you want them to do and reward them for doing it!  It doesn’t matter what breed of dog it is.  Remember all animals can be taught in the same way, so why use force when you can use rewards?   No excuses and no exceptions.  If you don’t have the time then maybe you shouldn’t have a dog…

Aggressive training can actually lead to aggressive behaviour.  If you have a “strong” dog you are under a greater obligation than ever to train them properly and make sure that they are well mannered members of society.  Don’t make your dog fearful/aggressive by “training” with fear, force and intimidation!

What Is Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)

This is for any of you that aren’t sure what Breed Specific Legislation is.

The Proof Is In The Pudding!

This is a copy of a recent article that I wrote forThe Pet Professional Guild: “Actions Speak Louder Than Words!”  (pages 38 and 39)  You can read the full magazine here:  BARKS from the Guild Magazine Summer2014

Running Jambo’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/StaffyChampion has brought me into contact with a lot of people and pages that are passionate about the “Bully” breeds and want to see an end to Breed Specific Legislation.  All these people and pages have one thing in common: They believe that the “Bullies” are unfairly discriminated against not only by legislation but also by the public in general.
It does, however, seem quite contradictory to me that, although all these individuals and pages look to convince the general public that the “Bullies” are not to be feared, that they aren’t inherently dangerous and that they are in fact just like other dogs (many would say better), they also believe that they need to be trained with a “stronger” hand.  I’ve lost count of the number of times I see these very people (and sadly I even include rescue shelters) talk about these dogs needing a certain kind of owner, one who will be able to be an effective “pack leader” and not let their dog “take charge”!
I find it very difficult to understand how someone can say these dogs are no different to other dogs but also say that they need to be trained differently. They seem to believe that although positive reinforcement training may well work for some breeds it isn’t going to work with the “Bullies”!  One post will show a picture of a “Bully” giving kisses and the next will show a picture of one wearing a prong collar. One post will be a story about an amazing “pit bull” therapy dog and the next will be advising their fans to make sure they “show their dog who is boss”!
I was absolutely stunned when an article which I had posted, explaining why prong and e-collars should not be used, actually received comments from people who said they were “sad” and “disappointed” to read this. They believed that thousands of dogs’ lives had been saved by rescue shelters using these tools to change the aggressive behaviour of dogs in their care and that, without the use of prong and shock-collars, these same dogs would not have survived. They were “disappointed” and “angry” that I was saying these collars had no place in training! These are very strong words and very strong opinions.  Unfortunately, despite the fact that I think Jambo’s page shows just what can be accomplished without the use of these punitive tools, many of these individuals could not or would not be convinced.  What amazed me the most was that they weren’t even willing to listen to the reasons why these tools shouldn’t be used! One individual even commenting that she couldn’t understand how I could say that prong collars or e-collars were a “punishment”!  Despite explaining that the reason these “training tools” work is because the dog stops doing what he is doing, for example pulling on the leash or lunging, in order to avoid the prong collar being jabbed into his neck or a shock being received and that these “training” tools might well stop a behaviour but at what price to the dog’s physical and mental well-being, many of these individuals were so upset by what I was saying that they decided to “unfollow” Jambo’s page!  I was absolutely flabbergasted to see that they would rather continue to treat their dogs in this way than even listen to an argument for training without force!
The “pack leader” mentality is, unfortunately, so ingrained in some people’s minds that they cannot even consider the possibility that it could be wrong!  How do we get through to these people when there are still shows on the television with thousands, if not millions, of fans that regularly feature dogs being alpha-rolled, choked, shocked, kicked, prodded, poked, sprayed…?
How do we show these people that in order to successfully advocate for the “Bullies” and against breed discriminatory legislation they really do need to stop saying that you have to be a certain sort of person to “own” one of these dogs?… They need to stop propagating the myth that these dogs can only be “trained” using force! They need to stop saying that you need to be a “pack leader”. They need to stop “abusing” the very dogs that they are advocating for!  How can they expect to convince not only the general public but also legislator’s that the “Bullies” shouldn’t be treated differently to other dogs if they themselves continue to say that they need a different method of training?… I don’t doubt that these people want the absolute best for their dogs but they need to realise that what they are doing to them on a daily basis is not only detrimental to their pet’s well-being, it is also propagating the myth that they are indeed different to other dogs! Their treatment of these dogs actually facilitates legislation against them! Not only that, but these punitive “training” methods and tools could also turn out to be the very reason their dog “bites back”!

So how do we convince the general public and the “powers that be” that the Bullies shouldn’t be discriminated against?  How can you we convince people that they don’t need to use force to train their best friend?  How can we be “the best ambassadors” possible?

I believe the only way we are going to do it is through actions!  We need to show everyone just what our dogs are capable of when they are trained with rewards and not force.  We can write as many articles as we want (and yes, there will be people who listen) but as the saying goes “the proof is in the pudding”.  Let our actions and those of our dogs be the “pudding”! There are disc dogs, agility dogs, fly ball dogs, obedience dogs, trick dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, dock dogs… who all happen to be “Bullies” and who have been taught using positive reinforcement! There are also lots of amazing family pets freely offering their kisses, cuddles and good behaviour who have all been trained without force!  My beautiful boy, Jambo, is the First Staffordshire Bull Terrier To Be a Trick Dog Champion! (click the link to watch his Trick Dog Champion video).  He achieved this title at just sixteen months old and guess what?  I didn’t need to use a prong collar or give him any electric shocks!  I managed to teach him all the behaviours using tiny pieces of food, a tug toy, a boomer ball and lots of love, patience and consistency!

The more people see and hear about these dogs, who I believe are a testament to Force-free Training, then the more people will be convinced that what they themselves are saying is true – “The Bully breeds aren’t any different to other dogs!  They are not to be feared! They aren’t inherently dangerous!”  They are, in fact, just like other dogs and guess what?…   They can be trained in the same way – without fear, force or intimidation!

So, how do I believe you can be the “best ambassador possible” for the Bullies?  Show people that they aren’t any different to other dogs in the way that you train them!  Show everyone that there is absolutely no need to use punishment when you can use rewards!  Celebrate the achievements of all those dogs that have been trained using rewards!  Share training articles and videos that show people how they can effectively train their dog without being a pack- leader! Train your own dog without force!  Show your friends and neighbours what an amazing dog he is!  Let your actions and your dog’s actions speak for themselves!  Maybe we need to stop telling people what they shouldn’t do and show them what we can do! 

The “proof is in the pudding” after all!

You can view Jambo’s Trick Dog Champion video here: Jambo is the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be a Trick Dog Champion!

The Importance of a Paycheck

“Think of rewards as paychecks for your dog!”

Paws Abilities

Last week, we discussed the importance of generosity in training. This week, let’s talk about another key skill that makes professional trainers so successful: the rewards themselves.

There are lots of different ways that you can reward your dog. Let’s look at a couple different scenarios to see which might work the best.

Photo credit: Mr. T in DC, flickr

Let’s go back to our ping-ponging dog who’s learning to walk on a leash. Remember him? This guy was a real handful for his owner, only walking by her side long enough to earn a click and treat, then rushing out to the end of the leash before repeating the whole sequence again. Click – treat – rush – circle back – click – treat – rush —- you get the picture. How frustrating!

When I started working with this same dog, I kept him busy. I got his attention…

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We Are All Individuals!

Breed Specific Legislation categorises a dog as dangerous simply because of what breed it happens to be.  This is the same as if we were to say, for example, that all people with long blond hair should be put in prison.  A few people with long blond hair have indeed acted aggressively so it makes total sense to lock them all up!  Oh gosh, what am I saying?  I have long blond hair, better incarcerate me now, just in case!

One of the members of my family happens to be a gorgeous Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  Where we live (Spain) he is categorised as a “Potentially Dangerous Dog”.  Strange wording in itself as surely all dogs are “potentially dangerous” if treated in the wrong way?  This Breed Specific Legislation affects him and all of us in many ways, none of which happen to be good.  Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not, however, affected by B.S.L. in the UK, unless the authorities decide that they are “pitbull type” (don’t get me started on that one!).  How can a breed of dog be dangerous in one country and not another?  Are Staffies born in Spain somehow more dangerous than those born in the U.K.?  But wait, it gets even more ludicrous. The list of potentially dangerous dogs in Spain includes the following breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; American Staffordshire Terrier; Rottweiler; Dogo Argentino; Fila Brasileiro; Tosa Inu; Akita Inu.  Crazy enough in itself, but now here is the absolutely unbelievable bit… Different states/regions also include other breeds eg. some areas include the Doberman, others all Mastiff types and others the German Shepherd Dog.  If you live in my region then the Doberman is affected by B.S.L. but if you live 30 minutes away you’ll be safe as Dobermans aren’t on the list!  My beautiful German Shepherd girl isn’t considered “dangerous” where I live but we better not relocate to a different region as, if we were to do so, she would then become “dangerous”!  Legislation also includes any crosses of the above breeds and any dogs with the “right measurements” – width of chest, head, mouth; length of leg; weight; short hair…. Oh wow, guess I’m okay on the last point, with my long blond hair.  I better not cut it just in case!  Watch out though if you are a dog with short hair!  Thank goodness Tessa is a long-haired German Shepherd and not a short-haired one!  The same ludicrous situation is apparent all across the United States where, in some areas “pitbull type” dogs are legislated against and in others they aren’t!

Let’s go back a minute to my long blond hair and the fact that, based on the “logic” of B.S.L., I now need to be incarcerated just in case I act aggressively.  So, all people with long blond hair are exactly the same, aren’t we?  We all act in exactly the same way, have the same characters/personalities, the same thoughts and desires (to act aggressively)… We all definitely need to be “registered”, muzzled, kept on a short leash, locked up or maybe even given a lethal injection!  The general public would be much safer then, wouldn’t they?
Of course we aren’t all the same!  In fact, how ridiculous does it sound when you explain Breed Specific Legislation in this way?
Just as every person is an individual so is every dog! They have so many different character traits! They are also affected by the way in which they are cared for.  Mistreat any person or animal enough and eventually they will either give up, surrender, shut down… or they will try and protect themselves, fight back or even just lash out at the first person/animal they see!

Tessa and Jambo are definitely both individuals.  While out walking last night, I was thinking about how different they are in many ways. Tessa is extremely loving and gentle but doesn’t much like the company of strangers.  She really isn’t comfortable with dogs or people that she doesn’t know getting in her personal space.  She likes to have fun but anyone who doesn’t know her would probably say she is a bit “stand-off-ish”.  She’s just more at ease with those she knows.  She loves to go for rides in the car and long walks in the countryside.  She’s definitely not the life and soul of the party.  When we are out walking she really enjoys “reading the newspaper”, so much so that she has to read every single article and comment on it!  She likes to walk slowly and take everything in.  If she sees another dog or person in the distance then she prefers to go the other way and avoid them.  She’s quite elegant and ladylike in most ways but get too close and she might just decide to tell you to “get lost”!

Jambo is the total opposite of Tessa.  He’s the life and soul of the party and wants to say hello to absolutely every person or dog he meets.  He gets so excited even just catching a glimpse of someone in the distance!  If they’re prepared to say hello then they better watch out!  He definitely doesn’t care about “personal space”.  I suppose you could say that he is very “touchy, feely”.  He loves to hug and kiss everyone!  Like Tessa, he loves to go for long car rides and walks but that’s where the similarity ends.  He has no time for “reading the paper”!  He’ll quickly check out the most interesting articles and very occasionally “comment” on them but then quickly has to move on to see what’s coming around the next corner.  Maybe there is something or someone up ahead.  He’s what I’d call a “full-on, loving, mischievous, little tomboy”.  He loves playing football, chasing around, rolling in the dirt and giving as many kisses as possible!

As you can see, they are both very different in many ways. They also have a lot of similarities though, many of which I believe are a result of the way we live as a family. They have both been taught using Positive Reinforcement. They have both been brought up in a loving home.  As a result, even though their personalities are quite different, they are both gentle and loving in their own ways. They are both totally different and yet they are both totally perfect!

Is Jambo more “dangerous” because he is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier?  I’ll let you decide!

“Trick” Is A Very Powerful Word!

So, why do I like doing “Dog Tricks” with Tessa and Jambo and why do I think everyone should do them with their dogs?

• Reason no.1:  Doing Dog Tricks is my way of “training” Jambo and Tessa!  It’s simple really, I like “training” to be fun and doing Dog Tricks is definitely a lot of fun!

• Reason no. 2:  Doing Dog Tricks uses up some of Jambo’s boundless energy.  Jambo is a “full-on” dog with lots of energy.  If left to his own devices some of this energy would be used up doing things I’d rather he didn’t do.  In Jambo’s case this would most likely be in the form of stealing things and then chewing them into pieces!  Teaching him “tricks” like “drop” and “fetch” has saved many an item from this fate!

• Reason no.3:  Doing Dog Tricks is such a fun way of teaching new behaviours!  By naming behaviours “tricks” I think less “stress” is put on the dog or person and the whole “training” scenario is seen in a different light.  It’s almost like we’re learning in the playground rather than in the classroom.   It’s a very “informal” way of teaching and I definitely think you learn better if you are having fun and come to your “lessons” with enthusiasm rather than trepidation.

• Reason no.4:  Doing Dog Tricks deepens the bond I share with Jambo and Tessa.  We definitely spend a lot of quality time interacting with each other, sometimes all together and sometimes one on one.  As the tricks get more complicated you learn to work together in order to work them out.  My input is just as important as theirs and any behaviour learnt is a result not only of my teaching but of their enthusiastic response to it.  The “tricks” we do are a result of the bond we share, the “work” we do together, the reinforcement they receive and our mutual respect and cooperation.

• Reason no.5:  Doing Dog Tricks actually means that I improve my own skills.  Most people can teach their dogs to sit or lie down but as the “tricks” become more difficult you find your skills as a teacher improving.  You have to get your timing right (“mark” the exact behaviour you want); you have to give clear instructions (“cues” need to be precise and very clear so as to communicate the behaviour you want); you learn the “power” of different reinforcers – how to reward your dog appropriately and thus reinforce the behaviour you are teaching, making it more likely to be repeated… Food is the first choice when teaching a new behaviour as you can quickly and easily deliver the reward without interrupting the flow of learning but you also need to think about the “value” of different types of food as well as how you deliver it – Straight to the mouth; by placing on the floor; from a bait bag; from a “reward station”; by throwing it infront of them, behind them… How you deliver the reinforcement can have a big effect not only on the energy of the behaviour (whether they carry it out slowly, quickly etc.) but also on how precise that behaviour is; you also learn to use other rewards like tug, a ball, a frisbee, praise, play, touch… environmental rewards eg. your dog sits politely and gets to greet someone or your dog comes back to you and you let them go play again; you have to motivate and teach with enthusiasm – If you aren’t enthusiastic about your lesson why should your dog be?; you learn about the importance of the 3 D’s  (distance, duration and distraction), all of which have an impact on what you are teaching; you learn to use different “markers” for example a clicker, a marker word (mine is “yes”), a tongue click, a clap of the hands… even the next “cue” can be used to “mark” the previous behaviour!  You also learn how to “read” your dog. You learn more about their body language and what they are “saying” to you (whether they are tired, feeling stressed, want to carry on, enjoying the learning process etc.); you learn when to increase “criteria” (make it more difficult) and when you need to “regress” (go back a step)…

I also think that anyone who has a “powerful” dog has an obligation to make sure that they and their dog are the best ambassadors possible for their breed.  This is especially important when we are talking about breeds that are stereotyped in such a way that almost everyone has a preconceived (and mostly negative) view of what these dogs are like and how they behave.  How could I possibly ask people not to buy into that stereotype if, for example, as we walked down the street I were struggling to hold on to Tessa  and Jambo, yelling at them to stop pulling or to leave something or perhaps yanking on a prong collar?  Doing Dog Tricks isn’t just about waves, bows and kisses.  Doing tricks and using reward based training means, not only that both Tessa and Jambo listen to me, but also that lots of basic behaviours have been so reinforced that when I ask them to do something for me they do it.

Here are a few “Novice” Tricks:  Fetch.  Drop it.  Leave it. Target work.  Come.  Down.  Sit.  Stay.  Walk on a loose leash.  Do they look familiar?  We call them “tricks” but, as you can see, they are basic “obedience” behaviours!  I think if everybody were to teach these behaviours  as “tricks” we’d see a lot less people shouting at their dogs for being “disobedient”or for not “obeying” a “command”.  Just changing the words “obedience behaviour” to “trick” and the word “command” to “cue” changes the way people think about their dogs – they suddenly start teaching them rather than berating them!  They reward them for getting it right rather than punish them for getting it wrong.

Wow, the word “trick” is actually a very powerful word!  It literally changes peoples’ attitudes to “training” their dog and, because they have such fun doing them, they are much more likely to continue with their dog’s “education”!

Jambo – Mischievous Puppy to Trick Dog Champion!

How did we achieve this?

The answer is simple – with Positive Reinforcement Training!

No force, no fear, no intimidation, no manipulation, no compulsion…..

 

 

 

 

Using positive reinforcement is not only based in science, it is also a fast, effective and fun way of teaching your dog new behaviours.

It establishes a pattern of learning and trust allowing you to bond more deeply with your dog. You can increase desired behaviours and decrease unwanted ones.  Positive reinforcement training uses rewards not force.
Many behavioural problems can be solved by channelling your dog’s energy into something constructive. You can convert your dog’s energy and drive into productive behaviours.  Is your dog constantly getting himself into trouble?…. “Jambo – Staffy Bull Terrier Trick Dog Champion” is very mischievous and has bundles of energy, but working with him to learn new tricks helps to use up some of this energy while, at the same time, creating new positive behaviours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jambo is one of the “infamous” Bully breeds.  He’s also the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be a Trick Dog Champion! So maybe “famous” would be a more fitting description than “infamous”!

He achieved this title at just 16 months old and we did this using positive reinforcement training!  I think you could say that Jambo is a typical “Bully” – he has a lot of energy!  He was a very “nippy” puppy – we nicknamed him “crocodile” as he would come at you “snap, snap, snap”!  He was also the ultimate thief and very destructive!  How did we go from this to him being a Trick Dog Champion?

The answer is simple – We used rewards!

All dogs (in fact all animals) learn in the same way – They repeat behaviours they find rewarding and they avoid doing things that they find aversive. You can therefore train with rewards or with punishment. You can reward them for walking on a loose leash or you can punish them with a choke, prong or e-collar.   If you choose the punishment route it will work, but at what cost to your dog’s physical and mental well-being and at what cost to your relationship?
Why train with fear when you can train with rewards?

Force-free Training shouldn’t just be an option it should be an obligation!

PPG World Services Podcast February 2014

PPG World Services Podcast – don’t miss the great interview with Victoria Stilwell!

BFTG

Nando and Donna interview Victoria Stilwell and Pat Miller. February 2014

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Are pinch/prong collars magic?

We think pinch/prong collars should never play a part in “training” your dog. What do you think?

Lady Chauncey Barkington III's Finishing School For Canines and Other Beasts

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There’s a lot of information going around about training tools. Some factual, some less so. A lot of it is heavily steeped in emotion and bias. I suppose I would be lying if I didn’t make it clear that I’m biased myself, I don’t advocate tools that use pain to function. But that aside, I feel that it’s important to give factual, unbiased information so that consumers are armed with accurate information in order to make an informed training tool decision. If something uses pain to work, people should be aware. So where do pinch collars stand? How do they work, and why do they work?

You have several variations of the pinch collar. Most have thin prongs of uniform thickness, while a few…

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Jambo – The Story So Far.

Jambo’s Story so far:  Dog Tricks, Positive Reinforcement Training and how B.S.L. impacts on his life.

Jambo is our second Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Our first beautiful    Staffy was called Samson – he was the most loveable boy ever, calm, good natured, playful… He died at the age of 11. He was able to spend his life in freedom without the restrictions of BSL.  His best friend was our Dobie/German Shepherd, Bess, who was a couple of years older than him.  We would go for long walks in the countryside and on the beach where they were able to run around and have fun and freedom.

 

 

A couple of years after Bess passed away we added Tessa, our beautiful German Shepherd to our family. She and Sam became best buddies but she only had his company for a couple of years as he was already 9 when Tessa joined us. Tessa was nearly 5 years old when Jambo came into our lives.  We knew we would like another Staffordshire Bull Terrier but we could never have guessed the impact this little puppy was to have on our lives!
Jambo was born in May of 2012. His pedigree name is “Warrior For Life” but I wanted a name that would reflect his personality and not be too “hard”.  I also wanted to name him after our first Staffy boy, Sam.  Jam rhymes with Sam and Jambo is the Swahili (think “warrior”) word for “hello” – Jambo just loves to say hello to everyone he meets.
Jambo proved to be extremely loving, very mischievous, inquisitive, energetic and quite a handful!  I started teaching him the basics straight away but as he got a little bit older I also wanted to do something fun to use up some of his boundless energy.  Hence began our journey into doing Dog Tricks, which we were introduced at a Trick Dog Seminar given by Nando Brown.  Breed Specific Legislation was also now in force in Spain (it entered in vigour in 1999) and I wanted Jambo to be an absolute example of how amazing the “Bullies” are.  I think that if you have a breed affected by legislation in this way then you should do your utmost to show everyone how wrong it is.  We were out to smash the stereotype!
Jambo got his first Dog Trick Title at just 7 months old and by 14 months old already had 7 Trick Dog Titles including “Expert”.  We also worked on general obedience and agility… We train everything using Positive Reinforcement and love to point out to people that it is a total myth that you need to have a “stronger” hand with this “type” of dog!  I am not Jambo’s leader and I don’t command him to do anything. We work together as a team and he gets rewarded with food and play and cuddles and fun.  I firmly believe that we would never have achieved what we have if I had tried to train him in any other way.  The main thing Jambo and I do is enjoy ourselves!

 
At only 16 months old Jambo achieved what no Staffordshire Bull Terrier had done before – he became a Trick Dog Champion!  We immediately launched his Facebook page, Jambo – Staffy Bull Terrier Trick Dog, to celebrate his Trick Dog Champion Title and to promote doing Dog Tricks and Positive Reinforcement Training.  We hoped to inspire others to do more with their dogs.  We also wanted to do our best to help break the stereotype of the “Bullies” and show the injustice of B.S.L.!
In 2013 he was featured as Dog Of The Week for Your Pit Bull & You.                                                                              

 

He has won rosettes and trophies for Obedience, Agility, Tricks, Best Dog, Best of Breed.  He loves people and loves playing with other dogs.  His photos and videos have been shared by DDA Watch UK who work tirelessly to help dogs and families affected by B.S.L., as well as by many other groups fighting against breed stereotypes and Breed Specific Legislation. 

 

At the end of the year he was honoured to be named as “Dog Of The Year 2013” by In The Doghouse DTC in recognition of all we had achieved and for his work as a Bully Breed Ambassador.  

 

His name has become synonymous with Force-free Training and helping to break the “Bully” breed stereotype.

He is one of the dogs being featured in StubbyDog Project’s spay/neuter campaign and his photo will be on posters and flyers distributed in vets’ offices across the U.S.A.

His story has been shared across the Web and some of his trick videos have recently been airing on “Talent Hounds” a T.V. show on The Pet Network in Canada.
Despite all of Jambo’s accomplishments, his training and his good character he is classified by the authorities as a “Potentially Dangerous Dog”!   Jambo was born into B.S.L. and although there is no outright ban on his breed in Spain, B.S.L. affects everything we can and cannot do.  Jambo had to be registered as a Potentially Dangerous Dog.  He has to be kept on leash (1m) and muzzled when in public. We have to get an annual veterinary health report stating the inexistence of illnesses that could make him “especially dangerous”.  He has a microchip – the number of which is registered as that of a potentially dangerous dog.  He has to be enclosed by walls of at least 2m high (or kept on a chain – which we would never do as life on a chain is no life at all) and put in a secure location should visitors come to our home.  He has to be registered with the local town hall.  He cannot go near any area designated for children (play ground, park, school).  I have to have a Potentially Dangerous Dog handler’s licence; a psychiatric report; no criminal record; a physical report stating I am able to “handle” him; public liability insurance for at least 175.000 euros. I cannot walk or transport more than one “dangerous dog” at a time…. Fines for infractions are up to 115.000 euros and the authorities have the right to seize and destroy if they see fit!  The following breeds come under BSL here in Spain:  American Pit Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; American Staffordshire Terrier; Rottweiler; Dogo Argentino; Fila Brasileiro; Tosa Inu; Akita Inu.  Different states/regions also include other breeds eg. some areas include the Doberman, others all Mastiff types and others the German Shepherd Dog.  Legislation also includes any crosses of the above breeds and any dogs with the “right measurements” – width of chest, head, mouth; length of leg; weight; short hair….
There’s to be no running free in the countryside or on the beach for Jambo…. 

By sharing Jambo’s photos and videos we hope to show everyone how awesome the “Bullies” are; To show how Positive Reinforcement Training is the ONLY way to train; To show that you don’t need to be a “Pack Leader” or bully your dog just because he happens to be a “Bully”;  To show the fun you can have doing Dog Tricks and finally, to spread the word about the injustice of Breed Specific Legislation.  Whatever breed is targeted, B.S.L. is, at its best, “racism” and at its worst genocide…..