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I love Staffordshire terriers, also known as the American pitbull terrier or “pitbull.” With so many pitbulls sitting in shelters across the country (more than 9,000 on Petfinder alone), I thought I’d share how great these dogs are. My next dog just might have to be a pitbull. The guy in this photo is Matty. He needs a home and you can read his profile here.

Staffordshire terriers have a bad reputation because they have been used as fighting dogs since the 1800s when they were first bred in the United States, according to the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile. They are known as pitbulls because they would fight other dogs in “pits.” However, be aware that the term “pitbull” refers to a group of dogs, including the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier. Several similar breeds are often inaccurately slapped with the name pitbull such as the Cane Corso, the American bulldog and any mix resembling these breeds.

American Staffordshire terriers were bred to be affectionate to people because their owners had to handle them even in the middle of a dogfight. Because of this, Staffordshires are friendly to strangers and generally love children and make loyal family pets.

American Staffordshire terriers weigh about 55-70 pounds, larger than the Staffordshire bull terrier. American Staffordshire terriers come in colors ranging in solid or mixes of white, brown, red and black.

Advantages to owning an American Staffordshire terrier:

1. Staffordshires are playful and gentle around people. They love children and affection. This is why it is so sad to see a Staffordshire terrier unsocialized and tied up in a yard all the time. These dogs thrive off of human interaction and companionship.

2. Staffs require very little grooming. Their coats are short and smooth. They still shed, of course.

3. This breed is easy to train because of its desire for attention and to please its owner.

4. Staffordshires make great watchdogs and will protect their owners if threatened. Unfortunately this trait is abused when owners encourage their Staffordshires to be aggressive.

5. They are beautiful dogs to look at, with muscular bodies and a strong, sturdy appearance with smooth, shiny coats.

Disadvantages to owning an American Staffordshire terrier:

1. Staffordshire terriers require dedicated owners who will give them the training, attention and exercise they need. They are powerful dogs and need their owners to encourage the gentle side of the breed and provide positive outlets for their dogs’ energy.

2. Staffordshire terriers have an inacurate reputation for being aggressive. Of course, this is the same as assuming one nationality of humans is aggressive. If you own a Staffordshire, some people will be afraid of your dog and you will be treated differently just for owning one. If your dog so much as growls at another dog, expect other dog owners to freak out even though the same behavior would be tolerated from a Yorkie, a golden retriever, a beagle or many other breeds.

3. Many laws ban “pitbulls,” especially apartment complexes and some cities. Be aware of the inconveniences and stereotypes you will have to deal with if you own a Staffordshire.

4. Staffordshires need to be properly socialized around other dogs and small animals. Because they were bred to fight dogs, they are fearless of other dogs and can be aggressive to other animals.

5. Because of their strength and size, Staffordshires can be difficult to handle. A pinch collar or Gentle Leader help with walking a Staff that pulls on the leash.

If you would like to write a profile of your favorite breed, send me an email at Lindsay@thatmutt.com. I’ll use pictures of your dog and link to your site. I’m happy to feature any breed! Click here to see all the breed profiles that have been done. Below is Ace hanging out with the Staffordshire we fostered for a short time last fall. He thought she was great!

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On day six of my 30-day challenge to take my dog to 30 new places, Ace and I walked to a playground we had never been to before. Ace wore his pinch collar, and I had him sit before he got to play on the equipment. He thought it was really hot out that day (65 degrees), so he wasn’t interested in working too hard, and he walked nicely on the leash. Good boy! While at the playground, he got to try out a new slide and run across a bridge. Really though, this park was pretty lame and we probably will never go back.

Click here to see all my 30-day challenge posts.

It is possible to get your dog to have good behavior by using kindness, compassion and respect, according to Paul Owens. Owens is a dog trainer and best-selling author who teaches step-by-step methods to train a dog or puppy through positive reinforcement. He never uses choke, prong or shock collars.

I watched the DVD, The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Dog Training, which is presented by Owens. I did not disagree with anything in the video and want to share a few ideas I learned. Thank you Tawna for sending me this DVD for my birthday last month.

What do you want your dog to do?
When there is a behavior you want your dog to change, Owens said many dog owners get caught up in what they don’t want their dogs to do. Instead, he said dog owners should ask themselves what they want their dogs to do. For example, I want Ace to sit when someone comes to the door. I want him to go to his bed while I’m eating. I want him to chew on his bones. I want him to run at my side as I ride a bike. Once I pinpoint what I want my dog to do, it is easier to begin training him to do the wanted behavior.

Dogs are contextual.
Dogs see things in context, according to Owens. For example, if I teach a dog to sit in my living room, that doesn’t mean he will understand the command “sit” when he’s in the grass, on the pavement or on the kitchen floor. He has to learn the command under all these circumstances. Once the dog learns the behavior in several locations, then he will start to automatically respond to the command in all situations. It just takes time. This is one reason why so many dogs behave perfectly in obedience class or at home, but then seem to forget everything as soon as they are in a different environment. It’s not that the dog is stubborn, she is just contextual.

Reward a dog the second she does something right.
It is important to encourage good behavior while the dog is actually doing it, Owens said. Vocal praise or treats work, and he also recommended using a clicker.

Owens also suggested owners should reward their dogs throughout the day for the good things they do without being asked. If Ace goes to his bed without me asking, I should reward him. If he is rewarded throughout the day for doing little things unasked for, he will learn to do them more often on his own.

Life rewards can work in place of a food treat, Owens said. Anything your dog wants can be a reward. He suggests always making your dog do something before she gets what she wants. Make her sit or stay before she gets a ball, rides in the car or comes in the house. I always make Ace sit before he gets fed or before he goes for a walk.

Teach your dog to be calm by using the magnet game.
The point of Owens’ magnet game is to encourage a dog to sit in order to get a treat. The magnet game works by tethering a dog and then backing away from it. As soon as the dog begins to sit, walk towards her again and give her a treat if she remains sitting. If she pops up again, then start to back away. The idea is to reward calm behavior. The dog will learn that if she sits and waits quietly, she will get the treat and your attention. If she stands, barks or wiggles around, then she gets no treat and no attention. I am going to try this outside with Ace, because he has a barking issue when he is tethered outside.

Remember to look at training from your dog’s point of view.
Owens reminds dog owners to consider the dog’s environment. Maybe if your dog won’t sit, it’s because she is standing on hot pavement. Or maybe there are too many distractions for her. It’s also possible she could be sore from a long run. It’s easy for owners to forget these factors because dogs aren’t able to tell us.

For those who are interested in learning basic training ideas, Owens goes over all the commands every dog should know, such as heel, sit, stay, leave it, come and down. The DVD shows how to teach your dog to do these things step by step. This would be perfect for a first-time dog owner, or for someone who is new to dog training.

For those of you who have read my blog before, you know I use a pinch collar for my dog almost every day, and he also wears a shock collar for an invisible fence. These are tools Owens never uses on his dogs, and he claims he is successful without them. Although I would like to get to the point where my dog doesn’t need a pinch collar, I see nothing wrong with using them for training purposes.

The DVD was short and to the point. Owens got his messages across very clear. He is able to reach out to first-time dog owners and also able to teach longtime dog owners some new ideas. Check out his web site at www.dogwhispererdvd.com.

What are some ways you use positive reinforcement with your dog?

(Photo from hypnosiscontrol.com)