Last week, I received an e-mail from a reader that had just adopted a pit bull puppy, but she and her son were having the problems described here:

We have a pit bull puppy who refuses to go outside. We have to drag him on a walk. Then, if we stop, he turns and runs back to our apartment. He knows the way from wherever we go. He was potty trained when we got him, but that is fading fast, because he won’t go outside.

The first thing I have to say is “Congratulations” on the expansion of your family, and I wish to extend a special thank you for choosing to have a dog of that breed.  I have always said that pit bulls are not born bad, they are just raised that way.

Unfortunately, there was no age specification about this puppy, so I will have to do some guessing.  Keep in mind that young puppies do not know what a leash is.  Continue Reading

Guest post by: Tax, The Wonder Dog Spike’s Little Brother

This week in a unanimous vote, the city of Lancaster, California passed an ordinance requiring all owners of pit bulls, Rottweilers, and mixed breed dogs deemed “potentially dangerous” to:

• Have microchip implants and vaccinations at the owner’s expense.
• Be kept indoors or in a securely fenced yard or enclosure constructed at the owner’s expense.
• Wear a muzzle and a 4-foot-long leash held by a controlling adult when taken off the owner’s property.
• Complete an approved obedience course at the owner’s expense.
• Be spayed or neutered at the owner’s expense.
• Be covered by liability insurance valued at $300,000 per occurrence obtained at the owner’s expense. Continue Reading