April 8, 2008

TAMPA BAY – Pit bulls are commonly in the news, making headlines in stories involving violence, like dog fighting or attacks. But a training class in Tampa Bay, Florida is showing how this breed isn’t born mean, and how environment contributes to the behavior of any animal.

A recent “Canine Good Citizen” class at the SPCA of Tampa Bay was full of dogs which obeyed commands, constantly looked to their handlers for direction, and barely barked while running through drills. In what may surprise fearful animal observers, this class of overachievers was full of pit bulls.

“They aren’t some other species just because they’re a pit bull. They have the same characteristics as ‘regular’ dogs – they’re loyal, good companions and easily trained,” said Donna Bainter, Behavior Manager for SPCA Tampa Bay.

While known as the “bully breed”, this class of dogs -- one after another -- jumped hurdles, sat and stayed on command -- without being controlled by a leash, navigated turns in and out of cones, experienced simulated crowded conditions involving dogs and humans, and allowed Bainter to check their face, teeth and fur.

Bainter said she can’t explain Insurance Information Institute statistics that show pit bulls as being involved in the most number of dog bites across the country. She blames the “bad rap” on media coverage and perceptions of an uneducated public that doesn’t take into consideration how an animal is treated and sheltered as factors too.

Stories don’t “look at the way the animal is housed -- that it lives on a logging chain that weighs more than the dog, or that it’s used for breeding and not a ‘family pet’,” Bainter said. “So you see ‘family pet attacks’ and this dog probably never spent more than five minutes in the house. It makes a big difference.”

Pit bulls are considered “working dogs” so they need more structure during training, explained Bainter, as opposed to a sight hound, or greyhound, which are more visual and need different type of training, said Bainter.

The “Canine Good Citizen” certificate can be earned by any dog, and the guidelines are the same across breeds. While the certificate doesn’t guarantee “something won’t happen later,” Bainter said it does confirm that “at the time the dog took the test, it met all the requirements.”

You can find out more about the “Good Citizen” evaluation by visiting the American Kennel Club (AKC) Web site at akc.org. For classes and certifications, check with your local SPCA and Humane Society.

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