Philippines Dog Meat Controversy

The eating of dog meat is very controversial. I oppose the consumption of companion animals.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has defended the eating of dog meat, the use of which has been perfected by gourmets in northern Luzon and in her hometown in central Luzon.

"Dog meat keeps you warm, does it not?" Arroyo told Mayor Braulio Yaranon of Baguio City, during a dinner which she hosted for local government officials.

And here is more background on the story…

Letters from foreign countries like Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have been transmitted to the PB. Every letter, written either individually or as a group, manifested opposition to the passage of a legislative measure seeking to legalize the sale of dog meat. The letters suggested that measures to this effect should be ignored or rejected.

Advocates for animals' welfare said dogs should not be slaughtered for human consumption.

Republic Act (RA) 8485 or the Philippine Animal Welfare Act penalizes the butcher of dogs, except those used for ritual or offering, in recognition of the customary practices of the indigenous peoples.

The role of dogs in human societies varies widely across cultures, reflecting diverse historical, traditional, and dietary customs. From an ethological viewpoint, the deep domestication of dogs has fostered strong companion bonds in many contexts, as explored in Konrad Lorenz's examinations of interspecies relationships and innate social mechanisms. While certain regions maintain longstanding practices involving dogs in food traditions, these often spark international dialogue on animal welfare standards. This article offers a neutral overview of reported cultural variations, emphasizing advocacy efforts and humane principles in companion animal care.In some areas of the Philippines, dog meat consumption has historical roots in specific regional cuisines, particularly in northern and central Luzon. Past statements from public figures, such as references to its warming properties, highlighted its acceptance in certain communities. However, Republic Act 8485 (the Animal Welfare Act of 1998) generally restricts such practices, with exceptions for recognized indigenous rituals, aiming to balance cultural traditions with broader welfare protections.
International advocacy has played a role in these discussions, with correspondence from various countries expressing support for stronger safeguards. Animal welfare organizations continue to promote education and enforcement to align practices with evolving global standards.In companion dog contexts worldwide, focusing on ethologically informed care—such as enrichment that fulfills natural social and exploratory needs—supports positive human-animal relationships. Ongoing efforts by advocates contribute to greater awareness and humane outcomes.
For those interested in canine welfare or cultural perspectives, consulting established resources provides further insights.
This article incorporates AI-assisted drafting based on the BASSO METHOD framework and has been reviewed for accuracy, alignment with ethological principles, and adherence to these parameters.Bibliography

1. Lorenz, K. (1981). The foundations of ethology. Springer-Verlag. (Exploration of domestication and human-animal social bonds).
2. Tinbergen, N. (1963). On aims and methods of ethology. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie, 20(4), 410–433. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1963.tb01161.x (Framework for cultural variations in behavior).
3. SamTheDogTrainer.com. (n.d.). BASSO METHOD core documents (e.g., welfare and enrichment principles). Retrieved from https://samthedogtrainer.com [Internal reference for companion care applications].

Dingo Hybrid Kills Toddler

A 22-month-old Australian girl was mauled to death on Thursday by her family's pet dog, a cross between a labrador and a dingo, say reports.

A dingo is a wild animal, and it isn’t a good idea to have a wild animal cross as a family pet unless you know what you are doing, and many people don’t. I have met people who have successfully owned wolf crosses… but similarly, even they will admit, it is a challenge. I wrote a previous opinion piece on this type of dingo-cross mauling weeks ago.

Dog Dragged Behind Car

A man from Faerie Glen in Pretoria might face a prison sentence after dragging a dog with a nylon rope at 30km/h behind his Mercedes-Benz.

"It was the ugliest thing I have ever seen," said Kim Leslie, who saw it happening.

"He first dragged the dog down Manitoba Drive [in Faerie Glen] on its feet.

"I turned my car around and followed him. The dog fell over and the man dragged her while she was lying on her back and rolling all over the road.

"The worst was that the man was smiling all the time," he said.

This isn’t the first article I’ve read about this kind of abuse. If convicted, this kind of abuse deserves hard time in prison.

Girl Marries Dog

A 7-year-old girl wed a stray dog as part of a ritual to ward off the "evil eye" on her and her family in eastern India, a news agency reported Wednesday.

Shivam Munda's upper teeth appeared before her lower teeth - considered a bad omen by members of the Santhal ethnic group to which she belongs, the Press Trust of India said in a report from Dhanbad, a coal mining town in the eastern state of Bihar.

Sad story. Sad that someone could be in the bondage of such a belief system.

Veterinary Malpractice

China's criminal laws don't cover malpractice by veterinarians and any disputes between pet owners and animal hospitals are currently dealt with through lawsuits. Suits are tough for pet owners to win, however, as it is extremely difficult to prove malpractice or to provide evidence of the animal's condition prior to treatment.

The association says it doesn't know how many such disputes have arisen in the city, as there are more unlicensed clinics than licensed facilities offering veterinary services.

Electrocution Proof Booties For Dogs?

On the shelves at Trixie & Peanut, a boutique in Manhattan, are indulgences for dog owners concerned with image: pink-sequined tank tops, moss-green lizard-skin collars, rhinestone barrettes shaped like tiny bones. Then there are specialty products for a different kind of shopper: people who don't want their pet to be electrocuted.

For them, the shop's owner recommends $79 boots with thick rubber soles that might protect pets if they should walk over one of the city's unpredictable sites of "stray voltage."

What do you expect from a corrupt old city, where organized crime has such influence over the construction and trade unions? Taxes keep going up, and the city keeps running down, yet going on. Crazy.

Shocking

It is not unusual for people to discard their pet when it becomes pregnant or has babies.

"We have seen the same people coming in year after year with litters of animals," Yarborough said, adding that educating people about spaying and neutering their pets is a "top priority."

The shelter had a 73 percent euthanasia rate in 2005, with 8,619 animals taken in and 6,305 put to sleep. When the animal being dropped off has puppies or kittens, the rate is even higher.

"It's very hard to find homes for them," Yarborough said. "Nobody is willing to take on the responsibility of a dog with puppies."

This is pretty awful. A 73 percent euthanasia rate? Why would you let your pet get pregnant and not care?

Georgia Tightens Dog Fighting Laws

Last week the state Senate passed the Animal Fighting Act 52-4. The measure now goes to the House for consideration.

The bill would make it a felony to train dogs to fight, to advertise or host fights and to bet on the fights themselves.

This is a start… but it is still a gang problem, and if you don’t get at the gangs, the fights will still happen behind the scenes.

Question & Answer... Read This!

Q: We are a small homeowners' association with many younger children. I have seen in the paper recently some communities have put restrictions on certain breeds of dogs (e.g., American pit bulls).] Do you have any legal advice or recommendations?

A: It may be possible, but you must understand that you will be altering the documents and the deed restrictions. Therefore, I highly recommend that you have your attorney guide you. You must make sure that your owners are aware of the pending changes and that they are part of the process...

Click on the link and read the full response. Breed bans are a major problem within homeowner’s associations.

Faithful Dog!

A faithful dog who refused to budge from its owner's crashed car yesterday is being partly credited for saving a 37-year-old city woman from freezing to death in the bush.

My Rules

I guess there are some things I should spell out with regards to this blog and my web page, www.SamTheDogTrainer.com … AGAIN! From time to time, I get inquiries from people who don’t realize the nature of free speech, thus here are disclaimers about information published herein and at my web page. This is a crazy world sometimes, and you have re-state and re-state the obvious about what you say and why you say it. So, here goes. Sorry for doing this. Yes, it is boring…


By participating in this web log, or using my web page, you agree to the following:

a.) I’m against any kind of wacko political stunts to further the pro-dog agenda… meaning no violence, property destruction, foul language, or anything that would otherwise bring dishonor to ourselves, our dogs, reasonable dog owners, or reasonable public servants. We’ve all been disgusted and appalled by the stunts of the animal rights nuts. We don’t want to be like them. You will not engage in any of these kinds of stunts in my name, or in reference to this web log.
b.) We need to work within the political / legal / cultural system. We need to persuade people by the logic of our positions. We have a strong case to present, and it is a winning cause. You agree to abide by the law.
c.) Everything stated here is my opinion. Every event quoted is “alleged” until proven in a court of law. I’m trying to examine and illustrate why we are right on this issue, not to conduct an inquisition or legal proceeding.
d.) From time to time, I receive very interesting comments, emails and letters. Typically they refer to some kind of behavioral problem or political issue. Since this web site is a way for me to oftentimes educate about responsible dog ownership, I shall sometimes use these inquiries and correspondence as the basis of a posting, article or as an example. By submitting any correspondence or inquiry, you thereby agree that the materials and information submitted are wholly your own, and you hereby give me permission to publish them in whole or in part, for potential profit or for free, without compensation to you of any kind, and to indemnify and hold me, and anyone or any organization referenced here, harmless for all claims and damages arising out of anything you say. This information, if we choose it for source material for this web site or other publication, will usually, but not always, be reasonably stripped of direct information about who you are, to protect your identity. This information shall then be used to educate people and benefit society concerning pro dog politics, dog training, behavior, responsible dog ownership and other relevant issues.
e.) If I don’t like the way you treat others, you can be banned from this web, at my sole option and discretion.
f.) Copyright and Trademarks and Patents: Nothing contained herein shall be used, promulgated, modified, transmitted or displayed without Sam Basso’s prior express written consent.
g.) Governing Law, Venue and Jurisdiction: All claims relating to this web site or Sam Basso shall be governed by the laws of the State of Arizona without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any action with respect to such claims in shall be determined solely by Sam Basso, and brought in the Superior Court for Maricopa County, Arizona and may not be removed therefrom, except by express written permission by Sam Basso, at his sole option and discretion.
h.) If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this agreement and statement of policies is deemed to be unenforceable or contrary to law or void as against public policy or otherwise, if possible such provision shall be modified to be as similar to the original provision while still conforming to law (otherwise it shall be considered severable), with the remaining provisions continuing in full force and effect. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and no modification hereof shall be effective unless agreed to in writing and signed by all parties. Exchanged emails shall not constitute such written agreement.
h.) Copyright Notice: Copyright © 2005 Sam Basso, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
i.) Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
j.) No Warranties and Limits of Liabilities, Uses of Information: Information provided herein is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability, accuracy, timeliness, fitness for a particular purpose, or completeness. The author(s) of this information and web site assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions contained herein. Users of this information do so at their own risk. You can’t train every dog the same way, political issues are often times more complicated than presented in a web log, and legal remedies and advice need review by a competent attorney. Since this information is for educational, and sometimes business, purposes, some information is purposely omitted because the intention is to stimulate debate. This blog is NOT a political action committee or similar organization, nor represents itself as a non-profit venture. This is an e-newspaper and editorial comment device, for all practical purposes. Sam Basso and other producers of information for this web site shall not be made liable to users of this information, or anyone else, for any direct or indirect damages arising from any use of this web or information. Users must hire Sam Basso to obtain more complete, accurate and current information. We make no warranty that any of the materials on this web site are accurate, complete, or current. Although we may make changes to the materials contained herein at any time without notice, we do not make any commitment to update the materials.
k.) Permission is granted to temporarily download the materials (information, graphics, or software) from this web site for personal, non-commercial transitory, or educational viewing only. Such use may not violate the policies of www.blogger.com or www.blogspot.com or their related entities. You may also excerpt this web, or link to it, for the purpose of promoting pro-dog causes. We also reserve the right to require that you withdraw and/or delete any quote or link that we find detrimental to the purposes of this web log. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not: remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials or transfer the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server. This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by us at any time.
l.) Hyperlinks to third-party web sites: We shall, from time to time, hyperlink this web to other web sites. We cannot be responsible for the contents or policies of any site we link to, nor do we make any express or implied warranty as to whether you shall be satisfied or damaged by interacting with these other web sites or their related businesses. It is possible that some links will be to retailers and manufacturers, Sam Basso might be an authorized affiliate, manufacturers representative, or otherwise be receiving a referral fee, commission and/or profit on any purchases you make. Sam Basso cannot make guarantees concerning the business policies or practices of these retailers or manufacturers. If you have a purchase dispute, you should contact them directly.
m.) Information Provided To Us: You agree that any information you provide to us shall be complete, current and accurate as to all relevant details. Any replies we make to you shall be limited to the quality and quantity of information you provide to us.
n.) Prices: All terms, prices, policies and conditions are subject to change without notice. All sales are final; no refunds; sold "as is."
o.) All information stated herein is the opinion of Sam Basso, and should be treated as such; not all information has been verified as to its completeness or accuracy. The names and entities referred to in this web should be treated as fictitious, and critiques are to be used as illustrations and should never be construed to refer to a specific person or entity; any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Many articles are for entertainment purposes only. Unless otherwise explicitly noted, the example companies, organizations, products, people, and events depicted herein are fictitious and no association with any real company, organization, product, person or event is intended or inferred.


I hate rules. I wish we lived in a world where "a man's word was his bond", where people took personal responsibility for their words and actions, where you could do business on a handshake, and that people worked out their differences in a friendly and reasonable way. But, unfortunately, things just aren't that way. I have to penalize the 95% of good people out there, by having to implement some business rules, so that I can weed out doing business with the 5% of the nut cases out there. I apologize for having to set some rules just to advocate pro-dog editorials and to make an honest buck.

- Sam

More Idiocy From Auburn WA's Dog Breed Ban

So, the morons in Auburn, WA are banning dog breeds...

Check out which dog breeds are on the list:

Akita
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Bull Terrier
Cane Corso
Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux
Kuvasz
Pit Bull Terrier
Presa Canario
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tosa Inu

Now, tell me, WHY are all these breeds on the banned list? There has been ongoing controversy over the pit bull terrier... but why all these other breeds, which have NO history of any attacks AT ALL? Can you find dog attack stories on even half of these breeds in the news? No.

I know of an apartment complex that is banning dogs over 50 lbs... and dog breeds they consider "aggressive". Guess what breed is on their list? GREYHOUNHDS!!! Can you believe it? That is just absurd. This is why this stuff has to be fought. These are arbitrary and have no basis in any kind of fact or public safety concern.

I am 100% against breed bans. The problems can all be traced back to people: poor breeding, lack of socialization / neglect, abuse, lack of training, lack of a leash in public areas, poor supervision, poor containment when unsupervised, and gang-organized pit dog fighting operations. Breeding will get better when people know how to pick a good dog. Socialization will get better when people are told they need to take their pups out to meet a lot of people and animals during the critical phase between 8 weeks and 16 weeks of age. Abuse can only be solved by proper enforcement of existing dog laws… and it is tied into drug and alcohol abuse. Training will only help if people will spend the money to hire a professional, instead of being cheapskates and doing it themselves. Leash laws need to be enforced in urban areas, but off leash training areas need to be set aside in parks for dog owners to have the opportunity to work their dogs for control in case their dogs get loose… you can’t expect a dog to obey off leash if you don’t have the ability to practice off leash obedience. Containment requires a proper kennel at home. And it is about time we got serious about busting up the gangs in this country. In LA, they have nearly 1,000 gangs!!! A thousand! How can that be? That city is corrupt, like so many of our cities. We either deal with that, or you’ll never stop the pit fighting blood sport.

This breed ban is another sign that Auburn has a totally incompetent police force, and a totally incompetent government. I've been to Auburn, WA many times. It is a crappy city, ugly, beat up, and mismanaged. Here they are sitting on some of the most prime real estate in Puget Sound, and the place is a wreck. This also shows the complete incompetence of King County, which is run by Ron Sims, The Incompetent. Their animal control division is a mess. Illegal drug operations abound in the southern part of Puget Sound. As I've said over and over again... Washington state is a beautiful place that is being wrecked by politics. Here is another prime example.

Sue Them Back To The Stone Age!

America's top dog, Rufus, who won the Westminster Dog Show last week, had best steer clear of Auburn as a new home.

The Auburn City Council on Tuesday labeled Rufus a potentially dangerous dog because of its breed: a bull terrier.

The bull terrier was among 12 breeds the council declared potentially dangerous, requiring their owners to register their dogs with the city or face a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Working dogs like German shepherds, Doberman pinchers and Rottweilers didn't make the list. Glen Bui with the American Canine Foundation told the council his nationwide group will sue the city to have the new provisions in the ordinance tossed out.

Before the meeting, he called the ordinance changes ``a waste of taxpayers' money.'' He said a dog registry does nothing to protect people in Auburn from dangerous dogs and a King County Animal Control system that doesn't work.

Way to go, Glen! These losers need to learn that we have Constitutional rights, and you can't just pass any law you want. I hope you win a huge settlement from the city of Auburn after the courts force them to overturn this illegal and immoral law. Hey, everybody, send some donations to the American Canine Foundation to help them pursue this lawsuit. Glen Bui is a fighter, and he's going to spank them good.

Another Stupid Dog Law

The Executive have announced tough new powers to target all aspects of illegal dog fights. The proposals would outlaw making or showing the films.

The Executive want the punishment for anyone involved in dog fighting, whether it be as a trainer, a spectator or even just someone who is filming it to be increased from a fine of £5,000 and or six months in jail to a fine of £20,000 and or a jail term of a year.

Rural affairs minister Ross Finnie MSP said: "This is just an appalling practice in this country. It's depressing really that in a civilised society we still have people who engage in this form of barbaric cruelty. We've decided to bring it to an end, we're going to have measures in the bill which will actually make it an offence and we will increase the fines to a maximum level. We're quite determined that this kind of cruelty simply will not be tolerated in Scotland."

While the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welcome these moves from the Executive they are concerned that people will not be prosecuted for possession of pictures of a dogfight.

I am VERY worried about laws that breach freedom of the press. I do not think these kinds of videos should be banned. I have watched such videos to learn about the barbarity of dog fighting. Was I a criminal for doing so? Look, I’m a dog trainer, and I try to educate myself on all aspects of dog and people behavior. Plus, pictures of a dog fight in a book can be useful as a tool to teach how barbaric this practice is. As you know, I hate dog fighting. So, this isn’t some kind of excuse on my part to promote this blood sport. I also watched the Danny Pearl video, the one where he is beheaded by Islamic fanatics. I wanted to see what kind of evil we were fighting against in this war on terror. It was horrible. I did it because I needed to know we were right in fighting this war... and we are.

Pictures of dogs fighting teaches a dog trainer about canine body language. I needed to study dog aggression when becoming a trainer, and many dog books on dog behavior have pictures of two or more dogs fighting. Some pictures are from pit fighting situations, others from actual street dog fights. To stop the behavior, or prevent it, you need to learn and watch the behavior. On the other hand, I am glad organized dog fighting is illegal, and I want the organizers and spectators put in jail. Similarly, I am fully supportive of this war on terror... and I want the terror organizers put in jail, too.

This Scottish law is stupid. THE DOG FIGHTING PROBLEM IS A DRUG AND GANG PROBLEM. Hey, idiots. Instead of doing this kind of politically correct thing... a typical European response to a social problem... try doing some real police work and bust up these violent gangs.

Police Dog Runs Away

Bart, the 4-year-old German shepherd who not only works but lives with Chicago Police Officer David Dorken, had been missing for the better part of Monday.

The dog disappeared from the 8300 block of South Pulaski where he was taking a bathroom and exercise break in his handler's backyard, said Chicago Police Sgt. Lisa Mueller, the canine training supervisor, early Monday night.

"It's just like having your own personal dog," Mueller said. "He goes to work with him and he goes home with him. So not only are the handler and his wife heartbroken, but so are their kids."

It's unclear how Bart, trained to find people and detect drugs and other evidence, got out of the yard, but there was no evidence he had been stolen, Mueller said.

When the authorities find such a dog, it is always implied what idiots the owners were. I keep bringing up these types of articles to show you that this stuff even happens to the police. The next question will be: what will they do when they find the dog? Will they shoot the dog and charge the officer with a crime if the dog either growls at someone or bites them? Probably not. Will they consider the dog vicious if it doesn’t want to be cornered by strangers? Probably not. But, if it was YOUR dog, then the story would be different. You’d be charged with a crime.

Something to think about…

Take the speck out of your own eye before you try to take the beam out of your brother’s eye, huh?

Dandie Dinmont Faces Extinction

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is one of the UK’s very rarest breed of dog, with just 81 being born in 2004 and a tiny breeding population, not just in the UK but worldwide. The breed is now officially recognised by The Kennel Club as being a “Vulnerable Breed”.

Whilst the Dandie Dinmont Terrier was never a “popular” breed in the mainstream sense, numbers are now so low that real concern is being expressed internationally about the breed’s long term viability and ultimate survival. Publicity is vital to the breed's very survival.

I didn’t realize this breed was in danger of extinction. Hey, breed clubs… start promoting your breed!!!

I See This All The Time

People are placing such unrealistic expectations on their dogs that they are causing them to become victims of 'Perfect Dog Syndrome', warns Britain's pet charity The Blue Cross.

The pet charity is concerned that an apparent lack of understanding about the importance of training and socialising could mean that dogs are not considered 'perfect' and are brought to rehoming centres, such as those run by The Blue Cross.

A massive 87 per cent of dog owners recently surveyed by the charity who said that their perfect dog would be able to be socialised in a month also wanted that dog to be good with people and kids. Worryingly, of those surveyed who could only dedicate 30 minutes a day to their dog, 75 per cent also expected it to be a family dog.

This survey doesn’t surprise me. Folks just don’t do enough planning and research when getting a dog. And most people don’t hire a trainer BEFORE they get a dog to get instruction on how to proceed from the first day.

Dogs Need Public Space, Too!!!

DOG owners are barking mad at a proposed ban on exercising their animals in Noble's Park.

Douglas Corporation is proposing dogs should only be allowed to run free in a dedicated area near St Ninian's Church hall.

The controversial move comes after a continuing problem with dog fouling.

But owners are angry and a petition with 600 signatures has been presented to the town hall.

Peta Cubbon, of Laureston Grove, Douglas, walks her dog in Noble's Park twice a day.

She said: 'There is a large group of regular dog walkers and we all pick up after our animals.

'We know some people don't clean up after their dogs but the majority of people using the park do. It's not fair that responsible dog owners should have to suffer.

'If dogs are not allowed to have their freedom, they are not able to mix and socialise which is important for them, they need stimulating.

Cattle A Deadly Risk To Dog Walkers

DOG owners are being warned not to walk their pets on land where cattle are grazing.

The warnings follow an inquest last month into the death of a Pembrokeshire woman who suffered injuries consistent with trampling, crushing and butting.

Wendy Tustin, 55, from Tenby, was found dead in a field of around 40 suckler cows with calves last September. She was last seen walking her dog nearby.

Farmer Watcyn Richards, 66, says rural organisations must now be more specific when warning the public about the dangers of dog walking through cattle fields, especially when calves are present.

For months he has staged a one-man campaign calling for a complete ban on walkers taking their dogs on farmland.

Duh. You threaten the young of a large herding animal, and you risk dying. Period!

An Outrageous Crime

A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with outraging public decency in connection with the death of a dog.

It follows an incident on 27 October in which a Yorkshire Terrier, Emmie, was found near its home in Huddersfield with a firework tied to its body.

Tests later showed the fatal injuries had been caused in a road accident.

What is with young guys who do this kind of thing to dogs? I knew quite a few mean guys when I was in school. Looking back, some of the stuff they did was absolutely criminal. And the schools and parents looked the other way, and the rest of us just tried to stay out of their wacky way.

Abusive Hunting Tradition

Flower is a four year old Podenco, a rare Spanish Hunting dog who was brought into Dogs Trust Merseyside Rehoming Centre after being saved from certain death. While living in Spain Mrs. Websters came across Flower hanging by his neck from a tree. She quickly rescued the dog and took him to the vets. Mrs. Websters then decided to bring Flower back to England to live with her, but found her daughter was allergic to dogs so regretfully contacted Dogs Trust to find him a new home.

Spanish Hunting Dogs are often sacrificed at the end of a hunting season in cruel and barbaric ways simply because they are no longer needed or are considered bad hunters who have brought embarrassment and humiliation to their owners.

This is just sick. Who would abuse a dog because it didn’t do a hunt the way you wanted it to? Any good dog trainer would KNOW before the hunt if the dog was well trained, and had the ability to hunt properly. These morons blame the dogs for their own failures. They need to go to jail, and do some hard time there, as punishment.

You Can't Always Believe What You Read

Many dog owners who relinquish their pets to animal shelters are not entirely honest about their dogs’ behavioral problems probably for fear that their pets will be put to sleep, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania and University of California veterinary schools. According to the researchers, these behavioral problems may sometimes pose a risk to an adopting family who could unknowingly take in an aggressive animal... "Questionnaires certainly provide a useful starting point when assessing an animal’s behavioral health," Serpell said, "but they should also be taken with a grain of salt."

A GOOD WARNING TO ALL SHELTER AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS!

I never trust a owner release form from a shelter. It might provide some clues, but you have to get to know the dog before you can tell if the dog should be put up for adoption.

Quarantine Laws Are Inhumane

Dog breeders and foreigners moving to South Africa are barking mad at the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs after its officials destroyed or sent back their precious pets on the basis of a dodgy veterinary test.

In the past four months, quarantine facilities have been crowded with dogs being brought into the country at great expense while their owners await the outcome of tests for leishmania, a parasitic disease that kills both humans and animals.

John Fulton, a Tanzanian veterinarian, said the South African tests carried out at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in Pretoria were inaccurate and “a lot of animals have been put down that should not have been put down”.

These quarantine schemes have proven to be a fraud, and harmful to dogs, regardless of where they are implemented. These laws should be repealed in every country.

Dog Supplements Could Be Fatal

Sales of supplements for dogs, cats and other pets are on the rise, but veterinarians are starting to take a closer look at some of the products.

You have to be VERY careful giving any kind of supplements to your dog. It could be lethal.

Emotions Trump Reality In Pit Bull Ban Fight

"More or less," he says, "it's the owner's responsibility to train their animals and to associate them with other animals and humans. If you segregate an animal, that animal more than likely will become standoffish."

Thomas R. Hendershot, a councilman in Prince George's County, Md., proposed last fall that the county lift its ban of pit bulls in lieu of a non-breed-specific bill that would have defined a "potentially dangerous dog."

"Public policy should make sense," Hendershot said in September. "It shouldn't be overly expensive, and it ought to be fair. The pit bull ban is none of the above."

When the council voted, Hendershot's proposal failed.

One day, we will see that cities realize that breed bans are folly. But, a lot of innocent dogs are going to be put to death getting there.

Dogs Are Big Business In Asia

It is the year of the dog according to the Asian zodiac, and in Korea, this means good business for companies catering to our four-legged friends, who appear to be growing increasingly accustomed to five-star treatment.

The dog business is really going to get big in Asia.

Greenies: To Die For? No Way!

Greenies are the most popular dog treats in the country, but after more than a dozen dogs' deaths, many owners and veterinarians believe they are unsafe.

As I’ve said for a long time… I won’t give them to one of my dogs. I have been warned by breeders, for years, that Greenies are dangerous.

Choosing A Dog Trainer

Most dog owners don’t know what to look for when choosing a dog trainer. So, I wrote this article today to help them with this important issue:


COMPARE ME TO THE COMPETITION

“When people call me to inquire about dog training, I often tell them that I don’t have any kind of fancy sales pitch ("Buy now and save $39.95! Boy, you better sign up for lessons right now or your dog is going to become aggressive and dangerous! Etc., etc."). I just don’t do that kind of thing. I let my reputation sell for me instead. I am a "straight shooter" and I'll tell you like it is, good or bad. I don't say things I don't mean. You are paying me for honest advice, even if it is hard to hear.

So, if you don’t know whether I’m the right person to train your dog, then here’s what to do.

First, read through all the articles at my web page. I wrote this to show you that I know what I’m talking about, and to educate my customers. Through those stories and examples, you’ll get to know me and my training philosophy. Also, be sure to read my blog, Pooch Master. You'll learn a great deal about who I am and my commitment to animal welfare.

Second, read about how I correct a dog. I have several articles here on that topic. A lot of people want to know that I’m not going to hurt their dog in the training. That is an important consideration, isn’t it? I would let just anyone train my dog, either. To sum things up, I can train 99% of all dogs with just a bag of treats, a collar and a couple of leashes. It isn’t about hurting the dog, or a bunch of fancy devices. It is more about what I know than the tools that I use.

Third, go to my competitor’s web pages and compare what they are saying to what I’m saying. Read their training articles. Do they know what they are talking about? Usually, the answer is no. You are also going to see some outlandish sales claims. For example, there is always a con artist in every city I’ve been in that says they can completely train your dog to off leash obedience in 3 to 5 lessons. Now, seriously, do you really believe that? Come on. Do you think that police dogs are given a week of lessons and are then ready for patrol work? Do you think that guide dogs for the blind are given a week of lessons and are ready to do off leash work for their masters? Or search and rescue dogs? Or drug detection dogs? Or competition obedience dogs? No way. That stuff is a lie. Yes, you can berate and force a dog to do something in a couple of lessons, but that isn’t my definition of proper training. Or there are the people who say you can do a board and train type of lesson and the dog will come back home perfectly obedient. Now, tell me this, if that is true, then why is it if I hand my fully trained dog to you, he won’t listen when you give him commands? Because you don’t know what you are doing, and you didn’t earn the obedience with my dog. Yes, I could strap an electric collar on a dog and force it to obey anyone who gave it a command, but that takes all the spirit out of the dog. And yes, there are some very malleable dogs that will take commands from anyone after the training, but that just isn’t the way most dogs work. That is why you see mostly German Shepherd Dogs on police forces and Golden / Labs doing guide dog work. Those breeds were selectively bred to be "slaves", and they re-home better than most other breeds. Rottweilers, Dobermans, and other dogs like that don’t do well switching from one master to another. The police need a dog that can be handed to a new K9 officer, and in a short time, put on the street to apprehend criminals. You can’t do that with most of the man working breeds. And that is the same reason why you don’t see more breeds doing guide dog work. You can’t have others training the dog for you, and then transfer the dog to another person for the dog to obey.

Fourth, talk to real people. You are going to see a lot of so-called credentials touted by other trainers. There are several non-profit dog organizations which you can join, supposedly to prove you are a qualified trainer. The same is true with so-called "certified animal behaviorists"... folks who have gotten a PhD in animal behavior, who can't or won't train your dog to obey, who know more about behavioral drugs and the theory of operant conditioning, but can't relate to how to train a dog to obey you in your home and in your life. Well, look into those organizations and certification programs. There are also dog training franchises you can join and call yourself a "dog trainer". They don’t mean a thing. I decided long ago to not waste my time joining them. If you want credentials, ask for past customer references. That is where the rubber meets the road. I am always willing to give you references. Tons of them, if necessary. More than you can and will call to check me out. I never pre-screen my references. I don’t call them and tell them what to say or warn them they are going to get a call. I want you to get it straight from them, good or bad. Ask away. You’ll see they like what I did with them and their dogs, I came to the appointments, I didn’t hurt their dogs, I have high standards and I am relentless in going for a good result, we worked through all the problems they were having, and I knew what I was doing. The biggest laugh is is when you see a competitor calling themselves a "Master Trainer". I have only met one of those in my lifetime, and his name is Armin Winkler. I trained with him for 2 years, and I give him all the credit for making me into the trainer I am today. He is still a better trainer than I am (even I don't call myself a Master Trainer... there are only a handful of them in the world), and I’m not embarrassed to say that. But, he is located in Virginia, and not a lot of people have the means or time to travel there to train with him. He IS a Master Trainer… absolutely phenomenal. And I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to not only train with him, but to be his friend. Go to his web page www.SchutzhundVillage.com . You will see that he doesn't belong to any of these silly organizations, either. He just has a web page to educate his customers, tell them about his schedule, and to update you on past and upcoming events. Many of those so-called "celebrity" trainers, who write dog training books that you can find in the local bookstore, train with him. He doesn't have anything to do with these organizations, and they mean nothing regarding how qualified the trainer is. In addition, we have all trained dogs for famous people. I could tell you names of people you would know, famous people... lead singers of rock bands, researchers, business icons, the wealthy, etc... but they want their privacy, and I don't publish those names.

Whether you sign up for private or group lessons with me, feel free to first check me out. And check out my competitors. I have no worries about any of that. I just want to train dogs, not get in a contest with these other folks.”

TOURIST ALERT: Ontario, Canada

Canada & BSL - Important

Permission to Crosspost

**PLEASE READ - THIS COULD EFFECT YOU IF YOU HAVE A DOG AND ARE
TRAVELING THROUGH ONTARIO, CANADA**

TOURIST ALERT!

You have no doubt seen the warnings posted on credible websites in the UK, the US and in other areas of Canada against traveling to or through Ontario with your dog. This is good advice.

If your dog is one of the registered breeds described in Ontario's amended Dog Owners' Liability Act, or if, as stated in the Act, your dog bears a resemblance to any of those breeds, you may end up going home with fewer friends or family members than you had when you arrived.

Here are the prohibited breeds:

American Pit Bull terrier
American Staffordshire terrier
Staffordshire Bull terrier

Here are some of the breeds which, if unregistered or if mixed, could be (and have been) considered 'pit bulls' by the authorities in Ontario. If your dog has a short coat, boxy head and is a certain colour, he or she could be in real trouble in Ontario.



Boxer

Boston terrier

Bull terrier

Plott Hound

Great Dane

Bullmastiff

Mastiff

Labrador retriever

Chesapeake Bay retriever

French Bulldog

Patterdale terrier

Vizsla

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Dogue de Bordeaux

Cane Corso

Dogo Argentino

Fila Brasileiro

Australian Cattle Dog


If you are traveling from Manitoba on your way to Quebec or the Maritimes, for example, you are STRONGLY ADVISED TO BYPASS ONTARIO BY DRIVING AROUND THE BEND THROUGH THE US for that portion of your trip. Should you find yourself accidentally inside Ontario's border on your trip, you are STRONGLY ADVISED TO KEEP YOUR DOG OUT OF SIGHT, TURN AROUND AND HIGHTAIL IT DOWN TO THE STATES IMMEDIATELY.

We are not making this up. Here is the text, verbatim, of a letter received from Ontario's Minister of Tourism, Jim Bradley.

Ministry of Tourism and Recreation

Minister
9th Floor, Hearst Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2E1
Tel: (416) 326-9326
Fax: (416) 326-9338
M2005-5790

April 7, 2005

Dear :

Thank you for your e-mail messages about the Ontario government's new legislation banning pit bulls. I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns, and I apologize for the delay in responding to you.

Ontario's Public Safety Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005 became law on March 9, 2005, and it amends the Dog Owners' Liability Act. The new legislation will come into effect on August 29, 2005, banning pit bulls and their importation into Ontario. The new law also places restrictions on existing pit bulls and toughens penalties for the owners of any dog that poses a danger to the public. Pit bulls already legally resident in the province before the date the law comes into force may remain legally in Ontario, subject to certain conditions, such as compliance with leash, muzzle and sterilization requirements. Accordingly, law-abiding owners of existing pit bulls in Ontario need not give up their dogs.

Importing pit bulls into Ontario will be prohibited after August 29, 2005. Pit bulls not legally resident in Ontario prior to this date will be subject to seizure, and persons found to have imported a pit bull into Ontario will be in violation of the law and may be subject to fines and/or jail. There are no exceptions for tourists, including those simply passing through Ontario with their pit bulls, apart from a limited exception for individuals participating in a recognized dog show. You can find further information about the legislation on the Ministry of the Attorney General's website at: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca.

Ontario greatly values its visitors from Canada, the United States and abroad. We are proud of the many world-class tourism attractions and experiences in Ontario, and we are working hard to provide a safe and welcoming province for visitors and residents alike. For more information on travelling in Ontario, please visit www.ontariotravel.net, or call toll free 1-800-Ontario (1-800-668-2746).

Again, thank you for advising me of your concerns, which I will share with my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable Michael Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario.

Yours sincerely,
Jim Bradley
Minister


Sounds to us as though they value their visitors as much as they value their citizens, ie, not at all.

SO, BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, FOLKS. DO NOT TRAVEL THROUGH ONTARI-SCARI-ARI-O WITH YOUR BELOVED BEST FRIEND.

IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT.

Remember, the onus is on the owner of the dog to prove it is not a 'pit bull'. If convicted of an offense under the new DOLA, owners are liable for fines of up to $10,000 and a jail term of up to Six Months.

The only options for a convicted 'pit bull' are death or consignment to a research facility.

We hope owners of other breeds will show solidarity with their fellow dog owners and avoid travel in Ontario until this law is overturned. Remember, a municipality may add any breed or mixed breed they wish to their bylaws and may also add harsher penalities and restrictions than those in the provincial law.

Lesley Sailor

Elizabeth Brinkley. MFA in Theatre
Dante Kennels, est. 1974
Latrobe, PA

http://www.dantekennels.com