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As Camp Pendleton dog deadline looms, families get desperate
By Liz Palika
March 3, 2010
Several months ago, I volunteered my dog training business, Kindred Spirits Dog Training, to work with the residents of base housing on the US Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Because of some serious incidents, the Marine Corps had released an order requiring that all pit bulls, pittie mixes, Rottweilers, rottie mixes, and wolf hybrids pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test or some other behavioral evaluation. Some of the bases went with behavior evaluations but Camp Pendleton decided to go with the CGC.
Now I am not and have never been a fan of breed specific legislation and have written and talked about this numerous times. But as a former Marine, I know fighting the Marine Corps would be difficult, so in this instance, we decided our efforts should go towards helping the residents of base housing keep their family dogs.
As I posted here previously, our association was a little rocky at the start; very few of the dogs had any training and almost all needed at least some basic obedience training. But the owners were motivated, we had three dogs pass the CGC within a month, and many more were in training.
In the first few months we had a few dogs show aggression towards other dogs that was worrisome and we had two who showed aggression towards people. But overall, things settled down and we have been working dogs through the training they needed and most passed the CGC. More will pass this month.
The deadline for the dogs passing the CGC is rapidly approaching – April 1. Now we’re seeing the dogs who have known — to their owners — behavioral problems. Far too many owners tell us their dog never leaves the house or backyard because they can’t control him. We’ve had a few walk into our training yard so aggressively we can’t deal with them at all.
This past week, a Rottie scared me badly and I don’t scare easily. And they have two kids at home. Plus the woman kept making excuses for him, “He was trained as a puppy but the kids keep me busy now. His jumping on you (and wrapping his front legs around your body and holding on while staring you in the eyes) is friendly.” Yeah, right, lady, his hackles were up and he was growling. He’s not going to pass the CGC.
In more than 25 years of dog training, I’ve been bitten a few times. But, when talking about the problems with breed specific legislation, I always said, “I have never been bitten by a pit bull.” I can’t say that any more.
A few weeks ago a pittie was walked into our training yard by his owner, the wife of a Marine, and immediately the dog lunged towards another dog, aggressively, dragging his owner behind him. I stepped in to prevent a problem, grabbed the dog’s leash and he went for my face. I stopped him, asked him to sit and he jumped for my face again. I stopped him again, but he went for my face a third time and this time he got me. Luckily I’m pretty fast and it wasn’t bad. Most of the teeth punctures have healed well but one is going to leave a scar.
There was a back story, of course. The dog is an intact male, used for breeding, never attended a socialization puppy class, never went to a training class, and never goes on walks because the owners can’t control him. The young couple, who have two young kids, don’t know anything about dogs, breeding, genetics, or temperament. The only reason they came to us was because they needed the dog to pass the CGC, which he will now not pass.
Kate and Petra, my partners at Kindred Spirits, and I were talking the other day about some of the dogs who won’t be able to pass the CGC and we said the rescue groups were going to be overwhelmed. After calling some friends I found out the shelters and rescues are already over capacity. Because so many of the dogs being given up now have aggression problems, they are not going to be considered adoptable.
This past weekend I talked to a friend who does pittie rescue. She says now she has gotten much better at evaluating which dog to bail out of the shelters, not only because she can’t save them all, but because she was recently bitten quite badly by a pittie she took out of the shelter in northern San Diego county, just south of Camp Pendleton. She’s going to be okay, but she’s more careful now.
It’s a sad situation all the way around.
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I appreciate your honesty and the work you are doing to help the Marine families and their pets.
I, too, have never supported breed-specific legislation, but I have also experienced nearly being bitten by a pittie-dobie mix while walking at our shelter. It scared me badly enough that I am more cautious around certain dogs now. It hasn’t stopped me from volunteering, but it does impact me and which dogs I walk.
I am so sad that owners can’t take more of a responsibility with their dogs, but most especially with the breeds that so often get bad press. If more of them did so I think we’d see less of a cry for breed-specific legislation.
Sadly, not all of them can be saved.
Comment by Mel — March 3, 2010 @ 6:45 pm
I am in awe of all you and your colleagues have done for the Camp Pendleton dogs. How sad and frustrating that their owners never saw fit to appropriately socialize and train these dogs when they were impressionable young puppies. If only we could come up with a way to make such training mandatory.
In the case of the intact male APBT who has been used for backyard breeding, I hope a report was made with the local authorities. That situation will only lead to misery for many more dogs and the people they encounter, if those humans aren’t held accountable for their selfish behavior. I never wish to see any animals surrendered to Animal Control, but if they’re a danger to the public, and humans are spreading more danger via poorly bred puppies, there is a greater good involved, IMO.
Again, bless everyone at Kindred Spirits for all the dogs you’ve already helped, and I’m very sorry you paid a serious price for your kindness.
Comment by Dee — March 3, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
It sounds as if there is and has been a genuine problem in the base housing.
How many of the people whose never-trained, never-socialized power-breed dogs get the fatal eviction notice are going to turn around and get a new dog of an equally macho and powerful — but unlisted — breed or type?
Honestly, I think it would be entirely justifiable, effective, (and a good deal more fair) for the Marines to require that *all* dogs in base housing pass a CGC.
Comment by H. Houlahan — March 3, 2010 @ 7:10 pm
Liz — the pit bull who went for your face — did he get you on the face, or do you have defense wounds elsewhere?
Comment by H. Houlahan — March 3, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Hi, Liz. The story of the dogs who won’t be able to live any longer on base because they are aggressive is sad - but unfortunately, the owners’ ignorance created a situation from which no dog is guaranteed to recover. I agree with the idea that it would be more responsible if *all* dogs on base had to pass a CGC - responsibility doesn’t just come with breed X on the end of the leash.
Unfortunately for the unsocialized and aggressive dogs, regardless of breed, rescue groups are nearly always overwhelmed. Few rescue groups have the resources to rehab a dog whose aggressive behavior has become ingrained and reinforced over time. Like a car with faulty brakes, it’s safer to take those dogs out of the population than to worry about who’s handling them and where they end up along the road.
Good work and good efforts, though, to get so many other on-base dogs through CGC training and so many of their owners to wake up to responsible pet ownership!
Comment by Pat Steer (Gaelen) — March 3, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
Re: H. Houlahan: My hands were both on the leash so there were no defense wounds. He opened his mouth each time as he went up - the first two times his jaws snapped shut before connecting - but the third time his top teeth got my right cheek and a bottom canine punctured my lower lip and chin.
And although I haven’t heard anything official yet, someone on Camp Pendleton said that there has been discussion about requiring the CGC (or another behavior test) for all dogs of all breeds perhaps as early as 2012.
In this instance I would rather see the CGC required. I know it wasn’t designed for this purpose but to pass the CGC, the dog needs to have some basic obedience training. Attending a class could help these young people learn more about their dog and how to teach him. Plus most basic obedience classes today also include responsible dog ownership information.
Comment by Liz Palika — March 3, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
I agree that it sounds like there really was a bad problem with aggressive dogs on base. And although we know that the problem isn’t breed-specific, in this instance the owners causing the problem may have been drawn toward certain breeds or types of dogs.
Requiring the CGC for all dogs on base (and/or a Puppy STAR type program for puppies) would go such a long way toward solving the problem. Not only on the base, but all those families will carry what they learn into the community in the future.
And as for the dogs, although it IS sad I personally don’t have a problem with killing seriously aggressive dogs. There are too many sweet ones out there looking for good homes. The trick is to educate those owners so they don’t just repeat the problem with a non-banned breed of dog.
Comment by Barb — March 3, 2010 @ 10:31 pm
Great Work Liz what you guys are doing is really Commendable Thank You. Is this not what Municipalities should be doing and organising rather than sending out Stormtroopers to arrest innocent family-pets and criminalise the law-abiding.
smarock10@yahoo.com
Comment by selwyn marock — March 3, 2010 @ 10:54 pm
Liz, you and your partners at Kindred Spirits are just amazing. I knew you had been bitten but I didn’t realize how severely. Would you please share how you are doing now?
And I agree that there should be no ban by breed: All dogs should pass tests if any of them need to — and surely does sound as if there’s a problem on base housing.
I do hope the dog who bit you was put down. I shudder to think of a dog so willing to hurt someone living in a home with children.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 4, 2010 @ 6:16 am
What Gina said, on all counts.
Comment by Susan — March 4, 2010 @ 6:54 am
What makes some people take their puppies or dogs to obedience training, and others do not?
Is it the cost?
Or socioeconomic class?
Or a function of where/how the person acquired the puppy/dog?
I know many, many people who have dogs but I can think of only one couple who enrolled their dog in classes. They are excellent animal owners with well-behaved dogs but he was a difficult case … had unpredictable episodes of aggression. They worked very, very hard to rehab him, but ultimately (after he bit the owner) and with their vet’s input (he thought the poor dog had some brain disorder), had him put down. It was awful … he was only four years old and 99% of the time “stable.”
But anyway, I am curious about this, about why so many (most?) people do not take their dogs to school.
Is it that they think teaching a dog to sit or shake paw is enough training?
At one of the shelters where I volunteer, training (at that facility) is a requirement of adoption for puppies and young dogs, and is included in the adoption fee. I LOVE that.
Would be great if other “distributers” ie breeders had that same requirement.
Comment by Mary Mary — March 4, 2010 @ 8:52 am
“Would be great if other “distributers” ie breeders had that same requirement.”
I didn’t have that “requirement” for McKutie’s litter, and yet I knew I didn’t have to, because of how we placed the litter. All the puppies went to experienced homes where they would be trained and would work. All are beloved family pets, but not one of the six is “just” a pet. The firstborn puppy — Jack the Zipper, a/k/a Yellow Boy — was first again, passing his Canine Good Citizen test last night just before his 11th month B-day. His brothers and sisters are all also on the road to various achievements in the field, in the agility ring and, yes, in the show ring. (Most will work in all venues.) Dooley — a/k/a BOB, Blaze Orange Boy — is putting up and picking up pheasants while out hunting now, and I expect to be hearing a lot more in the years to come from this crew.
Breeder iz proud.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 4, 2010 @ 9:00 am
The question of ‘What is a pit bull’ plays into this unfortunate conversation. Sadly, the young guys in our armed services are falling for the dogs that are no longer pit bulls - until they bite someone, that is. There’s a growing trend towards shopping dogs that are bigger, bulkier, flashier. And these dogs tend to be well muscled mixed breeds from several backgrounds - usually guardian breeds.
There’s a reason our tiny little fight bust dogs aren’t biting up their rescuers. They represent true pit bulls as opposed to the more recently created style of dogs that young guys are so attracted to.
But we can’t blame the dogs for problems that are born out of ignorance. Outside of offering CGC services - which is a noble effort - military families can really use help with learning how to choose and raise a solid dog, no matter what breed or mix of breeds it might be.
My family is military, and while my nephews own pit bulls now, my WWII uncles owned the breed de jour - the german shepherds - which caused quite a few problems and nasty bites for under-educated owners back when. We’ve switched breeds but problems remain the same, but with the added vinegar of BSL. It’s truly sad.
Comment by Donna — March 4, 2010 @ 9:22 am
Sorry to hear the dog got your face, Liz.
Oww.
I was hoping to hear that you’d blocked him with an arm.
What we trainers know, but many others may not, is that a launch at the head or body core of a standing adult — especially repeated salvos — is an entirely different thing than the usual FU bites or defensive-aggression targeted at whatever human body part is invading the dog’s safe zone — usually the hand.
And worlds away from an overexcited leg bite.
It’s the sign of a very serious, dangerous, potentially lethal mindset.
Not an animal that can be safely maintained by inexperienced, complacent owners living in tight proximity to many young families with children.
Comment by H. Houlahan — March 4, 2010 @ 9:29 am
You know, I had never realized until just now how many owners of pit bulls I know — good owners, bad owners, mixed-bag owners — acquired their dogs while serving in the military.
But on reflection — a LOT of them. And we’re going back to the 1980’s on this, not a recent thing.
What’s up with that?
Is it a viral thing on the bases, just a dog that became fashionable and easy to get?
Or is a macho dog part of the bravado of military service.
Comment by H. Houlahan — March 4, 2010 @ 9:34 am
So should we watch for a GI Joe doll with matching macho dog?
Comment by Mary Mary — March 4, 2010 @ 9:37 am
I live on a military installation and I doubt requiring CGC testing for all dogs is a feasible option.
As it stands, many pet-related base rules are broken on a daily basis. No one is enforcing them. Who is going to enforce mandatory CGC testing when dogs run at large?
Further, what about newly adopted dogs? I just adopted an adult dog from a local shelter. She’s spent most of her life as an outdoor-only dog and received little socialization and no training. Given enough time and patience, she will go a long way. I have no doubt she could pass the CGC test, eventually. Are dogs like her supposed to get the shaft because a prior home failed her? Or would we be given the time to finish behavior modification and training?
Would persons such as myself, who prefer adopting dogs to buying puppies, have to give up on these dogs? Would we be limited to adopting young puppies or buying from breeders? Restricted to picking out only the dogs that could pass the CGC test the day they come home from the pound?
I don’t want to see breeds singled out, but I remain doubtful that CGC testing is the answer.
Comment by RTL — March 4, 2010 @ 9:45 am
I’m running out the door, Mary Mary, and don’t have time for a long answer, but I’ll say this. Although I do take my dogs to classes for socialization, the reason I don’t like and wish I didn’t have to take them is that they BORE THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I count the minutes until they end. I simply loathe dog training classes. In fact, although I do it, like flossing, I don’t enjoy training my dogs, either. Certainly I shape their behavior, but that’s just integrated with daily life. Actual training sessions, even five minutes long, are things I dread.
And yes, I’m well aware that my dogs pick up on my attitude. I do my best to keep it cheerful, short and fun for them. My best is all I can do.
But while I’m looking forward to showing my new puppy the ropes, the reality that I’ll also be taking him to puppy classes is not on the list of things I’m looking forward to about his arrival.
Comment by Christie Keith — March 4, 2010 @ 9:52 am
I’m with Christie on this one. The only thing worse than obedience classes are remedial Driver’s Ed classes. You know, the day long horror one has to sit through in order to expunge a speeding ticket from one’s driving record. Necessary, but excruciating. Both of them.
Comment by Rori — March 4, 2010 @ 10:08 am
You folks are going to the WRONG obedience classes.
Comment by H. Houlahan — March 4, 2010 @ 10:11 am
But anyway, I am curious about this, about why so many (most?) people do not take their dogs to school.
Comment by Mary Mary — March 4, 2010 @ 8:52 am
When I got my puppy 3 years ago, I took him to “puppy” class. I can’t count the number of people (dog owners and non-dog owners alike) who found out and asked “Why? What’s wrong with him??”, as if taking a class meant the dog was somehow deficient, or I was since I “couldn’t” train him myself.
Mind you, most of these same people brag about how they “trained” their own dogs, who can’t walk nicely on a leash, can’t be trusted off-leash, bark at strangers, etc.
I’ve also had the pleasure of being lectured about how training classes “don’t let dogs be dogs” (the poor dog this person owns is now an outside dog, since he’s not well-behaved enough to be inside).
Basically, there is an entire population of people who don’t know squat about socialization (“but I take him to the dog park!”) or that want a “real” trained dog (or are willing to put the WORK into it).
I don’t get it either.
Comment by K.B. — March 4, 2010 @ 10:29 am
Re: Gina: How am I doing? Fine! My cheek has healed completely - thankfully I heal well and fast. My lower lip has some scar tissue and is still sore and I may have a tiny scar but I used some of that new antibiotic ointment that’s supposed to prevent scarring and I think it’s working.
Comment by Liz Palika — March 4, 2010 @ 10:47 am
K.B.,
Interesting. Thanks.
Perhaps this thinking will shift over time, like so many things do.
I would like to see some sort of public awareness catchphrase (I work in marketing so I think everythnig should be a soundbite for JQPublic).
For example:
“Does your puppy have his ‘three by three?’”
And it would be the three basic behaviors he should know by three months, such as sitting and staying or not jumping up or whatever.
And then “six by six,” same as above.
I am probably going to be slammed for this because I am:
1) clueless about dog training and
2) maybe there are wide variations of what you can expect by certain ages depending on breed
Ever since I got into the shelter world (for rabbits, not dogs) and saw HOW MANY adolescent dogs, mostly lab or pit mixes, fill the shelters … then learned that the vast majority (90%) of those surrendered for behavior problems had ZERO training … it just seems like such a huge priority, this need to raise awareness and to make it very simple. (3x3 and 6x6).
It reminds me of the “time out rule” some people use with kids … one minute in time out for every year of age. An easy rule of thumb.
It makes me nuts when I see the ads on Craigslist … all these labs and pits being rehomed at 9-18 months because they “don’t get the attention they deserve.” To which I say well then, GIVE IT. To me this is just shorthand for “we are too lazy or uneducated to train him now that he’s knocking over our small children.”
Isn’t it funny the way these puppies get big and heavy over time? Whoda thunk!
This is why weeks ago I posted my regret over enabling an oops litter (when I was 20 years old, dog-sitting for friends) between a lab and shepherd. I would just bet that some of those dogs were dumped in shelters when they weren’t sweet little wiggly puppies anymore but solid masses of energy with whips for tails.
Comment by Mary Mary — March 4, 2010 @ 10:53 am
Liz - This just popped in my head. If your rescuer friend that was bit needs any help with updating her evaluation protocol, let me know. I’m guessing her reality check will serve her well, but just in case she’s afraid to get back in the saddle, we can offer support/advice for avoiding a repeat of her bad experience.
Comment by Donna — March 4, 2010 @ 10:59 am
Donna: She is actually quite good herself and has had a lot of training in rescue evaluations. She admitted that she had gotten complacent and had, as so many rescuers do at some point, gotten to the ‘must save them all’ frame of mind. But a bite will wake you up and remind you that not all can be saved and that those behavioral evaluations are important.
Comment by Liz Palika — March 4, 2010 @ 11:36 am
Yikes, Liz, sorry you got bit! I’m probably lucky I didn’t get bitten by my neighbor’s untrained/unsocialized/unneutered male pittie a while back, when he got off his lead. I had him by the collar while I was waiting for his owner to come up with a leash. He gave a little head-jerk that told me he wasn’t happy with that, and I pulled my hand away quickly.
My husband told me later that the dog was growling. I couldn’t hear him, but my husband could see his lips vibrating. Yikes.
One of my pet-sitting clients asked me about training information for one of her neighbors who’d found a pittie wandering around the neighborhood and had “rescued” it. The client and I were talking about dog-related behaviors, and it seemed pretty obvious from her description that the neighbors didn’t really have any real understanding of dog psychology or how dogs respond to training. (E.g., they’d call the dog, and if it didn’t come right away, they’d yell at it.) I’m not a trainer, so I looked up some info for her to give to them. Bless her heart, she wanted to pay for them to go to a good dog-training class!
Comment by Janice in GA — March 4, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
“She admitted that she had gotten complacent and had, as so many rescuers do at some point, gotten to the ‘must save them all’ frame of mind. But a bite will wake you up and remind you that not all can be saved and that those behavioral evaluations are important.”
It’s such a tough pill for anyone in this field to swallow, but sadly true. I think it’s so amazing that you donated your time in this manner- thank you.
If pets as aggressive as what you have described in these instances are overwhelming the shelter, it is terribly sad- but at the same time there is always the thought that your evaluation caused an intervention before an innocent child was injured. And in the rest of the cases, you have effected a positive change allowing the pet to remain in the family, hopefully with better behavior all around.
Comment by Dr V — March 5, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Hi, I’m just wondering, maybe all dogs should have to go through basic training through PetSmart or with a personal trainer and obtain a certificate of completion (which must be submitted on base within a certain amount of time after getting the pet) showing that the dog passed it’s classes. And then maybe even got through advanced training within a certain time frame after that. Maybe if they have to do this from the start they will at least continue to work with their dogs and may be more responsible pet parents…and then some may not like the mother who had her hands full with children. But maybe, just maybe, more would follow through than not and we could only hope.
Comment by Dorlene Ginn — March 6, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
“Would be great if other “distributers” ie breeders had that same requirement.”
I offer an incentive program for my puppy buyers who title their dogs. I rebate money for every title achieved, including CGC or CGNs. I also showcase them on my blog and send out a thank you letter and ‘gift’.
I think it actually works better than simply requiring something of puppy buyers - encouragement and rewards work better on both species, don’t they?
Comment by FrogDogz — March 7, 2010 @ 9:52 am
Blech! I am with Christie here on puppy classes. I love training my dogs though. Training them is a snap. I love socializing them with other dogs and in different situations to different types of people too, but sitting through a puppy training class is well, painful.
In my area the classes are at rotten hours for me. The good ones are pricey or inaccesible. The socialization times of most are poorly controlled and the trainers leave A LOT to be desired in terms of techniques. (There are some good trainers out there but if you don’t sign up at the right time, as in when it was whelped, for the puppy classes then your dog will be a year old before a class opens and that is pointless if you aren’t moving beyond puppy classes.)
Comment by Kristy — March 8, 2010 @ 1:52 pm
This is quite an important article and finding. It would be nice to document this work and do an article. It could have a real impact on BSL.
Kristi
Comment by Kristi — March 8, 2010 @ 5:49 pm
Thank you for speaking from the field and for being honest. Very few of us have your knowledge and experience. The CGC does focus on breeds considered aggressive which is an unfortunate distinction since any dog can be aggressive, but more importantly it makes owners answer for their dogs, in public, in a way that is more or less objective and which also offers assistance if needed. I think this hits the problem at its core. The BSL we read about generally has no measurable standards other than guessing and no assistance for resolution to help someone keep their dog, which means a lot of dogs will die because of it. If this works for the Marines, perhaps it can also work in other cases. Communities end up paying to euthanize surrendered dogs considered to be too aggressive to be adoptable when a program like this might help keep them in their homes and educate owners at the same time, for the same cost to the community.
Comment by Bernadette — March 16, 2010 @ 12:24 pm
Honestly, I think it would be entirely justifiable, effective, (and a good deal more fair) for the Marines to require that *all* dogs in base housing pass a CGC.
That was my thought as well.
Comment by LauraS — March 28, 2010 @ 8:15 am
It’s pretty late for my comment, but I thought that I would update some of you guys on how the Breed banning went for some of us here on base. I have two gorgeous pitties who happen to both be male. Both of my boys are altered and that makes them much better dogs. I went through the rigorous training process for both of my boys, Jack who was 2 at the time and Duke who was 7 months old at the time. Both of the boys passed with flying colors!! They are both CGC certified, but guess what? They still got kicked off base. I was told from many people at the Base Shelter and the PMO that my boys would be able to stay because they did not have a bit history and that they had passed the CGC. Here I am broken hearted because I had to give my children up, yes my dogs are my children, just so we could live on base housing. Yes, I know some are rolling there eyes and asking to themselves, “Why don’t you move off base?” Well there is practically no one who will rent to Pitbull owners no matter what, and when we finally found someone to rent to us, he ran off with $1800 of our hard earned money. I am posting this because there are so many people out there who judge us because we have pitbulls and are a young military couple. There are a handful of young couples that have this breed of dog and treat them terribly and make them into mean dogs, but to be honest I worked with my boys on socialization ever since they were 6 weeks old. I hope that some people will get over their fear of pitbulls. It’s the owners you need to watch out for.
Comment by Michelle — July 24, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
Oh Michelle, I’m so sorry you had to give up your dogs! What reason could they have had to justify that decision?
Comment by mikken — July 25, 2010 @ 11:16 am