is tomorrow (October 23, 2011).  Alamo City Bully Breeds United is hosting a Pit Bull Awareness Day event in conjunction with a Pit Bull only adoption event hosted by AAPAW (Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare).  Schedule of events listed below.

Schedule of Events

11:00 a.m. Run with the Bulls – A walk around and through San Pedro Park
12:00 a.m. Pot Luck Lunch – Hot Dogs provided by board of directors
1:00 p.m. Is Your Pit Bull Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and other fun contests – Ribbons will be provided

NOTE:  No adopted Pit Bulls will be released to homes pending a home check conducted by ACBBU board members

Pitbull Adoption Event 10.23.11v3

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about your dog!

Why test my dog?
The ATTS website states:  “Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today’s dog fancier. The ATTS Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog’s behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog’s behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.”

For those concerned about protecting their dogs from legislation, litigation, or public opinion, a temperament test certificate can be extremely valuable. 

How do I register?
Download the test entry form here, then mail it along with the entry fee of $35 to:

ACBBU
P.O. Box 830178
San Antonio, TX 78256

Entries must be postmarked by January 21.  Please read the application instructions carefully, as both sides of the application must be printed on a single sheet of paper to be valid.

Checks will not be cashed until after January 31, 2012.

For more information, contact us at acwpmail@gmail.com.

Please be sure to bring a crate (as the vehicle can get too hot) for your dog while you are checking in and waiting for your dog’s turn to go through the test.

Learn more about the test on the American Temperament Test Society website.

By now you are probably asking what a break stick is. It is a device inserted into the mouth of an APBT (behind the molars) to facilitate the release of its grip on another dog.

Remember: APBTs do not have a special mechanism or enzyme that allows them to “lock” their jaw, nor do they possess a higher than average “bite pressure.” They simply have the determination of a terrier.

Not all APBTs are aggressive toward other dogs. But because the breed has a somewhat higher tendency for dog aggression, break sticks are useful tools to have in a multi-dog household. Please read the following guidelines before attempting to break up a fight using a break stick.

Why Should Responsible APBT Owners Have a Break Stick?
Because canines are pack animals, fights are possible in any multi-dog household, no matter what breed of dog you own. A responsible owner should take measures to prevent such fights, but he or she should also be prepared for the worst. The goal of any owner should be to break up a fight quickly and efficiently. The majority of breeds will snap erratically at their opponent, biting and releasing repeatedly. As terriers, APBTs will usually bite and hold. Contrary to popular myth, this is not some kind of special APBT behavior; it is merely terrier behavior. As its name suggests, a break stick is designed to break this determined terrier hold. This is the safest, easiest, and most effective way to stop a fight.

Do not attempt to use a break stick on other dog breeds.

Attempting to use a break stick on other breeds could result in serious injury to the person using the stick. Since other breeds will unpredictably snap and bite instead of getting a grip, you are far more likely to be bitten. You also should not attempt to use a break stick with other terriers. While all terriers grab and hold, APBTs are far less likely to redirect their bite on an intervening human than, say, a Jack Russell Terrier. For the same reason, you also need to be very careful when separating your APBT from another breed. Your APBT will probably not bite you, but you might get bitten by the other dog.

Be Prepared
There are many ways of managing a multi-dog household. Your primary goal should be to prevent fights before they begin. Many, many APBTs — even APBTsfrom fighting backgrounds—get along just fine with other dogs. Nevertheless, the breed’s tendency for dog aggression is slightly higher than the average dog, so constant vigilance is vital.

If a fight does occur, you will be better prepared to break it up if you have already rehearsed the procedure before the need arises. Look into your dog’s mouth and find the gap where the teeth do not meet at the very back of the jaw. This is where you are going to insert the stick.

Before Grip
If the dogs don’t have a hold yet, you may be able to break the fight using other methods. Jerking the dogs back by their collars, a loud and firm break command, a bucket of cold water, a water hose, or placing a barrier such as a baby gate between the two dogs may be enough to stop them. Be safe: don’t put your hands anywhere near the mouth of the dogs.

How to Break Up a Fight
If one of the dogs has a grip, it’s time to use a break stick.

It is best if there are two people to break up a fight, but you can do it by yourself if you have no choice. If both dogs are fighting and you are alone, you might need to tie one of the dogs to something solid. When one of the dogs is tied up, you must “break” the one that is not tied first, and pull him/her off right away.
Walk over to the dogs, straddle one that has a hold, and then lock your legs around the dog’s hips just in front of the hindquarters. Make sure your legs are locked securely around the dog. Your break stick will be in one hand, so with your free hand, grab your dog firmly by his collar and pull upward slightly.

Insert your breaking stick behind the molars where the gap is found. Sometimes you need to work the stick in just a bit if the gap is small. The stick should be inserted from ½ to 1½ inches into the dog’s mouth.
Turn the stick as if you’re twisting the throttle of a motorcycle. This action will cause the dog to readjust its grip, and it will bite onto the stick, releasing the other dog. If both dogs have a hold, you will then have to break the second dog from the first.

How To Use A Break Stick

1.  They were NOT bred for fighting.
2.  They were bred to work on a farm.
3.  They were bred to hunt vermin.
4.  They were bred and used for war.
5.  They were bred for bull baiting.

None of the above statements are true. Truth is the American Pit Bull Terrier was originally bred for one purpose and that was to be the ultimate canine warrior.

Have APBTs been used for farm work? Yes. Can they hunt vermin (like most terriers)? Yes. Have they been used in war? Yes. Were they used for bull baiting? No, but their ancestors were. It’s because they were bred for fighting that makes them such a versatile breed and able to do all those other things.