K9 Neville to Retire from Washington State Police

After five years on the job as a bomb-sniffing dog with the Washington State Police, K9 Neville is about to retire. Neville, a pit bull, has a pretty interesting history. He was a dog from Ontario, Canada doomed to death after the province banned pit bulls in 2005. Per the law, anyone who owned a pit bull when the law was put in place could register them and own them as long as they were muzzled in public. All non-owned pit bull dogs--strays, dogs surrendered to shelters--were to be killed, donated to research labs, or sent out of the provice. Ditto for any pit bull born after the law went into effect.

Neville had such a stellar temperament that when he became one of those non-owned dogs, a rescue group called Bullies in Need, which works to get as many Ontario dogs to safety as it can, scrambled to save him. A woman in Washington State named Carina (or, as many of us know her, Violet) with an organization called Dog Rescue Around Washington offered to take him in. Once he was in her care, she had Neville tested for the now-defunct Lawdogs program, he was accepted, and he soon went to work sniffing for explosives and weapons on the Washington state ferry system. Word has it he was a favorite among passengers riding the ferries.

Tracking Photos From Saturday's Trial

OK, I know I've put a ton of tracking photos up here and tracking isn't always the most exciting phase of schutzhund for a spectator. But I'm totally loving all of these great shots Rob's been getting of me and Doc out in the early morning or evening doing our thing. These were taken at Rosaryville State Park, which is where tracking was for the Commonwealth Working Dog Club Trial on Saturday.

Ted Hartman was the judge. A nice guy who I thought gave some very thorough and thoughtful critiques of the dogs and handlers this weekend.

Starting off . . . we were slightly off to the left of the track in the beginning, and we got knocked a few points for that.



Found our first article, somewhere around 125 paces in on the first leg.



Last leg, he had really settled in at this point and was rather accurate after a pretty much dead-on second leg.



And second article at the end of the track. Good work, Doc. Though right before he settled on the article, he picked his head up for some reason and just took a quick look at the spectators on the side of the road. I gave him a second "such" command because I was afraid he might just forget what he was up to. The reminder was all he needed and he finished up clean, but we did lose points for the second command.



Me: "Good Dog!" Doc: "Where's my damn hot dogs?"



And reporting out. Kind of funny--the judge leaned down and gave Doc some praise when we were done, and after that he was Doc's favorite person. He just wanted to sniff him and get his attention so badly. It's weird who he picks and chooses to take an interest in, but this guy really caught his attention.

Success

We got our TR 2 today, with 92 points (out of 100). Yes!

I think I needed this to help build my confidence . . . I was feeling pretty down after our December trial, when we blew it on the last exercise in protection.

So it's no VPG 1, but it's nice to get a title in something we both like and are doing well in. Doc tracked pretty accurately after he settled into the track, found both of his articles, and maintained his intensity during the track. Nice work, Doc!

Shout out to a fellow pit bull today too: Ron Marshall and his pit bull Whitehead went for another VPG 3 today and took High in Trial and High Tracking in the trial. As always, it's nice to watch them work.

Some Spring Tracking Photos

Have been doing an awful lot of tracking with Doc lately, and the work seems to be paying off. He tracked at the trial in December and he was the only SCH 1 dog to finish his track, but his work was kind of clownish--the conditions were rough, so was willingly distracted by his environment, and at one point, he even stuck his head in a gopher hole to investigate it as he moved down the third leg of his track. Would have been fine, I guess, if we were tracking for gophers!

So we've been working on longer and longer tracks, less reward on the track itself and more reward at the articles, to hammer the point home that it's the articles he should really be searching for if he wants to score. And in between, I've been laying some easy and fun tracks with lots of food, lots of reinforcement, to build his confidence and remind him that tracking is fun, satisfying, and belly filling.

We're planning to trial for a TR 2 this weekend (tomorrow--eep!), so I've also been having other people lay tracks for me, with unfamiliar articles, aged 30 to 45 minutes. Rob came along with us last weekend to take photos when a training friend, Morris, came out and laid the track for us.

He got some nice shots of Doc at work.

First leg was slightly puzzling for him. He tracked the unfamiliar person, but he really thought hard about it while he was doing it, like he was really trying to figure out what kind of confounded task I had put him up to. He takes a moment right after the scent pad to check things out and figure out if this is what he's really supposed to be following. Technically, his nose should stick to the ground, but he air scented a bit, but he quickly got his groove and got down to business. So it's cool.





And then . . . he really gets into it, footstep by footstep.





Article!



And last leg, right along the woodline. I remember the time when, if I tried to track Doc too close to brush or woods, he'd try to skip out on the track to check out the distraction. I also remember Ron telling me what a challenge I was going to have teaching him to track through distractions. It has been challenging, but it's also been ridiculously rewarding. Well, when we have good days. When we have bad days, it's mind-numbingly frustrating. But that's kinda what dog training is like anyway, so you live for the good moments and try not to let the bad ones ruin your day.



Here's hoping that tomorrow is one of the rewarding ones!

Maryland HB 1314 With Anti BSL Amendment

I wanted to remind everyone that this Thursday, March 18, is when HB 1314 will be discussed in the Maryland General Assembly. I'm urging dog owners to contact their Maryland delegates and tell them they support this bill with the amendment that would prohibit breed-specific legislation in the state.

I also heard today that there is another amendment being proposed for this bill, submitted by the HSUS, that would create a "potentially dangerous dog" definition that would make any dog that bites under any circumstances a potentially dangerous animal--there is no exclusion for puppies, no exclusion for bites that happen during play, no exclusions for bites that do not actually cause injury to an individual.

This potentially dangerous dog amendment seems like a catch-all that could potentially make any and all dogs "potentially dangerous" and would give courts and law enforcement a pretty wide net to cast when it comes to making determinations about dogs.

My sentiment: Support HB 1314 with the anti-BSL amendment but make it clear to your legislator that a vague "potentially dangerous dog" amendment is not good for this bill.

Wasteland

That's what our yard is this spring, after the massive snowfall, followed by the massive snow melt, followed by the nonstop lap running the dogs did once the weather finally broke.

Believe it or not, last spring I replanted this section of the yard where Button's standing.

He doesn't really care, of course. He doesn't need grass. Just needs someone to throw the damn ball.

Seen This Weekend in Prince George's County . . .

A cute brown-and-white pit bull sitting in an open field alongside a road just off Route 301 in Brandywine. It had a collar on, looked like it was in nice shape. Probably someone's pet who got out of a yard or something.

I travel through Prince George's County, where pit bulls have been banned since 1996, frequently, and I have a pit bull sticker on my car. I can't tell you how many people see that sticker and stop to tell me that, even though they are illegal, they own a pit bull in Prince George's County. I also happen to know a handful of people who own pit bulls and live in the county, and I hear from people who work with dogs down there (trainers, in particular) about PG County clients who own pit bulls here.

And then there's the one on the side of the road, the scofflaw pit bull sitting in a field, looking content, sniffing the air and watching traffic roll by.

Sounds like that pit bull ban is really working out, huh?

In 2003, a task force analyzed the PG County pit bull ban and found that while the public safety benefit of the law was "unmeasurable," the cost of implementation was not: For each pit bull confiscated and killed by Prince George's County, taxpayers dished out some $68,000. Since pit bulls, clearly, still exist in the county despite the ban, PG County residents are still bearing the burden of cost--and not an insigificant one. In 2001-2002, the task force calculated that the county had paid out more than $500,000--half a million!--to enforce the ban on pit bulls. Meanwhile, animal control officers are responding to calls about non-dangerous but illegal pit bulls, stretching their already-thin resources and making it harder for them to respond to calls about truly dangerous situations and animals.

How does that make sense?

You can read the full task force report below. It's an oldie, but still a goodie.

Prince Georges County BSLTaskForce

Anti-BSL Bill Amendment in General Assembly

Just got news from the Maryland Dog Federation that the Maryland General Assembly is considering stronger dangerous dog legislation. That, in and of itself, is a good thing. But even better: The Maryland Dog Federation has submitted an amendment to the bill (which, by the way, is HB 1314) that would make it illegal for municipalities to impose breed-specific legislation in the state. Maryland Dog Federation presented the amendment to Del. Cheryl Glenn, who's sponsoring the bill, and Glenn has agreed to submit it.

The text of the amendment reads:

"Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prevent a municipality from adopting or enforcing its own more stringent program for the control of dangerous dogs provided, however, that no such program shall ban, regulate or address dogs in a manner which is specific as to breed."

If the bill passes with this language, it would prevent any breed bans, such as the one in place in Prince George's County, Maryland, from being enforced.

Maryland Dog Federation is asking people to take action to make sure this amendment gets the support it needs:

1. WRITE to Delegate Cheryl Glenn at cheryl.glenn at house.state.md.us. Tell her specifically that you "SUPPORT HB 1314 WITH AMENDMENTS". We want her to know we want her to make that amendment! OR

CALL the delegate at 301 858 3257 or fax her at 301 858-3019. Let her know you "SUPPORT HB 1314 WITH AMENDMENTS". I will follow up with a posting of the contact information for the Judiciary Committee, but at the moment it is critical that delegate Glenn get positive feedback for this amendment in the next few days.

2. ATTEND the HEARING on March 18. We need to clearly state our SUPPORT of this amendment.
Judiciary committee March 18th, 1pm
Room 100, House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401-1991

For more information, visit the Maryland Dog Federation's Facebook page, which contains full details on this effort.

Ed Block Courage Award Protest

Tomorrow evening, Michael Vick is being given an award, right here in sunny Baltimore.

It's the Ed Block Courage Award, and per the organization that gives the award out, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, those who receive it embody "professionalism, great strength, and dedication." The recipient is a "community role model" who helps abused children and families in crisis.

I don't know what Michael Vick does to help abused children and families in crisis. Maybe he has done a ton of volunteer work and community service as part of his punishment for getting busted for killing and injuring dogs as part of a dog-fighting ring. I do know he's being trotted out by the HSUS to speak to schoolkids about animal abuse, but I see that as a mutually exploitative relationship, more than a meaningful sign that he's remorseful or changed in any way. (Vick gets the HSUS to support him in his attempt to show the world that he's changed, the HSUS gets a sports celeb spokesman to help it raise money and draw attention to its work.)

But community role model? That seems like a bit of a stretch.

This is a guy who took an active role not only in fighting dogs, but also in killing them brutally--via drowning, electrocution, beating, shooting. And when all was said and done, he never actually took responsibility for his role in the whole gruesome ordeal. Instead, he told people--including some of the kids he's spoken to at HSUS-sponsored events--that he regretted letting others sucker him into this world and for letting people who didn't have his best interests at heart ruin his life. So it's other people's fault that all this bad stuff happened, and he's sorry he listened to them. But I haven't yet heard him acknowledge that he had an active role in fighting dogs, killing dogs, torturing dogs.

Given that this is a "courage" award and that the foundation that gives it out wants to promote the recipients as role models with a positive impact on the community, it seems odd that they'd be willing to give it to a guy who victimized and abused animals then refused to publicly take responsiblity for his actions.

In fact, ESPN quoted him as saying "I've overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can handle or bear. You ask certain people to walk through my shoes they probably couldn't do. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world because nobody had to endure what I've been through, situations I've been put in, situations I put myself in, and decisions I have made, whether they have been good or bad."

Sounds like he thinks of himself as a victim. And really, that's not very courageous at all.

People are planning to protest down at Martin's West Catering tomorrow, where the award is being given to Vick.

You can check out the Facebook events page for the where, when, why, how. I hope and expect that it'll be a peaceful protest, but the Baltimore Sun has reported that there will be heightened security just to make sure all's well and everyone keeps their cool.

Here's a link to B-More Dog's official statement on the award.

For additional reading on the matter, here's an interesting Point/Counterpoint from ProFootball24x7.com on Vick as an Ed Block recipient.

Unbelievable Ignorance in Breeding

Just saw this on the YesBiscuit! blog. A pit bull breeder in South Carolina drops 22 dogs, 17 of them puppies, off at a shelter because they weren't making the right color puppies.They wanted blue and instead got a bunch of other colors.

Appallingly ignorant. You can read the whole story here.

Stories like this one are the reason I say that backyard breeding and stupidity is the worst problem facing this breed today.

Dog, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Just read this again today. Haven't read Ferlinghetti's A Coney Island of the Mind in a really long time, but revisited today. Sadly, looks like I can't get the right line spacing to work in Blogger--it wants to justify everything and seems not to understand that the last lines ought to be staggered. You can see the original here, if you want to read it in a purer form.

Dog

by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The dog trots freely in the street
and sees reality
and the things he sees
are bigger than himself
and the things he sees
are his reality
Drunks in doorways
Moons on trees
The dog trots freely thru the street
and the things he sees
are smaller than himself
Fish on newsprint
Ants in holes
Chickens in Chinatown windows
their heads a block away
The dog trots freely in the street
and the things he smells
smell something like himself
The dog trots freely in the street
past puddles and babies
cats and cigars
poolrooms and policemen
He doesn’t hate cops
He merely has no use for them
and he goes past them
and past the dead cows hung up whole
in front of the San Francisco Meat Market
He would rather eat a tender cow
than a tough policeman
though either might do
And he goes past the Romeo Ravioli Factory
and past Coit’s Tower
and past Congressman Doyle
He’s afraid of Coit’s Tower
but he’s not afraid of Congressman Doyle
although what he hears is very discouraging
very depressing
very absurd
to a sad young dog like himself
to a seriously dog like himself
But he has his own free world to live in
His own fleas to eat
He will not be muzzled
Congressman Doyle is just another
fire hydrant
to him
The dog trots freely in the street
and has his own dog’s life to live
and to think about
and to reflect upon
touching and tasting and testing everything
investigating everything
without benefit of perjury
a real realist
with a real tale to tell
and a real tail to tell it with
a real live
barking
democratic dog
engaged in real
free enterprise
with something to say
about ontology
something to say
about reality
and how to see it
and how to hear it
with his head cocked sideways
at streetcorners
as if he is just about to have
his picture taken
for Victor Records
listening for
His Master’s Voice
and looking
like a living questionmark
into the
great gramaphone
of puzzling existence
with its wondrous hollow horn
which always seems
just about to spout forth
some Victorious answer
to everything

Button's Brother Harper, Weight Pull Ace

Just saw this posted on Facebook and wanted to share.

Those who follow the blog know that my little dog Button (the one pictured in the header) is a bit of a troubled soul. Not sure exactly why, but he has a bit of a garbled brain that makes him a little bit scared of most things outside of his normal, everyday life. He likes predictability and limited intrusions from the outside world.

His brother Harper, however, has turned out to be a weight pull prodigy. He's already racking up the points and titles, and according to this story from an upstate N.Y. publication, he won his class and earned some titles at the Lake George PullOff held at the Winter Carnival.

Very cool. It's nice to see a little Baltimore Bulldog succeed!

Click the link for a photo of Harper at work.

New Year, New Look

Just wanted to give a shout-out to Deluxe Templates, which is where I downloaded the new look for the blog.

I was sick of futzing around with the very limited template options loaded up in Blogger, all of which cut my photos off unless I sized them down significantly. I couldn't even fit a YouTube video in the old blog templates, without losing part of the screen. And is it me or are there fewer pre-loaded templates to choose from than there used to be? I thought I remembered having a nice clean, fall-colors template a while back that fit my photos perfectly, but I can't seem to find it anymore.

Anyway, the template I'm using now is the PhotoBlog Deluxe, which is nice and simple and very photo friendly. If you're looking for my links or archives, they're now located down at the bottom of the page.

Enjoy the new look!

OK, Back To It!

It's been about six weeks since this blog has been updated--yikes. Guess I got a little burned out on the internet, so I took a little break. It turned out to be longer than I had realized.

I did not, however, take a break from the dogs. Of course not.

The snow here in the mid-Atlantic has finally melted down enough for me and Doc to get back to tracking in reasonable conditions, so we went out to track for the first time in almost a month. I had Rob lay the track for Doc this time, because even if he's not ready for a SCH I, we can certainly try for a TR 2, which we may do at the end of March, depending on how his tracking looks over the next few weeks.

I also made Rob take some video with my little camera, and I edited it up a little and posted on Youtube. Proof that the fathead can still track, even after a monthlong break.