Helping us to Help you!

Contents

Front Cover

Ireland's Pit Bull Terrier Association
Promoting responsible dog ownership.
“PETS AND PEOPLE - A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP”

We can all enjoy the presence of dogs in the community. We can enjoy dogs that are well
behaved and belong to responsible people, dogs can also contribute greatly to the
Community.

Unfortunately, all dog owners and their dogs are suffering as
A result of irresponsible dog ownership by a minority of dog owners.


“WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP?”
Responsible dog ownership is a term often used but seldem explained.

Children (and some adults) don't always recognize a warning when they hear or see one. A baby or small children don't understand what a growl means. What may be obvious to an adult might not be understood by a child. The child might continue to pet or follow a dog even though the dog has clearly told him what will happen if he doesn't stop.

All attacks are preventable with a little understanding of dog behaviour and body language, teaching your children how to behave around dogs regardless of what breed will make your home a happy, safe environment for everyone to live.

Inside: 10 useful tip’s to being a responsible owner.


Inside:

There are two main areas of dog owner responsibility:

A. The dog Owners responsibility for their dog.
B. The dog Owners responsibility towards the community.

Tips

1) Do your homework; educate yourself and most importantly your children about what is involved in being a responsible dog owner.

2) It is very important to choose a dog that fits into your way of life, be sure that you have the time to properly socialize your dog and fulfil your dogs needs on a daily bases with mental and physical exercise, This is a must rather than a tip in order to have a well behaved balanced dog.

3) Take up basic obedience classes and get the whole family involved, Your children can have fun and learn more about dogs and dog care by participating, this is a great way to have fun and you will bond even more; it also gives the family a greater knowledge to handle and control their dog.

4) The advantages of spaying and nurturing are endless! We Encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs as a responsible means to prevent accidental breeding resulting in unwanted puppies and will prevent your male dog from roaming if he happened to get loose and scents a bitch somewhere in season. Spaying and nurturing can also be very beneficial for the health of your dog.

5) Owners of dogs and particularly strong breeds should always be vigilant of small children, Children and dogs can be great companions, but they also require supervision when playing together. Your dog may be "good with kids," but what if he encounters a kid that is not good with dogs? Very small children should never be left alone with a dog, no matter how stable his temperament.

Owners should be vigilant when a strange child is about to approach their dog and be vigilant of the approach itself. If your dog for what ever reason feels uncomfortable around children never force the issue, seek professional advice, after all prevention is the best cure.

6) Teach your children about strange dogs, teach them never to approach a dog they don’t know, and if a dog is with its owner then they should ask the permission of the owner first.


7) If for what ever the reason you may have to re-home your dog, be responsible and be sure to investigate the potential new owner thoroughly, never just hand your dog over to a stranger, all too often dogs can end up in the wrong hands.

Always be aware that any breed from the smallest to largest of breeds have the potential to inflict serious and/or fatal injuries to a small child. Never be under any illusions that it is only particular breeds that have these capabilities.


9) As a dog owner, you are responsible not only for your own dog's well being, but for the status of dogs everywhere. One irresponsible dog owner in town can make life difficult for dog owners all over. Owning a friendly, clean, well-mannered dog reflects positively on the species and may help protect our rights to own companion animals.


10) Respect the law, always be combined with the control of dogs act, this applies to all breeds.




Back Cover

Ireland's Pit Bull Terrier Association is a diverse community of APBT advocates who strive to educate others about responsible dog ownership. Through diversity, we gain perspectives and opinions from all walks of life and all around the world.
Our community covers a wide array of topics. You will find forums referencing to responsible dog ownership, health, training, behaviour, Walks, rescue, adoption and much more.
For further information and helpline email [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Join Our Forum [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Founders: Lillian Colgan - Vincent Brannan.