The article provides a brief history of Love-A-Bull’s founding as well as an overview of the work Pit Crew volunteers do at Gullett, Perez and Blackshear elementary schools and Heart House, a free after school program for children from low-income families.

Pit Crew dogs have comforted soldiers coping with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and helped children relax and gain confidence while trying to read.

“The Pit Crew is very effective in teaching our kids about pit-bull stereotypes, as well as how to interact with animals in a loving way,” elaborates Amy Fuller, volunteer director with the afterschool program at Heart House Austin. “Our kids struggle with bullying on a daily basis, so it is really meaningful for them to know that bullying is never acceptable, whether it’s with their peers or with pit bulls” as Fuller aptly summarizes the meaningful role the Pit Crew has in their community.

 PawNation bills itself as a resource about animals “from the funny and amazing things they do to how their owners can best care for them.”

The article’s author, Shelley Bueche, is an Austinite who writes about working dogs and contributes to two canine magainzes. Read her blog on Red Room.

Editor’s notes | Several errors appear in the article:

• After involvement with a previous therapy dog organization, Zaidman learned pit bulls were the second most common dogs used for therapy work with that organization.
• The Pit Crew is the first all-pit bull therapy group in the nation.
• Julie Eskoff is Pit Crew’s trainer.
• Lydia Zaidman, Meghan Turner, and Leala Ward co-founded Love-A-Bull.

The meeting will include coaching and advice from Love-A-Bull trainers. Read AKC’s detailed description of the CGC test. Teams will work on as many drills as time permits.

What to bring:

• 6-foot leash
• 20-foot lead
• collar (buckle or slip collar made of fabric, leather or chain) or a harness that does not restrict the dog’s movement
• brush or comb
• treats
• water

Schedule:

9 a.m. Meet and greet
Gather at the three benches to the west of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt & Dog Park parking lot. See map below.

9:15 a.m. Practice starts
Participants will go over as many exercises as time allows with special attention paid to those skills individual teams need help with the most.

10:30 a.m. Practice ends
Feel free to stay in the area for a walk.   Please keep in mind that neighborhing Pease Park requires dogs to be leashed.

To RSVP for CGC practice, visit Love-A-Bull’s Meetup.com page.

Kimbo didn’t pass the Canine Good Citizen test July 31, but he made some improvemements. He still needs practice greeting someone with a dog and although his attention improved during the walk portion, he’s still not where he needs to be. 

I’ll keep working with Kimbo for the next CGC test, which is scheduled for Aug. 28 at SouthPaws Playschool.

That will be our last shot at the CGC to be considered for the next Pit Crew training, which is scheduled to start Sept. 9. Read details about the Pit Crew: All Pittie Therapy Dog Program.

When I took Kimbo to SouthPaws Playschool for his first Canine Good Citizen test in June, he didn’t pass. The next CGC test is Sunday, July 31 at SouthPaws.

He did well on seven of 10 parts, but this isn’t horseshoes. The CGC is the American Kennel Club’s program for dogs that recognizes good manners.

That matters a lot to me because some people judge Kimbo simply because he has a muscular body, a block head and that  permanent pit bull smile.

“I’ll show those people good manners, alright,” I think to myself.

During the test, I was nervous. I fumbled. In the end, I was more disappointed than I expected.

But Kimbo didn’t care. He was just along for the ride. I learned a few things from that dog.

1. Be yourself
No matter where we go, Kimbo is just Kimbo. He had no idea we walked into a test and probably wouldn’t care anyway. He’s a 55-pound goofy dog who loves to play.

Kimbo taught me to just do my thing and not worry about who’s watching.

2. Focus on the task at hand
When asked for a brush for the grooming portion, I couldn’t find it in Kimbo’s back pack. It only has two pockets large enough for the brush, but I checked back and forth several times. When I finally found it, I dropped it.

My mind was on the next five parts of the test and what I did wrong on the previous portions. Kimbo lives in the moment.

Kimbo knows to take it one step at a time.

3. There’s nothing wrong with retesting
When we were done, I politely thanked the evaluator, then got out of there as fast as I could. As I passed the other teams waiting to be evaluated, I forced a smile. I felt embarrassed that we didn’t pass, even though I doubt anyone could tell.

After the test, Kimbo curled up in the back of my hatchback and chomped on his squeaky toy as we drove back to Northeast Austin. Hearing the high-pitched “eep,” “eep,” “eeeeeep”  made me smile.

He often drops his toy behind the driver’s seat, just out of his reach. All he can do it sit and stare. The situation is out of his control.

I soon realized I was taking the wrong attitude.

The test showed me what areas we needed to improve on. I had an idea before the test, but now I had a tangible sequence of events I could practice.

Kimbo showed me to be patient and that it’s OK to keep trying.

We recently completed Love-A-Bull’s advanced training class and we’ve been practicing every day. It’s possible we won’t pass again, but Love-A-Bull offers the test every month. We’ll keep working.

What to expect
Southpaws has a friendly staff and convenient location, but it is easy to miss because it’s tucked behind a strip center. It’s right next door to The Golf Club and across the street from Kyle Chapman’s use car lot.

No reservation is required, the test costs $15 pass or fail and it’s first come, first served. There is limited parking so you might want to arrive early.

The test is divided into 10 parts and can be given in any order. Read AKC’s detailed description of the CGC test.

What to bring:

• 6-foot leash
• 20-foot lead
• collar (buckle or slip collar made of fabric, leather or chain) or a harness that does not restrict the dog’s movement
• brush or comb

Don’t bring any food, treats or toys; pinch collars, head halters, and electronic collars are prohibited. These tools are valuable during the learning process, but this test evaluates how well the dog has been trained.

An evaluator records progress on a whiteboard and a volunteer or two help perform some of the tasks, such as walking through a crowd.

It’s a little unnerving to see your progress charted out like that, but I think if I follow Kimbo’s three CGC lessons, we’ll be OK. If we do pass, we’ll be one step closer to joining Love-A-Bull’s therapy dog team, the Pit Crew.

By the final class on July 24, they could lie still while handlers placed treats, squeaky toys and balls within reach. When entering or exiting the classroom, the pit bulls could sit at the open door and wait for the signal to go through.

The pit bulls had learned obedience.

The group met once per week at Mud Puppies, 12233 N. FM 620, a self-serve dog wash and day care that partners with Love-A-Bull to provide a space for free training classes for members.

Trish Jones, a Certified Canine Behavior and Training Specialist, showed the group how to use positive reinforcement to achieve training success.

“The most rewarding part for me is having these wonderful dogs in my classes and seeing the difference between the first class and the last class, she said. “It is an amazing feeling to me to see these people really working hard and taking the time to make their dogs well behaved.”

Trainer offers skills

Jones, owner of The Confident Canine, has been training dogs professionally for more than 12 years and shares her home with 9 dogs rescued from shelters. She started offering her skills to Love-A-Bull in May.

“Love-A-Bull is such a great organization.  The amount of work this organization does to educate the public about pit bulls is remarkable,” she said. “I am proud to be a small part of that.”

In class, students learned a variety of commands, such as “watch me,” “stay,” “leave it” and “heel.”

Jones encourages her students to take the dogs as many places as possible on a regular basis to practice the commands.

She hopes the people who have attended her classes will continue to do more with their dogs, such as getting a Canine Good Citizen certificate, doing therapy work, learning search and rescue skills or participating dog sports, such as agility.

“The more visible  these well-trained dogs are, the  more their reputation will improve,” she said. “I hope they take my advice to heart so that everyone can see that these dogs are special.”

Kimbo learns

When the free class started July 3, a white pit bull mix with black spots called Kimbo was so excited by the new surroundings and other dogs, he slid across the polished cement floor as he entered Mud Puppies. When Jones gave instructions, he often got up to sniff nearby classmates.

As the weeks progressed, he learned to pay attention to his handler. Kimbo usually stayed when told and when his mind wandered, he responded more quickly to corrections.

He was beginning to master obedience.

“Kimbo is such an adorable boy — he draws you in with his doe eyes and he reminds me of a marshmallow! I can’t help but smile when I see him in class,” Jones said. “Kimbo has a wonderful temperament. He’s fun and loves to play, but he is also capable of being calm.”

On July 31, Kimbo is scheduled to take the Canine Good Citizen test at South Paws Playschool, 2324B South Lamar Blvd. It will be his second attempt. Two months ago, he passed seven of 10 sections of the test.

If he passes, Kimbo will be one step closer to joining the Pit Crew as a therapy dog.

Those interested in taking the next Canine Good Citizen test, noon July 31 at South Paws Playschool, can visit Love-A-Bull’s Meetup.com page for details.

Thanks to Jessi for the awesome write-up and to Jennifer for the great photography!

See the full article here: http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/pitbulls/16963/news.aspx

Read a quick except below:

Austin’s First Pit Crew Class Graduates

March 31, 2011, 11:40AM MT
By Jessi Freud, Best Friends Network volunteer
Photos by Jennifer Hayes

Believed to be the first of its kind in the country, class of seven pit-bull-type dogs completes intensive therapy-dog training program…

On Saturday, March 27, 2011, I got to watch pit-bull terriers change lives at a local Austin elementary school. Clearly, not the venue you typically hear the media reporting on pit-bull terriers hanging out with their guardians on the weekend…

Here, the dogs and their trainers demonstrated skills in a realistic school environment. But the day wasn’t complete without the graduation ceremony!

Read the full article here:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/pit-bulls-go-to-work-as-therapy-dogs

A big thank you to Jim for joining us to welcome these graduates!

DATE: November 17, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Lydia Zaidman (718) 791-5493

http://www.love-a-bull.org
info@love-a-bull.org

AUSTIN, Texas — Love-A-Bull, a local nonprofit education and advocacy organization, is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded two grants from the Animal Farm Foundation. Love-A-Bull has received the Project Support Grant to fund a program recognizing pit bulls attaining the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) distinction, and the Achievement Award Grant for outstanding achievement by one group member dog.

The Animal Farm Foundation was founded in the 1980s to improve the lives of dogs labeled as “pit bulls” and to protect all dogs from discrimination and cruelty. The Foundation awarded Love-A-Bull the Achievement Award in recognition of Mocha, a Staffordshire Terrier, and her achievement as a Canine Good Citizen and Certified Therapy Dog, and her appearances at public events and in the media. The grant specifically notes that Mocha “is opening hearts and changing minds about all dogs who appear to be pit bulls through her achievements, especially in the community of Austin, Texas.” Mocha’s guardian, Lydia Zaidman, is a co-founder of Love-A-Bull.

The Foundation also recognized Love-A-Bull’s training program, awarding funding for each canine member of the group who achieves the Canine Good Citizen status, a rigorous ten-step temperament and behavioral test administered by trained professionals through the American Kennel Club. The grant is intended to promote responsible pit bull stewardship, the primary focus of Love-A-Bull’s mission.

To underscore the importance of training, which is central to responsible dog ownership of any breed, Love-A-Bull offers its members a free, four-week training program, with sessions filling continually throughout the year. The training sessions are held at Southpaws Playschool and are led by experienced, professional trainer, Jessica Wilson. To date, more than 90 dogs have participated in the training, with more than 10 Love-A-Bull members’ dogs attaining the CGC distinction, and 4 working as Certified Therapy Dogs in hospitals and schools. More information on the free training program can be found on Love-A-Bull’s website at http://love-a-bull.org/programs/training/

Mocha, Canine Good Citizen and Certified Therapy Dog, Animal Farm Foundation Grant Award Recipient

About Love-A-Bull: Love-A-Bull is a 501(c)(3) organization, composed of over 450 local owners committed to responsible ownership of pit bulls and working to share information with the public on issues such as spay/neuter, rescue and training, active advocacy against breed-specific legislation, and promoting a more positive public image of these dogs. www.love-a-bull.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PLEASE CROSS-POST)
DATE: August 28, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT: Lydia Zaidman (718) 791-5493 or training@love-a-bull.org

PIT BULL NONPROFIT GROUP OFFERING FREE TRAINING TO MEMBERS

AUSTIN, Texas — Love-A-Bull, a local nonprofit education and advocacy organization, invites pit bull owners to join the group in order to register now for free, 4-week basic skills dog training. The next session runs from Saturday, September 26th through Saturday, October 17th, from 4:30 – 5:30 pm, at Southpaws Playschool.

Love-A-Bull promotes tools for responsible pit bull ownership, and is pleased to offer this opportunity in partnership with trainer, Jessica Wilson, and Southpaws Playschool. It is the only one if its kind for pit bull owners in the Austin area.

Love-A-Bull, composed of over 400 local owners, works to share information with the public on issues such as the importance of spay/neuter, rescue and training, active advocacy against breed-specific legislation, and promotion of a more positive public image of pit bulls and pit bull mixes. The free training program started in January of 2009, with the goal of helping members’ dogs gain Canine Good Citizen (CGC) status through a rigorous evaluation conducted by the American Kennel Club for all breeds. To date, more than 80 owners have taken advantage of this free program, with 10 Love-A-Bull members’ dogs having attained the CGC distinction, and 3 dogs working as certified therapy dogs in hospitals and schools.

Members of the group who have participated in the program have found consistent improvement in their dogs’ behavior and continue to highly recommend it to other pit bull owners. To join Love-A-Bull or to learn more about the free training program, please visit www.love-a-bull.org.

About the Participants:

Love-A-Bull was organized to educate and to advocate on behalf of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Terrier, and Bull Terrier (all breeds commonly referred to as “Pit Bulls”) and Pit Bull mixes. Love-A-Bull encourages its members to serve as role models of responsible ownership and engage in activism, including support of rescue, and promotion of spay/neuter programs, and to oppose breed-specific legislation.

Southpaws Playschool is located at 2324B South Lamar; Austin, TX 78704. The mission of Southpaws Playschool for Dogs and Puppies is to provide a safe, pleasant and stimulating environment in which clients can leave their dogs and puppies with confidence during working hours. They sponsor activities at the facility and in the community that promote enhanced human/canine relationships. Southpaws Playschool believes that giving back to the community is important and sponsors activities that will benefit service animals and animal rescue organizations.

Jessica Wilson is a Certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist through Triple Crown Dog Trainer’s Academy. She has experience with a variety of canine behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, housebreaking problems, leash pulling, fence climbing, digging, barking, and many other problems that dog owners frequently encounter. She is also well-versed in all aspects of obedience and home manners training, including preparation at the competitive level. She also has experience with footstep tracking, search and rescue, dock dog training, agility, rally, scent discrimination, and more. She currently offers training at Bobbi Colorado’s Canine Camp in Oak Hill.

Love-A-Bull, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes education, advocacy and responsibility on behalf of pit bull owners, and seeks to improve the public image of pit bull-type dogs.

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