Shon
09-15-2004, 10:17 AM
PHENIX -- Susan Parker believes that whether you have a bichon frise, a German Sheppard, a golden retriever or a pit bull, your dog has the potential to pass the canine good citizen test.
Parker is currently working exclusively with pit bulls. She recently founded the pilot program for creating pit bull breed ambassadors.As part of this program, Parker said she is hoping to at least start a trend to break the bad reputation that the entire pit bull breed has been labeled with. Once accepted as a canine good citizen, Parker arranges for these pit bulls to be placed in permanent new homes.
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"I always try to tell people to judge the dog by the deed and not the breed," said Parker."For some reason everyone has developed this horrible impression that pit bulls are these vicious dogs, but that is just not the case."
"It all depends on how they are raised and what happens more often than not is that people are breeding these dogs just for the money and they do not care who they give them to or how they are raised," she said.
"You will always see losers wanting these dogs, never an old fart like me.And I call them losers because they don’t want the dog for a pet, they take the dog and they put those big pronged collars on them so they can be ‘the man behind the dog,’ but on average, pit bulls are not that way, they can make a lovely family pet when raised in the right environment."
That is exactly what Parker said she is trying to do.
Just this year alone, she has worked nearly 14 different pit bulls through the canine good citizen training program. Her most recent labor of love is Daisy, a three and a half year old pit bull. Daisy is currently in the pilot program and is faring quit well, Parker said.
"Daisy has been in and out of shelters since she was a baby and never had any permanent family to give her the training she needed, but in the three months that I have had her, she is already doing great," Parker said.
Generally that is how Parker said she begins the process, by combing local animal shelters seeking potential pit bull breed ambassadors.After a stint at the Providence Animal Rescue League and the Rhode Island SPCA, Parker found Daisy and said she felt that she would make the perfect candidate.
"What I basically look for is a dog that does not display any type of human or canine aggression," Parker said."You want to find a pit bull that is of sound mind and character so that it potentially could be the next breed ambassador."
Once Parker adopts the dog from the shelter she takes it home to begin the intensive training. Parker works with Daisy much like she did with the other pits in her care, for several brief sessions each day.In their training, Parker teaches Daisy how to socialize with people and other animals, how to walk through a crowded area all the while overcoming the many distractions she may face during her walk, how to handle loud noises, how to walk nice on a leash, how to sit, stay, and lay down.
"These are all very simple tasks that any average dog can do," said Parker."The trick is just repetition and to be consistent in your training."
Although not yet a licensed trainer herself, Parker has been asked to be one of the key speakers at an upcoming seminar in Cumberland entitled "Dog fighting; Strategies, Solutions and Officer Safety."At the seminar on Thursday, Sept. 30, Parker will discuss her recent work with Daisy and bring her along to demonstrate the progress she has made with her in such a short amount of time.
"I may not be a licensed trainer, but I have a love for dogs and the knowledge to do what I do," Parker said."These dogs are very smart and I do get very attached to them in the three or four months that I work with them, but I know I have to put them up for adoption once they pass through the program because I know that there are always going to be 80 more of them in the wings waiting for me to work with them and there aren’t that many of us willing to do this."
Parker is currently working exclusively with pit bulls. She recently founded the pilot program for creating pit bull breed ambassadors.As part of this program, Parker said she is hoping to at least start a trend to break the bad reputation that the entire pit bull breed has been labeled with. Once accepted as a canine good citizen, Parker arranges for these pit bulls to be placed in permanent new homes.
Advertisement
"I always try to tell people to judge the dog by the deed and not the breed," said Parker."For some reason everyone has developed this horrible impression that pit bulls are these vicious dogs, but that is just not the case."
"It all depends on how they are raised and what happens more often than not is that people are breeding these dogs just for the money and they do not care who they give them to or how they are raised," she said.
"You will always see losers wanting these dogs, never an old fart like me.And I call them losers because they don’t want the dog for a pet, they take the dog and they put those big pronged collars on them so they can be ‘the man behind the dog,’ but on average, pit bulls are not that way, they can make a lovely family pet when raised in the right environment."
That is exactly what Parker said she is trying to do.
Just this year alone, she has worked nearly 14 different pit bulls through the canine good citizen training program. Her most recent labor of love is Daisy, a three and a half year old pit bull. Daisy is currently in the pilot program and is faring quit well, Parker said.
"Daisy has been in and out of shelters since she was a baby and never had any permanent family to give her the training she needed, but in the three months that I have had her, she is already doing great," Parker said.
Generally that is how Parker said she begins the process, by combing local animal shelters seeking potential pit bull breed ambassadors.After a stint at the Providence Animal Rescue League and the Rhode Island SPCA, Parker found Daisy and said she felt that she would make the perfect candidate.
"What I basically look for is a dog that does not display any type of human or canine aggression," Parker said."You want to find a pit bull that is of sound mind and character so that it potentially could be the next breed ambassador."
Once Parker adopts the dog from the shelter she takes it home to begin the intensive training. Parker works with Daisy much like she did with the other pits in her care, for several brief sessions each day.In their training, Parker teaches Daisy how to socialize with people and other animals, how to walk through a crowded area all the while overcoming the many distractions she may face during her walk, how to handle loud noises, how to walk nice on a leash, how to sit, stay, and lay down.
"These are all very simple tasks that any average dog can do," said Parker."The trick is just repetition and to be consistent in your training."
Although not yet a licensed trainer herself, Parker has been asked to be one of the key speakers at an upcoming seminar in Cumberland entitled "Dog fighting; Strategies, Solutions and Officer Safety."At the seminar on Thursday, Sept. 30, Parker will discuss her recent work with Daisy and bring her along to demonstrate the progress she has made with her in such a short amount of time.
"I may not be a licensed trainer, but I have a love for dogs and the knowledge to do what I do," Parker said."These dogs are very smart and I do get very attached to them in the three or four months that I work with them, but I know I have to put them up for adoption once they pass through the program because I know that there are always going to be 80 more of them in the wings waiting for me to work with them and there aren’t that many of us willing to do this."