HOW DO I CARE FOR MY PIT BULL?

Whether you have one dog or twenty, caring for your dog(s) can be easy and even enjoyable if you follow a routine. This point of this site is to help you care for your friend in an inexpensive yet totally effective manner - based on easy scheduling.

I maintain about a dozen dogs, and providing the best care I can requires a significant outlay of my funds. I hope to pass on to you some of the money saving tips I have learned. I know you want to provide the very best care to your dogs too. I have always been unpleasantly surprised at what poor care dog fighters provide - almost without exception - to their dogs. If anyone should honor and respect their animals, I would think those who live with game animals would be those people. Far too often the very animal they profess to "honor" lives in a crappy dog house on a ridiculously large chain with no comforts. The list of famous dogs which have frozen to death or died of heat stroke or other forms of neglect on the yards of so-called "famous dogmen" is tragically extensive. "Sarona Motorhead" is but one example; he froze to death in his less than adequate doghouse.

Do right by your dog. You own the most incredible animal on earth. Have the pride in your pit bull to provide him or her with warm housing, clean water and safe surrondings. THAT is what makes you a good "dogman" or "dog woman".

Once a DAY you need to:

• Dump out and clean your dog's water bowl/bucket. This is for real. Don't just top it off. Dogs often urinate (or other dogs will do it) in their water buckets, and having done so, won't drink from it. You may think they will learn the lesson not to - but they don't. Especially if you have dogs kenneled next to each other, with water buckets clipped to the wire, they are sure to be urinated in! In very hot climates, you may need to top off more than once a day. I have seen dogs get dangerously thirsty because owners overlooked a dead mouse rotting in the water bucket. Little animals get thirsty and try and drink out of buckets - falling in and drowning. DUMP IT AND FILL IT EVERY DAY!
  
  
• Feed your adult dog once a day - in the evening. Many people want to feed their dogs twice or even three times a day and this is certainly their choice and won't harm the dog. However, it is very important to notice if a dog is "off their food". Very important! A dog can die within hours of bloat and days from an obstruction caused by swallowing foreign objects. Around here, if a dog won't eat a meal it is a serious event - generally I drive straight to the vet. When you train dogs, as I do, it is better to have them keen than full and groggy during the day. NEVER FREE FEED YOUR DOG. It attracts rodents and birds outside and does not allow you to monitor your dog close enough.
  
  
• Feed pups appropriately for their age: 8 weeks to 12 weeks three times a day, 13 weeks to 8 months twice a day.
  
  
• Medicate. I do all once a day medications with the evening meal. This is why I feed once a day - I know my dogs will eat their meal quickly and completely. There are few medications which can't be given with food; the best way to give pills is to crush them between two spoons and mix in the food. Capsules can be opened and the powder sprinkled in the food. Be sure to put a little warm water over the food. For ear ointments or other medications applied to the body, dinner time is still a great time to apply them, while the dog is busy eating. If your dog is a fussy eater and refuses to eat medicated food, try slipping the pill into a wad of peanut butter. Small pills can be slipped into a square of cheese.
  
  
• Take a moment to tell them you love them. Seriously. In this busy, hurry-up world where we stare at computers, TVs, and are pulled in all directions, take a minute or two to "love up" that dog. Look them in the eye, pet them, tell them they are loved and appreciated.

Once a WEEK you need to:

• Scrub out that water bowl/bucket or run it through the dishwasher. I use a stiff brush and a dollop of bleach for cleaning outside buckets, I run the inside water bowl through the dishwasher.

Once a MONTH you need to:

• Flea/worm/heartworm treatment. If you can afford a product like Revolution, that would be the best. Pick a day that you use each month - I use the first. If you can't afford Revolution, here is an inexpensive option that works. Purchase Ivomec (Ivermetin) injectible for cattle and swine 1% solution. The preventative dose is basically 1/10th of 1cc per 10 lbs of dog's body weight. To be honest, I round up, and give all dogs over 60 pounds 1cc once a month. Young dogs and small dogs I dose just 2/10ths over. This is very simple. Just stick a 1cc syringe in the bottle, pull out the dose and spray it on the dog's food. Ivomec will keep demodex, ear mites, heartworm and long worms at bay.
  
  
• Clip nails. Even if you think your dog keeps his nails worn down, check them once a month. Check for broken nails, nail bed infection, sores between pads.
  
  
• Check/clean ears. Sore, stinky infected ears can sneak up on you with these stoic dogs. When clipping their nails just look inside the ears for redness and take a quick sniff - clean ears don't stink.

Every SIX MONTHS you need to:

• Take all bedding out of outside dog houses. Spray them out with a hose, dry well and spray with a bug killer. Replace with new bedding such as straw, grass hay or wood chips.
  
  
  
• Check all tethers or kennels. Check fence lines. Replace worn parts. Make sure you don't have wood, tires or other material stacked against the fence; the dog will use this to escape. Take time to talk to the kids about the importance of not letting the dog(s) get out.
  
  
• Bath your dog and express anal glands. Most dogs tolerate liquid dish soap or human shampoo just fine. Bathing a dog is a great way to discover lumps, wounds, etc.
  
  
  
• Clean the dog's collar or replace it if it is grungy. Make sure the ID tag is still on. Check all hardware. I much prefer a collar with a flat name tag bolted on. Hanging name tags quickly become unreadable or fall off. Check my links page for info on Scott Dog Supply which sells fantastic collars with free name plates. I've used them for over a decade with NO complaints.

Once a YEAR you need to:

• Make sure your dog is legal with the local community. If you live in a community with BSL - move. If you live in a community where you fear BSL, call your dog a mixbreed.
  
  
• Make sure all contact info is correct for you. Is your microchip information up to date? Are the phone numbers on your tags all correct?
  
  
• Take your dog to the vet for a well-pet check. Depending on what area you live in, you may want to have certain tests run. Do check for worms and tapeworms. Heartworms if you are in a bad area for them. Have blood work run on older dogs. Time for vaccinations if you are so inclined or if local ordinance requires.