Well guess what, I'm back, and With a bit of a Revision to my Vision. Don't get me wrong, I am still as ANTI-BSL as I was before, but I believe I shouldn't just restrict myself to Pit Bulls, because there are too many breeds out there and they are in as much danger as APBTs with being outlawed from BSL, and I Believe I Should Spread Canine Education and Awareness out rather than just one breed alone, in a way that would be just as bad as BSL, focusing on one breed. But anyway, I'm back, and I have big Plans for Life is the Pits, A Dog Awareness and Education Website. It, with your help, will be big. But that is just an Update as to where I am right now.

Well I'm back, and I thought a Very good Returning Blog would be Obedience Training.Why obedience training you might ask?

Well I actually do have an answer... Obedience Training is one of the most important and most overlooked aspects to Having a Dog.If more people obedienced trained their canine companions Alot of the bad reps Bully Breeds have wouldn't be around. There would be a significant drop in dog attacks, and people would be much, much happier and have healthier pups... Just not many people realize this.Less dogs would be hit by cars, less dogs would be put into pounds, people would have fuller, more rewarding relationships with their dogs.

So consider it, research it, you will find answers.If you are looking for a more immediate answer there is an online course that is very informative and helpful. and Of course I will share the link with all of you.


Here it is: Do it Yourself Dog Training

Enjoy guys and please for your dogs, please consider Obedience Training.

So I am in the process of Moving. From Conroe, to Vidor, TX. Yeah, sucks, I know. But anyway, Guess for what reason? I own an American Pit Bull Terrier, yep. I am getting kicked out for owning a certain Breed of dog. And Apparently, my Landlord says we never signed a Lease, nor paid the 250$ pet deposit... hmm... yeah, I remember Signing a Lease, a Pool Agreement, AND a Park rules Agreement, but convieniantly for her none of these documents exist anymore. So, I am fed up with it here, So my wife and I are moving, we will be gone from here on thursday and be in Vidor. this is why there haven't been many Updates, But, I won't give up. This is just a speedbump, thank you all for your support, I really don't want to move to Vidor, but thankfully it will only be temporary.

I don't want to stay in this place anymore anyway, I've had many people offer to watch Harley while I'm here untill I can find a Place to stay... but I don't trust anyone to, and the only person I can trust with her can't take her... so yeah. But Anyway, We Will be in Vidor long enough to save money, and then move back to conroe to a place that will allow my Dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier, aka American Pit Bull Terrier [though not all Pit Bulls can be Staffies, ALL staffies can be Pit Bulls.] So I bid you fare well for now, but not for ever.

I do not know when I will be able to speak to any of you next, but I promise, this will not be goodbye forever, but please, feel free to message me anytime, and I will, keep fighting the good fight as long as I know there are other people fighting the same fight.

Goodnight, and farewell.


Joshua Duke, and Harley Quinn

Let's Get one th..ng Stra..ght... .. am an an..mal WELFARE Act..v..st, not an An..mal R..ghts Act..v..st.... there's a SL..GHT very SMALL d..fference.

An..mal R..ghts Act..v..sts: Bel..eve That ALL an..mal TEst..ng ..s wrong, and ALOT of true an..mal r..ghts act....sts bel..eve that Humans should not Keep an..mals as pets e..ther.

An..mal Welfare Act..v..sts: Bel..eves an..mals can be kept/used for just about anyth..ng as long as ..t ..s done humanely.


.. am the Latter. .. am sorry, but .. Hate P.E.T.A. People ..n PETA bel..eve that ALL P..T BULL TERR..ERS should be Euth..n..zed.... .. thought they were the People for The Eth..cal Treatment of An..mals... .. guess H..tler was a Human..tar..an then...

.. bel..eve that an..mals can be used ..n test..ngs. .. do, ..F ..T ..S DONE HUMANELY, So .. guess .. am aga..nst all current An..mal Test..ng... because .. have yet to see Humane an..mal test..ng.


And ..'m sorry, ..f an an..mal has to d..e to save a Human, .. th..nk ..t's a fa..r trade... because th..ng about ..t. ..f an..mal test..ng never happened we would never have modern Med..c..ne, and An..mal R..ght's At..v..sts -say- that they would make that trade, .. wouldn't, and .. doubt they would ..f ..t was poss..ble.

Though .. don't l..ke modern med..c..ne, .. prefer alternat..ve treatments... when .. can Afford ..t, let's face ..t people, most of us are poor, and we can't afford Acupuncture and some herbal remed..es.
Most Perscr..pt..on Drugs cost F..ve Dollars at Wal-Mart W..THOUT ..nsurance... Though .. d..sl..ke Wal-Mart But H.E.B. and Krogers has the same deal... So there ..s a way.


.. bel..eve some An..mals ENJOY be..ng pets. .. have a Dog, she ..s my Baby G..rl, as much as a Dog can Be. She ..s there she doesn't judge me. ..f they took her away from me she would probably go ..nsane, She loves me. And ..t's hard to descr..be but when your dog loves you, truely, you can tell. They have th..s look ..n the..r eyes. and ..t's Truely Uncond..t..onal.


.. love my Harley Qu..nn, she ..s a beaut..ful Dog, and has an Amaz..ng Personal..ty, and ..'ll be damned ..f someone ..s go..ng to take her from me. You would have better luck send..ng a F..ve year old to take a mother l..on's newborn cub from her than tak..ng my Dog from me. .. would w..ll..ngly D..e for th..s dog.


But An..mal R..ght's Act..v..st call me a horr..ble person, "She ..s an an..mal she needs to be outs..de and l..ve free!" she ..s free and where she wants to be, so back off.

..'m sorry, But the Ultra Vegan An..mal R..ght's Act..v..sts who bel..eve an..mals as pets ..s wrong, check yourself. All these Domest..c An..mals, Dogs, and Cats espec..ally, have been bred to Depend on us. Dogs need humans They don't have all of the..r W..ld ..nst..ncts anymore and sure, dogs that go feral to surv..ve, but they usually scavange or eat garbage, ..s that a better ex..stance? No, .. th..nk ..t ..sn't. That's l..ke say..ng, "HEY! Let's all Be Hobos!" ..t's not a smart th..ng to say.


..'m sorry all of you for th..s rant but someone today set me off. .. was pol..te to them, but .. couldn't take ..t after the f..rst ten m..nutes of the..r yell..ng at me for own..ng a Pet... .. couldn't bel..eve how ..gnorant people have become.

And ..gnorance ..sn't a negat..ve word, ..t means someone just ..sn't educated. How closed m..nded have people become?

.. better stop here before .. wr..te a novel....


Lol....


Thanks for the support!

Joshua Duke

"A Pit Bull Who Provided Lessons in Loyalty & Unfailing Love"




In the pecking order of man and beast, there was no lower rung than the one shared by Randy Vargas and Foxy on the streets of Hoboken.

He was 46 and homeless, regular work like that fondly remembered machine-shop job long in the past. She was a member of dogdom's least-fashionable demographic, a 10-year-old brindled pit bull, compact as a pickup truck, ears askew, two-tone face, white neck, the rest an arbitrary mix of light and dark.

And yet in this city increasingly defined by creatures who drew the long straw — winners in real estate and on Wall Street, sleek goldens, pampered Yorkies, fashionable puggles and doodles — there was something transcendent in their bond.

Maybe in a world of opaque relationships, theirs was a lesson in clarity like a parable from the Bible. He had rescued her back when she was homeless and abused, a scared runty thing living with homeless men who had no use for her. She in turn gave him purpose and companionship and love.

Maybe it was how the relationship brought out the best in both. It brought him to life and into the world, as much a part of Hoboken street life as any young comer with his black Lab. And it made her a creature of eternal sweetness, unfailingly friendly to people and animals, tail wagging at the merest glance, a pit bull in name but not metaphor.

So if you spent any time in Hoboken the odds are pretty good you would have seen the two of them, sleeping in front of SS. Peter and Paul Parish Center, visiting the Hoboken Animal Hospital, walking down the street — the dog keeping perfect pace with him, dressed in winter in raffish layers of sweatshirts and T-shirts plucked from the St. Mary's Hospital Thrift Store, she keeping perfect pace with him.

Cheryl Lamoreaux remembered seeing Mr. Vargas resting on a condo's shaded concrete steps on a sweltering August weekend day, flat on his back with Foxy in the same position one step below. It was the perfect image of man and dog, she said, and added, "This really was a dog with a deep soul."

Everyone who knew them said the same thing: Mr. Vargas cared for the dog better than for himself.

"If it was the dead of winter, the dog would get all the blankets, he'd get the sidewalk with nothing on it," said Robin Murphy, a groomer at the Hoboken Animal Hospital. "If it was raining, he'd put the umbrella up for the dog before he'd put it up for himself."

But there's not much margin for error at the bottom rung. Once this winter, he was arrested, accused of making threatening remarks to women. The case was dismissed, and friends say it should never have gone that far. But Ms. Murphy had to rescue Foxy from the pound in Newark, where she could have been euthanized.

It all ended so fast, people still can't explain it. Aside from a dog run, she had seldom been seen off the leash, but on the morning of March 19 in the park, she was. She saw a dog she knew across Hudson Street, dashed across to say hello and was hit by a white pickup that stopped briefly and then sped off.

He held the dog, blood spurting from her mouth, and waved at passing cars, but none stopped. So he carried her 60 pounds, feeling the broken bones in his hand, as far as he could, then put her down and ran to the animal hospital for help. But it was too late.

People come by every day, some fighting back tears, to leave donations, more than $900 so far. Some come from people who knew them, most from people who felt like they did. Alone they might have been invisible. Together, they were impossible to miss.

In different ways, they're still around. Her picture is in some store windows, wearing a gray sweatshirt with a red T-shirt under it, gazing to the right like a sentry, a wondrous study in essence of dog with a touch of human thrown in. Since the accident Mr. Vargas has had good days and bad ones, sometimes being up and around, sometimes, like the other day, looking groggy and defeated under his red comforter on the street. "I feel," he told a friend, "like I have a hole in my soul."

At the animal hospital they're buying a pendant to hold some of her ashes that he can wear around his neck. Friends check on him regularly, bring him food, talk of finally getting him a place to live. There's talk of getting him a new dog when he's ready, which surely isn't now.

"It's like most relationships," he said from under the red blanket. "You have to wait for the right time."

[Taken from Wild about Animals]

So yeah, I broke down and bought one to test it out. A Gentle Leader that is:
It's a Halter for a dog pretty much. The concept is really good, and all. But I don't like it in functionality. If used properly, on a dog who doesn't pull much or struggle on the leash it could be effective. But Testing it out, talking to professional trainers who swear by them, I still think they are too much of a risk for using to train a dog who isn't a tiny puppy who can get used to it easier, or on an older dog with no previous training.

My Dog Did fine on it, but she already Heels, stays, goes and grabs things out of the fridge for me... you know, the normal obedience training

But if you have a dog who doesn't Heel, sit, stay or listen at all, I would not reccomend a Gentle Leader. If you have a dog who listens to your commands, but jumps up, or barks and wines alot, then yeah, I reccoment a gentle leader. I do not reccomend it for those who aren't working with professional trainers and those who can't control their dogs normally.

And this is why.


If your dog fights and pulls and tries to bolt off when you walk them, DO NOT USE THIS LEAD.

It can break your dog's neck. If you dog sees a squirrel and wants to chase it abrubtly, it will Pull your dogs head to face you, But the body keeps going and SNAP there goes your best friend Fido, to doggy heaven... and nobody wants that.

I hardly think that is humane, and I don't think it should be risked. There are other training collars that are more humane. And even though that Gentle Leader says it's "Natural and Humane" I don't buy it one bit.

Now if you have a calm dog who walks on the leash politely and doesn't pull, then yeah this lead can be good. It DOES simulate an alpha dog mouthing the subordanate dogs' muzzle, which is ingenious, But I think it could be redisigned to be more effective and safer.

Just using this Head Lead for a few days, I can see there are positives, yes, It can end barking, Whining, and begging, But for pulling, and dogs who yank on their leash I do not reccomend it.

I think that the Risk outweighs the reward, and I'm sorry if you don't agree with me, just take a step back and look at it from an unbiased point of view like I did.

Pros:
it can stop Barking.
It Can Stop Whining.
It can Help teach your dog Sit with no treats.


Cons:
If your dog Bolts, it can snap their neck.



Now think about that, is it really worth it?


Now I know i'm not going to change anyone's mind, but what I'm saying is true, just look at the design of the gentle leader, it isn't safe on a dog who yanks and tries to bolt on the leash, WHICH THEY ADVERTISE IT FOR!


I mean if a Horse is tied to a Post with it's halter, and has a twenty foot rope and bolts, it can snap it's neck too... And a horse's neck is much stronger than a dogs... and a dog doesn't need much room to build up the momentum to snap it's neck, it just takes one time and it's over.....


Seriously, think about it!


Thank you for the support!

Josh Duke

The life is the pits has reached 1000 Friends! it's awesome! We are getting word out there! and hopefully we can get some more help, I might have sponsorship soon for the Documentary! But we can always use help via paypal donations! and Ad clicks on lifeisthepits.com!

Thanks for the Support! and thank all of you for the help, no matter how little or small it was, from just sending messages that helped me keep with this project through the times I had doubts, thank all of you for your support and words of encouragement!


Thank you, all of My Friends!


Joshua Duke

    Well here's the question, are Prong, also known as Pinch collars, which they actually do NOT pinch, collars human or not?

Well I'm split on the decision. I say 99.9% are NOT humane, why am I saying this? because most people do not know how to use them properly, I was actually just on a k9 training supply website that had an example video on how to use a prong collar 'properly' I was disgusted, I won't even post the URL here is how disgusted I was. This play Trains Police dogs, and search and rescue with just prong collars.

    This place's trainers Yanked so hard that the dog was toppled over by the force! That is HORRIBLE. and completely inhumane. And Also, if someone does not know how to properly use a prong collar they should not! and you will not find out how to use one properly on the internet [yet, I am working on a free dog training video as well.]

Now, There is that .1% of people who know how to use them properly.

I am one of these people, I have been thouroughly trained, and I have studied extensively, and before I tried out a prong collar I did my research, and I found out some very very interesting things.

The purpose of a prong collar is this:

A Prong Collar is a training collar that should never be left on your dog unless you are supervising the dog while it is on a leash. The Prong Collar is to simulate the mothers bite on a puppy's neck, and the Alpha Dog's bite on an adult dog's neck.

Now of you know ANYTHING about dog behavior you know that Mother dogs randomly flip their puppys over and nip their necks to assert dominance, or if she is correcting behavior she doesn't like.

Alpha Dogs do the same thing! They will nip another pack member's neck to correct them, and to assert dominance they will pin the other dog on it's back.

Wolves do this as well.

Now, as a Professional Dog Trainer, and a Dog Behavior Specialist, i have whitnessed this behavior, and I have seen it first hand, it's quite facinating.

Now back to the Prong Collars, Yes I use a Prong Collar. But I don't reccomend them, Now why would I use it but not reccomend it? because of this, Most people do not know what they are doing with training dogs, they do not realize that the improper use of a training collar can actually REVERSE training, believe it or not!.

And most people don't realize that only a light correction is all that is necessary, and also don't realize that a prong collar should ONLY be used in conjunction with Clicker Training with Positive reinforcement.

Me personally, the only thing I use a prong collar for is teaching Heel, I believe a Dog should be submissive naturally to it's human, because the Human should be the Alpha Pack member.

When teaching heel with a prong collar all that is needed is when the dog is starting to move ahead of you you give a light tug, and the dog feels the simulated alpha nip, which lets the dog know hey, I'm stepping out of line, and the dog will move back to your side.

Because any dog when on a leash should be able to be walked on a loose lead, and the dog should be on your left side [or right if you are left handed] and it's shoulder should be either parallel with your leg, or just behing your leg.

I do not believe that a Prong Collar should be used as the SOLE training device. Which alot of of trainers who use them do... which is bad... I think at least.

I use Clicker, Positive reinforcement training. Like I said I only use a prong collar when teaching Heel, and I use hand signals over Verbal commands, it makes the dog pay better attention to you.

anyway, I wanted to rant a little bit about this because in some of my pictures my baby girl is wearing a Prong Collar, because I am in the process of transitioning her over to where she doesn't need a prong collar at all to walk politely, which is insanely simple.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Rant, and please, post your comments, I'm sure I'm going to have a Mixed reaction to this, but like I said, when used properly a Prong Collar is a Humane training tool that can make training your dog so much easier, and a prong collar should only be used for OBEDIENCE training, never for tricks or advanced training. But that explanation if for another day.


Joshua Duke

I'm chained
Ain't no spirit left to free
I'm maimed
If only you could feel what you done to me
I'm blamed
Close your eyes, you're too afraid to see
And I gotta die to get your sympathy


Now you may think you got it hard, that you got scarred
I was born in a world where compassion was barred
The only velvet I ever felt was my slain mother's tongue
And my siblings were few coz the weak ones were hung
Playin' games with my mama I didn't think like a fighter
I was an innocent, but then along come a spider

You picked me, you shook and then you up and took me
Cage me alone and you left me be
And I thought I would die and I cried
For my mother, then you came and you brutalised
Me, swearin', screamin', chokin' the breath
From my gasp, I never before felt the cold grip of death
I was afraid, I was only a babe and my neck
You were hurtin' was burnin' so I played the last card in my deck
Only actin' out of fear but you dropped me like a stone
Coz I drew blood and you left and I felt so alone


I'm chained
Ain't no spirit left to free
I'm maimed
If only you could feel what you done to me
I'm blamed
Close your eyes, you're too afraid to see
And I gotta die to get your sympathy


When I was little my beatings were few
It was worse when I grew – no thanks to you!
Malnutritioned, underconditioned, all bones fair to view
Kept in a cage, kept in a rage, but my spirit was true
Only if I trained well, fought hell, got an ox bone to chew
Strapped in, collared in, chained shut my only hope
Whip struck, eyes shut, bruised and battered by your rope
Muzzle me, string me, train me til I bleed
Killin' is not the answer til its brought on by blindin' need

Blurred my distinction between opponent and abuser
In your sanguine game I was a winner not a loser
Hell has no rules, I saw my brother kill my mother
Kill or be killed, no mercy, one or the other
Lock me in a pit that stinks of sadistic demise
With my brother or my lover with my death in their eyes
And we fought like we were taught amidst your ecstasy cries
If I win I win my life and my nightmares as my prize


I'm chained
Ain't no spirit left to free
I'm maimed
If only you could feel what you done to me
I'm blamed
Close your eyes, you're too afraid to see
And I gotta die to get your sympathy


So eloquently when you're describin' me
Bloodthirsty killer, malevolent ferocity
That ain't true I just wanna family
A bunch of little kids lovin' and protectin' me
Those who train me now blames me
And I'm both a victim and a killer to society

Confused I can't see why I'm bitin' the hand that feeds
Me, gonna maul the little girl that I so wanna please
Coz I don't know how to act, I react, the scars on my face
Are the marks of betrayal you can never erase
Ain't got a voice nor a choice, only a reason to die
You branded me evil but did you ever ask why?

I'm chained
Ain't no spirit left to free
I'm maimed
If only you could feel what you done to me
I'm blamed
Close your eyes, you're too afraid to see
And I gotta die to get your sympathy


Did you ever ask why?

[apparently Written around Twizted's "Afraid of Me"]

I don't know who wrote this, but if you do let me know and I'll give credit, also if anyone wants to record this song, please do and let me know I'll put it up here on my myspace.

Hey guys, I'm trying to start up a Documentary called, Life is the Pits, a pit bull awareness Documentary.I'm sure most of you know this, But I need some help.

We don't have any Equipment, No cameras, mics, recording equipment, nothing. I'm based in the Conroe Area of Texas.

But the reason I'm posting this blog is to ask information about Government Grants, I believe I could apply for a grant to get the funds necissary to Film this documentary nationwide and As we're traveling the US we can start putting the Protest together! Getting people signed on as we go to new states, hopefully we can aquire the funds to do this because it needs to be done, Also on the website Life is the pits I will be puting up a donation section pretty soon, and hopefully people will donate.

But I don't expect much, I know how hard it is to donate to things, most people can't afford it, that's why I'm asking my myspace friends to help me get information! If you know anything about getting Grants, ect, please, please, please let me know!


Thanks for the support!

Joshua Duke