bradpattison.com

I think with this episode Brad was more interested in getting the family and dogs under control, after all the kids were mistreating the dogs, resulting in the boy got bit. I think people who watch the show and Brad know his feelings on neutering and spaying dogs. Likely the puppy part was discussed off air.

LBrinkworth wrote:

QUOTE:
Obviously everyone here got the point watching the episode that it was a bad thing that their dog was having puppies, but without knowing any back story about it, I wouldn\'t want to make too harsh a comment on it.

Yes, obviously those of us who (probably) care more about our pets then the average person, and who have sought out a training forum that revolves around a television show that (most) of us watch on a regular basis would have understood the \"point\" the episode was trying to make about the downpoints of not altering your pet- it\'s for the sake of those who \"might be watching\" that the opportunity should have been taken to talk a little more lengthly about the topic - an opportunity for education should never be taken for granted.

MattnMolly,

I do understand your point, I was just trying to point out that there were a lot of issues that were brought up in that episode. I would have to give props to the editors too, as a lot was covered, and it portrayed the situation well. There was dog aggression, how kids should (and shouldn't) interact with their pets, dog bites, alpha training, anger issues in the household, cleanliness and how it affects your pets, "puppies having puppies", and bringing new animals into a household when it's not the best idea. That's a lot to cover in half an hour. We can agree to disagree about the whole spay/neuter thing being included or not. I think if it could have been done in a way that added to the episode, it would have been included. But what was there instead, was some tips on what to do if say your dog accidentally got pregnant before she could get spayed. Think about that statement, puppies having puppies...What if your dog went into her first heat cycle, which can happen at 6-8 months, and got pregnant? You can't spay your dog while in a heat cycle, as far as I know anyway, and then you have to deal with it if there is an accident. I'm not sure if this is what happened in this case, but it could easily happen to any female dog owner. He gave the kids advice on how to give proper affection to the puppies, to let the mom do the holding and cuddling, and taking care of them, and to be gentle. He showed how you should have an area of the house separate from the rest, with her own little area to take care of the pups. So in essence he showed some things to do if an accident does happen, instead of saying how to prevent the accident to begin with. It's a different take on the whole thing, and personally I liked the way it was done, but everyone has a different opinion, and that's ok too! See this is the awesome thing about Brad's show, you could have about 10 different discussions about 10 different parts of the show, and everyone will have a different opinion. Definitely gets people talking. I really liked the part about him bringing in the counsellor as well, the mom has some things she needed to work out, and he brought in a professional to help her out. Great episode Brad!

Lynne

I don't mean to turn this into a debate, as I concur that we can agree to disagree and I totally respect your opinion, but I had a whole lot to say in my first response post but lost my train of thought when someone closed my window and I had to start all over again.
Anyway...

LBrinkworth wrote:

QUOTE:
That's a lot to cover in half an hour.

I agree!! Why ISN'T it an hour long show?!

LBrinkworth wrote:

QUOTE:
He gave the kids advice on how to give proper affection to the puppies, to let the mom do the holding and cuddling, and taking care of them, and to be gentle. He showed how you should have an area of the house separate from the rest, with her own little area to take care of the pups. So in essence he showed some things to do if an accident does happen, instead of saying how to prevent the accident to begin with. It's a different take on the whole thing, and personally I liked the way it was done, but everyone has a different opinion, and that's ok too! :)

Can't these points you highlight be seen by "the wrong people" that it's okay to let your dog have "just one" litter of puppies (now that they know some of the basic needs)?

LBrinkworth wrote:

QUOTE:
I really liked the part about him bringing in the counsellor as well, the mom has some things she needed to work out, and he brought in a professional to help her out.

Although I agree that the person's frame of mind is an absolute important part of successful dog training, I feel that we saw too much of the whole counselling session...when Brad mentioned it to the mother, and she agreed, I thought: "How cool, he's doing a really holistic job here". But then we got to watch a portion of the counselling session and I thought: "Hey, isn't this a DOG training show?". It could have been left at the mention of the counselling, and then later we hear that she's recieved it, and it would have been just as effective. I'm more interested in what the family is doing with the dogs and Brad's methods then I am in their personal healing stories.

LBrinkworth wrote:

QUOTE:
What if your dog went into her first heat cycle, which can happen at 6-8 months, and got pregnant? You can't spay your dog while in a heat cycle, as far as I know anyway, and then you have to deal with it if there is an accident. I'm not sure if this is what happened in this case, but it could easily happen to any female dog owner.

My dog has had her first heat, and is most likely going to be having her second any time the next coming month...as a pet owner, I've made the decision not to have her spayed until she's 18 months (based on research I've done on my own related to hormones and a dog's growth cycle) but as a responsible pet owner I know that she will not be having an "oops" litter before her spay. And FYI (please don't take this as a snarky comment) you can have a bitch spayed after she has conceived but that would involve aborting the puppies (which is a can of worms I'm not even going to open! )


I hope I haven't started my membership here making enemies!

See I was laughing cause at one point i think she said if the male didnt change then they would have to get rid of him I was almost wondering if they were hoping Brad couldnt help them so they could get rid of him and feel justified and probably keep one or more of the puppies!!!! It was ridiculous when that little girl threw the mallet at the dogs!!!

I love this, it's great hearing different perspectives, because I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything. By the way, I would love it if the show was an hour long. It's possible that someone might interpret that as it being ok to have one litter of puppies, but I would hope that the people that watch Brad's show wouldn't make that kind of assumption. As for the counselling being shown, I think that yes, people watch Brad's show to see the training of the dogs, but what a lot of people don't know (I'm not saying you, just people in general), that your attitude, and the way you behave is a huge part of dog training. Brad's a dog trainer, yes, but he's more of an owner trainer too.

And Tracy, I also think that it's so funny sometimes how some people think when it comes to their pets, crazy how people try to justify things sometimes!

Does anyone know what breed the dogs were? Often people will breed an unusual breed or one not recognized by the AKC/CKC beliveving that they will have a better time finding homes for the puppies.
Has there been any thought to follow up episodes? Like the first season woman who was breeding her dog (sort of) or all the people who wanted to have a family but were afraid of their dogs? Or this family, say in a month or two, when the puppies are older is the house still clean? Do they have homes for the puppies?
Meaghan/DragonRider

I caught this episode last night (I can never seem to figure out when the show airs the FIRST time 'round!), and my first concern was about the "puppies having puppies" too. I know they said that Yalid was only 10 months old, but I think Teya was older, wasn't she? Maybe just a year, or 1.5 years? I'm not sure why she wasn't spayed, since the family already seemed pretty chaotic to be taking on 5 newborns, but ... I think what you guys have said is probably right ... Brad probably discussed this with them off camera.

I thought it was a very good episode, and I'm happy that Brad clued in on how mean and rough the kids were with the dogs, and also didn't jump in to blame Yalid for the bite (which sounds like it was the kids' fault, anyway...). He tried to find out exactly what happened when the dog bit, and made sure he stressed to the children (as well as the adults) that they could not treat the dog this way, or he would bite. The little boy looked absolutely terrified every time that Brad showed the photo of his facial wounds, and it's sad to know that it could have been prevented.

I, too, wondered about the breeds of the dogs ... Yalid seemed to almost be a Husky/Alaskan Malamute cross, and maybe a Shepherd cross for Teya? Pretty dogs, though, and super cute puppies. I just hope they don't keep any of those pups, and get good homes for them!

I might as well throw in my 2 cents. I agree that there isn't enough time to cover all the things wrong with that particular situation in a half hour show. Definitely need 1 hour. But what I did want to say was that, the family dynamics need to be addressed along with all the other things like, neuter/spaying, animal mistreatment, child education about animals, clean home, training the dogs. But, you know what, like everything else it starts with education in the home, that means parents being alpha with kids and setting the standard for expectation of behaviour.
When people start conversations like " what is wrong with the youth of today?" my answer is always, "it starts at home". This can be extended to this family, their kids, and the dogs. Thankfully they wanted to change, and that is what we should be applauding and promoting, changing for the better of the "pack".

I like to keep things short and to the point!