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Thursday, 29 July 2010 14:16

Citizen Elle: Pit bull earns high mark

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Elle is a good citizen and her behavior may mean helping others.

At 2.5 years old, Elle is an American Pit Bull Terrier and has already been recognized as a Canine Good Citizen by the American Kennel Club.

Her owner, Leah Brewer, however, wants Elle to go beyond just being well mannered. She plans to take the dog for a therapy dog test, if not in August, then soon afterwards.

For Brewer, a massage therapist, getting Elle to this point was not as much an orderly journey as it was one where things just fell into place.

A fan of Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, Brewer knew she wanted Elle well behaved. “Cesar is my idol,” she said. “It makes you see the patience he has.”

Brewer bought Elle from a breeder in Raleigh, a decision she said was important when buying her first pit bull. “It’s important to know their background,” she said.

Elle was not a problem dog. “She was a bit of a handful when she was young,” said Brewer, who bought Elle when she was 9 weeks. “She was so excited and friendly.”

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When Elle, who was obedience trained by her owner, spotted an elderly man, Brewer noticed something. “She was real calm. That set the wheels turning.”

Brewer learned about Victoria Brown in Halifax, who is an AKC evaluator, and went to her with Elle, wanting her dog to earn the Canine Good Citizen tag, which the pit bull now wears on her collar.

The tag assures her owner and the public the dog’s training makes them mannerly at home and in public. There are 10 tests the dog must pass, ranging from accepting a friendly stranger to supervised separation.

Elle passed. “Elle was the first pit bull Vicky passed,” Brewer said.

In a press release, Brewer notes, “Elle has proven that she is a special girl and a great ambassador to the breed. The community needs to understand that not all pit bulls are bad dogs. Elle is only one of the many pit bulls with responsible ownership that showcase the breed in a very positive way.”

Brewer learned to respect the breed from her husband Eric’s love of the animal.

Before Elle there was a German shepherd named Vader. While Vader was a protector, “Vader was not a loving dog,” Brewer said. “Elle will cuddle and snuggle.”

Through her own training with Elle, Brewer got her to quit tugging while walking her. “I got frustrated because she was pulling. She’s still a puppy with a lot of energy.”

With pit bulls, an owner must be the pack leader, Brewer explained, demonstrating this by making the dog wait for her to walk out of the house first before the dog goes outside. Elle will also not lunge for a treat until she is told it is OK.

Brewer enjoyed the good citizen training although Eric explained that behind the scenes, “She worked in the backyard just like army drills.”

Brown believes Elle is ready for her therapy dog test, which is tentatively set for August 14. If a slot isn’t open Brewer plans to go watch the training, where the dog is tested to react calmly around medical equipment, people with infirmities and people on crutches.

Before she met her husband, Brewer was afraid of the breed and believed the media hype surrounding them.

Eric has owned pit bulls since he was 12 and Brewer remembers meeting his dog Axle. “Axle was a big goofy clown,” she said. “Being around Axle, I didn’t think he was going to kill me. He won me. They’re loyal and versatile.”

The one thing Brewer wants out of Elle’s good citizen title and the upcoming therapy dog testing is simple. “My number one goal is for her to be an ambassador to the breed.”

Through her massage therapy career, Brewer helps people relax and heal. She believes her dog can do the same. Much of Elle’s behavior is easily noticed as she calmly lies beside the family Chihuahua, Reesey, who will occasionally lick Elle, a simple act which stresses the importance of socializing animals.

Brewer already has permission from four nursing and retirement homes to bring Elle and eventually she would like to take the dog into schools. “I would like to go to school and teach children about dog bite prevention and proven ways to meet a dog, teach them things to do and not to do.”

The journey with Elle is not over and there is constant training, Brewer said. The good citizen award was a beginning. “I was proud that we achieved it. I knew she could do it,” Brewer said, adding later, “All dogs can do this.”

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Read 3754 times Last modified on Monday, 16 August 2010 10:13