Links and Resources

Big Apple Bull Terrier Rescue
P.O. Box 3215
Church Street Station
New York, New York 10008-3215
www.BigAppleBullies.com
Until our logo is up here, we'll use Muggs instead!

Links and Resources

The Bull Terrier Internet Community
Recommended Reading
Training

Health, Behavior, Diet

    General Food and Diet
    Raw Diet
    Vaccinations
    Veterinary Schools/Teaching Hospitals/Behavior Clinics
    Veterinary Resources
Spay/Neuter Resources

Shameless Plugs

We're still building this page so many of the links and information have not yet been inserted. Thanks for your patience. Check back soon.

If you try to click through a link on our site and find it invalid, please let us know so we can correct it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bull Terrier Internet Community

Hundreds of bull terrier owners, breeders and fanciers communicate via the bull terrier discussion lists at Yahoo Groups. We share information about health, diet, training and anything else related to bully-owning. The boards are also a great research tool. Register as a Yahoo Groups member here, then join one of the bully lists:

The "main" list covers issues and questions of general health and interest.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/bull-terriers/

The "raw feeding" list focuses on diet (and often health); you need not feed raw to benefit from the incredibly knowledgeable and friendly people on this forum.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/raw4bullies/

The"positive" list is dedicated to training using positive reinforcement (the most effective training strategy for our breed).
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/positivelybts/

The "neuro" list is for discussion of neurological problems such as spinning (obsessive compulsive disorder), seizures and rage syndrome (sudden onset aggression) that sometimes beset bull terriers.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BullTerrier_neurological_disorders/

Beware! (A note about breeders and the internet) There are many unscrupulous breeders in New York and across the country who advertise heavily on internet boards. Many of these so-called "breeders" are wholesale importers or buy dogs in quantity from "puppy mills." Others are "backyard" breeders who don't do any pre-breeding genetic analysis or basic puppy health tests. Some in New York City (Brooklyn) have multiple legal judgments and Better Business Bureau complaints against them; another "breeder" working out of Queens, NY, with numerous consumer complaints, has several websites with different names (read this New York Daily News article); we've heard similar sad stories about puppies bought from "breeders" in Westerlo and Schenectady, New York, and other towns in the region. PLEASE, if you want to purchase a bull terrier puppy, go to our About Bull Terriers page for more information about finding a responsible breeder.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recommended Reading

Bones Would Rain From the Sky, Suzanne Clothier
The Other End of the Leash, Patricia B. McConnell
If we had to recommend just two books to own about human-canine relationships and communication, it would be these. Suzanne Clothier also has a fine selection of free articles to download on her website: www.flyingdogpress.com

Switching to Raw, Susan Johnson

We recommend bull terriers be fed a raw diet. If you're new to raw feeding (and even if you're not) many books can overwhelm with complicated feeding and supplement plans. "Switching to Raw" is simple and easy to follow. If you're going to purchase one general book about canine diet and nutrition, have this one on your shelf. Available at any major book selling site and also direct through the author: http://www.switchingtoraw.com/

Whole Dog Journal
An independent monthly publication about dog care and training. They accept no advertising so aren't beholden to any large pet food or drug companies. At the time of this writing, new subscribers could buy a yearly subscription for as little as $20 - a small price to pay for the vast amount of information in each issue, ranging from toy and equipment recommendations to the latest in vaccination protocol. And worth the price alone for their annual dog food reviews. The Chicago Tribune ranked Whole Dog Journal #11 in their list of 50 best magazines.

Mine!, Jean Donaldson
All Jean Donaldson books deserve a place on the dog owner's bookshelf, but we mention this one in particular because it's the resource guarding "bible." If your dog shows aggression when you come near his food, or near his toys, or near *his* place on the sofa, this is a book you should run, not walk, to buy. Resource guarding can be managed and in most cases eliminated; this book will show you how.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training, Pam Dennison
A clear and practical introduction to positive training techniques.

Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment, Pam Dennison, Jolanta Benal
This book is meant to be a supplement for another Pam Dennison book, How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, but is useful as a stand-alone if you're familiar with postive training techniques. It offers a lot of useful strategies for city living with a reactive dog.

How Dogs Learn, Mary Burch & Jon Bailey
Don't let the fact that this is a textbook deter you! Although marketed as a book for trainers, How Dogs Learn is a well-written and easy-to-understand guide to dog learning and behavior modification.

There are a lot of good books and videos about dog health, behavior, training and the human-canine bond. The above-named are just a few. Here are several "Recommended Reading" lists from other sites that do a good job of covering the wealth of information available:

Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine's Behavior Clinic recommended reading list

Suzanne Clothier's recommended reading list

Steve and Jennifer White's recommended reading list

Sarah Kalnajs' recommended reading list

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Training

Good Sources of General Training Info:

You may not know him by name, but Ian Dunbar is one of the fathers of modern dog training. His research, writing and lectures have changed how we think about canine-human interaction. He's a terrific speaker, and this 15-minute video clip is a fabulous introduction to communicating with your dog. A *must* for any dog owner! (If for any reason the link does not work, go to www.ted.com and use the search term "ian dunbar".)

Ian Dunbar also has excellent training handouts on his website: www.siriuspup.com

There is valuable information here at the Clicker Solutions site, and you don't necessarily have to clicker train your dog to benefit.

And the aforementioned www.flyingdogpress.com has loads of insightful free articles by Suzanne Clothier.

Our newest favorite site is Dog Star Daily. There are blogs from the nation's top dog trainers, and loads of valuable information about all kinds of dog-related topics.

Local Trainers:

Are you looking for a trainer in the New York City area? Here are a few we recommend:

Dawn Prentiss (greater NYC area): www.semperfidony.com
Peg Munves (greater NYC area): Step In Time Training
Bruno Mithout (greater NYC area)
Kate Perry (greater NYC area): www.KatePerryDogTraining.com
Divine K-9 (Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess)
Christina Shusterich (Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island): NY Clever K9
Rikki Brogaard, (greater NYC area): www.rikkebdogtraining.com
Port Chester Obedience Training Club (Westchester)
Lisa Edwards, Three Dogs Training (Putnam, Westchester)
Susan Ward (NYC and Catskills)
Leslie Nelson/Tails-U-Win (Manchester, Connecticut) (if you're elsewhere in Connecticut, call or email them and ask who they recommend in your area!)

And if you're in Southern New Jersey, or near the Philadelphia area, here are three trainers with extensive bull terrier experience:

Line Farr (PA, So. Jersey):
Pam Dennison (Belvidere, NJ): www.PositiveDogs.com
Mary Remer (PA, So. Jersey): www.WhataGoodDogInc.com

Mary is a regular guest on the website Philly.com and on Philadelphia's CBS-TV affiliate where she demonstrates basic training skills and addresses common behavior issues. Follow the links to view past broadcasts: several feature bullies!

More about training:

Anyone can hang out a shingle and call himself or herself a dog trainer. Many people belong to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) or claim they are "certified" by some group or another. That does not mean their methods are effective or based in modern principles of animal behavioral science. Membership in the APDT is not equivalent to certification, and other organizations offer un-monitored take-home tests, or none at all, for certification.

If you need to find a reputable trainer in your area, consider first a trainer who is nationally certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. As the oldest certification body in the United States, they offer standardized testing and require continuing education in order for their trainers to remain certified. Look for the designation CPDT after the trainer's name. Or email us and we'll help you find a trainer worthy of your dog, or review the qualifications of the trainers you are considering. Lots of training schools and correspondence courses offer "certification" but when you use a CPDT trainer, you can be assured of the highest level of expertise and experience. Find a CPDT-certified trainer here.

Worst case scenario and you need a muzzle? Morrco Pet Supply and ForDogTrainers.com have good selections. Make sure you get one in which your bullie can open his mouth wide to pant; bull terriers can overheat more easily than other breeds.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health (including Behavioral Health) and Diet

Dogaware:  A vast amount of health and diet information. The first place we turn to when we have a canine health problem or need food/supplement recommendations for specific health conditions. www.dogaware.com

Dog Food Analysis: Web site with independent reviews of dog foods.

B-Naturals: A commercial site selling holistic products, with a good collection of newsletters about various topics. www.b-naturals.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We recommend raw food diets for bull terriers. These sites are comprehensive and easy to understand, especially for those new to raw or considering switching.

Rawlearning.com: Good FAQ section to get you started and explain "why raw?"

BARF for Beginners: More FAQs and answers to commonly asked questions.

Ian Billinghurst was one of the first veterinarians to publicly promote a better way of feeding dogs in his book, Give Your Dog a Bone. Here, he explains the history and science behind raw feeding.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vaccinations

If your vet is still suggesting yearly vaccinations, you need to read this. Vaccination recommendations have changed in the last decade; the new United States protocol has been accepted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and all U.S. veterinary schools. It is now known that in most cases, the common inoculations (the "core" vaccinations) for canine diseases can provide immunity for 3 years or more. More information can be found on the AVMA, AAHA and most veterinary school web sites. And there is evidence to suggest rabies vaccinations provide immunity for around seven years; however, the frequency of rabies shots in the U.S. is governed by state and local law, so check with your municipality.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veterinary Schools and Teaching Hospitals offer health and behavior consultations and can often work with your own veterinarian by phone or fax to determine a course of treatment based on the latest medical research.

Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Alice Moon-Fanelli, who leads research on bull terrier behavior problems like obsessive-compulsive disorder, is based at Tufts. If you're not able to get to Massachusetts, their behavior department offers consultations by fax (called PetFax) at a fee generally less than most veterinary behaviorists charge for an initial visit. If you have a bully with serious or dangerous behavioral issues, we strongly suggest you contact Dr. Moon-Fanelli.

University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Ryan Animal Hospital (Philadelphia) Here's a link directly to their Behavior Clinic. Other departments are listed here.

Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine provides behavior consultations in Ithaca, Syracuse and Buffalo, New York through their Animal Behavior Clinic.  And here is the general link to their animal hospital. And......Cornell's veterinary library will custom-research any topic related to animal health. Their fees are beyond the budget of most pet-owners but it's a fine service nonetheless: Cornell VetAccess  The veterinary library also offers an online resource list. And Cornell's Department of Animal Science has a list of dog-related websites and resources compiled for their annual 4-H program.

Purdue University (Indiana) School of Veterinary Medicine's Animal Behavior Clinic provides behavior consultations in West Lafayette, Indiana. They have a good recommended reading list on their site.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veterinary Resources (if you need to research a specific ailment or condition):

Merck Veterinary Manual online. Not exactly conducive to browsing, but a good place to start.

World Small Animal Veterinary Association: They hold a yearly "Congress" and the papers are available on-line. Of particular interest are the behavior presentations. From the home site, look for "WSAVA Congress Proceedings" and click on a year to find out topics covered.

MEDLINE/PubMed:  The National Institute of Health database has information about research published in veterinary and animal health journals and lists other relevant organization links.  Worth searching if your dog has a specific condition or disease you want to know more about. (www.nlm.nih.gov/services/veterinarymed.html)

American Veterinary Medical Association: The AVMA publishes two trade journals for vets. Although the site charges a high sum for research article reprints, it's worth searching their database if you're investigating a specific condition or disease because occasionally the abstracts (i.e. summaries) are viewable for free. Another advantage of a search here is finding out which doctors, and where, are doing research in any given sub-field of veterinary medicine.
http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma/

iKnowledgeNow.com: Large list of published veterinary articles from various trade journals and conferences.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Learn what to do in case of an emergency! The Red Cross offers a class in Pet First Aid. Click here for their New York City and Hudson Valley schedule: http://www.nyredcross.org/viewclass.php/prmCID/32

Spay/Neuter Resources for New York City and surrounding areas

The Toby Project (NYC free mobile spay/neuter): 646-306-2728. See their web site for information about locations and dates.
Friends of Animals (National listings): (800) 321-7387
Muffin's Pet Connection (NYC): (718) 833-7988
SPCA of Westchester: (914) 941-2896, ext. 10
Humane Society of New York (NYC): (212) 752-4840
Bide-A-Wee (NYC, Long Island): (212) 532-5884, (631) 325-0280
ASPCA (NYC): (212) 876-7700 (They also have a lowcost Mobile Clinic offering free spay/neuter with proof of public assistance. Go to the website for details.)
United Action for Animals (NYC): Their mobile discount spay/neuter clinic program will begin later this year. Check their website for details.
Animal Welfare Association (Southern New Jersey): (856) 424-2288, ext.110
Ace of Spays (Southern New Jersey): (609) 267-6770
New Jersey residents: Click here for more spay/neuter resources in your state

The Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals has a few more spay/neuter resources on their website. If you are in an area not served by any of the above spay-neuter facilities, check with your local shelter or Animal Control.

And when looking for reduced-cost spay/neuter services, be sure to ask in advance about additional fees. Sometimes there are extra charges for medication, anesthesia, or for dogs over a certain age or weight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shameless Plugs for Various Products, People, Places (in random order)

Bull Terrier Art

Karen Perlmutter: Ontario-based photographer. Be sure to view her Christmas card photo series featuring Pino, the bull terrier. www.kperlmutt.com

Toys and Equipment

Mackenzie Decorative Belts: Unique, impeccably-crafted collars at a reasonable prices. The website and pictures don't do the merchandise enough justice, and their customer service is superb.
www.mackenziebelts.com/

Shaka Dog Hawaii: Another source for fashion-forward, well-made collars.
www.shakadoghawaii.com

Collarmania: Yet another good collar source.
www.collarmania.com/collar_mania_home

Ruffwear: Quality products for active dogs. We particularly like their "Knot-a-Leash" with locking carabiner snap, and their flotation jackets.

Bite-Not Collar: A more comfortable alternative to the "cone" or "Elizabethan" post-surgery plastic collar. We recommend all dog (and cat) owners have one on-hand, just in case injury strikes. Available at many on-line outlets. The cheapest place is probably www.petedge.com. www.bitenot.com/

Molly Mutt Dog Duvet: a make-your-own-dog-bed. We can't believe no one thought of this sooner. After years of stuffing our worn pillowcases with old clothes and linens to create makeshift dogs beds, Molly Mutts has come up with a stylish solution!

Goughnuts: Finally! A toy for really, really, really serious chewers! If you dog chews through to the core of his Goughnut they'll replace it, charging you only for the cost of shipping. There might be cheaper toys out there, but few as indestructible. See their site for more information and for stockists.

Red Rover International: A select assortment of dog goods and accessories. We are particularly enamored of their breedsSpecific sketch boxes, toy boxes and collector's plates.

Other Organizations

Suffolk County Unleashed lobbies for dog parks in Long Island, New York, and promotes area rescues and rescue organizations. Visit their website for area events and shelter news.

Petline helps reunite pets with their owners in New York City and Long Island. They always need volunteer "shelter checkers," people who can visit local shelters to look for animals matching the descriptions of lost pets. Visit their website for more information.

Dessin Animal Shelter, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Tel: 570-253-4037

Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America

www.minibull.org

Other links and people

Dogwise: Comprehensive selection of books and DVDs on all aspects of dog ownership

www.dogwise.com or telephone 1-800-776-2665

Dog Boarding in the Poconos. Our friends Cherie and Mary will take good care of your dog in their Pocono home and offer pickup and delivery in New York City. Email them or email us and we'll give you their phone number.

Julia Szabo, journalist/author. Look for her column every Sunday in the New York Post; her features in American Dog Magazine and Country Living Magazine, among others and her books Pretty Pet Friendly and Animal House Style.