Dog Training Expert Speaks on Pitbull Case
Friday , February 22 2013
A dog trainer and expert in animal behaviour who testifed for the defence in a case of dog mauling says there's a big difference between an animal being dog-reactive versus people-agressive. Jason English's pitbull attacked and killed another dog in St. John's over a year ago. He was sentenced yesterday to pay a fine of $200 and a year of probation. After an assessment of 50 pound pitbull Zeus, dog whisperer Ken Reid says right now, Zeus sees other dogs as a threat, but a rehabiliative program could change that.
It would have to focus on counterconditioning and desensitization. Reid says by getting the dog out into the public slowly its behaviour should change so that it would see ther dogs as friendly.
Reid says at the end of day the owner needs to be responsible for the pet.
He says Mr. English and Zeus participated just last weekend in a group dog walk, and Zeus didn't react any differently than the other 40 dogs in attendance.