DOGSTOCK is a four day music and camping celebration of the dogs in the coming Memorial Day Weekend (22-25 May 2008). This is a yearly, multi-faceted, pet-friendly, all ages event designed to:

• Raise community awareness of crucial animal welfare issues.

• Highlight the availability of healthy animals looking for good homes.

• Raise much needed funds for the Akita dogs of the only licensed shelter in Osage County: the Akita Adoption and Rescue Foundation (AARF).

DOGSTOCK has become an exciting community event each festival. Dog lovers are invited to bring their lucky dog to the festival, though a few rules apply: all pets must be spayed/neutered, a pets must have a current vaccination record and, all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

The Akita Adoption and Rescue Foundation specializes in special needs dogs and older dogs. They have many stories to tell about rewarding relationships that have developed from their good work. Here’s one that will certainly convince you to give a rescued Akita a second life:

An elderly Akita, Jake, was adopted by a family with a seriously epileptic child. Akita’s are very good observers and intelligent thinkers. The Akita started predicting the seizures and would then get help! Before Jake succumbed to old age, he had ‘cured’ the boy of his seizures.

Other stories include folks who adopted a dog one day and the next were protected from intruders.

Dogs give us unconditional love and when we allow 8 to 10 million to be killed yearly just because they were inconvenient, that is unforgivable!

Let’s all help create a better world for dogs and ourselves and hope that DOGSTOCK will become a major source of fund raising.

Details for visitors

DOGSTOCK’08, a celebration of and benefit for the dogs with music and camping memorial day weekend, may 22-25 at the AARF humane sanctuary and campground 6206 E. 317TH St. Melvern, KS 66510 (just 5 miles east of Melvern, Kansas).

A $40 donation at gate covers camping and entertainment for all four days and nights.

Sidenote

The event is NOT canceled though the man in charge of the fund raising, Randy Long (52), is in jail. He is now accused of writing numerous bad checks to people who provided services for the event such as bands, crews and vendors, according to a press release from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

Police are searching for a beautiful and very much loved Japanese Akita dog which went missing from outside Widnes indoor market (Cheshire, UK) on April, 30th.

The Akita owner, Alan Killen, 69, said he had tied his dog to a post outside the market at 12 noon while he went inside for two minutes. However, after returning to pick the dog up it was nowhere to be found.

This is every dog owner’s nightmare!

Mr Killen said: “I think he’s been stolen because they’re quite valuable. I can’t believe he’s gone. I lost my wife in November and Ben is really special to me. Everyone in the market loves him too.”

You don’t see an Akita every day and they are very beautiful and charismatic. My daily experience when I walk Kensho is to hear multiple people saying: “What a beautiful dog”. I can imagine some people wanting to steal these kind of dogs.

The missing Akita’s name is ‘Ben’. He’s micro chipped and is 8 years old. His coat is white chested and black brindle. He has a white tip on his tale and four white marks on his paws that look like socks.

Mr Killen asks for anyone with information to contact him on 0151 228 6339.

His name is Kicker. He will grow up to kick the person’s ass that threw him in the trash.

27 March 2008 OneNews – New Zealand’s News A man in New Zealand was attacked by a Japanese Akita. Now he wants the popular dog out of the country, or at least added to the country’s dangerous dog list.

He says “they just kill us”. He thinks Japanese Akita’s are three times more dangerous than a pit bull. He wants them all out. Next time he sees a Japanese Akita, any Japanese Akita, he’s going to kill it.

The victim was working on a job in a home in Auckland, New Zealand. The dog was the very loved family house dog of his clients. Just hours after the attack Dog Control Officers were on the scene. The owners said their dog had never attacked before. It was handed over to authorities. The Akita was brought to death row for dogs and was destroyed less than 24 hours later. The decision to whether or not the owners will be prosecuted is still being decided.

All dogs are capable of biting. All dogs can launch an attack. There is no evidence that Japanese Akita’s are more violent than any other breed. Experts say you can’t single out just one dog breed as the new public enemy number one. This resembles the nature-nurture debate. Dog’s behavior, is just like ours, not fully controlled by the genes.

A predisposition to behave in a certain way is only a small part of the equation. The environment has a bigger impact as to whether or not the aggression is going to surface or not.

The triangle: dog breed, the individual dog and dog training/the owner is what’s important. A dog that has had negative experiences with people is more likely to develop a fear of people which can result in unprovoked bite incidents.

Don’t stare a dog right in the eyes. Imagine a human stranger doing this to you. How would you feel? When a dog gives a warning, then accept the warning. Socialized dogs will give light warnings first, then stronger and stronger and only if you can’t take any hint then the dog would have to escalate the warning further.

When we as humans are the superior breed, then act superior. Learn doggy language as they cannot learn ours. Education is very important. Up to 75% of dog bites are actually by the victim’s own dog.

You can’t decide a whole breed is aggressive because of a biting incident with an individual dog. If so… then what conclusions can be drawn about the human race after reading some random newspaper headlines?

The bond between dogs and humans is based in part on trust, and part of that is eroded once you are bitten. If the victim is a bystander and not a dog owner, he is likely to be lost forever to any relationship with dogs and may become hostile to them. Hostility coupled with activism can sound the death knell of a breed.

John Payne, President of New Zealand Institute of Animal Control Officers, only today heard for the first time of a Japanese Akita attacking and he’s 21 years on the job. In order for a breed to be designated as a dangerous dog breed they need to be disproportionally featured in dog attacks and there aren’t really any dog breeds that fit into that sort of category.

For instance, German Shepherds account for a large number of bite incidents, but that’s just because there are a lot of German Shepherds around. Before jumping to conclusions you have to know how to interpret quantitative data.

Scientist are examining aggressive genes in dogs. Swabbing that dog and analyze it’s gene profile can help predicting whether a dog that has never been aggressive in the past is likely to be aggressive in the future. Then what? Are we going to allow these dogs to be destroyed whilst they haven’t done a thing wrong so far? Like in the pre-crime unit in the movie ‘Minority Report’? Within 24 hours, without a jury?

The truth of the matter is, all dogs can be provoked or egged on to bite. Aggression is of course part of the dog psyche (as it is also part of the human psyche); young dogs, particularly males, do frequently test the dominance status of higher-ranking males. There’s no such thing as a ‘bad’ breed. Practically all kinds of dogs are trainable. Proper training and socialization can make otherwise violent dogs, such as pit bull terriers and Rottweilers, adorable and gentle ones.

Dog owners should have their beloved pets trained to follow basic commands like come, sit, lie and stay. Obedience training school is one way of effectively preventing many dog-biting incidents, but you should try to find time for day-to-day instruction between dog and master, as well. This helps build the bond between you and your dog; when your dog trusts you enough, he dare not attack other people, particularly YOU.

Need help training and socializing your dog?

I have found the best on-line method to put an end to your Akita’s aggressive behavior today and cure behavioral problems. This team comprehensively covers all facets of dealing with dog aggression, dog food aggression and dog on dog aggression, plus many general dog ownership issues. If you are having trouble with specific issues with your dog, you should take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Simply email them and they’ll help you work through the issues with your dog. You can start by downloading their free 6 day mini-course.

- MOST DOG BITE INCIDENCES ARE PREVENTABLE!! -

Research shows that just 1 hour of dog safety training can reduce attacks by 80%

Myth #1: The Akita was used to bring down bears. This is wrong and believing this is really underestimating the power of a bear. Two Akita’s could corner a bear, but it was man who made the kill. So which one is the more dangerous creature in this story?

Myth #2: Akita’s are unpredictable. Any dog that is not raised properly can be unpredictable. It’s not in the breed to be like that. A good dog owner is prepared and knows how to socialize and train a dog. Akita’s are known for their loyalty towards their owner (see the story about Hachiko).

YES! I want to claim my free instant access to the Secrets to Dog Training 6 Day Dog Behavior and Training course ($27 value).

Your Name:
Your email Address:
(This is a private and fully protected mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time).

The cost of adoption is a mere fraction of that for a new puppy. With the additional costs of vet and food bills, many people find the cost of purchasing a puppy is out of the question. While they feel confident that they can afford the upkeep of the dog, they feel that a large cash output upon purchase is just too difficult.

When a dog has come from an unhappy background, it is more likely to develop a deeper bond with a new owner who offers it the love and care it has not experienced previously. They will be eager to please in response to the kind treatment and affection. These dogs will quickly learn to accept the good things the new owners have to offer and are likely bond deeper as a result. Many have known life on the streets, or chained up in a backyard, or worse, and will blossom in loving caring home. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate pets and extremely loyal companions.

Many adopted Akitas are already house trained and have some obedience training. This is because many of the dogs brought in for adoption are the result of a divorce, or bereavement and it is simply not possible for the original owners to keep the dog any longer. Puppy training is therefore not required, though in many cases new owners will prefer to take some form of obedience training with their new pet, simply to reinforce the bonding process.

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get): When adopting a rescue dog it’s possible to specify whether you want a dog or a bitch. You can see what size and color you are getting before you adopt. You will know that the temperament is acceptable before adopting.

And above all….. it’s good for your KARMA !

Before you decide that an Akita is the breed for you, first educate yourself thoroughly. It’s not a breed for everyone.

Akita Rescue Links:

These organization show Akitas on their website that are looking for a new home with a loving owner. You can also read the stories of previously helped and rehomed Akitas. Many make great pets.

Akita Rescue Society of America @USA

The Akita Rescue Society of America (ARSA) was founded in 1976 by a small group of Akita fanciers who recognized the need to assist abandoned Akitas.

Akita Rescue and Welfare Trust @UK

AR&W (UK) has a 24 hour helpline number that is given to all adopters, as well as a network of coordinators to offer support should any problems arise during the Akita’s life.

Japanese Akita Welfare Trust @UK

The JAWT was the first Akita association dedicated to Japanese Akita rescue registered as a charity in England and Wales, Registration Number 1080152, and has been helping Akitas and their owners for many years.

If you feel that you can offer a much needed loving, caring home to one these unfortunate Akitas, then contact the Akita Rescue organization near your home.

Some rules I found in an Akita adoption form online:

1. The Akita is a large, strong dog which, like all dogs, needs to be trained properly and controlled at all times.
2. Nobody should own an Akita if he/she is not absolutely sure that they can control such a dog, and is willing and able to devote time and effort to teach the dog basic good manners.
3. The Akita has a natural guarding instinct without being encouraged to be aggressive. No owner should take any action to encourage the Akita’s natural guarding instincts.
4. No Akita should be in the charge of anyone under the age of sixteen years or anyone who is not capable of controlling it, physically and mentally, even for a short time.
5. When taking the Akita out in public it is of paramount importance to show consideration for other people, dogs and livestock. You should NEVER let your Akita off its lead.
6. Akita owners should be aware that these dogs become devoted to and feel protective towards their household and family members. It is of vital importance that this is born in mind when children are playing, visitors call, people arguing, etc.
7. Third party insurance should be taken out on any Akita that you own.