By Jarissa Aquinde, Positively Woof Rescue and Adoption Story Editor“LARPBO is committed to educating the public about responsible pit bull and dog ownership, and banishing the myths that the media feeds the public. We actively work together to share the truth about bully breeds: they are very loyal, loving, intelligent dogs who are amazing and wonderful family pets. Just like any dog, given proper obedience training, socialization with humans, and appropriate interaction with other dogs, this breed defies media misconceptions. By promoting attention and communication between dogs and owners we can show the general public what we already know: these are amazing creatures deserving of full and happy lives.”
Each week, LARPBO holds group classes in Sherman Oaks and Long Beach. The beginner/intermediate class focuses on the skills needed for the AKC Good Canine Citizen (CGC) certification, and the advanced class focuses on the skills needed for the AKC Canine Community (Advanced CGC) title. When you attend a LARPBO class, you can expect a welcoming and accepting community of dog owners of all breeds, circumstances and personalities. It’s an environment that allows you to train your dog at a low cost, and in a safe, interactive and rewarding manner that’s physically and mentally stimulating for both you and your dog.
LARPBO’s training methodology is based on four basic concepts; motivation, reward, attention and communication. These concepts are applied through four basic commands; sit, down, come and place. You will practice these through the use of lots of positive engagement, confidence building tools, agility equipment and most importantly, fun! LARPBO believes that these are the foundations to help create a well balanced and happy dog.
October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month!October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month – Spread the word! Featuring the dogs of LARPBO – Los Angeles Responsible Pit Bull Owners ❤️❤️❤️
Posted by Positively Woof on Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Troy has been the head trainer at LARPBO for six and a half years. Prior to that, he spent time training with Sit Means Sit Dog Trainers out of Las Vegas, as well as Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers out of Northern California. However, much of what Troy learned and practices today has been self taught. He thinks one of the most important traits of being a successful dog trainer is being adaptable – what works on one dog may not work on another, so you have to be able to adjust to each dog and their unique personality.
LARPBO LEADERSHIP
Along with Troy, LARPBO has a dedicated and loyal leadership team. They each fell into their roles naturally, as they wanted to be a part of what Troy was building. Mostly, they were previous or existing LARPBO members that had been through the program, witnessed the positive effects themselves, and wanted to give back and help others. There’s no way LARPBO could function without it’s volunteers!
Troy says that “Sadly, many have come to associate violence and aggression with pit bulls, which is often reinforced through misrepresented media. When people are bombarded with negative headlines about pit bulls, it continues to perpetuate these negative stereotypes. Unfortunately, the largest problem isn’t the breed itself, but the lack of education about them. A pit bull is just a dog, and no more likely to unpredictably attack than any other breed. So, until we change peoples’ attitudes, pit bulls are going to continue to be judged and subjected to unfair treatment. There are more pit bulls in shelters than any other breed, they’re less likely to be adopted, and they’re far more likely to be euthanized. So, as pit bull owners, we all have a responsibility to make sure our dogs behave well in public in order to help alter that perception. LARPBO’s hope is that one day people will be able to look beyond the stereotype that we as humans have created and see a smart, loyal and loving companion.”
Learn more about LARPBO on their website LARPBO.org and follow them on Facebook @LARPBO
