Doxie News Dachshund Blog
Animal Planet – Pit Boss – Shorty Rossi
Every time Animal Planet comes out with a new show about dogs, I watch and hope that it will be a show that provides people with some valuable truths about dogs and information people can actually use. Unfortunately, Animal Planet concentrates much more on ridiculous entertainment than on the actual animals.
I watched the premier of the new show, Pit Boss, which involves a talent agency that promotes little people run by Short Rossi who also rescues pit bulls, I think. I liked the premise a lot, it seemed like a fun show and the people are very likable right off the bat.
The show was going along okay, and then Shorty got a call to have one of his pitbulls in some sort of calendar. The dog would need to sit up, which required training. Then Shorty assigned this task to one of his employees who would learn how to do it from an animal trainer they had hired.
Strike One: If you don't even know how to train a dog to sit up, which has to be one of the easiest things to do, then I don't have faith that you can run a pitbull rescue. How do you get an aggressive pitbull to drop the aggression and be normal? Positive training.
I continued watching and Shorty got a call to come pick up a loose pitbull. He went to get it and everything just felt fake. First they took only a minimal amount of caution when picking up this dog and everything just felt wrong. It was very convenient that the dog had "escaped" inside of a fenced in area and was not much of a runner because otherwise it would have made it very difficult for little people to catch him. I would think Shorty would have an average sized person to help him out in these situations where speed is required.
The approach the took to finding the owner was that they expected someone to personally know who owned the dog. They were wandering the streets and Shorty was calling friends that lived in the neighborhood. Strike Two: this feels very fake.
Eventually on another bizarre attempt to find the dogs owner, they go back to the neighborhood. The actual owner apparently sees them from afar and starts screaming from across a lot that Shorty has stolen his dog and comes running over and shoves shorty to the ground. That's right, he stole your dog and is now wandering around with cameras following him. Not only was it clearly a set up (because if it wasn't this would have been assault on camera) but the dog at this point has a choke collar on. The collar was purchased and placed on the dog by Shorty.
Strike Three: Choke collars are actually a leading cause of pit bull euthanasia. The use of choke collars actually causes pit bulls to become aggressive. Don't take my word for it, read about it from a professional dog trainer.
I turned off the episode at that moment and removed the season pass from my TiVo. Let's recap:
- Shorty doesn't know how to train dogs which is a major part of rehabilitating pit bulls.
- The drama in the show is obviously fake and doesn't even make sense.
- Shorty says he's running a pitbull rescue but uses choke collars, a leading cause of aggression and euthanasia for pit bulls.
I suppose maybe they will show Shorty's rescue facility in future episodes, you had to take on faith that he actually has one for this episode. But as far as I could see his rescue facility was a small crate in his offices. But I wonder, does he really have a rescue at all? It's too bad that this is yet another fake reality show because a real opportunity has been missed.
I’m glad that I’m not the only one who has noticed this. It seems solely for ratings and although I love dogs, cats, etc (and coincidentally have a little person uncle), I find that Animal Planet is letting themselves be duped into casting a show that uses animal rescue as a plot to advertise a little person casting agency and the “acting crew” that comes with it who are hoping to be discovered.
Strike Four: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744263/
The show seems very fake, setup, staged, and put together because it is. They seem like they are acting because they are actors.
Strike Five : http://www.shortentertainment.biz/PitBulls.html Does he really have a rescue at all you ask? Shorty’s “Rescue” is not a rescue. It says so right in paragraph two. Shorty’s “Rescue” has no kennels or facilities. It says so in paragraph three.
If I ADOPT a few pets from a shelter also, can I call myself a “rescue”?.
We all know the show should be called Shorty’s Adventures because that’s what it is.
I’m kinda disgusted at Animal Planet for stooping low like this just so they could have a little people show. I prefer Tia’s real rescue show much more.
Thanks for pointing out the information about Shorty having no rescue facilities. That’s really sad. I like Tia’s show also, and she knows how to train a dog.
Pit Bulls deserver to be represented by someone who knows how to work with them and train them positively. The way to take an aggressive Pit Bull back to normality is to show the dog that life is fun, the new people the dog is around will not hurt them, and good behavior gets rewards.
I agree that the show comes off as fake, but I also disagree on some points. I think it’s entertaining for a lot of people who are not aware of Pitbulls other than what they hear form people and other media outlets, and maybe watching a show(Fake or Not) that shows pitbulls in a better light, then I don’t think it’s that bad. Although the show might be fake, the issue is actually real, and the message about pitbulls is still there. It’s sad that they allow it for ratings, but the higher the ratings, the more people watching will result in hopefully a more positive image on the issue.
Good Article though. By the way, I think the part that threw it off for me was when after the Dog Owner came up to him, Shorty was able to push him down to the ground, that was a little to much.
I saw Mr. Rossi at an event he did 2-3 years back when he stated he was trying to promote his shorty entertainment business with another “reality” show and it did not take off. Buuut add a dog or five and voila! Shorty’s Adventures is right. It is good to promote the breed, but I think this “rescue” is to make him greenbacks from his shortwood business.
Strike six: The employees are previous entertainment with no dog training! ; Do the research AP!
First of all it is “entertainment”. Second he rescues pit bulls, never said he had a facility. He works with volunteers, foster homes and other rescue organizations. The show is there to promote the breed and his business. As many media outlets have said “Animal Planet has hit the mother lode” with “Pit Boss”.
this is the pre-animalplanet shortyentertainment reality show pilot
Who would you rather have around these animals Mike Vick? Who cares if he can train a pit or if it has on a choke collar. Go on any dog adoption website, and see how many pits will be killed because they are not adoptable. His goal is to present pit bulls as wonderful dogs who will make great pets. See what a pit looks like after it has been mauled to death. This is a life and death situation for pit bulls who are now facing extinction because people can no longer fight them. They have outlived their usefulness because it is a felony now to fight them. No one wants a pit who is gentle and docile. If the pit can’t make the owner money by sacrificing his life he is not wanted. When i go on a dog adoption website all i see are pit bulls looking for a loving home. If you want to be angry at someone Mick Vick is the one. Include all those people who continue to fight these dogs in back alley junkyards. These fights are not “staged”. Look at all the laws that have been implemented nationwide to restrict the ownership of these dogs. This is another reason for the overflow. People can’t insure their properties, or rent apartments if they have a pit bull. So even good owners have to give up their pits. There is a war on pit bulls, and Shorty is on the right side. What have any of the people who criticize his efforts done to save the life of just one pit bull. Nothing!
Wow! ! This show is such a fake, it’s obviously staged besides when the blue pit starts Humpin Shorty, now that was about the only real part.
Go watch pitbulls and parolees ,Now that’s how you properly rehabilitate a pitbull and she’s in it for the dogs that’s it!!!!! Go Tia Torrez keep it up/ PITBOSS IS FAKE!!!!!!
Dear Shorty,
I love watching your show, but I often wonder why you constantly jump on those people most loyal to you? It seems to me everyone has a bad day every now and then, but it also seems to me like someone must starch your shorts or something,because you are one angry ombre. If you try to lighten up a little, I bet you would have a happier crew. Oh yea by the way, you need to realize that some people will say anything just to get a job, but then don’t give two hoots and a hollar about what they basically said they would agree to!!!! Oh yeah you dn’t need to hire BIMBO FOR YOUE BUSINESS, Ashley not only is sweet likable and smart ,but she is loyaland lets face it Shorty, she has put up with alot of your crap.
Anyway I do love your show, just lighten up dude.
Sheila
Did anyone see the episode where “Domenico” supposedly runs away from Shorty’s vacation home in Mexico?
Domenico wasn’t even in the car on the way down. Only Hercules, Geisha, and Valentino are shown. And that’s only one of many bloopers I’ve seen on the show. So sad that they have to make up these kind of scenarios to sell a show.
Re: Mexico episode. Bad bad acting-Dominico’s missing, and then you see Shorty and crew running through tropical brush in all directions as if they are on a bounty hunt. Mmm, very similar to Dog the Bounty Hunter. Guess Shorty thought if that technique got Dog ratings while “chasing” bail jumpers, it would get him ratings while “chasing” down his missing pit bull.
Pretty much Ronald’s nervous “acting” give the show away as fake. When he is reading a script or performing in the show, it is the same bad acting. Shorty also sounds so fake and performs his scripted lines just like Ronald. Who shows up to an orphanage with lots of stray dogs and donates donates ONE cheapo 20 lb bag of dog food?
And, Shorty’s negative and wanna-be a bad ass attitude is such a downer. Shame on Animal Planet for promoting such a show that really hasn’t benefited any dogs, from what I have seen.
I fell in love with this show a few months ago and figured out pretty quickly, like most so called “reality” shows, it had to be staged. I don’t care. It’s funny. It’s about grace. Shorty’s people love him even though he can be an asshole. He loves his people and his dogs. Probably isn’t a good idea to have him breaking into houses to “rescue” the dogs because there are probably some people who don’t realize this is not real and needs to be seen as a sit com. Still rather watch this than most of the crap on TV
I love watching Pit Boss. I am an animal lover and admire Shorty Rossi’s dedication to pit bulls, a much maligned dog breed…… unjustly so.
As for the comments about the show being fake, what reality show does not have staged scenes? Just watch “The Bachelor”,the “Kardashians” etc.
With regard to “Pitbulls and Parolees , I find it hard to watch because I can’t bear to see animals suffering so much.
Quite frankly, “Pit Boss” is the main reason I tune in to Animal Planet these days.
On this weekends episode they rescued a pit bull from inside a vehicle that was being reposed by Luis Pizarro of the show fakest show ever “Operation Repo” Pitt Boss is a fraud!
I enjoy the show very much and i think it’s a brave thing to do what Shory and crew are doing.You don’t have to be a little person to think big.This show is for the pit bulls,some comments that have been made are rude and i don’t see any of you helping,you’ll watch The real house wives of New Jersy,and whatever else.Yet those show nothing other than someone losing their shirt,and saving their own butts…This is a RESCUE that word alone says it…Keep up the great work..
The reason why I adopted a pit bull from the pound was because of Pit Boss. So, just because the show is fake, it doesn’t matter. It is accomplishing its purpose by putting pits in a positive light.
Gail,
Thanks for commenting. You’re right, even though the show may not be completely real the message comes through that pit bulls are good dogs. The effect it has had on you is wonderful.
Thank you so much for adopting a pit bull!