Rescue your next dog

[Gonzoso]

My girlfriend and I were in Neptune NJ a few weeks ago and we encountered several police officers and an animal control officer trying to catch a loose Pitt Bull. As we pulled in to the pizza place where this was occurring, the cop was talking about shooting it. We helped to herd it into a fenced off antique barn, and helped capture it. We spent some time with the dog and she was very sweet. After this, we decided to get a pitt bull. We did a lot of research, and started looking for a dog. We looked for several weeks, and we learned quite a bit.

The adoption centers are flooded with pitt bulls. Due to irresponsible breeding practices and reckless owners, these poor dogs have gotten a bad rap, and often times make up over 50% of the shelter!
FOR PITS' SAKE // Where Heroes Are The Pits

Contrary to the common media portrayal of them, Pitts are really sweet dogs. They are not for everyone, and one should take the time to decide if they have they time, patience, and energy to deal with them before getting one. But my pitt bull is the sweetest most loving dog I have ever had.

She was abandoned by a drug dealer who is still a wanted fugitive, in an apartment with another dog. They were left to starve. Here is a picture of her the day I got her home, after she had been in the shelter for 7+ months. They said she was near death and much skinnier when they got her. She now wighs 50 pounds and 8 ounces.

She is the perfect dog. She is housetrained, and very smart. She can sit, drop things on command, and shake. She has good leash manors. She takes very well to training and tries hard to please me. She is fun to play with as well. Her favorite game is tug of war. She has no food or toy aggression. I regularly test her on this and reward her for doing good. I am going with a completely positive based training.

She is very friendly and gets along with everyone she has met. She does not mind my cat, or my snake.(She met both under EXTREME supervision) Here she is sitting on my girlfriend and myself, with the Boa on top of the couch.


She is very loving. Almost starving to death and being kept in a shelter with hundreds of dog, limited care and almost no exercise will do that. She waits at the top of the stairs for us when we go out, and runs to us and gives us kisses when we get home. She is not destructive. I had a good feeling and left her alone the first day we got her, not in a crate. She touched nothing! She loves to cuddle. She has never once nipped at us. She loves to curl up with you regardless of what you are doing. Here she is curled up with my girlfriend.

If you want a dog, don't buy from a breeder. Adopt from a shelter. There are so many. Even if you do not want or cannot have a pitt, there are many other breeds available. The shelter I got Brindy from gets in 1 dog every 40 minutes! There are tons of dogs, even puppies. If is a much more fulfilling and satisfying experience to actually rescue a dog as opposed to buying it from someone.

To start looking go to Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten.

[Lucille]

I agree that pit bulls are wonderful dogs. Currently I own a pit, a pit-chow, and a chi.

I agree wholeheartedly that one should not support bybs, and if one rescues a dog one should have it spayed/neutered to prevent the endless cycle of overbreeding.

One should use caution when adopting any dog that is already adult and whose history is unknown. Unfortunately there is a small minority of people in private rescues and even shelters that rehome dogs that have, for whatever reason, bitten or attacked people and they do this without notifying the new owners.

This is not breed specific and it should not deter anyone from trying to adopt, but common sense and caution should be used during the introductory period while your new dog is enfolded into the family.

That being said, giving a dog another chance to be the family member it was meant to be, especially if rescued from an unfortunate situation, is one of the very best choices one can make for getting a new pet.

Gonzoso, your dog is beautiful, and it is wonderful that you rescued him.

[Gonzoso]

She is spayed and we even have and insurance plan for her so she will stay healthy. She is better insured than I am!:confused1: She is a great dog, my family had a west highland white terrier before. He was cool, but he was stubborn and couldn't play like a pitt can.

We chase each other, play tug of war and wrestle and stuff, which is much more fun with a 50 pound dog than a 15 pound dog. I have been heavily training her, and will keep it continuous. I have been training her to find people by smell. She can track people into the woods and locate them very well. I increase the distances and time a bit every day, but she is doing phenomenally. Now all I have to do is train her to find my car keys, wallet, and cell phone!

[razeraze]

Gonzo: Rachel and I will be getting a pit also, because they are the most popular breed in shelters. I believe adopt before you purchase is the most rewarding way to live and I encourage people to adopt any animal before they purchase one. We adopted 2 of our monitors and would have adopted a retic but driving to Michigan was difficult so we purchased one.

If you can adopt an animal do it. They need it.

[stalk]

You did an awesome thing. I've had to train a lot of dogs and admittedly the vast majority of the dogs that have bitten me during training have been pit bulls. But it has a little bit of genetics (5%, maybe) and a whole lot to do with training.

It is always better to attempt to adopt, but I have no issue with anyone buying a dog as long as it's for a reputable breeder (reputable breeder = does not make profit off of it).

Pit bulls are not for me but I've never met a trained pit bull I did not like.

[ssjsmits]

Took me a few passes to see the boa in top of the couch.

[Gonzoso]

She is a couch potato. She always makes a beeline for the couch when I get near it. She loves to stretch out and relax on it. If she goes there she will not get down for anything. I often leave her there for a couple of hours as I am cleaning or doing stuff. I once fell asleep on the couch and woke up with her still there in the morning.

She and the pitbull have been introduced. I held her and my girlfriend held the dog in such a way that neither could bit the other, only smell and look. They didn't mind each other at all, they both seemed curious though, the pitt did try and lick the snake, but I didn't let her.

[froglegs]

Gonzoso thats so wonderful you adopted a pit and did alot of research first! Yay!! She is a great looking girl too! She looks so at home with the 2 of you and happy as can be! Thats very cool she is training so well too! I love it...she is more insured than you...lol! Sorry but its just not so much funny as it is ironic..:huh: Pet insurance rules! I hope we see LOTS more of your new baby !!! Congrats!!

[Stargazer]

WTC!!!!
(way too cute)

[Red-Tailed_mustang]

Originally Posted by Gonzoso

She is a couch potato. She always makes a beeline for the couch when I get near it. She loves to stretch out and relax on it. If she goes there she will not get down for anything. I often leave her there for a couple of hours as I am cleaning or doing stuff. I once fell asleep on the couch and woke up with her still there in the morning.

She and the pitbull have been introduced. I held her and my girlfriend held the dog in such a way that neither could bit the other, only smell and look. They didn't mind each other at all, they both seemed curious though, the pitt did try and lick the snake, but I didn't let her.

Dude Duke is totally the same way a bomb could go off and he would even look up!! The only thing that gets him off the couch is food or when Tom(stray cat) wants to play. He also gets to ride shotgun in my cars I have made a few people sit in the back and Duke up front they deserved it though. I promise!!!