The Truth About Pit Bulls

It's amazing to me just how impressionable people are. Perception can really become reality. And I've found that many people still have the perception that pit bulls are vicious. I can see it at the dog park when someone comes in with a big pit bull, and some people just stare cautiously. I can see it at the pound with more pit bulls than any other breed there (which breaks my heart). I can see it when I tell people that Lucy is a pit bull mix, and their eyes get big. Some people just straight up ask me if she's nice. I guess this stems from the horrible people who train dogs to fight. In my opinion there is a "special" place for those people. We can't change the past, but we can try to break the stereotype by influencing others just as they have been influenced already. 

I guess I can't speak for every other dog except mine. She is predominantly pit bull mixed with all other breeds. I've heard everything from boxer, Italian greyhound, Rhodesian ridge back, and shepherd for guesses of what she is mixed with. It would be nice to know, but I love my little mutt no matter what she is! What I love most about her is her personality. She is the sweetest most good-natured dog I have ever met. She loves every dog and just about every person she meets! She does not possess one aggressive bone in her body. I truly believe the disposition of the dog really depends on the love it is given. I call for more loving and less fighting! v

Lucy's Favorite Toys!

If you are a dog owner like me, you have probably spent quite a bit of money on dog toys. With so many toys/treats/bones out there, it can be hard to decide what to spend your money on. I have found what works for Lucy and I mostly by trial and error and by talking with others. I can't tell you how many toys I have watched Lucy destroy in less time than it took to buy them. Here a couple of the great (and durable) ones I have found.

Lucy & Major Playing Tug-of-War

One of my favorite toys to give Lucy is Dentley's Large Center Cut Stuffed Femur Bones. You can find them at Petsmart for less than $10, and they last forever! They are real bones that you can get either stuffed or non-stuffed. Of course Lucy loves the stuffed ones because she has to work to get to the stuff on the inside. This one bone can keep her busy for hours and hours, which is the main reason why I buy these. While I am at work during the week, I like to give Lucy something to chew on so she doesn't get bored during the day. I first found out about these from my friend/coworker, Jay, who gave me one of these as a Christmas present for Lucy. Jay and his wife have 4 (and at one time 5) dogs, and I have definitely learned a thing or two from them!

Another one of Lucy's favorite toys is the Kong Extreme. The best thing about this toy is how durable it is. Even Lucy was not able to destroy this toy. I buy the Kong treat refills that are inserted in the middle. This also keeps Lucy busy chewing as she tries to get the treat out. The only negative thing about this toy is that the refills can be a little pricey. The pack of 12 refills is almost $12, which isn't really that bad but can sure add up quickly. My sister actually gave me this one, as her dogs have so many toys!

Who Knew Chickens Could Run that Fast?

I would say owning a dog definitely keeps things interesting! For me, having Lucy is kind of like having a child. You have to watch them at all times; otherwise they are bound to get into things they aren't supposed to. It's just in their nature! I was reminded of this on Saturday.

I went over to my friend Colin's house this weekend, and of course I brought my little LuLu with me (I bring her everywhere I can). His parents have a beautiful house (and guest house) with a pool, hot tub and gazebo, pond, and fenced in back yard. They also have a bee farm and chickens in the front yard. On Saturday afternoon, we were sitting under the gazebo when Colin asked me where Lucy was. She was nowhere to be found. He had an inkling that something was not right. He ran out to the front yard, and when he didn't come back I also went out front to see what was going on.

Colin & Lucy

Everything that happened next happened so quickly! I was standing on the driveway when I saw Lucy chasing a chicken! I know Lucy is a very fast runner, but who knew a chicken could run that fast!? This chicken was running for its life, and Lucy was quickly catching up. Then, I saw Colin chasing Lucy who was still chasing the chicken. While running after Lucy Colin slipped and completely ate it!  I couldn't help but bust out laughing! It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. In the process he ended up losing his glasses and scratching up his arm. We still haven't found his glasses!

Colin did end up getting Lucy when she chased a chicken under the front porch. He put her inside, but that wasn't the end of it. There were feathers everywhere, and at least two chickens were missing! Luckily the chicken ended up coming back the next day. I guess they were hiding out in the woods in the meantime. Needless to say I learned that my dog likes to chase chickens. :-) 

She is so vicious! ;-)

That's a Mangy Dog!

As the proud mother of this little "fur baby", there is nothing I wouldn't do for her. When I picked her out at the Cobb County Animal Control, I saw that she had some patches on her the hair had fallen out. I didn't think it would be a big deal. One of the employees there told me that the animals are screened for any major issues, but he said I should take her to the vet after adoption. I ended up taking her to the vet within the week of adoption so that I could take advantage of a half-off vet visit coupon I got from the pound. I could go to one of the vets listed on the coupon. The first time I went to the vet with Lucy I went to Butler Creek Vet in Kennesaw. The vet diagnosed Lucy with a skin infection. I held off on getting a skin scrape done. The antibiotics I had to give her needed to be given to her every eight hours. Because I was gone during the day at work, one dose had to be given to her at 2:30 a.m.! This was also during potty training, so every night at 2:30 for two weeks I would give her the medicine and then also take her outside. It was exhausting! 

Lucy at her first vet visit

Unfortunately the redness came back, so I took her back to the vet. This time I took her to Town & Country in Marietta because I came across another coupon for a half-off visit from a trainer at Petco. This time the vet did a skin scrape and confirmed that Lucy has demodectic mange. This is a parasitic mite that lives in the hair follicles. The mite is passed from mother to puppy during birth. This type of mange is not contagious. Apparently all dogs have this mite, but the population can grow out of control if the immune system is compromised. I also found out that this condition can be worse in pit bulls (and she is part pit bull). The vet put her on antibiotics for the skin infection that is usually present with mange as well as ivermectin (also used as heartworm medicine). The vet also put her on two months of vitamins to boost her immune system. Almost $200 later I was feeling optimistic that it would clear up even though the vet said we may have to do a more aggressive treatment.  

Lucy's condition improved for a few months, but then it came back even worse! I took her to yet another vet, Banfield Pet Hospital in Petsmart. This one was close to my house, and office visits were only $39. I also liked that they were open on Sundays. The vet recommended a more aggressive treatment, the mitaban dip, a pesticide that kills the mange. Unfortunately, however, Lucy would have to get four to six dips to battle her severe case of mange. Each visit cost me almost $100! I would drop her off and pick her up, sometimes getting up at 5:30 a.m. to drop her off before work. Lucy still has one more dip, and then they will do another skin scrape to see what the levels of mange look like. It feels like it's a never-ending ordeal, and I just want Lucy to get better! One thing is for sure though. There is nothing I wouldn't do and no amount I wouldn't pay for my baby! 

Potty Training 101

When I adopted Lucy I don't think I realized how much work would truly be involved in "raising" her. I did have my work cut out for me, and she was still a puppy when I got her (8 months old). Friends told me I needed to get her trained as soon as possible, but I was only concerned with one kind of training: potty training. Since Lucy was a stray, I had no idea about what kind of past she had and if she had had any training. At first it seemed like she knew she was supposed to go potty outside, but then the accidents just kept happening. I can tell you that constant accidents in the house are just about the most irritating thing about having a dog. Of course I am a HUGE sucker for animals, especially this one, so I can never stay mad at her. Just look at that face!

In the beginning, my potty training efforts clearly weren't working. I would let Lucy outside, and then she would come inside and go to the bathroom. Of course when she went it was always on the carpet. I guess that's how it goes. It seemed like every time I turned my head she was going inside! I was getting overwhelmed and frustrated. When I first got her she was having stomach issues, and I would wake up to find diarrhea all over her crate (I was crate training her). It was just a constant clean up effort. It was more stressful because I was living in a house that belonged to someone else.

I asked friends and family for what worked for them and their pets. I even consulted with the vet. The vet told me I had to keep Lucy in the crate every minute that I wasn't actively watching her. That was tough for me. Since dogs don't want to go where they sleep, they will rarely go in their crate. I felt bad keeping her in the crate so much since she was also in the crate while I was gone, but it worked! I also changed what I was doing while I let her out. Before, I would just let her out in the backyard and then let her in. The vet explained that I needed to go out there with her and make sure that she goes. The leaves going by or the wind blowing could easily distract her, and she could forget why she is out there. Luckily, making these small changes has helped me get her completely potty trained! Of course accidents happen, but now they are far and few between! And you could say I am a little bit more patient. ;-)

Meet Munchkin Lucy!

So here goes nothing! This is my very first blog post ever! Let me first introduce myself. I'm Nancy, a 23 year-old animal lover, music festival enthusiast, and foodie! I am most passionate, however, about my little munchkin Lucy (or Lucille as my sister calls her)! She has many, many pet names as you can imagine. All my life I have loved little furry creatures (and non-furry ones for that matter). I have had many different pets throughout the years: everything from fish, two parakeets, two Beagles, a cat named Ralphie (who resides at my parents' house), and of course my dog Lucy. 

I first met Lucy at Cobb County Animal Control (the pound). Don't ask me why or how I ended up at the pound, but I was honestly in no position to be getting a dog. However, I was just devastated when I saw how many animals were in need (especially all the pit bulls)! It just broke my heart. I took several out into the bonding rooms, but when I met Lucy I just instantly fell in love. I wanted to adopt her right away. She wasn't up for adoption yet though; all dogs that come in must stay there for a week to give owners the chance to come reclaim their pet. So I did the next best thing. I put my name on the waiting list to be first in line to adopt her.

Lucy at the pound (with my friend Daisy and her niece)

That was one of the longest weeks of my life. In the mean time, I had my boyfriend and friend come look at her. Since I lived at home at the time, I was hoping my boyfriend would fall in love with her and let me keep her at his townhouse. He told me no of course, but I had already fallen in love with her sweet personality. So when I was finally able to adopt her, I made sure I was right on time to get her. Much to my dismay I was not able to pick her up. I had to come back the next day because she had to get spayed. Have I already told you I am impatient?

So once I picked Lucy from the pound, I headed to Petsmart to get her collar, leash, food, etc. Then came the real test: surprising my boyfriend with her. He was there when I got to his house. Let's just say I did not receive the response I was looking for. He was furious! And I was extremely upset. Even though I did not officially live there, I thought he would let me keep her. Keeping her at my parents house was not an option (and I had my cat there already). So I did what any normal person would do and got a place of my own! My boyfriend gave me two weeks to stay there. I did ending up finding a place, which was no easy feat mind you. And it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Notice a much happier and filled-out pup!