Meet Zusje! (pronounced almost like sushi with a z, google translate tells me it means “baby sister” in Dutch…)
This is the most intensive and intense and just generally major such commitment I have ever made, for a host of reasons, but for right now, she’s just my new baby girl and I adore her…
Yessir that’s exactly what she is. Word is that granddaddy was some champion rhinoceros-like fella named El Diablo, but mom is tall and slim and finely made… she appears thus far to take after her mom. She was one of the smallest of the litter of 13! (Gah!)
Her breed has much to do with why raising her is such a big commitment: what I’m committed to is doing every single thing in my power to set her up for total success in every aspect, especially her encounters with other dogs, starting with my own. It’s a crazy amount of focus and management… long talks with my trainer. But my eye is firmly on the prize of having a sweet, friendly, delicious companion that gets along with everyone.
And as for the rest of you and my passing on the cuddles, I don’t think I can… I am maxing out her cuddle-receiving capacity with MY cuddles, and I am concerned that I am dangerously close to overdosing on oxytocin…I swear its making me loopy…
OMG! Stoid, she is just the cutest thing! I think the grey/white combo pit bulls are my favorite color (though neither of mine are that color). I love her spotty nose!
Not that you asked, but you might look into getting together with other pit bull owners for socialization walks and training classes. You’re in LA, right? Check out LARPBO or similar groups. It’s been great for me to be involved with Chako Pit Bull Rescue and Advocacy here in Sacramento. Great training and socializing, plus education.
And for the record her cutitude just now is only cute if you can find the cute in a VERY angry little girl who just got her crate cut in half, a sheet over it, classical music turned on and absolutely no one is paying attention to how mad she is.
She’s processing the 5 Stages of Crating:
Denial (biting the gate)
Anger (growl, bark)
Bargaining (howling)
Depression (whimpering)
Acceptance (low grumbling, then quiet)
And because I halved it with a box inside, it’s almost like losing the ground we gained in the last 24 hours. But crates are not where we potty…