My Foster Dogs

Fostered August 23 - October 26, 2003
ADOPTED OCTOBER 27, 2003
Sex: Male
Age: about 3 months as of 9/24
Breed: pit bull
Size: 16.5 lbs on Sept. 17 (and growing!)
History: Supposedly Dex and a littermate were found on the street at about 6-7 weeks old. Both pups were malnourished and suffering from demodex (mange). Unfortunately the other pup didn't make it. Dex is taking Ivomec for the mange and is recovering nicely. Most of his hair has grown back in. (You can view some of the early pictures to see how pink he used to be!) Assuming his recovery continues at this rate, he should be available for adoption in mid-October. Good with: Everyone! He enjoys meeting new people, especially children. He likes to play with other dogs but doesn't know when to quit. He is still trying to figure out what cats are.
Best feature(s): Dex is a spunky pup that doesn't seem to realize how close he came to death. He is bold, confident, playful, comical, loving, and extremely intelligent. He is on his way to becoming a wonderful ambassador for his breed.
Training: He has a *great* sit, is learning down and shake, responds to his name (most of the time!), and is learning to walk nicely on a leash. He is housetrained (as well as can be expected for such a young dog -- meaning he has to go out frequently, so you'd better be paying attention!) and very good in his crate. Currently he stays in an extra large crate when home alone, with a blanky at one end and a pee pad at the other (which he uses pretty reliably and only chews every once in a while). He is also crated overnight and can usually make it through the night without going out, but will fuss and wake you up if he needs to go.
Needs: Dex needs an owner who is committed to proper training and management, laying a good foundation while he is young, and continuing his education throughout his lifetime. He will be a big, strong dog someday, and he happens to be a member of a breed with an undeserved bad reputation. This means he needs to be even more well-mannered than dogs of other breeds because he will often be judged based on his breed's reputation. In fact, this has happened several times already in his young life. ("Oh he's adorable! -- too bad he's a pit bull," and "Sure, he's a nice dog NOW, wait until he grows up.") However, he has already helped to change several people's misinformed opinions about the breed. Dex is being raised to be a companion and beloved family member. Potential homes will be screened very carefully.