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| Name: |
Bauer
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Age: |
One year old
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| Gender: |
Male |
Breed: |
American Pit Bull Terrier, Black Lab mix |
| Home: |
Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
Bauer
joined the family when he was eight weeks old. I adopted/bought him
from a family down the street who obviously did not know how to care for
puppies. They lived in horrible conditions and rarely came outside to
relieve themselves. After seeing this, I took it upon myself to give this
dog the life of luxury that I know he would not receive at his old
residence.
Whether it be through training, walks, and showers of love, Bauer is
turning out to be the best dog a person could ever ask for. Bauer is going
through training in the hopes that one day he will be able to visit
nursing homes and autistic children and give the love only a furry friend
can give. Bauer also wishes to be a puppy ambassador for the Pit Bull
community (just don't tell him he's a mix) and show others that with the
proper love and training, any dog can be a great dog!
How Bauer Came Into Our Life
I heard about Bauer from my mother one Saturday in April. My parent's
neighborhood was having a community yard sale and some neighbors were
displaying some very dirty puppies. I wasn't actively seeking a dog, but
figured I would check it out regardless because these neighbors weren't
the most popular dog owners. When I visited the house, I saw about five or six
small puppies that were covered in dirt and smelled of urine. I was
horrified and my heart immediately went out to them. After talking it over
with my girlfriend, I decided to purchase one from them for $100. It was
the best purchase I have made in a very long time. I made a promise that
day to Bauer that he would have the best life he could possibly have. I
only wish I could have taken more than one puppy.
Bauer Growing Up
Bauer was the best dog a person could ask for. Being an American Pit Bull
Terrier, there were certain barriers that existed with other neighbors and
my family that needed to be torn down. Bauer and I started training early
and by a couple months, Bauer could sit, come, down, paw, give hi 5, and
crawl life a pro. We also socialized Bauer at a very young age both with
classes and living with my parents dachshund Heidi. Living with Heidi was
the best thing that could have happened to Bauer because he learned to be
submissive. Heidi, being only ~20 pounds and a not even a foot off the
ground, quickly established her rank as the dominant in the house. Bauer
learned to play gentle with small dogs and wait his turn for snacks,
meals, etc. These values taught by Heidi continue to show whenever Bauer
interacts with other dogs. Bauer loves to play, but also knows when to
calm down. When we first got Bauer, he weighed only ten pounds Fast forward a
year and he is now approximately 75 pounds and as sturdy as a rock.
Bauer In The Family
Bauer has not only become a best friend, but he is also a sort of son to
my girlfriend and I. With a recent move to the city, Bauer had to go
through many changes in life styles like we did. Gone were the days of
grass and dirt, instead replaced with concrete and gravel. It took a
little while, but Bauer overcame it and now goes like a pro! Luckily,
there is a nice big park up the street that is extremely dog (and Pit
Bull) friendly. People are out at all hours of the day walking there dogs
and mingling with other pet owners. Even though Bauer knows all the basic
training methods, we continually train with Bauer. Our most recent
training sessions have been spent working on heeling since we now live in
the city. We feel that Bauer would be a lot safer with a command that
would put him right at our side if anything did happen spur of the moment.
Some of Bauer's favorite activities include destroying stuffed animals,
chewing on rubber toys, snuggling with mom and dog, and taking walks to
the park.
Looking Back
Looking back at where Bauer came from and the decision I made to adopt him
really makes me feel good. Bauer's previous owners did no background check
on me or even ask about how Bauer would be living. It seemed he was more
interested in the $100 than the safety of Bauer's new home. Knowing this,
it scares me to think about what could have happened to his brothers and
sisters. Regardless, I continue to live up to my promise I made with Bauer
to give him the best doggie life possible. What I didn't know at the time
was that Bauer made a similar promise to me ... which he continually lives
up to!
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