Thanks all for the info earlier. I want to post a picture, but I am having technical difficulties, but here is a link:
http://oi53.tinypic.com/2rmsch3.jpg
We are off to a good start. I am using a harness and a 6’ jogging leash tied around my waist. We have gone for a couple 15’ to 20’ very light jogs on a asphalt trail. He is staying with me step by step (we are actually only using half the leash). Whenever someone jogs by in the other direction, he is slowing down and getting behind me until they pass, then coming back beside me. He even did this for a couple of cyclists, which is the first time I have ever encountered a Pit Bull NOT chasing a cyclist. He seems to want to go further, but I am going to go easy for now. First official vet visit is tomorrow, so we will see how it goes.
Everyone or anyone can have an opinion about Pit Bulls, but if you believe in syncronicity, I will tell you about my new friend.
I was riding in a century on Saturday. At one of the rest stops, there was a puppy hanging around. He was extremely friendly and energetic. At that point, I was riding with two other cyclists whom I did not know. We started playing with the puppy. They mentioned that they were both vets and that this this puppy had a great disposition and would make a great pet. I asked them what type of dog it was, and one immediately said it had some pit bull in it. The woman at the rest stop said he had been there all day and she has given him some treats, but he seemed to want more. We started a conversation about the puppy and I said I might be interested in him. She said we would bring him to me at the end of the ride if I wanted him. I got her phone number and finished the ride.
After the ride, I was talking to one of the volunteers and she said that they were bringing me the dog. When she got there, she told me that the dog belonged to one the neighbors next to rest stop and he was a full blooded pit bull. As I was carrying the dog to my car, a couple of cyclists asked me if that was the dog at the second rest stop. When I said yes, they said what a great dog it was and they would have taken if I had not taken him.
On the way home, I called the lady who raised the dog. She told me he was from a litter of 14 and they had both parents. She explained that they had “shown” the mother and she had actually won some competitions. He was one of the last two left from the litter and she would be sad to see him go. She stated that a lot of people had wanted him and had come to get him, but she could tell that they wanted to ‘fight him’ and she would never let her dogs go near that environment. I assured her that would never happen to her dog and I was looking for a running partner. I let her know my mother has an older pit bull that she found bloodied and missing most of her nose about 9 years ago. She had probably been used as a bait dog to train other Pit Bulls and she somehow managed to escape and is now enjoying life as a couch potato on my moms’ couch. (FYI, this dog has never harmed anyone after my mom adopted her).
Also, i am a Tennessee Titans season ticket holder. They played the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday and won 37 -19. Michael Vick was there for the Eagles and even though he did not play, he still got a penalty called on him (sideline interference).
It is your choice to believe in Karma, syncronicity, etc. All I know is that it just brought me a new friend.
