Hi there!

I'm new here, although have posted a couple of times. These are pictures of my boys.

Java is a 1-1/2 year old APBT (Colby/Hemphill bred) who I rescued a year ago straight from the Animal Control van that was packing up him and 15 other dogs to be euthanized (their 3 days were up). I took him and a little female APBT I fostered. He was bought as a pup as a fighting dog, but bless his heart he ran like hell on legs every time another dog went at him. He was abused and neglected to try to make him mean. When it didn't work he was left in a wire cage out in the yard (one meant for a 30lb dog) when the owner moved. It was 2 weeks before he was found

He's been a handful, but he's come a LONG way since I rescued him. I'm starting some basic agility stuff with him until I get some more "equipment" rigged up in the back (spring time most likely). And I'm starting training for competitive obedience, and have considered trying shutzhund, although the 2 clubs nearby denied to take on an APBT trainee. I'm trying to work something out with a very good trainer to be an apprentice that does obedience, and shutzhund mostly with APBT in a neighboring state.



And this is Dunkin who is a 2-1/2 year old APBT/Carolina Dog mix. He was rescued too, but he was really too young to realize it. He was born in a WV pound when somebody turned in their two dogs (APBT and the Carolina Dog) because they wouldnt' stop mating...and they didnt' want to alter them because it was "cruel". So daddy was PTS, and Dunkin (6 weeks old) and his mother were to be gassed. He was the last pup left, and I snatched him up and a woman in CT took his mother.

He's been a super boy! Very intelligent, lots of energy, but very managable. I have him in agility classes and our first course a woman that was observing was shocked to find out he was a beginner he did so well. He absolutely loves agility and he's very good at it. Our trainer wants us to compete in a match they have at the end of next month already and is very confident that he'll place high although we've only been doing it 2 months. I still have to get him registered through AMBOR and UKC before I can compete for titles. I also want to do competitive obedience with him.

Another Java Bean pic to share. This is the look I got from him when he was in the pound...how could I resist?

I love the one ear up one ear down look...it's like the angel and devil sitting on the shoulders!

That's my favorite, and it fits his personality perfectly!! So goofy :-)

That first picture reminds me of the article Ed wrote HERE

Your boys look terrific.


Like Jason, I am very concerned about that first picture. I understand that you were right there, but it's a tableau that (IMO) should never occur, period.

Here's a quote from the article that Jason links you to:

QUOTE: Your goal is to teach the dog that the baby is YOUR BABY and NOTHING to do with the dog. The baby should not to be smelled, touched. The dog needs to learn that the baby is a higher ranking member of the family pack and that you (as the pack leader) enforce the babies rank. This is no different than a mother wolf who does not allow other pack members near their new born pups. END


I would have to have owned a dog from puppyhood and had the dog for years before I would ever allow him that close to a baby, and I would probably not do it even then. The baby is off-limits.

You are here on this site; that means to me that you are sincerely interested in pack structure and living with dogs in the most skillful way, so I'm laying this out there bluntly in the expectation that you will take it as it's meant and not be offended.

I hope you will change that immediately.

P.S. It's great, BTW, that you have rescued these guys and are doing advanced training with them.

Attention to pack structure all day, every day, forever, will be a very important thing to remember.

Ok, so maybe the first picture wasn't the best one to post on here

I do understand what you guys are saying, and honestly that was the only time that he was with my daughter. I normally don't allow them (any of the dogs) together with her. This picture was for a specific purpose for a pitbull related event.

I appreciate the concern though!