Just to add to what Joyce mentioned, remember its a club. Different personalities, good and bad. It's not the same as paying for a service and being catered to. A lot is what you make of it. One thing I think is important when it comes to doing anything competitive with dogs, be a little thick skinned.

If your friend will take the boxer, go that route. It's a win/win/win. You then have the ability to take on your working prospect while knowing that she is going to a good home in which she will be part of a family and treated as such, you friend gets a stable well socialized young adult dog so she avoids all of the puppy work while knowing everything about her past, and you can still keep your pitt. Also, it sucks that your area only has the one club but don't feel too bad about not joining. Any club that will make sweeping statements about a dog, much less a breed in general as well as not allow spectators is a club I want to avoid like the plague. Come on up to the midwest!!! Chicago will be no fun for you (cost of living, real estate, traffic, etc.) but you can find what you want about two hours outside of the city in either IL, IN, or WI and be near plenty of good clubs/groups to train with and turn your soon to be new female (I assume) and pitty into land sharks!

LOL

Hi Cameron,

I'm a lurker on this board who just finally registered....I will post an intro soon..., promise!

I'm not sure where in SC you live, but I train with a training club in Claremont, NC (off I-40 near Statesville). We have a fabulous trainer (I commute 1.5 hour one-way for this guy!) a very welcoming, fun group of people...and we ENJOY having all kinds of dogs. Currently we have GSDs, Malis, Giant Schnauzers, American Bulldogs, Pitbulls, Dobies, Rotties and sometimes even Bouviers.
You would be more than welcome to come watch us train and meet our trainer and the rest of the group.
If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll give you the details. We train on Saturday mornings from 7 am until whatever time all the dogs are done or the heat gets to us.

Lena

Steve is right on the money. My friend just felt intimidated by the people in this club. It really is all about what you make of it. But I can see why you would be put off when they won't even allow you to check it out and watch for a few times to see if it is a place where you would like to be.
Once again, good luck with your decision.

Any progress on your decision? I just saw your post on Mondio ring, and it reminded me of this thread. For some reason, I thought Ivan the pit bull rescue was taken in by you as a foster/rehab dog and that you had the intention of finding him another home all along.

Ingrid - there is just a lot that I have to think about with this decision. It's not one I'm taking lightly, so I posted the dilemma here to get some input on the matter.
Ivan will be difficult to place in a good home. I knew that taking him on - and I knew I may never find one. After I got to know him and work with him, I decided that he is too great and has been through way to much to put ANY risk on him. He has done so so well, and unless the *perfect* home comes along, he is here to stay. Kavik is a great pet, and she will always be a great pet. My very good friend is a very reliable person, and definitely worth considering. I am trying to decide what would be better for her. Traveling with me, or staying in a kennel while I put the time into training other dogs (I know how big of a commitment it will be) or being in a home where the people will be there a lot more than I will be. She is fairly sensitive, and I am wondering if the stability will be better for her. I am also restricted on how many animals I can have. Ivan won't be able to go very far, I don't think (he may still surprise me - it wouldn't be the first time) so for me to really get into the sport the way I want to (all in) I need to have a dog that I can take there.
A lot to think about.
Thanks so much everyone who has sent any reply, either here or PM. I'll keep you guys posted as decisions are reached.

 Quote: Cameron Feathers

As to the guy that said no way, it's because they believe that pit bulls cannot be safely used. According to him, no club in the tri state area will say any different, because several of them also train with him.
The fact that he used to be a fighter never even had a chance of coming up.

If you have made up your mind, then my advise might be worthless. But.. Why not give Ivan a chance to see what he is capable of? If he proved everybody wrong, then what are you missing out? Why take an advice over someone who might be pitbull biased? I'm not sure what you are interested to do, schutzhund or ringsport? If you feel like he has some work drives able to bring on the table, then go for it. All you will need to find is a decoy who is willing to work with you. Probably doing one on one private training. I don't think it is useless we don't have a french ring club in Tucson, but we do have decoys who can teach one on one.