Scott and Bauer

Hello everyone,

My name is Scott and I am from Baltimore, MD (currently living Federal Hill). My best friend, Bauer, is an American Pit Bull Terrier and together we are very conscious of the image the breed has been given. From a very young age, Bauer had been given the title "Pit Bull Ambassador" by many of his trainers. His carefree and friendly (and sometimes very excited) attitude won the hearts of everyone he met. To get the full story, I am going to include the story I wrote for Bauer's Dog of the Day award he was given on July 30th, 2008 from dogoftheday.com.

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 (with a light possibility of mix), 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 dog 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, and at times can get overly excited (jumping mainly) but calms down quick. When we first got Bauer, he weighed only ten pounds Fast forward a year and a half and he is now over 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. The training is coming along, but Bauer is definitely a free spirit that gets preoccupied with anything that grows (grass, weeds, etc,) Some of Bauer's favorite activities include destroying stuffed animals, chewing on rubber toys, snuggling with mom and dad, and taking walks around the neighborhood.

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!