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Posted over 2 years ago
| Updated over 2 years ago
I found a new home! Plenty of my friends are looking for one too. Check out other pets at this shelter, or start a new search.
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My basic info
Breed
American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull Terrier
Color
Brindle - with White
Age
3 years 10 months old, Young
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
54 lbs (current)
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Good with dogs
Good with cats
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Everyone, meet Bentley!! He is a young 1-2 year old (read still a puppy in many ways) with a BIG HEART and the most beautiful and soulful eyes.
Somewhere in his short life he was taught to fear learning new things which can happen when people lose patience with puppies. They can be a handful (I know, boy do I know), but if we patiently teach and guide with our voice and hands, we get further faster.
It has taken a few weeks to get Bentley to not be afraid of things, I’ll give you examples:
He was fearful of the leash and loud noises, he would panic run if he heard thunder.
He was afraid of learning anything new, even with treats he would still bolt away when trying to coax simple things, like a sit.
He was a failure at house breaking, complete F on that report card, had to wear a belly band and be watched constantly.
He was petrified of the cats in the house, and one afternoon I heard an awful yelp cry and thought someone was beating him...but no...one of the cats (the smallest one, 7.5lbs) had him pinned in the corner and he thought he was going to die...ROFL...I had to take a moment to stop laughing at that, and that’s when he showed a lot more interest in me and started making good eye contact. An epiphany moment: HE LIKES TO MAKE ME LAUGH, and THAT was the beginning.
The only way to really manage the little man fairly was to go slow, laugh out loud a lot, let him adapt on his terms to our house, our noise, our animals (my Rottie became his best friend), our routines, and slowly he started to learn small things and his confidence to try is growing.
He has learned to sit, he comes to the leash, he tries to remember not to rush the door, not jump up on people, to come back when called (this is my favorite to see him race at full speed back to me with that big grin on his face). 💚 He is very cute, very intelligent and very trainable.
He has now made friends with 2 of the 3 cats, they can nose boop now without anyone getting clawed or crying.