SANTA !!!!!!!!!

Kali saw Santa today. Not sure what she asked Santa for but she sure had a good time.

She was minding her manors the best she could. Of course she has some puppy energy and puppy brains so she had her moments of uncontrollable wiggle butt when being pet, but there really is nothing cuter then a happy Pit Bull puppy.

Petropolis Pet Resort put on pics with Santa, with part of the proceeds benefiting Broken Hearts, Mended Souls whom Kali is being cared for right now. I cant thank them enough for all they have done for us during this holiday season! Brad Watts with Petropolis has been working tirelessly to get the donations in the door. We couldn't continue to the good that we do without people like Brad.

Kali didn't want to see Santa alone, she had Charlie the tortoise join in on the fun.........who said bust dogs couldn't be polite around other animals ?

Happy Holidays to everyone, we hope it is filled with happiness and big pittie kisses !

Tri Color Trouble

Kali has had a sleep over friend for the last couple days, Havoc. Hav is another puppy from the MO 500 bust who was born while his mother Bug was being sheltered, he was actually from the last litter born. Two of his brothers/sisters went to a shelter in MA Baypath Humane Society and are waiting for homes of their own.

Havoc is 13wks old and full of energy and self confidence. He walks around like he owns the place and shows no fear. Because of this lil boy's confidence, Kal is doing a little better around here. Her submissive/excited urinating has been minimal (besides her oops incident where she ended up peeing on her daddy........not getting many brownie points by doing that). She is beginning to see that being alone is an ok thing, if Hav can do it, Kal can !

Kal was having some regression with her progress because her room mate Suzi left for her new foster home in MA (Braveheart Rescue) last Thur. I think even tho

ugh no one was allowed to be loose together in

the bust dog room, Kal still liked the companionship of Suzi being crated beside her. I also have to admit to missing Suzi Q's companionship.

For the most part Kali and Havoc have been playing appropriately. At times play gets too vocal and rough for my liking so we all have time outs for a minute or two to let things cool off. Hav is learning when to quit, Kali is learning what is an appropriate correction, it has been a win win situation for all. It has been great having Hav here for the past few days as I have one tired puppy every night after a romp a room session. What we have begun to realize is that both these pups have some spunk and just a touch of fire. We will be socializing them continuously and making sure we can continue to work towards dock dogs, agility and WP titles. Big plans I know but you always have to want the best for your babies.

Dont Take the Kisses.........

Kali has a nasty nasty habit that she picked up at the shelter, she eats poop, nasty nasty poop. We have been trying everything we can to break the habit but she just cant get enough. Because of being in a crate for 3 months before being released, housebreaking has been very trying. We have been crate training, but for a puppy that had to relieve themselves in a crate for so long, she doesnt quite get the process, that with the fabulous habit of poop eating..........disaster.

We are giving lots of supplements to deter this less then flattering habit, so hopefully something works soon. Not sure how many more times I can take Kali puking into my purse in the car just after a nice poop eating session.

Yes, she gets carsick as well, another issue we have been working through for the past 2 months. Sooner or later she will feel safe enough with her surroundings that she will be less anxious. Some day.

Did someone say separation anxiety ?

Miss Kali loves her new family, and right now it may be a little too much.

In the first few weeks here Kali fit right into the routine of the house. Puppies sometimes do not do well in a crate and rotate situation but Kali was pretty much use to it from the lifestyle at the temp rescue shelter. As the weeks went on and Miss Kal got use to the idea of getting attention, she wanted more and more and more.


First it started with her not being able to stay gated in an area of the house as she could jump the 4ft baby gates. If only I could explain to her at the time that it was for her safety that she didnt jump that gate to get to me or play with the other dog, they didnt want to play. I have to be honest in admitting that for a moment I was pleased with her jumping of the gate........it had Dock Dog potential all over it ! But then the realization of the anxiety came as time went on.

As the weeks have gone on the separation anxiety has been ramping up. She can be loured into the crate with treats, so her crate aversion is not too bad, but once in and the door is closed, it sounds like a hyena has been let loose in my house. The vocalizations do not last long but the digging and biting at the bars do.

She is in a room with a DAP diffuser, spray and is wearing a DAP collar to hopefully take the edge off. In the first few weeks when this started to show itself, there was only a little drool in the crate, now we come home to a drenched pup. Kal also is urinating in the crate as well due to her stress. I am pretty sure that this is not just an housebreaking issue as she can hold it just as long while at work with me in a dog run.

We have had our fair share of separation anxiety in this house; Bean eating through walls, breaking out windows, eating out of every crate we put him in etc etc but I have never seen a puppy with this much anxiety of being left alone. Back to the desensitisation of leaving in this household.
When she is out and about, no fear, perfectly sound puppy with a touch of excited urination when new people come over, but once she is out of my sight, she panics. I am attributing it to her lack of true socialization while being held by the courts. She was handled at least once a day as much as she could be by the staff and volunteers but Kal was 1 of 500, and that is the reality of it. Obviously she is one that I took a special interest in and I helped shape her as best I could but she spent her best puppy time in the shelter, sometimes with litter mates, sometimes not.

Our exercise routine has been bumped up, she is able to come to work with me every day until some of this has resolved and she is getting as much attention as we can give without babying her into thinking there is something to be anxious about. We are putting in the work, just waiting for the results.

We are working through this and I dont doubt it will be successful, I just wish I could let the little girl know, she is safe and going to always get the attention she needs and deserves.

Summary of the past 2 months

The past two months have been a whirlwind. The long awaited moment of 'Olivia' now Kali's release finally came on Oct 9th. She had been waiting for 3 long months to be able to leave the temporary HSMO shelter and be allowed to be a puppy. I had watched Kali grow and mature since the third week in July; figuring out pack behavior with her litter mates, dealing with the stress of the kennel environment but she stayed calm and solid throughout her whole stay at HSMO. The best day of this whole experience was when I got word her district had been released by the courts.........it was finally over for Kali.

We knew taking her in, we were going to have our setbacks but what we had was one amazing puppy that deserved a chance.

The first few weeks were all about exploring. She had never seen a house, never seen a ceiling fan and most definitely never been in a car. She was allowed to go at her own pace and has come so far. Once Kal has experienced something once, her fear is gone, full speed ahead. You have gotta love that about gamebred pups.

Throughout the two months of allowing her to just be her, she has been slowly introduced to our pack. We went through the 2 week shut down and because of that I feel her transition went as smooth as possible. We took it slow and over the past 2 months she has met all of our dogs. She does not interact with them all, but the foundation has been set for harmonious living. Her new best friend is Bozley, whom is my difficult male in my house. For some reason they have hit it off like two peas in a pod but I can see that things may not stay so hunky dory all the time. Kal is a pushy broad and doesnt let TBoz get away with much, which is quite an accomplishment at 7 months.


Kal has been in training classes for the past month and going at our own speed. She is a bright one, but I always have to remember she is not totally confident with herself yet. Once she hits a snag during class she shuts down. NO corrections can be used with her as she is one of the most sensitive puppies I have ever worked with. A trainer where we are were in class actually didnt see eye to eye with me on some training methods and we are no longer going to class. My top priority is Kal's success, if that means training goes a little slower because I am using strictly positive methods..........so be it. The bond will at least be there.


Kali is a retrieving machine. Her retrieve was actually the first thing we learn along with her 'out'. I have high hopes for this 28lb girl, she is hopefully going to excel at anything I put in her way. Her first Dock Dogs event is in Feb and she visited her first agility show this last weekend.


Oh the places she will go !