When Jessie began her search for a new furry friend, she wasn’t sure which breed she was looking for. “What I did know was that I wanted a spunky medium-to-large dog who would be fun to play with, a good jogging partner, good with kids, and polite in the house. I also wanted to adopt a dog who had been at PAWS a bit longer and was really in need of a home. As I looked through profiles, I discovered that all the dogs who fit these criteria were Pit Bulls! I did a bit of reading and realized that Pit Bulls make truly wonderful companions and that they are the most in need of good homes,” said Jessie.

That’s when she met Dinah (PAWS Chicago name Little Coco), a one-year-old Pit Bull mix. According to Jessie, “I knew Dinah would require a bit more training – not because Pit Bulls are more aggressive to people but because my particular little girl is so strong (and strong-willed). I also wanted to be aware of her prey drive. The truth is that these concerns aren’t specific to Pit Bulls at all and are good practices for anyone with a spunky dog.”

Jessie and Dinah have been working together with a local trainer since her adoption. “Our trainer uses positive, clicker-based training which has helped Dinah out a lot! Dinah was very shy and skittish around new people, noises and dogs. She is a sweet girl with a lot of energy, but after her rough first year of life, she found skateboarders and other energetic puppies overwhelming. She also expressed her love and excitement by mouthing at people’s hands and ankles. The great news is that Dinah has responded wonderfully to the positive training. It has deepened our relationship and we love going to training classes together. We are now working with the same trainer in one-on-one sessions to help Dinah increase her confidence in new situations.”

According to her Jessie, “Dinah is so easy to please! Her favorite things about her new life are frozen yogurt kongs, belly rubs, napping on my pillows, going running every evening, playing fetch, and practicing basic obedience for pieces of hot dog. Every day when I come home she throws me a little party! Her tail wags so hard it shakes the whole crate.

I can’t stress enough what great companion’s Pit Bulls can make! Dinah has made friends all over our neighborhood (canine and human). She is playful, funny, sweet, cuddly, and energetic. Also, she has never destroyed a single shoe!  I can’t thank PAWS enough for all the love and resources that were invested in Dinah. PAWS didn’t just save her life–the time she was given at K9 and in foster care perfectly prepared her to come into my home. I am so lucky to have her and so grateful for all the awesome work you do,” said Jessie.