Quest and Anna hiking in Maine

When Anna came to PAWS Chicago, she was interested in finding a dog that would keep up with her active lifestyle. “I wanted my dog to share in running and outdoor activities, but would also be able to cohabitate well in an indoor environment. After some careful research, I concluded that a Pit Bull/Pit Bull mix would do well in my home,” said Anna. That’s when she met Quest (PAWS Chicago name Kilo).

After meeting this sweet dog, Anna knew this was her new boy. “Quest immediately seemed engaged by people and, although he displayed lots of energy and excitement, he was able to calm down quickly with some prompting,” she said. And although this cutie was missing some hair and had some skin sensitivity, Anna was not phased. “I wanted to give a good pup – who might be passed over by others through no fault of his own – a chance at a loving forever home.

After the adoption, Anna and Quest realized the immense benefits from our work with behavioral counselor and trainer Curtis Scott. According to Anna, “Curtis set us up for success with some basic simple commands during our pre-adoption counseling. We met with him two more times, once to check-in and receive some ‘behavioral homework’ and the second, to ensure our integration with other canine friends would go as smoothly as possible. Quest was a bit socially awkward, so Curtis directed us to a Pit Bull-friendly daycare so he could learn some doggy social skills in a safe environment.”

Some of Quest’s admirers remark on how lucky I was to end up with a dog like him. I don’t think it was luck, I think he’s a Pit Bull.

Today, Quest is super silly and loves to play fetch until he drops. “Because of his energy, he benefits from a run everyday,” said Anna. “I think anyone looking for a loving companion and is willing to commit to training their new buddy would do well to consider a Pit Bull. It feels like Quest has always been a part of the family and I can’t imagine doning anything – from morning runs to evening snuggle time without him.

Anna attributes the success of Quest’s adoption to pre-adoption research she conducted, her roommate who was on board with brining Quest into the household, daily training and the fact that he’s a great dog. “Some of Quest’s admirers remark on how lucky I was to end up with a dog like him. I don’t think it was luck, I think he’s a Pit Bull.”