Friday, September 24, 2010

Daily Walk: Compliment

Last week, a neighbor stopped me while I was walking the dogs and asked me about their breed. At first I wasn't sure how to answer, because I didn't know what she was going for. Eventually, I told her that they were pit bulls and she replied that that's what she thought. Then she said that our dogs are so well-behaved and she wanted to compliment me on our pooches. She loved how they sat so nicely at curbs and didn't lunge at dogs that were barking at them.
All of this was completely unexpected and it really made our day. The neighbor was bitten by a dog at a very young age and she is completely terrified of dogs, and yet she came up to us while pushing her daughter in a stroller to ask us about our pooches. I told her that A went through a lot of training with Ms. M, 
but Mr. B is just a very obedient dog that loves to please people. It was amazing to get an unsolicited compliment, especially from someone that is afraid of all dogs. However, we feel that this compliment was also in large part to our now extended group of friends, all of you. We started this blog years ago on a whim to document our life together for our friends to read.
We never thought that we would make so many new friends because of this blog. A loves reading all of your blogs and spends hours keeping me informed about daily occurrences. She gets excited when good things happen and very concerned when setbacks occur in your lives. Also, we are thankful for all the great comments on our posts, they have been helpful and informative and has greatly impacted and improved our lives with the pooches. We are so grateful that we were able to meet some of you in person. Thanks so much for maintaining your blogs, we really do learn a lot from what you write and we love reading about your dog as family.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

YIPPPPPEEEEE! That's the most wonderfulest compliment you got! And from somebuddy who's scared of dogs, too! Me and mom wanna thank you for everything you do to change how peoples feel about pitties. I wish all doggies (and kittehs) could have a home as good as yours!

Yours was one of the first bloggies we ever started reading. Even before we had a bloggie and you inspired us even back then.

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Unknown said...

Of course you got a compliment! Your dogs are great!!!! Mr. B and Miss A have must've really made a good impression for her to come talk to you if she was scared of dogs. I love how we just never know whose lives we can effect.

The blogging community is great, I agree. I've learned a lot from reading blogs and I know Flash and Ollie have changed some because of what I've read.

jet said...

thats awesome... :))

Maggie said...

Aww! Congrats on the compliment; you definitely deserve it!

Rescued Pittie Family said...

That is awesome! Love the last picture. Mazzy is like; "Wait a minute is Bruno stealing all the camera time..."
Your dogs are just fantastic. You are all very blessed to have one another.

Corbin said...

My Grandma Laura is scared to death of dogs, especially big dogs. So she wasn't too thrilled when mom and dad told her about me. However, mom and dad did a lot of training with me and now she loves me and even walks me sometimes. I know if I can make a pitty lover out of HER, I can make one out of anyone! Congrats on the great compliment... it's always a spirit lifter to hear them!
-Corbin

Leila said...

You guys deserve the praise! There is nothing more satisfying than to have someone tell you that your dog is wonderful. Especially when you find out they have a fear that they don't feel around your dogs.

Congratulations on being great dog parents. And for having great dogs.

Kate said...

Aw! That's so nice! I love it when people compliment the dogs, Mr. T says I smile like a "proud mama" whenever it happens :)

You guys (and your blog) are awesome. If you all are ever in the DC area feel free to give me a shout! I have a couple pups that I'm sure would love to see you! I love blogging too. It's really surprised me how much I've learned and how invested I've become in the friends I've found here (even though I haven't "met" them IRL).

jen said...

Isn't it so rewarding when someone compliments you on your dogs, whether it be on their appearance or behavior or whatever.

I know for me that I have put a lot of training into them and for someone to take the time to realize that it is very rewarding!

The blogging community is great.
I started off just wanting to write down my everyday life with the boys just for myself but then I met so may awesome people like your self. It takes a lot of time but I really enjoy it:)

Heather said...

what a great compliment! for you and for us, your readers :) i look forward to reading your posts everyday while i sit in class and i tell my fiance all about it - your mr. b reminds me exactly of our own mr. b at home. keep it up! we love your blog!

Coleen L. said...

I look forward to reading your blog. I have a pittie myself, who sometimes makes an appearance in Owen's blog (Carl).

I live in Philadelphia, which is seemingly the heart of the dog-fighting world. I have on at least two occasions, had people ask me how much I would sell him for while we were out for a walk. Others cross the street when they see us coming.

Yet, there are still a few times when people ask me what breed he is, to which I proudly answer, "He's a pit bull." Some, like your neighbor, had already thought that, and go on the compliment me, and others look surprised and say, "He is?? But he's so friendly!" which gives me an opportunity to educate them on pit bulls.

I don't think the pit bull's undeserved reputation will go away unless those of us with well-behaved pit bulls proudly state their breed every chance we get. Show people out there that pit bulls are well-behaved and friendly.

Wyatt said...

You dogs are a fine example of good behavior for ANY BREED. We could learn a thing or two from you!

Wyatt and Stanzie

Road Dog Tales said...

That's really wonderful that someone appreciated out loud how well-behaved you guys are! Especially someone that's kind of afraid of dogs. You are the best kind of canine ambassadors! Yay!
The Road Dogs

Kirby, CGC said...

What an awesome compliment! Kirby and I are so proud of the way you have trained your dogs! Even though Kirby has a way to go, I did have someone say, wow he really listens to you doesn't he? It just makes you feel so proud!

I volunteer at a local shelter, and we have a lot of pitbulls there. The ones I have been with at adopt a thons are so sweet and people just can't believe it! Of course they need some obedience but their personality of "just love me" shows through.

Congrats!
Kirby and his mom

Alexis said...

Yay - that's awesome! I've never commented on your blog before, but I read it all the time. I look forward to checking it everyday before I start work.

I don't have a dog but I volunteer at a shelter downtown Chicago and I love it! They have a special Bully Buddy program and I've grown to obsess over the pitties when the staff takes them outside when I'm there. I got to hang out with one the day when I was there - he was a shy guy, but warmed up quickly to me and he didn't want to stop leaning against my leg. I was in heaven.

Your dogs are simply adorable and I know if I ever passed by you on the street I'd freak out because I'd be so excited :)

dw said...

What a great thing to get a compliment like that! I have never really had a negative impression of pit bulls since my cousin in Texas has had two adopted bullies for a while now. His one dog Jack follows him around everywhere when he's home, yet is comfortable when he's with others without his dad. Reading your blog and seeing how very well behaved your pups are speaks both to the trainability of the breed and also to you two as very responsible pup owners. Well done! And head rubs to Miss M and Mr. B!!

H Ski said...

It is so great when strangers compliment you on the work you are doing with your dogs. I love getting comments about Lola, because I never feel like I am doing enough and she can always behave better.

I know I tell you guys this a lot, but you are doing a great job showing what great dogs pit bulls and bully breeds can be.

Breakfast With the Bennetts said...

With two big Boxers in my house I know what it means to train two big dogs. We sometimes get compliments on how well behaved they are but our biggest compliment is that Bella is one of the dogs that goes out with the Boxer rescue we work with. She gets to wear the vest and we walk around to talk to people.

She loves children and soaks up the attention. I love that people can see her and not be scared. She is my beautiful girl and I want people to be able to love on her. That would not be possible without training.

Boxen on the other hand is not as motivated and much scarier to look at. He gets a little grumpy in his old age so he doesn't get to go out as much anymore.

Thank you for having this blog and teaching people that all breeds can be well behaved wonderful companions.

if you want to come visit our new blog it is...

http://needdistraction.blogspot.com

The doigs will make their own posts from time to time.

brooke said...

What a great compliment! Miss M and Mr B do seem to be quite obedient and well behaved. We get compliments on Darwin's behavior every once in a while, but I dont think shes really THAT well behaved.

Daisy Dog said...

You deserve that compliment and more!!! You have great dogs, and we love reading about your Chicago adventures.

none said...

@ColeenL 's comment:

Living in Philadelphia it does seem to be the dog fighting capital of the country.. Which is so sad. We routinely see the same guy walking his very large pit bull (with very big boy dog parts I might add) on a freaking logging chain around our neighborhood. It makes us very sad. And even more hesitant to consider adopting a pup for our local SPCA knowing that the majority of dogs there are at least part pitty. We just aren't sure we can handle having to deal with the negative stereotypes in this city.

Rescued Pittie Family said...

Sorry to have to leave this as a comment but don't have any other way of contacting you.
I'm on the board for Pit Bull Awareness here in Nashville and this year I am doing the auction table and I'm setting up a CafePress shop because a lot of people have expressed interest in having out poster on a t shirt.
Along with our poster image I also am going to include some images of local pitties.
I would really like to use a couple of your pictures and wanted to know if that was OK.
The one with A and Mazzy looking out at the water and the one of Bruno and Mazzy on the boat. I love those pictures and I think they would make great t shirts with titles like "Friendship" underneath them.
Please let me know one way or another if that would be OK.
All the proceeds will go to the free spay/neuter program Nashville Pittie does at PBAD.

Please let me know if you would mind us using those pictures; they are quite lovely.

Jenna
JennaKrabacher@gmail.com
615-426-5348

*our shop is a work in progress right now but you are welcome to look at it - just remember it's not done and we're not advertising it yet -
http://www.cafepress.com/NashvillePittie

Shauna (Fido and Wino) said...

Awww- that is so nice (what the lady said & your nice post) :)

Kudos to you guys, you're doing a great job!

Bobby said...

pYES I AGREE THAT WAS A WONDERFULL COMPLIMENT, BUT WELL DESERVED YOU ARE BOTH DOING SO GOOD WITH YOUR DOGS. PIT BULLS DO HAVE A BAD REPUTATION AND IT IS NOT THIER FAULT.

Mary said...

Aw, I am tearing up at this sweet post. You two should be congratulated for doing such positive PR for pit bulls because, frankly, they need all the help they can get. I read a lot of blogs that document all the atrocities occurring with our beloved breed and it can really get me down. But seeing Mr. B's smiling face and Ms. M's beautiful "smile" always put a smile on my own face. I too keep my husband updated on the lives on Mr. B. and Ms. M. and show him all the pictures. I don't do that for very many blogs!

Thanks for continuing to blog and keep up the good work!

Cate said...

Isn't it nice that someone took the time to stop and actually say something. The pictures of your dogs are always so gorgeous so must be so hard to resist in real life!Congratulations :)

Anonymous said...

Yay! What fun and so special that your neighbor that is afraid of us actually like y'all! How wonderful!

Wags and sloppy smooches,
Roo

Kari in Alaska said...

Its so nice to get a random compliment :)

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome :)

houndstooth said...

You know, I was just thinking about the same thing -- the sense of blog community that I feel I've become a part of. It's so great to be able to find like-minded people to share ideas with. I feel like in my journey, I'm always learning, and if I'm honest and sincere with that, maybe it helps others in some way. Either that or I hope they get a good laugh! I love reading what Mr. B and Miss M have been up to every day!

SusanA said...

Love it when that happens, we had a similar experience last weekend at the park with a slew of young girls. They were stunned when I told them Stella was a pit bull. Instead of pulling away, they loved on her more after that and I'm sure are still talking her up after the conversation we had.

Glad you're here (blogging) too and I agree with your DC commenter, if you get to Nashville, definitely look us up. (Love the t-shirts too btw :)

the booker man said...

i am so glad to have found your blog! miss m and mr. b are wonderful ambassadors of the pittie breed, and you do such a great job raising them. ya'll deserve compliments like the one you got last week, and even better that it came from someone who is scared of dogs! way to go!

Meeka said...

Congrats on a very well deserved compliment.

Dexter said...

I started my blog mainly for ME! But I, too, have found it to be a wonderful community of people and their dogs and it has enriched my life in ways I never expected.

Way to go on having such well behaved pups and good ambassadors of the breed.

Mango Momma

Princess said...

Congrats on a much deserved compliment! And in such a great way. It's wonderful to follow you life with your dogs and it's obvious you greatly care about them and their training. We're sorry we don't get around to commenting much, but we're still following!

Liz said...

What a nice post! That's great about the compliment. I wish Bogart was better behaved out in public. He gets way too excited when he meets people and doesn't always wait patiently for them to pet him. Your is one of my fave dog blogs to read. I love your two pibbles plus the two of you seem to have a great style. :)

ForPetsSake said...

What a wonderful, thoughtful post! I too have met some of the most wonderful people and pets through blogging. I am glad to have found such a great group of kindred spirits. Clearly you have great pups - it shows in your descriptions of them, their pics and in your great parenting!

Anonymous said...

I wish I'd been into blogging years ago when we had our first greyhound and now old dog (almost 15). Their antics together were hilarious. She's now having some health issues, but has outlived 3 greyhounds so far and is now an "only dog" :) Even though my blog isn't dog-related, I love seeing Miss M and Mr. B and your adventures with them in Chicago!

And they definitely deserve compliments - it's easy to see what wonderful dogs they are through your blog :)

A Confessed Pit Bull Addict said...

Miss B and Miss M are fantastic dogs! I loved meeting them at Tips for Tails this summer and absolutely look forward to the days I have time to catch up on your adventures. Thanks for sharing your stories with the rest of us - it's so nice to know that there are other good pit bull owners out the (who are as obsessed with their dogs as we are with ours!).

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