Too tired to read your thread, but I skimmed a bit and wanted to say congratulations. I'll add som useful stuff later if everyone here doen't cover it all http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

We orders ours from PBRC and the money goes to a great nonprofit resource for pit bull info http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png http://www.pbrc.net/shop/bsticks.html

Thanks for the info, the breaksticks are ordered already with PBRC. I love the fact that the money goes right back to helping these guys.Guess with the food thing I will be doing alittle more reading and finding out with some trail and error what she likes. The sample thing I will have to look into, it is a great idea

First of all thanks everyone for there input, me and Trinity (my new girl) are very greatful for everything. So far the food thing has been worked out, seems like we are a TOTW type family now( even the little dogs loved it). Breaksticks have been ordered and she will be getting a new Stillwater collar and leash here soonhttp://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png
The Two Week Shutdown thing seems like a great idea, but she already seems really comfortable with us. I have sort of took some ideas from it, like not introducing the other dogs yet and a few other things. We will see

One question thou. Boy does she like to rest! Is this normal for this breed. In the morning we go outside, walk around the yard alittle, play alittle if she wants, then come back in. About 20 - 30 minutes so far. Now this is the same thing when I come home for lunch and then when my wife comes home from work as well. Always later, like after 6pm, she just loves laying down and resting, and then that is it for the night. She may go back outside to go potty, be afterward, right back to laying down. Is this a normal thing or is something wrong, or am I just a worry wart??

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your girl!! Thank you so much for rescuing her, she is very lucky to have found you, and you to have found her. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png Sounds like you've gotten great advice so far from everyone. I was going to suggest the Pit Bull Rescue Central break sticks, I like the way they describe how to correctly use them. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

As far as food, I feed TOTW mixed with Innova..... my dogs do great on it. If you have a Tractor Supply near you, they sell it at the one here. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

As far as her sleeping, this may be what the past 2 years of her life have consisted of. I have 2 of my own and one foster "pit bull" (mixes?) right now. Mollie is very low energy and would sleep 23 hours a day if I let her. Bella and the rescue, Cooper, are high energy, and enjoy romping and playing and chasing each other around the back yard. Mollie is content to just stay inside and snooze. Your girl may very well be like Mollie. Maybe all she's ever known is to sleep most of the day away. You can "re program" her, but it will take some time. Don't try to do too much too soon with her. Take it slow, you don't want to end up with a torn ACL or other injury. Just start out slow and build up play/exercise, and you can't go wrong. Can't wait to see pictures of Trinity. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

i feed merricks whole earth farms its high quality holistic and cheap personally i find the ingredients better then blue buffalo and its half the price

I guess low energy is not a bad thing then. She has showed her playful side a few times running around the yard with my Westie and me. We are going to try out her flirt pole tomorrow, we will see what happens. So I guess I should be too worried then, like any proud parent, I just want to make sure she is happy, and I think she is

I think it depends on the dog and you'll see her true personality develop over time. We have three dogs in our house right now, one of them (our male) is on constant doggie speed. The other (female foster) is in the middle and then the last (our female) is MEEEEELLLLLOOOOOWWW. She too would sleep 23 hours a day if we let her. She does have her spurts of energy here and there, but nothing like the other two. For her, her biggest sources of exercise are her rope (you can't even spell the word-she knows) our walks and mind games. Because of this though, she gets less food than the other two-you'll want to keep that in mind. Generally I like to suggest to people don't go by what the bag of food tells you. Go by what your dog tells you. She's two right? If so, then it's likely she's not going to grow too much more. So just keep an eye on her. You'll want to see a tuck (near her waist) and when you rub her ribs it should feel like...making two fists and rubbing your knuckles together. Seeing some rib isn't bad and neither is not seeing it...as long as you can feel them.

If I were you, I'd play it safe with the flirt pole (again, until you learn her personality better). And by that I mean, have her be the only dog out there. The flirt pole is a high prey drive toy. So she'll go into that mode. She may be a dog that redirects. If she's frustrated she can't get the pole, she may go for the next best thing.

Our dogs love our cats, but I know, if our cats were out side and running our dogs wouldn't think-oh look there's Charlie/Gus...they'd think chase.

yeah, with the flirt pole I was going to take it slow, and we would be the only ones in the yard when we play with it. With her going into that prey drive, I wouldn't want her to harm anyone else.
With the food and what I am seeing, she needs to lose alittle weight then. Right now we have been giving her 3 cups of TOTW, 2 in the morn and 1 later in the day. You think this is a good starting point and then start making adjustment from there depending on her energy level?

I read somewhere that dogs average about 19 hours a day napping. Some more, some less. She is also a new dog to your home and she is going through adjustment and changes to routine and food. Could be the heat,too. Ike and Rita (American Bulldog and APBT) seem more sluggish since it got hot. They used to play for an hour straight in the yard, take a power recharge nap and go back to it. Now they are like "Yeah, that was fun. Too hot to bother, must nap" after half that time.

A new start
 

First off, I am so happy I found this group. For the past few days I have been reading any and everything I can on this site to try and gain as much knowledge as possible. Finally I have gathered up enuff courage to make my first post, so here it goes http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

So yesterday was the big day for me and my family. Our new member of the house was brought home from a local girl that rescued here before the shelters got her, and what can I say, she is AMAZING. Trinity is a 2 yr old female blue brindle that I could not ask for anything more from. Yesterday was such a joy showing her off to everyone and seeing the fear in there face as you tell them she is a "Pit", but then seeing there hearts melt as she showed them what makes this breed sooo great. Seems like all it takes is a second to change peoples minds with these guys.

Since I am a "newer" owner here, I was hoping that everyone here can help me alone with a few things? What things out there would help me keep this amazing girl in the best shape possible? Other then the normal stuff, (high grade food, exercise, be social with others) is there anything that everyone can think of that will help us along?

Long post for my first, LOL but I am eager to learnhttp://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

welcome, to a truly wonderful breed.

The easiest way to start would be to make yourself a flirtpole, im sure a quick search of the site will land you on some instructions on how to make one, and the same on you tube will show you how they are used. Combine this with lots of walking and some play at home will get you well on your way to a fit and healthy dog.

As i am sure everyone else will agree, be vigilant with the way your dog reacts around otherdogs as i am sure you may know being DA is very common, some dogs are controlable to a certain extent, but the old saying of "never trust a pitbull not to fight" has been said a million times , and will be said a million more and for good reason.

Enjoy your new addition and i am sure that everyone wouldnt mind a few pics either!

Thanks Junkyard,
The flirt was already in the making, we should be having some fun with that later today. As with the DA, right now she seems very easy going, I do have to other small dogs, one she has been playing with fine, the other, well she is just trying to make sure she knows he is the king of the house, lol. But I live by the "never trust a pitbull not to fight" saying, I will be very vigilant with her around others just because, you never know.

Dont worry, like any proud father, I have tons of pics http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

You've come to the right place. There are many very knowledgeable people here and a lot to learn.

Best of luck to you and your new pup.

I've heard of doing a two-week shut down for rescue dogs just to allow their mind to reset and accept their new life. You may want to consider doing that. Maybe someone can give a link??

All I can say is that you need to mix it up for them. These are SMART dogs, and time with their people means a lot. So why take her on the same boring walk time and time again? Go swimming! Hike a trail! Take a midnight stroll under the stars. She'll love you for it.

get yourself a breakstick just in case, biking is a good exercise, but you wanna have a walkydog or something like it to make it safe. I think your on the right path and welcome to the site and the wonderful breed http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/biggrin.png

---------- Post added at 12:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

o yea and I strongly suggest after she settles in, getting her into an OB class, it will help with socialization with humans and even if you teach her at home it helps proof the commands.

Well as far as OB, she really already does a great job with this, whoever had her before spent some time on her that is for sure. She knows sit, lay down, go to bed, comes to her name. We are going to start getting to work on getting her to stay and maybe a few little tricks like shake and take it from there.
I agree that just plan out walking gets boring even for me, so that will get mixed up a great deal with diffirent things . Now I bike alot, so it is good to know that is a good option for them, I just guess she wont she on any 25 mile mountain bike treks just yethttp://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I second the two week shut down. I'll PM you a link.