Raising a Puppy: Mia the Blue-Nose American Bully Pit—40 weeks old

A day in the life with Mia the American Bully (Bully Pit) puppy. 40 weeks old, 67 pounds, 18 1/2 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders (the withers).

A thick-bodied, blue nose American Bully Pit is sitting on a blacktop surface and she is looking forward. Her right ear is up and the left one is flopped over.

40 weeks old (9 months)

The Pick-Up Truck

A blue nose American Bully Pit is sitting in the back of a vehicle and on both sides of her there is a brown brindle Boxer and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier. They are looking out the back of an open truck cap.

We had to haul some furniture and of course the pack wanted to come along. For that to happen they had to ride in the back of the pick-up truck. Bruno the Boxer and Spencer the Pit Bull had ridden back there before, but this was a first for Mia.

Three dogs looking out the back of a truck that has a cap on the bed.

With her big brothers by her side, she took it all in stride.

A blue nose American Bully Pit is jumped up against the open truck cap of a gray Toyota pick-up truck. Her mouth is open and it looks like she is smiling. There are two other dogs next to her.

She had to learn not to jump up at the side. "Get down Mimi!" I know you are short and can't see out as well as your brothers can, but you still can't be jumping up like that. It does not seem safe.

Close up - A blue nose American Bully Pit is laying on a pink blanket and in front of her is a brown brindle Boxer.

Mia settled down next to Bruno. We closed the cap of the truck before driving off. Mia seemed to love it back there, as long as she had ther big brothers with her, all was good in the world.

No Begging

Close up - A blue nose American Bully Pit is walking toward the legs of a person in a chair.

Mia, no begging at the table. Go lay down.

Store Manners

A blue nose American Bully Pit is walking across a floor next to a shopping cart in a store.

Mia's store manners have improved greatly. She is starting to understand, or I should say starting to respect the idea, that I want her to heel next to me and behind the cart.

Three Dogs are walking across a floor next to a shopping cart in a store.

Mia seems to be paying more attention to what Bruno and Spencer are doing and copying them. The idea of being the leader of this pack seems to be fading even more.

Close up - A blue nose American Bully Pit is laying down on a floor in a store in front of a shelf of bones.

At check out Mia laid down next to all of the bones that she knew she was not allowed to chew.

Food Manners

Bruno the 7-year-old Boxer, Mia the 9-month-old American Bully and Spencer the 4-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier must practice good food manners. They can only eat their own pile. Silly Bruno takes one sweet potato, abandoning the rest to go off and eat it in the grass. Mia and Spencer are too smart to leave a portion of their piles behind.

Finding a Turtle

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier and a blue nose American Bully Pit are walking to a dead turtle with a cracked shell on a sandy beach.

The Pits find a dead turtle on the beach that a truck must have run over. Spencer the American Pit Bull Terrier is a little more forward than Mia. He wills himself for a closer sniff. Mia keeps her respectful distance smelling the air. She is curious, but she does not want to get too close to the odd creature.

Snuggle Up

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier and a blue nose American Bully Pit are sharing and sleeping in a small dog bed in front of two large empty beds.

Because sleeping with big brother on the little bed is so much nicer than alone on the big bed.

Puppy No-nos

Top down view of a blue nose American Bully Pit sitting on a chewed on green rug that is on top of a dog bed on a stone porch and she is looking up.

I have not been able to catch Mia chewing the rug on the porch, but the evidence that she's still at it is all around her. She won't understand chewing the rug is off limits until I catch her. If I walk outside while she is near the rug I distract her and she comes to say hello to me. I suppose in order to catch her I will have to read a book outside on the porch so she forgets I am there. The problem is every time I am near her she likes to come sit with me. She only chews it when there are no humans around to hang with. The rug just might be doomed if I can't catch her. Poor Spencer loves to sleep on that rug.

A blue nose American Bully Pit and a brown brindle Boxer are sleeping on a orthopedic dog bed in front of glass doors.

Mia was sleeping with Bruno.

Close up - The side of a blue nose American Bully Pit. There is a piece of fabric coming out of the dogs mouth.

I looked over and noticed something in her mouth.

Close up - The side of a blue nose American Bully Pit is laying on a green pillow and a person is pulling a piece of fabric out of her mouth.

Oh my goodness! It's long.

A person is holding a piece of fabric over the head of a blue nose American Bully Pit that is laying on a green pillow.

It's a piece of that green rug! Sorry Spencer-Puppy, but I have to take the rug away. Your kids sister appears to be eating it. I will work on getting you a new porch bed. Mia I hope you didn't actually swallow any of that!

Raising a Puppy: A day in the life with Mia the Blue-Nose American Bully