Dog of the Week: Lily

When I first met Lily back in October, I was rather put off by how hyperactive she was.   Taking her out of her kennel, she would immediately jump up and grab the leash then start tugging it.  And she would tug it as long as you put up with it.  Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug.  Shake it.  Tug it. She had (and has) a serious ratting instinct and is very mouthy.  She likes to pick up sticks and shake and chew them too.  

She does not make a good first impression in the kennel - barking, jumping constantly, she looks like a total spaz.  There's a lot of puppy still left in her. 

But get this girl alone in a room, and she's really not hyper at all.  She's curious.  She likes to look around and smell things, but she calms right down.  She also likes to do obedience training and she's good at it.  She knows sit, and we've worked on "Come," "Watch me," "Lay down," and "Stay," although she's not responsive to "Stay" yet.  The others she's got down.  She's quite food motivated and will focus if she knows there's an incentive for her.  She's really the first dog I've worked on doing obedience training with, apart from Rosie.  I started because I couldn't get her to stop tugging long enough to make walking her bearable, so I got a treat and held it up in front of her to see what she would do.  Immediately, she focused and stopped jumping and tugging.  It was an abrupt, dramatic shift.  From that day I've brought in treats and worked more and more with her.  

Lily, for a pit bull mix, is not your usual slurper.  She's not indiscriminately affectionate, like many of them are.  For the first six times I walked her, she really took no notice of me at all.  But as soon as I started training her, she started reacting more and more like the sweet dog she is and will now greet and kiss and stand for short periods to be petted. 

Lily was adopted once and was returned to the Humane Society.  Apparently it wasn't a good fit.  Lily is admittedly too high energy for a family with young children, but I think she would be a good dog for anyone willing to train her and firmly show her that she's not in charge.  This dog is happy, healthy, quick, and smart.  She's always in a good mood.

Lily needs a loving home, and she deserves one.  She's got a ton of love to give a family or an individual.  If Lily interests you, click on her picture to contact the Kent County Humane Society.

tags: dogs  humane society  humane society of kent county