The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Raising a Puppy: Mia the Blue-Nose American Bully Pit—15 weeks old

A day in the life with Mia the American Bully (Bully Pit) puppy. Mia's ninth week—15 weeks old, 28 pounds, 14 1/2 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders (the withers).

Close up - A wide chested, blue nose American Bully Pit puppy sitting on a green orthopedic dog bed in front of a glass door.

15 weeks old (about 3 1/2 months)

The Cat

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is sniffing a cat that is laying on top of a wooden rocking glider outside on a snowy porch.

Mia says hello to Mini, the cat. They touch noses as they smell one another.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is sitting on a stone porch and she is looking up at the cat that is sitting on a wooden porch swing.

When they finish smelling they just look at one another. Mini's reaction confirms Mia's energy is something that means no harm. If Mia was seeing the cat as prey the cat would definitely know and would have given her a swat and/or hissed and possibly run off. The two of them had an entire conversation in animal language that most humans would have missed entirely since it is often silent.

Road Trips

Two Dogs and a puppy are sitting and standing in the back of a red Toyota 4runner truck.

The pack goes for a road trip in the back of a 1986 Toyota 4Runner. Mia travels very well. She loves to snuggle up to her brothers.

Playing with Spencer

Mia plays with her toy duck out in the snow with Spencer, the Pit Bull. Spencer has a blast outrunning her. Oh Spencer, wait until she grows up. You're going to have to run a little faster to keep that game going.

No Barking at Other Dogs

A lady in a white coat is holding the leash to two dogs. A black and tan Shiloh Shepherd and a black with tan Pug are standing on a blacktop surface.

We went to a park to go on a pack walk with some doggie friends, Bowie, the Shiloh Shepherd, and Hector, the Pug. There was a Puggle walking by (not pictured) and Hector the Pug began to bark wildly.

Top down view of Two dogs and a puppy wearing different colored vests. They are all looking forward.

Bruno and Spencer knew to ignore the racket coming from the other dogs, but this was all new to Mia. She began to bark and let out a growl. "HEY! NO!" I gave her a leash correction. We do not act out even when other dogs are doing it. Mia looked up at me and sat down. "Oh, mommy didn't like me acting like that." She sat down next to her brothers who were calmly watching and copied them. Good girl, Mia. That's much better.

Playing with Cousin Hector

A tan with black Pug is standing on a black top surface and walking next to the Pug is a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy. The puppy and the Pug are about the same size.

After the pack walk Mia and Spencer play with Hector, the Pug. Mia approaches Hector in a very submissive manner. Her body is curled and she is holding herself low in a playful non-threatening manner.

A tan with black Pug is standing on a black top surface and looking to the right. Sniffing the Pug is a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy.

Hector has his guard up a little. His body is stiff and square and his head is high.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is preparing to sit on a blacktop surface and in front of her is a tan with black Pug looking towards the left.

Mia continues to hold herself low initiating a play session. Hector turns his head to avoid eye contact. He tells Mia that while he is not fully relaxed, he still does not want a confrontation.

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier is play bowing next to a tan with black Pug and a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy are circling the Pit Bull Terrier.

Spencer runs over and all out play bows at Hector, which sends Hector into play mode.

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier and a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy are sniffing a tan with black Pug in between benches in snow.

Spencer and Mia both have very submissive body postures. Their heads are low; their tails are wagging and are parallel to the ground. Hector is still a bit squared up. He is less relaxed but still meaning no harm.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is following behind a tan with black Pug in snow. There is a wire fence to the right of them.

Mia follows Hector through the snow. "Wait for me!"

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is pawing at a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier. The Pit Bull Terrier is biting the puppy. They are outside in snow. There is a tan with black Pug behind them.

Mia and Spencer also play with one another. Mia loves biting on the extra skin on Spencer's face and Spencer bites him back.

The backside of a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier standing in snow and he is turning around to play with a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy who is biting at the side of a tan with black Pug.

Spencer is curled in a submissive gesture, his head and tail are low and his ears are slightly back. Mia is about to playfully chomp on Hector's face. Hector is now in play mode.

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier is running across snow with a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy and a tan with black Pug.

They all run across the yard.

A blue nose Pit Bull Terrier and a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy are sniffing a tan with black Pug that is laying outside belly up in snow.

Hector rolls belly-up in a very submissive gesture to both Spencer and Mia. Spencer takes this time to get to know Hector better by smelling him, while Mia licks his face.

Walk Progress

A brown with black and white Boxer is wearing a red vest, a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier is wearing an orange vest and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier puppy is sitting on a concrete surface they are all looking to the right.

While out today two different people in two different locations complemented the packs behavior. One lady was walking by as we were standing out in front of a store waiting for Amie to come out. As she passed she said "Dogs that actually listen, that's wonderful." The second person was a lady behind us at a pet store. She was very respectful remaining calm and not getting the pack all riled up. She stated, "Your dogs are so well behaved. It is nice to see that. Most dogs are not because the owners do not take the time to train them." A well-behaved human talking to a well-behaved pack is a perfect combination.

Mia is currently learning the "wait" command, which means stand still. I use it to stop Mia from sniffing all around tangling up all of the leashes and eating random things from the ground when we stop. She is beginning to learn the concept and did very well on today's walk.

Two dogs and a puppy are sitting on a dog bed in the back seat of a van.

In case anyone is wondering about Spencer's shoes, Spencer has always had a habit of scraping the top of his nails on the ground as he walks. It has caught up with him and he has worn his nails down a bit too far. The shoes are to allow his nails to grow longer. Silly Spencer. Maybe the shoes will teach you to pick your feet up just a little higher.

On a Walk

The backside of a blue nose American Bully Pit puppy and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier. They are both looking at a large rock to the left of them.

We went for a walk to a park surrounded by an industrial complex. Trucks, buildings, machines, noises, this was a lot to take in. When we reached a hill that overlooked the park Mia became hesitant. She perked up and looked unsure. The hair went up on her back. We are up really high. Look at that view and listen to all those new sounds.

The backside of two dogs and a puppy that are standing and sitting in grass with patches of snow in an industrial park.

A bus drove by, trucks were doing their thing, and odd noises were coming from buildings. We all stopped and stayed quiet to let Mia absorb her surroundings.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is sniffing a rock that is under her. Looking to the left is a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier. There is a field with large black drain pipes and a yellow crane in the distance.

When Mia started eating goose poop and ignoring everything that was going on around her I knew she was no longer wary. It was time to move on, right after I picked a chunk of poop out of her mouth! YUCK!

A blue nose AMerican Bully Pit puppy is sitting in grass and looking up and back. To the left of her, a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier is looking to the right and next to him is a standing brown with black and white Boxer

We practiced a lot of stops and “waits”.

A brown with black and white Boxer and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier are standing in grass and next to them is a sitting blue nose American Bully Pit puppy. They are all looking forward. There are snow patches on the ground.

We also practiced posing for the camera. "Stay, good babies."

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is wearing a hot pink collar and leash standing outside in the grass.

At one point a lady stopped her car beside us, rolled down her window and made kissy sounds at the dogs with a big smile on her face. I smiled, said hello and kept walking. Luckily, none of the dogs tried to pull into the road to say "hi" back to her.

The Spin

Mia learns to spin. Mia and Spencer also do the trick together. It was easy to teach both Pit Bulls to spin. Bruno, the Boxer, has not gotten the spin trick down yet. It does not come easy to him.

It's Cold! Let me in!

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is peeing outside in snow. There is a wooden split rail fence and a red barn behind her.

Mia was just outside doing her business.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is walking up a snowy field.

It's freezing outside and she does not like the cold. When she is finished she heads for the house.

A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is walking across a stone porch.A blue nose American Bully Pit puppy is standing on a rubber mat and in front of a doorway looking back wanting inside.

Let me inside please...

Listen to her pitiful cry. It is the same cry she had when I would take her out to potty during the many snowstorms. Oh it's SO COLD! Brrrrrrr!!! When I open the door she runs right for her toy.