Raising a Puppy: Mia the Blue-Nose American Bully Pit—29 weeks old

A day in the life with Mia the American Bully (Bully Pit) puppy. 29 weeks old, 56 pounds, 18 1/4 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders (the withers).

A happy-looking, wide chested, big-headed blue nose American Bully Pit is sitting on a black top surface and looking forward. Her mouth is open and it looks like she is smiling. There is a tire swing behind her.

29 weeks old (about 6 1/2 months)

The Pool

Mia saw the pool for the first time without a pool cover. Now she gets to see why she was not allowed to walk on top of the cover. There's a lot of water in there!

Commands

Top down view of three dogs being taken on a walk.

Mia is showing a better understanding of the "back" command, which means slow down or back up. As we walk if she gets too far ahead I say "Mia back" and she slows down.

The back of a brown with black and white Boxer and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier are standing in grass and looking forward. In between them is a blue nose American Bully Pit is facing the person holding her leash.

She is also doing very well with the "wait" command, which means stay still. For example; If one of them poops they must all wait patiently while I clean it up.

Looking for Guidance

A blue nose American Bully Pit is standing on a sidewalk and she is looking to the left. Her mouth is open and it looks like she is smiling.

We had stopped to pick up Bruno's poop when a big truck drove by slowly, loudly shifting it's gears. Mia perked up then backed up a few steps has the hair on her back raised. She was not sure what to make of it. Her guard was up. She looked up at me making eye contact. She was looking for some sign to see what the pack should do about it. I did nothing and said nothing as I continued to tie up the poop bag. "Oh we do nothing. All must be fine." Her hair went back down as her brain and the rest of the pack moved on.

Play Date

A blue nose American Bully Pit is walking behind a black Shiloh Shepherd puppy and a tan with black Pug. They are walking across a blacktop surface. There is a vehicle behind them.

Mia meets Dexter the Shiloh Shepherd puppy for the first time. Hector the Pug is there, too and Mia follows them both around.

A blue nose American Bully is walking behind a girl kneeling and taking a Selfie with a black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy.

Sara takes some selfies with Dexter the Shepherd puppy while Mia watches with curiosity.

A girl is sticking her tongue out and taking a Selfie with a black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy. A blue nose American Bully Pit is looking at the puppy

Mia watching Sara take another Selfie with Dexter.

A blue nose American Bully Pit is following behind a black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy. They are on a blacktop surface and there is a stone porch behind them.

Mia following Dexter the Shiloh Shepherd puppy.

A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is sitting in grass and he is going nose to nose with a blue nose American Bully Pit.

After following Dexter around for a while, Mia approaches with a lot of confidence and proceeds to smell the puppy's mouth. Dexter remains submissive and allows Mia to smell him. While Mia is holding herself confident she is also not trying to be alpha. Her tail is level with her back and she is not towering over him. She is holding her weight slightly backwards.

A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is walking across a blacktop surface. A blue nose American Pit Bull Terrier is following behind it. There is a brown with black and white Boxer standing across from them. His mouth is open and tongue is out.

When Dexter trots off Mia playfully follows as Bruno watches the two of them.

A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is standing behind a brown brindle Boxer. The Boxer is standing over a blue nose American Bully Pit. A tan with black Pug is standing up against the back of the Bully Pit and getting in the face of the Boxer.

Hector the Pug runs over and jumps up onto Mia's back to get a better sniff of Bruno. Dexter the Shepherd puppy watches from behind.

A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is walking away from all the dogs standing across from him. There is a brown brindle Boxer standing over a tan with black Pug. There is a blue nose American Bully Pit looking at the Boxer.

Hector the Pug stares up at Bruno as Mia and Dexter watch.

A blue nose American Bully Pit is getting in the face of a tan with black Pug. A brown with black and white Boxer is looking over top of them. A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd is looking at the grouped up dogs.

Mia decides it is time to play with Hector the Pug.

A tan with black Pug is attempting to pull the black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy into the play session. A blue nose American Bully Pit is running towards the Pug.

Hector is spunky and ready for a play session. He bites on Dexter the Shepherd pup.

A black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is laying on his back on a blacktop surface. A blue nose American Bully Pit, a brown with black and white Boxer and a tan with black Pug are looking at the puppy on the ground.

Dexter submissively rolles over. Mia and Bruno check out the pup on the ground.

A blue nose American Bully Pit, a brown with black and white Boxer, a tan with black Pug and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier are walking to a black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy is laying on his back on a blacktop surface

Spencer the Pit Bull comes over to see what the pack is doing.

A blue nose American Bully Pit, a brown with black and white Boxer and a blue nose Pit Bull Terrier are sniffing a black with grey Shiloh Shepherd puppy. A tan with black Pug is walking away.

Oh, there's a pup on the ground. I want to smell him, too!

In Heat

A blue nose American Bully Pit is waring a blue diaper and sitting on a tiled floor. There is a wooden table behind her.

Mia has been dripping blood for the past 8 days. This part of a dogs cycle is typically 7 to 10 days, therefore she should be finished soon. For the next three days after she will be physically able to mate, which we will not be doing. Last week she had a couple of days of upset stomach, but ever since she has been in good spirits with a good appetite.

When Mia is inside the house she wears pants. We take them off when she goes outside. I have two pairs, which I hand wash morning and night switching back and forth between them. Luckily Mia does not mind wearing her pants because I do not think I could stand the mess she would cause walking around inside without them. I am hoping to get her spay before her next cycle, but want to allow her to grow with a natrual level of hormones. When she is no longer rapidly growing it will not be as important.

Puppy No-Nos

Chewed up paper towel in between a couch and a coffee table.

Mia you did it again. You took another paper towel off of the coffee table and chewed it up. What do you see in these paper towels? They are clean and therefore do not smell like food. I need to catch you in the act, you paper towel stealer.

A blue nose American Bully Pit is sitting next to a coffee table. There are red arrows pointing to a paper towel on a table and paper towel pieces behind her.

The next day... see the paper towel on the floor behind her? She snatched that off of the table right in front of me while I was watching TV and chewed it up without me noticing. I put another paper towel on the table to try and catch her so she understands taking things off of the table is a no-no. But of course she did not take the bait. Mia, I'll be watching!

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