For the Love of Pits

11/04/2025

The hardest part of loving animals is when we lose them. Unfortunately, they do not live as long as humans do, and their impact on our lives is deeply felt.

Roland became part of For the Love of Pits in August 2014. The foster family who had Macy (if you remember that sweet girl) offered to foster Roland and another dog brought in with him (Thomas). The very first day Roland arrived in their home, he was drawn to the man of the house, Eric. Eric and Roland became inseparable almost immediately. Roland became a "foster fail" and stayed with his person for the next 10 years.

Roland was rather vocal and pushy with his canine friends. When he would play with Thomas or Hank (another future foster once Thomas was adopted), they sounded like a combination of a freight train and a thunderstorm! He would do this grumble that sounded like Chewbacca and it made everyone laugh every time he did it. Roland did not laugh, though. He was trying to communicate with us and get whatever it is he was after.

On walks, if Roland had decided he was ready to go home, he would plop down on the ground, roll over with his belly in the air, and "yell" at you! It usually took a little encouragement to get him back up to finish out the walk.

As Roland aged, he became the perfect companion. He walked well on leash in secluded areas, he LOVED riding in the car, he was happy and content to cuddle with his furry sisters, and he demanded his "dinner time treat" every evening from his humans. He enjoyed the autumn weather best and would lay in the leaf piles in the back yard.

We said goodbye to Roland on June 4th, 2025. He was in the comfort of his home and in his favorite person's arms. He was fed his favorite meal (McDonald's cheeseburgers) and told just how much he was loved as he crossed the rainbow bridge.

Our lives will never be the same without Roland. He was gentle, sweet, soft as heck, cuddly, silly, a perfect angel baby, and the best friend to Eric. He is missed deeply, but we are so thankful we were able to share our lives with him.

09/06/2025

Help Needed Urgently in Ashtabula, OH

We need your help! We are in a bit of a situation, where we need a foster very soon. Fortune came to us with Parvo and we don't have a place for her at the shelter. She is in need of a foster that understands how Parvo works and is willing to care for her medical needs. Please reach out to us as soon as possible. Thank you so much in advance.

07/31/2025

Be a Dog Detective – Walk Away From a Dog Who Has Food
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/resource/be-a-dog-detective-walk-away-from-a-dog-who-has-food/

07/04/2025

Happy 4th. Stay safe and keep your animals safe. We've posted a few tips in the comment below.

07/03/2025

With Independence Day celebrations fast approaching, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after Fourth of July festivities. Here are 7️⃣ pet safety tips to keep in mind. You can find more important information here: https://bit.ly/44f7FSj

07/03/2025

07/03/2025

Ready for weekend?

While there's a lot of fun in store for this holiday, it is crucial to be aware of the safety of the pets in your community. Check out these tips from our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and help us by sharing them. For more information on July 4th pet toxins, go here. 🐶🐱 https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/top-4-july-4th-pet-toxins

04/28/2025

We generally do not feed out of dog bowls whether one of our rescues has behavior problems or not. This guidance has worked so well for For the Love of Pits for over 15 years.

If your dog has a behavior problem, now's the time to fix it so you can get back to enjoying life together.

For the next few days we're offering 75% off our Behavior Problems Compendium, with detailed guidance on how to resolve all the most common dog behavior problems: https://dunbar.info/apr25bpc

No matter what behavior problem it is, the first step is usually the same: Stop feeding your dog from a bowl. You could feed your dog pretty much any other way and it would be more beneficial.

- If your dog has a fearfulness, reactivity, or aggression problem, you can use food to build confidence and help your dog feel better and more relaxed in specific situations, or in the presence of specific stimuli.

- If your dog gets into trouble when you're not around you can use food to give your dog a suitable way to pass their time, chewing on hollow, food-filled chewtoys, rooting around in a snuffle mat, or eating from a mentally stimulating puzzle feeder, and you can use food to teach your dog to enjoy settling down on their bed, in their playpen, in their crate, or anywhere.

- If your dog doesn't listen to you or do what you ask, you can use food to teach your dog to perform useful skills on cue, reliably and promptly. Food is so useful for starting the process of Lure Reward Training. It may not be the answer to long-term motivation for your dog, but it's such a valuable tool for teaching and communicating with your dog as you start to incorporate more meaningful life rewards in training.

So, if you want to change something about your dog's behavior or temperament, use their food. It's so powerful and when you use food in training, we believe it becomes more meaningful, appreciated, and enjoyable to your dog.

Of course, if your dog doesn't have any behavior problems then you can ignore this advice. Feed your dog however you like. Or however they like!

Learn more at: https://dunbar.info/BetterThanABowl

04/17/2025

🐾 Don't Bet on "My Dog Would Never Bite" 🐾

🪙 If I had a nickel…

Let's talk about a common myth: "My dog would never bite." Here's the truth: any dog, regardless of breed or temperament, is capable of biting. Why? Because if it has teeth, it can bite.

We often forget that dogs, like humans, can feel stressed, anxious, or aggravated. Placing them in demanding situations and expecting them to remain calm is unrealistic. Think about it: can you handle every stressful moment without losing your cool?

Believing that only "bad" dogs bite sets our furry friends up for failure. It's like playing Russian roulette with their emotions. Instead, let's acknowledge that good, loving dogs may bite when they're overwhelmed.

So, what can we do? Respect our dogs' limits, recognize signs of distress, and provide them with safe spaces to decompress. Don't gamble with your dog's feelings—let's foster understanding and empathy for our four-legged companions. 🐶❤️

03/19/2025