puppy

Happy Earth Day

Arya's Mom Out and About , , , , , ,

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Earth Day!  Mommy and I spent our morning taking a nice, long walk to the park.  I saw all kinds of people and animals.  I always want to say hello to everyone, but mommy says I have to learn to ignore people unless I’m told it’s okay to say hello – apparently not all people love dogs (what?!?).

I love the park!

I saw lots of people on bicycles – that looks like fun!  Mom says she will take me bike riding when my legs are all better!  I really love to run, but my legs get really sore if I do too much strenuous activity.  I also got to see a family of geese crossing the street to get into the water (who would want to get in there?!), but I wasn’t allowed to play with them.  They seem innocent, but mom says I wouldn’t like them if I met them face to face!

A family of geese at the park.

I also saw lots of other dogs at the park.  I wanted to say hello to all of them, but I guess not all dogs like other dogs, either…..there’s so much to learn!  I got to say hello to a little Australian Shepherd.  She was nice, but didn’t really want to play with me.  I also got to make friends with a Cane Corso on the way home!  He was really friendly, and liked me a lot.  His dad said he liked my big head….haha, mom agrees!  It makes my day when I get to meet other dogs!

I was such a good girl on the walk.  Mom says she is proud of me for learning to heel so well!  I always walk nicely on a leash, but she is walking me on a regular collar instead of my Easy Walk Harness, and that makes it just a little more challenging for me to heel when I see people or dogs I want to say hello to!  I’m learning that it is always best to walk in a heel.

I hope you are all enjoying your day as much as I am!  Make sure to take some time today to enjoy nature, and do your part to decrease your carbon footprint!  I helped mom take the recycling out when we got home today – it’s the little things!

I have already had such a good morning…I think it might be time for a nap!

Nap time!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Love and licks,

Arya

“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everyhing better.” – Einstein

Adventures of Arya

Arya's Mom Out and About , , , , , , , , ,

There’s nothing I love more than to go out and about with my family.  I may be young, but I have experienced many places in the great outdoors!  Mom says this will help me feel comfortable with new experiences and people….I LOVE both of those things!  Ever since I was old enough to explore (and properly vaccinated), mom took me anywhere and everywhere that dogs were welcome to go.  I thought you guys might like me to share some of the great adventures I’ve already experienced!

First outing at buzzberry
My very first outing to my favorite hangout, Buzzberry!

My first outing was to Buzzberry Bistro, which is now my absolute favorite hangout.  Mom loves to go for their coffee, and I like to go for the people and, of course, the Buzzbones that they give me every time we visit!  They make homemade, natural treats, and you’ll hear no complaints from me!  They simply rock!

One of my other favorite places to visit is O.H.S.O.  These guys are VERY welcoming to four-legged friends!  I have been to one of their locations twice – once for a pit bull rescue and awareness event!  Their new location even includes an awesome grassy area for dogs to play, AND a custom doggy drinking fountain!  I’ve had some GREAT times meeting lots of dogs and people at O.H.S.O.

OHSO OV3
Being a good girl at O.H.S.O
OHSO PV2
My friend, Prada and me on an outing to O.H.S.O – we had a blast!!

One of my most exciting adventures, was when my mom brought me with her to California to stay with her parents!  I was such a good girl in the car for the six hour drive, and I was a very well behaved guest at my grandparent’s house.  I couldn’t begin to tell you about all the fun I had in California!  I got to meet lots of great people who were so kind to me.  My Uncle William loved spending time with me – he and I became fast friends.  I also got to spend time with five year old, Elijah, who played with me, and was so much fun!  He got to walk me at the mall, and I was so good with my leash manners!

We also got to go to the beach, and I wasn’t sure what to think about that!  The ocean was a little scary, but I REALLY liked watching the sea gulls, and seeing all the people and dogs passing us by.  We even stopped for some fish and chips on the way home!

Beach
My first experience with the ocean….hmmm
Hanging out
Hanging out with little Elijah at a dog-friendly mall!

Another great way mom gets me out and about is through training.  I went to a group puppy class with my awesome trainer, Brenda, at Awesome Mannered Canines.  I got to make some great two and four-legged friends, as well as learn all my basic commands – and some more advanced things too!  Besides training classes, mom and I spend a lot of time training together at pet stores, parks, and anywhere with lots of distractions!  I always have a great time working with my mom!  I am currently taking more classes with Brenda so that I can practice all the tasks I need to master in order to pass my Canine Good Citizen test!  My friends, Prada and Penny, join me every Sunday as we work on more advanced tasks – we’ve all been working hard on our extended down-stays!!

IMG_0570
Graduation day from puppy class!
Training class
Ginger and me at our training class!
Cactus Park
Nikko and me practicing our down-stays

I have so much fun going places with my mom, and I strongly recommend that all pet parents get out with their four-legged kids.  Mom says it really helps build the bond between us…..I agree!  We have so much fun, and I love making friends with everyone we meet.  I have already learned how to behave when I am out and about, and that really helps me show people that pit bulls can be great members of the community, too!

Thank you for stopping by, and please continue to show support for pit bull education and awareness!

Love and licks,

Arya

Walk
“Where you go I go, and where you stay I stay.”

Stem Cell Shenanigans 

Arya's Mom Uncategorized , , , , , ,

So, I figured I should share what my week has been like.  It’s been a little different for me because I had to have surgery on Tuesday.  You see, I have hip dysplasia.  This is a congenital disease, which my mom says, means that I was born with it.  It causes me to have pain and stiffness in my back legs.  Another doctor (an orthopedic surgeon) also felt me knees and said I also have a problem with my right knee – this is the one that sometimes hurts me and makes me limp.  Mommy was sad because I have trouble getting up when I am laying down – my back legs aren’t as strong as they should be!  The doctors don’t think I need orthopedic surgery right now, but are hoping stem cell therapy would help me feel better, and with any luck, avoid orthopedic surgery alltogether.  My mom really doesn’t want me to have to have that type of surgery if possible – and I agree!!

My awesome veterinarian, Dr. Newland, performed my surgery on Tuesday.  Mom explained to me what was going to happen.  They gave me a small injection that made me feel pretty tired – I wasn’t worried about a thing after that!  They also drew some blood from me, this is in order to collect my Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), which is part of the Stem Cell process.  Dr. Newland, then put me under anesthesia and removed a layer of fat (adipose tissue) from my tummy.  The techician then processes this tissue, adds the PRP, and activates the stem cells under a special light.  Once that process is complete, I received a second sedation, and Dr. Newland injected the Stem Cells into both my hip joint, my right knee and intravenously.  Then I woke up, and my mommy sat with me so I wasn’t scared  – I was VERY brave the whole time!

Mom now says that I have to rest since I had surgery, but I don’t really like the sound of that!  I’ve been trying to be good, but I don’t feel painful, so I just want to run around and play!  So far, I haven’t been limping, but I am getting a little anti-inflammatory medication every day.  Hopefully, once mom stops giving me that, I will feel better from the cells!  Mom says we have to be hopeful, and let them work their magic! 

I’m so thankful that mom works with an awesome veterinarian who is able to do this procedure!  Please keep your fingers crossed for me – and thanks to all my Facebook friends for all the kind words and healing vibes!!

Love and licks,

Arya

Here is a picture of me after surgery – I was very brave!