Sit Happens

Having trouble teaching your canine friend to sit on command? We have a few tips and tricks to help you help you and your pup work on their doggy manners. It's much easier than you think!

Here's how you can teach a dog to sit upon request:

Hold a lure (a tasty treat or toy that a dog loves) in front of his face at nose level. Let him sniff it so that he realizes you are holding something he likes.

 

Slowly move your hand with the lure in it from the dog's nose up, along the top of his muzzle, between his ears. The treat should be held high enough that the dog has to crane his neck, but not so high he needs to jump up. When your dog looks up at the lure, he will probably sit to maintain his balance.

As soon as he sits, praise him and feed him the treat or let him play with the lure. After the dog has learned to sit with the lure, add the verbal cue, “Sit.”

Once the dog sits reliably with a lure, try to drop the lure and simply use your empty hand as a signal by following the steps above.

Once the dog reliably sits without the lure (treat or hand signal), only treat him sporadically when he sits. Vary how often and when you give treats

Need some Pointers?

• Every now and then give the dog a jackpot – a handful of treats as a huge reward. Occasional jackpots keep dogs working, hoping to hit the jackpot.
• Teach the dog to sit in a variety of situations and locations (e.g., before being fed, before going through doorways, before being given a treat or toy, before greeting a person, etc.)  
• If trained properly, sit should become the dog’s default behavior (e.g., the behavior the dog offers anytime he wants something).
• Don’t reward the dog if he jumps or paws at you, or otherwise acts pushy when asking him to sit. If this happens, withdraw the lure and turn away from the dog, then start again.

Teaching your pooch simple commands like "sit" can strengthen the bond you share, leading to greater trust and more affection! Sit could be the first step to a long, enriching life with you for your canine family member!

Slow and Steady

Some visitors to Animal Friends find a dog, cat or rabbit who is just right for them on their first visit. Others come back several times, waiting to find their perfect match. And then there are those who find exactly who they’re looking for without ever stepping foot inside the building.

Which is how Josh first met Delight …

After losing his 12-year-old Coonhound mix, Maggie, to an unexpected illness, Josh knew he could never replace her. She was one-of-a-kind, but something told him there was a place in his home and heart for another hound. So, Josh began searching online for a dog who needed him just as much as he needed them.

Soon, Josh came across the profile for our very own 6-year-old English Coonhound named Delight. She needed a patient family, one who would be willing to take the time to work with her.

You see, Delight had a very timid nature and, while her closest human friends knew how sweet and friendly she was, her shyness made it hard for new friends to see her true colors. Thankfully, when Josh came to visit her, he was willing to wait until she was comfortable. Before long, he was getting to know a sweet dog who was gently sniffing him and searching for a peaceful place for a nap.

A few days later, Josh returned to Animal Friends with his two dogs so they could meet Delight. Everything went well, so Delight officially became “Ginger” and was on her way home!

Once she arrived, Ginger was a little unsure. She took her time sniffing around her new home, exploring her big, fenced-in yard and getting to know her new canine brother and sister. After a few short days, it was clear that Ginger was home.

It’s been about a month since Ginger found her new family and things have been great! Josh and Ginger enjoy each other’s company every day and, if you ask him, it seems like Ginger has been part of the family for her entire life.

Orrie: Animal Friends' Home to Home Adoption Program

Meet Orrie (short for Orrville)! She’s a 9-year-old cuddly domestic shorthair with a gorgeous brown tabby coat. Orrie’s ideal home would be one that is quiet and stress free where she can continue living the life that she’s used to as an indoor cat.

She is very gentle and so affectionate, but young children and other pets tend to make her nervous, so she’d rather join a family with older members where she’ll be the only pet. When things are nice and calm, Orrie’s favorite thing to do is curl up on a warm lap and purr the day away.

If you have a cozy and welcoming home with room for a sweet feline member, get to know Orrie! You can contact her current family at wnatali116@gmail.com.

Dak's Road to Puppy Bowl XIV

It all started in August when Wonder Woman, a young Treeing Walker Coonhound and her litter of newborn puppies were transferred to Animal Friends from another shelter. The playful puppies were all given superhero names like their mother … Batman, Supergirl, Ironman, Huntress, Superman and, of course, Aquaman.

When they were just a few days old, a call went out to shelters across the country – Animal Planet was in search of the stars of Puppy Bowl XIV. So, these adorable pups put on their best face and struck a pose for the camera. We sent Aquaman's photo off to Animal Planet and crossed our fingers!

A few weeks later, the great news arrived – Aquaman had been selected to compete in the big game! With just a short amount of time to prepare, Aquaman set his sights on the Lombarky Trophy and the coveted title of MVP (Most Valuable Pup). The filming of the Puppy Bowl was to take place in  New York City in October, so when the time came, Aquaman hit the road and was on his way to the Big Apple.

About 7 hours and a few bathroom breaks later, he had arrived! Aquaman had celebrity-style accommodations for the trip, complete with a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline – but the big city wasn’t the least bit overwhelming for this little pup!

Aquaman took in the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps and made plenty of new friends along the way. After all, just shy of 3 months old, socialization is very important for a young puppy.

And, he was sure to stay out of trouble – you know reputations are very important for a professional athlete.

This handsome little guy needed his rest though. The next day was going to be a big one as he would head to the filming and be one step closer to making his television debut in the biggest sporting event in the canine world!

The next day, Aquaman was up bright and early and made his way downtown for the Puppy Bowl. Once he arrived, he got to meet the other athletes – more than 90 puppies from across the country. The puppy competitors had traveled from as far as Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado and California. It was a whirlwind of a day as Aquaman posed for photos, filmed Puppy Bowl promotions, got a DNA test (now there’s no doubt, he’s 100 percent Treeing Walker Coonhound!) and enjoyed some valuable socializing with the other puppies and their handlers.

And then it was off to the television set for the game to begin! We don't have any spoilers about who won the big game, but keep an eye out for Aquaman – who has since been adopted and will be called by his new name “Dak” during the telecast – as he struts his stuff up and down the field. Whether he scores the game-winning touchdown or is flagged for unnecessary cuteness, there are plenty of loyal fans back at Animal Friends who are proud that Dak is representing Pittsburgh in Puppy Bowl XIV!

The Puppy Bowl will air on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. on Animal Planet. Tune in to watch as Dak competes to bring the Lombarky trophy and the Most Valuable Pup title to Pittsburgh and Animal Friends!

To celebrate the Puppy Bowl and Dak's world premiere, we're hosting The Ultimate Tail-Gate! This adoption event will run all weekend long with our very own mini Puppy Bowl taking place on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Jake: Animal Friends' Home to Home Adoption Program

Jake is a purebred Jack Russell Terrier who is just over 2 years old. He is good with children and other dogs and despite his small size, loves to be the boss! Jake is an active boy who will need daily exercise.

 

 

This handsome boy's family has been experiencing some changes and have made the difficult decision that they can no longer give Jake the lifestyle they know he deserves. He loves to cuddle (especially with kids!) and is a great companion for his family, young and old alike. It's very important to Jake's family that he find a loving home that will give him daily walks, lots of love and all of the care and affection he's become accustomed to.

 

If your family could be the one that Jake needs, contact his family:

 

CarterFamily4423@gmail.com | 412.514.4628

 

Henry: Animal Friends' Home to Home Adoption Program

Meet Henry! This handsome black domestic shorthair is about 3 years old and was found as a stray by a Good Samaritan. For a while, he was living outdoors and being cared for by his new human friends, but when the weather turned cold, they decided to bring him inside.

Henry is neutered and has tested negative for both FIV and Feline Leukemia. And, he's up-to-date on all of his vaccinations – all he needs is a loving family to call his own!

During their time with him, Henry's caretakers have seen his sweet and silly personality and have learned how much he likes to play! Henry absolutely loves people and is very friendly with everyone he meets. This ebony kitty is very talkative and will keep you entertained with his constant chirps and mews.

Henry's foster family doesn't have the room to take in another cat permanently, but they know he is going to make a great companion to a lucky family. He is very good about using his scratching post and is litterbox trained. Henry also loves to lounge around on his cat tree or spend time chasing his toys. His currently family feels that Henry may do well with a cat-friendly dog or another cat in his new home ... he just needs to find them!

To learn more about Henry or to set up a meet and greet, contact Arlene at 724.283.8610 or Keatsar@Hotmail.com.

Roxas: Animal Friends' Home to Home Adoption Program



This handsome 7 1/2-year-old Labrador Retriever is Roxas. At 90 pounds, he is a big, powerful dog with a heart of gold. Roxas hasn't had any medical issues during his time with his current family and has been on a healthy and balanced diet for the majority of his life.

 

Roxas is typically a very well-mannered and obedient boy and generally has a quiet and mild personality. He knows how to sit, stay and come and is eager to learn a few more commands. While Roxas loves to play with his human friends, he can be a bit selective with other canine companions, so he will need a chance to be properly introduced before interacting with other animals.

 

This friendly pooch is in search of a family that can give him the loving home he deserves. While he is a very sweet dog, Roxas can be protective of people, so his new family will need to be aware of this when introducing him to friends, neighbors and other visitors. If you think you can give a playful middle-aged pup a warm and welcoming home, consider meeting Roxas!

 

To set up a meet and greet with Roxas, contact his current family at artlavigne@comcast.net.