Introducing . . . . Miss Octane
Never in my life would I have thought I would write anything praising a creature I have long feared. I truly love a lot of animals - dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, hamsters, and all baby critters in the zoo. I could probably get used to frogs and lizards, but it would be a stretch. However, as far as dogs are concerned, there are three breeds that always frightened me almost to a panic-stricken paralysis. Those three have been Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Pit Bulls. I have known people who have owned each of these dogs and they have always sworn to the breed's gentle nature, "just a big couch potato," and anything else to convince me that I'm buying into a myth. Of course, this argument loses a lot of steam when at a later time, the dog in question has to be put down because it got loose and bit someone. Hmm, yea, I'm really convinced now.
However, a few weeks ago, I met a lovely young puppy of about 8 months old and her name is Octane. Miss Octane is a pure bred Pit Bull Terrier. Her owners are our neighbors and they, wait for it, swear to the pit bull breed's gentle nature and that some people just don't treat these dogs right. Yea, I know better, right?
The first time I came over to their house since they got the dog, I was braced for angry barking (pit bulls are territorial dogs by nature and breeding) and expecting my neighbor to wrestle with the dog to keep it from lunging at me. Not the case at all. I walked through the door and was immediately greeted by a beautiful tan dog with a white chest who calmly walked up to me, sniffed my fingers and looked up at me with soulful brown eyes. Her expression was all puppy, "will you play with me?" She uttered no sound at all - not even a growl. After she gave all my fingers a thorough sniff, she proceeded to lick my hands and then moved to sniff a few other areas that all dogs like to sniff (never mind where). I couldn't believe what I saw. Octane decided that I needed a more proper greeting and jumped up on me to say hello. Standing on her hind legs, she came about even with my chin. (I'm 5'3" tall or short.)
I bravely scratched her behind her soft, velvety ears and we became instant friends. She loved having her chin rubbed and laid down on the couch for a tummy rub. As my neighbor and I visited, I watched Octane and how she interacted with my daughter who was already there hanging out with a friend. My daughter knew not to take off her shoes for a good reason - Octane likes to chew on bare feet. She also likes shoes, but apparently bare feet are more fun.
When the princess would get off the couch, she would do it in phases. She would lift her upper part of her body and place her front paws on the floor, stretching out as far as she could go without having to move the lower half of her body from its original place on the couch. Octane is also very effective in letting you know when she wants attention. She jumps on your lap and pushes you out of your seat. She also puts her big head in your lap - a huge surprise for a breed known for fighting.
Octane is still a baby, but she has already won over my heart. I don't know if she is truly an example of the real nature of pit bulls or if she's just a very submissive personality; but I told her that she's giving pit bulls a bad rep. I don't think of her as a pit bull - she's a pit diva. And I think she knows it too.
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