Penny American Staffordshire Terrier Mix Oxford, MA

Penny was an owner surrender to the New York City Animal Care Centers in April 2021. She was surrendered due to the owner not being able to give her what she needs.

She was then slated for euthanasia but that didn't happen as an amazing, patient foster stepped up to save her life.

These are PENNY'S STATS:

Approximate age 4-5

Approximate weight 60lbs

Breed (s) Large mixed breed Pit

Spayed or neutered? Spayed

Good with:
kids? No

strangers? No

other dogs? Possibly a male but not recommended

cats? No

On leash? Light pulling when she first gets out the door otherwise great. Needs occasional redirection. Has prey drive for birds and squirrels!

Housetrained? Yes. Penny will scratch at the door also if she needs an extra outing. She does get 3-4 walks a day and that’s usually enough. Sometimes she will scratch the door if she wants to play as she has learned it gets my attention so chances are if she’s already been out she wants to play.

Crate trained? No

Paper trained? No

This is what her foster says about her:

Penny is certainly a unique dog that requires a lot of patience and an experienced owner.

She is approx 4-5yrs old weighing 60lbs. Penny also has a thyroid condition and will need meds 2x daily for rest of her life. Luckily for Pennys new adopters it’s a very cheap drug. Penny also has some sight oss from this condition and hoping the meds will stop it from getting worse. She can definitely see but it’s like having a cloudy film over her eyes. We have no idea what this lady has been through but she is not quick to give her trust.

She will need a calm quiet home without kids or other pets. Loud noises and yelling make Penny very nervous because her sight is not 100%. It is very important Penny has a calm quiet home where she can learn to trust at HER pace. She is very sensitive to sounds as her ears make up for what her eyes lack. Which is mainly why she is not a good fit for children. Kids yell and they run all things that make Penny uncomfortable.

Penny may be ok with male dogs as she plays bows with my male but shows aggression towards my female which is common with females. Since she has trust issues it’s best to be the only dog since too much chaos makes Penny nervous. Penny should never be forced into situations that make her uncomfortable. Penny does not tolerate cats, bunnies, and sometimes birds. They bring out her prey drive. Penny does know a few commands such as sit, wait, leave it, and “get your ball”. I’m currently teaching her to nod her head for yes.

Penny loves to play ball. She has a million balls, she has her favorites balls, and loves getting new balls. Pennys form of love and affection comes from playing ball. You will not win this lady’s affection with food. She’s got a small mouth so she can only catch certain balls but that doesn’t stop her from trying. Penny would do best with a large fenced in yard where she can play fetch with you all day and night. I haven’t had much luck bathing Penny so we use dry shampoo and she does love to be brushed slowly. I think it will be a long time before Penny allows any bathing. She would probably love a kiddie pool filled with clean water at her own pace but not forced. She does enjoy the lakes and rivers so she’s not afraid of the water itself. Especially loves walking in the rain. While I was told Penny is crate trained she is not and shouldn’t be forced into one. While we are away she is fine in the living room but doesn’t have access to the rest of the house so I can’t be sure if she’s a trash picker. She does not seem to show any forms of separation anxiety. There are other dogs in the house so she is never technically alone even tho they are separated by a gate. Penny sleeps on the couch with her blanky and does not like to be in the dark. She always has a dim light even at night. Penny does not give much love and affection like the average dog. Most of her affection comes from playing ball. She is not your average cuddle bug and that’s ok because she is happy. Happy to be alive enjoying life and loves her walks. For the most part she walks excellent on a leash but does need redirection and positive reinforcement when she sees bunnies or cats. She has medium energy and gets a min of 4 walks a day. She always has a huge smile on her face when walking and we get complements everywhere we go that she is so beautiful! She’s not so easy to trust but if you have time and patience with a calm quiet lifestyle Penny is looking for you. Penny just wants someone’s time to play ball with and enjoy walks with. Perhaps over time she can be your cuddle bug!