Pits & Giggles Graduate Resources
Welcome to our Graduates Page! This resource is available to all Pits & Giggles Adopters because we want you to be successful in raising this new puppy or incorporating this new adult dog in to your family. Bringing a new dog home is challenging, regardless of their age, but we are here to help! In this space you’ll find answers to the most common questions we hear, links to our favorite products, and directions to additional sites that provide education and support.
If you need a copy of your dog’s medical records please search your email. We send an email upon adoption finalization to each and every adopter. In that email you were provided a link to create an account with Petstablished, our data management software, to access your records. If your puppy has not yet been spayed, your adoption has not yet been finalized and you cannot access your puppy’s medical records. If you have lost that email please contact the rescue and we will be happy to resend the link!
If, after searching this space, you’re not able to find a solution to your unique challenge don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. The best way to reach us is via email. When you email us, please provide a detailed description of exactly what is going on, how you’re hoping we can help, and we will do our best. Our email address is pitsandgigglesrescue@gmail.com.
If texting is more your thing, you can always text the rescue at 803-999-PITS (7487).
Finally, you’re also able to call our rescue number to leave a voicemail but please know that our volunteers all work full time so it can take a day or so for us to respond.
Looking for photos of your puppy? We’ve included a handy gallery here where you can download your puppy’s newborn photos. — PHOTO GALLERY
For Puppy Parents
Congratulations on your new Pits & Giggles Puppy! At the link below you’ll find some key resources, products, ideas and encouragement from our rescue volunteers. Bringing home a puppy is an exciting and challenging time and we are here to help you every step of the way!
Adding an Adult Dog to Your Home
A new adult dog addition to your household can be stressful for everyone, especially your current dogs. If you rush this process you’ll regret it. Every time. Please take the time to read this info carefully and follow the instructions laid out in it. Any additional questions, email the rescue!
My Puppy is Defective!
We’ve all been there. Buyers remorse. You brought home a fat, snuggly puppy and one day out of nowhere they changed to a hyper velociraptor. Everyone in this situation wants a fix, fast. Many people reach out to us hoping there’s some kind of super secret handshake you can do with your dog to make them behave. We’re sorry, there just isn’t a quick fix here. The only way out is through and that means you have to do the work. Repeatedly. :-)
FREE Training
Working with a local trainer is the BEST way to solve problem situations you encounter with your dog. However, not everyone can afford training when they need it, so we’ve linked here to an online trainer we really love. Zak George uses positive reinforcement training and we have found his videos really help adopters bridge the time until they can afford to hire a trainer locally.
Socializing Your Dog
Whether you’re working with an adult dog or a puppy, proper socialization is the key to helping them be comfortable with the world around them. Oftentimes socialization is confused with play groups. Socialization is so much more than that! Use this list as a guide, and get out there and explore the world with your pup!
Hurricane Dog
“Every time I leave my dog alone, even if it’s just for a few minutes they destroy everything. They’re peeing in the house, eating bad things, exploding pillows, etc etc etc.”
We have a solution to this problem that works nearly every time it’s tried. The trick is, you have to use it every time.
Puppies - They Make Gross Stuff
Diarrhea, vomiting, smells too intense to be real. Once your adoption has been finalized, it’s time to begin the search for a vet. Don’t wait until your dog is sick; staying up to date with vaccines and regular visits makes a huge difference in your pup’s life!
Do You Need to Board Your Dog?
Not everyone can have a house sitter when they are away. Where can your dog go when you’re away from home for an extended time? Daycare and overnight boarding create spaces where your dog will be safe, happy, and make loads of new friends. From swim lessons to small social groups boarding facilities offer a variety of ways to make your dog’s stay away from home the next best thing to being with you. We’ve curated a list of our favorite places in Charlotte here.
NILIF
That odd collection of letters can change the way you and your dog move through the world together. In addition to regular training, NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) is a mindset to use with your dog every day. It’s not a list of tasks, rather a way of being with your dog that lets both of you relax and enjoy life.