Adopt Pippi!

History

Pippi came in as a stray to the Stockton Animal Shelter in February 2026. The staff fell in love with her calm, sweet demeanor, and California Bully Rescue pulled her at the end of March, just before her euthanasia date. As there was not a current foster available, Pippi went to boarding at RFRD in San Jose until we were able to get her on April 6th. 

Training

Current cues: sit, kennel, potty
She sleeps in her crate at night and reliably uses the dog door. On leash she is easy to walk and does not pull. She may walk to the end of the leash sometimes, but redirects easily. She’s small for a pittie-mix (around 40 lbs), but she is solidly built so her walker should be steady on their feet (not too frail or too young). She ignores other dogs (those on leash or barking in yards). She knows her name and will come - unless she is busy sniffing something interesting (selective hearing, lol). She has done well in busy environments - coffee shops, breweries, and large family gatherings. She does occasionally bark at someone, but again she redirects easily, and mostly just lays down to chill.

Pippi does not want to be your next hiking or jogging buddy! She prefers neighborhood strolls and walks downtown. She LOVES getting in the car to go for a ride, and she is a calm and polite girl in dog-friendly shops. 

Manners

Excellent house manners. She is the only dog we’ve fostered that has never had an accident in her kennel or the house! She’s comfortable using the dog door and lets herself out when she wants to sunbathe or go to the bathroom. At home, she likes to be near us. She naps in the office while I work, lounges on the couch in the evening, and stretches out on the bed while we read. But she doesn’t invade our space or try to be a lap dog - she’s happy with a gentle stroke or scratch. She enjoys treats and takes them very gently.
She’s non-destructive in the house, and does enjoy a chew (bully sticks, beef collagen rolls, etc), but isn’t a super chewer. Pippi barks when our car pulls into the driveway, but greets you with play bows and dancing feet. She only jumps up to say hi if you expressly invite her. 

Quirks

Pippi enjoys lounging around the house - on the floor, or dog beds - but also likes going into her kennel. We keep a soft blankie in there and she “nurses” on the blankie when she’s excited or stressed. She’s not destructive at all, just holds the blankie in her mouth and nibbles it. Often after we get home, or we come in from playing in the yard, she’ll jump in her kennel for a little self-soothing time.

Dog Neutral

Pippi lives peacefully with our four dogs, 10 to 40 pounds. She shows no prey drive towards our smallest dogs. She often chooses her own dog bed rather than cuddling with the other dogs. She does not resource guard food, toys, or people. Since we started fostering her in April, she’s only engaged in play with another dog (tug or chase) a few times. So if you’re looking for a dog that will engage and play with your current dog, Pippi is not the best choice. If you need a calm dog that won’t roughhouse with your current dog, Pippi is your gal!

Cats and Kids

This gal has not lived with cats or small children. She has meet children at outings and events and does not express any discomfort around them. However, Pippi will not tolerate being manhandled or tugged around, so children should be old enough to treat her respectfully. She has not been tested with cats.

Grooming and Vet

One thing to know upfront: Pippi is great for everyday grooming - she's regularly bathed and brushed, and has made real progress on nail trims. Give her a lick mat with peanut butter and you can clip and dremel all four paws without a fuss. Medical handling is a different story. Exams, injections, and any kind of eye, ear, or mouth inspection are genuinely stressful for her, and her go-to when she hits her limit is to give a warning “air bite” - she has no bite record and we want to keep it that way. She's not aggressive; she's scared. At her intake exam she tolerated an injection and a temperature check, but her whole body was tense throughout, and she wouldn't allow a mouth exam even though we'd practiced it at home. The moment she was off the table, she was back to being sweet with the techs and taking treats from the vet. We've been making regular lobby visits to help her build positive associations, and her new family will want to continue that work with a patient, savvy vet team. We want to be completely transparent about what to expect so there are no surprises! Pippi just needs some extra support in these situations.

What she’s looking for

Pippi enjoys the company of other dogs and we know she will do well with them! We’re not sure how she will do as an only dog - but if her people aren’t gone all day, we think she would do fine.  She would not do well in a home that requires her to be in a crate all day. She is non-destructive in the house and does well crated for reasonable short stretches. Pippi has relaxed into the good life and she can’t wait to find her people! 

You can apply to meet her here: https://www.cabullyrescue.org/