A Funny Thing

It strikes me very funny the reaction to my having gotten a dog. I thank you all for the advice and the comments but you must know I am not a first time dog owner. Because I did not care for the dog Steve had doesn't make me foreign to dogs.

When Colby was 2 years old we had chihuahuas. Funny little dogs that loved Colby. In fact we had 2 by the time she was 7 or 8. Both came to us from a breeder who wanted Colby to have a puppy and simply gave her the pick of their litter. At no charge. They were tiny little teacup dogs. We lived in on the farm where I grew up away from the country road that serviced the area. One day the dogs went out and we could never find them again. We looked and called and hunted for ages. I knew immediately someone had seen the tiny dogs and picked them up and wisked them away. It was heart wrenching to watch Colby pine for her puppies.

The next dog came to us from one of my former BIL's. It was a yellow lab. We took the dog because it was being mistreated by the bulldogs the guy was raising. The dog was left chained day and night with little attention given to him. We tried to rehab this dog but being two years old is was nearly impossible for us to recondition him. We rehomed him to someone who raised labs and felt they would be more successful with him.

The last dog I owned was my favorite. He was my baby. My very best friend in the world (who is now deceased) raise full blooded german shepherds with an incredible german blood line. Huge dogs. Quick to learn. Lovable to the point of licking you silly. CD stood well over six feet on his hind legs and even at his size wanted to sit in my lap. By the time Gracie was born CD had been with me for years. He became super jealous and was at times aggressive. I tried my best to work with him. I went to two different obdience training courses with him. Those seemed to help. When Gracie was about 18 months old we were outside and for no reason with no provocation CD lunged at Grace and barely missed biting her face. I had been quick enough to to prevent any contact by him. That scared me beyond anything I have ever experienced with a dog. I knew then I could not trust him around Grace. I had the choice to put him to sleep or to rehome him. The next day I signed over his papers and he went to live with a single guy who didn't have any children around his home at any time. It was one of the hardest things I ever did.

When Colby was 14 she was given a black mini poodle for her birthday. It was given by her father. At this time I was divorced and he was trying to buy their affection. Zoe was a wonderful little dog. There was a very tragic accident and someone ran over Zoe. It was an experience I hope none of you ever know.

Since that time I have been dogless. I never developed a bond with Steve's dog. And she was Steve's dog. Several times she was agressive with Steven but Steve did not believe it. Any attempt at trying to tell him her behavior when he wasn't around created huge arguements and him with a bad attitude and a chip on his shoulder because everyone was "attacking my dog". It wasn't a good situation to be in. I can't really say I am sorry she is gone. I am sorry she had to go out the way she did. I would not wish being crippled on any of God's creatures.

So, don't worry about me. I know how to handle dogs and have a very long history with my own dogs. It is just since a couple years prior to coming to Virginia that I haven't personally owned a dog.

J.E.B is working out famously! 

Ajax is another story. We are having to crate train him. He is one destructive little fur ball. If he gets a chance he will chew anything. His attention is easily diverted to his chew toys but his favorite things to chew are my coffee table (ggrr!) and a couple of Steven's toys. If he gets a chance to slip into the ktichen alone he wants my suede backless slip on shoes (double grr!). Yesterday home alone with him he did not have one accident in the house. when Steve was home over the weekend he let the little monster have 3 accidents on my rug (grrr!). I am not into having a house that smells like a dog lives there!

The dogs did have a kennel stench that was gross. The shelter has a gross dirty dog smell that is rather disgusting. They were hosing down "cleaning" and didn't have any products they were using. I mean, come on, even some pinesol would have helped to eliminate the stink. I actually feel sorry for the dogs there. The kennels where clean but they were not the type where they could wander inside and out in their own pens. They are stuck in a concrete area with concrete floors and an old wooden pallet to sleep on. I actually feel so bad about the consitions there I am considering buying a case of the doggie stink elimintor products and donating them to the shelter.

I do not know what food the dogs where eating while there but whatever it was it left the little puppy with bloat and a huge gas problem. To rid them of the stench and to help get their skin and fur back into shape we used really good dog shampoo and bathed them two days in a row. This helped to rid them of some of the stench. The second thing I have been doing is feeding twice a day with a rice, yogurt and raw egg mixture. They love it! And they do not stink like they did and the puppy is no longer gassy.

So, we are all fine. The dogs are fine. Everyone is adjusting just fine.

And how are you? Did you have a lovely Thanksgiving?