J.E.B.: November 2007 Archives
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?
Since the dog has been gone the house has been strangely quiet. Not a noise out of place. No night time jingles of jewelry on a collar. No midnight run of the staircase. No tapping of nails on the hardwood floor. No snoring, farting or loud sighs.No barking at unfamiliar sounds. Just quiet.
Steve and I went out to lunch alone last weekend. Over burgers and beer we talked about how quiet the house was. I asked if we could get another dog. Steve said he would love to have another dog. We discuss the pros and cons of different breeds and narrowed down what we would like to have in the next dog who came into our family. He wanted a German Shepherd. I wanted a Chocolate Lab.
We talked about how with me being the one at home all day that the lion's share of the daily care would fall on me and the dog should be a dog I really liked and cared for as well as a good family dog for everyone to enjoy.
All week long Steve has mentioned what he would like in a family dog. We have looked at petfinder and scouted the possibilities of dogs at local and neighboring county shelters. We had our eye on a couple but due to the holiday weekend all the shelters in 5 counties were closed until next week.
I understand having holidays off but these people are local government employees and someone has to come in and feed and clean up after the dogs so why not open for a few hours friday or saturday? More people are home doing family activities at this time of the year on the weekends you would think they would see this as a perfect time to push pet adoption. Not so in our county.
On a notion I asked Steve to call the Louisa County Shelter. They were open today. The only shelter we could find that was open mind you.
Before we left Steve had a stern talk with the girls about not getting their heart set on a dog, no begging for a dog, and he and I had final approval on a dog. The kids understood completely. Steve didn't listen to himself. He took Steven to the truck and sat in the passenger side waiting for me - he walked out with his cigarettes and his phone. I had to bank the fire and lock up because he was in such a hurry he didn't even think about it. Ha!
We had/have the opportunity to get a pure bred dog but Steve really wanted to see what was at the pound first. So we went looking.
We went in - 5 kennels with 5 dogs - well, 1 puppy and 4 older dogs. The puppy had been surrendered by the owners. When Steve approached the kennel the puppy dropped to the floor and rolled over on his back paws up begging for attention. Steve immediately fell in love with the puppy.
The attendant told me there were a couple of other dogs in another area and asked me if I wanted to look but only one person at a time could go in. I went in and if I saw something interesting Steve could go in and have a look.
There were about 20 kennels mostly full of dogs being held for a longer time before being offered for adoption. The woman went down the row on one side and pointed out a couple of dogs ready to go. I did not like any of them. They were older and not the breeds I am partial to. The woman answered the phone and was away a few minutes then came back and pointed out two more dogs available then a third that would be released for adoption this evening.
I asked if I could take that dog out. She gave me a leash and I took the dog out and let him run and play and do his business. I took him back into the front of the kennel and asked Steve to step out and have a look. Steve put his puppy back in the kennel and stepped out. Some people were milling around outside and the lady behind the desk remarked 3 people had called coming to see the little puppy.
I turned to Steve and said, "If you want that puppy get him now before someone walks out of here with him before you can." You should have seen how quickly he moved! LOL he scooped up that puppy in a flash.
Here we are in the main office with a puppy and a nine month old dog and 
there was no debate or haggling or choosing.
We came home with two new family members today.
Both dogs had been surrendered by their owners.
Meet Ajax.
He is a 12 week old german shepherd - laborador mix. Steve has quickly spoiled himed him rotten. As I type he and Ajax are on the floor snuggled by the fire. He is stroking and petting and rubbing his sleeping baby.
Ajax is a very sweet puppy. He is shy and little timid. He friendly and is quickly learning to play. He is not house broken. He is not fixed (yet). In due time all of this will be corrected. We were surprised that this shelter didn't take care of those things themselves from the start.
Meet J.E.B.
He is a 9 month old chocolate lab - german pointer mix. He is an active boy and has yet to make a sound beyond one whine. He has learned quickly to sit and stay. He doesn't know how to play. He is now asleep over by the fireplace, too.
We went out pet shopping, taking both dogs with us, to pick up a new dog bed, two new collars and leashes, dog shampoo (both have awful flakey dandruff) and other odds and ends and treats. We spent too much money on these two dogs. We also got them new engraved dog tags.
The woman at the shelter fudged (shhhhhhhh) and let me have J.E.B today instead of making us wait and come back for him monday. He has not been fixed but will be as soon as I can get an appointment with the vet.
They both need their rabies and lyme disease vacs. They both need to be fixed. The shelter gave us an extended period until late February to meet those needs as it gets expensive doing this for two dogs at the same time. I thanked her kindly.
They both got a much needed bath this evening. Then they were given their new dog beds (yes, we chose two extra large dog beds and J.E.B won't lay on his!), chew toys and bones. They have drank gallons of water and eaten like pigs. They can't seem to get enough to drink or eat this evening. J.E.B is a bit skinny and could use some meet on his bones. The puppy is growing fast and will need a little extra as well.
The only problem I have at the moment is that the little one, Steve has nicknamed him 'little bit', is a farter. he has been asleep over there for over and hour and the farts coming out that puppy is disgusting. OMG he stinks. They just make Steve laugh like a fool.
When we brought them home this evening we put them out back in the fenced yard. J.E.B immediately went over to the pool and walked across the pool cover which isn't completely fastened down yet and fell in. He was floundering in the deep end and couldn't get out (the water is pulled way down and the steps are covered. Steve went tearing across the yard and pulled him out. I thought for sure he was going to dive in after him. Not 20 minutes later Ajax did the same thing. Dumb dogs! The water is like ice! We had to dry them both and bring them in to get warm.
So, we have two new dogs. I like them both. We should all live happily ever after now.
Who looks happier, Steve or the puppy?
One more thing. We named the dogs. J.E.B didn't have a name at the shelter and Ajax was being called Peter by a volunteer. He doesn't look like a Peter nor does he even answer to that name.
