[Dailydrool] Rescues and dog personalities

[Ventura, Miriam]

I want to offer my experience and my opinion  with my rescue Basset Jody. I
never had a basset hound before and he has been a learning experience.  Yes
he is stubborn, hard headed, a bit stinky (but I've grown to love his smell),
did I say  stubborn(?), loving, grateful, a tad aggressive when people get to
close to ME.  He likes men, women not to much and kids -fogetaboutit!  He
does not get aggressive, he will growl and move very quickly away when he
sees them coming.  He will also retreat to his "bedroom" when the grandkids
converge.  I knew nothing of this when I got him and neither did the foster
family,  They had no children and lived way out "in country". He does not
like big dogs which I think stems from being chained with an Akita on a creek
bed for 5 years and being dominated by that alpha dog. 
I am careful when I see big dogs coming, I will alternate our route if
necessary.  He is 10 years old, and we have bonded and he will spend the rest
of his time here on God's great planet with me by his side.  To get to the
point, how much can a foster family know?  My goodness, the need is so  great
and I am so amazed at how much these totatlly volunteer rescues accomplish.
I am grateful for Jody, yes he has issues but they are  my issues now too and
we are working on them. I am grateful to the rescue group that rescued my big
old grumpy, stumpy (and lumpy too) basset boy  so that I have the "privilege"
of being his slave.
When you adopt a "used" dog (as my 6 yr old  grandson likes to call them),
you adopt all that comes with them.  If you want perfection,  wait  and order
up  one of those DNA genetically engineered dogs they are gonna be making in
the lab soon enough. As for me and Jody, we will make do and so far we're
doing pretty good!

Happy Easter and Passover to all our Drool family
Miriam Ventura and Jody

P.S.  I still have my cards up that some of you guys so graciously sent (Next
year we are doing the Exchange!!) cause I love looking at the hound and
houndettes!!