[Dailydrool] Grief / Confusion/

[Dale Rutz]

Hello,
 
Anitas advise is very sensible.  I have to tell you (although you may already know) I am not nearly as sensible as Anita.  That said, I've had quite a bit of luck with dogs pulled directly from the local dog pound.
 
We pulled Cyrus there almost 6 years ago.  When we went back in January of this year looking for a second dog I was in the same boat as you.  I REFUSED to take Cyrus down to the pound because I was fairly certain that would terrify him.  So, we went to the pound and took a look around.  Snoopy was just coming out of anesthesia from being neutered so there was no chance at all to do an eval on him.  Now I have kids as well as another dog and I was pretty concerned ... I mean ... not all bassets are gentle.  They suggested I take the dog home and if he was aggressive toward my kids or my other dog bring him back.
 
Well, it is a kill shelter so we took him and hoped for the best.  When we got home we brought Cyrus (who has never been aggressive but is big enough to take care of himself) outside and introduced them.  We got some tail wagging and praised both of them GOOD BOYS the whole time.  Then, we took Snoopy inside and showed him where to drink and where to pee and where to lay down.  We had some excitement when I tried to feed them (like an idiot I did not anticipate food aggression) but we solved that.
 
Now, it has not all been a bed of roses at our house.  Snoopy was VERY good for two weeks until, in Anitas words, "he decided to keep us."  Then he got territorial about attention and toys and door ways and darn near everything else.  He also started AHROOOing like a madman at the dog park.  He became something of a thief (he's always making off with something) and somewhat hard headed.  BTW ... I must apologize ... I found an e-mail to Edmund in sent files on the computer and it seems he's been passing along tips and tricks ...
 
The good news is that neither Snoopy nor Cyrus has ever bitten each other (although there has been some trashy talk on both sides at times).  It's been 6 months now.  Last night I caught my dignified, regal, 7 1/2 year old Lab doing the basset 500 with Snoopy out back .... I SWEAR my black lab blushed!  We find them snuggled up together everywhere ... and if you scold one the other one will punish you by standing outside until the one who got in trouble comes off time out.
 
So do what you think is best ... most shelters and rescues will take the dog back if your dog cannot accept him/her.  I have been told it is best NOT to introduce them inside your home ... at the dog park ... any neutral location is better.
 
best of luck,
Dale (with Cyrus and Snoopy who are all curled up together ... snuggle snuggle)

--- On Sun, 7/10/11, HarrisonGrp at comcast.net <HarrisonGrp at comcast.net> wrote:






Suggestions were made that my 12 yoa that recently lost his companion of 12 years participate in the selection process for a new roommate. Here is a run down of JB's big adventure. In put would be most grateful appreciated; I'm really confused now.
 
Our day started with JB and his usual crying when he got in the travel crate that he never would travel in without his companion. We got a toe job and we arrived early at Petco in Milton, GA  for the BHRG adoption event. JB was not calming down as we thought he should be. No treats, water, rubbing, the normal attention was'nt helping, JB just did not want to be a traveler that day, especially without Kris in the car. Same patterns. He wouldn't drink and was constantly barking and overheating. We walked him around in various locations, grass, sidewalks, etc. giving him a feel of different areas feels, smells, feels, etc. A snack and a brushing helped a little, but he was upset about being there. So to cool him a bath. That helped calm him. By the time he was finished the group had arrived. 

By noon everyone arrived and JB was cool and a little more calm. He then went to meet and greet. We all grouped in the back of the store. I had a flash back when we took our son to pre-K when he was 4 years old. JB hid behind us, would give little yips, and kept trying to get between our legs to hide, head first. He paws at us with his left front foot to get a neck / chest rub. This went on constantly when he wasn't hiding. JB did not socialize; there was no sniffing, no eye looks, no touching, no visitation of any sort. We couldn't even push him their general direction. Eventually, maybe after 20 minutes, JB just got up and walked to the back of the store, around the group, didn't look back, and out the front door. Sure he was the biggest, oldest, and certainly most seasoned Basset in the group, but he acted like my son at the first day of pre-K and would not even go near the other dogs, he just wanted to hid behind my wife's leg, but the other
 dogs wouldn't go near him either. It was as if he was putting off vibes that he was not approachable. One little red/white nuzzled me and looked at JB momentarily. No growling. He wasn't mean or being protective of us but he was so bashful and shy it was as if it was a different dog. 

When we got home he was very clinging for two days. He has just now settled down. It was an interesting outing. A total time in the car and away from the house may have been too much for him. His normal trip in the van was maybe 20 minutes. This could have been one of the several factoring issues. Too much excitement, too much time away from home, too much . . . We may revisit on 7/23 when the group come back to the Marietta Petco. I'm being patient with him. He hasn't developed an bad habits, except his outdoor habits have been reduced to waiting to the very last second. He has also lost 8 pounds in the last 4 weeks. He never struggled for his food. So maybe there is some concernt there and we are watching that and the food blend. I am certainly open to suggestions and anyone's appreciate input. Seems to be getting more complicated.  

Keith 

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