happier puppy news-with pics [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

aly

11-04-2007, 08:53 AM

Ok, so he isn't really a puppy, except in spirit. I would like to introduce you to our new addition. His rescue name was Chico, but my BF didn't want to keep that name. Now, we're deciding between Campy and Chesky (my BF is Czech). We're also looking for other possibilities. Any suggestions?

It's nice to have happy stuff going on. Of course, he won't replace Jane, but he has his own charm. Also, you can't tell from these, but he is very, very skinny. The rescue was having a hard time adopting him out because he was kind of sad looking next to the other big beautiful guys. We're suckers for the underdogs- and generally find that they end up being the best!
I hope these pics aren't too huge...
4803

4804

4805

Zen

11-04-2007, 09:10 AM

he looks so HAPPY!

i wish you would keep the name, though. Think of Chico Marx.

aly

11-04-2007, 09:18 AM

surgtech1956

11-04-2007, 09:21 AM

Sounds like he's got himself a happy new home. I'm glad the world is full of us dog and cat people.

elk

11-04-2007, 09:40 AM

he's lovely...and I can see how skinny he is...and that uncertainty in his eyes as he looks around and says...is this it????is this really mine?????

hugs!

Wahine

11-04-2007, 09:40 AM

Yay!! I'm sooooooo happy for your family and (insert name here).

A friend of ours was having a really tough time naming a rescue dog. He didn't respond to the name they gave him at the shelter. My friend waited it out, thinking that one day, somehow the dog would tell her his name.

We had a big party at her house. I stayed over (couldn't drive). The next morning we got up and the dog had selectively picked out all the Molson Canadian cans from around the house and hid them behind the couch.

His name became Molson and he caught on to it really quickly.

Maybe this cutie pie will tell you his name. Just keep your eyes open.

divingbiker

11-04-2007, 09:54 AM

Congratulations! Rescue dogs are the best. Sometimes skinny rescue dogs never fatten up...I've got a skinny one, and so do my neighbors.

When I got my dog Cassie (who died a year ago) she was named Sassy. What an awful snotty name for a sweet, non-sassy dog. But she knew the name and so she became Cassie. (Then she went deaf so it didn't matter what her name was :p .)

Tri Girl

11-04-2007, 09:59 AM

Congratulations on your newest addition!!! He's quite the cutie!!!
Looks like now he can settle in and enjoy the rest of his long life in a loving home! Hooray for you!!!! :)

On an off note, I went to PetSmart yesterday for dog food for our three dogs, and they had a local no kill shelter there adopting dogs. I petted every one for a long time, then had to leave. Got in my car and just cried and cried. I love dogs so much, and it makes me so sad to see them just looking at you hoping they'll get to come home and run and play. So, I'm really glad that you adopted your new baby and gave him a great home. All 3 of our dogs are rescues, and if I could have 10 more I would (but the vet bills would bleed us dry).

mtbdarby

11-04-2007, 10:38 AM

He is adorable!! I'm so happy for you and that he's found a good home that he deserves. May you have many happy, wonderful years ahead of you!

sundial

11-04-2007, 10:45 AM

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I'm so very happy for you and your new family member. He looks so good natured and very, very happy to have a wonderful home.

I like a good two syllable name for dogs. Chesky is pretty interesting and the czech lines are the choice lines for working K-9's. :)

As far as renaming the dog, I like to rename my rescues to give them a fresh start in life. Regardless of what you decide, I'll bet he'll appreciate anything you give him. :) As you spend more time with him and see the colors of his personality, I'll bet you'll come up with a great name for him.

I'm very happy for you all and I'm especially touched that you adopted a rescue. Hugs from my rescues to yours.

Cathy, Niki and Luke

sundial

11-04-2007, 10:46 AM

Ok, I just gave him a kiss on his little nose. :) :)

snapdragen

11-04-2007, 11:05 AM

Congratulations, he is a very handsome fellow!

OakLeaf

11-04-2007, 11:06 AM

What a handsome boy. I'm so happy for all of you.

Tuckervill

11-04-2007, 11:53 AM

He'll fatten up, I betcha!

Zeke came with his name--he was at the shelter* for 6 months before I found him, and all the volunteers knew him by that name. So, we kept it.

Lucy got her name from her rescuer THE DAY that I adopted her, and had no clue about it. So now her whole name is Lucy Clueless, which matches her personality some of the time! She's just now getting to where she answers to it after about 6 weeks. When she's bad, it's Lucifer!

I like the names together, Zeke & Lucy.

Congratulations on the new pup!

*I read in the paper today that the shelter where we got Zeke 4 years ago was ransacked and their van was stolen overnight. Everything gone or destroyed, except they didn't touch the animals, thank goodness. One of the lobby dogs was so traumatized it wouldn't come out from under the desk when the staff arrived. :(

Karen

makbike

11-04-2007, 12:09 PM

I'm so glad to read some happy pet news. Your loss, Beth's loss, my mom had her old cat, Putter, put to sleep and I lost my guinea pig as well. It has been a sad week in petland.

Congratulations on your new addition. He is beautiful. Do a search under pet names. I found several good sites when I was looking for a new name for the Great Dane I adopted several years ago. He came with the name Austin which really did not suite him. Afte much searching I settled on Gaston - it fits him perfectly. Enjoy your new buddy and may you guys have many, many years of happiness and love.

Aggie_Ama

11-04-2007, 03:11 PM

Congratulations!! He looks ready to love and be loved.

We have a sorta rescue, we bought her from a breeder because she was related to our other Schnauzer and about the same age. We then realized she had been over-bred and never loved. The poor thing didn't know how to eat out a bowl and was frightened when I came toward her to pet her. The breeder called her HGT, an abbreviation of her registered name. We started calling her Maggie and she learned it pretty quick.

sbctwin

11-04-2007, 03:59 PM

Aly, your new puppy looks so happy to be with you. Congratulations on getting one so quickly. I have yet to be a fur-mom again. I had such a difficult time with Kallie, that I just haven't been able to reach out just yet. I know the time will come again, I just have to know it is right for me and I keep thinking that a fur-friend will find me as all my others have.

bmccasland

11-04-2007, 04:37 PM

Aly, Congratulations on your new fur friend! He looks so happy to have a new home.

Yesterday afternoon for some happy zannyness, I took the neighbor's dogs (a small spaniel mutt Nola and a big shepherd mutt King) along with my Aussie, Nala, for a walk. Since I haven't walked King, and they haven't worked with him very much, I had to pay lots of attention to what the dogs were doing instead of thinking about other stuff. All of us were tired when we got home. But it was a pretty day and after a rough morning, I needed some fun. My neighbors think I'm nuts to "borrow" dogs, but that's OK. Let them wonder. So I hope you and your new friend have lots of lovely long walks together.

B

Zen

11-04-2007, 04:52 PM

On an off note, I went to PetSmart yesterday for dog food for our three dogs, and they had a local no kill shelter there adopting dogs. I petted every one for a long time, then had to leave. Got in my car and just cried and cried. I love dogs so much, and it makes me so sad to see them just looking at you hoping they'll get to come home and run and play.

Don't worry about those dogs, they'll find homes and in the meantime they have foster caregivers like me. We give them a good place to live until they're adopted so they won't ever go back to a shelter

teigyr

11-04-2007, 05:05 PM

Congrats, he is beautiful! I can see too how he is unsure if this will last but he'll learn.

We are gone too much to have dogs right now but we have five rescue cats. I love it when that light finally comes on and they realize that this is their home and nobody will abandon them again.

I can't wait to see more pictures. And with that tongue...a licker. Go figure!!!

nic840

11-04-2007, 05:18 PM

Congratulations on the new handsome guy! I have a soft spot for shepards. I grew up with two rescue shepards, Sasha and Murphy.

Glad you and your BF opened your heart to a new love so soon! He is a lucky pup! Have fun...as I hear my pup ripping up paper in the other room....got to go!

sandra

11-04-2007, 05:22 PM

teigyr

11-04-2007, 05:45 PM

THANK YOU for picking a rescue dog. They do make the best pets. My neighbors just got a rescue dog and that is the happiest dog I've seen in a long time.

My two poodles are a sort of "rescue". One is 8 and the other is 5. They both have underbites and the breeder just wanted to "dispose" of them because she couldn't sell them for much money or for breeding. The male was taken in by someone and being used as a pet therapy dog when I found him.

I can't go to Pet's Mart on adoption day. I want to bring them ALL home.

We go with the knowledge that they will get homes :D We pat them and play with them. The only time it's sad is if we see them several weeks in a row.

One good side note is our latest rescue cat, Albert, is this HUGE guy. If we go to adoption day for the cats and mention him, everyone gushes over him. Those volunteers rock...and they really try to do everything they can for the animals.

Aly, I am so happy you found another rescue dog. I so firmly believe that making a difference is the most important thing any of us can do and you have definitely done that. I think Jane would be proud. I know this Jane is.

We had a cat that had been abused --- as a kitten she had been kicked repeatedly in the head. DH adopted her from me before we got married. She got sudden neurological problems and declined rapidly, like in less than 24 hours. He called me from the emergency vet and then, with me and the vet's advice, had to determine to put her down. He was SO good to her...that really solidified our relationship and it is so tragic, esp because I think the former abuse causes a lot of the problems later in life. The best we can do is provide them happiness as long as we can. I can't think of it without crying but at least I know she was happy for as long as she was with me/us.

maillotpois

11-04-2007, 06:52 PM

Nice tongue!!! :D :D

amy

11-04-2007, 08:50 PM

I missed you on our ride today, Aly. But now that I see the pictures, I can understand! Congratulations on the new addition.

On a side note, my dog trainer said you should never give a dog a name that ends sounding too much like "no" as it can be confusing. (Chico) I don't know, but I decided to take the advice and avoid it.

Have a great week with you new baby! I'll see you next weekend for the Tour de Foothills.

KnottedYet

11-05-2007, 04:38 AM

So naming a dog "ShimaNO" is out? :D

Tuckervill

11-05-2007, 05:30 AM

I hardly ever use the word no with my dogs. (I don't use it with children either, but that's for another day.) I just say some form of "uh-uh" and physical action (getting up or standing near them--not hitting) when it's necessary. At the same time I try to set up their world where it becomes unnecessary to correct them. Distraction and guidance towards appropriate behavior. Anticipation of situations were they might feel the need to misbehave. Doggie door for going out. Put the shoes away instead of leaving them where the dog can get them. Crating.

Right now I have to put a gate up across the kitchen when I leave so the dogs can come and go and still get the food. But I don't have to worry about whatever my son has left in the living room, or the furniture. She (my new dog) can't get to anything in the kitchen. I just set her up for success.

I guess maybe I shouldn't name any dog ending in "uh-uh", huh?

Karen

sundial

11-05-2007, 05:37 AM

Here's a list of gsd names from my favorite gsd websites:

http://www.germanshepherds.com/names/

What about Jordy? Logan? Kano?

ibcycling

11-05-2007, 06:13 AM

short cut sally

11-05-2007, 08:40 AM

Picture #1 is the best..Those eyes and that tongue. I fell in love too and could see why you had to bring him home. Good luck on finding a new name for him.

spokewench

11-05-2007, 09:49 AM

What a beautiful dog! He is very lucky

deidre

11-05-2007, 11:30 AM

Aly, thanks for sharing the pictures! He is such a cutie. That tongue.....Reminds me of my Ariel: When she was a puppy, the kids in the neighborhood would ask us if she would ever grow into that tongue. And the answer is...no, she hasn't.

DH likes to get me going and call her Gene (Gene Simmons - KISS).

Ariel sends a big sloppy kiss to the new addition to your family. :D

Thanks for giving him a loving home. Can't wait to see more pictures.

crazycanuck

11-05-2007, 12:25 PM

What a cutie :)

The first pic drew me in!

c

Ninabike

11-05-2007, 01:34 PM

Aly, So glad you have a new addition to the family. He will be such a happy dog!!

jusdooit

11-05-2007, 02:57 PM

He's quite handsome. My last rescue dog came with the name, but I just couldn't get that to come out. Abby blurted out of my mouth, she answered........it was love.

malaholic

11-05-2007, 04:10 PM

What a beautiful pup he is, congratulations! While it's true that he can never replace Jane, I think that she will be proud to see that you are rescuing another dog in need. He looks so happy in the photos, what a lucky guy!!

yellow

11-05-2007, 04:12 PM

Congratulations! May you have many happy years together!

teigyr

11-05-2007, 04:16 PM

Congrats on your new furbaby!!!

He's beautiful and I'm sure will fill out and be even more beautiful under your care. He's got a lot of tongue to lick with. LOL! Keep us updated on how he's doing. How old do they think he is?

I work at Petco and we have an area with shelter kitties. I'm so thrilled when someone asks about them because they are from a local high-kill shelter and don't have much time. :( DH is VERY worried our cat family will be expanding. I'd bring them all home if I could.

Lora

(short threadjack)

Is that the Ellensburg shelter? My latest rescue cat came from there. A lot of the no-kill agencies are taking all they can from that area because the shelter is so small most cats don't have a chance. He was taken by Purrfect Pals and brought to a Petsmart in Seattle where we found him :D

Now, I can't wait to hear how the dog is adjusting!!!

aly

11-05-2007, 06:38 PM

Thanks so much for the compliments and encouragement! Chester (that's his new name- it just seems to suit his personality) is adjusting well. Poor guy had a little episode last might when he couldn't catch his breath- it almost looked like a seizure, but was more a breathing thing. It was short and hasn't happened again. We'll keep an eye on him and mention it to the vet this weekend. He also needed a good frontline and a bath. He's still smelly, but slightly more bearable. Hopefully his itching will go away soon.

Otherwise, he's doing great. He keeps patroling the house, he returns to me every now and then to give kisses. He isn't barking at all yet and ignored the food delivery guy that just came! I'm not sure if this is good or bad... We're trying to do some basic training and he's picking it up quickly. He's also getting more used to the kitties (very important).

Now I just need to get over him, so I can start riding again!!

sundial

11-06-2007, 08:07 AM

Aly, do you have more pics of Chester? :)

TsPoet

11-06-2007, 12:12 PM

I keep expecting someone to come up with a name that takes that wonderful tongue into account! I know, Gene Simmons, but there has to be others.

My two rescues both came with names I hated. I always heard that you shouldn't change their names, but I don't think rescue dogs get a chance to know their rescue names. Buddy became Murphy and Trisha became Finagle (which I pronounce with a soft a). They both sure know their names now.

He's gorgeous and I'm sure he'll continue to look better with love and a home.

aly

11-06-2007, 02:42 PM

I think Gene Simmons is a brilliant name- it totally cracked me up. I lobbied hard for it, but it was vetoed. The name Chester actually did take into account his tongue/ kissing, but it's in bad taste. I'm big on bad taste.

I've done some work with rescues, and in the ones I've worked with it seems that most names do end up getting changed (but not all). Some people feel bad doing it, and just won't tell the rescue. With one of my kitties, I just changed it from Ash to Cash. Others, I've kept the name and some, I've changed completely.

I spent last night looking through the "happy endings" photos on the Westside GSD rescue page, and noticed that most of the names were changed. It's funny how it's all a matter of personal taste. I thought many of the rescue names were much better than the new names, but obviously the new families didn't feel the same.

Sundial- thanks for asking for more pictures! I'll be taking a bunch more just to post here. I love taking pictures of my puppies! Maybe I'll take some tonight...

By the way, he did the breathing thing again. Anyone have experience with this with a new rescue? My little guy had kennel couch when I got him and I remember it being a weird breathing thing, but it's been too long to remember exactly what it was like. We're going to the vet later this week to check it out.

nancielle

11-07-2007, 05:40 PM

Love picture #1. His expression just beams "Hey! Give me a hug and while you're at it, a belly rub would be pretty darn nice too." Congrats on the new furkid.

elk

11-07-2007, 06:33 PM

Thanks so much for the compliments and encouragement! Chester (that's his new name- it just seems to suit his personality) is adjusting well. Poor guy had a little episode last might when he couldn't catch his breath- it almost looked like a seizure, but was more a breathing thing. It was short and hasn't happened again. We'll keep an eye on him and mention it to the vet this weekend. He also needed a good frontline and a bath. He's still smelly, but slightly more bearable. Hopefully his itching will go away soon.

Now I just need to get over him, so I can start riding again!!

haha...you must be like me...one HUGE obsession at a time please!!

As far as the breathing thing...is he snorking?.. How do I explain that..is it like he can't get air into his lungs and he's pulling so hard that he's making noises?

elk

11-07-2007, 06:43 PM

I'll talk to my BF about it. I don't like changing names (you wouldn't do it to a kid...), but they assured us at the rescue that he never attached to the name. He doesn't respond to it at all. At first I thought he might have hearing problems, but it turns out he just doesn't know his name. Poor guy.

Yup, he sure is happy- and he's a licker!

As far as names go...I have only ever kept the name of two dogs that came with names...Olivia (beat that!!) and Sonny. Otherwise I am all in favor of changing their names...new life , new name. I also think that naming an animal is one way you bond...in a real and a spiritual way. AND i like to LIKE the name!!

Names are SO important. I once got this woman really mad becasue she asked me for housebreaking advice; her 2 year old male was peeing on everything.. the first thing I suggested was changing his name. You know what his name was? Squirt! :eek: jeez. Names have energy.

NEVER had a problem....even with my 12 year old rescue. He came as Cando which had been his name all his life (which consisted of living in a cage) and I called him Cubby. In a day he knew his new name.

I also must admit that I ask them if they like the new name...and they always tell you!! And I am NOT all woo-woo either...:cool:

sandra

11-07-2007, 06:56 PM

haha...you must be like me...one HUGE obsession at a time please!!

As far as the breathing thing...is he snorking?.. How do I explain that..is it like he can't get air into his lungs and he's pulling so hard that he's making noises?

My dog does this only occasionally, not often. What does that mean?

aly

11-07-2007, 07:00 PM

Elk- that's pretty much exactly it. He'll do it for a few long seconds and I'll get worried, then he's fine. He didn't do it last night though...

Here are a couple more pics-
4832

4833

They really don't do him justice, but I haven't been home before dark yet this week. Sometimes he actually looks really happy and fun-these are a little more somber. I'll be going picture crazy over the weekend.

sandra

11-07-2007, 07:02 PM

ahhhhhhh. He looks like he is settling in and relaxed though.

aly

11-07-2007, 07:04 PM

And one more- because I can't help myself...
4835

aly

11-07-2007, 07:08 PM

Sandra- How is your little guy? I thought about you quite a bit while we were at the vet. I'm sorry you had such a difficult situation, it made me very happy to see the pictures of him recovering and nestled in your house- where he belongs.

sandra

11-07-2007, 07:16 PM

I ran him back to the vet this week for a check. He is frisky and feeling great. The new diet is working so well, he is now off lasix. He was getting fat, gained one pound from 7 to 8 lbs, so we have to cut him back. I'm so happy that we made the decision we did and he's doing so well. Thank you for asking.

It's not him that does the breathing like that though. It's the female. She almost acts like she got a nose full of pepper for just a second...snorting and blowing.

Beane

11-07-2007, 07:58 PM

She almost acts like she got a nose full of pepper for just a second...snorting and blowing.

Is the dog asleep when this is happening? Almost all the dogs I've ever lived with/owned have done this weird breathing/squeaking thing when they are deep in dreams (at least I think so, cuz their feet are twitching too). Since they've all done it I've always thought it was a normal dreaming thing.

elk

11-07-2007, 09:59 PM

It's probably reverse sneezing..and that's all it is.

Why do they do it? Not sure...My papillons do it after they've been grazing (literally) and I think its kind of like an allergy sneeze.Or a nose tickle. I woudn't be alarmed unless it really increases in intensity and occurance.

Dreaming dogs mutter...:D like we do in our sleep.

e

crazycanuck

11-07-2007, 10:17 PM

Aly-your dog is so cute! I want to jump through my screen & give him a big hug!

awwww..

c

Tuckervill

11-08-2007, 03:20 AM

They're just trying clear their sinuses when they do that. My old broad Percy had serious sinus issues and was always sucking backwards through her sinuses. It's not dangerous or harmful. It's normal.

Percy, however, lived for years with constantly draining sinuses, and would sneeze great gobs every morning. So if your pup's nose starts running, too, or he sneezes out gunk, be sure to go and make sure it's all okay. It was late in her life, so we never took xrays of her or anything, because it didn't seem to bother her (the great gobs of stuff bothered me a LOT but I dealt with it). Could have been a sinus polyp or a foreign body from digging--we'll never know. But a young pup might have an infection that could be nipped in the bud.

Clearing sinuses (reverse sneeze)=no problem.
Clearing sinuses with green goo=get checked.

Karen

sundial

11-08-2007, 05:20 AM

Aly, thanks for posting more pics of your new boy. I'm in love. :)

My girls do the backward sneeze too--usually in the spring. If they do it often, I give them a Benedryl and it seems to help.

LBTC

11-08-2007, 05:46 AM

Right now I have to put a gate up across the kitchen when I leave so the dogs can come and go and still get the food. But I don't have to worry about whatever my son has left in the living room, or the furniture. She (my new dog) can't get to anything in the kitchen. I just set her up for success.

Great ideas, Tuckervill. But you must not have border collies! :o They see an obstacle, like a gate, and they put those border collie brains to work to find a way around (or over or through) the obstacle. :eek: Ours trained the neighbour dog, who had previously been quite happy to stay in the kitchen, how to get out through the maze of dining room chairs placed there to stop her. Oops.!

Aly, Chester is so wonderful! Thank you and congratulations!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

OakLeaf

11-08-2007, 07:00 AM

What a cutie. You are so lucky to have found each other.

I wouldn't worry about changing a dog's name, just because I'm remembering all the different nicknames our dogs had. Just like when someone comes up with a new nickname for you, dogs know you're talking to them just by context and inflection.

I think our attachment to our own names these days has more to do with the inconvenience of paperwork than anything else. Remember all the cultures that used to mark a major milestone in life with a new name. We still do it today in limited circumstances: changing a surname on marriage, joining a religious order. Why not let your dog mark his milestone the same way (not the way dogs usually mark milestones :D ).

Tuckervill

11-08-2007, 07:04 AM

Great ideas, Tuckervill. But you must not have border collies! :o They see an obstacle, like a gate, and they put those border collie brains to work to find a way around (or over or through) the obstacle. :eek: Ours trained the neighbour dog, who had previously been quite happy to stay in the kitchen, how to get out through the maze of dining room chairs placed there to stop her. Oops.!

Aly, Chester is so wonderful! Thank you and congratulations!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

Oh yes, this wouldn't have worked with my previous Jack Russell, either. (Her name was Ladybug, and she weighed just 10 lbs.) She could leap over almost anything. Whatever she couldn't leap, she could climb. We had to electrify the fence to keep her in the yard. She only got shocked once and then we turned it off but left the wire there.

We set her up for success, too, though. Her doggie door opened into the sunroom which had an exterior type door leading to the house. (different house than this one) She just used her wiles to get out of the yard, instead. ::eeek:::

Karen