happier puppy news-with pics

[Tuckervill]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[maillotpois]

Nice tongue!!!

[amy]

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]

So naming a dog "ShimaNO" is out?

[Tuckervill]

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]

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

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

What about Jordy? Logan? Kano?

[LBTC]

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! 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. 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~

[spokewench]

What a beautiful dog! He is very lucky

[jusdooit]

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]

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]

Congratulations! May you have many happy years together!