happier puppy news-with pics

[spokewench]

What a beautiful dog! He is very lucky

[deidre]

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.

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

[crazycanuck]

What a cutie

The first pic drew me in!

c

[Ninabike]

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

[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!

[teigyr]

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

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

[aly]

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]

Aly, do you have more pics of Chester?

[TsPoet]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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! 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...