Show us your pets!

[Aggie_Ama]

((Lisa & Ellie))

Maggie passing was awful but not having a blind dog allowed us to open our home to a shelter kitty. Tortilla was at the kill shelter which means taking her saved her and freed her kennel to another cat that may have not had the chance. Tortilla is a bright revelation and she had already been there nearly a month, I wonder how long she would have been allowed? Either way I still cried the other night thinking of Maggie, Tortilla isn't a replacement but she is a heartwarming addition.

[mtbdarby]

Aw Lisa - I'm so sorry to hear about Ellies failing health. ((hugs)) to you guys and I hope she has a nice peaceful passing.

Gee, now you'll have room for me! J/k but I couldn't resist.

And - glad to hear Barley found his forever home! He sure is a good looking dog! Yeah!

Badger - did you pick one yet?

Rusty update - Sundail has been great working with me on his behavior issues. He has some fear aggression/biting issues going on that are triggered by the doorbell and the vacuum cleaner. The doorbell issue is getting better. We'll work on the vacuum after that. I found a new trigger today - the fly swatter! Expect he is very afraid of it - he ran and hid when I took it out to swat a huge fly. Then he went slinking into my room and wouldn't come out. I had to put a leash on him and lead him out he was so afraid. I'm betting he was hit a lot in his former life poor guy.

[Zen]

Oh, poor Rusty. No wonder he has issues!
I'd like to swat the person that made him so fearful.
With a baseball bat

[tulip]

Oh, poor Rusty! I can see why he was surrendered to the pound, with all these issues. Great job in keeping your faith in him and not giving up. I know he must be trying your patience.

I saw a Dog Whisperer episode that had a little sheltie (I think) that went crazy every time the toaster popped up. Cesar made that dog confront his fears by popping that toaster in front of him over and over again. Of course, easy for Cesar to do!

Are you able to take him for long walks? The dog trainer who has helped me with Shiloh said that long walks with the person as the leader (dog walking next to person, not in front) goes a long way to improving the dog's confidence in his person/leader. I'm fortunate that I can take Shiloh out for two hour-long walks every day. I think it's really helped him. Long walks also kinda wear the dog out, which makes acting out less appealing. Shiloh would rather nap than pace and worry like he used to do.

[andtckrtoo]

Oh, poor Rusty. No wonder he has issues!
I'd like to swat the person that made him so fearful.
With a baseball bat

I'm right behind you!! One of my friends adopted a little Chihuahua named Yoda who is also afraid of the fly swatter. I would like to take a really BIG fly swatter and let his previous owner know how it feels.

I'm so happy you are working with a trainer and putting the time and energy into making Rusty feel less fearful. It'll be hard work and he will never be an outgoing, friendly dog, but you will make him a much happier one. Bless you!

[crazycanuck]

I think it was the same for Yukon Shenton park dog refuge does its best in giving as much background info when you adopt from them but sometimes you figure out that your adoptee was obviously mistreated.

Yukon hates water bottles being squirted near her, doesn't like the hose nor a kiddie pool plus is terrified of thunder & lightning. The water thing is odd because when i fill up a water bottle, she'll come running because it might be a sign of us going to the beach... She loves the beach

[mtbdarby]

Thanks you guys. Trust me, I am not doing a great job. I'm ashamed to admit I was at the end of my rope when he bit me again and then layed into Zeus. I had even made an appointment to have him put down, but I just couldn't do it......

I'm trying the best way I can. He has definitely challanged me in more ways than one. Unfortunately, my son is now afraid of him when he starts barking because he doesn't want to get bit. If Rusty ever does bit my son he will be gone - that I can not live with. I do my best to make sure there's no situation where that will happen.

Tulip - he loves going for walks but we don't get out every day (I need to change that). I did get him out hiking for an hour and a half the other day and he loved it. He walks very good on a leash.

We take it day-by-day. That's the best we can do

[badger]

I think you'll find that taking Rusty out for an hour walk every day will make a huge difference. They so need to have that walk to burn their energies off as well as bonding with his pack member. But like Tulip said, don't let him walk in front of you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks you guys. Trust me, I am not doing a great job. I'm ashamed to admit I was at the end of my rope when he bit me again and then layed into Zeus. I had even made an appointment to have him put down, but I just couldn't do it......

I'm trying the best way I can. He has definitely challanged me in more ways than one. Unfortunately, my son is now afraid of him when he starts barking because he doesn't want to get bit. If Rusty ever does bit my son he will be gone - that I can not live with. I do my best to make sure there's no situation where that will happen.

Darby, I know you are trying your best to help this dog. I think you have gone to great lengths to try to modify his behavior, and you should be commended.
I feel I should tell you that if the dog has now bitten you more than once and you have a child at home who has become afraid of the dog....well if it were me I would not hesitate to have the dog put down. Not to 'punish' the poor dog, but rather to prevent a possibly very tragic biting incident where anyone might be the victim- you, your son, someone on the street, or a visitor...
The poor dog does not seem a likely adoptable prospect by others either.
I only say this to try to assure you that I would not think you were 'cruel' if you opted to put the dog to sleep. It's what I would do if the dog started biting.

[PamNY]

Regarding Rusty, I second the recommendation of "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson, and the avoidance of anything at all recommended by that Cesar person. I'm not a professional, but I've learned from my own rescue dogs and some very skilled professional people.

My fear aggressive dogs improved a lot with positive training techniques and some desensitization. I also recommend clicker training, and a few sessions with a good positive trainer or behaviorist (someone with legitimate credentials).

BTW, I don't have children or other pets, so that's a whole separate issue I'm not qualified to address.

Pam

[smilingcat]

two of our foster kitties. 10 month already and no home yet

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

two of our foster kitties. 10 month already and no home yet

Oh, what a wonderful photo! How could anyone resist them??

[Selkie]

Smilingcat - Did they pose like that without prompting? That's a hoot, particularly the expressions on their faces. It's true "cat-itude" - "don't you mess with us, we are bad-azz cats!"

[sundial]

two of our foster kitties. 10 month already and no home yet

I LOVE that photo. How darling!