information

Having adopted two rescue dogs in this past year, I have learned so much about the process! Of course, I have known for a long time that there are too many dogs out there that need homes. Strays, sheltered, fostered. The numbers just keep growing. And so if you are a shelter, you will do a lot to home your dogs, because there is a line waiting to come into your quarters. 

Good shelters do not lie about their dogs. It's not their intention for a pup to go into a home, any home as quickly as possible, if that dog is going to be a poor match to your household. What they do, however, is emphasize the good in each dog. The hope is that these traits will blossom and that you will fall in love with the dog and (perhaps enthusiastically, but more likely grudgingly) deal with any problems that may arise.

There is a bit of a sales pitch going on here. If your dog looks anything at all like a black lab (Henry) or a golden retriever (Sadey), then that's what you'll read to be their likely genetic mix. Black labs and golden retrievers are desirable family pets. And yes, labels and breeds are not necessarily an indicator of the dog's temperament, but they're not irrelevant. 

I had more information on Sadey than I did on Henry who was never fostered. Her temperament was described in great detail. I spoke to and texted with the foster mom about her. I asked for any at all signs of trouble. She said there were none: Sadey was an affectionate saint in her opinion.

None of this is incorrect. Sadey is in fact a sweet dog. An affectionate pup. Indeed, a velcro dog that wont leave my side (much to Henry's dismay). 

Now, after two weeks with her and some genetic testing, I'll tell you what she is not. She is not leash trained at all. She is strong and she pulls and she is only now realizing that she has to treat walks as potty time. She is not immediately happy to see people. The term used to describe her -- "all sweetness" misses the part where she barks at strangers during our walks. Unlike Henry, she doesn't also growl and if you approach a human, chances are she'll be happy to make friends with them  (Henry takes longer), but she is not just a complete people lover, automatically friends with anyone she sees. She is also likely not two years and two months old. Probably younger (according to the vet). She is hyperactive, suggesting youthfulness and/or a breed mix that leans toward that behavior.

Finally, though "sold" as a lab/golden retriever  mix (the friendliest of the friendly!), her DNA test indicates that she is only 12% Labrador Retriever and only 1% Golden Retriever. So what breeds dominate in her? Not ones I would have ever considered for a pet pooch: German Shepherd (32%) and here's one I would have liked to avoid -- Belgian Malinois (20%). As in all these Texas dogs, there are also traces of Pitbull and American Staffordshire  -- something I knew you couldn't avoid. (And there are tiny, really tiny bits of fun breeds in her: Poodle, Beagle, American Eskimo Dog. And not so fun but luckily also tiny bits of the Chow-Chow -- which, as far as I can tell, is the least affectionate dog on the planet.)

So, basically Sadey is mostly a German Shepherd with stronger strains of the Belgian Malinois and weaker strains of a Labrador Retriever. 

Uff! If labels could send shivers, I think that these would have had me shaking a bit! But these breed strains are just that -- strains. Disposition is uniquely formed by many factors and you don't know which breed is dominating in which physical or temperamental category, nor how much she conforms to that breed standard anyway. 

I discussed this and all other dog matters with Aimee (the Director of the doggie daycare and the dog  training program). Her sister Julie assists there as well and Julie is a true dog whisperer -- Henry loves her to pieces and she has assessed Sadey too as a "very sweet" dog. Nonetheless, the Malinois strain in Sadey has put me on alert to ratchet up the training of these dogs -- Henry for his reactiveness and Sadey -- well, she needs to be more responsive to commands. Right now she doesn't know many, and isn't good at sustaining any of them.  I've been so busy that I've been only haphazardly keeping up with them. Too, I have yet to figure out how I can work with just one dog at a time. But this is work that must be done. The two weeks of introductions and observations were fine and they were needed -- for her, for Henry, for me. But now I really have to take this seriously because a bored or untrained Malinois will surely wreck my house and my days. (I know, I know -- she's not really a Malinois and not all Malinois are of the same disposition, but still, it's a reminder!)

 

The day now has a double start time for me. Sort of like an alarm clock that you put on snooze and then it comes back to try to wake you once more. At around six, someone must be arriving or leaving somewhere nearby because both dogs run downstairs then, barking. I ignore them, aside from issuing a loud command directing them to be quiet, which of course they choose to ignore.

Then comes the second wake-up (on the off chance that you fell asleep again after the racket). This second one is indeed lovely. Licks, jumps, kisses of excitement.

We go out on our walk. 

Both dogs are pokey today. I dont know why. Distractions perhaps. Sadey is still pulling hard and I'm still too lazy and forgetful to use her harness.

 

 

I feed them, and sit down to breakfast, and look over at the computer to read the results of Sadey's DNA tests.

Well, I was equally surprised with Henry. Sold as a black lab, he had 0% of that in him and carried instead significant amounts of Rottweiler (38%) followed by equal parts Doberman (12%), Siberian Husky (11%), and Great Pyrenees (11%).  To me, he looks and acts like a Dobbie. The good sides of a Dobbie!

I take my mutts to day care, feeling grateful for it, despite the hefty bite that it takes out of my monthly budget. Both dogs need lots of stimulation and socialization. They get it at day care.

 

In the afternoon, I pick up Snowdrop way at the other side of town ...

 

 

... and take her to her Shakespeare play performance, closer to home. 

Then it's back to that corner of the woods to get the dogs. And home again. Ed comes over tonight, for dinner and a movie. This is a good thing for me, but also for the dogs. It's never a good idea, I dont think, to associate their home with just one person -- me. Henry, of course, is overjoyed. 

 

 

Sadey is still more cautious. I'm happy for Henry. He hasn't had many belly rubs since the girl has arrived. With Ed, he is not shy about staying by his siade the whole evening and getting his share of cuddles.

With kids and dogs taking up so much of my time, I feel sometimes like I've slipped over the edge to their world, forgetting what it's like to actually be in the company of adults. Bad enough that I mix up my doggie names, saying good girl, Henry and good boy Sadey way too often. I also function with an eye and ear to their issues. I'm sure this will pass, but still, in these stages of grandkid lives and young dog ownership, I need to be in the presence of big people more. Ed qualifies!

With so much love...