Rescued a stray...

[carnutzzz]

...and I'm not so sure she's going anywhere. She's gotten real comfy in my house real quick. My friends found her malnourished, cold, and hungry. They put up posters to find the owner. They only got calls from neighbors who said the dog has been wandering for a month. Nice neighbors!!! The dog was starving!

They did a quick once over at the vet and said she's obviously malnourished, with a sore on the side of her face and some hair missing in patches. She's less than a year old- still acts very much like a puppy. About 35 lbs I guess. Pretty much the sweetest thing ever. One of those dogs that lives to serve. She's been through a lot so I came home today with a bunch of new toys and bones that she's been enjoying.

She's taken to the crate pretty well- only a little whimpering here and there to be let out. Thunderstorm last night didn't phase her, nor did my drumset, so I don't think she's gunshy or the nervous type. She likes car rides.

I guess we'll see how it goes. I named her Sadie. This will be my first dog as an adult- I had a Golden as a kid.

[lendaddy]

Cute lil fella, every dog we've ever had was a stray.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

She looks like she needs some love. Glad to hear she found a good companion in you.

[Nathans_Dad]

Good for you man, our current dog is Lucy, she was rescued from the SPCA about a year ago. Aside from being a complete nutjob when you let her out of her kennel she's a great dog.

[equality72521]

Good for you. Your story sounds just like mine. Best dog I've ever had. Here's my stray:

[Don Plumley]

This is the twin of our rescue dog, Chip!!!

Here's a picture when he was just a few months old:



He too was malnourished, a neglected stray.

Today:


And we had a golden before too!

Seriously, he is the best dog ever. PM me anytime if you want care, behavior, etc. hints.

Thank you for saving a great dog.

Don

[carnutzzz]

I gave her a small rawhide bone before I started this thread. By the time I had finished typing it she was done and just dozing off. She eats like someone is going to take it away from her.

She also wore herself out wrestling with her new toy she's laying next to. I think it's her first squeeky- she dropped it the first time it squeeked and looked confused, like she hurt something.

She's too cute- she's barking in her sleep right now. Too funny.

Pardon the juvenile Plumerias- moved them in before the last cold snap.

[Don Plumley]

She'll likely (or in the case of Chip, forever) be food-focused. That's great from a training point of view as it's much easier to train a dog that is food motivated. But you'll want to watch what you leave out and around. Our golden would never touch people food unless we said okay. Chip will eat anything, anywhere.

She's so cute!

[carnutzzz]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

This is the twin of our rescue dog, Chip!!!

Here's a picture when he was just a few months old:



He too was malnourished, a neglected stray.

Today:


And we had a golden before too!

Seriously, he is the best dog ever. PM me anytime if you want care, behavior, etc. hints.

Thank you for saving a great dog.

Don

Chip looks like a biggin!

If you lived closer to me I'd say he was the father! Any idea what he is?

[syncroid]

Dogs are smart. I think the dog "chose" you because it knew that you would take good care of it. She looks like a keeper to me.
We got our dog at the humane society when she was about 7 months old. She is the best dog I have ever had.
Meet my little ginger snap.

[Don Plumley]

Brown. That's what we usually answer.

His size is deceptive, he's only about 65#, a good mid-size dog. Built like a brick $#!^house though.

Our best guess is he is 1/2 chocolate lab and 1/2 Amstaff or one of the other bully breeds. As he has matured he is more pit looking when his ears are back, lab looking when his ears are forward. And his breed characteristics of tenacity, digging for rodents, close physical contact are very much terrier like.

[fxeditor]

Rescue dogs are the best! You have done a wonderful thing and she will love you forever! Be warned that it takes about 6 months for a dog to fully feel like she's a part of your family. Don't give her too much free reign off leash in the beginning or she may try and run away.

Make sure there are plenty of things for her to do in the house. Bully Sticks, Kongs filled with fun foods (frozen cream cheese or peanut butter are good suggestions) and plenty of chew toys will lesson the chance of items in your house getting chewed! When we rescued our second dog, Kuma (the fluffy one in the picture below) he destroyed everything in sight! Rugs, remote controls, cell phones, you name it, he chewed it! It really was our fault for not putting those things out of his reach and providing him with appropriate chewy things to occupy him. Now I'm glad to say he's practically perfect, never chews anything other then what he's supposed to

Good luck with her, You've now got a friend for life!
Michael

[Don Plumley]

He is pretty sure that this is his bed.

[equality72521]

Originally Posted by syncroid

Dogs are smart. I think the dog "chose" you because it knew that you would take good care of it. She looks like a keeper to me.

That's what I say. I tell everyone that she adopted me! She came into the shop one morning and made the rounds. She got to me and never left my side the whole day. I went out to my truck to leave and she followed me out and hopped in when I opened the door. Been with me ever since.

[pwd72s]

Carnutzzz? Looks to me like you just entered a lifetime contract. I'm thinking the benefits to you will exceed anything you give.

[stomachmonkey]

Good for you. When these things happened they were meant to.

I know you are a previous dog owner but some advice if I may.

The rawhides, make sure they are FDA approved and sold as a food item.

The rawhide sold as chew toys can contain a lot of glue and other 'stuff" that is not really that healthy for them.

Pig Ears and cow hoofs are usually a better bet.

Anything that goes in her mouth comes from her bowl, never ever feed her even once from the table. She will not associate the dinner table with food for her and there is a good shot she will never beg table side.

Crates are a good thing, good call on that.

The patchy hair thing may be a zinc deficiency, regular drug store zinc vitamin supplements are fine. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=718

Enjoy her, I think you both lucked out.

[JCF]

HA !
That's a sweet one.
Good for you both.

[carnutzzz]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

He is pretty sure that this is his bed.

This dog does that pose too. She looks like she's scratching her back on the carpet while she moves back and forth and makes a bunch of snorting sounds.

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by carnutzzz

This dog does that pose too. She looks like she's scratching her back on the carpet while she moves back and forth and makes a bunch of snorting sounds.

Yeah, Chip does the same back scratching/snorting thing a few times a day, and sleeps like the shot above.

When we first got him he had mange, other issues - was quite an expensive free dog.

Another Chip pic so you can see what Sadie might look like in a few years:



And I wholeheartedly agree - the dog picks you. Chip has brought far more us and I'm grateful he's part of our family and our life.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by syncroid

Dogs are smart. I think the dog "chose" you because it knew that you would take good care of it. She looks like a keeper to me.
We got our dog at the humane society when she was about 7 months old. She is the best dog I have ever had.
Meet my little ginger snap.

Gotta be some Anatolian Shepherd in that blood. "Gentle Giants" they are...but don't mess with the humans in their pack.