And baby makes three!

[diamondlil]

I love his white toes!

It makes clipping his toenails a whole lot easier!

J9, every time I see photos of your puppy, it makes me want a puppy! So cute!!

I'm so happy I got him. 3 is definately my limit though. Until I win the lottery....

 

[diamondlil]

Bertie is coming around to having the puppy around and not only tolerated him but initiated play this morning! Once he was showing he'd had enough of the needle teeth attacks I used the same command 'enough' that I use when Bertie and Rosie are getting too lively and jumping all over the furniture. Having the bigger dogs to learn from is making Flash learn my commands so easily!
Off to the butchers to pick up a box of chicken carcasses, all bagged up and stuffed in the freezer.

 

[insomniac101]

Bertie in particular is a challenge. He was abused and is a rescue dog so he does have issues I'm working on.

Poor boy! I adopted all but one of my dogs as seniors, so you get years of someone else's training (or lack of), possible abuse and/or neglect, and all kinds of behavioral issues. It's usually a big mystery, as the rescue organizations don't have a whole lot of information and history on the dogs they pick up. It's definitely been a challenge for me as well!

Kathy

 

[MegF.]

They can relearn quickly though Kathy. I foster all kinds of dogs and generally, give them discipline and a schedule and they do very well. With puppies it's always nice to have balanced dogs to teach them manners and behaviors. Flash plays exactly the same way as Summer does....tries to chew toes and necks while the big dogs are on the sofa! So cute!

 

[diamondlil]

Poor boy! I adopted all but one of my dogs as seniors, so you get years of someone else's training (or lack of), possible abuse and/or neglect, and all kinds of behavioral issues. It's usually a big mystery, as the rescue organizations don't have a whole lot of information and history on the dogs they pick up. It's definitely been a challenge for me as well!

Kathy

I got Bertie from a specialist terrier rescue. What I do know is that he'd had 2 homes before he went to the rescue and was returned from his first adoption. He'd been beaten as a puppy and retaliated by becoming a biter. He wasn't classed as being safe to be around children. One thing I remember is that he was depressed and wouldn't play at all and the foster had to teach him to enjoy being a puppy again.
As soon as I got him home he bonded to me and Mick, but not to my adult boys. He responds really well to firm, kind direction and has never in any way challenged me or Mick. With my sons he's improving greatly but cannot be 100% trusted not to snap at them. Getting them to be firmer with him and use body posture to remind him of his place in the pack is the key. They felt sorry for him, a fatal mistake with a dog like him as he sees it as a sign that he can elevate himself above them!

They can relearn quickly though Kathy. I foster all kinds of dogs and generally, give them discipline and a schedule and they do very well. With puppies it's always nice to have balanced dogs to teach them manners and behaviors. Flash plays exactly the same way as Summer does....tries to chew toes and necks while the big dogs are on the sofa! So cute!

Meg as you know it's consistency that's the key especially with a rescue dog. From Bertie's reactions to Flash I wonder if he was taken away from his litter too soon. He's very sensitive about his tail and back end being touched by my boys when he's enjoying being stroked by them, which makes me also wonder if tail-pulling was one of the things he was subjected to. I'll never know the whole story though, I just do my best to work with him and help him with his issues. Since getting the boys to use a NILIF approach and make him work for their affection he's a much happier dog.

 

[MegF.]

Sometimes it's best not to know as it often creates the feelings of sadness for the dog...which you know is not a good thing. I almost never give a dog's history to a potential adopter unless it relates to something the dog has to work on...for instance, my current foster who was feral. She lacks socialization with humans and is very mistrustful of strangers. I have to make that clear to a potential adopter to be sure they have the knowledge to work with a dog like her and to continue her socialization. Each dog that comes into my house is treated the same, with some consideration for certain aspects of their behavior. My feral dogs for instance won't be tethered to me as they often are so fearful of humans that getting near them is out of the question. They may go on a long line for a while so that I can catch them when outdoors to bring them back inside but are otherwise ignored completely while I pay attention to my own pack. I let my dogs bring out that dog. Any other dogs are kept on leash for a period of time and are expected to follow me wherever I go unless tethered or otherwise restrained if I have to go to a part of the house they are not allowed in. Usually it's just for a day or two. All are expected to eat out of their own bowls and not go near anyone else's.....they must wait for permission to eat. Things like that. It rarely takes more than a day or two for them to settle in when you have a structured routine. The ferals and very fearful ones take the longest. 8 months for my last feral dog and I've had this one since January. They are the hardest to rehab but the most rewarding! Bertie has a good leader in you and he will thrive.

 

[diamondlil]

Ok, so I tried a little experiment this morning. When I got in from work, all the dogs out of their cages, big greetings, settle down, leashes on and out for a pee. Then I let them into the front room where they started a great 3-way tug of war. I was so tired I made myself a drink and came into my bedroom to change, trusting that without me there Bertie would carry on being appropriate with the puppy, in fact I wondered if he'd be better without me there. Well, I'm happy to report that peek in to see why they were quiet after a whole 10 minutes and they are all resting happily!

 

[MegF.]

Sometimes it does help to give them some space where they don't feel they have to "guard" you. When I introduce a new dog I usually monitor on leash at first, then remove leashes and continue to move with the dogs and then I go "work" in the yard where I can see and hear the interactions without me being in the middle of it.

 

[diamondlil]

When Bertie had had enough of Flash, he took himself into his crate and made it very clear he didn't want to be disturbed. As Rosie takes up as much of the bed as she can, I've worn the dogs out so they've gone to sleep already and asked my eldest boy to go buy a new crate for me so each dog will have their own. Bearing in mind the dogs will wake up earlier........I'm off to bed!

 

[MegF.]

Sounds like Bertie is policing himself and doing what he should! Good boy Bertie!

 

[diamondlil]

So on Weds I got in from work, toileted the dogs, fed the puppy and got changed, then all up to the vets with Flash in a shoulder bag. After waiting an hour for our turn........the vet wants to do Flash's second injection next week. I'd checked with one of his vet nurses before setting out so she was very apologetic.
It's about a mile walk there and back so carrying a 6 kilo puppy after a 12 hour nightshift was a bit of a chore, but they enjoyed the trip. Bertie loves my vet so much it's like a social visit!
Today a major breakthrough with Bertie. He actually invited play with Flash and then let him roll around on top of him, perfectly relaxed and open-mouthed play-biting while they wrestled.

 

[MegF.]

I would have been very annoyed with the vet if that happened to me! Looks like everyone is going to get along famously!

 

[diamondlil]

I would have been very annoyed with the vet if that happened to me! Looks like everyone is going to get along famously!

To be honest, apart from Ellie's last year of life after she started having fits, I've been lucky that I only generally see my vet for health checks of new animals, vaccinations, neutering, and wormers. And then for euthanasia at the end of their lives. Oh I did have a cat about 18 years ago who had a shattered leg, that he did a perfect repair on and as times were hard let me pay the fees over time as and when I could afford it.
He's very eccentric, used to look after a hunting pack of foxhounds and breed jack russels. He has mutton chop whiskers and wears ancient tweed jackets. His staff are devoted to him and over the years they've all been knowledgable, helpful and kind. But he's probably at least 70 years old and expects them to automatically know what he wants.
So he wanted to give Flash's second injection next week when he's 12 weeks to get a better response but didn't tell his nurse!

 

[diamondlil]

I think Bertie is coming around to having a little apprentice.
You see the open-mouthed playing? I call that 'bear face' because it always reminds me of grizzlys!

 

[MegF.]

Oh oh....Bertie does NOT need an apprentice!!! Trouble-making times two!!

 

[insomniac101]

Bertie seems to be coming around, and actually enjoying the play jousting! Glad to see the interactions between them improving.

Kathy

 

[diamondlil]

SO now Flash has had his full set iof inoculations, and cleared by my vet to meet other dogs and go out for walks. Thank the lord, because he's getting lively and I was getting cabin fever! (No, we don't have to wait 2 weeks, as there have been no outbreaks of infectious diseases locally and the vet pointed out very easonably that Rosie, Bertie and I will have been carrying germs indoors every day on our feet (and my shoes) anyway.
So trying to walk all 3 anywhere is fun but exhausting, as Flash just wants to stop to sniff everything or jump all over Bertie.
This morning after a quick toileting when I got in from work, I had to go shopping and couldn't resist new toys for the dogs

 

[diamondlil]

SO after they'd jumped around a bit and Flash had his breakfast, off we went. With all 3 dogs in rope slip leads, tangling was a bit of an issue

 

[diamondlil]

Then we all had a sleep, then out for another walk when I woke up. Flash walked much better, I had the others in their no-pull harness so that was easier. Then we met up with Flash's sister Blackie. She's tiny! But really cute.

 

[MegF.]

I generally even off the amount of dogs when I walk. A couple on one side and one on the other. If I've got 4 I put two and two...depending upon the dog though. Summer being feral is fearful of every human or thing that passes by so she gets squashed between the ridgebacks that could care less....Tavis walks on the other side. You'll get the hang of handling the three and as Flash's walking skills on leash improve he'll be easier to work with. They usually pick it up pretty quickly and are heeling by your side in no time with a few corrections at the beginning. Even Summer heels and only gets out of place if she spooks at something. The rest of the time she stays right next to you and is learning to rely on the ridgebacks for security. Looks like everyone had a nice time!