Or, Reflections on 24 Hours of Dog Ownership.
* In walking Buddy around the neighborhood this morning I met more neighbors than I have the entire seven months that we’ve lived in our house.
* The fact that you and a stranger each have a dog is the basis for striking up a friendly and chatty conversation. And everyone loves a shelter dog.
* Buddy spent the night in our bedroom last night, outside of his crate. He crashed out on his bed and pretty much stayed there all night. Dan and I kept waking up worried about him or thinking we heard whining, but he was just fine. This is very promising.
* Speaking of crates, Buddy wasn’t really sure he liked his. He had to be bodily escorted in this morning, though once in he laid down and didn’t complain. When I put him back in the crate after walking him at lunchtime he strolled right in. Maybe it was just a case of getting used to it?
* Adopting an adult dog is a fascinating case of trying to deduce the dog’s training and history by his behavior. He is crate trained – we knew that from his foster family. He was obviously not allowed on the furniture by his past owners, since he steadfastly refused our invitation onto the sofa. It looks like his foster family fed him the very first thing when they woke up, since he was positively bouncing off the walls when I came downstairs this morning. He gets one can of Pedigree in the morning, and another in the evening. We need to see if we can work in some dry food to get him a bit more fiber because, uh, he kind of needs it.
* The only strange quirk I’ve noticed about Buddy is that he tends to sleep with his eyes open, which can be a little freaky. You think he’s asleep and you look down and his eyes are rolled back in his head. Eep!
So far things have been going very well. I’m very pleased! Plus, it means we’re going to be getting more exercise each day, which is also a Very Good Thing. I know I’ve already walked a mile and a half just today, and there will be more tonight.
It’s probably the unfamiliarity of the kennel with the combined scent of strange cats and dog impregnated into the plastic.
So glad to hear he’s doing well. 😀
You’re probably right about the crate. I scrubbed it out, but from a dog’s point of view that probably just added the stink of soap on top of all the other scents. I put the blanket that he slept on last night in there with him, so hopefully that helps.
No personal experience in this, but I’ve also heard that feeding a dog in the crate will help it associate it with Good Stuff.
Buuuut if he’s already crate trained I wouldn’t bother. With my sister’s dog it was mostly a matter of establishing a routine. (Owner leaves, dog goes in kennel and gets treat. Owner returns, dog comes out of kennel. All like clockwork.)
This worked very well for me. I line up my dog’s feeding times with my comings and going, and put the bowl of food in the back of the crate when I’m ready to leave, which he happily bounces into and munches on.
Some of the things I learned:
-The first 30 days are the real trial. If there is any behavioral wonkiness, it’ll work out after the first month.
-Of the folks I know who let their pups on the furniture, most wish they hadn’t but it was too late to turn back. Ladybug is a floor dog, and we’ll come down to her level for play and attention. We do make sure there is something soft for her from super fluffy $20 dogbeds from Costco, to just a carpet in the kitchen by the back door.
-Routine is your friend. Alan used to say, I offered to let her out in the morning but she didn’t want to go. That’s because in the morning she gets fed and then goes out back.
-I see my neighborhood in a whole different light now that I walk a dog through it. I see the trash, the distractions, the lighting, etc.
Best of luck with Buddy. I’m so happy for you guys!
Sounds like your neighbors are much more friendly than mine. The neighborhood I walk Jack through is populated mostly by “Git offa mah propertay” white trash, and I think I’ve had more angry neighbors yelling at me for having their mailbox post peed on than ones wanting to make happy conversation. :
Did I not understand that Buddy is but 30#? Two cans of dog food daily does, indeed, seem overly much. Try a HALF can with a half cup of dry and see if that doesn’t take care of “he kinds needs it”. Dogs will eat just about anything you put in front of them if it appeals…..to the point of “gorging”. You may need to look on the ‘net for some pointers. Can’t imagine that y’all won’t offer table scraps to go along with the 2 cans of Pedigree…………just hope that Bud-Bud knows the difference ‘tween carpet and linoleum!
Actually, he’s closer to 40 lbs. According to the Pedigree website, you should feed the dog 1/2 – 3/4 can per 10 lb of dog, so 2 cans is about right. We tried to mix in a little dry food tonight, but naturally he just ate around it. He also turned up his nose at the treat biscuit we offered him. If I didn’t know better I’d wonder about his teeth and maybe some sensitivity there, except that he pulls on his rope toy just fine. I’ve got an appointment with the vet at 4:30 on Wednesday for a full check-up, and we’re going to discuss diet and such then.
Oh, and Buddy gets no human food, from the table or anywhere else! We don’t want to screw up his diet, and deal with the repercussions! (Also, begging at the table is a MAJOR no-no for us.)
We don’t take our cats walking because, well, have you ever tried to take a cat walking? o.O
Well, I’m glad your boy is adjusting so well. ^.^ You guys’ll make *great* parents!