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#1
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
As many of you know, there's a lovely 4 year old Weim named Riley in my
family (though he's not mine and doesn't live here). He lives outside 24/7, receives very little human attention/contact, and isn't regularly fed or exercise. A few months ago, he was rehomed only to come back a week later because the new owners other dog didn't approve of the situation. Anyway, when I get my own house and can be my own boss when it comes to how many dogs I have, Riley will be mine. I will attempt to make him an inside dog (where all dogs belong!) and spoil him with love and care. Today, it was a very nice day outside so I planned to take my dogs to the local state park for some fun and exercise. Instead, I decided to take Riley. I armed myself with treats, a Chuck It and 2 tennis balls and went off to collect Riley for the day. He hasn't seen me or interacted with me in weeks so I wasn't sure how the day would progress. He was very excited as I was trying to unclip him from his tie-out and wouldn't stop trying to jump on me. I was beginning to think it was a lost cause but refused to give up and finally he sat still long enough for me to unclip him. It probably would have been easier if I didn't leave the treats in the car but I wasn't sure how he'd react so I decided to leave them out of the picture at first. After a few minutes of off leash running in the yard, I called him over to me and he came right away. I put him in the back of my CRV and clipped him with a leash to a loop in the floor so he was somewhat restrained. I know it wasn't ideal but it worked. He was a good boy for the 10 minute car ride and when we got to the park, I let him out. I decided against leashing him and just let him run. The park is big, no one was around and we were far from any roads (and the closest one is only very lightly traveled). After another few minutes of running (while I was getting the treats and ball ready), I called him over and he came immediately. I gave him a treat and showed him the ball. He watched me very closely and followed my every move. We walked together (still no leash) a couple hundred yards to an open field. He stayed with me the whole time. I threw the ball and he took off. When he did a perfect retrieve, I told him to sit and gave him a treat. He took it pretty fast but didn't bite me or anything like that. We kept playing retrieve with the ball and each time he came back to me, dropped the ball and sat for a treat. He got the idea pretty quickly that I would reward him for sitting after he retrieved. I told him to take nice and he complied. He ignored everything around us and his focus was on me. I have never seen such focus before, not even in my own dogs! Since everything was going so well, I decided to take him down to the beach/lake and see what he did in the water. I threw the ball out a little and he went for it. I threw it out farther each time and he still got it. When I threw it out very far, where he definately couldn't stand and would have to swim quite a bit, he went for it immediately! I was so happy with how well we was responding to me and how much he tolerated my obsession for fetch. We must have played fetch for 2 hours and I was in dog heaven! He was such a good boy and listened so well. I got to see how much he knew by adding different things to the play (like "down" instead of "sit" or "catch" a treat instead of "take nice"). He has a good stay but no "wait". I worked on "wait" with him for a little and he seemed to get it pretty fast. He is highly food motivated (which I can imagine since he is definately underweight). He is not aggressive in anyway, shows no signs of resource guarding. I decided to bring him to my house and see how Maui and Cali would like him. Cali has never met him but Maui did when he was a small puppy. Maui used to play so well with Riley that I decided to introduce them first. I held Maui and let Riley sniff him. Then I held Riley's collar and let Maui down to sniff Riley. After they were ok, I let them both off leash. They played for a little bit so well before I took Maui in to bring out Cali. Cali was scared at first and Riley was trying to jump on me to get her (not aggressively, just curiously). He listened when I told him down and then I let him sniff her and then her sniff him. She was pretty scared even though Riley was being very good so I brought her inside. Later in the day, I tried again with her and she was so much more calm that they ended up playing. Riley plays so well with them that I had no reservations of letting them all play outside together (I stayed out with them just in case). The day was a blast overall. I am so excited about owning Riley some day and today left me feeling like it will all work out when I do get him for good. Not that everything will be perfect or anything like that, but it will be workable. And hopefully when the time comes, the biggest problem will be that Riley isn't housebroken and use to living indoors so there will be quite an adjustment there. I am just glad that he responds to me and that we have a start of a trusting relationship. I plan to take him to the park again and try to spend more time with him. It will be several months to a year before I will have my own place and can give Riley a home. I was just wondering if the time I spent with him now is going to be enough to "save" him until I can get him out of that situation for good? I hate to think that by the time I can rescue him, his spirit will be broken beyond repair. What else can I do while with him to keep the relationship working? Am I doing something wrong by removing him from that situation if only for a day and then having to go back to it. Is it confusing him? Did I do something wrong in how I handled things today? Any advice/help/comments appreciated. -- ~~~~~~ Jenny, Maui and Cali (& someday Riley!) |
#2
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
and spoil him with love and care. Spoil him with exercise and training & you'll both be better off! yes, that's the plan. part of my love and care includes exercise and training Sounds like the two of you had a great day. we really did! |
#3
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
on Sun, 26 Nov 2006 00:44:37 GMT, "MauiJNP" wrote:
Any advice/help/comments appreciated. As you know, I'm no trainer or behaviorist (HA!), but it seems to me that if Riley continues on as he is and doesn't have any _negative_ experiences with humans that he will always respond to your attention the way he did today. It seems logical to me, but it's just a guess on my part. It sounds like a great day was had by all! -- Lynne "Every once in a while, the tables are turned and we get to share our lives with an animal who takes care of their human." - Tara, rpdb |
#4
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
"MauiJNP" said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:
Any advice/help/comments appreciated. I think that you've done well. Heh, now it's time for an overnight. -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
#5
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
Jenny,
Your story is bittersweet. I will fall asleep thinking about what a great day you and Riley had and how fortunate my dogs are. I hope that he can hang until you are able to take him. I have kind of the same questions you do. I have a friend that lives in a run. Every now and then he breaks out and comes over to visit. I wash the scalding urine off of him, feed him, play with him and then take him back to his quarters. Sometimes I think I should just let him run, but he won't leave (of course). I would like to think he (Bullseye) lives in the now and is happy for the time he has, just as I believe Riley was happy for today. I have to drive by him to get out of my house and I look at him and wonder if he is better off not knowing what he is missing as I have no hope of getting him in the future. I bet Riley is dog tired tonight and having sweet dreams.... You are a great lady, Jenny!! You have a very generou pack. They behaved so well after giving up their day to Riley. Be Free.....Judy |
#6
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
Any advice/help/comments appreciated. I think that you've done well. thanks, I consider that a great compliment coming from you. Heh, now it's time for an overnight. I wish because I know Riley's life isn't going to get any better if he stays where he is (his owners are now expecting baby number 4). |
#7
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
Jenny,
Your story is bittersweet. I will fall asleep thinking about what a great day you and Riley had and how fortunate my dogs are. I hope that he can hang until you are able to take him. me too. He's held on for 3 years of this life (he was an inside dog for a year) so I am hoping he can hang on for one more. I have kind of the same questions you do. I have a friend that lives in a run. Every now and then he breaks out and comes over to visit. I wash the scalding urine off of him, feed him, play with him that's great that you do that for him. and then take him back to his quarters. that's the hard part huh? I know it was for me. Sometimes I think I should just let him run, but he won't leave (of course). I would like to think he (Bullseye) lives in the now and is happy for the time he has, just as I believe Riley was happy for today. I hope so. Until now, I really had to forget that Riley existed, otherwise it hurt too much to think of the life he has. Now I can't stop thinking about it and hope that I am at least able to give him so fun days amongst the bad ones. I have to drive by him to get out of my house and I look at him and wonder if he is better off not knowing what he is missing as I have no hope of getting him in the future. I bet Riley is dog tired tonight and having sweet dreams.... You are a great lady, Jenny!! You have a very generou pack. They behaved so well after giving up their day to Riley. yeah, they were good sports about it. I did feel a little guilty at first, knowing how much fun they would have had but as soon as I saw Riley having fun, the guilt went away. And next time, maybe I will take one of them with Riley and I, now that I know how well Riley behaves on our getaways. |
#8
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
"MauiJNP" wrote in message ... The day was a blast overall. I am so excited about owning Riley some day and today left me feeling like it will all work out when I do get him for good. Not that everything will be perfect or anything like that, but it will be workable. And hopefully when the time comes, the biggest problem will be that Riley isn't housebroken and use to living indoors so there will be quite an adjustment there. I am just glad that he responds to me and that we have a start of a trusting relationship. I plan to take him to the park again and try to spend more time with him. It will be several months to a year before I will have my own place and can give Riley a home. I was just wondering if the time I spent with him now is going to be enough to "save" him until I can get him out of that situation for good? I hate to think that by the time I can rescue him, his spirit will be broken beyond repair. What else can I do while with him to keep the relationship working? Am I doing something wrong by removing him from that situation if only for a day and then having to go back to it. Is it confusing him? Did I do something wrong in how I handled things today? Any advice/help/comments appreciated. -- ~~~~~~ Jenny, Maui and Cali (& someday Riley!) ============== That is a great story you told. Why can't you take him now instead of waiting to purchase your own home? The sooner the better. If that is impossible; then I would keep doing what you did today as often as possible, giving the dog something to look forward to, instead of his hum drum boring existance that he leads now. Bring food and water for him when you see him. If he lives in a cold area, you could buy him a coat or sweater and make his living conditions more comfortable and warm with straw, old blankets and quilts. The more often he can get out to the park and socialize with your dogs, the better off he will be. Keep up the good work with Riley. |
#9
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
That is a great story you told. Why can't you take him now instead of waiting to purchase your own home? I live with my parents right now, which unfortunately means I have to listen to them when it comes to how many dogs I have. They won't even budge and let me have him as an outside dog (where at least he'd be a little better off because I'd feed & exercise him regularly as well as get him proper vet care). The sooner the better. I started talking to my brother (who has his own house) about possibly taking Riley. I showed him the pictures of how skinny he is and he got so mad! He's ready to go steal him right now. We agreed that wasn't best and will be talking to Riley's owners about letting my brother have him. The owners are going away in December so if all else fails, my brother will agree to babysit and hopefully the owners won't ever pick Riley back up. If that is impossible; then I would keep doing what you did today as often as possible, giving the dog something to look forward to, instead of his hum drum boring existance that he leads now. Bring food and water for him when you see him. If he lives in a cold area, you could buy him a coat or sweater and make his living conditions more comfortable and warm with straw, old blankets and quilts. The more often he can get out to the park and socialize with your dogs, the better off he will be. all good ideas, thanks. Keep up the good work with Riley. thanks, I plan to take him back to the park tomorrow if it is nice weather (which it is supposed to be). He really is a great dog and deserves so much better. |
#10
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is this enough to "save" a dog? (long post)
Yes.
Just an opinion, but it seems he's well on the way to a better life, even if he is taking it in installments. :-) -------------------------------------- If you really need to email me, mow the lawn. |
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