Diary Of A New Dog-shamas Adoption Date Oct27

Today the sutures are seeping. I contacted the vet via web chat, and sent a pic, and he’s not concerned but told me to put the ecollar back on and put Shamas on “bed rest “

Which basically means the kids can’t play with him because he’s a fairly laid back guy when left to his devices. I’ll keep him to the sidewalks or petsmart for walks. I’m also going to check the house for a “ramp”, for getting into the van.....maybe he’s aggravated things climbing in and out

I’m a little annoyed because I asked the pound vet repeatedly if I should know anything to aid him in recovery, and she didn’t once mention limiting his activity- just said he was fine and that sutures would dissolve in ten days. If I had only known, I would have taken steps to keep him at home instead of letting him come everywhere with me, hopping in and out of the van I’m lucky he didn’t tear stitches....

I’m going to give benefit of the doubt and guess that they expected “common sense “ but my experience is limited to healthy dogs, and I did ask multiple times......Id have appreciated even a simple “limit his activities “ but I was literally just told not to let him lick, and he could take his cone off except when I wasn’t watching him- he was to wear it when unsupervised for 7-10 day

 

Today the sutures are seeping. I contacted the vet via web chat, and sent a pic, and he’s not concerned but told me to put the ecollar back on and put Shamas on “bed rest “

Which basically means the kids can’t play with him because he’s a fairly laid back guy when left to his devices. I’ll keep him to the sidewalks or petsmart for walks. I’m also going to check the house for a “ramp”, for getting into the van.....maybe he’s aggravated things climbing in and out

I’m a little annoyed because I asked the pound vet repeatedly if I should know anything to aid him in recovery, and she didn’t once mention limiting his activity- just said he was fine and that sutures would dissolve in ten days. If I had only known, I would have taken steps to keep him at home instead of letting him come everywhere with me, hopping in and out of the van I’m lucky he didn’t tear stitches....

I’m going to give benefit of the doubt and guess that they expected “common sense “ but my experience is limited to healthy dogs, and I did ask multiple times......Id have appreciated even a simple “limit his activities “ but I was literally just told not to let him lick, and he could take his cone off except when I wasn’t watching him- he was to wear it when unsupervised for 7-10 day

Don't feel to bad about it. You did the right thing.

Dogs are living creatures and all will "recover" in a different way. Vets are.living creatures too hahahaha and will advise in different ways and "assume" knowledge of the owner differently.

We even are sometimes a little annoyed with our vet not giving complete information.

 

I have found my retriever surprising. We adopted a 9 year old last May, a breeder dog that had never really lived in a house. They learn fast.
So have we - she's our first dog.
She is the most gentle, timid dog you could imagine, but last summer when we were walking at night, your basic druggie in a big hooded sweatshirt decided to steal my phone. As he came at me, old gentle dog turned into a roaring demon - fangs bared, hackles up, thundering bark. The guy ran for his life.
Once they adopt you, they are pretty amazing.

It's a lot of work, even with a smart old dog like ours, but it's rewarding.

 

Today Shamas figured out how to meet the cats

He approaches Matt slowly, head down and Matt lets him come right up to him. If he runs, barks or growls, he’s warned with a cat growling/hiss

He has enough sense to bring me with him to meet the cats, so there’s constant reassurance and praise for both parties as they meet


He tried very hard to meet Midnight, who practiced extreme aversion techniques but didn’t run until Shamas was 1 1/2’ from him. This is extremely brave for our feral born scaredy-cat

Helen is still randomly mock-attacking from door frames, but Shamas is learning to ignore her, or just offers an answering growl on his way to receive reassurance from me

 

Don’t worry, they’ll get use to each other soon. When we got our second dog, year old 100 pound plot hound he would run at Emily and play way to rough (she clawed his face, and boy parts multiple times when we didn’t watch carefully) but now she can sleep on the couch with Dezil and me snuggling next to her. Don’t take the barks lightly, soon enough u should know what barks mean what. My guy is territorial too, doesn’t hurt anyone but will snap, almost enough to do damage if he grabs u. He is such an adorable boy! I have a Trainer on mine for walks. It’s pretty much a muzzle but he can moves his mouth, just doesn’t let him move very far out of reach. Good luck with ur new boy!

 

I’m really pleased with his progress so far

I honestly expect it to take closer to 3-6 weeks before Helen tolerates him, and midnight will need probably another week even if he is trying to be brave

As long as he remembers the posture that Matt has told him is allowed, **** do fine lol

Helen slashed his lip once when he got out of line, so he knows enough to be wary of her.....

I think I’m using the same thing as you on walks- mine is a band over the nose, and buckles at the back of the head. The lead clips under his chin....so if he gets out of line he finds himself in a tug of war with his own nose while I stand firm and tell him no. He learned his lesson after the first time he tried to lunge at another dog.

 

I’m really pleased with his progress so far

I honestly expect it to take closer to 3-6 weeks before Helen tolerates him, and midnight will need probably another week even if he is trying to be brave

As long as he remembers the posture that Matt has told him is allowed, do fine lol

Helen slashed his lip once when he got out of line, so he knows enough to be wary of her.....

I think I’m using the same thing as you on walks- mine is a band over the nose, and buckles at the back of the head. The lead clips under his chin....so if he gets out of line he finds himself in a tug of war with his own nose while I stand firm and tell him no. He learned his lesson after the first time he tried to lunge at another dog.

Yep definitely the same thing lol. Mine always has to walk on it sense he never learned to walk right, he absolutely hates it. Until we give him a donut from Dunkin Donuts (its on our way home lol) it took two years for Emily to be okay with Dezil, but she’s terrified of dogs (one tried to grab her neck and kill her)

 

Shamas knows he’s not allowed out of the house without it-we have promised the owner of the chihuahua that he went after that he will never again get the chance

The neighbor was very understanding, brand new dog and all...and Shamas didn’t bite, he face bumped...but our neighbourhood already has two scary dogs whose houses people don’t like to walk by.....I don’t intend to own the next one!

He walks just fine on a normal collar, but I can see him slipping it it easily if he wanted to so I usually unclip the head harness for van rides, attaching the leash to his collar for the ride and back under his chin to walk

I wouldn’t be surprised if it took years for Helen too. This morning she made hunter chirps when she saw him. She’s a real spitfire and came from a cat hoarder- no prior dog experience other than visiting family

 

So hubby bought Shamas a bone this morning
I think it’s a little more suited to a bull mastiff than a Labrador 15” of dinosaur bone *giggles*

 

So hubby bought Shamas a bone this morning View attachment 374025I think it’s a little more suited to a bull mastiff than a Labrador 15” of dinosaur bone *giggles*

As long as it wasn't a part of "hubby" before it is okay hahahahaha.

Look like elephant !!

 

Congratulations on your new family member Shamas!!! He is beautiful!!!

 

Greetings to Shamas from cousin Bliss !!!

 

So hubby bought Shamas a bone this morning View attachment 374025I think it’s a little more suited to a bull mastiff than a Labrador 15” of dinosaur bone *giggles*

I got my big boy one like that! Ya Dezil destroyed it in three hours

 

Dumb question:
Are they supposed to actually eat the bone? He’s literally consumed one of the knobby bits

 

I think it’s fine as long as it’s not chicken home. Never give ur dog chicken bone! I think the bone helps strengthen the teeth anamal or something

 

So interesting cat byplay today

Midnight, who lost his place in the hierarchy to Helen when she came home, has seen her fear of the dog and decided to take it back

She’s been “bullying “ him for a few months now, as he became more mature and dominant, and took less of her bossing around

But now the table has turned, with Helen starting her same old trick of trying to chase him away from sleeping places, and Midnight now roundly thumping her rather than skittering off.

I can easily see it develop to where the boys wander the house with the dog and Helen stays in her safe room when he’s not leashed.

I signal cat freedom each night with a round of treats when I put the dog in my room. Midnight comes out to watch his fish, and Helen takes a post outside my door for the night. Matt’s totally chill and just spends time with the kids- he already met the dog and trained it to appropriately approach him

 

Shamas is healed up now, I m on the hunt for a dog park that’s fairly empty so he can get a good run. He’s not had a run since we got him on oct 27, just 3-6k walks

The Gentle Leader has rubbed fur from the bridge of his nose, as he gets more and more restless and pulls on walks. I’m now using it in combination with either the collar or easy walk harness, so that he’s not pulling on the bridge of his nose.

I honestly think he has too much pent up energy after 2 weeks (plus his time in pound) restricted to walks. I did walk him 3-6k/day, but he’s a large dog and needs to run as well

The other option is I can take his tie- out leash to the park and play fetch but I would like to let him stretch out for a good 100m at least

Too bad about the ice on the ground, or I’d take him out on roller blades(assuming he wasn’t terrified of them)

 

I made this for Shamas today

He’s getting bald patches on his nose from the gentle leader, so I would like to find ways to walk him on collar more while keeping other dogs safe too. I figure if other owners are informed of his status, they will expect unpredictable behaviour, allowing me to focus on handling my dog while they give us space and understanding

I took him out today on a combination of the collar and the easy walk harness. The harness lets me check his pulling, and the collar has a “heel “ leash on it, in case he needs correcting or holding close past dogs or intersection

The gentle leader was in my pocket and was used once, as he tried to bolt into the road. On the way home he behaved much better at heel on the collar. I may use the gentle leader as a straight up correction tool

 

I think Matt and Shamas are friends now

Matt has been laying ground rules for about a week now, and Shamas has done his very best to follow them-

He’s allowed to approach in classic supplication pose- head low, slow movements, tail may wag or be still as long as it’s in neutral to friendly posture. Any deviation earns him a his or growl from the cat, who’s king of the house lol

So just now Shamas came to see Matt, and Matt went into full greeting mode- tail fluffed, purring, head butting the kitchen cabinets. Then he flopped on his side right under Shamas snout lol

Poor dog was so confused he walked off


Then he was a classic Labrador and went looking for a new cat to befriend lol

 

Best movement is walking straight forward (you jogging, cycling, rolterscating aso).

Be aware 60% weight is on its front legs.
Running after a ball aso (hitting the breaks) makes this even more (by far).

Both my labs had / have some issues on the front legs.

A gentle leader requires a course to use it properly. I am not a fan of those and see them leas and less getting used as well.

My son is using a harnass for his dog (who can be agressive) and an extra collar when he is walking his dog in an aerea with more dogs. The leash can be attachted on both sides. For Bliss I am only using a harnass, but lately she can be nasty to smaller dogs (probabaly cause I hate those too : sorry !!!!!)

 

Shamas is dog aggressive to small breeds too. I think it’s prey drive, some of these “dogs” are the size of rabbits

I have a theory that Shamas is flat out not accustomed to leash waking regularly. I put a retractable leash on his harness and a 1’ leash hanging from his collar for back up, and he’s like a different dog!

Less aggression, no pulling and a more relaxed walk.

The fear of traffic is less too, because he’s not confined, unable to flee

 

Yesterday Shamas Lunged at a King Shepphard as we walked by. I believe the trigger was that I had him on a shorter leash. He only seems to get aggressive on a short leash.....in a controlled walk.

I have a free training session, at Petsmart, I think I'll see what they have to suggest for that. In meantime, if fear aggression is a likelihood(and I'm assuming it is, because hes afraid of so much else)....I'm going to take him to the dog park, to look at dogs, and only approach on his terms. I'll take Hot dogs for a High Yield treat, to reward the positive interaction with other dogs. He was good with my dad's dogs, off property, and my neighbour's dog, once off of her property as well as the dogs in Petsmart.......the issue I think is when we meet(pass) a dog on a controlled walk, he doesn't have the option to flee so he lunges instead

 

I fitted Shamas to a prong on Friday morning, after much thought

As great as the tools are that I have used, there’s something to be said for owner confidence and I don’t have any on these gadgets

I come from a family that has reared and trained generations of dogs with prong collars, and Shamas could feel the difference the moment I put it on him.

Now I know what I’m doing. I’m in control and can communicate to him what I expect.

Funny thing is, I don’t see the prong collar as a discipline tool and I believe that anyone using it as such needs retraining. It’s a way of communicating through the leash, so that the dog knows what you want from him....I never tug, pull, or snap a leash, it’s unnecessary. Lift it to stop, lay it on his back to walk, move left or right to turn. Dog lunges, turn a tight circle like you would a horse.

He’s got it down now and is working on the “walk by” command

Oh, and he saw the trainer, she said he’s doing great and recommend intermediate level training

 

Woohoo yay!

 

Yes, I’m thrilled

I’m working on positive association regarding two dogs that frequent the TI'm Hortons that we go to....the owner had brought them over to say hello right after I got him and he wasn’t ready yet-it didn’t go well. Ever since then, he growls at them. Today I sat him down by the fence and called for his attention, fast-feeding treats each time he looked at me instead of the dogs
and another breakthrough as I speak....Helen the killer cat, coming to explore the dogs space while he is awake and watching

I figured it would take her 3-4 weeks to stop trying to attack him on sight, so she’s right on time

 

Got Shamas a coat yesterday. He’s shivering every time we go out

A point of concern: he’s showing indications of soreness in his legs after walking in the cold damp weather. I think I need to get pet insurance in case that needs expensive care.

I’m thinking glucosamine will help, and a heated bed. And steps to get into the van. I'm going to rearrange the seats so he can get in the side doors instead of having to jump over the back bumper into the back of the van. It’s a grand caravan, and we have it right now with the half bench in the back, and two middle seats.

 

So, a lot has happened, both good and bad.

Bad: My dad decided that the best way to help Shamas through his fears was to drop him in downtown for a walk. He was so fearful that he pulled regardless of the prong collar, and I was afraid he'd hurt himself. Upon returning home, he was afraid of everything! We could only walk him to the end of our block, then he'd turn and drag us home. I hung up the prong and replaced it with a Martingale. Pain in training was NEVER the intention! The way I use it, it guides, but does not choke, jab, or pinch the dog because I keep a close handle on him, and keep him calm.

Good: After a week on the prong, Shamas took to the Martingale like magic. we're working through his fears, and he's becoming slightly more confident. I've discovered that his "leash agression" was fear based, and if I can keep him away from other dogs, he's fine. If I turn him at first sight, or keep him a block behind, he's also fine. we're having some trouble walking him towards the school- too much foot traffic- so we only take him as far as he's willing to go and let him run us home. He enjoys the running part lol. Today he made the connection that the school is where Abbie is, so I asked him where's Abbie? Shall we go get Abbie? and he put aside his fears to go see his girl. We went about 50feet further than his usual "flee point" then waited for her to come out and come to him. that way he wasn't in the crowds of children, and had a chance to flee before they got to him. He's learned that the crossing guard won't blow her wistle, and that it's safe to cross the main road there, so he drags me to that particular point in the road on the way home from TI'm hortons- another connection which pleases me. Generally he flees busy streets but he will now walk without fear to that point, and one particular set of lights.

 

Can we have some pics?
Very cute story.

 

I took some pics this morning

Here’s Shamas and Matt- they are friends and I caught Shamas watching Matt drinking from his water bowl this morning....stay away from the food though, he’d never allow that lol



This is Helen. She doesn’t like Shamas at all. She sits perched on the cat tower in her safe room and watches him go around the house. Helen was rescued from a hoarder and never exposed to dogs until coming here. She responds purely on instinct and Shamas will need to be on his best behaviour if he hopes to ever be more than pond scum in her eyes lol


This is Midnight. He’s feral born, and is generally a scaredy-cat. But when it comes to dogs he has a healthy respect. The year he was born the neighbor had an ornery husky tied out back. He is interested in Shamas and has allowed him up to 3feet to him. Currently he’s in the stage of practicing extreme aversion tactics while he edges closer to get a look

 

Shamas is watching me in the cats room lol

He knows it’s not safe to cross the gate, I don’t believe in declawing I wish I could step back and show the relative distance, it’s only about 4feet.....amazing what a small gate will do for relations

Without the gate, they’d be under the bed most of the time or I’d have to keep the door shut and they’d get no attention. And Helen would go full porcupine about 20x / day. She doesn’t like faces at the best of times.....faces full of drool, sporting whipping great teeth? Well that’s more than our princess can bear!

 

Aww!
He looks like a very good dog.

 

He is

He needs to learn that his friend doesn’t appreciate being “mouthed” and that he doesn’t play “fetch” though.... he gets the cat version of sworn at when he tries to play dog games with Matt, and when he drops toys on him for a round of fetch.....So he follows him around the house wagging his tail, trying to figure out how to interact


I’m waiting for the other end of this relationship when Matt decides to bath him and he gets up and walks away in a huff.....used to happen all the time with my dad’s last dog lol

 

Lol! I was just about to get a really great picture of Shamas and his girl playing “tug” when he pulled her right off the couch

He’s loving the snow now that we’re getting it, but much of his play has moved inside because he’s a winter wimp

 

First storm of the season. Shamas says “I love ‘this stuff! The deeper the better ”



Apparently he’s only a winter wimp where temperature is concerned...snow is great!