DogBoy's Dog BlogDog boarding, training, daycare and wellness in the Austin area

Goodbye, sweet boy.

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Last week, we said goodbye to a dear friend - our old boy Pepper, aka Sam from the Austin Humane Society. He was our Nervous Nelly, our T-storm dog, with the mystery hack, his own stress bucket, and near the end, a bit of Doggie Alzheimer’s. We’d find him barking into the closet, pacing all night, sleeping all day, and falling down was unfortunately an all too familiar site. But through it all, he got 11 good years with us (15 total) to stretch his legs and be free, and we got one helluva great dog. We’ll miss you, Boy.

DogBoy Jr. was a complete and total trooper. He wanted to be a part of saying goodbye every step of the way. So at his request, we took him out of school, and he said goodbye his way, with lots of love, tears, and a heavy heart. I can’t tell you how proud I was of him for being so grown up about it.

DogGirl Jr. was another story. She had been wanting a new dog for months (after we said no to a hamster, a horse, and a miniature horse), and our excuse was always that we couldn’t - because we had to take care of Ol’ Pep Pep. Well, once Pepper was gone, she wasted no time pulling up every local rescue site she could find online. She was determined to get her new dog now! Thankfully, we’re bigger fans of delayed gratification than DogGirl Jr. After thoughtful consideration, and much support from friends, we decided that a 3 month period of doing her chores - consistently, would earn her our undivided attention and help finding the perfect furry fit for our household.

Contessa Free Love

Not just any old dog will do, mind you, as our canine clan already comes equipped with it’s own set of quirks. First there’s Tessa, the butter eater, our sweet old Yellow Lab, who gets along with everyone but puppies. As long as you’re not jumping up tugging at her ear, she will let you do almost anything to her. Just the hint of her name, and she comes running - Did you want something, Mom? You want to pet me, don’t you? But behind that uber-loving personality, you’ll see her true nature. Trash eater, fence fighter, counter surfer, and UPS van chaser, this lovable fur ball won’t let you stay mad long, because she’s just so damn sweet.

Rebelina, aka Marmaduke

Next comes our Dane/Lab mix Rebel who deserves an entire blog post all to himself. Like our other two pups, Rebel was found on Crystal Bend Drive, but his story is a wee bit different. We didn’t just find him; we found his owner dumping him - at the age of only three months! Apparently, he was rebellious (No, a puppy - rebellious?), and his owner thought he was better off on the street than at a shelter. After we had words with his former owner (and after I called the cops on him), we decided to keep the poor guy. Mr. Handsome, aka He Who Barks at the TV, is gloriously soft and hopelessly sweet, but can be a real turd with other overly enthusiastic dogs. At the Dog Ranch, he is fondly referred to as an Orange Card dog, which means he can’t be put with just anyone…But when you see him sit pigeon-toed, and tuck his little nub of a tail under when he sits on cold tile, you can’t help but love the Marmadukian qualities in him.

Noodle Doodle

And last, and actually least in size and stature, is my little angel Noodle. Our little 9 pounder, the Chiweenie - Senor Schnitzel, as we like to call him, is one tiny bundle of trouble. This one wandered right up to the driveway, and was too small to throw back into the wild…Oh yes, he’s a snuggler, and quite the french kisser, I might add (ewww!), but at night when the family sleeps, he is busy eating childrens’ library books, and chewing holes in leather furniture. In a group, away from his bad mommy, he seems to do fine with other dogs. On a leash, however, he becomes a Napoleonic Kujo, and then squeals like a stuck pig when a dog says he’s not afraid. What a big baby - but I love him like I have never loved a dog before. He is my little hero. And you should see him on the agility field - amazing!

I know how this looks - the family of a dog trainer with imperfect pups? You remember the pastor with the wild children, right? Or the teacher who’s kids can’t spell? So here’s your proof - we’re human…and we’re working on it! The point is, that finding the perfect fit for our family won’t be easy, and yes, I’m sure our new dog will come with their own little set of paw-printed baggage. But we will love her (yes, it will be a her) with all our hearts, big, small, and fur-covered. The countdown begins!

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• Lucy has hip & knee issues, which makes her
  a great candidate for regular massages. As you can see she really… http://fb.me/xqhsB3f1 #

• DogBoy's website has just gone mobile! Check it out on your smart phone now - Yeehaw! http://fb.me/Kb2ZnMBJ #
• Watch your mailbox for the inaugural issue of Noodle's Nuggets tomorrow! #
• Blue Buffalo Issues Voluntary Recall - http://fb.me/C6xRxvDz #
• Lucy has hip & knee issues, which makes her a great candidate for regular massages. As you can see, she really… http://fb.me/M1X7rfON #
• Lucy has hip & knee issues, which makes her
  a great candidate for regular massages. As you can see she really… http://fb.me/xqhsB3f1 #

Getting a new dog takes research and time.

The internet was recently abuzz with the news that Tibetan Mastiffs are the “it” dog in China. Between the rarity of the breed and a great increase of Chinese consumers with money to burn, some dogs are going for as much as $600,000. While that sounds extreme (and it is extreme), here in the States we’re not immune to crazes for suddenly-trendy dog breeds. In the wake of hit movies like 101 Dalmatians and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, shelters across the country were flooded with those breeds, surrendered by people who either tired of the dogs or were unprepared for the challenges of raising breeds of dog that, in both cases, are not often known for being laid-back and easy-going.

I personally am not militant on the subject of buying a dog from a breeder versus adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group. My corgi, Graham, was purchased from a breeder; my husky mix, Hoosier, was rescued from Town Lake Animal Center. They have both been wonderful dogs for my household and have both presented their own unique rewards and challenges.

When getting a pure-bred dog, you always want to research the breed carefully. What are its characteristics? While it’s important to remember that dogs are individuals with their own personalities, most dog breeds were created with a particular purpose in mind. Tibetan mastiffs, for example, were bred to be guard dogs in a cold, harsh climate. That means they are thick-coated and shed a lot, are particularly intelligent, and tend to be quite independent (per the American Tibetan Mastiff Association), so you need to be prepared to handle these and other typical behaviors if you want to adopt this particular breed. Rebecca Cohen, whose Tibetan mastiffs are regular DogBoy’s boarders, says “If socialized properly they [Tibetan mastiffs] get along with other dogs (although mastiff play is pretty physical…), and get to know extended family and friends well enough to welcome them into the house.” But you have to be willing to work with them to overcome their guard-dog instincts.

Corgis, being herding dogs, are prone to alert-barking at unfamiliar people and things, so my wife and I had to be prepared for that. If you don’t want a barker, you probably shouldn’t adopt a corgi! And if you are adding a second (or third) dog to your household, you have to make sure a particular breed will do well in a multiple dog household, and be aware of any breed-specific issues when it comes to multiple dogs. For instance, adult male corgis do not tend to do well together in the same house. Of course, you will probably want to do a meet and greet to make sure your potential new dog gets along with any dogs or other animals you may already have.

If you are purchasing a pure-bred dog, you MUST (it cannot be emphasized enough) make sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder. You never want to purchase a dog from a pet store. Not only do many pet store dogs come from so-called “puppy mills,” where dogs are bred repeatedly in inhumane conditions without regard to health or personality characteristics, but the puppy may not be terribly well-socialized and months in a cage may also make house training more difficult.

A reputable breeder will let you visit their facility, and let you meet the parents of your future puppy so you can see their personality for yourself and be assured that conditions are clean and humane. A good breeder will also be happy to answer questions and will ask you questions in return; they may want to meet your other dog or dogs before agreeing to sell you one of their puppies. Finally, a good breeder will screen potential sires and dams for diseases and conditions the particular breed may be prone to, to avoid perpetuating them, and they will only breed their dogs a limited number of times—many breeders will only allow a female to have two, or at most three, litters.

Many small dogs are prone to floating kneecaps (patellar luxation, in vet-speak); many larger breeds like the Tibetan Mastiff (and its mastiff cousins), Labs and Golden Retrievers can be prone to hip dysplasia. Both conditions can be serious enough to require surgical correction which, needless to say, can be quite expensive. Roughly 10% of all Dalmatians are born deaf, and that was a factor in many Dalmatian surrenders after the 101 Dalmatians craze of the 1990s. Graham’s breeder screened his parents for Von Willenbrand’s disease, an inherited blood-clotting disorder corgis are prone to.

Adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue group brings its own set of challenges. My dog Hoosier was brought to Town Lake Animal Center as a stray and not much was known about his background previous to his arrival at the shelter. He was very affectionate with people but turned out to be somewhat reactive on leash and was particularly protective of me. Since we had no dogs or children at the time we adopted Hoosier, we were able to adjust to his personality quirks and at least start working on his issues, but if this hadn’t been the case Hoosier’s arrival would have been much more difficult and stressful than it was. One of the big advantages of adopting through a rescue group is that often the dogs have spent time in a foster home and you will have a much better idea of a potential new dog’s personality up front, not to mention any health issues the dog may bring with him.

Many shelter and rescue dogs have stories that pull at your heart strings, but be very careful if sympathy or pity is your primary motivation for choosing a particular dog. “You may come to regret it later or it may be more than you can handle which is incredibly unfair to the dog,” says Rebecca Andrews, CPDT. And Rebecca knows what she’s talking about. She and our other trainers here at DogBoy’s have talked to many owners on the verge of re-homing dogs who turned out to be far more challenging than expected.

No matter where you are getting your dog from, bringing one into your household should never be an impulsive decision. Adopting a puppy or young dog, whether from a breeder, a shelter or a rescue group, is a commitment of a decade or more barring illness or injury. However, the rewards of such a partnership with the right dog bring joys and benefits that are more than worth it—for you and your pooch!

Contributed by Jay Robison

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