hmmmmm.........what to do

[Pit Chick]

Way to go Schteve, your patience and persistance worked. Docker is definately a good name. How about Nicorete?

[pitc9]

What a wonderful story!!

I love the name Docker!!! It's great!!

I can't wait till he gets to come home!!!

[elizabethann]

Docker is SUCH a CUTE name! I love it! I'm so glad this thread has a happy ending. Thank you for saving the life of a dog and congratulations on your extended family!!

[K9soul]

This story continues to be a beautiful one, and I cannot wait until that pup is at home and in your arms where he should be. Docker is a very cute, unique, meaningful name. I would also like to offer congratulations on quitting smoking, one of the hardest, but very best things you can do for yourself and those around you. Cheers to you!

[LauraT7]

though I am new here, I found myself caught up in your story of Docker, and had to read EVERY page!

Docker is one lucky pup, and YOU are a HERO for taking care of him. I hope you will have many, many happy years together!

I can't wait to hear how he reacts when you bring him to his 'forever home', and how he will grow to love you and Buddy and Tash as his family.

looking forward to many happy pics and posts!

Laura

[delidog]

Are WE Home Yet???

[schteve_d]

Originally posted by delidog
Are WE Home Yet???

Not quite. I had him out for a long walk yesterday with Bud and Tash. His neutering is scheduled for tomorrow and I can take him home Thursday. We're gettin' there!

He is TERRIBLE on a leash! He pulls like mad until he's out of breath, then sits down and won't move until he catches his breath! Any advice on that appreciated! I plan on walking Bud and Tash there to get him on Thursday and walking him home (yes, I took thursday and friday off - I'm a sucker).

Thanks again everyone for the kind words/encouragement!

[Shelteez2]

Originally posted by schteve_d
He is TERRIBLE on a leash! He pulls like mad until he's out of breath, then sits down and won't move until he catches his breath! Any advice on that appreciated! I plan on walking Bud and Tash there to get him on Thursday and walking him home (yes, I took thursday and friday off - I'm a sucker).

For the walk home I wouldn't worry about training too much, hopefully he'll tire himself out enough that he won't pull so much, LOL

And I'm probably a big meanie, but if he sat down I would probably just keep walking. Depends on the individual dog and the situation though.

Once at home I would take him out by himself for training sessions and practice walking on a loose lead. My favorite exercise for this is to start walking and the minute the leash begins to get tight turn and walk in a different direction. You can give a verbal cue like "oops" or "this way" etc so that he begins to tune itno your voice. Pretty soon he will learn that you are a very weird person with unpredictable walking patterns and he'll begin to keep a closer eye on you. You may look a little silly constantly changing directions at first, but it's worth it in the end.
I've used that exercise to train friend's and family's dogs for informal heeling, as well as my own for formal heeling.

I hope I explained that alright.

Good luck. I'll keep him in my thoughts tomorrow for when he gets "tutored".

I can't wait to see pics.

[schteve_d]

Originally posted by Shelteez2
For the walk home I wouldn't worry about training too much,

No, I didn't mean it like that! I don't expect results that quickly!!

Thanks for the advice.

[LauraT7]

have you ever heard of a 'gentle leader"? (another brand is called a 'Halti') instead of attaching the leash to his collar - he wears a very light 'head harness' ( to the uninformed, it looks like a muzzle - but it's not) and the leash is attached right below his chin.

what this does, in effect, is allow you to walk and 'direct' him by his nose and head, and NOT his neck - like a halter on a horse.

A dog can pull very easily against a leash around his sturdy neck and chest muscles & with 4 paws on the ground - but with the leash attached by his NOSE - he doesn't have as much leverage, and that keeps YOU in charge.

you direct where his head goes, and his body is bound to follow!

(it's much easier on your poor arms, shoulders and back, too)

put the gentle leader on and also use the 'weird walking' trick suggested above, and it will work quicker than with a regular collar and leash!

Isn't Tomorrow the BIG DAY?????

have fun!

Laura

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by schteve_d

... His neutering is scheduled for tomorrow and
I can take him home Thursday.

... I plan on walking Bud and Tash there to get him
on Thursday and walking him home...

Ohhhhhhhh...
Please give that "walking him home" idea some more
thought before you do it!

All dogs react differently to the effects of surgical anesthesia
and the pain after-effects of the surgery itself...

He MAY be either still "groggy" or in some amount of "pain" or
discomfort even a day after the surgery!

I would *strongly* suggest that his Trip HOME be made
by "motor vehicle" and NOT Dawggie-Power!

Even 24 hours after the surgery, SOME dogs are still "groggy"
and just want to be left alone and allowed to sleep.

There's going to be some "stress" on ALL Three Pups when
they all realise the New Walkin Buddie Guy
is Comin IN OUR Howze!!!

*I* might suggest you pick him up and RIDE him home "alone"...

Then possibly "tie" him up to the car or a handy tree or fence -
OUTSIDE the house...
Then leash and bring Buddy & Tash OUT for a lil
"meet & greet" on more neutral territory.

THEN you can try walkin IN the howze and just say
"OMG! *Look* who just came *in* "with us", guyz!"

/s/ Phred

[delidog]

Oh Boy!!!!

One more Day!!!!

Hope that your camera is charged up!!!

I do agree with Phred...after surgery,it might be too long of a walk...especially if he Pulls....and has sutures in.....

what I did when I brought home new dog(S) ....I turned mine out in their yard....while new dog waits in car....then I leash walked them through the house...(So they don't Mark)...

Then like Phred said....I walked him out to the yard...like look, guys...new guy visiting....they played and romped....then 1/2 hour later...I brought them ALL in the house....Look guys...New Visitor is Staying!!!

Good luck!!

Keep us Posted!!!

[Rachel]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke

Ohhhhhhhh...
Please give that "walking him home" idea some more
thought before you do it!

All dogs react differently to the effects of surgical anesthesia
and the pain after-effects of the surgery itself...

He MAY be either still "groggy" or in some amount of "pain" or
discomfort even a day after the surgery!

I would *strongly* suggest that his Trip HOME be made
by "motor vehicle" and NOT Dawggie-Power!

Even 24 hours after the surgery, SOME dogs are still "groggy"
and just want to be left alone and allowed to sleep.

There's going to be some "stress" on ALL Three Pups when
they all realise the New Walkin Buddie Guy
is Comin IN OUR Howze!!!

*I* might suggest you pick him up and RIDE him home "alone"...

Then possibly "tie" him up to the car or a handy tree or fence -
OUTSIDE the house...
Then leash and bring Buddy & Tash OUT for a lil
"meet & greet" on more neutral territory.

THEN you can try walkin IN the howze and just say
"OMG! *Look* who just came *in* "with us", guyz!"

/s/ Phred

I agree with Phred. You don't want to deal with the possibility of
any medical problem caused by too much too soon.

Seeing as this procedure is being done through the shelter and how lacking they have been in understanding, I don't suppose there is any way to check up on Docker this afternoon. Good for you taking Thursday and Friday off. That will be so helpful in getting things off to the right start.

[Cincy'sMom]

Hope Sir Jury went well today, and all goes well tomorrow!!

[schteve_d]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke

Please give that "walking him home" idea some more
thought before you do it!

You're right, I'm getting caught up in the excitement of bringing him home and not thinking about things that should be obvious, thanks.

Now that you got me thinking about it, I almost wonder if it wouldn't be better to leave him there for one more day as kind of a recovery day rather than bringing him home possibly groggy, sore and surely not in the best of humour. I'd rather not wait another day as I'm anxious to get him home, but it might be for the best??