She pulled our heart strings...

[Buster Brown]

another helpful book

I really like Suzanne Clothier's books on this topic, esp. _If a Dog's Prayers Were Answered, Bones Would Rain from the Sky_. She has a lot of useful things to say about dog-to-dog relationships. She has a website, too, where you can find some free articles and buy her pamphlets.

Good for you for taking in Grace (wonderful name!) Buster (who is also a rescue) and I will send good doggie karma your way!

 

[harleyboxer]

She looks like she still has a little muscle left from her pictures. Hopefully it shouldn't take to long to bring her back. My dog was even worse when I got him. He had no muscle left at all. He had trouble walking from the lack of muscle so it looked like he had hip dysplasia. They had named him Aushwitz (sp?) at the shelter. I still don't have him up to weight yet. He had to start from scratch so he looks like a lean puppy. I kept a sweatshirt on him all of the time, even in the house to keep him warm (also so I didn't have to look at his ribs). I took him to Petsmart to get his booster shot a month after I had gotten him (and after he had put on 10 lbs) and was accused by the vet techs of starving him! I told him he had put on 10 lbs and they didn't believe me, they kept saying "where". I had the paper work from the shelter with the weight that he had been on it. He was 43 lbs when I got him and is currently about 67 lbs and should be probably around 75 to 80 lbs. He also had to be fixed before he could leave the shelter. They did it the day after I adopted him at 9:30 in the morning and he didn't wake up until 11:30 that night. They had warned me that it would take awhile to wake up because of his condition.
Be ready for people to make remarks to you about her weight. I took Harley all over the place with me (with a sweatshirt on!) and couldn't believe how many people made nasty comments to me. Like I would take my dog to the petstore if I was starving him!
Also be very careful with the 2 dogs. Same sex rivalry is not something to mess around with, especially after Grace starts to feel better. A lot of times it can't be fixed even with hard work and one of the dogs could get severely injured. Harley got along with the barn dog at first and turned on him after he started to feel better. He didn't want the other dog to come anywhere near me. I guess after he had a good person he wasn't going to give her up. He would go after that dog to kill every time he saw him. He was fine with the female rottie that my bf's roommate had though.
Anyways, good luck!!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

Grace is beautiful despite all she has been through...I can only imagine how she will look after some love, patience, care and FOOD! God Bless you guys for giving Grace a new chance, Rocky says she is a looker!

Dora

 

[jmb9101]

Another update

Last nite went very good. We had no dog fights at all! There was absolutely nothing for them to fight over.

When I got home, I fed Grace first before I even let the other dogs out of their crates. She ate her food so quick. It sometimes scares me, but I guess if I was starved Id eat fast too. After she ate she went outside and pottied...she is so good at that!! Im so happy that she is potty trained. At least she really seems to be since we have had no accidents still. :D

We let all the dogs have "bone time" in their crates while Josh and I ate dinner. They all did just fine. We have Graces crate in our bedroom...and Har and Max's crate is in their room...the front bedroom is the Boxer room...eventually Graces crate will be moved in there, but we havent moved it in there yet...Do you think that having her crate in the Boxer room would be better for her and Harlie so they could see eachother and get to know eachother (while in their crates, just looking at eachother and getting used to eachother being around) everyday while I work? Or is it better that I have Grace in a different room?

Im just very happy that they all did so well last nite. Harlie even found a bone in the toy box that I had missed and brought it out to enjoy...Grace spotted her and started walking towards her, so I hopped up as quick as I could and got the bone out of the room. And everything was fine. No fighting...no serious growling. They all even played last nite for a bit...with a few play growls in there...but those ones dont worry me. It was great to have a nice quiet evening without having to worry every second that a fight will break out. Well I still worried a little and watched them very closely, but knowing that its possible to have a great nite is all I need.

I took some more pictures of Grace...I bet she has gained a good 5 or 6 lbs just since we have had her...at least she seems like it...her ribs arent sticking out as much...I mean they are still sticking out, but to me it doesnt seem as bad as it was a few days ago. Im gonna upload one or two.

 

[adobeboxers]

Keep up the good work! At first I know it feels like you have to be on preventative mode. Others may have a better opinion on it but i think having them all in the same room in their crates is better then separating them. I think otherwise you other 2 see that Grace gets to go someplace else (they don't know if someplace else is better/worse, just that they don't get to go and the vice versa for Grace).

I figured out with mine that sometimes my presence was the trigger...it was a fight over space or resources... and now when I start to see Titus lock on the other dogs or a bone or something, I quickly redirect. It could be a sit, a come, or a noise that gets their attention...sometimes I just clap a lot and then they all turn to look and the "lock" or the very beginnings of a fight are altered.


Good luck, every day, hour, event without a fight is a step forward.

 

[jmb9101]

Thanks...it probably would be more beneficial to have them all in the same room. They all did great last nite and I want all the rest of the nights coming up to be just the same. And its not really like we have to baby Grace anymore since she is feeling better and putting on weight fast. At least she really seems like it. Her personality is showing more and more each day and she is just wonderful. Yesterday when I went to go let Har and Max out of their crates, she was right behind me beaning like crazy to go see the dogs. I think everything will get calmer...I am really hoping. Last nite went well and we want more nites to go well too.

 

[Sidda1018]

I am soooo glad to hear of the improvements! I know when we first brought Henry in amongst our 3 dogs there was so many times when I wondered "What have I done!" It seemed like there was never a time when everyone would lay down or play at the same time, not a minute's peace! But with time and work it does get better.

Henry was really underweight when we got him too, no where near as bad as poor Grace. I think his was from not getting enough or really poor quality food. Anyways, he would fly through his food and I was worried it would make him sick. I got a bowl for him at Wal Mart that looks like a large metal pie pan. The base of it is is probably 14-16 inches across so when you put the food in it, it is all spread out and that really slowed down his eating because he has to work around the plate to get the food.

We had to eliminate bones outside the crate because of the constant fighting over the same one too. I think that they think the bones are their special crate treats now!

 

[jmb9101]

I agree...the bones are special crate treats now. I am pretty sure that as long as I eliminate bones, treats, and food when they are together that there will be no problem. Even with me petting two at the same time, they have calmed down greatly about it...I can pet Har and Grace at the same time and they are fine...I think that its pretty much all about food right now...and as long as it stays out of between the two of them, that everything will be fine. I am crossing my fingers reallly tight that that is the base of the problems.

 

[jmb9101]

Since I am off tomorrow I am up late and I thought another update was in store. Today went great!! We have had no fights at all! All three dogs are in the living room playing right now. Everytime it gets quiet I call them and they all come in running with their little butts wiggling! So I am not too worried right now. I put Graces crate in the dog room and we went to my parents house for dinner...I really think that having the dogs all together is going to help! Thanks guys! Grace and Harlie seem to not be holding grudges at this point...which is wonderful. They are doing great and I am so proud of all of them...especially Max though because he went from BIG man in charge to little sissy whimpy boy who bows down to the scrawny chick. LOL!!!

Also I have to tell you this...tonite, right before Josh left for work, he made Grace and Harlie do a sit, down, stay next to eachother. (I cant believe it either, but Grace knows all of these!!!) And they did both...Harlie even went the next step and played dead, right on Graces paw...but Grace didnt seem to mind...then Josh went to the treat jar, pulled out a treat for each of them, and gave it to them. They both ate them, looked at eachother, Josh put them back in their sit, and they did! It was done. They didnt fight over anything, they had a treat peacefully together. Im happy. I just hope things keep progressing this way. If they do, I think we are going to do just fine with two females.

We are so happy that we rescued Grace...she is turning out to be a wonderful addition to our family.
~Melissa

 

[Cindy Creel]

What a wonderful update. I have happy tears now. Just to think that this poor baby will have her first Great Christmas. Bless you and your husband for being so wonderful.