On Tuesday, Cerbie had his first training class. Honestly, Cerbie already knows the basics, sit, stay, down, come, and others, so this is as much to train Barbara, as it is to train Cerbie.
Of course, there are some things he could use. He does pull (hard) on the leash, and he is a bit of a squirrel chaser. But those are hardly horrible behaviors (except he is very strong.)
This post has been rattling around my head for literally years, since long before we moved back from Arizona. At the genesis I was volunteering at Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption, and before that I did a stint at AGR (Arizona Greyhound Rescue). I learned a lot about the mechanics of rescue organizations, and the hounds that they work tirelessly to place. My recent pair of hounds came from a different group, an all breed rescue, Copper’s Dream a wonderful local group that works to place hounds in loving families.
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, we have had Cerbie for a full week. At about 12:45 yesterday afternoon, we logged 1 week as the stewards of this wonderful dog.
How to celebrate that? Yep, you guessed it, it is time for a vet visit.
Fortunately the Kauai humane society provided extensive records of his care, and the vaccinations/tests etc. that he had before getting on the plane, so some of the preliminaries were streamlined.
Mornings are interesting. usually, the pair are slow to wake up. They usually do a headshake to fake me out (way too early I might add), but that mostly is a switching of beds. Then I get up, make my … Read more
Today is the 7th day we have been graced with Cerberus, a.k.a Cerbie. He has had an eventful week. Well, somewhat eventful. He quickly settled in, and made himself home. He was quite chill, and relaxed. It took about 0 minuted for him to figure out that the couch is cool for doga here. He also gets along well with his younger sister, Lizzie. The first couple of days there was plenty of pecking order testing, mostly Lizzie trying to assert herself at the top. But Cerbie wasn’t playing that game.
One day, the posts will trickle, but for now Cerbie is still new, and he is still bringing lots of new experiences, so the posts continue.
Last night, both Lizzie and Cerbie slept on doggie beds in our room. No crate, no issues, no drama. Excellent.
The new feeding station arrived, as Cerbie is about as messy as our Tate was with his eating and drinking.
Well, it’s official. Cerbie is ours. Yesterday afternoon, I went to Paypal to pay the adoption fee.
Monday, the second full day came and went without any major issues. Cerbie – as we now call him – did splendidly during the day. After the early morning walk where Lizzie’s tantrum in Barb’s office was the sold downside, he settled into a calm day. I seem to recall someone mentioning that he needed lots of exercise. Monday, you could have fooled me by how much time he spent sacked out on the couch.
From 3:00 to almost 4:00 while Barb was at the gym, I reclined on the couch to watch some TV, and Cerbie was sleeping next to me. No sleep agression there (a common Greyhound issue).
Things got a lot calmer after the first truncated day. A little bit of pecking order battling with Lizzie in the AM, but that seemed less intense than last night. I think Lizzie is beginning to understand that it is OK if she isn’t the top dog.
We have switched his (and Lizzie’s) food to the Merrick grain free Salmon kibble. Two meals, and so far good poops.
I am not yet ready to declare the conflict between the two hounds settled, but I am confident enough to order a customized collar from HotDogCollars with his name on it. Next up will be to get a large 2 Hounds Designs harness.
About 12:45 yesterday, Cer arrived. As mentioned, he is another of the Kauai dogs, bred to hunt wild pigs.
He is a big-ish boy, probably 60 pounds, white with brindle patches. The arrival was fairly inauspicious, quickly got him and Lizzie in the back yard. Some of the usual peeing and sniffing, and Victoria who dropped him off headed back home. He is super sweet and friendly. He is also a boy, as the first thing he din in the yard was hike his leg on the decorative boulder we have. (and the roses too)
The last three weeks have been trying, but in a good way. As you may recall, we became the temporary respite for two of my sister’s dogs, Sugar and Ted, as she lives close enough to the Carr fire that she (and – truthfully – we) was worried about losing her house. To help, we took two of her three hounds in (Grizz, the old man, could hang with her at work).