Re: Lucky successfully disintacted


"Judith Althouse" <judyalthouse@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:18456-46A68852-995@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Paul,
I am glad that Lucky came through her surgery and is doing fine. I am
also glad that she is recuperating in a place where someone can keep an
eye on her.
I know I have encouraged you to keep Lucky, but if you feel like it is
going to much for you that is a choice that only you can make.
I have said two dogs are better than one. That has been the case for
me. Now that I have 2 older dogs and 2 younger dogs I often consider
how much more time I would have to spend with each if I did not have a 4
dog family. Anyway, I do not regret taking on any of them.
The sex, the size, the age, and some of the time the breed does not
establish who the alpha dog is going to be.
I agree with Montana do not invite both of them to get on the bed if
Muttley has already claimed it. You will find out soon enough if Lucky
is going to be joining him, replacing him, or finding her own little bed
near yours. There was no blood shed when that happened here. It was
all done by eyeballs and subtle moves. You can learn a lot by watching
them.
I hope Lucky gets to stay if you want her to, but I know you will do
what is best for all of you.
Do you a pic of her handy? The one I saw did not look like she
weighed 75 pounds but pics can be deceiving. I am sure the Vet weighed
her when he spayed her.
Good Luck


Be Free.....Judy


Today Helene and I picked up Lucky from the couple who cared for her after
her surgery. We took her to my place, and of course Muttley immediately
knew there was something different going on. He was jumping at the door and
very excited. I tried to make him sit and wait, but he would only just
barely do it. Helene was controlling Lucky, and with some difficulty I
clipped the leash on Muttley and let him out. He and Lucky greeted each
other with the usual *** sniffs and doggy dance, and seemed OK with each
other. Then Helene and Lucky followed me and Muttley up the hill to the
exercise fence area. With all of us safely inside, we unclipped their
leashes and let them have the freedom of a 32'x68' fenced area.

There were a few "incidents", but nothing terrible. We tried to allow Lucky
some time to pee and poop without Muttley interfering, but mostly let them
work things out on their own. We kept both animals as calm as possible by
giving them frequent attention, and I brought up some water and food in
several bowls. Lucky did not seem too interested in eating, and Muttley
wolfed down all of the food. There was one "incident" where Muttley was
getting a bit too pushy, and Lucky turned and gave a quick display of
barking, growling, and bared teeth. Muttley turned tail and ran to me, as
if seeking protection. After that, it seems the pecking order was at least
temporarily established, and all was well. They both seemed relaxed enough
to lay in the grass and sit with us or wander around, sniffing the air for
deer or other smells.

As it grew dark, I took Muttley down to the house, while Helene held onto
Lucky. Both dogs seem to be attached to me (almost Velcro dogs), but she is
comfortable enough with both of them to rassle with Muttley and solicit
doggy kisses from them both. I put Muttley in the house, and then took the
lead with Lucky, and helped Helene down the tricky path to the house. Then
I let Lucky into the house, and let them both interact in their own way.

We had quite a lot of cleaning and organizing to do. We moved things
around, swept up dog hair and various debris, and kept an eye on both dogs.
They seemed comfortable with each other, and the only complaint was that
each of them sometimes got in the way of the broom. I brought in the crate,
and set it up downstairs. Helene put some towels in the tray, and tried to
coax Lucky in with chicken treats, but it didn't work, and later, actually,
Muttley went in and lay there for a while. Lucky found other places to
snooze. She was clearly a tired dog, and Muttley was a gentleman about
allowing her to RIP.

Helene left around 11, and I watched the news while both dogs found places
on the floor to sleep. However, they went Velcro again when I went into the
kitchen area or upstairs. Muttley sometimes assumed his place on the bed,
and Lucky seemed happy to rest on the floor or on a mat that I unfolded to
be large enough for both dogs. You asked for Pictures? I took one of the
two dogs together, and two of Lucky resting on the mat. Don't get on my
case about the choker chains still on both dogs. They're coming off before
we turn in for the night. Right now Muttley is on the bed behind me, and
Lucky is comfy cozy on one end of the mat. BTW, Lucky was 70.5 lb when I
took her in for her spay.

For the pictures, just go to www.smart.net/~pstech/Lucky/ to look at any of
them, or for the latest ones, just click on:

www.smart.net/~pstech/Lucky/Lucky15.jpg,
www.smart.net/~pstech/Lucky/Lucky16.jpg, or
www.smart.net/~pstech/Lucky/MuttLuck.jpg

Whew, so far so good. Probably a few more hurdles down the stretch, but I
feel pretty good about the situation at this point. Yay!

Paul, Muttley, and Lucky


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