Getting to know him

      It has been 4 days now since we adopted Hoss.   It has been going amazing smooth.   He is so laid back and friendly we haven't had any problems except he gets so excited when people comes over.   Sophia sat on the couch and Hoss just hurled himself on her lap and started licking her.  I couldn't even see her under his bulk.   I hauled him off and checked her out.  Except for a small scratch by her eye she was fine, a little shook up but the rest of the visit went well.   We do need to train him.

   He just started to learn to walk on a leash last week.   At first he pulled and boy is he strong.   I watched the video's on You Tube from the dog whisperer on how to handle that and since he is such a quick learning and so eager to please he now does loose walk almost perfectly.   I have not tried him without a leash yet except at the dog park.

   We went to the dog park when it was empty as I wanted to see if he would come when called,  he did.  But with no other dogs to play with he didn't seem to care for it much.   We will try it with dogs in the park next time.  He loves to play with other dogs.

   One problem we have noticed is he won't poo in the yard or the woods.   Taking him down to the river every day won't always work.  We need to work on that.  Zoey always we to a spot in the woods and did her business.  I am not sure how to fix this but have been carrying treats to reward him if he ever decides to go in the woods.

   Yesterday we went to the vet.  Hoss is a rescue dog.   He still has scabs on his neck from the chain that was too small the previous owners had used to keep him tied up.  Some are kind of infected looking.   And on his left flank were several small scars.   Feeling them you can feel small hard lumps under the skin.   We think at sometime he was shot with birdshot.   He used to wander around and liked playing with cows.   Seems someone took offense to that and shot him.   With all that he is still so kind and loving.  How could anyone shoot him!   But besides that he is very healthy.  He weighed in at 74.6 pounds which is perfect for him.  He is lean and muscular.   And hopefully heart worm neg.   The vet said if we didn't hear from her today it was good to go.  Since he lived out in the country I am worried about that.  They never did any preventive on him.  Keep your fingers crossed she doesn't call so I can start him on his heartquard in the morning. ( no call from the vet so Hoss is heartworm free, yippy).

   Since he is young he loves to play but can get a little rough.  He nips at you.  We stop him and give him an appropriate toy to mouth and that is getting better but if he gets real excited I play music for him.   Have you heard of the CD's Through A Dogs Ears?  I played him a sample and he is now sleeping and snoring up a storm.  Wow.  I ordered the tape.   Play is good,  but not nipping, so piano music calms him down rapidly.

   Boy can this dog snore.   I went to bed before Rick last night and he said when he came into the bedroom Hoss was laying on his side with his head on Ricks pillow and Xena was between us both.  Hoss was snoring up a storm.  Rick laughed and took the spare room where he slept well and I kept getting nudged over by the dog, that I thought was Rick.  Have to change that.

   Oh, one other problem.  These dogs are suppose to love water.  Not Hoss.  Since he smells very doggy from living on a farm I wanted to give him a bath.   He won't get in the tub.  They don't say stubborn as a bulldog for nothing.   So I decided to try the hose.  That scared him.  I wonder if the old owner used to punish him by spraying him?   I washed him off instead with a washcloth and cleaned his dirty ears and may try a place where you can wash him yourself, one of those doggy laundromats.

   Hoss also gets along great with my son's dog who was at first timid around such a large dog.  We walked them both yesterday and it went great.  So things are going so good.

  I was worried about adopted a full grown dog, so was Rick.  Would he bond to us?  Would he be untrainable?  All unfounded in Hoss's case at least.   He seems happy to be here.   So different then Zoey but lovable in his own noisy way.  Gee, I wonder if Rick would like to get another? LOL.

Hoss, I think Zoey would approve.

   We had not intended to get another dog so soon and Rick maybe never again.   But this rescue dog turned up with this wrinkled ole face and what could you do.  He needed a home.

      Hoss is 2 1/2.  His breed is called a Olde English Bulldogge, in reality he is still a cross breed from an English bulldog shown below

  And an American Bulldog.

          And you end up with a dog that is bred for his easy going temperament,  outstanding loyalty and the loudest snore I have ever heard from a dog.  He has his momma's face but his daddy's body.  Except his nose isn't that smashed up to his face.

    Zoey was irreplaceable.  No doubt about it.  Hoss is nothing like my sweet Zoey.   He didn't know how to walk on a leash.  And since he weights in at 72 pounds of pure muscle that was a problem.  But this breed wants to please its owner and in only a few short hours he has it down pat.

   Now Hoss has been raised around cats and his foster had 3 cats.   Hoss likes them.  We haven't actually found anything Hoss doesn't like except for peanut butter biscuits.   He loves everybody, large and small,  loves every dog and was playing with cows at this foster.  Since originally this dog was called the butcher dog because it could capture and hold its cows for its owner I found that funny.

   I was nervous about the adoption.  Would he like us?  I have never had a male dog and have never adopted a full grown dog before.  I have always done my own training.  We spent the week before his arrival and read everything we could about the breed and how to rescue a dog successfully.  I love the dog whisperer.  We used his video to set the ground rules right away about who was the leader in our pack.  Great stuff. And I plan to have him take some obedience training.  He is strong, stronger even then Zoey.   I want to teach him to come.

        Hoss is so different then Zoey.  He snores loudly.   He toots at will.  Because of the bulldog he is snorting and sloppering alot.   He is naturally very friendly where Zoey was standoffish until she got to know you.  Everybody deserves wet sloppy kisses according to Hoss.  We have to work on getting him not to jump up and start kissing the strangers on the street.  They may not like a big headed dog sneezing in their face then licking it off.  But I do.  

  Hoss still has some scabs and sores from his past life as a dog who was not taken care of by his owner.  Noah's Hope rescue takes in the strays, no matter how injured.

   I hope you will all take a moment and vote for Noah's Hope Animal Rescue at this site.  The could win some much needed money.  You have to like the page to vote.  Vote today.

https://fb.chasegiving.com/charity/view/ein/27-0697985

  Hoss watching Xena watching Chester who is keeping his eyes on the both of them.  How do you like Xena's new bed, LOL.  Looks like a sock monkey.

  So Xena as been slinking around, hissing and batting at Hoss.   Hoss just kind of stares back, wiggles his stubby tale, which is that way naturally, and seems to say.  When your ready we will be pals.  Just perfect the way he isn't forcing himself on her and she is slowly coming up and sniffing him.  I think Xena will finally get a dog she can play and cuddle with.  Zoey just never really cared for her.

  Once again we have the patter was feet in our hour and fur bodies pressing against us for a hugs.  The house seemed hollow and empty without Zoey.  Lifeless even.  It is whole again.  And I think Zoey would like Hoss.  I know Hoss would have like Zoey.

Life Without Zoey

 

  It has almost been 2 weeks since Zoey passed.   Slowly I am getting used to not having her furry self to greet us at the door and beg at our table.   It has been difficult.

    The day after Zoey went to the Rainbow bridge I was eating my breakfast and just automatically saved her a bite and looked to where she would lie waiting.   No Zoey.   I could almost see her.   If you caught her begging she would hurry up and look away,  "I'm not begging", and then as soon as you looked away her face would turn to you again and her soft brown eyes would burn into you, mentally reminding you that she was there and waiting.

   Xena spent the first 3 days going from room to room and meowing at the top of her voice.   Day and night.   She has started sitting on our laps and sleeping in our bed.   Something she never did before.   She has started to settled down but I found her sleeping with one of Zoey's toys.   Weird.   She always liked Zoey much more then Zoey liked her.

    Yesterday I finally put Zoey's leash and treat jar away.   That was ridiculously difficult.  I know in my mind what is final but my heart still wants her to come in and nudge the jar with her nose.

   On the back door are some dirty smudges from years of Zoey using her nose to push the door open.   I know I will tackle cleaning them off some day.  But not yet.

    I bury my nose in Xena's fur and can remember how nice Zoey smelled.   But Xena is not the same.  Xena has also taken to following me from room to room like Zoey did, weird.

   I miss the way Zoey would greet you by shoving her face between you legs, forcing you to stop and reach down and pet her and scratch her under her arms.   She loved that and so did I.

   We had steak last night.   It seemed wrong to just toss the scraps.  What a waste.

   Tuesday we are expecting the urn we ordered.  Zoey's face will be laser cut on it.   Rick wants to save the ashed in the urn,  someday she will be put to rest with us.  If you have never had a beloved pet this will seem weird,  we are careful who we tell that to.  But for those that know what it is like you will understand.  It just seems right.

   So slowly we are adjusting.  It has the same feeling when Betty and Merle passed.

2016

2016

      We went and saw the movie yesterday.   If you want to truly be informed about who you voted for and if you're thinking of voting for him again,  see the movie.

R.I.P. Zoey

Photo contest

   I recently found a new, for me, place for photo contest.   They have free competitions and some you pay to enter.  Most of the entries fees are only 3 dollars.   I know we have several budding and professional photographers that blog so thought I would share the link if you don't already have it.  I have several photographs entered but there are thousands of great shots.  Check out I Shot It.

   Zoey had a good weekend.   She is weak and has lost a lot of weight but still is eating anything and everything we put in front of her.   We go to the vet today.  We spend mornings and evenings outside since it is cooler and let her wander around and sniff.  She seems content to lie on the grass and look around.   I think the vet will be shocked to see how much weight she has lost and I am anxious to weight her and see also.  

  A friend of mine is going through the same thing with her dog.  In my absence from blogging while everyone was living here I missed the passing of many of my blogging friends pets.  I am sorry about that and my sympathies to you all.  I know how hard it is.  Hugs to you all.  Hopefully they will all meet at the rainbow bridge.

Bad Days

 Zoey and us had a bad night last night.    We went out to eat since she was doing about the same and when we got home once again she was having a hard time walking.   We helped her outside and then back in,  her legs kept crossing and she had trouble staying on her feet.   As I stroked her fur I couldn't help but feel how much weight she has dropped in just 1 week.  Her eyes were wide and panicky looking.


  I had talked to the vet earlier and we decided she might be having pain so I had picked up some pain meds.  I gave her one and we sat on the floor and comforted her.   Telling her what a good girl she was and had always been.  I called my sons and they both came over with my sobbing grandchildren and we sat on the floor and petted and hugged the pet we loved.


  In about 40 minutes her eyes were relaxed and we could tell her pain med had kicked in.  And then we couldn't believe it when she wanted her treats.  The ones she always gets when it is 7:30.  We were late and she wanted them.   She happily ate them and then walked across the room, steady on her feet again.  Thank god there are meds that will make her feel better.


  My vet still is pushing to do the surgery on her.  But I was thinking.  If I was in my high 80's to 90's and I had a cancer that couldn't be cured and I couldn't voice my opinion I would hope my sons would tell the doctor to keep me comfortable.  That is what I know I would want and we think it is what Zoey would want.  We are definitely not going to put her through that.

   My grandchildren leave in 2 days.   We are hoping with the pain meds she will be comfortable and do well until they leave and then we will be making that call we don't want to make.  We both pray she will maybe go in her sleep at our side.  But either way it won't be long.

   I told the kids at the rainbow bridge Zoey will be able to throw her collar away and run with the other dogs, sniffing all the new smells and going where she wants.  And then someday when we meet again she will run up, her tail wagging and that goofy smile on her face and we will all rejoice at our reunion.  

   This morning she is still slightly unsteady but her breathing is easy and she doesn't appear to be in any pain.  I will give her another pain med shortly to make sure it doesn't come back.  And we promised her we wouldn't let her suffer.  So if it means even if the grandchildren are here when it is time we will do what is right.