Last week, my dogs kept acting like there was something loose in our garden.  It's fenced in (mainly to keep them and the other animals out), so I was kind of puzzled when they kept alerting there.  My one dog has a doghouse next to the fence, so when they did it again after dark, I ended up looking in the dog house and finding a puppy in there!

He's small, a little over 5 lbs., is very fine boned, and kind of nervous. I estimate he's about 4-5 months old.  I think he's probably not well socialized, since he seems to be afraid of everyone, even me at first.  Now he sticks to me like glue.  He's pretty active, has made friends with my other dogs, although he's still a little shy of the cats (they're all bigger than him!). Any idea if he may be a rattie, or maybe a mix?

He is adorable!!! He does look like he is a rattie mix.

Has he found his forever home?

Weeelllll...I have put up a few posters saying I found him, call with a description, and the owner can have him back...BUT...so far, he's been more or less adopted by us.  My husband was saying no, but he's already shared his cheese with him and lets him sleep between us at the foot of the bed, so I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon.

The kids and I have been trying to come up with a suitable name for him.  We sort of agreed on Apollo, but then I called him Courage the other day (after the cartoon), and I find myself calling him Little Man, so I guess we'll just have to wait until it comes to him.

Weeelllll...I have put up a few posters saying I found him, call with a description, and the owner can have him back...BUT...so far, he's been more or less adopted by us.  My husband was saying no, but he's already shared his cheese with him and lets him sleep between us at the foot of the bed, so I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon.

The kids and I have been trying to come up with a suitable name for him.  We sort of agreed on Apollo, but then I called him Courage the other day (after the cartoon), and I find myself calling him Little Man, so I guess we'll just have to wait until it comes to him.

Posted By tiggarat on 06/02/2008 5:38 PM
what a cutie! sometimes the best dogs are the ones who find/choose you...

Funny you should say that...none of the dogs I currently own were ones I went looking for.  They all found me in some way or another.  I've never bought a dog or cat...I've never had to!

Calling him Courage would be so appropriate.  He's afraid of nearly everything!

That baby is adorable!!! Savanna found me in a similar way. She's still here. (sigh)   Wouldn't change a thing!!! She is the best thing that has ever come my way! Maybe Courage will be the same for you!

He's too cute! Looks like a rattie/JRT mix to me...

OMG he looks like Aubrey's Corona! SO CUTE!!!!!! I love the name Courage for him.Stick with us and let us know how it goes.

Thanks everyone!  I think he may be a rat-chi mix.  I was told he's right at the upper weight limit for a chihuahua.  I have no idea what the min/max weights are for a rattie. I've known a few people who have had both, but I never paid much attention, since all the dogs I've ever had weighed 30 lbs. or more.  I think even after I fatten him up a little (he's a little bony, even for a little guy), he still has some growth to go.  If he makes it to 10 lbs., I'll be surprised.  As it stands, all my cats have at least 3-4 lbs. on him.

Posted By tiggarat on 06/03/2008 3:08 AM
If you're right in guessing the little guys age, he shouldn't get too much bigger...probably under 10 lbs, which is considered a toy rattie. Ratties come in a variety of sizes (toy, mini, standard, and decker), from being as small as your guy, to 30+ lbs. My girls are around 30 lbs (by far the smallest dogs I've ever had), but I think most ratties are usually somewhere between 12 - 20 lbs.

He still has all his baby teeth in the front, but I can't tell if his jaw teeth are baby or adult. (They look adult to me, but then I'm no doggie dentist.)  He's still under-developed in the *coff* "plumbing" department, so I know he can't be very old.  Definitely a boy, though.

I like Capt. Courageous!  That's just too funny!  I think my kids will like that better.  We all have a goofy sense of humor.

 Whoever owned him before didn't take very good care of him.  Not only is he not very well socialized (but we've made tremendous progress already!), but he was also dirty and underfed.  At least he isn't food agressive, but he is very, very submissive.  He also tries to bite out of fear if he's cornered.

Posted By DaisysMom on 06/03/2008 11:05 AM
Congratulations on winning the rattie(mix?) lottery He is adorable. Love the name Capt. Courageous. Have you had him vetted yet? The vet should give you a reasonable idea
of age and given his condition, he should probably be checked for worms/parasites and perhaps vaccinated. Thank goodness he found his way to someone who cares.

No, not yet.  My husband isn't one to just drop money on an animal, especially one he says need to find a home.  He's still saying he can't stay, but I expect to hear that for awhile yet.   I was planning on worming him tonight, and I'll check at TSC to see how much the vaccs are there that I can give him.

OMG what a darling little guy!  My guess would be Rat-Chi also, but who cares? He's a keeper for sure!!  Keep us posted on where he ends up.  Sounds like Capt. Couragous has found (and picked) his forever home though- hopefully!!