Krystian
Rattie
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| 05/08/2007 11:23 AM |
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Hello everyone,
I just got a 1 year old rat terrier from a family on a farm that could no longer take care of her.
She is a great dog, she is potty trained, doesn't bark, and sleeps the entire night. 
I just had some general questions to help me take the best care of her that I can.
First, the owner told me that she was kennel trained, but when I leave for work I coax her into the kennel with a treat and priase, and then I leave without any drama or anything like that, but she still contiunes to whine. Is this because of her new environment and she is not used to our home? Or is it that she is unhappy with the situation?
Second, what type of food is the best for these types of dogs? Right now I am just feeding her a small breed formula (I can't remember the brand)
Third, she seems to be really shy with me, I have to coax her to come to me and then she is comfortable, but she has no issues with my wife. She will follow her around, come when she calls her, hop on her lap, etc. Is she afriad of me because I am a male?
Any hints or tips would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Krystian J / Harley
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Harley Hardcore's Daddy |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/08/2007 11:26 AM |
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| Welcome and congrats!!! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/08/2007 11:26 AM |
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WELCOME!
I'm so glad that you rescued a rattie in need 
Please post pictures when you can |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/08/2007 11:32 AM |
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Oh, Congratulations!!! And bless you for rescuing
I think the whining is probably understandable as she is adjusting to her new surroundings. I wouldn't worry about it too much, in all likelihood she settles down once you leave and just sleeps. You could try a Kong toy with treats and/or frozen peanut butter filling in it to give her something to "work on" in her crate while you are gone. Kongs are very destruction resistant. Do not leave her with anything she could chew up and swallow.
We would love to see some pics
Welcome again. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Krystian
Rattie
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| 05/08/2007 11:47 AM |
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I will deff get some pics up when I can.
Just a quick note
She doesn't seem interested in any type of toy that I put in front of her, I gave her a few chew toys and kong rubber balls but she is just not interested.
What can I do?
Thanks again for the replies!
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Harley Hardcore's Daddy |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/08/2007 11:50 AM |
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Posted By Krystian on 05/08/2007 11:47 AM
I will deff get some pics up when I can.
Just a quick note
She doesn't seem interested in any type of toy that I put in front of her, I gave her a few chew toys and kong rubber balls but she is just not interested.
What can I do?
Thanks again for the replies!
Our Max was a rescue but older when we got him 4 yrs? We have had him for almost 3 years . He does not play.
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Jenny - Max's sister
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/08/2007 11:50 AM |
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| Jack likes his bobo and anything with squeakies, just beware they destroy them pretty quick!! lol |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/08/2007 11:52 AM |
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I too, would try the plush toys with squeekers - have you tried the Kong or balls that you can put treats in? Still nothing?
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/08/2007 11:56 AM |
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Posted By JenMax on 05/08/2007 11:50 AM
Posted By Krystian on 05/08/2007 11:47 AM
I will deff get some pics up when I can.
Just a quick note
She doesn't seem interested in any type of toy that I put in front of her, I gave her a few chew toys and kong rubber balls but she is just not interested.
What can I do?
Thanks again for the replies!
Our Max was a rescue but older when we got him 4 yrs? We have had him for almost 3 years . He does not play.
Really Jenny? I didn't know that!
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/08/2007 11:58 AM |
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Plush toys and lots of them because she will destroy them!
For food - any high quality food is good....Canidae, Innova, etc. Food with no corn or wheat fillers and certainly no rice protein concentrate or corn/wheat glutens (because of the recalls). More meat, veggies and less grain is better for all breeds. Right now I feed a mix of Nutro Lamb & Rice small bites and Natural Balance Ultra. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/08/2007 11:58 AM |
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Welcome. It is fantastic that you were able to take in this little girl. How long have you guys had her so far? I can't wait to see pictures. Here are some of my thoughts, I'm sure others will have opinions as well.
Whining in the crate- like said above she probably does settled down and sleep after you are gone. It could be that she is being somewhat affected by getting used to her new environment. In time I bet she stops whining so much.
Food- I along with several other members on here feed Lucy Nutro's small bites.
Shyness- I think that with time she will become more comfortable with you and will become less shy. These dogs are very sensitive and she may have had negative experiences with males. Once she becomes more secure in her new environment she will most likely warm up.
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/08/2007 12:01 PM |
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Posted By swatson6 on 05/08/2007 11:56 AM
Posted By JenMax on 05/08/2007 11:50 AM
Posted By Krystian on 05/08/2007 11:47 AM
I will deff get some pics up when I can.
Just a quick note
She doesn't seem interested in any type of toy that I put in front of her, I gave her a few chew toys and kong rubber balls but she is just not interested.
What can I do?
Thanks again for the replies!
Our Max was a rescue but older when we got him 4 yrs? We have had him for almost 3 years . He does not play.
Really Jenny? I didn't know that!
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Jenny - Max's sister
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/08/2007 12:03 PM |
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| Didn't play!!! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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brattybaxter
Rat Royalty
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| 05/08/2007 12:06 PM |
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it would so nice if Baxter didn't want to play once in a while!!! |
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~ Mary and BAXTER, the FIERCE guard dog! ~
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JenMax
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/08/2007 12:09 PM |
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Posted By swatson6 on 05/08/2007 12:03 PM
Didn't play!!!
It is weird but Max is such a sweet little dog. He loves walks and cuddling. |
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Jenny - Max's sister
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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Krystian
Rattie
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| 05/08/2007 12:22 PM |
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Thank you for all of the thoughts.
I will be bringing her to work with me for a few hours just so she doesn't associate the kennel as being neglected.
I will get the pics up asap.
Welcome. It is fantastic that you were able to take in this little girl. How long have you guys had her so far? I can't wait to see pictures. Here are some of my thoughts, I'm sure others will have opinions as well.
Whining in the crate- like said above she probably does settled down and sleep after you are gone. It could be that she is being somewhat affected by getting used to her new environment. In time I bet she stops whining so much.
Food- I along with several other members on here feed Lucy Nutro's small bites.
Shyness- I think that with time she will become more comfortable with you and will become less shy. These dogs are very sensitive and she may have had negative experiences with males. Once she becomes more secure in her new environment she will most likely warm up.
We have only had her for about two days now. |
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Harley Hardcore's Daddy |
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/08/2007 12:27 PM |
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Poor babies... Shiloh was a rescue too and she's funny about people. Certain men make her pee on their feet just because they said hello to her. She has certain dances she does for others and seems to like all females. She adores my husband and likes to lay on his chest with her arms wrapped around him. Not comfortable for him but an absolute riot to watch! And other males she flips out over. There's even one kid she just won't have on her property at all. (personally, I think she's a very good judge of character) I do wonder if some person, due to her behavior, I think it quite possibly it was a man that abused her in some fashion. Men making sudden movements make her run and hide in fear and she won't have anything to do with a bowl of water. I know she gets thirsty but won't drink if anyone is looking at her or standing too close. We have a blind cat and all water dishes here have to have rocks in them so the cat doesn't dip his face in too far. I think of small stones now as animal ice cubes... Shiloh just won't drink at all unless there's a rock in the bowl. How odd is that?! Good luck with your new baby Krystian, I'm sure you'll all adjust just fine in no time. One thing I can say with certainty about this breed is that they are highly intelligent and adapt well as long as you show love and affection. They truly live to please.
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Krystian
Rattie
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| 05/08/2007 12:32 PM |
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I am glad to hear that, yeah instantly she was crazy about my wife, she follows her around like her shadow.
She will cuddle with me, and come when I call her, just sometimes she gets a bit shy when I raise my voice too high at something else.
I agree that she may have been abused in some fashion by a male and only time can help I guess.
She is my baby and I plan on having her right there with me everywhere. |
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Harley Hardcore's Daddy |
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/08/2007 12:34 PM |
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One more thing? Hubby had a hard time bonding with Shiloh for the first few weeks due to her fear of men and I thought it was the oddest thing I'd ever seen a human do but it sure worked for Shiloh and her Daddy, maybe if you aren't afraid of someone seeing you acting like an oddball it may work for you too... Hubby started sniffing Shiloh's face and head, just the way dogs do with each other. He finishes off these sniff sessions with a big breath through his nose right on Shiloh's fur. He stays above herhead during all of this as the alpha male. Like I said, it looks plain odd but she REALLY responds to it.
She now sees him as the pack leader and will do absolutely anything he tells her to. I rescued her and I am definitely Mommy but Daddy is king in her world! He has never even had to use treats as incentive, she'd rather he sniff her! LOL |
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Krystian
Rattie
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| 05/08/2007 12:55 PM |
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LOL!
I will deff take that into consideration and try it out tonight when I get home! |
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Harley Hardcore's Daddy |
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/08/2007 1:01 PM |
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Smiles
We here are all guilty of doing things non-animal people would consider plain lunacy all in the name of love for an animal. Hope it helps. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new baby girl. What's her name? |
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Sassy'sMama
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 05/08/2007 1:18 PM |
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Welcome!! You picked the right place for advice and friendship...
Sassy (in the avitar) I got at 8 weeks... within a week I will have my rescue Rattie, her name is Angel...
Ladyfern I think I'll try what your husband does when Angel gets here... funny as it may look, it makes total sense to me... Cept I don't know how much air I can put out my nose after over 30 years of smoking..lol. |
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~~Jan~~
Mama to Sassy
www.marykay.com/janetkimberlin
(free shipping) |
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brattybaxter
Rat Royalty
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spence9118
Terrier Terror
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| 05/08/2007 1:25 PM |
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I got Kayla about 4 months ago. She is almost 4 years old. It did take her a while to warm up to us. Now that she is comfortable with us she is compleatly different. She used to be more independent but now she is the biggest cuddle bug and loves attention. So she probably just needs some ti;me to adjust!
P.S. Welcome!!! |
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Erica- Charlie and Tucker's Mommy
www.myspace.com/ricka9118
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/08/2007 1:59 PM |
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Give it a whirl. Sounds stupid but it does make a difference. Glad to hear we aren't the only oddball rattie family out there LOL
Have a great day friends! |
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Russ' Pal
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 05/08/2007 3:24 PM |
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On the not interested in toys- we had the same thing with Russ when he came to us. I have found he gets interested right quick if I smear a little peanut butter on them. Just don't give too much peanut butter at once or you'll pay for it on the other end .
 also, I've been known to bite at his new toys, just to show him it's OK to bite that item. Yeah, sounds pretty crazy, but it works. Just keep working with the toys, she'll get it eventually.
Agree with the others, she'll warm up to you. Do you wear a hat alot? Russ had a thing about hats when we first got him, he'd get spooked when my husband put a hat on.
Welcome to the site.
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-Sarah, pal to Russ & Peca |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/08/2007 3:32 PM |
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| My hubby has blown his breath into the pup's nose before and this gives them his scent too. |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Ski
Ratastic
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| 05/08/2007 7:51 PM |
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Posted By Krystian on 05/08/2007 11:47 AM
I will deff get some pics up when I can.
Just a quick note
She doesn't seem interested in any type of toy that I put in front of her, I gave her a few chew toys and kong rubber balls but she is just not interested.
What can I do?
Thanks again for the replies!
I think Nora said that Bailey didn't know what to do with toys when she first got him. She worked with him in a hallway with a tennis ball. There was nothing else to do but retrieve the ball and she rewarded him with treats when he brought it to her. My dogs aren't crazy about toys but love their raw beef knuckle bones from the grocery store. They are the best for teeth cleaning too. |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/09/2007 8:30 AM |
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| I do the sniffing thing - I thought everyone did that! It's what they do with each other so it seems natural. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
at www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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