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Subject: adopting, behavior questions
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bunky8384


Ratastic
Ratastic
07/02/2009 12:09 PM adopting, behavior questions  

I posted some pictures of the little guy in the photo area.  The shelter was calling him a JRT mix but after meeting him I am 100% sure he doesn't have JRT in him, thinking everyone's guesses of corgi mix are right on.  The shelter says he is a puppy, but again I am not so sure.  He looks like he is at least a year old if not a little older.   

Anyway I am a little concerned about some of his behaviors and wanted some input from all the foster/rescue experienced members.  The poor thing is scared to death!  He shook the whole time I talked to him while he was in his cage.  I tried to touch him after softly talking to him for a bit and leaving my hand for hi to sniff.  He raised his lip a little so I asked to have him taken outside to meet us instead.  Clearly the environment is making him very nervous.  We went outside and after walking around a bit he let me pet him, he acted like he didn't care what I did honestly.  His shaking subsided some. He allowed me to lift up his lip and look at his teeth.   After my husband and I talked and scratched him for awhile he went to get our oldest Rylee (she is 4).  "Jack" was laying on the ground and as soon as Rylee walked up he popped up and went to her and wagged his tail a couple times.  After that he pretty much ignored us unless I was scratching his "spot" on his back.  He seems like he could be a very nice dog once he is out of the shelter.  After walking around for awhile he started following me and did not want to go back inside.  Poor guy!  From all of my reading on here I have learned that terriers do not do well in shelters..  I am hoping once we get him home and he gets comfortable, he warms up more. 

Right now we are planning to adopt him.  We have to pre-pay his spay through our vet and have our vet sign off on it than take the spay contract back to the shelter.   The shelter is now closed for the day so we plan to have everything ready so we can pick him up tomorrow morning. 

I was pretty excited to find out that Wishbone has been working with our shelter and they have a volunteer behaviourist that can come work with us should we need it.   


*~Ashlee~*
Mommy to Rylee & Gavin
Lucy, Zoey(ratties) and Marvin (Maine Coon kitty)
Mitzy's Mom


Rattitude Problem
Rattitude Problem
07/02/2009 12:25 PM adopting, behavior questions  
Thank you for deciding to adopt him! And that's awesome that the shelter has a behaviorist to work with you if one is needed.
Evaluating a dog in shelter setting can be very difficult as they are not "at their best" there, particularly rat terriers. They are usually scared and unsure. It's a very good sign that he warmed up to your daughter quickly so it seems like he is not scared of small children...a BIG plus! Of course, once you get him home be sure to supervise him with the children closely (as you would any dog).

I agree from his pictures he looks at least a year old. Shelters mostly guess at breeds AND age. One of my current fosters was listed as a 6 month old puppy at the shelter....she's more like 2-3 years old! And Corgi's are sweet dogs, yet energetic enough to keep up with a family so Corgi is a good breed (looks like maybe he's Corgi mixed with terrier).

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids: Mitzy, Mayfly, Gilby & Skipper
www.newrattitude.org

"YOUR OWN PATH YOU MAKE WITH EVERY STEP YOU TAKE" - Joseph Campbell

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