Debbie
6/19/03
Poor Indy had an undescended testicle, so his surgery was more extensive.
Sidney
6/23/03
Indy has gone to a foster home.
Anne went with me. She drove and I sat with Indy. He was very good and there
were no problems with him in the car. I have about five steep steps to my door
and he was afraid to go up the stairs. He has done it several times today and
is getting more comfortable with it. He hates the crate, but he is going to
have to adjust to it. Other than that every thing has gone well. He has met
my niece and got along well with her. He also met her dog through the fence
and they got along well. They wanted to play and I may let them get together
for a little while tonight. Please let me know how much I should be feeding him.
The people at the kennel gave me some dog food. I gave him about a cup and a half. Carolyn
6/25/03
Indy is now being called Nigel. I thought he needed a more British name to go
with his background. He is doing fine. The dog food they gave me is Nutro Max.
He does not have a very big appetite. He is eating between one and two cups a day
and all the treats he can con me out of. He still does not like his crate, but
he seems to accept it. He remains apprehensive about people, but has gotten a lot
better. He sometimes forgets to be afraid. His housebreaking is coming along.
We have only had one and the start of another incident. He has met lots of people:
men, women, and teens and other dogs. He really perks up around other dogs; he
tolerates people. He doesn't want to play with people. He usually stays with
me and moves from room to room as I move. However, there are still times he is
even reticent to come to me. Of course, this is only the third day. He has
mastered the steps. He uses the doggie door some, but prefers not to go outside
without me. We have gone for long walks each evening. Tonight I'm going to
hang out with my human friends, but he already got exercise. We went for a
walk this morning and he played with my niece's dog. He doesn't heel, but he
walks very well on a leash. His skin is very dry. I have some moisturizing,
deodorizing spray my niece gave me. It's called Nova Pearls. Do you have a
any suggestions? Anne has been great about helping out. I am taking him to
Dog school tomorrow night at 7:30. Carolyn
6/27/03
Nigel is still doing well. We're still getting to know each other. I left
him out of his crate last night and I think he had a pee incident. He has a
doggie door and uses it when I'm here although he much prefers being in the
air conditioned house to outdoors. I'll put him in his crate tonight. He
has not been spending a lot of time in his crate because my niece has access
to my house and comes over and gets him when I'm gone. Her dog is not as
happy as he was the first couple of days about Nigel. I think Sam, my neices
dog, has figured out Nigel is not just company and is going to be around more
than a couple of days.
I took him to puppy class last night. He didn't participate in the "academic" part.
While he is still very shy, he didn't run away from any of the people and there
were a couple of them he even went up to. I'll continue to take him, but I'm
not going to demand that he sit, heel or anything now. I think just being
around the people and other people is good for him.
Nigel has no problem with other dogs. He seems to let other males be the dominant dog.
I've never had two males together so I don't know if that is natural in the dog world.
He played with a male at school last night. Even though the other dog was young,
Nigel let him be the dominant dog. He had an encounter with my niece's cat yesterday.
He wasn't overly aggressive, but I think the cat got scared of a new dog and smacked
him in the nose. However, I think he can do well with a cat.
Carolyn
6/30/03
Nigel had a major setback Saturday evening. I was trying to get him out of the house
to pee. In trying to avoid me and going outside, he knocked over a candle stand, which
in turn knocked over a floor lamp, which knocked over a small table, which knocked over
a chair. It was a very noisy and disruptive event. I didn't discipline him in any way,
but he is very afraid to be in house. However, he prefers the house to the heat during
the day. He is better today. He doesn't mind being in my niece's house and prefers to
eat her dog's food. The backs of our yards are separated by a fence and she talks to
him when she is hanging clothes. Since I have a doggie door I'll let him come and go
as he wants and hope he works it out.
He and my niece's dog, Sam, have worked out there relationship. They have little games
that they play and Nigel prefers to play with Sam's toys. When Sam is at my house, he
likes Nigel's toys. Anne is going to bring Canyon over this evening, so Nigel with
have another person and dog to interact with. I had to pick up my niece's daughter
from tennis this morning and Nigel went with me. We took a walk in the park while
we were waiting. Carolyn
7/9/03
He won't come to me most of the time. Food is not a motivator for him and if
anything he becomes wary when offered treats unless Sam or Canyon are also getting
treats. He will also accept treats from my niece when he is at her house and likes
her very much, as do all dogs, plus there is another dog there. He doesn't hesitate
to hang around the table when I am eating something he likes. He seems to be more
comfortable when other dogs are present. I think he is still afraid of my house
because of his bad experience. I have a doggie door so I let him go in and out at
will and only force him on a leash when he is going outside the yard. I do take him
to my niece's without a leash since we discovered that's where he went when he got
out of the fenced yard. I don't think he would leave the area, but I'm not willing
to take the chance since he won't come when called -- not to anyone. He sleeps
outside and comes in with some trepidation when it gets hot. I would like for him
to eat more, but he gets enough.
On the more positive side, he is completely house broken, he rides very well in the
car, walks well on a leash, gets along with my niece's cat. I have neighbors whose
dogs bark constantly when they are not home. Nigel is not a barker. He lets me
brush him. He won't play with me, but he does like for me to pet him and scratch
his tummy and ears, but only when I'm not standing and he doesn't feel threatened.
He does not get on the furniture. So many good qualities if only he would come to me!
Carolyn
7/12/03
I took Nigel out to meet the Settles. They got along very well. I don't think you
could find better adoptive owners. Their dog, O'Rielly, is an exuberant, playful
Airedale. Nigel was submissive but seemed to enjoy his visit.
Carolyn
7/16/03
Nigel had a nosebleed today. I don't know what caused it. My niece and I were
both gone so I left him at my niece's house with her dog. This morning when I
brushed him his nose was crusty around the edges and his eyes were goopy so I
thought a very dry nose is a possibility. My niece's cat was also in the house
so there is also a possibility she swatted him in the nose, which she is inclined
to do when she doesn't want his attention. He seems okay now. He's laying here
beside me and I've been keeping an eye on him. I put some antibiotic on his nose.
He didn't like it. If there is anything else I should be doing let me know.
Carolyn
7/19/03
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This morning I picked Nigel up from his foster mom ...
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... and delivered him to his new family.
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More about Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue
