Onyx and Shadow's Story
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to read the background on the rescue of 19 Airedales from a puppymill.
Onyx and Shadow were the shyest of the entire pack, completely feral, terrified of humans and totally dominated by the other dogs.
5/25/03
We decided to move Blackie and Indy from Melissa's house to another foster home,
hoping that would help Onyx and Shadow learn to interact with people.
Sidney
I thought I'd seen the worst of it, but tonight when I went to
feed Shadow and Onyx (he of the curly tail), I was devastated.
I fed them in separate bowls. They both went for them in a flash
(I'd included the salmon skin from last night, plus a little of the
potatoes from this morning and some spinach, figured the salmon
smell would attract them). They'd take about five bites, Onyx would
look around, Shadow would run off, do a U-turn and then both
would start eating again. Same story all through their dinners.
They ate as though they were starving, so I went out and put one
more cup of dry dog food in, gone in a flash, but with the same
"nobody's going to get me" routine. Then one more cup (four in
all) and they licked their dishes dry. Onyx is so
shy! And since the departure of Blackie and Indie, kind of at
a loss.
I didn't think my heart could break again, but it did.
On a brighter note, talked with Debbie in Ajo and apparently,
Blackie and Indie are doing well. I did warn her that Blackie
is the Alpha dog and she's going to separate them tomorrow.
Will keep you posted on what's going on.
Melissa
5/26/03
Tonight Onyx and Shadow are in the yard, having gone over
the little fence. So far they've had no water, no food, so
tomorrow I'm hopeful of getting the back in with
reinforcement. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Melissa
5/29/03
Tonight the ghostly duo was on the ramp for water
again, with the home gang. I started playing with Cash
and Susie and Shadow kept creeping closer and closer.
Then I did a nefarious deed after everyone had been fed.
I took a handful of cashews, called C&S and sat at the
end of the ramp in view of the blacks. Started feeding
the pups one nut at a time. Both blacks crept forward.
C&S were doing their best feeding frenzy routine. So I
held my right hand up and tossed a few nuts to Shadow
(closest). The pups were concentrating on my "nut"
hand and didn't notice. Shadow found the nut and turned
it over and over in his mouth like a kid with his first mouthful
of ice cream. Then Onyx wanted in on the action, so I threw
a few his way. Same reaction before he wolfed them down.
Later, when I knew they were in their bunkhouse lair, I walked
down and scattered a few on the ground outside their sleeping
quarters. Just went out now to turn out lights, and Shadow and
Onyx were on the ramp, rapt. More nuts? Sorry, guys. But
tomorrow's another day. I feel we're making baby steps toward
progress.
Meliss'
8/1/03
I managed
to get a long line on Onyx this morning. Not going to
do anything more with him until tomorrow (Lord willin'
and the creek don't rise). Having the line on his collar
seems to perk him up. He comes running every time I
go out the door. Maybe a little more secure? Who knows.
M.
8/17/03
Onyx will let me tickle his ears and scratch under his chin
WHEN he feels like it. Shadow wants desperately to get
in on the lovin' too, but scoots away as soon as you move
in his direction. We've got a ways to go here...
Meliss'
8/22/03
Onyx
has come to believe that it's OK to come in the house
during the day and evenings, but when Ted or I go to
get something out of the fridge, he opts out the dog
door. And Shadow is nowhere to be seen, except
at dinner time. As Ted says, "Maybe by about Christmas."
I dunno. I'm getting tired and cranky.
Even Shadow comes in when we're in bed asleep. And
they eat my shoes! And underwear. But at least we know
that they're coming in. Onyx has been the bravest, Shadow
is much more shy. But he'll lick my fingers in the morning and
shows signs of wanting to be scritched around the ears, but won't
come close enough for me to do it. What's a girl to do?
Me.
8/30/03
Last night we had either a major breakthrough or a minor
anomaly.
Onyx was in the living room, snoozing gently, so I got down
on the floor (with some difficulty, I admit) and inched toward
him. He woke up, wagged his tail and rolled over about 10
degrees and lifted his hind leg about 2". So I started to pet
him and ruffle his hair. He finally realized what was going on
and decided not to give in, so he got up but didn't move away.
I put my arms around him and started to runkle him up one side
and down the other, then scritch the ears and cheeks and he
started to moan. After some 2 minutes, I let him go, didn't try
to stop him. He went directly into the back yard to think it all
over. This morning he won't let me pet him. He's probably
pissed with himself for showing what a loving patsy he really
is.
Next step is to get the cable on him (didn't want to do it last
night 'cuz he'd think all the pets were just a ruse...smart dog!).
We'll see how it goes. Next in line is Shadow, who's now
sleeping every night in the house, but doesn't want to be
touched, at least he doesn't think so currently.
Meliss'
9/28/03
The blacks are in the house!! Ted lost Shadow this morning
when he went out to get the paper. Knot didn't hold, so
Shadow and Onyx spent the day under the trees. Then this
evening I went out, got Shadow by the clip on his long line
and he walked into the house like a dream. Then Onyx came
up after supper and said, "May I come in too?" Net result,
both of the blacks are in the house and so far, loving it.
This may not last, but Shandy says she's really working on
it. Has nothing against the blacks, but it would really be
nice to be back to four dogs again. Now that Tasha and
Shag are gone to their new homes, peace seems to be
restored at The Funny Farm. We'll see. In the meantime,
thanks to all of you who have taken the time and effort
and driving time to help these kids who need new homes!
Meliss'
9/29/03
Darn those dogs!
They spent the day outside without being tied to anything.
Tomorrow we're going to trap them again. I wish that
they'd realize how much nicer it is inside rather than
outside. Shandy's being silent on the matter. Cash
is being territorial, to our detriment.
Me
9/30/03
We have Shadow in the house tonight. Shy, but on the
sofa with me. Ted swears he will not let him get loose
one more time. And then he'll start obedience on him
tomorrow. In the meantime, it's swab up the pee, pick
up the poop and hope for the best. Tomorrow night we
hope to get Onyx in by the same guile. Geez these guys
are giving us some nightmares! I only hope that they're
adoptable by the time we get them socialized.
Cash is getting more destructive and demanding of attention.
Susie, too. It's taking a toll on all of us. Never, in all the
660 Airedales we've had through here have we had an
experience like this.
Shandy is getting grumpier by the day. Lizzie is outside most
of the time, simply to avoid the interaction. Ted is getting
testy, I'm about ready to scream or worse. And to think
that Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here. Well,
we won't have to worry about watering the tree...
Anyway, that's the latest update.
Meliss'
10/1/03
Better news tonight. Both Onyx and Shadow are in the
house again (age and guile all over again). No cables,
no leashes, and getting better about being called by name.
I took both of them around the house on a 6' lead, using
the method that our original trainer taught. Loop over the
right thumb so you have a handful of dog, left hand on the
remaining leash so you have some control. But loose.
Now they're learning to sit when I stop. Better than
dragging them over the rocks. They really are sweethearts,
with nary a curled lip or growl. And they lean. Oh my,
do they lean!
I think another two weeks of this and we have reformed
guys. I hope. But for now, they're in the house and they're
going to remain here despite the clean up in the morning.
They work well with sympathetic training and pets and
"good dog!" Keep your fingers crossed. They may be
adoptable yet. Let's hope.
Me
10/1/03
Shadow is a sot.
I had a glass of wine on my sideboard and Shadow
drank it all. Emily (next door neighbor) had one too,
and he drank that. Then he spit up on the floor.
No surprise. I think he's trying to become one
of the crowd, but doesn't know how. We're going
to have to watch him very carefully lest he get a
liver problem. I think he's a nervous wreck.
We'll work on it.
Me.
10/2/03
Things are looking up. We now have the blacks in total
immersion therapy. In the house, no outside influences,
no freedom. Onyx seems to be the puppy of the two.
Lots of teeth, playful, happy, while Shadow is more
obtuse. Seems older, but who knows? If only these
guys could talk! Had both on the sofa this evening,
tummy rubs are a must. We're getting there but
slowly. Ted and I take turns on a short leash walking
them around the house. Shadow sits as though he'd
been through obedience. Onyx if you insist. Hoo-boy,
I'm getting tired of this. But we will prevail.
Meliss'
10/5/03
Just to let you know that things are progressing. Finally.
Shadow and Onyx have discovered that the living room
couch (with the fan blowing) is much more comfy than
their former quarters under the bunkhouse/trees. We have
cable firmly attached at last, and take them for short turns
around the house on a regular leash (Shadow even sits
when I stop, puts one foot on my foot and leans). Now
I'm trying to get up the nerve to try them outside. Both
of them are the strongest Airedales I've ever met, despite
their lack of body fat. I just wish I had someone next
door to work them too. Ted and I are becoming much
too familiar to them.... Next month's adventure: The Vet!
Meliss'
10/15/03
Last night we let Shadow and Onyx out on the patio with
the home gang. Big mistake. Somehow they got into
the atrium and into Emily's house next door. The took
the pads off her patio furniture (didn't eat them, thank
goodness), dug huge holes in her garden and ours, went
through the dog door, crapped on the floor but didn't
disturb any of the notchkes on her coffee tables. And
she's got lots!
Then at four this morning, Ted had to go out and ring the
bell and tell them all to get the hell here. I slept blissfully
through the whole thing.
I was sure, when I finally woke up, that we'd not see them
again for another week or so. But...Onyx came in at 11:30
this morning, looking for treats. And Shadow came in of his
own volition at 4:30, went to his couch and lay down. Phew!
In the meantime, Ted has nailed down every entrance they
could have to the bunkhouse, and their only other option is
the holes they've dug just outside the patio.
Needless to say, the dog door is closed and if we have to
mop and pick up, so be it. Tomorrow I'm taking Shadow
on a 20' tracking line and working him, while Ted takes Onyx
on whatever and works him too. Turns out that it's the way it
works. Strange dogs, but loveable and very, very sweet.
Would love to put out a contract on the breeder, but then I'd
probably end up in jail, as I'm not really swift on murderous
stuff.
Hope for the best!
Meliss'
10/20/03
When I got to Meliss's on Sunday. Onyx jumped all over me with the
rest of the crew, and Shadow came up for a pet too. Shadow seems to
take to Ted more than Onyx, and both trust Melissa. There's been a
lot of progress. Both will go outside, and come back when things
get too hot outside, so they aren't confined to the house, and are
willing to come in. Of course everyone comes in at night and the dog
door is closed. And the piddling and pooping in the house (due to confinement) has stopped.
I took Shadow for a walk around the property, he did very well, and was
willing to go, although a bit of encouragement was needed, a little ear
scratch and praise every few seconds. Meliss things Onyx is getting
close to adoption level. We also discussed that it might be a good thing
to separate them. Shadow really is in Onyx's "shadow".
Rose
12/20/03
Onyx and Shadow have both gone to their new
homes! Onyx yesterday and Shadow this morning.
Phew! It's been a long six months, but worth every
minute of it.
Meliss'
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