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Pet People

Friday, August 17, 2007

Meet Minnie by Skeeter



I would like for y’all to meet Minnie. Minnie is a Hound/Spaniel mix that is currently being conditioned and Fostered by the Saints mother. (Mom B)

Mom B works with several animal shelter and rescue groups in the Fredericksburg, VA area. This past weekend, she was assisting in the adoption process at a newly open Petco store. That is where she met Minnie.

Minnie was cowering in the corner of her kennel and covered with grim and poop! Seems that just before her scheduled pick up time for the transport, she and her 3 other siblings had romped and stomped therefore she became really soiled from head to toe. Of course no one was interested in adopting Minnie.

Mom B could not bear to see her in this condition so she had one of the groomers in the store bathe her. Minnie shined with her bath and grooming session and Mom B knew if she went back to the shelter, that in no time at all she would be soiled again. Minnie is a sweet dog and shows no aggression so Mom B took it upon herself to take Minnie home with her. Mom B wants to condition Minnie to be sociable and has hopes of making progress in about two weeks time.

The first night of Minnie’s visit was not so good. For some strange reason, she will not walk out of or back into the house. They had to pick her up and carry her in and out. Once carried into the yard, Minnie would just sit down. She would not go to the bathroom outside nor would she walk. The next morning, Mom and Dad B woke up to one heck of a mess and smelly kennel! They cleaned and scrubbed to get things back to normal.

The second night, they put her kennel in the garage. The next morning, they again woke up to a mess. They are sticking to a routine and on day three, Minnie was using the outdoors as her potty and they did not put her back into the garage that night. She has not had a mess in her kennel since but now it is a struggle to get her in the kennel at night! She wants to stay with them instead. She now does her business outside but she still has to be carried in and out of the house at times. She is also taking walks in the neighborhood so they are making great progress with this shy girl.

She is still a growing puppy, being about 7 months old. She should be doing puppy things but the first two days she basically did nothing but lay around at their feet. She is now playing with a toy and chews on the furniture (ouch!) and becoming more active with each day. She is starting to explore more of the house and she gets along well with Missy, (their cat which we have talked about before) But Missy is feeling a bit neglected so they have to give her extra pats and treats.

Mom B is working really hard to condition Minnie and it sounds as though she is making great progress! The Saint and I wonder if Minnie already has a new home…

Adrienne, you are in their area, do you know of anyone looking for a new pet?

posted by Skeeter at 8/17/2007 05:57:00 PM

15 Comments:

Blogger Skeeter said...

Oh, I forgot to mention. Mom B has never conditioned or fostered a dog before! This is all a learning experience for her and Dad B. She is getting really attached to Minnie but not sure a puppy would fit in with them at this point in their lives. I have suggested to her that she find a home for Minnie and start Fostering and conditioning to help other needy dogs find homes. She is thinking that may be the way to go...

Friday, August 17, 2007 6:34:00 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

Skeeter, I'm about an hour from your in-laws in Leesburg. I don't know anyone off the top of my head, but I'll ask around.

Friday, August 17, 2007 10:30:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

I've heard of dogs acting like that when going out and in. Usually, it's because they were kept confined to small cages in breeding operations or in neglectful homes. Its rare a dog will mess the place he sleeps--unless of course, they have no choice and are never let out.

Daisy's dog Daisy was a rescue from a puppy mill and she didn't even know how to RUN, as she lived 2 years in a cage. At first she tried to leap--sort of like a deer.

So, Minnnie will just need her confidence built up. No babying and cooing, which will, just reinforce timidness. But allowing her to explore her world, meet others and learning to trust will go a long way to making Minne the dog she can be.

Oh, I wish I could have another dog. I love hounds and my first dog, Tramp, was a spaniel and I just LOVE Minnie.

Saturday, August 18, 2007 11:35:00 AM  
Blogger Daisylouu said...

Minnie sure is my type of dog, so cute!

Actually, her story sounds much like my dog, Stormy, who was a beagle and very abused and found shot during a thunderstorm (how she got her name). Someone took her to the vet because they wanted to get her pregnant and keep the puppies, so she lived in a dog house for 2 years while they had her produce 2 litters. She was HORRIBLY shy, cowering way in the back of her pathetic dog house. I couldn't bare to see her like that and asked if I could try and make her a house dog. It took me two weeks to get her to walk in the door. It was a very long process, but so worth it in the end. She lived 7 years after that with me in a warm bed and with lots of attention.

Its hard to foster a dog and then give them up, or worse, not being able to find them a home. Please keep us posted.

Saturday, August 18, 2007 2:47:00 PM  
Blogger Skeeter said...

Mom B says that most of the dogs they get in the shelters up there are hound or hound mix. They are about 20 miles West of Fredericksburg in the rural area of Orange County. Lots of redneck type hunters and county folks which still believe it is okay to allow dogs to roam free and not be spayed and neutered! Irks me like crazy!

I am guessing that Minnie was soiling her kennel because she stayed in it all the time and it was her only home! She is warming up quickly but it bothers me that she does not play like a puppy yet. I think she also may be going through a period of separation anxiety with loosing her siblings as they played with her. I have spoken to Mom B about her having to be a puppy (run, play, fetch, etc) before an adult but not sure she understands that part of animals. They have never had a dog before and all of their cats were grown when they got them. They are quiet people and I am not so sure all that quietness is good for a puppy but she seems to be responding to the secure home so maybe it is okay with her. I don’t have much experience with dogs either so what do I know…

Mom B is apprehensive about keeping her because she is afraid a puppy will outlive them. I know that is a sad thing to think about but at their age, she could be correct in her analogy. She is trying to do what is best for Minnie in the long run….

Saturday, August 18, 2007 7:55:00 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

When we got Stella, she didn't know how to play with toys either. She also didn't know what to do with treats like pig ears. We had to show her and let the other dogs show her too. She thought she should only be outside and was unsure about being in the house. Once she was out the door I had to coax her back in. But I let her choose about coming back in, I didn't force her. It was a long process. Now she would rather be indoors than out.

The quiet of Mom B's house may be better for her since things like loud children won't stress her out. Although once they see that she is doing better they should make every effort to socialize her with many other poeple and other dogs.

I was very suprised when we started looking for a puppy that so many were hounds. They are not our favorite breed and we felt discouraged that we would not find a retriever like we wanted. It's very sad that there are so many of them. I had found an add for a 4mo Beagle puppy that said they wanted to get rid of her b/c she wouldn't train to hunt and just wanted to be a pet. I called and they said they had already sent her away, whatever that ment.

I know that thinking your pet may out live you is scary, but we all know that if something happened to them, you all would be there to step it and give her a good home.

Sunday, August 19, 2007 7:52:00 AM  
Blogger B said...

Good Morning All!
Minnie is so precious--bless Mom B for her help and love for her. I wish we could foster, but the roost is alittle full right now. She looks like one that would pick stuff up really quick and not be a handful. God love them all! Hines has fallen into the routine, except for a little poop inside, and he's working on that. Charlie had to go to the vet Saturday--that rash I has mention before on his feet is...listen to this folks--ATHLETES FOOT. Pleas his heart, he's chewed his paws til they started to bleed Thursday night--but he's on a new medicine and it seems to be attcking it . Everybody keep my tinderfoot in their prayers.
The house is pretty much a whirl wind (which you will see Friday night)of activity. Whats that old Loretta song--One needs a cookie and one needs a huggin--thats my life in a nutshell!LOL I have some new Hines pics, but I just haven't found time to post anything. I wish I could get one of those fantasy jobs where I could be here with them all the time--but I doubt that will ever happen. If I could work on that great american novel and have a million in the bank--AHH the dream!!!
So is everybody thats able to come Friday night excited? We are. I know you guys know how dogs act when they meet new folks, so you'll understand the way Lucy and charlie act for about the first hour or so.
Hines is still having people issues. We had the librarian over last Saturday night and all he did was bark at him and growl (purchase those ear muffs now people-cuz this dog has a HIGH pitch bark). But he's just a little tub of butter waiting for the hot knife to turn him to ooze.LOL You'll all love the babies--and they'll love you all!
The countdown has begun--Pet People clan assemble!

Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:08:00 AM  
Blogger Sandy said...

Remember what I said Brett--and everyone please weigh in--I don't think Brett believes me:

When Hines acts that way, do not pick him up or coo or try to soothe him. That is just rewarding and encouraging the very behavior you are trying to correct. You have to treat him like a dog in that case--as other dogs would if he was in a dog's natural environment--the pack. You are the pack leaders, not him.

You must say NO and then INGORE him, only petting him or giving affection if he is GOOD and NOT growling.

Remember when I was there? When I ingnored him, he came up to me and even licked my fingers.

And yes, he will be fine once he learns to trust--just like he had to learn not to be that way with you guys.

So, NO BABYING bad behavior!!!!! Right Pet People?

He is such a cutie pie, I can't wait to see him again.

Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:28:00 AM  
Blogger Sandy said...

A great dog story a friend sent to me:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20060285/

Sunday, August 19, 2007 11:02:00 AM  
Blogger Daisylouu said...

My dog Stormy and my other dog Daisy (another neglect case) never learned to play with toys. My Tennessee dog, Bennie, did eventually learn. But Minnie is still young, so there is hope. It's hard for older people to raise a young dog who needs ACTION and rough play, that's why it's nice if the dog will play fetch and games like that.

Brett, my dog Murphy is a foot chewer. My vet told me it was allergies and to give him Benadryl. Last summer was very bad, but this summer he hasn't chewed at all.

Sunday, August 19, 2007 12:52:00 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

The best thing you can do when people come to your home Brett is have them ignore the dogs. That includes you and Jermey. It's hard, but if you just walk in and be asertive in your behavior it will make all the difference. Just like Sandy said YOU have to be the pack leader. Right now when you have people come over, Hines is the leader.

Try positive reenforcement. You have to ignore the negative behavior and reward the positive. When you reward him for the behavior you want, you are "capturing" that behavior. Use small treats, something that will not take long to eat. If you keep it up, it will work.

We'll all be here to give you support!

Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:16:00 PM  
Blogger B said...

Thanks for the input---everybody knows I'm a softy--sorry disciplinarians.(SP?)All my babies are good at heart--just sponges for any attention-LOL

Monday, August 20, 2007 8:30:00 AM  
Blogger Sandy said...

But being a softy isn't GOOD when it comes to training them. Just think of it this way B: You don't want to encourage neurotic feelings, right? It's better for Hines to learn to be confident and secure.

My little Peanaut is a big wussy and back when I first got him I didn't know as much about dog behavior as I do now. So I coddled him and soothed him and babied him because I found his wussiness so pitiful. That just made it worse and while he's better, he's not the confident, worry-free dog he should be. A more secure, non-neurotic dog is happier than an insecure one being babied. Peanut is still my "baby" but I don't coddle him as much I used to.

You can still be a softy an reward him....just WAIT a bit until he's doing what he's supposed to!

And watch the Dog Whisperer! You mentioned you got upset when he had a dog pull a wagon of rocks. That's good! Some dog breed were bred to work and they ENJOY work and doing something. Just like people need a purpose in life, so too do most dogs, especially certain breeds.

Monday, August 20, 2007 9:04:00 AM  
Blogger Skeeter said...

Mom B called yesterday with an update on Minnie. She met the Saints sister, new boyfriend and dog Jasper. Minnie got along well with Jasper and the new humans being in the house! So she is becoming social with strangers! She also slept through the night without any early morning howling. It has been one week since she came into the house and she is making great progress!

Monday, August 20, 2007 10:21:00 AM  
Blogger Sandy said...

Great news Skeeter! I am so happy for Minnie! Please keep us updated!!! I hope they keep her!

Monday, August 20, 2007 11:05:00 PM  

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Pet People

Sandy Britt, an animal welfare advocate and volunteer with Clarksville rescue organizations, takes care of three dogs: Zoe, Scooter and Peanut; two cats: Catfish and Tarzan; and one husband, Glen, and according to him she takes care of them in that order.
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