Alpha!

[dakski]

Great news. Alpha got her heartworm check recently and is clean! She's doing well, but is having some fear issues. The trainer says she's going through a fear period.

Not sure why, but it happens sometimes.

She's fine with me and Katie, and when we are around, but not great with people when we are not home. She's not aggressive, but fearful. We are working on having people coming in and feeding her and having positive interaction with her when we are not here. We started by having friends feed her while we are here, but we need to move to doing that while we wait outside, or are not home.

I think this is going to be a long process but we will get there.

Here are some pics of my good girl keeping me company on the deck.

[dakski]

Alpha has been doing well. She is adjusting to be an only dog and, not unexpectedly, loving the extra attention.

As her brother's aged and had health issues, it was hard on her. She is a kind soul and also has some anxiety. She would frequently become distressed when they were. She is relaxing a little bit and that is good.

We are convinced she has some herding dog in her. She often wants me and Katie in the same room and will try to make that happen, when possible.

[Bogertophis]

It's hilarious, the way our dogs manage to manipulate us, isn't it?

[dakski]

Alpha is thriving as an only dog. She is so sweet and frankly, too smart. She can have attitude, but never more than a little talking back. She is incredibly well behaved and training has gone well. Having said that, she is very sensitive to correction. We have to be very gentle with her when she needs to be redirected or scolded in any way. Who knows what she went through before we got her.

She turned 5 in February this year and thankfully has not had any health issues to report in years. Here is the Cuddlebug.

[Bogertophis]

Alpha looks like a great dog- really fitting in. My dog is like that too-there's hardly ever any need for a correction but they must be very gentle- she had many years before I adopted her, so who knows what she went thru, much like your dog. I just adopted a second dog actually, & she's still healing from having a LOT of dental work (most of her teeth out due to neglect)- her owner said they were 'moving' & left her at the shelter- maybe they lost their job or something, but they clearly had trouble affording her to begin with (judging from her teeth). She's a sweet girl though that seems to get along with my other dog- has some understandable separation anxiety though. She "never barks" (according to shelter & my own observations) until I went outside to mow the grass the other day, & I could hear her barking the whole time in the house, protesting. And when I took a shower, she laid on the bathmat (!) Did she really think I might go down the drain to escape? Silly dog...

[dakski]

Alpha looks like a great dog- really fitting in. My dog is like that too-there's hardly ever any need for a correction but they must be very gentle- she had many years before I adopted her, so who knows what she went thru, much like your dog. I just adopted a second dog actually, & she's still healing from having a LOT of dental work (most of her teeth out due to neglect)- her owner said they were 'moving' & left her at the shelter- maybe they lost their job or something, but they clearly had trouble affording her to begin with (judging from her teeth). She's a sweet girl though that seems to get along with my other dog- has some understandable separation anxiety though. She "never barks" (according to shelter & my own observations) until I went outside to mow the grass the other day, & I could hear her barking the whole time in the house, protesting. And when I took a shower, she laid on the bathmat (!) Did she really think I might go down the drain to escape? Silly dog...

You are always rolling the dice when you adopt a dog. However, in my experience, it works out most of the time, and there is often a kind of appreciation that comes with the love they give. It is very rewarding.

As I am sure you know, your little girl may settle in, but they are no guarantees.

Alpha had some teeth issues as well as the heartworm troubles we had to go through.

Also the shelter told us she was "not food driven." She was sick when we got her. As soon as she healed up (the heartworm came later) - holy smokes. This dog loves, I mean loves, food. Aside from struggling with corrections, the food drive helps us train her.

I hear it takes 3-4 months before a shelter dog settles in and you know what it's going to be like long-term. Alpha hit 3 months and seemingly hit adolescence. She started talking back and pushing boundaries. Katie and I are strict but kind and fair. We are also consistent. That helped all of us through that time. Alpha is still a little stubborn and certainly "talky" sometimes, but we do not tolerate it and it is few and far between.

@Bogertophis, good luck with your little girl and keep us posted.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, adopting is a roll of the dice but even if you buy from a breeder (which I'd personally never do, with all the dogs that need homes) there's no guarantee- & with purebreds, you can have more genetic predisposition to certain health problems, so it's a trade off.

Both of my dogs were owner turn-ins & both apparently knew loving owners that had little money- as both came with no health records & bad teeth. Fortunately, neither was heartworm positive.

I've had Misty since the beginning of 2023, & she's a senior Chihuahua (based only on teeth, they estimated she was 12 when I got her, so she's over 14 years now) but not one of the tiny ones- she's a nice size (12.5 lbs), very smart, sweet & very well-behaved...the easiest dog I've ever lived with. Actually her original owners passed away, & it was an interim "iffy" owner that took her to the shelter, & I'm so glad they did. The typical Chi stereotypes don't apply- she's not nippy, neurotic or noisy- she only barks when someone comes to my house, & then she thinks she's a Doberman. There's really nothing to "correct" & I couldn't have found a more perfect canine companion for me. I do love the big dogs, & I had some years ago, but now the smaller ones are much more suited to my needs.

Buttercup is the dog I just adopted, & she's a slim 11 lbs right now- she needs to gain a lb. or 2. The shelter called her a Chihuahua but I'm pretty sure she's a Chi-Pin, with her appearance being mostly Min-Pin. (I had a 20 lb. Min-Pin mix male for many years, & for the first couple years when I adopted Misty- they were great buddies, but he passed at 17.5 yrs. last summer.) Buttercup has a little separation anxiety right now (can't blame her) but that's manageable (Buster -the Min Pin male- had it bad, until I cured him after some time.) but she's otherwise sweet & very affectionate- also mellow & seems to get along just fine with Misty.

I have a vet apptmt this week for Buttercup- I'm anxious to see how old my vet thinks she is- the shelter put her as a 13 year old senior, but I think she's WAY younger than that, maybe 7 or 8? But without owner health records, they only guess based on teeth, & hers were awful, so? Either way, I didn't want a young dog to pair with my senior Misty. Her guessed age of 13 didn't deter me at all from adopting her- she just seemed like the right dog. And small, but not too small or delicate- I'm not a fan of "tea-cups"- except for drinking tea.

Your dog is much more of a challenge than either of mine are, & I suspect you knew that going in when you named her? Both of my dogs love to eat, they're not fussy, & picky-eaters are a pain! Much easier training, as you said, with tiny food treats for correct behavior. Done correctly, being a pet-parent is much like being the parent of human kids, setting & keeping some boundaries, while showing them love. And it does take time for their personality & all the clues to their past to show up- 3 months or so is typical in the "3-3-3" formula for rescues. (days-weeks-months)

I only brought Buttercup home on Wed. afternoon, so it's been not quite 4 days yet to have her here, but it helps having my other dog Misty to 'show her the ropes'. And it turns out she's housebroken, knows her name, comes when called, doesn't try to escape out the door when I go out (not that I ever let down my guard!), accepts being crated, & sleeps thru the night pretty well (in my bedroom, which is where I want them). She has decent manners, a great appetite (she needs to gain some), & she loves being brushed or petted, & shows affection without being too slobbery, just like my other dog does. They're both cute too- so I already know that Buttercup's a keeper.

[Bogertophis]

The biggest problem with big dogs is that when we owners get older & have issues (like knee problems, etc) those big dogs are just too much to pick up when (not "if" but "when") they get sick & need to go to the vet. Sure, when they're healthy & younger, they'll hop right into the car when you ask them too. But when they're sick or injured, that's a whole other thing. And if you bathe your own dogs (as I always do) that's another time you have to be able to pick them up.

An older guy that I swim laps with- his best ever dog was a Golden Lab that he had for years. When she passed, he decided to get another Lab, not realizing that the personality of the first dog was NOT typical for the breed. They're not known for being mellow as she had been, so now here he is, up in years with a high-energy lab! And his wife is very petite, no way she can control this dog if she ever has to. He won't give up this dog, but he knows now he really goofed when he chose her, & it's not that he doesn't love the dog...she's just not a very good fit for what he needs now.

There would be fewer dogs taken to shelters (or otherwise given up) if everyone would give a lot of thought first, to what they really need & want in a dog- don't just fall for the cutest face or the breed image that will impress your neighbors/friends. I've had all sorts of dogs over the years & I truly like all kinds, but I know what fits me now. (These 2- )

[dakski]

@Bogertophis,

Alpha came with that name! It is also neat because I am in finance and an alpha is a term for outperformance.

Good luck with Buttercup!