What a sweet little guy. I have a hard time believing he’s as old as a year – I’m no expert but I’d guess no more than 9 months. He has no real vices other than a tendency to go limp and utterly refuse to cooperate with anything that scares him – but also no useful habits at all. So we’ll be in training mode for quite a while, but I expected to have to calm and win the confidence of a half-traumatized rescue dog. I don’t know how he came to be in a shelter, but he hasn’t been abused in any meaningful way. So far he has proven at least provisionally housebroken – even Laddie peed indoors on his first morning when he didn’t know when or whether he was getting a walk and wasn’t in a mood to care what I thought about the condition of my rug.
Tobie is eager to please, but other than clearly being familiar with “no” he knows nothing. He acts like he’s never been on a leash, he has no love for cars (I’m reasonable sure he’ll get over that), doesn’t object to being picked up but also doesn’t seem to know how to cooperate with it – though that might come under the heading of ‘passive-aggressive.’)
He’s certainly capable of learning. When we first got to the Lair he balked completely at climbing the porch stairs. It wasn’t that he was afraid of the cabin, once he got on the porch he went right through the door eagerly. It was like he’d never seen stairs before. But by the third time I took him out and back in on a leash he bounded up them with no problem.
He’s sociable as hell with other dogs, so I assume he has had friendly relations with them in his past. But other than that I have no idea what landed him in a shelter or what kind of home he had before he landed there.
ETA: Should have mentioned above that unlike LB and TB, Tobie knows what toys are for. Unfortunately his current favorite his only plushy has a squeaker. Which he loves.
Fortunately it’s already damaged and probably not long for the world. Maybe I’ll sew it back up after he’s got the squeaker out of it. 😉
ETA Again: Spoke too soon. The squeaker skittered across the floor before I finished writing the above sentence.
Oh well. I’m pretty sure he can’t break his Kong. That was a better investment. Boy likes to chew. Like I said, still a puppy.
He wasn’t microchipped? (did you have it done?) And the shelter wasn’t able to collect any information from whoever dropped him off? or was he tied to the fence and left? Which dog bed does he sleep in?
Tobie is very lucky to have you!!
Let the adventure begin! Next discoveries: how will he do with chickens and horses and cows.
The shelter microchipped him, the original owner didn’t. They may have all the relevant information on the original but they’re not obligated to share it with me, nor did I ask. And since he can’t fit in Laddie’s old bed, he got a folded-up old wool blanket. He took to that right away.
It probably won’t take you too long to figure out what his favorite treats are. Be sure to let us know!
Does the remote control mouse still exist and work?
Rawhide chews. Smoked Pig’s ears , maybe even a nice Cow Femur to chew on next time you get to the big city.
Kinda like an All Day Jawbreaker for doggies.
If he is a chewer, you won’t be able to trust him alone in the Lair until he outgrows his puppyhood. That will be inconvenient for both of you, but just part of the process of making a good dog from a cute and fun puppy.
He gonna get bigger.
I have a nice rescue dog that was assumed to be a 2 year old half Rottweiler/sometihng. No;pe, maybe 6 months old full Cane Corso with a mouth of needle-sharp chompers that’s slayed many a hardened toy, including a Kong.
And this is where it gets… weird. Deer antlers or Moose antlers are about the only things that last any reasonable time in his mouth. Moose being preferred but rather expensive (the closer to the head, the harder a piece of moose antler is.)
That, and you can make good rope toys out of braided cotton or other natural fiber rope (not manila, though.)
Fan tastic!
Great to hear you are no longer dogless.