A possible leap in ownership

GsdLoverr729 · 01-09-2013, 09:17 PM

So, we all know that this year is when I have decided on getting my showline male pup. I have already chosen who I want to purchase from, and the pup will be ASL/WGSL. Initially I wanted a WGSL but I have fallen in love with this showline bitch and this seems like the PERFECT thing for me.

Well. I recently got an email about a 2 yr old neutered male GSD. The current owner has cancer and is about to begin treatment. She does not have the means to care for him during this, and has nobody she can trust with him. He is the SWEETEST dog! I have already met him once. Very low-key dog, eager to please, good off-switch, and just a couch potato. Really he makes me think of a lazy golden retriever in shepherd's skin. LOL! He will be meeting Koda and Matt this weekend.
There are a couple other people interested in him, but his current owner is really pushing for me to take him because I have experience with the breed and because of where I work.
Matt and I can afford to take him and still get the new pup, on the grounds that he can't get his English bulldog.

We've already discussed this, and he is willing to give that up IF he likes this guy when he meets him. So. I may be getting a second sooner than expected.

Then again, Matt has already decided if we get him that he is HIS dog since he is so friendly and silly.

Of course, this is NOT set in stone yet. I won't get him if he and Koda/he and Matt don't get along well. We'll be meeting on neutral ground Friday, Saturday or Sunday. And I'll be going picture crazy, most likely.

Anyways, just wanted to share.

ETA- His name is Thor!

Mary Beth · 01-09-2013, 09:23 PM

Good luck! Hope all goes well. Neutral ground is the best way. Has Thor lived with other dogs? Looking forward to photos!

GsdLoverr729 · 01-09-2013, 09:26 PM

Thor grew up with three other dogs, all of which have already been placed in new homes. He also went to the dog park 3-4 nights a week while the owner was in better health. She said she has still been trying to walk him in areas with lots of other dogs as well.
He greets new people and dogs confidently, but very calmly and respectfully from what I saw while I met him the first time (was there about 3 hours).

LifeofRiley · 01-09-2013, 09:28 PM

Oh, wow! I have to say that I feel so bad for the current owner. How horrible to get a diagnosis of cancer and then realize the best thing for your dog is a new home. I really hope it turns out that her first pick for a new home (you and your SO) works out. I imagine she will find a great deal of comfort in that. Fingers crossed all goes well with the meeting.

GsdLoverr729 · 01-09-2013, 09:30 PM

I am hoping all goes well this weekend, thanks for the good wishes! I would really love to take him so she could rest easier. I'm sure she'd also feel better getting the regular (if not extremely common) updates and the ability to visit him. She's already so torn up about the rest... You can tell he's the one she's having the hardest time letting go of

So wish me luck!!!

She actually just emailed me again. And he's never met a cat before

But his obedience is GREAT. So. Any advice on how to keep him from messing with Simi would be appreciated! I'll probably be using a lot of "Leave it." and "Focus."

LifeofRiley · 01-09-2013, 09:41 PM

I absolutely wish you the best of luck! I'll be thinking about you guys this weekend so be sure to update us!

Even if it doesn't go as hoped, maybe you could offer to help her evaluate other candidate homes to make sure the dog finds a good home!

GsdLoverr729 · 01-09-2013, 09:53 PM

I've already told her I'm happy to help screen other people for her. (: And I suggested that if, for some reason, it doesn't work that she contacts the local GSD rescues and asks them to do courtesy listings. In that case, I would likely be fostering him or going by her home often to walk and work with him for her.

I'll definitely update everyone once we have our time set to meet, and right after!!!

Gharrissc · 01-09-2013, 10:26 PM

How very exciting for you,but sad for the owner.Unless you already have it,I would suggest you have a room set up for the cat so that she can have a safe area to retreat to.Enforcing the leave it is also a good idea.I would also watch any packing up between the two dogs with the cat. Even if your current dog is great with cats,sometimes a new dog can influence inappropriate behaviors.

GsdLoverr729 · 01-09-2013, 10:37 PM

That's a great idea! We currently have her litterbox in an unused bedroom, so I may just fully transform it into her room if need be (and crate the new dog so she can roam the house). I'll definitely keep an eye on that as well. She usually protects the cat when one of my friends' dogs tries to play with her or chases her, so I'm not too worried about Koda. But that could change so thanks for that advice!!!

LifeofRiley · 01-09-2013, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GsdLoverr729

I've already told her I'm happy to help screen other people for her. (: And I suggested that if, for some reason, it doesn't work that she contacts the local GSD rescues and asks them to do courtesy listings. In that case, I would likely be fostering him or going by her home often to walk and work with him for her.

I'll definitely update everyone once we have our time set to meet, and right after!!!

That's wonderful of you! I am sure that you have alleviated a lot of stress for the current owner.

As for the cat, I do not know if this is "dog/cat myth" or "dog/cat fact" but when I brought a foster kitty into my home I was told to get a towel, rub the cat in the towel and then rub the dog in the towel and vice versa before they met.

I have no idea if that actually helped, or if Riley would have always gotten along with the cat. But, the introductions went smoothly and they get along great.

In addition to the towel stuff, when I first brought the cat in, I had the cat in the cat carrier and put it up on a table so that the dog could sniff but not go crazy. After monitoring that reaction for a little bit, I put my dog on a leash and let the cat out - again on a high surface - so as not to immediately overwhelm the cat. All of that went well.

Then, I brought Riley upstairs and shut the gate to the stairwell so that the cat could feel comfortable to explore downstairs. For the first week or so, I would often keep the gate shut upstairs so that the cat always had a safe place... even though it became clear pretty quickly that it would not be a problem.

Okay, that was way too long! Sorry.

01-09-2013, 09:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	A possible leap in ownership So, we all know that this year is when I have decided on getting my showline male pup. I have already chosen who I want to purchase from, and the pup will be ASL/WGSL. Initially I wanted a WGSL but I have fallen in love with this showline bitch and this seems like the PERFECT thing for me. Well. I recently got an email about a 2 yr old neutered male GSD. The current owner has cancer and is about to begin treatment. She does not have the means to care for him during this, and has nobody she can trust with him. He is the SWEETEST dog! I have already met him once. Very low-key dog, eager to please, good off-switch, and just a couch potato. Really he makes me think of a lazy golden retriever in shepherd's skin. LOL! He will be meeting Koda and Matt this weekend. There are a couple other people interested in him, but his current owner is really pushing for me to take him because I have experience with the breed and because of where I work. Matt and I can afford to take him and still get the new pup, on the grounds that he can't get his English bulldog. We've already discussed this, and he is willing to give that up IF he likes this guy when he meets him. So. I may be getting a second sooner than expected. Then again, Matt has already decided if we get him that he is HIS dog since he is so friendly and silly. Of course, this is NOT set in stone yet. I won't get him if he and Koda/he and Matt don't get along well. We'll be meeting on neutral ground Friday, Saturday or Sunday. And I'll be going picture crazy, most likely. Anyways, just wanted to share. ETA- His name is Thor! __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

01-09-2013, 09:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mary Beth Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pierre, South Dakota Posts: 1,283	Good luck! Hope all goes well. Neutral ground is the best way. Has Thor lived with other dogs? Looking forward to photos! __________________ Sting Chance von Gaard AKC GSD 2/8/2006

01-09-2013, 09:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	Thor grew up with three other dogs, all of which have already been placed in new homes. He also went to the dog park 3-4 nights a week while the owner was in better health. She said she has still been trying to walk him in areas with lots of other dogs as well. He greets new people and dogs confidently, but very calmly and respectfully from what I saw while I met him the first time (was there about 3 hours). __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

01-09-2013, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	I am hoping all goes well this weekend, thanks for the good wishes! I would really love to take him so she could rest easier. I'm sure she'd also feel better getting the regular (if not extremely common) updates and the ability to visit him. She's already so torn up about the rest... You can tell he's the one she's having the hardest time letting go of So wish me luck!!! She actually just emailed me again. And he's never met a cat before But his obedience is GREAT. So. Any advice on how to keep him from messing with Simi would be appreciated! I'll probably be using a lot of "Leave it." and "Focus." __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

01-09-2013, 09:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	I've already told her I'm happy to help screen other people for her. (: And I suggested that if, for some reason, it doesn't work that she contacts the local GSD rescues and asks them to do courtesy listings. In that case, I would likely be fostering him or going by her home often to walk and work with him for her. I'll definitely update everyone once we have our time set to meet, and right after!!! __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

01-09-2013, 09:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
LifeofRiley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 460	Oh, wow! I have to say that I feel so bad for the current owner. How horrible to get a diagnosis of cancer and then realize the best thing for your dog is a new home. I really hope it turns out that her first pick for a new home (you and your SO) works out. I imagine she will find a great deal of comfort in that. Fingers crossed all goes well with the meeting.

01-09-2013, 09:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
LifeofRiley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 460	I absolutely wish you the best of luck! I'll be thinking about you guys this weekend so be sure to update us! Even if it doesn't go as hoped, maybe you could offer to help her evaluate other candidate homes to make sure the dog finds a good home!

01-09-2013, 10:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gharrissc Knighted Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,760	How very exciting for you,but sad for the owner.Unless you already have it,I would suggest you have a room set up for the cat so that she can have a safe area to retreat to.Enforcing the leave it is also a good idea.I would also watch any packing up between the two dogs with the cat. Even if your current dog is great with cats,sometimes a new dog can influence inappropriate behaviors.

01-09-2013, 10:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	That's a great idea! We currently have her litterbox in an unused bedroom, so I may just fully transform it into her room if need be (and crate the new dog so she can roam the house). I'll definitely keep an eye on that as well. She usually protects the cat when one of my friends' dogs tries to play with her or chases her, so I'm not too worried about Koda. But that could change so thanks for that advice!!! __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

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