Think I got the right dog?

[Magwart]

Thanks for saving the life of a shelter dog!

Are you sure he's not snipped? The reason I mention is that the way our shelter's clinic is neutering now leaves the "sack" in place (but it's empty). It's apparently a faster, cheaper way of doing it -- but I did a double-take the first time I brought home a foster from the clinic after the procedure.

The black-and-tan vs. black-and-silver thing is typical of shelters. They don't see the difference.

[msvette2u]

I've heard of people seeing the "bulb" that swells and thinking that was the testicles, too.

I'd definitely double check on that.

PS, to what mag said, sometimes the empty sack swells quite a bit after the surgery.

[LoveOscar]

No, Im pretty sure he has a full pair. Our last one had an empty sack. This is a full sack. We dont mind right now if he isnt. Im pretty sure the volunteers at the pound who do the paper work at 'check out' are completely separate from those who work with the animals. They probably just filled it out bare minimum, although he did get a round of shots from the vet before he left. Rabies, bordatella, something else and he got micro chipped. I dont know if he has ever had shots before, all that they know is that they pickes him up off the street. We know the microchip works, they paid for it and we registered it online at home. He was tested heartworm positive by the vet there, but they didnt do treatement which is why he was released to us to quickly, so we could treat him.

We are waiting on neutering. He is so quiet and submissive, its not an issue right now. He is not fear aggressive, or remotely aggressive or challenging in any way, just becomes incredibly heartbreakingly submissive. It has even been a consideration not to neuter because we dont want him to possibly become quieter, mellower, and more submissive than he already is. He's a solo boy, we have no other animals or children, he never gets left unattended outside and he is developing a great recall, so we are not worried about it right now. We will get over heartworms first and then revisit neutering. If he, in the future, becomes unmanageable around females in heat, he will be neutered no questions asked. Otherwise it is up in the air. I want his personality to fully develop first before we make that decision.

There is the possibility he has been abused by a previous owner. He is terrified of people. We dont know if he was beaten, although the way he submits, maybe. He may have been tossed in a corner and completely ignored. He has no socialization with people at all. He used to slink along on his belly, which I have had vet techs tell me theyve seen dogs that were knowingly beaten walk like that. He does flinch when his legs and feet are touched, and he screams when he is handled in any way, so he may have been dragged before. He has a broken or malformed outside toe on his back left, but I dont know if it is related. It is healed, but the bone is jagged and the toe pad and nail dont touch the floor.

He has had 'some' leash training. Stays to left side, used to stay laid down next to you as if someone repeatedly pushed him to the ground. I swear he would flatten himself to the ground the moment you stopped. We have gotten him out of those habits though. Now he sits nicely, he has to sit up to seek attention. We are tall, and we were not bending over to give him attention when he prostrates himself, so he learned quick to sit up to have his face and ears rubbed on. He has become a completely different dog since two months ago, but we are always working. He has become comfortable at home, and when he tests negative for heartworms we will begin socializing him outside. I really want to build his confidence. He is incredibly, unusually smart, and he has the potential to be wicked playful and crafty. I really want to build his confidence. Maybe agility classes, he will be coming to the barn with me, tag along on car rides, etc. Until then I continue to teach him to be a good companion and our next task is to learn to play tug. He lets go at the slightest pull! He didnt know how to play, didnt know what treats were. We are getting playing down and love treats now. So baby steps! And he is an attention mongrel now. Loves attention, which is great compared to running and hiding in corners to avoid us.

Sorry for the long windedness! One of these days I will get our adoption story written down and post it.

LO