| Pepper
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Before Adoption |
After Adoption |
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Pepper was a first class patient, today.
He was frightened of the smells and new people at the vet clinic but they
knew how to cajole a nice doggie and Pepper made some new friends.
Next Wednesday morning, Lisa, Pepper's veterinarian,
is going to neuter him, and remove both dewclaws on each hind foot and
start his shots. They sent me home with worming medication to give him
the next couple of days.
I took Pepper to town in the pickup truck
and he did very well. I tied his leash to the seat belt connection by
the passenger door because he was intent in sitting
behind the steering wheel in my lap. He captured ninety percent of the
oncoming vehicles when we got on the highway!
I gave him a bath, yesterday, he did not
like it but he was very nice about it. I asked Lisa if there were any
obedience instructors around and she said there is a very good one in
locally and gave me her name and number. I would
really like to get Pepper in a group situation and have the both of us
learn some obedience things together.
I haven't had Pepper on lead since the day
we got home; except, of course, in town. He eyeballs the deer through
our yard fence and the horses, also. When he and I were walking up from
the gate into our place, today, a big fat doe jumped out of the brush
off the road. Pepper was off with a little bark-I did not say anything-just
kept going up the road; because I knew could not make him come. I heard
him crash through the brush where he went off a cut bank then I heard
a big splash and a surprised "little" yip!, pretty soon here he came as
fast as he could with a muddy butt and a very red face!
He fetches ball nicely, now, and likes to
follow me on the four wheeler up into the mountains (on one of our roads).
It is the best way to knock the top off all that energy. We go for walks
but I do not have the time to go as far as we can with "wheels". He likes
it as is fast.
He sleeps on our enclosed porch at noon and
night. I think he is a sweety and I am looking forward to having the surgery
over. You both have a very nice shelter arrangement-Gold Stars to both
of you. Thank you for the doggy pack, too. I will
keep in touch.
Lynne
I saw Pepper’s story on your site; along
with some other very nice doggies. Pepper should
be impressed, but all he thinks about lately is getting in out of the
cold and wind as he is shown here at noon, today.
He is shiny and I think he grew a bit the
past few months. Unlike last year, Pepper has grown a nice undercoat and
will deal with the cold much better.
We think often of you and admire the work
you are doing with the shelter. Hope that all of you have a very nice
Thanksgiving, together. Love from, Lynne and Pol
Pepper is still watchful, but okay with children. He likes our six year
grandson, but our three and half year old granddaughter has him a bit
worried; he keeps someone or some space between him and her - we do not
blame him, she can be scary! We have left him in the house with Cy for
as long as seven hours when it was too hot to leave him in the kennel.
Pepper eats Nutros dry kibble, a spoonful of hamburger (cooked),at each
feeding. He sleeps sometimes outside on some old coveralls by the door
in the warm weather, mostly on one of the dogs beds scattered around the
house. Pepper following us around the ranch. Hikes when it is cooler.
Pepper only wears his collar when we go to town. He has an AVID chip.
It is almost the second anniversary of our Pepper (yes, he is still a
red "hot" pepper). We celebrate his birthday on the 31st of August. One
picture is worth-a-thousand words, so, I enclosed one taken two days ago.
He is still a sweetie and still wonderful with Cy. He passed his annual
exam okay last week; he is still 52#. He did not get quite as bristly
at the vet, but did quiver all over.
He is quite a cow dog; Pol got him to go with our renter, who Pepper likes,
tand he (the renter) was pleasantly pleased the way Pepper works cattle.
pepper only stayed with him a little while, then ranc back to Pol in the
pickup. We consider that little event a large step for Pepper. He still
has some dark issues he is dealing with; he is very slowly dealing with
most of them.
Take care of you both-we think of you often. Love from, Pol, Lynne, Cy
and Pepper
I have appreciated the nice greetings you have sent. The last one called
Walk with Me is my favorite, thank you so much. If Pepper could read I
would put him in my chair to enjoy that one, too.
My sister in Utah purchased a Corgi pup last fall and has been taking
her to puppy classes this winter. The instructor is also an animal behaviorist
and Diane has been telling me all she has learned about conversing with
the canine world in their language. It is all so interesting and I started
peppering her with questions which is probably why I received a copy of
Patricia McConnell’s book For the Love of a Dog. It has been great for
Pepper because I do tend to get anxious when folks come because of his
bristly nature which just works to make him more anxious. Because I liked
that book I also purchased another book by her that my sister recommended
called On the Other End of the Leash. I think it is helping me to help
Pepper even more than the other book. The first one more or less set a
foundation for the second book, at least in my case.
Of course, I am not in the ideal situation to condition Pepper to folks
visiting mainly because I am not committed to asking folks to do a fifty
minute drive out into the mountains to set up sessions with my dog, nor
the neighbors. There are a few things I can do to help a little; I have
long ago figured out the door and gate thing. If I leave the gate cracked
so he can get out (and the horses cannot get in!) he is three quarters
less confrontational and just barks (not frantically as he does when the
gate is closed) and bristles somewhat around the arriving vehicle, sniffs
the obliging people as they get out and goes about his business. I need
to work with him when someone comes to the door unexpectedly and I have
some good tips on that.
The best thing the books have done for Pepper is that I am learning to
relax more around him when someone comes in. I am confident that he is
not going to bite anyone unless they corner him (and that would challenge
many a well adjusted dog!). He is a sweetie through and through. My biggest
problem besides me is the few guests and friends that make it out here.
They are hardwired (expression that fits from the books) to greet a dog
head on and no amount of instruction about greeting my dog in his canine
language will convince them.
First I tell them to just leave him alone and that direct eye contact
is intimidating as in he bristles and sometimes will growl softly. Then
Pepper comes into play as he hangs around the folks and naturally they
think he wants to be petted which does not happen on the first few meetings
for sure. So, my next request is do not reach out at him and try to pet
him on top of his head. I say do not look directly in his eyes and I tell
them to offer the back of their hand (tip from his teacher Fran Buell
she says offering the fist backwards means less of a chance of fingers
being nipped!) and keep it low around his chest or neck. Nope! They come
full steam head on at Pepper with their fingers twiddling above his head
and sure enough he ducks away but does not growl as much as he used too.
An elderly hunter summed it up best a year ago last fall; Pepper came
up to him as he sat in our house and he leaned forward to make introductions
and Pepper gracefully ducked away and he said, “He wants to make friends
but doesn’t know how?” Pepper is starting to figure it out, though. The
few that try what I tell them get closer.
I do have to mention that he has made up to everyone in my family that
he has had around here for more than a day and I think that is because
I am relaxed and not anxious how he acts around them. We all understand
each others animals.
The emotion of anger is dealt with in both of the books especially in
the book For the Love of a Dog. I was discussing the information with
Pol and we both agree that we have never known Pepper to be angry and
we do not count his reluctance around strangers as anger we call that
shyness. When we stop playing a game he does not sulk or appear upset;
the game is just done. If he wants to head in a certain direction on our
hike and I decide to go the other way he just comes with a big smile on
his face. He still does not leave for long. If he takes off after deer
he stops after a short run. He has not been gone more than a few minutes,
except the time we lost him when he was hung up somewhere and broke his
leg getting free (that will always be a mystery). Pepper is very even
tempered.
He is so sensitive with Cy. Cy is in his twilight days, now, days we try
not to dwell on (I think that is why Walk with Me meant so much) and Pepper
very seldom tries to get him to play and the few times Pepper does challenge
him it is only with a gentle nudge on a hind leg.
He is a Velcro dog and I have learned to look around before I back up
in the house. In fact at the moment he is right behind this chair I am
sitting in.
So, now your have received my yearly biographical account of life with
Pepper. You should see his coat; this is the third winter we have had
him with us and it is the nicest luxuriant coat he has ever had. He even
haired up on his tummy and inner flanks really well and he wanted to stay
out in the cold on his blanket more this winter. He is beautiful and sleek
and shiny.
I should politely send wishes for the well being of yourself and Joe;
all I talk about is Pepper. We both wintered well. Pol wonders some days
why he is so stiff and out of energy. I have been telling he is just an
old worn out cowboy which is pretty near the truth.
I follow your pets on your site and have enjoyed reading the stories about
some of the animals in their new homes. The dogs and cats that come to
your shelter are very lucky.
We both wish you and Joe a great spring. Love from, Lynne and Pol, Cy
and Pepper |
Felix (now Scooter)
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Before Adoption |
After Adoption |
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We were really happy to receive your card in the mail
today. Jane & I don't have any pictures yet, but Jane told me that she
will probably have some tomorrow. "Scooter" seems to be doing pretty well
with his new brother & sister. I have found that he does like to chew
on things, so I am going to try & get some kind of cable covers so he
doesn't bite into an extension cord. We love him very much, and he is
already learning his new name. We will make sure to stay in touch. Thank
you, Jeff & Jane
Here's the latest picture of our baby He weighs 34 lbs now we took him
in last week to get fixed, he's the greatest little guy, he keeps us laughing
all the time !!!!! Take care Jeff & Jane
Scooter is doing great, still all puppy!!!! Jeff and I took him camping
in August to the lake. He's a great swimmer!!!! He's growing and growing.
We don't think he'll ever stop. He's bigger then both our other dogs.
I saw that you have a litter of yellows any relation to Scooter? Take
care; will send more pics. Jane & Jeff
Well, Scooters birthday was yesterday (January 9th)!!
We can't believe he's 2! He's doing great still wild and crazy but the
other dogs love him . I'm sending a picture of him hopefully you will
get it ! Have a great 2007 Jane & Jeff
Here's some pictures of our Darling Wild Child. He's doing
great. He is so full of love!!! We can't believe that he's going to be
3 in a few weeks. Let us know if you get the pics, not sure if I'm doing
things right. Have a grea New Year's. Jeff, Jane & Kids
Hi Tina .. Jane & I and Scooter
& Misty and Elliot are doing fine. We had to put Emmit down a few
months back. He had a tumor in a bad spot & he was thirteen. The vet
told us that it was up to us .. but it didn't look good. It was a sad
time for us. About two and a half weeks ago .. we picked up another pup.
His mom was a black lab & his father was a boxer/Akita. The Lord only
knows what he may look like when he grows up, but we love them all the
same. Bless you & Joseph and please stay in
touch, Jeff
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