Nala & Niblett

Hello- We decided to get Niblett a buddy and we rescued Nala. It's like they have known each other for years. Nala is such an affectionate dog and she loves my husband. For those that don't know, Niblett is afraid of my husband who is harmless. Niblett has been making great strides with Paul since Nala arrived though. Nala is silly though, she takes the kids stuffed animals and takes the eyes out, then we discovered she is taking the kids plastic animals/action heroes toys and biting the hands off! So we are in the process of making sure the kids keep the toys off the floor. We have 2 wonderful dogs and can't thank RRUS enough.

Cross-country move

I moved Hannah and Cheever from Chicago to Walnut Creek, CA, this week. Three days of 12-hour drives (but only ten today) and we all made it. They had a really cramped area since part of the back seat had a box and pillows, too.

The dogs were great. Hannah slept the whole way and Cheever alternated between sleeping, sitting up to watch the scenery (he really, truly watches it and tracks unique features), and sneezing on the side of my brother's head.

So I learned one thing the hard way today. Don't give dogs pork rinds and beef sticks as treats. Literally, they each had four (small) pork rinds and one (small) beef stick, but combined with the changes in pressure in the Sierras, that made for some awful moments.

The dogs did well in the Motel 6s where we stopped (North Platte, NE, and Elko, NV.) I didn't know how they would like new beds and places, but aside from a few barks the first night when people walked by, nothing.

But here's the new problem: One of my roommates here has a pug. My dogs (which are more than four times Turbo's size) are scared of him. Hannah keeps hiding behind me and if Turbo is between my dogs and me, they just lie down (and bark at him if he gets too close.) He's not being aggressive, though; Turbo's just following my dogs around trying to be friends. (Hannah and Cheever are pretty elitist and don't choose to be friends with many dogs or people.)

My next big fear is that the last bedroom in this house is about to be rented to a guy with a young (six) daughter. I haven't met him or his kid and though m dogs are good with kids, they've only been exposed to kids who grew up with dogs. If the girl did not grow up with a dog and plays rough, I don't want her getting nipped.

So I'll continue keeping you updated on how we all adapt.

Summer Playdate

The next scheduled RRUS Reunion playdate is in Memphis, TN on July 11th. More information to follow as the details are hammered out.

Amanda

WARNING - 4TH OF JULY

Hi All,

Bad, bad experience today. Went to dog class and trainer said this would be a good time to find out which dogs needed special care for the 4th of July firecrackers and such. I was sitting in a chair with TJ, perfectly calm as TJ shows no concern for thunder and lightening. Well the first one went off and he was curious, the second one went off and he pulled me off the chair. I sat back down and was really ready and the third batch went off and he pulled me and dragged me along the ground. I could not let go as he would still be running and we were not that far from streets. So please don't be over-confident if you have a rescue who you have not seen in a fire cracker situation. I'm in bed with brusied ribs and who knows what else.

TJ also showed fear aggression to largers dogs and male dominant behavior. I was shocked, as was the trainer. It was just too many dogs in sort of an uncontrolled setting.

NEVER AGAIN! We will continue to socialize him on our block where there are plenty of dogs but he will not see a dog park unless things obviously improve.

He is doing well with his private lessons but today highlighted only too well areas of concern.

Jackie