dragonbait

So, Daemon is tired of sitting around in his crate or sitting around on his bed and waiting until he doesn't have to sit anymore. So today while I was at work Daemon took matters into his own hands. He broke out of his kennel and tried to find something to do. He tried to play with Darby or get out the back door (Darby's kennel is usually sitting next to the door, not in front of it.  He moved it 3 feet). He thought it was sh*tty that he couldn't get out (both the kitchen floor and the living room had a dose). He tried to go out front so he could get his 2 mile walk but the portals would not function for him. In the end he gave up and played with his dog toys... all of them. That opaque blur at the bottom of the last picture, that's Daemon, still in his eCollar I can't even picture how he got out of the kennel with it on his head... I know he unhooked the front section and squeezed through, but with a 1 foot diameter cone on his head, that's an impressive feat.  I think we're going to be doubling dosage on the Acepromezine until we get off of bed-rest *SIGH* 

Yesterday went really well. He kennel trained instantly and didn't pee in the house once. Though at one point he did try and kennel in Darby's airline crate (while she was in it). I'm not sure how he got in nor why she didn't kill him for it, but I'm glad. They are really really friendly.

Today was a slightly different story. My man and I had to go get pictures taken and apparently the dog barked for the entire 5 hours we were gone. We know this because the nice woman from animal control told us so. Oops! It was a less than stellar capper to the afternoon. I put him back outside and determined that it was not separation anxiety, instead it's willfull pissyness when he doesn't get his way. So, after trip three to Petco and the purchase of a Citronella bark collar... we put him back in his outdoor run. He barked once at full volume and got a disgusted look on his face. Then he tried again, after the second bark he sat for a moment then starting at the slightest whine he slowly got louder and louder to see when the collar would go off, after that he maintained a volume slightly under the collars trigger point. YAY technology... but man he's too smart. I failed to take him on a walk this morning, so by the time all this was finished he was totally out of control. I took him out for 2 miles and he came home Daemon instead of demon...  

So we've got barking and that annoying testosterone issue of his to resolve, but as long as I walk him 2 miles or more a day I think we're good to go.  He's getting what words mean and beginning to understand that if he walks over he gets petted and he's always allowed back in.  He does MUCH better staying in the inside kennel he hates being trapped outside... which is sad, because his bladder likes it better out there.

So far today he's tried to use his blankets, the automan, the no mark belly band and himself to get off... I finally took him outside (he just needs to learn there are some things we do in the privacy of our rooms).  He's currently seeking said privacy in his kennel... 

I received an e-mail "Dog in need of home" about 4 weeks ago now. The dog is a 5 year old male Rhodesian Ridgeback. I have always said if I saw a male Ridgeback in need of a home I'd try to adopt it if possible.

Tonight I met this dog. He's a 5 year old intact male Rhodesian Ridgeback that is housed outdoors 100% of the time and does not get walked. When you go back inside after playing with him he stands at the door and howls. He has been an outdoor dog for the past 4 years (ever since the couple's first baby was born). Prior to that time the dog was allowed indoors for 2-3 hours in the evening. It's a toss up as to what part is more worrying.. the medical or the behavioral issues.

I asked if the dog was on heartworm preventative... somehow I expected that because the dog was outdoors all the time and these people lived in a VERY nice home the answer would be yes. However the response I got was "No, No, he isn't on any of that stuff, I grew up on a farm. We don't do that kind of thing, but he did have the 3 rounds of shots they get when they are a puppy...". In fact, the last time that dog got shots was the last time it ever went to the vet at all. No deworming, no heartworm tests, no core vaccinations, no yearly checkup in the last 4 years. So at this point, before I can even risk introducing my dog to his dog I am asking him to at least do the following:

• Get the dog Current on all core vaccinations It's illegal to bring a non-vaccinated dog (rabies specific) into Kansas.


• 4-in-1 heartworm test - I want to know how big a bill I'm setting myself up for, I already have to neuter this dog.


• Fecal (Dewormed if needed)


• Flea preventative

I'm sending him an excerpt out of the Vaccinating Your Dog article. Along with the above list.

He's got a bloody spot on his front wrist which he licks a lot and he was obsessively licking his paws... both could be signs of fleas or some other form of itchiness, but I can't be sure if it's that or just obsessive behavior related to being out alone without a pack.

Now for the real behavioral issues. I know I CAN deal with most of these, the real question is do I want to... The first and biggest issue is that he masturbates all the time. In the 45 minutes we were there he had 3 or 4 orgasms. I want an inside dog, I can't have him spraying off all over my floors! I noticed his legs trembling a bit but I couldn't figure out if that's yet another medical issue or if it's just because he just got off...

Also, he started to eat a shirt while I was there (I took it away before he could finish the whole thing, while the owner made a joke about people paying lots of money for colonics). He barks and then howls when you leave. He's desperately lonely in the big back yard of nothingness. Since he's been an outside dog for 4 years he's going to have absolutely no bladder control... he's used to going whenever he feels like it... which is yet another problem that would have to be addressed, though by far the easiest. He hasn't had a true behavioral test though I was able to take things away from him, maul him and poke at him without him reacting negatively. He hasn't been cat tested either.

On a side note, both my guy and I got really itchy after being out with the dog for a short period of time. My guy ended up with little red spots clusterd on his arms... I think it's fleas or contact dermatitis from something in the yard... however, I'm worried it's the dog's saliva. My guy isn't allergic to my dog at all, but maybe it's an individual thing, I just don't know.

On an up note, he's not a fence jumper, he doesn't jump on people or use his size for bullying, he's reported to be good with kids and he is incredibly intelligent.

I'd love to be able to at least get him out of that environment and find him a home that does suit him if I can't keep him... however I don't think I'll even do that if this guy won't at least do the bare minimum yearly maintenance. I think at least some responsibility for his animal should be a requirement.