LLL Dog Ranch

Rare moment when Reggie “Captain Chaos” slows down long enough to take a nap. I’m so tired! Terrier Toddler Phase is brutal.

Amendment to this post: let me start by saying I am so grateful that this person brought this dog back to me. They could have easily abandoned the dog or ceased all communication and given it away to never be heard about again. But they didn’t, they reached out and did the right thing and brought him back to me. Even though I believe them negligent, I do not believe it was done maliciously. These types of dogs require a commitment that many don’t have the ability to understand or follow through with. It’s awesome to have a beautiful fluffy cute dog. It just takes work to keep them that way. To keep their mind engaged and their body in good health. Either way…life goes on and we are moving with the tides.

I’ve been hesitant to post about this because well, it is very disheartening and calling out issues isn’t something I enjoy doing. We recently had one of our pups returned. Destructive behavior, separation anxiety and breaking out of the yard. I have a contract that I require anyone that brings home one of my dogs that says I want to be contacted if things aren’t working out and you need to rehome one of our dogs. I want to help in the process. In this case the dog was brought back to me. Three weeks prior this person had sent me a copy of the vet bill after they had gotten his annual shots with a text that said “COME GET YOUR DOG!” I didn’t understand what was going on so I reached out and asked. This persons response was “I just wanted you to know he’s being taken care of”. Part of me believed they were looking for money. I had already paid for this dog to be neutered; after they asked for my help. So when I received that text my thought was “does this person expect me to pay for this dog’s care for its entire life?” This dog is not in my program as a breeder, he’s been fixed, which I paid for, what do they expect me to do? Fast forward three weeks, they contact me and tell me they can’t keep him any longer. Behavioral issues etc etc. They can’t keep him in the yard and they’re afraid something is going to happen to him. I tell them, bring him back I will see what is going on and if he cannot be rehomed he will just stay with me. They got to my house on a Sunday late afternoon. Was there two minutes and left. He came into the house, said his hellos and then promptly started scarfing down the dog food that he knows I keep in the breakfast area. He looked like one of the dogs you see in the SPCA campaign ads where the dogs are dirty, matted and starved. I was shocked. I was disgusted and so angry. After he finished the entire bowl of dog food. I let him rest for a few minutes and then took him outside to potty and then straight to my grooming table. There was no way I was going to be able to brush through his hair so I needed to shave it off first. As I started I just began crying. He was covered in stickers; many imbedded in his skin, had a laceration that was infected on his right back leg, two dislocated toe nails from his nails being so long. I was so disappointed in that person, disappointed in myself for trusting them and sad for this poor dog that had been loved by us before leaving. I didn’t understand someone that said they “loved him so much”. How could they do this? I shaved him down, bathed him, treated his cut with medicine and then let him rest. I weighed him the next day. A dog that should weight 65 - 70 pounds; he weighed 47 pounds. So the process starts to slowly refeed him into a healthy dog. I reintroduced him to the pack the next day. He was completely wired, anxious and not the dog that I raised. He flinched every time I touched him but was so desperate for attention that he wouldn’t leave my side. So we started the process of rehabilitation. We are a little over two weeks in and he has returned to his vibrant sweet self and is loving life again. I don’t know if he will be a candidate for rehoming or not. But he is a kind and goofy dog that has a very forgiving soul. I will post his progress pictures later after he fills out more. For now he is safe, loved, well fed and is enjoying his pack.

This guy is a whole other kind of energy. I thought standard Poodles are high energy dogs. I can handle this little munchkin. He is a holy terror in a tiny dog suit. When completing his AKC registration paperwork I have amended the name I initially thought I would call him to include the word Chaos! 😂 He is a very cute little Tasmanian devil. Two weeks in and we love him very much. But having a dog toddler with a hummingbird bladder has added a whole new level to our schedule. Oh Reggie, we love you.