Tales of Jasmine the Adopted Dobergirl

Jasmine on the futon

2009-06-14T16:19:00.001-04:00

Jasmine
Originally uploaded by Amarook

I have a slight concern about Jasmine. She hasn't been quite herself lately.
I'm starting to wonder if she is starting to develope wobblers.
Her gait is off, and she barely lifts her back feet when walking.

I guess we'll have to wait and watch for a while and see what happens.

Poor tortured Jasmine.

2009-05-28T21:09:00.001-04:00

Poor tortured Jasmine.
Originally uploaded by Amarook

lately she started licking her nubbin... a LOT. She has half the hair licked off, and it's red & raw.
I got some bag balm & bitter yuck for it, but she still licks at it. So I got an e-collar today. she is really not happy about it. But she is slowly adjusting. When I first put it on her she acted like she couldn't move. If she would bump into something she would just stand in one place and stare.

I hope this works, cause her poor nubbin is sad. :(

2 weeks post spay.

2009-05-18T09:27:00.002-04:00

Visiting Jeff's Parents
Originally uploaded by Amarook

She is now 2 weeks post-op, and has been really great about her surgery site. Very little licking at all! What a surprise!!! I thought for sure she was going to be one of those dogs we had to put a cone on, but we lucked out.

Isn't she gorgeous.

Poor little grandma dog

2009-05-02T10:55:00.001-04:00

Poor little grandma dog
Originally uploaded by Amarook

Jasmine is getting spayed right now.

So glad there will be no more heat cycles. :)

Pretty girl

2009-04-14T15:33:00.001-04:00

Jasmine
Originally uploaded by Amarook

I took a risk yesterday.
I knew I shouldn't have, but I wanted to see what would happen. Jasmine has been with us 5 months now. She totally adores us. Lives to cuddle, and is upset when left outside alone.
I had a pretty good feeling about it.

I went out to untangle her. She got tangled around the tree and was barking her head off.
I let her loose.

All she did was run up to the back porch. So I took her inside, grabbed a tennis ball and Takoda and took her back out side loose again.

I threw the ball. She and Takoda went after it. She got to it first. Because she had the ball she wouldn't let me catch her.
But I said, "Ok, let's go in." She charged up the steps to the back door and waited for me. :)
YAY!!!

I'm going to start working with her learning "come" more.

Oskar makes a good pillow for adoring eyes.

2009-04-04T14:48:00.001-04:00

Oskar makes a good pillow for adoring eyes.
Originally uploaded by Amarook

She's been with us almost 5 months already.
Jeff and I joke all the time that she hates it here, and the first chance she gets she's gonna split.

She is adorable, irresistible, huggable, cuddly, and our dobergirl.
I have no regrets about bringing her home.

Who could not love that face?

Update on Jasmine's "down"

2009-03-02T04:47:00.001-05:00

Update on Jasmine's "down"
Originally uploaded by Amarook

This could be better. She's not used to doing her commands with distraction from Takoda who was in "me too" mode. He said "I KNOW YOU HAVE TREATS! WILL WORK FOR FOOD OVER HERE!"
He's such a good eager boy.

But you can see that she's getting it. I just need to start working her outside more. That will be easier as it gets warmer out.

Jasmine says, "Why do you do this to me... You know I'm not a patient girl."

2009-02-25T06:15:00.001-05:00

Jasmine says, "Why do you do this to me... You know I'm not a patient girl."
Originally uploaded by Amarook

This little exercise really helps Jasmine with self control. She's still nosie though. She doesn't hesitate to bump stuff on the coffee table, or anywhere for that matter with her big old schnoz.

Fist night in the crate

2009-02-08T09:43:00.002-05:00

I am impressed by her. She's a good girl.

She spent her first night in the crate last night. We were out late, so she didn't get put in till around 3 am.
No audible complaining. About 5 minutes after I put her in, I heard her paw the door twice. After that she settled in and went to sleep.

I just got up at 9:30, and she was still contently relaxing in there. I took her out back, and she did her thing.

I think the crate is definitely going to solve our overnight problem.

Jasmine gets crate trained

2009-02-07T02:38:00.000-05:00

Jasmine's crate, originally uploaded by Amarook.

Well I went and got Jasmine a crate. I got a new bed to put in it.
Then I went about using every tactic I could think of to get her to think of it in a good way.
(I just got the crate this afternoon.)

I started with the door off so it wouldn't spook her.
First I threw a treat in the back of the crate. She wanted it bad, but she looked at me as if to say, "If you think I'm going to step into that thing, you better do better than a dry biscuit."

She is EXTREMELY food driven. The dog is obsessed with food. It was dinner time anyway, so I got her bowl, put food in it, and put it in the back of the crate.
She whined, she circled the crate, she pawed it, she attempted to bite it, and she barked.
Then she put one foot in the crate, pulled it out and started the above all over again. She wanted the food, but not bad enough.

So I added some canned food, put the bowl back in the crate. Again with the drama. But she still wouldn't go more then one paw in.
So I reached for the "canine carry-outs". I broke one up into several bits, and tossed them into the crate. She started nabbing up the closer ones. I encouraged her, and threw more in. She finally leaned all the way in, keeping her 2 hind feet firmly planted on the floor, and ate the whole bowl of food. When she was done, she backed out.
I praised like crazy and gave her a few more crumbs of treats. I gave her a break for a bit.

After a bit I started tossing more treats in. This time she stepped all the way in. I again praised like crazy then called her out.
More tid bits. Then I put the bed in the crate. Tossed it more crumbs of treat. In she went, and then she surprised me by laying down.

More crazy praise, and pettins, and crumbs of treat.

Called her out, sent her back in. Repeat crazy praise.
After a couple more repetitions, she is totally at ease walking in turning around, laying down, and walking out of the crate.

Then I put the door on, and repeated with the door on.
I added closing the door for a second, praise, treat. Open door.

Then I gave her a break. We acutally went out for a while.
When we came home, I sent her in and did the door close for a second with praise, followed by letting her out.
The last thing I did, I was able to have her go in, lay down, and I locked the door, walked away, sat on the couch for 2 minutes, then let her out and praise, treat.

After that, she went in and laid down in the crate all on her own!

I really didn't expect it to be this easy!
I think within a couple days I'll be able to put her in and shut the door for an hour or so without complaint.
I got her a good chew bone for the first time I leave her in it for more than an hour.

Yay!

Jasmine in her pink hoodie

2009-01-28T08:51:00.001-05:00

Jasmine in her pink hoodie
Originally uploaded by Amarook

Yup... She's spoiled. But for the record, she was spoiled before I ever had her!
She was allowed to do pretty much what ever she wanted I think... Because that is what she expects now.

She is learning though! In fact, she's doing pretty well. We took her with us to visit Jeff's parents on Sunday. Jeff's mom was impressed with how much better behaved she is. She commented on how well she pays attention to me now.

That made me feel pretty good. She's a good dog in there. Just have to dig it out from under all the spoiled brat in there. lol!

Jasmine giving me the look

2009-01-21T18:25:00.001-05:00

Jasmine giving me the look
Originally uploaded by Amarook

Yup, she's intact. She went into heat.
I have an appointment scheduled with the vet up the road for the 3rd of Feb.

She's learning a lot more manners. She still really needs to learn impulse control. She is still extremely obsessive about food. I have no idea how to get her over that.
She's an absolute cuddle bug though, and we are glad she is here with us. :)

Doberlopes at play this morning

2009-01-15T10:06:00.001-05:00

Doberlopes at play this morning
Originally uploaded by Amarook

Jasmine is in heat. So that answers that question. She is indeed an intact female.

Thankfully everyone else is fixed so no worries.
She was flirting with Takoda this morning. lol

Jasmine distracted

2009-01-05T20:38:00.001-05:00

Jasmine distracted
Originally uploaded by Amarook

Had the pups out for an hour of play this afternoon. They needed it.

The Diva Jasmine

2008-12-31T21:17:00.001-05:00

The Diva Jasmine
Originally uploaded by Amarook

I've been bad about updating here. Not too much to tell.
Jasmine has made progress. We now know "down" very well. Also "wait". And "sit" is at a master level. As soon as I have a treat in my hand, her butt hits the ground. That's what I like to see. :)

Jasmine wishes everyone a happy new year!

Jasmine's been here over a month now!

2008-12-18T11:50:00.000-05:00

I've been bad about remembering to update this blog. It's not habit yet. Jasmine is making progress. She now does a "down" with out me having a treat in my hand. This is a pretty big step for her as she was pretty resistant to it before. Not only that I don't have to reward her with a treat right away. I can give a series of 3 commands, "sit" "down" back to "sit" and then reward her, and she does them all. She's even doing it when she knows I don't have a reward at all. :)

My sister is now calling her PJ for Princess Jasmine... cause that's how she acts. She's also a total goof. Typical for a dobe. lol
Well, that's all for now.

Playing with Jasmine in the yard

2008-12-05T18:41:00.001-05:00

Meal time training

2008-12-05T14:37:00.004-05:00

Jasmine has this issue where she gets very wound up and will bark/snap at the other dogs when I am dishing out their food. She paces, and won't settle down.

Telling her to knock it off obviously hasn't done any good. So I am trying a new tactic, and it seems to be working.

I have the food bin in the dining room which is separated from the rest of the house via a babygate.
She will stand there, and if one of the other dogs comes near her, she will bark. Or, sometimes she will just bark at me cause she is impatient.
Now when she barks, I immediately stop what I'm doing drop everything, and go sit back down in the living room.

The first time I did this I think she was flabergasted. She paced back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room, back and forth. She would crab at the other dogs. When she finally calmed down, and sat on the chair... after about 15 minutes. I got up and continued dishing out the food. I got 2 cups of food into Takoda's bowl and she barked again.

I again stopped, and went to sit down. This time it took her about 10 minutes to go lay on the chair and relax.

Same thing again. Got up, started filling bowls. She barked I went and sat. I keep this up, and each time she calms down much quicker. On Wednesday night, which was the first time I did this, I had to stop dishing food 4 or 5 times.

Last night at dinner time, she barked again. I stopped and went to the living room. I sat down.
About a minute later she was laying on the chair looking like she was going to fall asleep.

She still kept barking, and I had to stop about 3 times, but she was more relaxed.
I am hoping that if I keep doing this, she will stop barking all together.

We'll see.

Also I have implemented "Sit" for pettins, and "sit" before going outside. We were already doing "sit" & "wait" before meals.

A Jasmine Video

2008-12-05T13:47:00.001-05:00

Please ignore the yapping min pin in the background. lol

Here is a little video of Jasmine showing that she does know what "down" means. However she will only do it this willingly if I have a treat in my had. We are working on that still. Giving her paw is so ingrained in her that it is always up, and when I tell her "down" she is always trying hard to give it to me when she lies down. Sometimes this results in me getting a good scratch.

I'm going to start trying to get her to "sit" from a distance, and then "down" maybe that will make her less inclined to try to give me her paw.
It's not much progress, but it's better than nothing. And, her house manners are improving too.

Dobes are so sappy... lol

2008-12-02T01:02:00.000-05:00

Jasmine resting her head on my chest. When dobes do this kind of stuff, it just melts your heart.
I guess that is one of the reasons I love them so much.

Ok, I guess I am past due for updating this. Holiday put me off a bit.
As far as training goes, haven't done much work outside. It's cold out there, and she doesn't want to be out there anymore
than she has to be. Short fur an all, I don't blame her. But I have been breaking their meals up a little more.
To keep her from scarfing down her lunch I made her work for it. I hand fed her, but before she got anything, she had to do something.
We worked on the basics which she is still learning. "Sit", Down" which she HATES doing.), "look at me", "wait", and going from a "down" to a "sit". That last one is something Takoda and Oskar have a little trouble with.

Doing that for 2 days, all the repetition, and she now sits the first time I say it even without a treat. Down, she doesn't want to do unless I have something, or if she thinks I really mean business. But even then she does it very slowly, doesn't stay down for more than a second, and has a look on her face that clearly says this is way to undignified for me!

I believe Jasmine is very intelligent, BUT she is a total brat.
I have come to the conclusion that her former owner probably really really loved her.
And, it probably did break their hearts to have to let her go.
However, they loved her so much that they never made her do anything! She got attention whenever SHE demanded it.
She was never taught any manners, she did not have to learn any commands... OR, possibly maybe they didn't understand that she had to be taught what the commands mean? Why, because sometimes when I tell her "sit" she has this glazed over look on her face.
the "words" never get her attention. Maybe she heard sit sit sit sit sit sit sit sit so much that it means nothing to her?
I understand this is all speculation, but she can't tell me what happened, so it's all I have to go on.

Ok, so an update on her behavior after being with us 2 weeks.
I would have to say the honeymoon period is DEFINITELY over.
I have learned that little miss thang does not like it when she demands attention, and it is not given.
Well sure, who would like that. But this one gets in trouble. Granted it's not major trouble. But she will seek out something to
take out her frustration on.
Example: I had picked up the mail. I left it on the coffee table. In the mail we received a new phone book. It was wrapped in plastic.
I came into the office to read my livejournal. Jasmine comes in and starts laying her head on my arm. I pet her for a bit, but need my hand to type something and I stop. She then starts nudging my elbow forcefully with her nose. I tell her to knock it off. She moaned.
She stares blankly at me. A minute later she is nudging stuff on my desk. knocks over an empty cup. Sniffs some crumbs. I tell to go lay down. She wanders off into the living room. All is quiet. Then I hear Riiip. I leap out of my seat & sprint to the living room. She had taken the phone book off the coffee table and was ripping the cover off it, and chewing the corner.
I said NO! Took it away, then redirected her on one of her toys.

I haven't really learned her signals for when she has to go out.
I just take her out several times a day instead of waiting to see if she will let me know.

The other day she had FOUR, yes 4 accidents. Both consisting of a little poop, and a puddle right in my living room.
I still don't get that one. I was on my computer a lot that day, and maybe she felt neglected. Maybe she was asking and I missed it?
Also, she is a theif! The other day I was making dinner. She hadn't been out in a bit, so I brought her into the kitchen so I could put her out in the back yard. (I normally have up a baby gate.)
There were some rolls on a cookie sheet. I looked away for one nano-second, and she had grabbed on off the table, and was swallowing it
whole! I was not happy. Needless to say, if she is going through the kitchen to go out and there is food out,
we will not be letting her collar go.

What else... Oh, I can now put her on the run out back, and I don't have to stand on the porch anymore. She will actually go down the steps by herself, and go pee without me hokding her paw. Yay! I can watch from inside.

Well I suppose this is all for now.
Take care!

2 weeks with Jasmine

2008-11-26T17:42:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate 2 weeks that Jasmine is with us. I bought a stocking full of dog toys, and gave her the stuffy, since she has really seemed to want one. In this 2 weeks I have learned that she is very smart, very strong willed, and very much a total DIVA.
She met Jeff's parents on Sunday when they came for our early Thanksgiving meal. They really like her. I had sent them pictures earlier in the week, and they were eager to meet her. We need to work on greeting manners with everyone as chaos breaks out when someone comes to the house that is not my sister, or the kids.

She hasn't had any more of her anxiety episodes, maybe it was just because she was still so new. Deer season started on Monday, and she hasn't been freaking out about gun shots. (yay!)

Well, she just ripped the squeaker out of her stuffy. That didn't take long.

I better go get it off her before she swallows it.

Out to play

2008-11-21T17:47:00.000-05:00

Had the pups out for playtime this afternoon.
Fun was had by all. I was just trying to wear her out a little so hopefully she won't go through her exiety episodes.
I also am now splitting up their meals. It only makes sense as I have 3 dogs here who are gulpers. The best way to try and fight the stomach problems is to break their meals up. Also hopefully she won't try to eats random stuff any more.

Last night she was going through that again. (pacing around eating what ever she could find.)
I really think she does this as a way to pacify herself. I think looking for stuff to eat takes her mind off whatever is bothering her.

We went for our walk last night. It wasn't that long, just down to the end of my sister's road. It was dark, and cold. I had just gotten out of the shower and my hair was wet. I had a hat on, but my head still got cold.

She seemed to be calmed down, we were almost home, and BANG! It sounded like a gun shot. She immediatly tensed up and started to fight the halti. I couldn't see, but it seemed like she was trying to look for stuff on the ground.
So my theory is this, we're in WV, and a fairly rural part. People shoot off their guns pretty often around here. especially with the all the deer. Lots of people hunt on their own property.

So I'm thinking she is hearing gunshots outside that I can't hear. And those are making her upset. So far it's the only trigger that makes sense. I haven't been able to pinpoint any others. I guess time will tell.

What was I thinking!?!?

2008-11-20T03:21:00.003-05:00

Usually when I bring home a new animal first thing that happens is BATH!

I did not do that with Jasmine. DUR me she was in a shelter!

Yeah, I found a flea tonight.

I haven't seen a flea all summer!

I suppose I am going to have to give everyone flea baths tomorrow.
what a pain. :(

I just hope this large new dog is ok with baths.

This evening...

2008-11-20T00:12:00.001-05:00

Dinnertime rolled around. In the menu for tonight was their normal kibble, but also some canned food, and a little leftover beef juice.

They were excited.Jasmine most of all... she was dancin in the background!

She says, "Is it ready yet? Takoda and Oskar know to be more polite.

But Jasmine does not yet... so she demands, "Give me my damn dinner!"

So I explained to her that she has to be good, and patient like the boys.
So she says, "I'll be good, but I'm hungry and that smells really good."

So after their meals were consumed, we settled down to watch a movie.

Very rarely does Oskar get to sit in my lap. He's a heavy boy.
But Jasmine has been doing it a lot. I don't want him to feel like he's not getting the same attention. I invited him up.
Not 2 seconds after he was settled... She came. Anyone have 2 simultaneous BIG lap dogs? lol

They were heavy. ugh. But look how cute!

My legs fell asleep about 5 minutes later. So off they went.

Jasmine all tucked in. Nightie night!

Can I come in?

2008-11-18T18:00:00.003-05:00

She seems very anxious today. Maybe it's sinking in that she's not going to see her former owner anymore. She hasn't stopped pacing. Before today, she would lay in a chair and sleep unless it was time to go out, or it was play time.
I've been thinking about her issue with eating whatever she can while cleaning up any dust bunnies, and stray leaves. I think I know why she just started this today. Jasmine is a CHOW hound... BIG time. She eats way way faster than Takoda.

I slow Takoda down by scattering his food all over the dining room and Kitchen floors. It works because it takes him 10 minutes to eat instead of 30 seconds.

So I decided to try that with her. It worked. It took her about 20 minutes to finish eating. But I think now she thinks that if she keeps looking around on the floor she is going to find stuff that she can eat. I've never had a dog pick up on something that quick before.
'I guess it's back to the bowl tonight, and I will just have to feed her a little at a time.

Jasmine's new issue

2008-11-18T13:34:00.002-05:00

It will be a week tomorrow that Jasmine is with us. Now that she is getting more comfortable a new issue is cropping up. She's an eater... meaning, she will eat anything. This morning, she is very restless. She is pacing, and eating anything she finds. There were a couple leaves floating around, I think she ate them... I had no idea what she was doing, I just saw her chewing like something was stuck in her mouth. I tried to remove it, but that didn't go well. Then I had her outside for a bit. This time I didn't have to hold her paw either. I just put her on the tie out and she went down the steps herself and went to pee.

After I let her in I was working on photographing some items for ebay. I heard her chewing again.
I went to investigate, and she had a wad of foil in her mouth. I have no idea where she got it, but she definitely was determined to consume it. I fought her for it. I know that was foolish, but I really didn't want her to have to have surgery to remove a blockage. I was able to get it out.

Then I'm thinking to myself, "Crap I'm going to have to make her vomit cause I don't know what else she ate." Then all of a sudden... WHAHACK!" And she puked up her breakfast.

She much like Takoda, although I think WAAAAY worse than Takoda is an obsessive eater.
When she gets her bowl of food she eats really really fast. I have started doing the same thing for her that I do for Takoda. Her food gets scattered all over the dining room to force her to eat little bits at a time. Although now I am wondering if that is why she is eating crap off the floor. Maybe she is looking for more dog food?

She also drinks in a crazy way. She literally submerges half her snout under water when she drinks.

silly dog.

One more pic tonight.

2008-11-18T00:49:00.002-05:00

Because I really really like it. Such good dogs. :)

Takoda is warming up to her.

2008-11-18T00:22:00.002-05:00

It takes Takoda a little longer to warm up to new dogs. But tonight after dinner he was definately interested in playing with Jasmine. He had the whole up ears tail waggin like crazy thing going on. They jump around each other a couple times, then it ended. I'm sure in a nother day or so he will be wrestling with her like he does with Osk. :) That makes me happy, she is fitting in here well.

I like this photo too. It's the first good one of them standing side by side. Cute pups.

Jasmine and the Halti

2008-11-17T12:54:00.001-05:00

Jasmine with halti, originally uploaded by Amarook.

We started clicker training last night. She is extremely smart. I started her on the Halti on Thursday because she is super strong, and really really bad on a leash.
I started by putting it on her for a minute and giving her treats while she wore it. Then I put it on her on Friday, Walked her in the yard a little while giving treats. Today I just walked her to my sister's and back. It's not far, but it was away from home turf.
She fought the halti just a little on the way there. We let her and Riley play for about 1/2 an hour, then headed back. This time she didn't pull against the halti. She walked calmly beside me on a loose leash. One of the poor dogs that lives outdoors noticed us on the way back and flipped out at us. She just glanced over and kept walking.

I can't say it enough times, her former owner was an idiot for giving away such a great dog.

Heart attack

2008-11-16T22:35:00.001-05:00

Jasmine gave me a small myocardial infarction tonight.

I was sitting here trying to come up with a name for Jasmine's Blog when Jeff comes in and says, "You better come out here and call your dog."

I was like HUH? She was out on the tie out with him while he was putting more basement garbage in the fire. When he was bringing her in, she got away from him.

He said she bounded away as if it was all a big game.

It was dark, and cold. I came in put on my sneakers, and a sweat shirt and went out to call her.
I couldn't see or hear her.

A couple minutes later I heard her collar jangle. She came right at me... then right past me. Then she ran into the neighbor's yard across the street. I called, but it was is if she didn't hear me. I asked Jeff to let Takoda out.

I went into the neighbor's yard with Takoda and she came running over. I called them both into our yard. She followed him, then bolted again.

She went back into the neighbor's yard again. Then she started going down the hill into the valley. I took Takoda into the neighbor's yard again, and played with him. Got him to run around, and be silly. That of course got her interest. She came back to where we are. Takoda stopped to smell something fascinating by their bushes, and she did too. That's when I grabbed her. I immediately praised her like crazy. She was obviously very concerned. I brought her back to out house, and told Jeff we have to make a big fuss and give her lots of treats.
He grabbed treats, and she wouldn't go near him. She acted like she was afraid of him.
This dog was obviously scolded or something for running before.

She finally realized that we weren't going to kill her and took treats and lovin from us.
Poor dog.

So yea, recall is something I'm going to have to work on with her.
The whole time she was running I was just glad I had gotten her a collar and ID tag.

Sooooo sleepy

2008-11-16T12:54:00.002-05:00

Soooo sleepy, originally uploaded by Amarook.

She falls asleep sitting up. LOL

This photo posting from Flickr is way cool, and way easy.

I will probably be spamming with pics now... ;)

Anyone else have a large lap dog?

2008-11-15T23:09:00.000-05:00

LARGE lap dog, originally uploaded by Amarook.

ok, I caved and said she could be a lap dog tonight. But, only on the condition that we have to be diligent, and if she shows her teeth, or grumbles at another animal while on our lap, she gets the boot.

She was a good girl.

This was the first time she climbed into Jeff's lap. I think he was amused.

She is sooooo smart. I've been teaching her to sit & wait before she can eat. (like I do with everyone else.)
The first night I just made her sit. Thursday I told her to sit, then wait. But, I had to hold her back. Last night I put my hand in front of her chest. She went for the food so I picked the bowl up. Then we tried again, and she waited but I only made her wait for a second.

Today she sat before I even told her to. She didn't wait right away, but once I put my hand in front of her chest she didn't lung for the food. I said wait once more, and was able to remove my hand completely. She waited till I said ok without me holding her!! Yay!

She literally knows no commands except sit, and paw.
Tonight after dinner I put everyone else out in the fenced yard to see if I could get her to do "down".

I put a training treat in my fist and lowered my hand to the floor. She licked, and nibbled at my hand. Finally she plunked down. As soon as she did I said GOOD GIRL, and gave her the treat.
We repeated a few more times. The 2nd time it actually took her longer. But on the 3rd when she did it I added "down" as she was laying down, and mad praise.
The 4th time she went right down. I went crazy with praise.

Gave her about 5 minutes. Asked her to do it again, and down she went. True to her breed, very very smart. :)

Well I'm off. Have a nice evening all.

Doberlegs...

2008-11-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

Amuse me.

My 6 year old Takoda

Jasmine

Jasmine Meets Riley

2008-11-14T17:35:00.005-05:00

I have a small fenced area in the front of our house. But the fence isn't very high. Till I know if I can trust her I have to take Jasmine out in the back yard on a lonf tie out I have for her.

Today my sister and I introduced Jasmine to Riley (red-ish dober-mutt my sister's dog.) today.
It was WHO ARE YOU!?! Hackles up... Sniff sniff, then they both started bouncing around the yard.
They totally dig each other. :)
After the intros I let Oskar (big black Rott/Lab) and Takoda (black dober-mutt) back into the yard so the 4 of them could play.

They had a great time.
We now have sleepin pups. :)

The Jasmine story

2008-11-14T00:25:00.000-05:00

I spoke on the phone with the woman who runs the dobe rescue I volunteer for on Tuesday night. She told me that there are no foster homes available. The only way we could help her is if I foster her. I told her that my sister and I were planning on going to see her Wednesday, and that I would take pictures, and see what her temperament was like.

I wanted to see how she was with other dogs so we took Takoda with us. He is a little bit funny around other dogs. I think that since he was taken away from his mom at 6 weeks, he has some issues with understanding other dog's body language. And, he is a grumbler. It's something he has done since day 1 with me. I think other dogs may not know how to take it. I know people who don't know him don't get it either. It's just his way of talking. When a dog play bows at him, he looks at them like they are crazy, and runs to me whining. BUT, he is not aggressive.

Yesterday I was supposed to get my direct deposit for my unemployment, but there was a hiccup with the system. When I called to check my balance, it wasn't there. Then I tried to call for info and the line was busy busy busy. I tried to get into the website, and it was lagging something fierce. So I hade NO $. This was a tad frustrating as I had to pay some bills. It got sorted out and my $ was in the account today. (This seems irrelevant, but you will understand why I am telling you this shortly.)

My sis had errands to run in Washington, so we went there first. The shelter doesn't open till 12:30 so after she was done we went to panera and grabbed sandwiches.

We got to the shelter, and I told them I had been e-mailing back and forth with a couple different people about the dobe, and I was there to see her. They instructed us to go outside, and they brought her to this large pen out back. She paid no attention to us at all at first. The guy said she probably had to pee. They said she seems to be housebroken as she only messed in her kennel over night.

Once she relieved herself, she started bouncing around, and running in big circles. Finally she came over to us. She jumped all over Marie, and mouthed her pretty hard.
A lady who worked at the shelter came out to see how it was going. Takoda of course barked at her when she walked past Marie's Tahoe.
I asked her if it was ok to bring Takoda out to see Jasmine. The lady said it was fine. So I got him and we let them sniff through the fence. After a few minutes of that, I brought him into the pen. They checked each other out, then he decided he had to go. He wandered off to look for a spot, and she followed him all around. After he went they trotted around. She play bowed at him, and he did the usual. But all was fine.

The lady starts asking me about paperwork. I told her I didn't know.
She went off to get a dog for someone else to look at. Marie and I discussed it. Marie asked me, "do you want her?"
I replied with, "Well I'd love to have her, but a, Molly would have to go to your house today, and b, I have no money today."
Marie says, "well I can lend you the money till your money comes in. I'm sure it will be in tomorrow."

I said, "We have no foster's open in the rescue right now, unless I foster her... and I know if I foster her I'll fall for her anyway." (already had anyway.)

So, I went in and filled out the paper work.

On her petfinder page it said she is 1 1/2, and unspayed. But, in the shelter they told me that are not sure if she is spayed, and the lady said she thought she was only 11 months old.
I haven't looked at her belly to see if there is a scar yet. I want to make sure she is totally comfortable with me before I'm asking her to lie on her back.

The ride home was fairly uneventful. I rode in back with Takoda and Jasmine. She was nervous, and unsure. Which I really do not blame her for at all.

She really seems to be a pretty good dog. I don't think she was abused, or neglected. She was just never taught any manners. She knows "sit" And she does this funny thing. When you tell her sit, she does it, but her front paw goes up in the air at the same time. It's funny.
The shelter said that her owner couldn't handle her. I think the only reason why, is because of the manners issue. She's a quick learner.

When we got home, I brought her into the fenced area. I could have predicted what Oskar was going to do... He did the exact same thing he does to Riley.
I let him out onto the porch with her, he sniffed her, and immediately threw his head over her neck and shoulders and leaned over her. Everytime she moved he followed, and resumed the same position. This went on for about 5-10 minutes. Then he started to chew on her neck. He likes dober necks, cause he can fit his whole mouth around the back.
After the initial introduction I took her out back and put her on the loooong tie out. I brought Oskar and Takoda out there, and we had a nicve play session. The 3 of them romped around. I tossed the disc, and the ball. She discovered the peanut butter jar I had given Oskar and was quite pleased with it. She tossed it in the air and attempted to try to get the rest of the pb out of the jar.

I was trying to tire them out a bit before bringing them inside.
When we came in, Oskar was up her butt everytime she moved. I think this made her feel a bit defensive, and unsure. But today was much better. She actually initiated play with Oskar a few times. I had them out in the yard a couple times today and they enjoyed themselves.

She also has NO leash manners either. GAWD is she strong! I started working with the Halti today. I took her to the pet store for a collar and ID tag. I was going to get an easy walk harness, but they only had the ones with the martingale front. Oh, I'll have to check ebay.

Oh... One thing I was afraid was going to be an issue. She seems REALLY attached to me already. She gets upset if I leave her sight. I was afraid she was going to be one of those dogs with seperation anxiety. Last night she was ok. We went to bed, she whined outside the door for a bit, then settled down. Today I tested her twice. one time I walked down to my sister's, and the 2nd time I went to the grocery store, she was an angel! Thank dog...

Oh and the girls are thrilled to have Molly home. And Riley gets to burn off energy with her. :)

Osk says girl friend for me???

She was so sleepy she was falling asleep without laying down her head.

Where she slept last night.

Super Quick update

2008-11-13T15:23:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the crappy camera phone pic.
I brought her home!

Thoughts about the shelter dog while baby sitting

2008-11-11T22:21:00.000-05:00

My sister and her hubby went to pick up a used stove for one of their rental units. She sent me a text and asked if I would come sit here while they did that. The kids are in bed, so it's free uninterupted internets time for me.

Jeff was already passed out anyway. Tired boy... never gets enough rest.

My sister and I are going to go meet Jasmine tomorrow. Jeff said that if we didn't have Molly that we could get her.
Marie is thinking about keeping Molly after all, so that could work out.

What ever happens, I will not sit by and let that beautiful little girl get put down. Aside from being a big sucker for those dober-monsters... she is what I was looking for when Tash got sick. When I got Oskar. Not that I regret getting Oskar. He's a big love. A strong willed one, but a love none the less. Last year I could not find a young female dobe in a shelter. Oh, there were pups in rescue... but a pup from that litter was being held over my head, which I thought was VERY fucked up. I contacted this rescue cause they had pups. The rescuer and I talked, she invited me to come and meet the pups. Then, the day before I was to go out to meet them, she says, "I can't really be comfortable adopting a pup to you unless you cut ties with the group you volunteer for, and come volunteer for my group instead."

My groups founder may be opinionated, but, it is because she wants what is best for the dogs. So I went and picked up Oskar instead. What can I say, I had puppy fever by that point in time.

So now, here is this little girl. Dumped at a kill shelter. My group has no fosters open. We are actually getting a dog back because one of the owner's passed away, and the other owner doesn't feel she can handle the dog alone. So if Jasmine's time is up, and no one has adopted her I will take her in.
I maybe crazy... but hey! That's ME!

Hopefully I won't just melt tomorrow when I meet her. (you know I will though... unless she's a maniac.)
I just feel so bad for her.

Her name is Jasmine (This is how it all started)

2008-11-11T11:15:00.001-05:00

She is a 1 1/2 year old purebred dobe. Her owners surrendered her because they had surgery and claimed to not be able to handle her anymore. She is in Ohio County animal shelter in WV. It is a KILL shelter.
She has only been there since the 8th, so I am told she has "a lot of time". But, I don't know what "a lot of time" means to them. She has had all vaccinations except rabies, and she is not spayed yet. Her adoption fee is $80 + they give you a $50 voucher toward having her spayed at a local vet.

I contacted the rescue I work with to see if we can help her. I hope we can.

Anyone interested?? ;)