Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

Rufus is sleeping at my feet right now. We're having thunderstormy weather and he's scared. if he was always this quiet, I could deal with him!

My vet says that the dog is a bit slow to learn, no doubt about that; yet he knows how to find his way home. Occasionally he's chewed through his overhead trolley cable and run off for frolic... but he never fails to return home. The last time he did that, one of our cops picked the dog up, put him in the backseat of the patrol car, and drove Rufus home - only he (the cop) got a call on the way, and Rufus evidently didn't want to wait or else he thought the cop didn't know where 'home' was, but whatever, the dog jumped out of the cop car, and wandered home slowly, sniffing every blessed tree and bush on his way. Dozens of neighbors called to tell me that Rufus was headed for my house. lol

I just wish that Rufus was a better dog, and more like Midnight was.

[Seveen]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

wait until you want a dog again (and not compare it to midnight) midnight is jumping fences at rainbow bridge

[sistacaf]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

well... practically speaking.... in order to make this situation better -- (<span style="font-style: italic">DO</span> you want to make it better? or just vent about how much you hate Rufus and keep using him as a target for your grief?) -- you gotta stop 'wishing', get down to business, and get practical.

i'm not trying to be mean, but you gotta separate your grief for Midnight, from taking out said grief upon Rufus. He really doesn't sound like a bad dog at all, especially since he seems loving towards you in spite of your dislike for him......and also because he clearly sees you as the pack leader - so he IS obviously trainable, since you accomplished that peice of training with him already, by subduing him into behaving, giving up the bone, and following your lead. If Mr Witchy won't discipline Rufus, the dog will not respect him nor see him as the leader - even if Rufus is &quot;his&quot; dog.

but really - the only thing i can see that's wrong with Rufus is - he's not your Beloved. But no amounta wishing will change that, and he didn't do anything to deserve being treated like a piece of doggy doodoo.

as far as your main question, the only suggestion i can make is to try to separate 'the reality of Rufus' from your 'feelings' about &quot;what he's &quot;not&quot;. Instead of comparing and wishing for the impossible, take a deep breath, declare yourself done with making him a target of your upset, and make a conscious effort to adapt &amp; accept that he's not going anywhere. You can either continue to 'wish' and therefore keep creating more upset for yourself cause said wish won't ever come true - or you can consciously work on accepting THIS dog, for what HE is, and make an effort to change<span style="font-style: italic"> your </span>feelings about the situation, so it can be made better -- cause the dog can't change, nor can he ever become what he's not - only we humans have that consciousness &amp; ability.

He's disabled too, and needs love and care...<span style="font-style: italic">more </span>love and care than a fully abled dog - if you can't do that out of basic compassion for the dog itself, then do it as an act of giving and love for Mr Witchy, since Rufus is his dog.

i wish You, Mr Witchy and Rufus good luck, and calm spirits!

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

Sistacaf (and everyone else): I hear you. I just don't know how I can love Rufus. He's so unloveable to me. But I can try to not take out all of my disappointments and frustrations on Rufus. Even Midnight didn't take out anything on his dumber brother.

Rufus spent most of the day out loose in the house (not in his crate), before I had to finally put him in his crate so I could cook supper.

But I still can't walk him; he's got to get his own exercise on the overhead trolley. Rufus 'protected' me today, when PSE&amp;G (Public Service Electric &amp; Gas) came to my door to collect my past due balance. lol
The PSE&amp;G street supervisor, who knows Rufus, was surprised when the dog snarled at him. I just let the man in the front door. (Rufus was on his trolley at the back door) dwl