Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

[WitchyOoman]

I'm being pushed to get another dog. People keep reminding me that it's almost a year, now, since I lost Midnight, and that it's high time I get myself another dog, now.

I don't want another dog! I don't even want hubby's dog, Rufus, with whom I'm stuck. I want my own dog, Midnight, back again!

I can't stand Rufus, and I do as little as humanely possible for him. He's truly a POX... being a Boxer/Pit Bull/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. I let the animal out as necessary duing the day. I won't walk him; I can't; he's stubborn and disobedient. (well he is known to be severely learning-disabled) This may not be Rufus' fault... but I can't control him - so he spends a lot of his time in his crate (a large crate more than ample-sized for him). Rufus slobbers too much; it's disgusting. He stinks (b.o. and bad breath). He is a short-haired, almost bald thing, and he sheds like crazy. He makes paw prints on my 9-ft ceilings all the time, by jumping from floor to couch to ceiling and back again, repeatedly. He eats ANYTHING AT ALL - including solid oak furniture legs from antique 19th-century furniture, and poisonous things.

My vet has suggested that a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois is the right dog for me and my disabilities and my protective needs.
A neighbor down the street has a black Malinois, and there are several German Shepherd owners hereabouts, and I've spoken to them all.

I'm just not interested in another dog; I want my own Puppa back! Not a day gos by that I don't speak to Puppa (Midnight) on my living room mantle (his ashes). And I still cry daily, because, of course, I don't get the warm fuzzy feeling from the dog's cremains that I got from the dog' live, warm, and loving body.

For me, there is no dog other than Midnight!

What'm I gonna do???

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

WitchyOoman, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pet. I know how much it can hurt.

First, I do not think you should get another dog if you do not want one. You will know when you are ready. It couldn't hurt to look at a few. I always walk through pet stores but have no intention of purchasing a puppy from them.

Second, have you thought of getting Rufus some training? If you never learn to like him, even just basic commands and leash training should improve the situation somewhat.

[MsPeaches]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?


((((((Witchy))))))

So sorry you lost your ideal pet. Nothing hurts any worse!!
I too have disabilities and I know how much harder that makes having a pet and looking after it properly. Our doggies and pussycats are full-fledged family members and love us unconditionally. We depend on our companion animals for our emotional well-being and losing one is tooooooo sad!

A German Shepherd needs a lot of exercise and so may not be appropriate for your situation - that's if you change your mind and decide to get another puppy after all.

I was reading about canine nutrition on the net yesterday morning to find out whether my doggy needs Vitamin E as my tomcat does to stay healthy - he lives on the local lightly smoked tuna and salmon and the plentiful unsaturated fatty acids in the fish make E supplements necessary.

I saw a piece that said that <span style="font-weight: bold">chlorophyll supplements</span> can deodorise a dog - its breath, its smell and its doodoo. So you might like to give this a try and see if it helps to make the offender a bit less offensive.

When I lose a dog I'm usually in a rush to replace it, but I can understand where you're coming from too. May Midnight enjoy life in Doggy Heaven, amen! He may even meet my Bowser and Boneses there!

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

Rufus has flunked out of no less than four training schools, and two personal trainers have given up and walked away from the dog.

He's part Boxer, part Pit Bull, and part Rhodesian Ridgeback - so he comes by his 100% stubbornness genetically honestly.

He was very poorly bred: born with no right eye, deaf in his right ear, and severely learning disabled. Rufus knows his name, and he's housebroken - but he can't apparently learn anything else. He's only housebroken because I had to beat him into learning to fear my reaction to pooping or peeing inside my house more than anything else. As a result, he, if anything, cries to go out far more often than normal dogs, even though two out of three times he asks to go out, he does nothing, once outdoors, except crying to come back inside again.

I dislike that dog more than any animal I've ever met. I didn't want him when our former vet forced him on us. I told my husband that I'd never like the dog... and I never have. I have hated Rufus every moment since my Midnight died, even though I know it's not Rufus' fault that Midnight got old and passed away. I just hate Rufus because he's <span style="font-style: italic">NOT</span> Midnight. Rufus is alive, while my beloved Puppa is dead, and I'm stuck with Rufus in my house... and, with my luck, the dog will never die. Every day, I tell Rufus that he's not my dog, and that he lives here by my good graces - which are failing rapidly. The vet stuck us with Rufus because she couldn't find him a home and was about to put him down, so she begged Mr Witchy to take the dog. He took it. Against my wishes.

And now I can't even enjoy another dog, because Rufus is too much of a handful for me to handle... so I haven't got much left to give to another dog. So I'm unable to even properly consider getting a dog of my own again. Have I mentioned how much I hate Rufus?


<span style="font-weight: bold">After I had to jail Rufus because he was running about tearing up the house, and I couldn't stop him. i just told him he's in jail because he's obstreperous. Who could possibly love that? No one!</span>





<span style="font-weight: bold">This is Rufus and Midnight with me in my front garden, a few years back... 2009 IIRC.</span>

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

I'm going to be honest with you Witchy. I feel sorry for Rufus. Every dog is not suited for the house. How old is he? Maybe you should try to find someone with a big piece of property who would not mind taking him on.

I do understand because I had one dog who I just could not bond with, Mon Ami. I really tried to like him, but we were mismatched. After 3 LONG years, he began happily living on a farm way out in the country chasing ducks lol, jumping in the lake, and what not. His new name is Barney. <span style="font-style: italic">Yeah, I did a few drive-bys from a distance for the first couple of months to see if I thought they were treating him right. </span>

[mountaingal]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

what tulip said.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

I have successfully placed a few dogs that didn't suit life here. But no one wants Rufus! Believe me, I've tried!

He is half-blind (no right eye), half deaf (no hearing in his right ear), and... well, stupid. he is seriously learning disabled. No one can train him.

He's bonded with Mr Witchy. Heck, he likes me too. I just can't like him.

[Nanook]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WitchyOoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm being pushed to get another dog. People keep reminding me that it's almost a year, now, since I lost Midnight, and that it's high time I get myself another dog, now.

I don't want another dog! I don't even want hubby's dog, Rufus, with whom I'm stuck. I want my own dog, Midnight, back again!

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #FF0000">I can't stand Rufus, and I do as little as humanely possible for him.</span>.</span> He's truly a POX..

<span style="font-weight: bold">This is SAD, try to put yourself in Rufus's shoes, he needs love just like the rest of us. I believe he is acting out because he doesn't know how else to get your attention. In his mind ANY attention is better than none.</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #990000">being a Boxer/Pit Bull/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. I let the animal out as necessary duing the day. I won't walk him; I can't; he's stubborn and disobedient. (well he is known to be severely learning-disabled) This may not be Rufus' fault... but I can't control him - so he spends a lot of his time in his crate (a large crate more than ample-sized for him).</span>

</span>

check this website...
<span style="font-weight: bold">There are some things you can do to help correct this. There is a gentle leader headstall type of device that works wonders for dogs like Rufus. Do check it out, or have Mr. Witchy try it.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #990000"> Rufus slobbers too much; it's disgusting. He stinks (b.o. and bad breath). He is a short-haired, almost bald thing, and he sheds like crazy. He makes paw prints on my 9-ft ceilings all the time, by jumping from floor to couch to ceiling and back again, repeatedly. He eats ANYTHING AT ALL - including solid oak furniture legs from antique 19th-century furniture, and poisonous things.</span>
</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">The slobbering is something that cannot be helped or trained. This is just the way he is.

Bad breath and body odor are signs of infection. He lacks a POSITIVE reinforcement and he does not know YOU are supposed to be ALPHA. I suggest you check out Ceaser Milan (the Dog Whisperer), here is his show on Nat Geo. Check him out, you can learn a lot from viewing a few episodes...</span>

Cesar Milan, Dog Whisperer on Natgeo

<span style="color: #990000"><span style="font-weight: bold">
My vet has suggested that a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois is the right dog for me and my disabilities and my protective needs.
A neighbor down the street has a black Malinois, and there are several German Shepherd owners hereabouts, and I've spoken to them all.</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">I STRONGLY suggest you do NOT bring another dog into this atmosphere. It will be severely affected by the goings on with Rufus.</span>

<span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">I'm just not interested in another dog; I want my own Puppa back! Not a day gos by that I don't speak to Puppa (Midnight) on my living room mantle (his ashes). And I still cry daily, because, of course, I don't get the warm fuzzy feeling from the dog's cremains that I got from the dog' live, warm, and loving body.</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">I understand this more than you know. But, it is the circle of life. Think about the positive, Witchy. You will be reunited with Midnight in due time, when the creator deems it is the right time. You cannot hurry this process and must be patient. I have a slew waiting for me at the bridge as well, and I will never ever, get over losing Bucko and a few others, so yes I do understand...</span>

For me, there is no dog other than Midnight!

<span style="color: #990000"><span style="font-weight: bold">What'm I gonna do???</span></span> </div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">If Rufus is as bad off as you say, and not placeable in a home where he can be loved and trained (I doubt this, however, the right trainer could save him)...then I do have a suggestion which I know will not be popular, but....if he is truly as bad as you say, he is also truly MISERABLE. To place him would be to pass on the problems to an unsuspecting new prospective owner. Even a rescue would not place a dog that acts in the manner you say is Rufus. Train him, or put him down, please. Free him from the pain he is suffering, because, Witchy, Rufus is in GREAT PAIN. Emotionally, and possibly physically, which would make him act out. </span>

[mountaingal]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If Rufus is as bad off as you say, and not placeable in a home where he can be loved and trained (I doubt this, however, the right trainer could save him)...then I do have a suggestion which I know will not be popular, but....if he is truly as bad as you say, he is also truly MISERABLE. To place him would be to pass on the problems to an unsuspecting new prospective owner. Even a rescue would not place a dog that acts in the manner you say is Rufus. Train him, or put him down, please. Free him from the pain he is suffering, because, Witchy, Rufus is in GREAT PAIN. Emotionally, and possibly physically, which would make him act out. [/b] </div></div>

what nanook said. ((Nan))

the idea of imprisoning him in a cage sounds so awful.

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

Witchy, there is no greater reason to not get another dog than not wanting one.

I adopted Madame Butterfly at 9 months old. I am looking to adopt a playmate for her and think a miniature pinscher is our best choice for compatibility although I am open to any type similarly sized that works.

The reason I mentioned my &quot;adoption&quot; plans is because a great number of the dogs available have special needs, some even COMPLETELY blind/deaf or heartworm positive. That's why they are there, but they do get adopted so Rufus can be loved.

I am not open to getting a dog with special needs, but that doesn't mean nobody is. My suggestion about seeing if someone else could take him on really does not have a thing to do with whether he could be trained. Trained for what? That's sort of the point of it all, let him roam free.

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">If Rufus is as bad off as you say, and not placeable in a home where he can be loved and trained (I doubt this, however, the right trainer could save him)...then I do have a suggestion which I know will not be popular, but....if he is truly as bad as you say, he is also truly MISERABLE. To place him would be to pass on the problems to an unsuspecting new prospective owner. Even a rescue would not place a dog that acts in the manner you say is Rufus. Train him, or put him down, please. Free him from the pain he is suffering, because, Witchy, Rufus is in GREAT PAIN. Emotionally, and possibly physically, which would make him act out. </span> </div></div>

Nanook, I missed your post until just now.

I gave the put down some thought before I first posted, but I actually don't see what he's doing that's all that bad.

He does not walk well on a leash, slobbers, jumps on the furniture, sheds, and chews things. His physical disabilities are being deaf in one ear and blind in one eye but they knew that when they got him. When I look at him, I'm not repulsed so he certainly isn't the ugliest dog ever.

The fact that he didn't bite her when she was beating him indicates he's not aggressive. He never really had a chance because she hated him and didn't want him from the get go.

I think getting him to a yard with no ceilings big enough to jump around in and hopefully some other dogs to play with is what needs to happen. He may be mourning the loss of Midnight as well.

I just can't believe no one will take him in. Witchy, I know you have done your best, but maybe if you just stick to the facts when trying to place him and don't let the vitriol out, you might have better luck.

Or better yet, make the vet find him a home. He's the one who guilted you both into this situation in the first place. Fling some guilt and responsibility in that direction.

So to answer your original question about what to do about being pressured into getting another dog, my answer is just say no.

[MsPeaches]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?


Of course then, Mr Witchy may be the problem: what does HE think?
He's probably not the one who has to deal with Rufus so much. But you need to have a talk with him and make him know Rufus is driving you crazy and you just can't do it anymore and that it's making you depressed.

It sounds to me as though somebody abused Rufus before you got him. If both the right ear and the right eye are damaged and he's also retarded, maybe it's as a result of having been struck with a blunt object early in life. Even an accident chasing a car might cause this sort of damage.

In any case, I think you need to talk to your husband and come to a decision about whether to 'farm him out' or mercifully put him down. But you DO have to do something humane and best of luck deciding what it is. I feel sad for both of you.

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

MsPeaches, you give good level-headed advice. She does need to discuss this with Mr. Witchy. Hopefully, they can come to an agreement.

However Witchy, I want you to keep in mind that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

I think some of you may be confused: My current vet is NOT the vet who suckered us into taking Rufus. We do not use that first vet any more because she is not practicing veterinary medicine right now. My current vet is a former K9 trainer, cop, who went back to school for veterinary medicine as a second career.

BTW, my current vet <span style="font-style: italic">CAN</span> control Rufus. And without even raising his voice. he thinks that when I get annoyed at the dog, my voice in anger gets shrillier, and that the dog does not mind a shrilly voice. I can leave Rufus at the vet hospital all day (from 9am - about 6pm), and Rufus will mind Dr R for basics. (come, sit, down, take it eeeeaaaaazzzzzzyyyyyyy (take a bone cookie from the vet's lips gently), etc.)

But a day later, the damn dog acts up and misbehaves again.

Also, to correct some misunderstanding - Rufus isn't always in his crate; he's only in his crate when I can't devote all of my attention to him to make sure he isn't chewing the furniture up, or busting it up with jumping play. So if I'm out, he's crated. If I'm sleeping at night, he's crated. If I'm busy doing household tasks that require a lot of attention, he's crated. Otherwise, he's either out on his overhead trolley, or indoors with me. If I lie down for a short nap in the mid-afternoon, usually I'll bring him u into th bedroom with me, and close the door, forcing him to stay in the room with me... and he'll jump up on the bed and lie down next to me for a nap. Until he tries to push me right off of the bed. Or until he chases one of the cats who jumps up on me, landing with full claws out, on me.

We know that Rufus was abused before the female vet took him from the original owner. We know that he acted like he'd been beaten. The only time I've ever seriously beaten the dog was the one time (shortly after Midnight died) Rufus snarled at me when I tried to move a wet slobbery rawhide bone off of my sofa - and he snapped at me. He has Pit Bull jaws. I struck with lightening speed, and I didn't let him back up until he clearly knew who was the boss (ME). And I used only my bare hands - no weapon. He's never snarled at me - much less snapped at me - since. No dog lives here if I can't take a bone away from him/her without risking my hand or arm!


Mr Witchy won't get rid of Rufus. Neither will Mr Witchy work with Rufus to try to train him.Mr Witchy does not understand that he's putting me in an impossible situation with this dog. Rufus is too big to be disobedient to me. Some day he's gonna do something that I can't stop him from doing, and there's gonna be trouble! What if he ever snarls - or, God forbid, bites - somebody?!

He has no infections; he's had recent check-ups... and he had some dental work done (doggie equivalent of root canal work) a few months back. he just has b.o. My vet says it's within normal, and that some dogs smell stronger than others... Rufus stinks, but Midnight didn't. (or, didn't usually)

Ironically, it's me Rufus will run to when he's scared. If, for example, there's a thunderstorm (he's terrified by thunder), and both Mr Witchy and I are home... Rufus will run to me first, before Mr Witchy. On the bed, he must sleep or lie right between Mr Witchy and me. Given his druthers, the dog will choose to lie on top of my legs, not Mr Witchy's legs. but when I'm angry at him, the dog will hightail it straight to Mr Witchy. WHY can't this unwanted dog just leave me alone?! Why must he always run to me, lie on me, slobber on me... And why must he always look at ME when he knows he's in trouble???

[Tulip]

Re: Replacement dog for my beloved Midnight?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WitchyOoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...WHY can't this unwanted dog just leave me alone?!...</div></div>

God bless! Witchy, you're going to have to get him up out of there. You say he obeys your current vet so put that vet on the placement case. He obviously isn't that retarded after all.

I always suspected Mr. Witchy was not going to be down with the idea, but it really needs to be done.

If I had confusion about your beating him, it's because you said you beat him while housebreaking and went into this long thing about how he asks to go out more than needed because of your methods.

In the end, all of that is neither here nor there. Perhaps you can ask your current vet to help find &quot;unwanted&quot; Rufus a home.