The New Adventures of 11 Legs

I’ve learned a lot about Dan this week.

I’ve learned that no one has ever spent time to train him.
That he isn’t potty trained.
Doesn’t have any manners.
That, despite the shelter telling us his name was “Duke”, he does not answer to it.
He doesn’t know what food is outside of dog kibble.

It seems like he has lead such a sheltered life. No one has really given him the proper care any dog deserves in his entire 4 year old life.

Tears me up inside.

Luckily, he is a quick learner. I taught him how to sit for a treat in two days.
Potty training will take a little more time. I’ve set out dog food kibble in a jar next to the back yard as a reminder to treat him for his potty breaks outside.
He is slowly learning what is edible. He was frightened to death of peanut butter! I think I chased him around the house for ten minutes before I got him to taste it with his tongue.
It took him three days of sniffing the dog biscuits I bought for him to finally determine their delicious flavor. Now he readily sits for them and drools when he sees them.

I guess it makes me feel better knowing that I can already see a little bit of rehabilitation in him. I knew there would be a learning curve to our lifestyle… I guess I had just hoped people wouldn’t treat him so… indifferently.

But I think the best part is seeing him begin to finally bond with the other dogs. I wasn’t too worried, but my male, Mika, is fairly dominant. But I think they have sorted out the pecking order. Of course, Mika is lead… but now that they have established the hierarchy- they’re beginning to play.

It makes my heart grow!

Tory

Last night Jason brought Duke home to me. It was late, a little past 8 o’clock or so, and I admit: I was fairly anxious. I love my dogs, truly, but they aren’t always the most hospitable to newcomers. I must have lucked out though. They seem to be doing just fine, though my Shepherd girl isn’t too thrilled with me.

(she is a bit of a love hogger)

We went to sleep that night trying to keep all the dogs off the bed in an attempt of not displaying favoritism. It didn’t work. Within a half hour Duke struggled and jumping into the bed and crawled into my arms. I laid there, silently crying and holding this poor dog who has had such an awful few years. I love him already.

 

——

 

I like to know what I’m getting myself into…
Upon finding out about Duke, I’ve looked into the breed (Red Tick Coonhound) as well as what owning a Tripod Dog means. I really only had a week to prepare and he is my very first disabled dog.

 

My family and I have active ties to the dog community- disabled and rescue- and we all own several pups. I’ve been fortunate enough to have such supportive family members, as well as the most amazing man in my life, Jason. I don’t know what I would do without him. Duke was 100% his idea.

 

I’m so lucky. And now I get to share some of that luck with Duke.

 

He is asleep right now, on the floor, laying near my lab mix. Mika has been a true champ. He is a very large, very dominant male… but he is a good dog. I know he is just confused about why Duke is in the house cuddling with me, and less about the fact that there is another dog next to him.

 

Saki will take some time to warm up to him, mostly because she is a the jealous type.

 

I started this blog hoping to gain some awareness of what Duke can and cannot do- what are his options? He is missing a hind leg- should we consider prosthetics? Would that even work? How active can he be? I worry about my bigger dogs knocking him over. They have probably 50lbs on him. He seems in relatively good spirits, though. So I guess there is a sense of optimism about him that is contagious.

 

I just want to give him a good life where he can enjoy doing the same doggie things as everyone else.
Thank goodness warm weather is just around the corner.

 

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