This
is a bit of a rant. I got a call the other day from this lady looking
for a puppy. I was tired and she kind of flabergasted me. She asked me
how many dogs I have here. Well there are close to 60 dogs living out
their lives here... let's see... am I breeding all these dogs... one
word answer. NO! I mean seriously... I haven't had puppies here in 2
years or more.
Then she asks ... how do
you bathe all those dogs. I felt like saying I stuffed them in a huge
washing machine and then fluffed them dry. Really... how do you suppose
I groom them... one hairy dog at a time. Somedays... none... somedays
one... some days 4 or 5... somedays more...
What I did say...
is that this is a ranch and they get to be dogs. They (the ones that
like to... not all do) are in and out of wading tubs all the time...
digging in the dirt... rolling in whatever they can get into... barking
at the cats... chickens... mailman... whatever they feel like barking
at... running and playing... they have 7 by 4 ft houses with straw in
them... which they dig in and spread everywhere... they have 8 by 16
kennel runs... that are their main pens... then there are several large
as in around 35 by 100 for one... one is bigger than that... and the
other is a bit smaller... running play pens. That they take turns in...
no I do not run them all together... seriously bad idea... there are
multiple packs... like kids in school.... same thing... their friends
and cliques...
This is their home... and I am not kicking
them out of it... they will leave here when they age out and cross over
the rainbow bridge or I do. Whichever comes first... If I cross over
first it means my work here is done... if they do then their time here
was done...
Frankly she pissed me off. She told me how
wonderful the Pom she had was…. Then proceeded to slam the breeder she
got it from. Whining because it peed on the floor at 12 weeks old in a
brand new environment. I mean really… seriously. Btw… no the dog was
not from me. Saying how horrible it was that the breeder had her puppies
in playpens. Really?! Should they be running all over the house
getting stepped on… saying the puppy was not socialized when she got it.
Ok… so did it bite her… no… did it stiffen in fear and pee and poop
all over itself when she picked it up… no… Is it going to take time and
patience training a puppy in a new environment… YES!
The dogs
that came in here out of rescue were not socialized to anyone but the
lady that had them. These dogs were so fearful it was like catching
coyotes. Wear gloves and be fast… and stay calm… yes they fear bit… yes
they growled and attacked… yes they urinated and defecated all over
themselves and me when I picked them up. That is what an un-socialized
Pom is like.
Poms…just like other dogs… are living
creatures. It takes patience and love to gain their trust… or rather to
earn their trust… It is a major shock for a puppy or dog to be pulled
away from everything it knows and thrust into a new situation… how do
you like it when that happens to you. Get a clue and love that
dog/puppy and be patient and consistent in training.
If you
want some perfect dog that never messes on the floor or barks, or gets
scared (just like you do) … or pees when you yell at it… because it
wants to please you or is so confused and frightened that it doesn’t
know what to do… then get a porcelain figurine of a dog and sit it on
the shelf… and leave the living creatures be… they deserve to be
accepted for what they are… not bullied for what they are not. They are
living creatures… with feelings, personality traits, physical issues,
illnesses, and huge souls… If you want the “perfect” pet… buy a stuffed
toy… and the next time you expect an animal to be perfect… look in the
mirror and judge that creature looking back at you by the same standard!
After over 2 years of not having any puppies... I decided to allow a pair of my Poms to breed. Will I be very selective as to where their puppies go.... hmmmm... in a word. YES!
Posts
