Foster-dog Competition!

Okay, we have a dilemma at our house. It seems that the current economic downturn has affected us, but in a more positive way than my neighbor. Due to the death of her husband and caring for her invalid mother, my neighbor--who is a very wonderful and giving individual--has been unable to obtain regular work. With the passing of her mother in June, she began looking in earnest for a job. Now, this is a well-educated woman with 2 master's degrees and who has been a director at a youth shelter for pregnant girls. She cares deeply for others and never complains about her current situation. I used to see her up at 6AM out walking the dog so she could go to the Workforce Center to look for a job. She did this daily for months until she had exhausted her unemployment benefits, and had racked up over 100 applications and interviews. She finally succumbed to depression and a sense of worthlessness caused by being unable to find work. She couldn't even find a job a Walmart or McDonalds because she was "over qualified".

Well, the bottom line is that she was evicted from the apartment next door to me this week and is now homeless and living on the streets. My heart is broken, I cannot think of anything so horrible. When she left, she timidly asked me to take care of her little dog so she wouldn't have to lose him too. She initially was planning to take him to the Humane Society, but I don't think another loss was something she could bear. I, of course, agreed to foster Austen until she gets back on her feet and can come reclaim him. He is a Malti-Poo (sorry for the spelling) and adorable. He is about 1 year old.

So, to the story of this post. He and Satchmo are trying to make friends, he is trying more than Satch, but Satch is an old man and rather grumpy. Anyway, we now are a two dog household and I'm not sure how my little man will adapt. I have to say that Austen is delightful. He is quiet, he is gentle, he minds well, and he is sort of housebroken. He seems to be settling in well. The only thing I see is he is also an escape artist and I seem to be having to chase him down and bring him back home frequently. I am working on this as we speak.

I will let you know how this turns out, please pray for my neighbor. She is now one of those statistics we hear about on the nightly news. Now when I hear about the economy, those stories have a face. I am sad and angry and I miss my friend next door.

DRatschats

Here is a wonderful excerpt from a new blog I just found.  This lady is really a special person.  She loves rat terriers, so I know she is a good person.  But she also rescues them and that makes her very special.  Please check out her blog and learn all about her and her babies.

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TRIXIE: THE BEGINNING
I did not set out with the intention of being an animal rescuer, I just kind of stumbled into it. On April Fool’s day, 1998, a friend’s Rat Terrier had puppies and since I had been planning to get a dog to replace my Scottie, she offered one of the puppies to me. It wasn’t long after bringing this little whirlwind into my home that I realized what a wonderful breed the Rat Terrier is.

By the time Scooter was a year old, I was looking to add a second Ratty to my family. My friend offered me a puppy from her upcoming litter, one that would be related to Scooter. I was excited about this pending addition to the family, dreaming of the puppy breath, tiny paws, little licks, big puddles, chewed shoes and wakeful nights. The ten weeks of waiting before my puppy would be available seemed like an eternity.

I’ve always been a dog lover and with my introduction to the Internet in the mid 90's, I found myself often cruising shelter and rescue web sites, looking at dogs that were rescued and dogs in need of rescue. As I wandered through these sites one night, I found the cutest pair of Rat Terriers in a shelter right in my own state. They had been in the shelter for several weeks, having come in together but remained unadopted due to the preference to place them together. Many people wanted one cute, active little dog but it seems no one was interested in taking on two at a time.

For a week I returned to the site, looking at the two little Rat girls, hoping someone would have adopted them but they were always there, the smaller with her tongue lolled out, ears back, bouncing toward the photographer. They were in a low-kill shelter and not at immediate risk, but I began to worry about them>>read more here

DRatschats

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I was out walking Satchmo the other day and I realized, kind of "all of a sudden", that my little man was looking old. I noticed all the grey hair on his face, muzzle, and head. I noticed that is walk was less energetic and sometimes looked painful. I realized that he has quit jumping up on the bed or onto most of the furniture; I have been lifting him up when I want him to sit with me.

I found this realization most distressing. Although I know from his last vet exam that he is very healthy and all of his lab work was normal, time is passing and aging takes it's toll no matter what. This has depressed me. Now I have something brand new to worry about.

This breed is relatively long-lived, living between 11 and 15 years on average. Satch is 9 going on 10. I guess I will have to face this fact and begin planning for the future. I know that I will do whatever I have to do to make him comfortable and to accommodate his needs. He is my "baby" and will be no matter how grey or infirm he becomes.

Rat Terrier: Dog Breeds, Info and Pictures

I keep finding really good sites that describe these wonderful little dogs.  I wholeheartedly recommend this breed for anyone looking to have a loyal, loving, enjoyable companion.  There are some negatives to this breed, but overall, they are the best!  If you ever bond with a Rattie, you will never want any other type of dog.

Anyway, below is an excerpt from CanineCrib.com that I hope you will visit and read the excellent information they have available about this breed as well as many other dog breeds.

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Country: United States
Size: Toy 4-6lb, 8in - Min 6-8lb, 8-14in - Stan 12-35lb, 36-56in
Temperament: Alert
Grooming: Little
Recognition: UKC, CKC, NKC, UKCI, ACR, APRI

History - The Rat Terrier, popular in the 1800’s with the English miners was used to kill the rats found in the mine shafts and the shacks where the miners slept. The miners bet on which dog would kill the most rodents, and also used them in dog-fighting. These game were a popular pastime for the English miners.Once known as “feists” for their feisty nature, the dogs were a cross between several breeds: the Smooth Fox Terrier, The Manchester Terrier and the white English Terrier, long since extinct. Over time, they were also paired up with the whippet, and the greyhound to induce great speed and stamina. The beagle was introduced in the line to sharpen hunting skills.Teddy Roosevelt hunted with his Rat Terriers earning them the distinction of being called Teddy Roosevelt Terriers. But as time passed they were simply known again as Rat Terriers.There are two types of Rat Terriers- a short-legged Rat Terrier believed to have been crossed with either Corgis or Dachshunds. The short-legged terrier was the one favored by Teddy Roosevelt.Over time, they were also paired up with the whippet or the greyhound to induce great speed and stamina, and the beagle was also introduced in the line to sharpen the hunting skills. This gave way to the long- legged Rat Terrier capable of great speed and stamina. These Rat Terriers are used by hunting and sporting enthusiasts.Appearance - The Rat Terrier has a thick, short-haired shiny coat. They are suitable for trailing and exposing game birds and hunting jackrabbits or squirrels. Their Heads are braod and ears a V-shaped. The ration of length to height is 10:9 with short legged dogs disqualifying in the show ring. They are good-natured, active and intelligent dogs with a nose for scenting and speed and grace for the chase.Description - The Rat Terrier seems always alert and are a very active breed, think of the the Jack Russell Terrie and multiply him by 2! When not hunting however, the Rat Terrier is a great companion, getting alone with children, other dogs and even cats. The breed was defined and accredited in 1995 with a breed standard being written and faithfully maintained by conscientious breeders today.
Color - Variety of Colors
Life Expectancy - 11-14 years
Other Names - American Rat TerrierRat Terrier
 Reviews
Grooming (90%)
 Exercise (90%)
Feeding (90%)
 Temperament (100%)
Watchdog (100%)

Rat Terrier: Dog Breeds, Info and Pictures

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Helping Rat Terrier puppies at a shelter

Here is an article from a blog written by a very nice person.  He makes his home available for puppies that would ordinarily have to live in cages at a shelter while awaiting their "forever home".  He socializes them, feeds and fattens them if they need it, and gives them a loving home to explore (or tear apart) which helps to build good self esteem for the adoptable pups.  Rat Terriers are very much people dogs and these puppies certainly found their "angel" the day he took them home.

Be sure to check out his blog.  He has many stories about puppies he has helped in their journey to their new homes.  This is an amazing fellow!


THE LONG WALK  

The rat terriers have been fattened up, slightly house-broken, and held for hours on end by myself and my friends, all in the name of creating a happy (albeit slightly spoiled) pet. Granted, the moment you put them down they immediately spotted the (a) shiny gum wrapper (b) interesting piece of gravel (c) random bit of trash on the ground, and rushed over to attack and ingest the foreign object. So our constant attention was vital for their survival. And it was also important for the survival of my shoes, a few of which will never be the same.Now I must bid them farewell.I brought the back to the shelter, it was time to move on. When we got out of the car they were very quiet, and stiff.Dogs know.

This has a happy ending of course: both pups had a long list of eager parents ready to snatch them up. Normally I don't know any details about where the dogs go, but this time I found out some details. Sister, whose real name is now Gracie, was adopted by a nice husband and wife who charter day trips on yachts. She zooms around the deck like she owns the place, and she jumped headfirst into the water and learned how to swim. Nancy Boy, whose real name I don't know, was adopted by a nice gay guy who will presumably continue to coddle him and keep his paws from getting dirty, which he hates. It's a perfect match for them both, I'd say.It's tough sending them out on their own.

How was your day, Dan?

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Satchmo's daily routine

I don't know about any other pet owner, but I feel as if I spend an inordinate amount of my time with my dog--walking him, talking to him, feeding him, rewarding him, petting him, etc.
I was thinking about this as I was rushing home from running errands because I just knew he needed to go outside and I didn't want him to have an accident or to be too uncomfortable.

Here's a normal day for Satchmo:

Get up early and go outside...
about 30 minutes later, go outside for a walk so I can do my "business"
then come inside for my breakfast prepared for me by my loving mom.
Now that my stomach is full, I think a nap is called for!

2 hours later, stare at my mom until she stops whatever she is doing and we go outside
where I sniff and sniff, maybe pee a bit here and there and then lay down in the hot grass to sun while my mom stands by with the sun beaming on her head.

2 hours later, and after a lovely nap, I repeat the above, only this time I keep moving along until I manage to "steal" a pretty good walk without her noticing.

Now I eat a lovely snack prepared for me by my mom and then take a really long nap. Here is where I try to get her to let me get in her lap so I can be comfortable and keep her from being able to do anything else. Oh Heaven!

Now awake, it's outside again to rest in the sunshine and maybe pee a bit here and there.

Here, I usually try to eat some of that dry stuff left out for me, but it is hard to chew and it hurts my teeth, so I only eat part of it and leave the pieces laying all over the carpet in the living room.

Goody, it's now dinner time. Here I get to practice my "prairie dog squat" to be able to see what is for dinner and to let my mom know that I am still here.

After getting pieces of Mom's meal, I am ready to go for another walk. This time I try to keep us out as long as I can, so since Mom is so interested in whether or not I poop, I hold it until she shows signs of giving up on me.

Back home, it's nap time. This time, I scratch and push the pillows on the couch until I make a small fortress in the corner. Here is where I hide myself away and dream sweet dreams for a few hours.

Uh-oh! Mom's yawning and getting up from watching TV. Time for me to go outside before bed. This time, I try to lengthen our outside time, but she drags me in the house. Oh, well.

Now, me and Mom get into bed. I like to take the spot in the exact middle of the bed and scratch and scratch until it feels just right. I don't know why Mom always pushes me out of the spot onto the cold sheets, but I finally give up arguing with her and lie down for the night. I am content because I know that tomorrow is another day and all of this will begin all over! Oh Joy!

One of the strangest facts about Ratties!

Ratties, or Rat Terriers, are wonderful dogs. They are loving, friendly, and want to please you. That being said, they do have some odd characteristics as a breed and each animal may have its own variation of that characteristic.

As a breed, Ratties are extremely healthy and exuberant! They do not have the bone, joint, heart, or eye problems that seem to plague other breeds. They also are fairly long-lived, with average life span running about 15 years.

On the down side, this breed is prone to allergies--some can become life-threatening. They are exceptionally sensitive to chemicals, perfumes, medications, and insect bites.

My little man is definitely a Rattie in this respect. For him to get his normal shots, I have to first get him treated with Benadryl and steriod injections to prevent his allergy to the medications from killing him.

I first discovered this trait when I tried to put flea medicine on Satchmo as a very young dog. I followed all the vet's instructions for applying the medication down the back of his neck so he could not lick it. Within a minute, Satchmo was running into walls and overall looking like a drunk sailor. He began to breathe really strangely, so I grabbed him up and both of us got into the shower--me fully dressed. I scrubbed and scrubbed him with Ivory soap until his breathing returned to normal.

I am standing in the tub dripping wet holding my dog, who minutes before could hardly breathe, and Satchmo looks up at me like "What happened?". In seconds, he was himself and demanding to be let down so he could run all over the house dripping wet to rub against every section of carpet and every piece of upholstered furniture he could find. He was no worse for wear--I, on the other hand, was a basket case.

To find out more about Rat Terriers and how to take care of them, please follow this link.


Rat Terrier Information