Pound Puppy Pending, Lots of questions

[LisaCass]

Hello! First let me say that I am thoroughly enjoying this site. It seems a friendly, helpful place.

Recently I got to know a stray Rottie-mix who I fed and cared for while looking for her owner. Obviously someone's baby, she had perfectly clean and sparkling teeth, a gorgeous coat, and appeared well-fed. She had no collar, but she had that loved look.

I have Jack Russell Terriers, and I adore them. I was nearly prepared to have this girl as one of my own when she disappeared from my outdoor kennel. The whole neighborhood knew I had her, so I am hoping her owner took her. (No way could she have gotten out alone) Since I wasn't sure, I started combing shelters. I saw many Rotties, yesterday, at a high-kill shelter, there was a litter of little ones, about 5-6 weeks old. They look pure but are believed to be mixed. Since they have a huge amount of puppies right now, not all will be saved. My neighbor has been looking for a puppy, so she placed one on hold. Before I could think about it, I had put a hold on one as well. These two just seemed so attached to eachother, and she was tempted to take both. Remembering the sweet little mush that shared a brief time with me, I looked into the eyes of this litte boy and couldn't bear to leave him to fates.

So on with my questions. My JRs are very well- socialized, one is obedience trained and one is in the process. They were thoroughly researched and came from a great breeder who temperment tested them. They are playful and loving but not hyper. They take a great deal of time and an experienced dog person, which I believe my husband and myself to be. They are great with my two children, or maybe I should say my children are raised to be good with dogs. I tolerate no nonsense from the human kids or the furkids.

My main question is, how do these sweeties do with smaller dogs? Both of mine are altered, the male is fairly mellow, and the baby at the pound is the most mellow of the litter. He, of course, will come home neutered. However, he is very young, and I worry about him being without a mother to socialize him. I have some books to read on this, one by the Monks of New Skete. I know that this is not desirable, but can it be overcome? Having had smaller dogs, I have worries. The shelter does offer free obedience clases for shelter "alumni" and we could start these when he is fully immunized. We also have a local obedience club.

I have a 6 foor privacy fence, and my dogs are inside animals, as would be the new pup. The current dogs are crate-trained, housebroken, and have wellness plans. My husband and I work staggered shifts, and I work 2 blocks from home, so 4-6 hours would be the maximum alone time. Also, my neighbor would care for him during the day most days as she is a stay at home mom and will be adopting his litter mate.

I think I have covered my situation. I am hungry for feedback.

Remaining questions would be: What food to feed. I have fed Pro-Plan, Flint River, and Solid Gold with the SG supplements. I also do a modified BARF for one of my dogs, the other, believe it or not, doesn't like it. Flint River was never here on time. I like Solid Gold, myself, though my husband swears they prefer Pro-Plan.

2) What is the definitive Crate size? I have read Large, Extra Large...I will be using dividers.
Which is preferable to a Rottie, open (wire) or closed (Vari-kennel style)? My dogs have the closed variety, but then they are bred to go under ground, and they also sleep under the covers!

3) Favorite toys?

4) Any special concerns?

Thanks so much in advance. This forum is great!

:D

[pandora's daddy]

LisaCass,
Congrats on your new addition. For a crate I would recommend the closed type, we use the gray plastic type that you an use for airplane transport. As for food, that is really up to you and your pup. For our girls, we fed them large breed puppy foor until about 4 months. At 4 months we mixed 1/2 puppy and 1/2 adult until 6 months, and then it was adult only. It is important to get them off the puppy food early enough, because it can cause them to grow too fast which can lead to waeker bone structure. As far as a specific brand that is up to you, you will see in the nutrition section that there are good and bad experiences with pretty much every food available. A good estimate for weight during the first 6 months is about 10 pounds per month. For yous, don't even bother with the soft, plush toys, they last about 3 minutes. Tennis balls are good as long as your throw them out once the start to get nasty. Nylabones and hard rubber toye work the best. We also have some giant balls (10 inch diameter) these are nice because they can't quite bite them to puncture. Other than that you can get creative: wrappingpaper rolls, blocks of ice, etc. My final recommendation is training as soon as he has all his final shots. But based on your post, I have no doubt that you'll be doing this.

[Barbara Surplus]

LisaCass, welcome to the forum! I have to say that well adjusted dogs are generally size-blind. As long as the proper leadership exists in the home, and you take the time to train and socialize your Rottie, I don't see why the size of the dog should be a problem. As you'll be bringing home a puppy, you have the added advantage of raising the dog well (i.e. no poor parenting skills applied previously to mess up the dog :( ) and allowing it to blossom in your home.

Our old neighbours had a pomeranian, then decided to bring home a Rottie puppy. The pom remained the alpha dog in that home even after that little Rottie grew up and wasn't so little any more.

Good luck!
Barbara

[RottiMomCT]

WOW LIsaCass - if only ALL people did their homework BEFORE bringing home the 'little ones'..

As for the size of the friends the rottie has...my Ben (85lbs) has a pug playmate (Buzz is about 10-12 lbs I think) and Buzz clearly runs the show! Ben has no trouble taking corrections from Buzz!

As for the food..whatever the dog seems to like and does well on is probably your best bet. I've told people to feed what they can afford and whatever the dogs stays healthy on. Feeding a high quality kibble will result in feeding less food and in the end (no pun intended here!) less poop. Yes, the good stuff costs more but you'll feed less so the end result is about the same $$-wise.

Get the little guy out there and have him meet as many people as possible and socialize the heck out of him. Training is a must, possibly for his whole life, as Rotties (and I suspect JRT's as well) can be real pains if not mentally and physically exercised each day.

Good luck - keep us posted on the little one and congrats on the 'new addition'!

[AngelBunny]

LisaCass:

I tip my hat to you for taking such care. The sad, awful fact of the matter is that people such as yourself are in the minority--as you so heartbreakingly saw in the number of Rotties in that shelter, most of whom are going to be put down: Too many--way too many of them--and not nearly enough people such as yourself.

There's no reason your new addition can't get along very nicely w/ JRTs--whare are, after all, big dogs in little dog's bodies.

I know someone whose *Chihuahua* keeps the male Rottie in line.

[LisaCass]

:)
Thanks so much for all the replies. Yes, Jacks need a firm hand and a solid owner, to be sure! The require LOTS of socialization and training, so I aloready know what's what!

I had suspected that size wasn't an issue, but wanted to be sure. I visited my Rottie friends for a half hour yesterday...just sat in the kennel and "talked" to all the dogs. One of the shelter workers tells me that they suspect the two puppies (turns out the other two were from a diferent litter found the same week) may well be purebred. They said sometimes BYBs don't realize that Rotties can have VERY large litters and will dump or surrender the leftovers, saying they were "accidents" and of mixed blood. These little ones have undocked tails, but otherwise they look like any rottie puppies I have ever seen...like sweet little teddy bears with angel faces! The female has the deep rust marking, while the male's are a shade or two lighter...more of a dark golden.

I am SO excited! I figured the plastic kennels would be best...that's what my Jack Babies prefer!

I asked animal control if I couldbring a sack of toys for their shelter pups...they said no becasue they clog the gutters. It was sad :(

There was a large male yesterday in the stray section. Though I have heard otherwise, the shelter manage told me they keep all adoptable dogs until they are adopted. Apparently the rescue organizations have made the difference! But can you imagine weeks and months in the shelter without toys???? I can't get over it.

I am so excited. He won't be ready until Friday or Saturday. In the meantime I am visiting since they won't even let me bring in a shirt with my scent!

On the upside, my sister is adopting a little terrier from there, if she's still there. (she livesin a condo and can only have dogs under 20 lbs.) I have my class writing letters of thanks to the shelter and rescue workers...maybe by the time they are my age the shelters will be empty. We can hope.

Thanks again...this forum is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!:)

Lisa

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

Originally posted by LisaCass
:)

I have my class writing letters of thanks to the shelter and rescue workers...maybe by the time they are my age the shelters will be empty. We can hope.

Lisa

That is so neat (children writing thank you letters to the shelter). I love that idea! Good for you!!!!!

And congratulations on your new pup! I hope we'll see a picture here soon! :D