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Age: 3 Years Sex: Female Weight: 26-50 lbs
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Leave a bone for Ruby
Nicknames:
Ruby Ruby Roo
Doggie Dynamics:
| | | | | | | | | Energy | | | | | | Intelligence | | | | | | Friendliness | | | | | | Playfulness | | | | | | Disposition | | | |
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Quick Bio:
Likes:
Belly-scritches and nap-time
Pet-Peeves:
Loud noises, visitors, SQUIRRELS.
Favorite Toy:
Stuffed purple Chomby and Sailor Pluto, mommy's pet rats... (but she gets angry when I want to play with them!)
Favorite Food:
Homemade peanutbutter dog cookies.
Favorite Walk:
Around and around the house, sniffing everything repeatedly, in case something changed in my last circuit.
Best Tricks:
Hi-five! ... and dancey-dancey, of course.
Arrival Story:
Ruby was playing chicken with cars on a busy highway, accompanied by "Goldie", an older dog. Goldie was wearing a collar with tags, Ruby was not. Her only identification was a "slide" collar, too tight on her neck, and too crusted with filth to slide off. Ruby was extremely shy and fearsome of people, and her future mommy spent a good hour laying on the ground, tempting her close with kibbles.
The next day, Goldie's owners were called, and when friends asked if they could hoist the older dog into the back of their pickup truck, the owners said, I quote: "Nah, he can walk". When one of them asked if they had seen a little black puppy, our good friends rightly said "NO", the Bad Owners responded that "it probably got hit" and drove off. Our good friends called us to tell the news: we were the proud owners of a new puppy!
Ruby came to us dehydrated, with worms and behavioral problems, and didn't even know how to play with stuffed toys!
Now she is a rambunctious, happy little girl, loving and athletic, and very smart! One day, we hope to teach her to go for jogs, and maybe one day, run agility!
Bio:
The breed identification for Ruby is VERY, VERY vague. She is fluffier than a flat-coated retriever, but her face is blunter than a border collie. The energy and "herding instinct" is there for a BC, and she will go to the ends of the earth for her ball, like a retriever. She is 5 months old, and already weighs 44lbs. of pure muscle, so she will be a BIG GIRL when she grows up!
Since there are plenty of hunters in the area, its not too implausible that she is partially a retriever breed.
Hopefully she'll show more of a breed favour when she's older!
Forums Motto:
"Time for Dancey Dancey!"
I've Been On Dogster Since:
| April 29th 2009 |
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More than 3 years! |
Rosette, Star and Special Gift History
Dogster Id:
985647
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April 30th 2009 10:55 am
[ Leave A Comment ]
So, recently, Mom's been kind of upset about the responses she got for this question and wants to clear the air!
I'll turn things over to her... I just got a new smokey ham bone and am far too busy with this gnawsome treat:
Alright, folks! Since its obvious my question wasn't worded very well, I'd really like to explain some things!
... first, let me reiterate, I have NEVER shouted at, or YELLED at my puppy! (Ruby's note: Yes, you did, mom. You raised your voice at me that time I tried to take a nip of that delectable rat when he escaped from his cage... *ahem* Moving on...)
I think "yelling" and "speaking in a stern voice" are two absolutely different things, and I would never raise my voice threateningly at a puppy that was obviously abused!
Also, I am kind of appalled that it was suggested that I feed Ruby people-food to gain her "trust"... I do not believe in trading my girl's health for her love. :(
... and furthermore, she is already VERY trusting of my boyfriend and I!
The incidents I mentioned were isolated... the rest of the time, she is underfoot, laying beside my desk, following me back and forth while I do chores around the house. She is stuck to my side from the time I get up in the morning, until she is relegated to her own bed at night.
This is a puppy that completely adores us, she just has occasional moments when she forgets who I am, and barks.
This was never an issue of trust... this mutt gallops over to me if I so much as look at her, dances around to get my attention, rolls over, and grins like a fool until I scratch her tummy to her liking. She's learned several tricks, and heels politely on the leash, which I contribute directly to understanding and asserting my role as pack Alpha.
I do watch The Dog Whisperer, you know! ;)
As far as I'm concerned, she's come miles in the very short time she's been with us. She's not a "perfect puppy", but I am patient and understanding of where she came from.
The unprovoked barking is a very small behavioral problem, one which manifested itself in the last week, one that I have never encountered before, and, so far, the only one I was unsure how to fix.
Please don't assume that I'm an uninformed, abusive idiot, just because I'm new to Dogster! :)
I fix "problem rats" that are considered "unfixable", and do wildlife rehab. I've been around a behavioral problem or two in my time!
(And by the way, I asked a professional trainer, and she suggested that since I had recently coloured my hair, Ruby may have picked up on the slight shift of colour and smell, and reacted as she would to a stranger.
Go figure!)
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See all diary entries for Ruby
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The Dog Show: Who's Your Mama?
9
