I don't know what's going on. Joyce finally tracked him down and he said he's going to call me tonight. What's wrong with calling me right now? Or yesterday? Or the day before?
He said the puppy is afraid of everything. I know that's absolute bunk because he was, like I said, the most confident puppy in the litter. He wasn't the least bit afraid to ride in the car, go to a parking lot to meet the guy and his girlfriend, be held by her and then him and to be put on the ground to pee. I'm going to tell him I want the puppy back.
Introducing...."Chinook"
Sounds to me like there is a lot of noise, loudness and yelling in his household....and THAT would make a puppy or anyone scared of a new situation.
Definately take the puppy back. Tell him you want to have your vet check him out, Good heavens. This just doesn't sound right.
Still liking that little girl.
Debbie
I'm with you. I'd get that puppy back asap - there's something fishy going on here. If I had just adopted the puppy from you, I'd return any calls you gave me right away. The fact that anyone had to track him down is ridiculous.
Maybe for the next prospective owner, a contract is a good idea. Just things like "the owner agrees to return the puppy only to you if he ever has to give him up; he agrees to spay/neuter the puppy at a certain age". Sometimes that weeds out the people who really aren't serious about being a good owner.
Let us know what happens!!
Good suggestion, Debbie. I'm sure I can find a good home for him. He's a very pretty puppy. He's the tan one with the white around his nose and the black mask. If I was going to keep any of the puppies myself, he's the one I wanted to keep because he's going to be a beautiful dog.
The little girl is still here. Being very good about being the only puppy up in the "puppy room." She's so sleek and shiny, she's going to be very pretty as a grown dog too.
Well, phooey. I knew I was probably being overly optimistic.
I made a couple of people answer a list of questions I downloaded from a cat adoption site when I was looking for a home for Eliot-kitten (before Blake-bigkitty decided Eliot could stay). It definitely let folks know I was serious about sending him only to a good home, with somebody who realized cats came with responsibilities... and given that we'd dropped a bit of money at the vet's by then on shots and testing on this "free" kitten we were offering, I figured we had every right to be choosy from that standpoint too, not to mention that I wasn't about to let him go to just anybody!
Yes - smart move, Jill - the adoption forms rescues use are perfect...I hadn't thought about that.
Diane - I'm so sorry about this! I can't say enough that I don't see any un-do "fear" with Makwa - not in "normal" every day "stuff" - to include Chloe's outbursts - and 2 large dogs around him plus the chaos that is the norm for our household. Only thing that has spooked him was when he was in the back yard with me while I was watering (shower setting on nozzle) and I jokingly sprayed him and Chloe for a second. He did run toward the stairs then but that's been it. God bless him - he's actually what I would consider brave given his age and size.
I'm not an adoption agency and I'm not doing adoption forms or contracts. I shouldn't have to in order to get a good home for a nice puppy.
I'll be astounded if the idiot calls me tonight. I have a hunch the only reason why he answered his phone when Joyce called was because he didn't recognize her phone number. That's okay, I know where to track him down and anyone who ever dealt with me when I was a reporter will tell you it doesn't do any good to try to hide from me. Especially when I'm ticked off.
To me, asking questions when I didn't know the person made sense... things like like Do you rent? Are pets allowed in your building? Is anybody allergic? What would you do about an unexpected vet bill? give a sense of whether or not the cat/dog can expect to have a long-term, stable home with that person. I agree, it doesn't seem like anything of the sort should be necessary to get a good home for a nice puppy, but... well.
Go get 'em, Hart!
I do ask questions and have asked them of everyone who has asked for a puppy. Except Chantell of course. I'm not stupid enough to just hand over a puppy to someone without bothering to find out if it will be in a good home. I'm really not an idiot and I feel like you must think I am one to even suggest the above. I think it would be silly for me to ask someone to fill out a form. If you want to do that, I respect your decision. My decision is not to do that.
This guy and his girlfriend gave all the right answers and asked all the right questions themselves, so obviously that does absolutely nothing to prevent something like this from happening.
Diane - Jill's not saying or implying you're an idiot, my friend....we all know you better then that. I think the thought was that one of those forms could serve as a guideline for folks that needed a "starting" place to ask questions (if they'd not been in a position to find homes for pets previously). There are many intelligent "every day" people out there that might not know the "right" questions to ask. I wouldn't think they were an idiot. I don't think I'm an idiot yet I was thrilled to use my previous office mgr's resume as a guideline in re-doing mine - it was helpful to get some "ideas" and wording from. Please don't be upset - we'll pray an appropriate resolution to this. If these aren't the right folks to have that baby then he'll be back with you until a "right" home is found for him. You gotta believe that. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help...but please, please don't let yourself get sick over this. Hugs.
Sorry, obviously I'm upset about this and overreacting all over the place. It's not helping that I seem to be the only person unable to get this guy on the phone. I really hate getting the only info I have third hand. For all I know, all that's going on is the guy doesn't know what to do because the puppy cries at night.
So sorry if I offended you. I just know that sometimes it helps to rule out the irresponsible ones if you require a signature - it can help make people feel accountable.
Of course, in the end, nothing is a guarantee and you have to trust that what they tell you is true.
I'm sorry you're going through this. It must be terribly worrisome. I'm just happy that he called you so you knew there was something going on.
I'm not offended, Katie. It's just not something I would do.
He hasn't called me. That's what has me so concerned. I've called him numerous times and left messages at least three times. I have never directly talked to him since he called the other night and left a message with my SO.
Do you know where he works, Diane? And/or does the GF still work at the pizza place - I think that's what I remember you saying...could be wrong but I'd track her down if I couldn't get a response from him. It's just sense less that he's not responding - I can certainly see how that sends up red flags...I know it would for me. Please just don't think the worse - as you said it could be as simple as what you said - the pup's crying at night & they're clueless. I'm so sorry you're having to worry about this - I wish folks would have some sense when it comes to animals - but sadly not everyone does.
He finally called. The puppy is fine. He's worried because he hides under the sofa and the coffee table. He's not even crying at night. I told him some things to do to make the puppy less fearful but it sounds to me like it's just doing what puppies like to do - get under things.
I told him I would be glad to come over and get the puppy tomorrow. He wants to try for a couple more days. Sounds like it's the new owner and not the puppy who's nervous.
He hadn't called back because his work transferred him to another store and he's been getting off work late and was worried about calling after 10 pm. I told him to feel free to call any time, even late.
He sounds like he's doing all the right things with the puppy, is just freaking out about it getting under the sofa.
*whew* Maybe a new tug-toy or something would be a useful lure to get the pup to come back out from under the sofa?
Hart, I'm sorry my post hit your wrong... Goodness, I never thought for a moment you hadn't handled things right! I mentioned some of the questions from the form I used because, honestly, I didn't have a clue what I should even be asking until I started looking around some of the pet adoption sites... and I thought their questions made sense. For me, it seemed easier to have somebody I didn't know fill out a form than to "grill" them in a verbal interview... and I wanted to make sure I'd covered all the bases, wasn't sure I could manage to keep track of everything I meant to find out during a more casual chat. Also, one guy who was interested in Eliot was so quiet/shy that the form gave us a good starting point... once he filled it out, he felt a lot more comfortable asking *me* questions since he'd just given me a bunch of answers. Diff'rent strokes.
Critter, I'm sorry. Don't mind me. I was freaking out all day about this puppy, imagining every possible horrible puppy fate imaginable. It's ridiculous that I've gotten so attached to these little rascals.
I'm very comfortable with grilling people. That's what I did for a living. LOL I have pretty well honed skills in reading people face to face or even over the phone hearing their voice and I'd rather depend on that than a piece of paper. Besides, I'd feel silly.
Among the things I suggested is that he use the crate he has but isn't using. That will give the puppy a place to feel safe without having to hide under the sofa.
I just brought the other puppy down for a while and guess what she did first thing? Wiggle under the sofa. Then she came out and wiggled under the ottoman. She wasn't scared, just hiding. Puppies like to get under things.
By the way, he wasn't wanting to swap puppies, he thought if he had two puppies it would keep this one from hiding. I told him that's not a real great reason for getting a second dog. If he's still nervous after a couple of days, I'll take the puppy back and suggest he start with a much older puppy or grown dog.
The crate is a great idea. Like you said, it sounds like the owner is just nervous about his new buddy & wants to make sure he's OK. That means the pup is in a good place, I think... and I'll bet they'll both adjust after a couple more days. *fingers crossed!*
I'll bet the crate will make a big difference. Yes, I think he's really concerned about the puppy too and wants to do what's right for him. That made me feel a LOT better about the whole situation.
If the puppy isn't crying at night, he's probably not scared and he said he hasn't done that at all.
Whew! I've been following along and so happy that you were finally able to talk to this guy :) How frustrating though that it took so long and all that time you're stressed and worried :( Hopefully he'll realize soon that puppies pick the strangest places to "hide". Phoebe's favorite place to sleep when she was a pup was under the bed - now that she's too big and can't fit, she chooses to sleep under a table by the bed - almost like she wants something "over" her? Same thing outside, always crawling under a shrub or god forbid, under the car :( We're trying to discourage that - makes a nervous ninny out of me! Hopefully the new owner will soon realize the pup's odd habits are nothing to worry about and you can rest assured that he's in a good home :)
so glad the puppy is OK, and that you finally got some (good) answers, hart.
Addy's crate is in the kitchen under a counter-height table. She may well like that she has that table over her, who knew? The Other family members were waffling about the crate at night concept, so her first night was in DDs bedroom. One puppy poop on her floor in the AM resolved that!
sorry about my whole swap out the puppy, wacky notion! ^_^
I remember ages ago when we got our family dog, her crate-equivalent was a bed area in the laundry room. Her first week home as a puppy, we put a hot water bottle and a loud-ticking clock in with her, meant to simulate the heat & heartbeat of mom-dog. I have no idea if it made her feel any better, but it made us feel a little better! She cried a little the first night, and I remember coming sooo close to breaking every rule and smuggling upstairs to my bed, but after that she was fine. After her puppy days, she slept at the foot of the stairs. :-)
(Our cats sleep in our bed. LOL)
Oh...goodness...I feel so much better hearing that new, Diane!!! So funny what the rest of us recognize as "normal" causes this poor guy to stress. Better that he be over protective of the pup then apathetic. Bless his heart!! Sounds like you gave him wonderful advice and he's probably breathing a sigh of relief as well!! Crates are our (and pups) friends...esp. when they're young!
I didn't crate train Java because I didn't know then what a good thing it is. I did crate train Jello. It's so much better for them. We had Java in a large carrier until she was old enough to sleep with us. It would have been so much better to crate train her.
Jello still tries to get under the ottoman. You'd know how funny that was if you saw all 60-plus lbs of Jello trying to squeeze in the 5 inch space under the ottoman. She actually got part of herself under there a couple of weeks ago and got stuck. I had to lift the ottoman so she could get out.
Wrightie, dogs' natural habitat is a den so they like to have a "den." Sally, I saw a kitchen on tv one time where the family had space for the dog, not a crate, just an open space where you would normally have a cabinet or shelves, in the kitchen island. It gave him a safe place to go and still be with the family. I thought that was so cute and really sensible.
And Sally, you couldn't have possible come up with any horrors I hadn't already come up with myself.
I suggested he give him a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, if he can find one these days, and a puppy sized fuzzy stuffed animal in his crate. It gives them the equivalent of a puppy to snuggle with. That's what I did with the runt when I had to separate her from the other puppies after she spent the first night up howling, whining and barking. After the next night, the hot water bottle wasn't needed but she still snuggles every night with her stuffed mouse that's bigger than her. It will go with her to her new home.
Ok....we NEED a pic of that baby with her mousie!!!
Okay. I should be able to get one. Big mousie, little puppy. Java had a ducky that served the same purpose when she was a baby. I have a picture of that somewhere around here. I'll see if I can find it. The duck was about twice her size but she loved that duck.
Hart: How is Roomba?
She's doing okay. Growing and she's actually not quite as bony and all ribs as she was and is a lot stronger. She's eating real well.
She stopped the getting lost in corners and barking at the wall business but still bumps into things from time to time. The past couple of days she sort of spins on her axis - spins around at top speed with her back legs at the center of the circle. It's hard to explain - she's not running in a circle, she's spinning. I don't know if this is something from the neurological stuff or if she just enjoys it because she can go as fast as she wants without bonking things with her head.
I've actually read something about spinning to help kids with certain developmental problems. Its weird but cool to think that spinnign, like when you wind up a swing and let go, does something good for your(kids) nervous system.
Hi, Sally! =)
Been skimming these posts a bit. Glad that the new owner finally surfaced.
RE: Post #5279801, Hart, I think that you have me mixed up with someone else. There is no bigger supporter of crate training than me. A crate is a safe place for a puppy/adult dog and I certainly do hope that this guy has learned that lesson by now. There is plenty of literature available on puppy raising available, if he needs it.
Wrightie, I must have been skim reading. I meant to aim the comment about dens at Sally to explain why they like to be under tables and so forth. If I keep this up, soon the rest of you will be as confused as I am. 8>} Anyway, I certainly wasn't try to imply that anyone is against crate training.
That's really interesting about the spinning, Sally. You should see this teensy little dog in the middle of the floor whirling around like crazy.
Chloe trying to get "her' blankie back (note: Chloe thinks ALL blankets in house are her's0
Love taking pics of sleeping babies - humans and animals
another
Chloe, Wolfie and Makwa - yes she likes rubbing their ears
This message was edited Jul 19, 2008 12:23 PM
Amber, Chloe, and Makwa
This is a tired boy after running around for an hour
So tired....all tuckered out and happily heading for dream land in his bed in his crate.
Look how he's grown! Chantell, these photos are all so adorable. He looks like he's fallen into puppy heaven.
He just a sweetie Diane....so, so smart...and I'm not just saying that. I've had some sweet but dumb dogs in my life time...LOL. Ya'll might not believe this but he just about know's "sit"...I kid you not. Seriously smart pup!!! Just got up from his nap...he was REALLY tired!!