Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We live in a rural neighborhood with no leash laws. Totem was attacked by 2 neighbor dogs which are now penned up 24/7. I have recently summoned the courage to walk past that house with Totem on a leash.
I understand that Totem needs to be familiar with other dogs and people--socialized. There is a 1-1/2 mile circle that our house is on that I walk alone every morning. Along that circle there are 7 dogs that roam free. I have made friends with them and though a couple of them bark at me they do not charge at me or frighten me any more.
I have not, however, walked with Totem past the houses with these dogs. Two of the dogs are particularly of concern because they approach barking but do not, as yet, get within 10 feet of me. I walk with a stick. I am fearful of letting Totem encounter these dogs. On the other hand, this is the neighborhood where Totem will live--these are his neighbor dogs. I fear that if one of these dogs barks at Totem he will be frightened...or I will be! I don't know where the balance is between caution and overprotection. I do know that I cannot bear to witness another dog fight or attack, or even see Totem shrink and yelp in fear.
Our closest neighbor just got the cutest ball of fur Australian Shepherd female, 11 weeks old. Totem met her this morning and things went well, but she is smaller than Totem.
Thoughts? and Thanks.
BTW, Totem easily walked 1 mile this morning at the park, exuberantly.
Frst of all, glad Torem had a good bit of a "play date" with a puppy! I vet those two will be good friends!
And YAY for such a great long walk! Good job!!
While I'm sorry those two "bad" dogs are penned up 24/7, I'm also very glad for the safety of Torem and other sogs in the neighborhood.
Others can chime in but I would be leery of taking Totem to the area where seven sogs roam freely. So many things could trigger them and turn them into a group of misbehaving dogs quickly. And Totem being on a leash may make him pit off a scared energy because he would feel restrained . As hard as you would try, I think it would be close to impossible to keep uour energy in a strong, confident state if they approached you and Totem barking. I know I couldn't considering what happened in the past with Totem!!
Okay, just throwing this out there. Is it possible, and I know we are talking money, to fence in a nice yard area for Totem? I understand completely of funds just aren't there. I live in a very rural area too. but even out here , there is a leash law. That's a shame that all that free roaming can cause problems for others. It's really not safe for the dogs either.
So, sorry, not much help. Can only add uet again, how very lucky Totem is to have found you!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks Virginia. Let me clarify. We do have a fence built 2 days before Totem was attacked. He has a large yard all to himself.
The 7 dogs are not near one another. Two are on one corner, 2 on another corner nowhere near the other two. We live on a circle. Two are in the middle of a road between corners. These dogs though unleashed pretty much stick to their territory, each having about 4 acres of property. But they are all on the road and certainly notice me when I walk by. One comes out to greet, friendly as can be and often walks a while with me. So, the likelihood of their forming a pack is almost zero. But, there are 3 pairs of dogs spread out.
I just hate the thought that Totem will not be able to walk the block with me. Maybe months from now when he is more adult than puppy?
Confession...when we moved here we had a 6 year old female dog, Tunia, who we never fenced. She learned quickly what her home turf was and lived leash free at home with no incident for 6 years. Totem, puppy that he is and tripawd, is a whole different story.
Hmm. I hope Ingrid chimes in here, she is a wealth of dog behavior knowledge.
As Sally mentioned, it would be hard to remain calm and confident, I know I would be nervous too. There's nothing like having to walk through a gauntlet of dogs while trying to stay cool and be a pack leader. This may be a dumb question but can you cross the street when you walk past the house with the penned up dogs? What is that like?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Rene...we live on a one lane country road so I can't really cross the street. The attack dogs are in a pen with 10 foot cyclone fence toward the back of that property. They can see us walk by but are not close to the road. Totem does not notice them at all.
I get confused about people's names. Is Virgina Sally? Is Jerry Rene? Is Totem Robyn? lol
Hahaha..yes you're Robyn. Jerry(dog) is Rene (his hooman) and I'm sally from Virginia! . Confusing stuff to keep up with, that's for sure!!
Thanks for painting a picture of your "layout". I can see now that the dogs are not all "grouped" together in a neighborhood "gang"😉😉. And I certainly understand in the past having dogs that didn't have to be fenced in. When I was little and loved on the outskirts of a cery, very, ti y little town, for the most part all pir childhood dogs had no fence. Somehow dogs back then knew their "boundaries" and were road wise (kind of a country road).
Of you had enough of a relationship with these families, maybe you could have them help introduce their dogs to Totem, walking beside you and Totem with their dog on a leash. Of course, then there's the problem of the "others" deciding they want to run out tocheck everybody out and sniff around.
Dunno, this goal may be a challenge to accomplish simply because you have to rely on the behavior of several other dogs off leash. Then again, it may may be that, just like the extra friendly dog, they all will want to join in on the .little walk with you and Totem😎
Okay, Sally from Virginia whose avatar name is Benny55 signing off🤣😂
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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