I’m hoping someday to get back to posting something more substantial than my daily tweets, but for now this will have to do.

Shaggy and Collen

Originally uploaded by Ladewig

Haven’t posted any pictures of the dogs for a while. Actually haven’t taken many photos. Poor Shaggy… but isn’t that always the case with a second dog (or child)? So here’s a photo of the boys hanging out.

Today was the first time they were left alone together. I went into work late and came home for lunch a couple hours later. Everything seemed normal. I expect both dogs slept most of the day. We brought up one of Collen’s beds that we had replaced a while back, to give them each a place to lay in the kitchen. Oddly enough Shaggy seems to use Collen’s bed (the one that says “Collen” on it), and Collen has been using the other bed.

They were along again for a longer period of time in the afternoon and all seemed normal when I returned home. Not too long after Kristin arrived home from work, Kim came over with Winnie and Callie, the two miniature dachshunds that Collen lies to hang out with. Needless to say it was crazy with all four dogs checking each other out. When they crossed the street to go home, Shaggy went as far as tie out would let him to follow and whimpered when they were back in their yard.

Feeding is still interesting, but we’ve been taking the dishes up and doing a decent job of keeping them directed to their own dishes. We did have one dust-up this evening. I brought out Shaggy’s tennis ball and when he went to get it, Collen started to bark and when I brought one of his toys in, Shaggy went to check it out and Collen grabbed the tennis ball. Shaggy aimed a low growl at Collen, and when Collen dropped the ball and walked back, he did it again and they went after each other briefly, with me nearly in the middle. Shaggy wound up retreating and whimpering a bit. I’m sure we’ll have some more of that as they sort things out.

You can see more photos online in the Welcome Shaggy album.

First off, Shaggy wasn’t our first choice for a name, but that’s the name he had when he came to the shelter, so who are we to confuse him while he learns a new name?

We’ve been interested in adding another dog to the family for a while. Collen will be nine this year, and we’ve thought that it would be good for him to have a younger companion. Every day I receive an email alert from the Humane Society listing the dogs that are available for adoption and that match my criteria. I saw a cute long-haired dachshund over the weekend, and thought I’d check him out. It took a couple days, but I finally made it there during lunch today, fully expecting him to have already been adopted. But as luck would have it he was still there.

He seemed cute and well-behaved, and his background info provided by his former owner was very positive. Not a single bad mark. This seemed too good to be true, so I asked to see him, and off we went to a “Get Acquainted” room. He came right up to me and sat in my lap and let me rub his belly. He reminded me of Collen, very laid back, so I told them I’d be back with Collen in a few minutes so they could meet.

A short while later Collen and I were directed to an outdoor pen where we waited for Shaggy. The adoption counselor brought him out and after a couple rounds of sniffing each other, they basically ignored each other. As it turns out, ignoring each other is about as good as you can hope for. Since the meet and greet went well, I paid $25 for a24 hour hold, then called Kristin to let her know what I was up to.

After work we both went over and met with Shaggy and the counselor. We agreed that he seemed to be a perfect match for Collen and was too good of a dog to pass up. So we jumped in with both feet, filled out the paperwork, paid the adoption fee, and we were off with our new dog.

When we arrived at home, I went in and let Collen out into the backyard. Kristin followed with Shaggy shortly thereafter and needless to say, Collen was a bit perplexed at this new visitor. Since it was pretty hot and humid here, we didn’t stay outside too long, and once we went inside, the exploration and chase began.

Shaggy sniffed out every nook and cranny of the first floor and Collen was hot on his heels trying to figure out what he was up to. When Shaggy jumped up on Collen’s ottoman, an hour or so of barking began… all of it from Collen. Collen has a full voice and uses it quite a bit when he meets up with other dogs. Shaggy ignored him and continued to explore, and eventually things settled down. Both dogs were pretty exhausted, and besides it was time to make dinner.

Shaggy needs to lose five pounds or so, and from the way he hung around in the kitchen, we think a steady supply of people food in his previous home may have been to blame. He’s going to learn pretty quick that human food very rarely makes its way to the floor or dog dish in our house! Between that change and walks around the neighborhood, we should get him slimmed down. Wish I could say the same for me!

The rest of the evening, the two boys stretched out on the couch and soaked up tummy rubs and attention from both mom and dad. We’ll see how day two goes tomorrow as I work from home so I can keep an eye on the two of them.

I made the final decision to participate late in the day and with it being windy, cold, and dark outside, I turned the lens to my favorite subject… Collen! Not very original, but he was nearby, so you have to suffer through yet another photo of the dog:

Here is the link to my Project 365 Collection at Flickr.

!http://images12.fotki.com/v238/photos/2/247084/914007/IMG_2538-vi.jpg (Collen Waits for Trick or Treaters)!

The next couple days, however, he seemed to be even more focused back there, and was obviously in some distress, so I took him to the vet again today. His glands were fine, but the vet noticed a raw spot on his tail. Apparently when the glands were bothering him, his licking and fussing was directed at the tail as much as his rump, and he wore it raw.

Collen was very unhappy as they shaved his fur around the affected area and applied some medicine. The poor dog was about ready to come out of his skin. As soon as we put him back on the floor, he went right for the spot again, so on went a cone collar. He has to take antibiotics and steroids for a couple weeks, and the doctor says that when the steroids kick in, he should start leaving the spot alone. Until then, though, the cone stays on.

Since he returned home, Collen has alternated between sulking/moping/pouting and bumping into everything. Plus he can’t get to his food or water dishes easily, so I’m feeding him by hand and giving him water from a cup. The things I do for my little baby.

Here’s a peak at Collen and his cone collar. Poor guy looks like he got stuck in a lamp shade.

I took him to our regular vet this morning, and he prescribed some more medication, enough for a couple weeks. He said Collen is doing OK, but he stressed that he has to be resting as much as possible. No stairs, no jumping, no active playing, all the things he wants to do. This kind of injury can take a month or more to heal, so it can be difficult. Especially since we have two steps that lead from our kitchen to our backyard. I have to get a ramp or something in place so he doesn’t have to go up and down anymore.