| Crysser | 07-08-2012 06:36 PM |
Hello everybody!
Hi, I'm a first-time poster here, so I'd just like to introduce myself and my yorkie :P I have seven years experience as a Veterinary Hospital Assistant, as well as a lifetime of living with dogs. My first two as a child (Reba and Tova) were both yellow Labradors, and my last dog (Remo) was a Labrador/Newfoundland/Husky/Wolf (the result of the neighbour's dog jumping the fence while Tova was in heat- Mom was planning to breed her to another Labrador but Kola sort of beat us to it). Sadly last year I had to make the decision to have Remo euthanized after 15 years of love and companionship. I admit that I am partial to larger dogs, having grown up with them, but back while Remo was still with me, another dog came into my life.
Joe came to us from the grapevine- he had been purchased by a couple with the idea of breeding him to their Chihuahua (FYI I am against the whole "designer dog" scam) but the Chihuahua apparently had complications with the birth and they were told she could die next time. So, Joe was given to the guy's mother, who took care of him although she never really wanted or asked for a dog. My mom heard about him through family and decided to take him in, possibly knowing that Remo might not be around much longer, and voila! He appeared in our home one day, and he's been with us for over two years now.
Joe was a bit difficult when we first got him- he would snap if his paws were handled or his face or ears were touched- but by staying calm and being patient with him, it wasn’t long before he settled down and became a member of the family. He’s a great little dog- always ready to play chase or fetch his toys, go for a walk, or hop up on the couch for a quick cuddle. He’s well-mannered around other dogs he encounters on his walks, and is friendly with most people he meets. Of course, he’s always ready to sound the alarm if anyone comes to the door, particularly in the early morning when the newspaper arrives. To be sure, he’s not show-quality (his ears don’t stand up, his coat is quite thick, and he’s probably 9-10 pounds) but that doesn’t matter- he’s cute enough that I get stopped on walks by people wanting to make a fuss over him :P | 