Rescued beagles experience grass & sunlight for the 1st time

[Steely Dan]

LOL, no, but it is a photo passport...and he may have political asylum. Doesn't matter too much, because he can't reach the pedals. I honestly think he just wanted to be held a bit, which is a relatively new occurance...he loves being held. Won't climb into my lap at home, but will outside sometimes, and thinks it's wonderful to just be hugged on and loved on.

I cleaned his ears tonight, and he did really well with that. Tolerated it, and seemed even a bit happy to get that gunk out...not too partial to full body grooming, but he had some sap on his coat, so I got him brushed down and his ears clean at the same time.

He's a dear one...even when he doesn't like something, he shows no inclination to protest in a mean way. He will give you that reproachful look, but will tolerate it. Unlike Gracie, who, when she's had enough grooming, will pretend to be a worm, and wiggle and squirm and twist away...I am glad he's not learning everything Gracie does. LOL.

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Herding Cats

BBM

Uh-oh, Simon + someone with political asylum to do his dirty work?! :yow:

 

[ScubaTwinn]

HC and SD, you are both cracking me up! Thank you for the laugh I needed and update on Romi.

 

[Herding Cats]

Poor guy...

I gave in and the tree guys came in today. A long, hard day for them, but at least I'm safe (I've been scared some of this deadwood would come down in the rain and wind...). Spent more than I wanted to, but boy, they earned every penny. Here at 8 am, left at 5, and busted fanny the entire time.

But that also meant that Romi and Gracie were inside all day, with a ton of noise, guys climbing on the roof, dropping branches on the roof, yelling, chainsaw, chippers...every noise in the book. Gracie takes all this in stride; very little seems to unnerve her.

Romi, on the other hand, was freaked out. So freaked, in fact, that I came inside to check on him (I was outside working right next to everyone...learned how to use a chainsaw today! Woot!), I couldn't find him.

Turns out he was in his bed...he felt much safer there than anywhere else, I guess, and navigated the hallway and the bedroom to reach his safe spot. I was thrilled for him - took a lot of courage, I think - but I'm also sad that he was so scared that he just wanted to be in his bed. No pee accidents, either, which I am thrilled about.

But, at least for the next few months, the trees are done...and I don't have to worry about things coming down either on the roof or, worse, on them.

Poor pup...I'll get them dinner, and then bring them in, and do a whole lot of snuggling with him and Gracie tonight. Not that snuggling my puppies is difficult...LOL.

Just thought I'd share how brave (and scared) Romi was today...

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[Steely Dan]

Poor little guy. He's still getting used to the world outside of a cage. I don't know, but I'd think stuff like this may unnerve him now, but will make him stronger. He'll get used to the noises of life around him.

 

[Herding Cats]

Steely, it did unnerve him, and yes, that will make him stronger in the end. Each experience he has, even if it scares him but does not bring pain or problems, is a good one because he learns what he's capable of, and able to endure.

I was upset that he went to the bedroom, but only because he was so scared. I was happy, too, that he finds his highest place of security in his bed, which is with me and Gracie (although I wasn't there), because for so long, all he did was stay on the hearth. And I'm proud of him for going down the hallway by himself...I'm sure Gracie was with him, but she didn't carry him, he had to do the walking himself.

Bless that wee boy...what a hard day for him. But dinner time, and lots of snuggles tonight, and he will be just fine.

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[Opie]

Anxiously awaiting the next update. Romi is one tough little doggie and such a sweetie.

 

[MicciStella]

Bump for Romi and herding cats... Hope they all are good....

Blessings Micci

 

[Herding Cats]

Hi, Micci!

Hi, everyone.

I have to say, Opie, you're just totally right about him being a tough dog...he's just a dear. I've been working in the backyard, and today a neighbor's son who I used to hang around with came by, and Romi did his circling and pacing, but then also came over to sniff him, and then settled right down.

Nothing really new to report...still working on the basics, but he's getting more and more comfy with strangers, and has been caught staring out the front window (next to Gracie), and he even slept on the hearth while there was a fire in the fireplace the other night.

Just constantly amazed and astounded by this little guy...he is an example for all of us...when it's too hard, try anyway. KWIM?

And the herd is fine, as well. LOL, thanks so much for asking. He's just so cute and goofy and sweet...

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Herding Cats

 

[Mom who cares]

Herding Cats, you must know by now that many of us wait anxiously for your updates We love your stories, whether it's about Romi, Gracie and the herd, or about your new found yard. Broken toes included. You are an awesome inspirational member here and I thank you for that. I've said this before, your posts make my day!

That being said: I might get spanked by Misser Dan for supporting Simon, but I think Simon might be teaching Romi too, IDK?

 

[Steely Dan]

Herding Cats, you must know by now that many of us wait anxiously for your updates We love your stories, whether it's about Romi, Gracie and the herd, or about your new found yard. Broken toes included. You are an awesome inspirational member here and I thank you for that. I've said this before, your posts make my day!

That being said: I might get spanked by Misser Dan for supporting Simon, but I think Simon might be teaching Romi too, IDK?

 

[MicciStella]

Oh Herding Cats

Thanks for touching base and letting us know how your family bunch is doing....

Just to let you know how happy I am what you do and that I so understand how you feel about your "kids"...

I myself have two rescue beagles ... Not with same background but still out of bad homes.. Both turned into the sweetest loving babies... Yes it is a lot of work and support, but they give so much back...

Your stories make me smile because I see my babies in Romi... Thank you so much for giving him and the unconditional trust and love to be himself again...

And thank you all fellow readers to brighten my days as well...

Blessings from Micci
And woof arrrouhw from Gingy and Bobby....

 

[MicciStella]

Dear Herding Cats and Romis Mom

Bobby and Gingy my beagles are wondering how Romi and his crowd is doing...

We all are thinking of you all and looking forward to hear how you guys prepare for the coming up spring...

Blessings

Micci and her beagle kids

 

[Herding Cats]

Hi, Micci!

Tell Ging and Bobby that Romi is doing really well. We are slowly increasing his "away time" by taking short trips in the car, and working on leash and accepting it in the back and front yards, as well as setting up the barrier in the driveway so that he can have an expanded view of the universe.

Gracie has been doing her best to help him learn about leashes, generally by taking his leash and dragging him along. LOL. It's interesting, but he's almost more willing (although still very reluctant) when Gracie is holding his leash than when I am, and it's terribly funny to watch.

OTOH, when it's time to return to the back yard, Gracie gets dragged along by *him* in his eagerness to return to his home base.

He is walking around the house now just fine, and last night, after I put him and Grace in bed and I was finishing up in the living room, Romi came toolin' back into the living room and laid at my feet until I was done, and then returned to bed with me.

Romi loves to give hugs; he will come up to me, put his fores on my legs (or my shoulders, if I'm sitting), and move his chest into me. He loves having his back scratched at the same time, and will tilt his head waaaaaaaaaaay back to get the full effects of the scratching and stretching. Gracie just watches, wondering just what is the big deal...when she does that, I fall over. LOL.

He is also using his paws to signal to me when he wants some lovin'. He will wave his front at me, and if I don't respond, he will wave it bigger and bigger, and sometimes will switch paws. Like, "hey, this one isn't working; how about the other one?" LOL.

And he has become seriously possessive about bones. ROFL, and I know it's wrong to let any animal be possessive, but I love that he has one thing - only one! - that he is willing to take a stand for. He is not aggressive with me at all; I can take the bone away from him and he won't do a thing (except look at me with sad eyes), but let Grace even begin to think about it, and he growls.

And, he will go and steal Gracie's bone, sometimes literally out from between her paws, if he's decided that he wants it. She lets him, and then goes and gets his former bone, and chews that. This is a regular trade with them, and it's terribly funny to watch. He will circle her, sniff her, circle her, and then, he'll reach in with his paw, pull the bone to him, grab it up (and sometimes they're very big bones...), and take it to his hearth. Gracie will look around, and then go and get the bone he had been chewing...

One evening, after he'd been pacing around a bit, I looked over to see all the bones - a total of 6 - were in a semi circle in front of him. Now, bear in mind some of these bones were well and truly chewed, nothing left whatsoever. But he still made this little half-circle of bones around his paws, and he was watching Gracie, hoping for a moment of distraction so he could go steal the last one from her.

Gracie is a saint. She totally puts up with that, and never tries to take her bone back...she'll just either give it up or follow him over and get his "used" bone. She is not mean at all, not possessive about it at all...and it's almost like she "gets" what he's doing. I wish she'd explain it to me, 'cause I most certainly don't get it. LOL.

The cats and Romi continue to get along wonderfully. He has not upset a single cat, not chased a single cat, and has not tried to fight with any of them. They accept him, and ignore him (as cats will do), and while interested in them, he doesn't do anything which might create an issue. He's just a very submissive dog, except when it comes to bones. LOL.

Anyway, there's the most current update. Gracie is starting to learn a new trick or two, and while we're working on that, Romi is learning "come" = hugs and back scratches. Since he still doesn't take any treat but the bed time treats, and those are only for bedtime, it's occasionally difficult to convince him that a behavior is the wanted one, but he's learning, slowly. He's beginning to come, and to "hug", like I said before, but that's based on encouraging his natural instinct and not introducing new skills, if that makes sense.

So there you go...Romi fixes. LOL. He's a dear one, just a dear one. And he's really making good strides; slow but good.

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Herding Cats

 

[Penelope]

Herding Cats, thank you so much for your most recent update. My female dog loves to hog all the chewies -- she will whine and whine for what seems to be hours (but is actually minutes) until her older brother just gives in and lets her have it. It's almost like a game that they play! I am so glad that Romi has his patient and generous Gracie! (And you, of course!)

 

[Steely Dan]

Herding Cats, thank you so much for your most recent update. My female dog loves to hog all the chewies -- she will whine and whine for what seems to be hours (but is actually minutes) until her older brother just gives in and lets her have it. It's almost like a game that they play! I am so glad that Romi has his patient and generous Gracie! (And you, of course!)

BBM

What a BIT...:nevermind:

 

[Herding Cats]

Herding Cats, thank you so much for your most recent update. My female dog loves to hog all the chewies -- she will whine and whine for what seems to be hours (but is actually minutes) until her older brother just gives in and lets her have it. It's almost like a game that they play! I am so glad that Romi has his patient and generous Gracie! (And you, of course!)

LOL, I don't think Grace "gives in" as much as "gives up". Romi doesn't whine...but he will pace, circling her, until her attention has been distracted, and then he just steals her bone, sometimes literally from her mouth.

No matter how many times this happens, she has never once "fought" over the bone...she'll just give up, and then go get his used one.

I don't know if there are rules that I don't know about in play here, or if Grace is just a mellow, generous dog. LOL.

I will say it's totally hysterical to see Romi "take" Gracie down during play. After he gets fed up with her pulling him around, or standing over him, or rolling him over, he'll go up on his hinds, grabs her ear in his mouth, and then leans back and just pulls until she falls over.

She's learned...fall over fast. Sometimes, she throws herself into the fall, and Romi gets fallen on top of. And then it's a scramble...

But it's terribly funny to watch, and since they seem to not actually hurt each other (I'm sure it hurts, but it doesn't "hurt", you know?), I rarely intervene. It's great to see him playing that hard, and learning how to handle himself. And Gracie is a good, good girl...

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[MicciStella]

Awwwwww ... So sweet and amazing.. You all seem to make quiet progress in everything... I am just picturing all those things Grace and Romi... Just love it...

Here it is usually Gingy stealing the stuff from Bobby... Smile... But by now, after having Gingy an year the often chew happily next to each other on one pillow...

There is jus something about beagles .... Just to fun... Each one so similar but still so different....

All my blessing and thanks to you and sweet herd ...

Micci

 

[Herding Cats]

It is quiet, slow, solid progress...with the one exception of his adjustment to living indoors and outdoors, he's just been making good, slow, serious progress. Sometimes so "slow" that I don't realize it, until I read back and see how far he's come; like the hallway thing.

He used to be too scared to go down the hallway. Now, not only is he going there to bed, if I don't follow fast enough, he comes looking for me (did it again last night...). That's giant...but it was also almost unnoticeable...until last night when he came out again.

It's moments like that when I realize how much progress he's made...

And I have very little experience with beagles, but I love listening to other beagle owners' stories...gives me a bit of a roadmap of how Romi may be at some point.

I do love that little guy...he's precious and dear. And he and Gracie soooo enjoy being with each other too.

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Herding Cats

 

[Herding Cats]

Big, huge step forward for this little guy!!

I went out to the pet food store, and of course I always bring Grace if possible. And have been bringing Romi along for the car ride...but he's always been very anxious in the car, and gets quite upset. So I've not brought him into the store, just left him in the car where he can see the door.

Today, though, the store was empty, Gracie was being a good, good girl; on her best behavior (she often gets a little excited in the toy aisle...not unlike most kids. But today, she was being a good pup...).

So, while she was being good, I left her with the store manager (who is wrapped around her little toe...). I went out, and brought Romi into the store...put him in a shopping cart, and just wheeled him around for a time, Gracie in tow. He didn't pee, poop, try to jump out, watched me fixedly the entire time, but didn't freak out whatsoever.

AND!! He let two people he didn't know pet him without even flinching.

Just a huge move forward for him...it's moments like this, successful risks he takes that continue to bring him confidence, that I just totally love. I am soooo very thrilled with him. He's such a good boy, and tries soooo hard, and works really, really hard to trust me...

Just tickled with his progress. And yes, it was Gracie being there that made me more comfortable about bringing him in...she's his security blanket, you know? His bodyguard. If she doesn't think anything's wrong, he does his best to follow her lead. LOL.

YAY Romi-Bomi!!

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[Mom who cares]

Oh I would have loved to see that! But, I will envision it in my mind and treasure it! Good boy Romi! Good girl Gracie! And hugs to you my friend!