rescued

20 months ago a dumpling of a puppy appeared on my FB feed.

After our old dog Milly passed away, I had sworn we were not replacing her. We had been a 2-dog family for years, overlapping our dogs, but after the beagle left, I thought we only had room in our lives for 1 dog. Sif, also a rescue is my son’s shepherd cross. He is a  fantastic dog, smart, loves people, easy to manage, if not a bit neurotic with issues lol.

He was absolutely miserable. Really missed his pack mate, and so after 9 months of holding staunch to my decision, a FB post from the local rescue centre, dented my resolve

8 mastiff/lab cross puppies all needing a home. They were chubby, stocky, smooshing faces and just adorable. They say god makes babies and puppies cute, so we are innately drawn to care for them. There was one in particular, who’s puppy dog eyes just touched me. So against my better judgement I filled in the online application form and once approved, an appointment was made to view them. I knew before we left home, that the deal was sealed, lol. The 2 adult children currently living with me are dog mad, and once we had seen these cuties in the flesh, I knew I would not be hard hearted enough to leave without a new pupper

We were the first to view, so had the choice of any of the 8. OMG! Such an overload of smooshy puppies. Luckily we were only limited to1, or else we would’ve left with 2 each lol. and although they were all cute and immediately adoptable, I kept going back to the one who had caught my eye, so he was the one we brought home.

And so Titus joined our pack

The poor thing was absolutely terrified on the way home, and once home would not leave the security of my lap. I’ve never had a pup this anxious before. Everything scared him. The old dog did his best to engage, and after a bit there was some typical puppy behaviour. But from day 1 this gorgeous boy has been scared of everything. His first venture out the front door, and up the drive took days of cajoling and encouragement. He wouldn’t go out the front door; then wouldn’t go down the steps. Once we mastered that, it took time to get him to the end of the drive.

Any banging sounds would see him scurry off to his safe spot under the table. He didn’t like loud noises. Didn’t like visitors. Barked at faces on the TV. Once we got him to puppy school he hid behind our legs and didn’t want to interact with the other pups. I’ve never had a puppy like this. It was all a steep learning curve for both of us. He was a very big puppy. So his behaviour seemed at odds with his build. We’d had a bull mastiff before, so his size was never the issue; but his anxiety was.

But we are a patient household; and we just loved him; cared for him and gave him time. We noticed while we ate at the table, that he would sit in the doorway, scanning the backyard. Ever on alert. Ever watchful. His behaviour around visitors got worse. Would just bark as ferociously as he could, putting himself between us and the visitor. In the end, we took him to a dog behaviouralist. Knowing how big he was going to get, I wanted to get a handle on his behaviour before he was fully grown.

She was great. Explained that his heritage may include breeds that were more protective than laid back. And so we all took on the job of calming Titus’s environment so that he would feel more secure. Learning to put ourselves between him and the visitors, so he knew we were ok with the guests. Am forever grateful for those people who just accepted the barking for what it was and worked with us.

He had started to develop whiskers – not what we were expecting with his pedigree; but I know that rescue dogs are a DNA lottery. Who knows what his real pedigree is. He started to resemble a chubby bearded terrier. Not the smooth coated, smoosh faced dog we were expecting…

When it is just us though, he is just a big old boofhead. He loves to chew plastic bottles and cardboard. Not a very athletic or coordinated dog; he still tries to jump and bounce. Knows full well where the food and treats are; and although never fed off my plate, will turn on the sad puppy eyes at every meal.

In his first winter, he would snuggle up with me, under the blanket, while I did my early morning zoom meetings. He was my recovery dog. He follows me every where around the house. And, apparently, is devastated when I’m away. And, has very annoyingly, started chewing one of my things every time I’m away lol. Adding a layer to my pretravel prep, by having to put cushions, remotes and knitting paraphernalia away before I leave

He is the first dog I have had who actually watches tv. And during that first winter, when my long covid was at its worst, we couched and Tved so much that he recognised the Netflix sound! He watches rugby with me. And is a right pain if there is a dog on the screen, the sound of cats or birds, and apparently doesn’t like the sound of babies crying… He also gets very agitated if there is a certain type of man on the screen. Running up to the TV and barking

It all makes me wonder what went on is his first 6 weeks, before he ended up at the rescue centre. Was it loud? Was there shouting? Was there a large scary man?  What is his exact pedigree? Questions I’ll never have the answer to.

I have never had a dog this devoted to just me. The old beagle was many things, but devoted to me was not one of them. lol ( A Beagle and a Pair of Blue Doc Martins)

He won’t settle on his bed at nighttime, until I’m in bed myself. He still comes to all my morning zooms with me; still lies next to me on the couch when I’m watching tv. Is in the kitchen when I cook and tries to squeeze under my desk when I’m in office. He will often grab my fingers as I walk past. And is completely and utterly overjoyed when I get home – even if I’ve only been away for ½ an hour.

He can be bullish and stubborn, and his stocky size (weighing in at around 40kg now) means he occasionally has the nickname Tonka Truck. But he remains cute, so we forgive him most things.

He’s still not good with strangers, but as he comes up to 2, he is getting better. So fingers crossed this continues to improve.

Over the summer, someone staying with us remarked that I seem to attract the creatures that need the extra care. I quite like that. From humans to cats and dogs, I love that I have a safe space for those who just need a bit more love and understanding. I think every living creature deserves safe spaces. Dogs and neurotic cats (I’ll save that for another blog lol) included. Who knows, if he had gone to a different home, he may well have not been as accepted, and may have been treated harsher. I came across someone in my meetings who takes in the rescues that no one else will take, because of their behaviours, and he gives them a home. And wouldn’t the world be better if we followed that philosophy?

And for me and Titus? He has been my right-hand boy for 20 months now. He has sat with me while I’ve been sick. Snuggled me when the grief of the last few months has been too deep. Has just made me belly laugh with his antics, when I needed a belly laugh more than anything. Has listened with me and participated in my recovery zooms, we have a few regular recovery dogs and cats on our screens. He has tolerated my yelling as we’ve watched rugby together, and has given me the BEST welcome homes a girl could ask,

One wonders really, who rescued who?

Tautoko

Waiho I te toipoto, kaua I te toiroa

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