In search of the new unicorn

[Larksmom]

As some of you know, last week I had to put darling Trooper to sleep, due to his deteriorating condition. I have not been without a dog for over twenty years. I am a dog person, but more a cat person, and because I once had a dog that killed two cats, I am super sensitive to any aggression in a dog. It took over a year to find Trooper, so I figured it would take a long time. Welllll… I dipped my toe into petfinders and I have found 3-4 possibles!

Australian Shepherd / Australian Cattle Dog

Age: Adult

Sex: Male

Sam is a good one, and needs a true hero. He may have Aussie, Red cattle dog and or Collie in him. Looking for a playful, people pleasing, loving boy? Sam may be the one! Sam loves his walks, he stays right by your side. He knows basic manner sit and off. He is not a runner he is trusted to be out with us while doing chores stays with you and has great recall. Sam also loves car/pick-up rides. He is good with dogs, and cats. Best with kids over 8 yrs or so; be a great best friend for a teen! Sam is 5 yrs old, about 51lbs and housebroke. Sam would make a excellance outside dog, work companion as he rides along with you for farm work and make a great work companion. He a good one who will bond with fast to be your BFF! Recent update see the special needs. Sam has been diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus not the insulin kind. He drinks and urniate a lot. With that said he is not doing so inside a house. Sam can live for years. Do you have a doggie door this is what Sam needs or looking for the right outside dog home for him. We just need to know you take good care to make his life comfortable i.e. good shelter and plenty of clean water, plus be part of the family. He is such a good looking, loving dog so let us know if you would like to meet him. We have more photos of Sam just ask. All our animals are spayed or neutered, heart-worm tested, micro-chipped, current with required shots and preventatives. Questions or interested contact us at Petslive03@gmail.com and we will respond in a timely manner.

What says the hive mind? I have a call in to my vet. I am supposed to go look at him Sunday. He is about 100 miles away. They also have a lab/mastiff mix that I saw after I had expressed interest in Sam. He looks a bit quieter. I am a little concerned about the medical expenses with Sam. I have been mostly free of vet expenses with most of my dogs, but as Toffee aged, she was in for a lot of work, and I had a lot of expense with Trooper. I do NOT begrudge the vets their money, but I am afraid of getting into something I simply cannot afford.
Beside these two, there is another one, (one hundred miles in the opposite direction!) that might work.
What do you guys think?

[McGurk]

Tough one.

Sounds like a great dog, and the photo is adorable. But I worry what managing his diabetes actually is like. How much time do you spend outdoors during the day, and do you have a dog door?

If you have to leave the dog indoors, will picking up his water beforehand be enough to manage the problem?

And what’s the likely progression on the diabetes in terms of management and vet costs?

My recommendation is to ask a lot of detailed questions before going to see him, and making sure you’re ok with the answers. Because if I drove someplace to see that dog, and he looked at me like that photo, let alone rested a paw on me, I’d be toast.

[Bonnie2]

I would not take diagnosis of diabetes from that interestingly worded description as gospel. Ask to have the medical records sent to your vet for evaluation. I might ask what makes him such a good “outside” dog. Peeing? Energy? Too hot in the house? He sounds sweet and I love his face but you just have to meet him and interact with him. Good luck!

[Larksmom]

I talked to my vet, and she said the really give the medical record The side bar said the medicine was between $400-4000, but it didn’t say a week, a month, a year? I am also I will see him and turn into a puddle of goo. They have another promising one out there, so maybe I can see both?
I will step up my questioning of the kind woman I spoke to.
and btw, I have a doggy door so he can freely go in and out.

[luvmyhackney]

Reading the ad and knowing phrasing the rescue I foster with uses:

Ask if he has separation anxiety and if he has any herding tendencies?

Also energy level, heelers can be intense.

You can always ask to long term foster and then if the meds get to be too much the rescue can help pay or get discounted treatments.

He’s super cute and I hope it works out!

[Larksmom]

I am going t see him tomorrow. I am taking the money, and hoping for the best. She says she has had him for 5 months and he doesn’t need it as long as he has access to water and outside to pee.

[BUSY]

@Larksmom
And you have researched Canine Diabetes Insipidus ? Understand the symptoms and progression and treatment ? Vet visits and cost ?
Recognize this is a high energy dog - requiring much exercise ? Outside activities and routine - a “job” ? …who ‘drinks and urinates a lot’ .
Sounds like Sam would make a great dog for a ‘farm life’ situation with close monitoring of his medical needs and consistent vet attention and medical intervention.

Granted Sam is a nice looking dog and his personality shines through in the pic - but perhaps keep looking for a lower energy/ exercise type dog that is healthy …

[Larksmom]

she said he doesn’t need any medicine. I want to see him. If he is unsuitable, I can take him back although I am bad about returning things, that is true.

[luvmyhackney]

Assuming your going today based on timeline, hope it all works out for you.

[Larksmom]

well, I have him home. Bug greeted us at the gate with a fat tail. He is remarkably calm. Since he is so calm, Bug was very interested. And as a side note, I have a detached garage and Bug was locked in it for about 36 hours or so. I thought to check this morning. He came scootin’ out about 100 miles an hour. So he was in a very good mood. Sam and I walked around the yard, and Bug walked behind us. Bug likes dogs when he gets to know them. Dickens saw us at the back door and slunk away. So far, we walked the yard, and have walked around the house. very calm.
What Dede has told me, they first got him 2 years ago and he had no medical problems. They sent him to a nice home, but two years later, with no explanation, they gave him away. The person they gave him to contacted the rescue and they took him back. That is when the diabetes was discovered. She has had him for 5 months and he is fine. But her doggie door is only in her garage, so he stays out most of the time.

I took the second one at the transfer site. I had my sunglasses on and couldn’t see so of course I took a crappy picture.
Bug is kind of impressed. We will have to see about Dickens and Puddin’ who will never come around. But so far, so good.

[rubygirl1968]

Congratulations! I hope everything goes well and he settles right in.

Handsome guy!

[Larksmom]

well so far, so good. He was very subdued when he got here, and he looked so sad. He is hardly drinking any water at all, therefore hardly peeing at all either. I will call the vet tomorrow if things don’t change. He has been great with the cats, but I went to movie club tonight and I didn’t want to leave him alone with them, so I took him with me and left him in the car. He was great. When we got home, he frisked around the yard and peed. He seems happier today than yesterday. Hopefully he will get happier as days go by.

[Larksmom]

an update> He is still doing well, but he sticks to me like glue. Sam will use the doggy door coming into the house, but will NOT use it to go out! After he saw the possum on the first night, he eagerly looks to find another. Makes me a little uneasy. He is quite vigorously searching for it. I wouldn’t care, but once he gets that taste in his mouth, I will worry a bit about the cats.

[ThreeWishes]

Sam looks like a very good boy. Please keep updating his progress!

[rubygirl1968]

What will you have to do, keep him crated when you’re not there?

I’ve thought about getting a dog for a long time but I’ve always had cats and probably always will and I’m quite nervous about something happening with a dog.

I hope that isn’t the case with Sam.

Sounds like he’s settling in well though. I’m sure he’ll get used to the dog door soon.

[Larksmom]

so far he is great with the cats, but he is glued to me like a limpet. I am a bit worried about leaving him. I have a good sized crate, but he has shown no inclination to get in it. It might be a bit too small. So far he is exceeding expectations.

[Larksmom]

here is a picture taken today. It is difficult to get a good shot of his body because he always wants to be close, and then he wants to look up at me. This is Good Sam

[

[rubygirl1968]

He’s so cute

[FjordBCRF]

@Larksmom

but he is glued to me like a limpet.

Velcro dog is the term I use!

I have a Mini Aussie that was rescued as an 8 week old puppy. SEVERE separation anxiety. She came into a one dog home and when my older dog passed, I didn’t want to get another right away or at all. She went nuts being left by herself so that accelerated getting another dog.

If you’re not already, I’d recommend taking some time out of the house and see how he is by himself. If you don’t leave the house much, the separation may be harder for him when you do.

[Larksmom]

OK, I left him alone for about a half hour. when I got back he had taken a plate off the table next to the comfy chair. So probably nothing serious about that. But it got me thinking about how much to feed him. He supposedly weighs 51 lbs. I particularly like mid sized dogs, so he seems ideal. My last two dogs, Toffee and Trooper, weighed aboout 65 and 40ish each. When I fed them, I split a 14 oz can of dog food in the morning, and a scoop of dry in the evening. they both maintained their weight at that. After I lost Toffee, I kept that up with Trooper. So I am going on the assumption that will work with Sam. He is the least food motivated dog I have ever seen. If I feed him his half a can of dog food, he will only eat when I am standing there. He will eventually finish it off, but is he getting enough food. Does that sound right to you guys?