Thursday, June 23, 2011

Ritter is a Bad Dog!

I usually don't like to be too negative about a foster dog, because no one wants to adopt a dog that is criticized by the foster parent.  But fortunately for me, Ritter has already been adopted!  I'm keeping him for the week because his new family is out of town, but he's going to his new house on Sunday.  And I don't think they are aware of this blog, so it should be safe to tell you all about Ritter. 

Ritter pretended to be a perfect dog when he came to my house.  He was perfect at his last foster home, but he was being picked on by bigger dogs, so he came to my house for his own safety.  At least that's what his last foster mom said.  After keeping him for two weeks, I think maybe he came here for her own safety.  And I already warned her if he gets returned, he's going to have to go back to her house or no one will be safe, most especially him!  I was mostly kidding, but don't tell her that.

It all started off so easily.  He was said to be house-trained, and good with other dogs, perfectly well behaved in the house and very affectionate.  Sounds great, right?  And for three days, he was.  Then the real Ritter appeared.  And I found out none of those things was true.  Except the last, which turned out to be not a good thing at all. 

House-trained?  Not really.  Oh, most of the time he does fine, but it seems he can't pass an empty dog crate without lifting his leg and urinating into the crate.  This may be because he hates the crate and is showing his displeasure, but keep in mind the only time he does this is when he is outside of the crate.  And okay fine, he's only done this twice in two weeks, despite constantly being around dog crates, but it's still really annoying, especially when said crates had a blanket and several dog toys in the line of fire. 

Good with other dogs?  Well, okay, yes.  It's true he's great with other pets, but he's also great at getting them into trouble.  He's found at least three different places to escape the fenced in yard, and then Tulsa just follows him right out into the surrounding fields.  He's a very bad influence, and I'm constantly worried about them getting out and getting hurt.  At least he's finding all the weak spots in the new fence so I can get them sealed up one at a time!  In the meantime, they're bringing in ticks from the fields, which somehow find their way to the couch and the bed and onto me - all in spite of their monthly flea/tick preventative. 

Well behaved in the house?  Sure, if you don't count the computer cord he ate one day while I was at work.  I was so careful after that - I knew he couldn't be trusted.  The cord had the chew-repellent cover on it, but that didn't stop him from chewing it into little pieces.  Fortunately I had a replacement cord.  I kept the computer in another room unless I was using it so he couldn't hurt it.  Then the next night while I was typing away, my computer went dim, and I looked down, and Ritter had crawled under the desk to chew up the other cord.  This was when I officially deemed him a Bad Dog. 

Very affectionate.  In spite of his Bad Dog designation, it's hard to be mad at the little guy when he just wants to be close to you.  And by close to you, I mean right in your face, laying on your chest like he's a cat, close to you.  And the more you push him away, the closer he insists on being, as if by scooting closer he can make you like him more.  This was annoying, but I could live with it.  Until he started hanging out by the rose bush outside, which is currently surrounded by poison ivy.  So now I have poison ivy on my legs and arms, thanks to one very affectionate Bad Dog.  Sunday is not getting here soon enough!

8 comments:

Sheltie Times said...

Hopefully his new parents will find ways to deal with his challenges. I would find those frustrating.

Katy was supposed to be house-broken according to her foster Mom. Not so much, but thankfully she did learn. It wouldn't have changed our minds, but forewarned is well you know the old saying. :)

Anonymous said...

Mom always says that peoples (or other doggies) come into our lives for a reason. I think Ritter came into yours is to make Ziggy look pawsitively angelic in comparison. Heehee!

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

PeeS. Sorry for your itchies.

Stefanie said...

That is the funniest thing I've ever heard! Wow - I think mayzie is right - Ritter is showing you just how wonderful and easy to care for Ziggy really is!

On a positive note - Ritter certainly is an enteraining topic of coversation and a week from Sunday he will be a blissful, distant memory. Maybe.

Unknown said...

Beagle/Doxie!!! That's a deadly combination, smart, hardheaded, chowhound, show off!!! Hopefully his new parents will just be able to channel all that :-)

Kari in Alaska said...

He sounds super smart to me

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com

Cupcake said...

I laughed so hard reading this. Mayzie's Mom is right, dogs come into your life for a reason. Ritter is staying with you so you could write a really great post. Well, he's not boring! Just don't let him teach Ziggy how to chew through the chew-repellent cover. All that and poison ivy too. Wow, between that and the ticks, it sounds like you went camping!

Bev said...

I think Ziggy told him to do those things so he would look good! Ritter is very impressionable at his tender age of 1! teeheehee

Just Jess for now said...

LOL! He sounds like quite the character. I think I would love him and take him home. I hope your poison ivy clears up soon.