Many months ago we decided to purchase a Black Tri to complete our family. I wanted another "girlfriend" for Chief. I searched for months and found what I thought was the perfect dog, a puppy about 6 months old from a breeder in MO. I was so excited to get her, by her pictures she looked like a beautiful puppy (and she is) not to mention we are always up for a road trip.
She seemed to travel pretty well although she seemed a little bit skittish but that is completely normal when an animal is riding in a car for hundreds of miles. When we got her home we began to realize that she seemed to have NEVER been socialized at all. When in the house she paced back and forth NONSTOP. I couldn't let her off of her leash for fear that she would run away and no matter how hard I tried I could not house-break her. She was a wreck. After contacting several breeders, vets, rescues and yes even pet psychologists it was determined that she more than likely suffered from something called "kennel crazy". This is a condition, unfortunately, not so uncommon in puppy mills. Basically Star was more than likely kept in a kennel (one of those small holding kennels, not a large open space) her entire life. Provided with food and water but little to no contact with humans.
Needless to say I was very disappointed, but even more than the disapointment I was so sad for her. What she must have been through, what she is currently going through and how in the world to help her.
She quickly warmed up to me............... meaning she wanted to be near me but was still an anxious mess. She would not take treats from my hand, making it even harder to try to train her.
While visiting a friend she escaped from the yard. Long story short she was eventually caught and after a ridiculous high bill at the humane society I had her back. Shortly after this we discovered that she LOVES to be outside. She is a completely different dog when she is outside. She stayed outside with several of the other dogs for a few weeks and almost seemed to be a "normal" dog. Well, she got loose again BUT this time she came running right back to me when I called her.
OK, now its time for some of the good stuff!!!! I can now let her outside off of her leash and I am confident that she will come back to ME, but only ME! She will not listen to anyone else (occasionally she listens to my mom or sister but not all of the time) She LOVES the chickens. A few of the young pullets got loose the other day and Star actually brought them in her mouth, without hurting them at all and brought them to me. It is the strangest thing I have ever seen. There have been major improvements in her over the past months BUT we have decided not to breed her.
We breed not only to stay true to the breed but we breed for temperament. We want the perfect family dogs. Although Star is, or will someday be the perfect farm dog we do not feel that it is right to breed her. Not right as a producer of great puppies but even more so not right to put Star through that.
More sad news........well sad to me. We got Star spayed last week. I am in absolutely no hurry to find Star a new home BUT she will be available soon. We will have VERY STRICT requirements for a new home and there will be a fee. I would love to keep her but if we can find someone with more time to devote to her, that is what she deserves. Keep checking back as I will write another post with all of the adoption information.
She seemed to travel pretty well although she seemed a little bit skittish but that is completely normal when an animal is riding in a car for hundreds of miles. When we got her home we began to realize that she seemed to have NEVER been socialized at all. When in the house she paced back and forth NONSTOP. I couldn't let her off of her leash for fear that she would run away and no matter how hard I tried I could not house-break her. She was a wreck. After contacting several breeders, vets, rescues and yes even pet psychologists it was determined that she more than likely suffered from something called "kennel crazy". This is a condition, unfortunately, not so uncommon in puppy mills. Basically Star was more than likely kept in a kennel (one of those small holding kennels, not a large open space) her entire life. Provided with food and water but little to no contact with humans.
Needless to say I was very disappointed, but even more than the disapointment I was so sad for her. What she must have been through, what she is currently going through and how in the world to help her.
She quickly warmed up to me............... meaning she wanted to be near me but was still an anxious mess. She would not take treats from my hand, making it even harder to try to train her.
While visiting a friend she escaped from the yard. Long story short she was eventually caught and after a ridiculous high bill at the humane society I had her back. Shortly after this we discovered that she LOVES to be outside. She is a completely different dog when she is outside. She stayed outside with several of the other dogs for a few weeks and almost seemed to be a "normal" dog. Well, she got loose again BUT this time she came running right back to me when I called her.
OK, now its time for some of the good stuff!!!! I can now let her outside off of her leash and I am confident that she will come back to ME, but only ME! She will not listen to anyone else (occasionally she listens to my mom or sister but not all of the time) She LOVES the chickens. A few of the young pullets got loose the other day and Star actually brought them in her mouth, without hurting them at all and brought them to me. It is the strangest thing I have ever seen. There have been major improvements in her over the past months BUT we have decided not to breed her.
We breed not only to stay true to the breed but we breed for temperament. We want the perfect family dogs. Although Star is, or will someday be the perfect farm dog we do not feel that it is right to breed her. Not right as a producer of great puppies but even more so not right to put Star through that.
More sad news........well sad to me. We got Star spayed last week. I am in absolutely no hurry to find Star a new home BUT she will be available soon. We will have VERY STRICT requirements for a new home and there will be a fee. I would love to keep her but if we can find someone with more time to devote to her, that is what she deserves. Keep checking back as I will write another post with all of the adoption information.