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A new sister for Xena

3K views 36 replies 4 participants last post by  big black dogs 
#1 ·
As some of you know, we had to say goodbye to Mercedes in May of this year. Xena was so lost without her for many weeks and she is a different dog, so it seems. Xena turned 9 and is a cancer survivor.. She was diagnosed with mandible ostesarcoma in June 2019, 6 rounds of Chemo and had a great report a couple of weeks ago.

A few weeks ago, someone posted a "lost dog" on my Facebook page. A very young rottie who looks very much like Xena. I also had Porsha, some of might remember her.... She passed in 2012 and I did a collection drive in her memory in my neighorhood for the humane society. I did one for Mercedes in honor of what would have been her 13th b'day... She was 12.5 y/o when she passed.

I took the donations to the humane society and a picture of this rottie was on the counter. I asked if they had her and they did!!!! She was on hold for the owners to claim her and no-one ever did. The shelter immediately called us before advertising her. We went to meet her today and took Xena. Xena cried when they brought her out to us, they met thru a fence and than it was introduction time in the play area. First on lease, than off. The dog ironically is named Sadie (shelter name) and we called our Mercedes Sadie for short and since she loooks alot like Xena, it was meant to be????? They got along quite well. Xena had to correct a couple of times when the young one wanted the ball and she walked away.... They say she is sweet, not at all toy, food or dog aggressive.... She did belong to someone!!! She does need training, ... sit command and don't know if she's housebroken.

We made the commitment to adopt her today. I hope that Xena will love her new sister...
 
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#2 ·
Oh what wonderful news!! So glad that you have found another dog to add to your family. I hope Xena shows her the ropes, and all goes well in your home.
Did the shelter take a guess on how old she is? Does she not get spayed before going to your home? Around here they have to be spayed/neutered before being adopted out.
Let us know how things go.
 
#3 ·
Hi!!!

The shelter says she is young, maybe a year old. She has some growing to do, you can tell when she stood next to Xena. She is getting spayed, perhaps today... they will let us know.
She came from a home, her coat is beautiful, her nails were trimmed... My guess is that someone didn't take the time to train her. She is like a billly goat LOL and was jumping on things outside in the play area.
It will take time and patience. Like you said, I hope that she watches Xena and learns good manners :)

Dog Collar Carnivore Dog breed Companion dog
 
#6 ·
She's very nice looking! Looks like she has been well cared for! I do wonder if she was being taken care of by someone during Christmas holidays and took off or got lost?
I would not be surprised that she is already spayed.
Without manners, and around a year of age...was a common time for young Rottweilers to be dumped by their owners in shelters. Rottie pups are so cute and sweet...then they grow....get big, need work and training and time...and TRAINING. Often around 7-8 months of age, ignorant owners would leave them to fend in the backyard. Where the poor dog would be bored, lonely and causing all sorts of problems in the backyard...and a nuisance to the neighbors. By about a year...the owner's were done...and the pup was dumped into a shelter, or given up to a rescue (if they were lucky).

I'm sure with some training, and hard work...she is going to make a great addition to your home!
 
#7 ·
She was found as a stray walking around in the neighboring town and picked up by the police department and than brought to the shelter. Our guess is that the owner(s) had no idea how to train or didn't bother doing so... and she became a handful. Maybe she is destructive and we will find out. She is the sweetest and loves to be affectionate especially with a man that works at the shelter... Loves cuddles and gives lots of kisses so she was not abused, thank God!!! We are all just shocked that no-one is looking for her...
 
#13 ·
Hi, Bella is such a gentle sweet girl. We are experiencing what the shelter told us about her. The moment you sit down on the floor she comes right over to you and literally curls up in your lap. She just can't get enough of your love and attention. She is a beautiful girl, and i am guessing she was not out for too long. She is so gentle with her food, i have had my hands in the bowl, she is either still out of sorts or she was a grazer. I have hand fed her and she is gentle. When taking a treat, she barely touches your finger. The only fault she has (that we are aware of) is that she wasn't taught commands. She is just learning sit, she already knows her name and who ever owned her let her run wild in the house. She seems to think its ok to lunge onto furniture. Lots of work ahead of us but we will put our love and effforts into this. Mercedes and God had a plan to send her to us... there's always a reason why things happen.
 
#15 ·
It's with a heavy heart that my husband and I have come to the decision that Bella needs to be re-homed. Some of you know me for years.. having had Porsha and Mercedes and of course my sweet Xena. We saw how out of sorts Xena became with the loss of her sister and wanted to have a sister for her to play with and keep company with. We have had Bella for a week. She is truly a sweetheart and just wants to love you and cuddle with you. As we've gotten to know her and understand her... we have likely figured out why she was found on the streets as a stray. My guess is that someone bought her because to them she was an adorable rottie puppy... We all know how irresistable they are. She was never socialized during the critical 8-12 week period. She is beyond terrified of going outside for a walk. For me it's dog equals long walks, bonding, having fun together... My husband, who rarely admits to truth, said that last night's attempt at a walk was outright insane. 2 people came out of a backyard quietly, bella noticed and absolutely freaked out, started lunging etc. There was quite a distance between them! This pulling behavior lasted almost the lenght of one street. My husband is a tall guy at 225 lbs. and could barely walk her. We know she has to be desensitized but someone can get hurt in the interim. Since having her, I train at every opportunity with a sit, down or recall command in the house. She didn't even know those commands :( Yesterday, I called her and she came running at me and jumped at me... Not agressively but it rattled me. She runs around the room on fire, skidding out, jumping up on doors, furniture.... Since she is just learning recall, I leash walk in the yard. She plays with the leash and jumps at me at the same time. I use the leave it command or remove the leash from her mouth (she lets me!) and it starts all over again. I've been so upset over this and so sad that someone could have ruined this sweet girl. My husband will not hire a trainer. I have always worked with my girls after puppy classes but this is beyond my ability. I just pray that she finds a home like ours but with someone that has the ability or means to get her to where she needs to be. I am blessed to have my sweet Xena and I will give her that extra love... LOL if that is even possible... she is my heart!
 
#16 ·
I'm so sorry to read this. Does the shelter not have trainers or a behaviorist to help you sort out some of her problems?
I have fostered over 54 Rottweilers through the years...and sometimes they do come in with no training at all. When I read your original post...I thought to myself...this is not going to be an easy adoption. You have Xena an older dog...and a young, untrained dog added is very hard.

Honestly, most rescues start with "two week shutdown"....google this for more information. You are trying to do WAY too much, TOO fast with Bella. She needs to be crated, and pretty much just have her needs taken care of for now. No walk, no training...just getting her settled.

I do understand that you are rattled by her behavior...but this is very common behavior for a dog coming out of a shelter. They do not come out of the shelter without baggage. Return her to the shelter if you think it's too much....there will be a home that can work with her. Is there a Rottweiler Rescue in your general area??
 
#18 · (Edited)
Hi, thank you for your reply. I did speak with the trainer at the shelter two days ago. She disclosed that Bella was a challenge on the leash. This made me upset, why wasn't it disclosed to us. When you look at pups for adoption on websites, things like that are typically mentioned. She said that Bella could take years of constant training. As i read thru the website you provided, I have done all of those things this past week. She is crated and is very comfy in there, she lays next to Xena at times. When Bella is out and by my side, while I sit on the couch, she lays up against a gate I have up to keep Xena and Bella separated. They are used to one another but I haven't given them play time because Bella came home spayed and with kennel cough... She is ok now! As for settling in, my husband and I are out at work during the day so Bella is crated for several hours. She does quite well and sleeps.. I have a baby monitor on her at all times. She sleeps soundly thru the nite, hasn't cried once so she seems to be comfortable in her surroundings. I thought i was doing a good thing by getting her walked to release her insane amount of energy. She charged at me yesterday during a recall command. And that was from 10 ft away. She was sitting by my husband.

We kept asking ourselves and expressed our feelings of being upset that NOONE looked for her over the past month. She is a beautiful girl with such a loving personality.... If she got out accidently someone would have been frantic trying to find her.... Because of her behavioral problems, I would be willing to bet she was conveniently let out... the owners might have had enough.
 
#17 ·
Here is the link for the 2 week shut down. https://lgarinc.org/2019/02/13/the-two-week-shutdown/
Sounds like she was just overwhelmed and you were trying to do too much with her. This is a common problem when people adopt. New owners want to give the dog the best life, and love, and adventure and training....but it's not good for the dog at the beginning.
 
#19 ·
I am not nor will I ever be discouraged from trying this again. This was an eye opening experience for me. I really wanted this to work, I have so much love to give to these beautiful creatures. When I am w/o fur child, I will open my home up to one again. Perhaps a little older, ask lots of questions, spend some time with them at the shelter, etc. Unfortunately, w/ covid, there are many restrictions in place.
 
#20 ·
Yes...please don't beat yourself up. You have a good home to give another dog...and there may be a dog that will suit your life and home better. I always have in the back of my mind when I see a dog up for adoption in a shelter, or rescue....."if they were so good, why were they given up in the first place?". Sometimes there really is nothing wrong with the dog...there was just a lack of training...and with time and training those things can be fixed. Sometimes there are temperament problems...and they often don't show up till the dog is settled well into the home. Sadly...I had to make a few one way trip to the vet with fosters that would never be safe to be adopted out.

Rottweilers are just too strong, and big a breed to be able to not worry about getting hurt yourself. The right dog may come along soon.
 
#22 ·
My husband sent me a text message, he is torn up over this as well. We did have an appointment with a trainer to come to the house tomorrow with a backup plan / appointment at the shelter to bring her back if the trainer assessed that Bella was going to be a challenge. My husband really wants this to work out. I keep thinking what you said... there is a reason she was not a surrender, she was found wandering on the streets. If any of my rotties were out of my sight for 5 minutes I would have sent out an alert and get totally frantic. I think she was an out of control canon ball and they opened the door. She is a sweetheart and shows no aggression... did I mention that I stick my hand in her food bowl at every feeding. I even taught her to sit before she can go to her dish. A little manners LOL.
 
#23 ·
Honestly, give her a chance to meet with the trainer. She has a sweet personality...and that is a plus. She's been through so much in such a short time. Wandering the streets....living in a shelter....then spayed and kennel cough...then a new home. It would be like you landing in China after a surgery, and not knowing the language....or anything.

Sometimes it just takes some more patience...and a set of the trainers eyes to give you some pointers. You, and your husband are used to older mature dogs. A young dog, even a trained young Rottweiler can be overwhelming when coming into a new home. I would keep a leash on her at all times in the house...and keep treats all around so that when she is doing something right...you can praise her and treat her. If she is laying down...praise..if she sits on her own praise, etc.

When you took her for a walk...what kind of collar did you try walking her on??? This is when a well fitted prong collar can make a big difference. She is not ready for a walk yet....though.
If she has such a sweet personality, it may be worth your while to give her a chance with the trainers advice.
 
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#24 ·
Sorry to hear you are going through such a hard time. It's obvious how much you care so I'm sure whatever happens you will have made the best choice for yourselves. Definitely seems like a good idea to check in with this 2nd trainer - so many stories around about the difference between one trainer and another.
 
#25 ·
We have decided that we will commit to Bella 100% We both were very emotional yesterday (especially me with leaking eyes). We have scheduled an appointment for Tuesday and will be meeting with a specialized trainer who has a reputation!!! She will be boarded at the facility for one month. We come in after she is finished, we get trained. When we have successfully been trained, we all graduate. Bella is guaranteed for life! I have seen this trainer's work and it's amazing. Dogs walk right at your side and off leash (I don't do that) but to see the discipline!!! We just hesitated because of the cost. My husband is afraid to send her back because this could happen again with another owner/home and she could get passed around. Not happening!!!
 
#27 ·
Glad that you are going to try, and are getting some help. I've never been too thrilled about board and train places (never know how a dog is being treated)....but if a month away, and Bella being able to live again with you, is what it takes...then I'm happy!!
 
#29 ·
I am so discouraged about all of this again. A week into this and we are doing the "shut down" with her. No training, just 20-30 minutes out of crate for spending time closer with us, potty, eating etc. She doesn't bark at Xena anymore when she comes back in the house. She actually sits by herself when I put her food bowl down... So little signs that my training has sunken in. I took her out moments ago for potty. She has her collar on and a retractable leash so they she can move around a bit (I give her about 10 ft.) to go potty. All of a sudden she started zooming/lunging while on the leash and I am nearly done with this. I am afraid she is going to take me down. Is this behavior directed at me because she does not see me as her alpha? Hope that is not a dumb question. Or, she hates the leash and is rebelling. Can the training at boot camp correct this.
 
#32 ·
All of a sudden she started zooming/lunging while on the leash and I am nearly done with this. I am afraid she is going to take me down.
Vader does this sometimes (he is 13 weeks) when I take him out to the toilet, he decides he want to play and "attacks" my legs in a higher energy (what seems like more aggressive) way than normal. I use his leash to control him and give a verbal correction and now he quite quickly remembers I don't like that game and stops himself before he starts. Was a bit weird when he first did it!
 
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