Life after Ben

It hasn’t been easy but that’s a given. He was larger than life with a personality to match. I have signed on with the Southern Ontario Pyr Rescue and in doing so, told them that we weren’t quite ready.

A Pyr had come into a rescue who looked very much like my Poohbear. It was so tempting that I started an email to them but Don said it's too soon. I see that that Pyr now has an 'adoption pending' so Don is off the hook. I'm feeling better these days but sometimes I just miss the sweet side of Ben. I keep going to rescue sites. I really should stop that but that's easier said than done.

I'm not out as much as when I had Ben. Our neighbours knew Ben wasn't there but just didn't know what happened. I only met my next door neighbour yesterday when walking Trickster and told her. She was so surprised because she had gone over one morning to pet him because he had been barking for attention and Don was otherwise occupied. He was his usual wiggle bum self, loving the attention. That was before we realized how unsafe he could be. I have mostly such good neighbours who are so supportive and such dog lovers.

Whenever our new companion finds us, I’ll start a new blog. Check back here now and again. I have no idea when it will be but cross your fingers for me!

Not a Ben Day

This is my friend's woolly mammoth, the one on the right. And she has no issues!!
Just for the record, the bare bum, the one on the left, was soon covered.

The Terrible Fours

Ben had a great time at the cottage. We let him romp about at times. And then night time came. As we lay in bed under the mosquito net wondering from whence the droves of mosquitos were coming as they buzzed in aeroplane unison, Ben barked up a storm upon hearing a noise of any kind. At one point, he went up to the screen door. He is good with his big paws and one swipe would put him through the screen so Don went to sort this out. Ben did not like being told what to do and barked and growled but finally went and lay down.

This did not set a good tone for the rest of our stay. When Don and Trickster went out for their sunset boat ride (Ben wouldn't get in the boat), we trekked back up to do the dishes. Ben proceeded to look for some attention so leapt up on the couch and went crazy pulling at the cushions whilst looking at me, waiting for my reaction. None came. He finally lay down, looking very cute but I couldn't let him know that. When the dust had settled, I called him off with a treat.

We left after dinner on Sunday night. The mosquitoes and Ben were too much for another night. Ben let the neighbours know we were back as he barked all the way into the driveway at 10:00.

Monday was a better day especially for Trickster. We went to the farm where I let Ben go chasing ground hogs. No worries. He is not a good hunter, at least not yet. Trickster thought this great fun and would run after Ben and then leap onto him. Ben didn't seem to notice and kept running. Trickster then tried leaping solely on his head but still, no reaction.

I'm back working with the muzzle on him. It's too long but it's all I have and he needs to have it on. After trying to get the leash on this morning, I can't wait.

Introducing the Trickster

I only had to go downstairs once, okay, maybe twice last night to settle Ben down from barking. Crazy but I wish people would stop making noise after Ben is settled in for the night. Trickster boy will arrive today. He will bring with him his calm, cool demeanor from which my big boy appears to observe and learn.

Trickster is a 5-year old rough coat collie whom we have been fortunate enough to have as a buddy on weekends or whenever his real person is away. He has been with us since he was a puppy and grew up with his aunty, Princess Clara. She was his mentor. She was the coolest Pyr around. Our beautiful Clara passed away last fall, 27. November, 2008. She was 13 years old and lived a good life of canoe/camping, cottaging and showed no mercy to groundhogs. I'll talk more about her later.
Trickster seems to like Ben even if Ben tries to boss him around in the car. Things were straightened out the first time they met. Ben tried three times to hump the little fella but Trickster put him in his place in short order.

The new muzzle arrived but is not yet in my hands. Muzzle desensitization will resume tonight. Don and I need to know that Ben will not bite when we go for his leash or take anything from him. Work with the trainer will begin once the muzzle can stay on for a length of time.

Overall, Ben appears to be settling in very well. He hasn't been leaping out at passing bikes, trucks or pedestrains recently. Nor has he been leaping onto the counter when we forget to tie him up while we prepare or eat food.

Ben and the Broom

Ben is our 4-year old Great Pyrenees whom we took out of a home who did not have time for him. It has been two months he has lived with us. He has since been neutered, put on about 18 pounds from his 98 pounds, the sores on his neck have healed and he has lost pounds of dead hair. His coat has filled in beautifully and he'll have a great winter coat.

He is left with many issues and we are working with a wonderful dog trainer who is helping us with those. His main issue is resource guarding as he has had two bites doing that. I am waiting for his muzzle to arrive before we get down to work.

In the meantime, there is an issue with his leash. We leave it on him all the time. He is better about us taking his collar but if he doesn't want to go out, we wouldn't be able to get near his neck. Leaving the leash on makes it easier but is still an issue because he growls and barks at us when he does not want to go out. We don't know if he'll bite and we don't want to find out. This morning, he growled/barked at me. I got the broom, stood the broom's length away and put the broom end through the leash handle and, voila, I managed to go in for the leash. Pathetic but it worked.

The photos here are ones taken the day we brought him home. I will post updated ones shortly.

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