Have to brag a little - Page 1

I have to brag a little since my three are finally getting along.  Ronin has always had issues getting to know another dog since his first owner's son used to fight him which I never knew until a year into having Ronin.  I got Ronin at six months old and he came with severe issues related to abuse.  Last week my vet used him to teach some of his vet and vet tech students how to do x-rays, they found multiple healed fractures of his skull, muzzle, ribs, humerous, femurs, pelvis, and spine.  He used to be literally thrown or kicked down the basement steps to the concrete floor.  He also was beaten with a night stick (former owner wanted to make him his police K9 and thought beating him regularly would toughen him up) and fists.  His testicles and scrotum had so much scar tissue, the vet who neutered him a few years ago was stunned (Ronin was producing so much testosterone per blood work that my vet said she had never seen that much produced and figured he had damage to his testicles which he did).  I just wanted to give a background as to how amazing Ronin is.  He became an awesome search and rescue dog with an amazing ability to find anyone anywhere.  He has an amazing nose and can sense storms, cancer, seizures, infections, low or high blood sugar, and migraines.  We trained him as a drug dog just to occupy his amazing mind.  

It took us 9 months to get him used to Isis when she was a puppy, he wanted to literally rip her to shreds.  We spent time and lots of praise and treats later, they are now inseperable at 13 years (Ronin) and 11 years (Isis).  Well like a goof I got another rescued GSD puppy.  He was almost a year when I got him (can't have just one GSD).  I worked with Ronin and after a few months......

Quint is the darkest one, Ronin in the middle, and Isis looking at me.  Forgive the mess, I am packing to move again.  The joys of Post Doc ........

We still have the occasional scrap from Quint not leaving the others alone but it is all drama and no physical contact, just a sharp bark from Ronin or a lip lift from Isis.  Working on obedience class for Quinty to give him structure with distractions.  He is good on his basic obedience at home but needs the benefits from a class......

So thanks for letting me brag to people who understand the headaches and joys of dogs like this lol........

Oh, Mindhunt, your poor boy, to have endured so much abuse in just the first six months of his life! It hurts my heart just thinking about it...

He certainly has come a long way from there, and accomplished so much with you as his partner, which is a testament equally to his resilience, his intelligence and his trust in you, and in your skills as his teacher and as the center of his world. Love the picture of your three...the distinguished grey snoots on Ronin and Isis, and young Quint working hard at behaving and not annoying his elders!

Was thinking about you, wondering what arrangements you ended up making for Ronin while you were defending your thesis...so did he stay with your vet, then? Having an old man with a wobbly pair of pins in the back myself, I kept hoping you would be able to find a place where he'd be comfortable and would be supervised closely enough to prevent him from having any difficulties.

So how did the defense of your work go? Hopefully it was a total success, and we are now able to officially address you as DR. Mindhunt!

I think you do have every right to brag...
I love this picture! Speaks volumes for you ...

Wow ! What a nice ending to an awful start in life for poor Ronin. First off KUDOS to you for rescuing, that in itself is a big undertaking. Takes alot of commitment & love for the animal. Nice pic of your 3 & thank you for sharing

Well worth the brag!! I hope the person who did all those things to Ronin gets what he deserves So good you all found each other, an amazing story, you should be proud of yourself and your little gang.

Never ceases to amaze me that no matter the amount of abuse a dog gets it can love another human, some with lots of work but trust and love still there.

My AC went out over the weekend in 98 degree Texas summer.  So I had to load my dogs into my little 2007 Honda Pilot to cool them off. Woohoo, progress to the point I am confident with some sedation for all and pain management for the older ones (the trip is 20 hours in a car), we can make it home.  I drive straight through and put memory foam in the back for the dogs.  First time in a car together.....

they all laid down and slept once they cooled off.  I also realized I need a Tahoe or Suburban lol, this is just too small for all three. 

 

Shout out to my land management company that I rent from, they fixed it the next day on a Saturday.  If anyone knows someone who is moving to Texas south of Dallas-Ft. Worth area, PM me and I will give you the info on this land management company that is awesome for those of us with multiple dogs and limited income.