Big Paws Only Dog Forums
Mastiffs => American Mastiff Discussions & Pictures => : kristi February 28, 2006, 12:38:59 AM
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Hey everyone here he is...
The meeting at Petsmart went fine... he's a good dog. He actually made Sam look small - that never has happened before.
He's been through a basic obedience class, walked good on a leash, was nice to Gaby, & didn't really get excited when we went near the cats. He generally looks healthy, needs a little grooming (bath), and his weight looks fine for his size/age.
His dad is going to bring him over on Thursday so that I can have him with Sam & the cats & no Gaby.
Of course there had to be something negative... he marked everything he could in the store... does the snip fix that?
I'm ready for your advice & comments - bring 'em on!
-k.
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I just love how Otis looks!...& b.t.w., I think Otis is a perfect name for him! ;D ...I don't know about the marking...Sorr y!...Wish I could be of more help there...I just will keep my fingers crossed that it all works out!
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How great that the meeting went that well! Typically, neutering is said to reduce the urge to mark territory, and remember that he was probably very nervous also, and that would make him mark more than he normally would. I think it's a fabulous idea to have the neutering done before he would be joining your family permanently. Hmmm, another thing about the marking is that you don't know how many other dogs he was smelling there and felt he had the need to mark against. If it was just him and Sampson, I'm thinking things would probably be a bit different.
Good luck!
~~Lisa
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A combination of snip and remedial training could solve the marking issue for you, especially if it was an issue that was not addressed by the previous family. He simply may not be aware that you do not consider this desirable behavior.
Glad to hear that the meeting went well and that you are moving forward.
Stella
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I don't have much to add other than i really hope it works out for you guys and Otis - but i do know that i think that the power of craigslist and BPO is fantastic and thanks to everyone for helping spread the word on the plight of the big dogs.
If i can ever decide which country i will live in i will get Day-z a friend, but she seems to prefer small dogs for some reason, ah well....
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Oh, I hope that this works out for you and Otis. It sounds like he's a sweetie. We're sending good thoughts for everyone. :)
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About the marking- some dogs mark in petsmart who wouldn't mark at home. That place has urine all over it! :P
But... you will not want to leave him unattended in your home until you are sure he is not going to mark your house. Keep a really close eye on him for a while and if a leg goes up, nip it in the bud!!!
I hope it all works out! Then you will have two really handsome dogs!!! :D
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He is an awesome guy! Love the name. Good luck Kristi.
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Glad to hear the meeting went well. Crossing my fingers that the next will also. Be sure to keep us posted.
Cindy
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Trying desperately to find a vet/clinic that will neuter Otis without breaking the bank! And that isn't backed up until May!
UGH! :P
Not sure where else to look...help!
If I can't get him neutered (soon) - he can't come into my house...
-k.
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Kristi,
I'll be leaving for home in about 5 minutes. Call me in about 15, I may have something for you in Cicero, IL
Stella
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I know a place in Michigan City! About an hour from Chicago. $25.
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I know a place in Michigan City! About an hour from Chicago. $25.
GET OUT - $25?
For a BIG dog?
He's got to be 175# - at least...
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Most humane societies will do a nueter for $25.00, if your dog is under 70#. We ran into that alot when we were looking to get Merlin done at 130#. The cost of the anesthesia and after-care is prohibitive for larger dogs.
Stella
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don't forget the crate training. when i was growing up, we had a kennel-full of indoor/outdoor show dogs. the only time the boys marked was when we were in public. they all knew that urinating in the house [anyone's house, hotel room, or conference room in a hotel for a big show] for ANY reason was a huge no-no.
i would ask if there have been any problems at his home. if not, i would consider taking him home before the 'big snip' :) and crating him when he could not be supervised.
just my thoughts. best of luck to you both!
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Bumping this in hopes of an update! :D
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Bumping this in hopes of an update!  :D
.....Got your bump!
Going to pick up Otis This AM to spend some quality time alone with him... car ride, walk, etc... a little trainer evaluation per se... ;D
If things go well I will bring him back to the house for a romp in the yard with Sampson & a short exposure to my cats. I have a 7yr. male DSH, Benji, & a 3yr. albino male (deaf) DSH, Marco Polo (LOL) :D.
I'm just concerned that Marco won't know if this "new" guy decides to check him out too closely. So I need to the their reactions to each other.
I will post again later... keep those questions, comments, & suggestions comin'! ;)
-k.
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Oh yeah...I didn't think of the weight factor. I can check it out if you want, though. ;D Oh, and its not the humane society, its my vet. He will do rescues and stuff for $25, but you need to get the voucher from the HS. (they just give the voucher, not do the procedure)
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This is all so great! Fingers and paws crossed that everybody accepts everybody else! YEA!!! ;D ;D
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The current oldest in my house is a siamese-type cat, Yoshi. He is about 11 yrs now. He has 'endured' the additions of 5 week old basset Holi [6 years ago], rescued 6 mth fluffy queen cat Precious [first we changed her name to Gabby then spayed, 5 years ago], goofy 5 yr GD with no physical awareness ::) [1 year ago], found 5 week kitten terror [6 months ago], and an adult beagle we found a couple months ago who has NO cat experience [none of the cat's are declawed and will smack a too inquisitive nose when needed].
I'm telling you this because all the cats have handled the successive new additions well. If Yoshi doesn't approve, he will ignore me and the newbie. He was an only child for a long time but has adjusted very well. I know there are plenty of cats that don't like change but have found that if things remain as normal as possible and they are allowed their own space to escape to, they will work it out shortly.
BTW, I LOVE Marco's name! Very inventive :D
I look forward to hearing how things went. Perhaps pictures ;)?
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Kristi, I'm so excited! And I'm glad you're really taking your time to see if Otis is a good fit for you - that shows so much responsibility and dedication on your part. And I've found in my experience with my animals that they do adjust. I think it's a pretty rare situation where animals simply *can't* be together.
I've emailed the vet tech I told you about and am waiting for her response. Hopefully we'll have lots of good news today!
Good luck with the meeting!
~~Lisa
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I just thought of something...wh at about PAWS Chicago? Don't they do low-cost neutering too?
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I just thought of something...wh at about PAWS Chicago? Don't they do low-cost neutering too?Â
They do, thru the Lurie Family Spay and nueter Clinic, but there are no possible availible appts there until sometime in May.
Stella
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I meant to post sooner, but I've been tossing this around for awhile... ???
As Julie just said, I am concerned for Marco Polo.
His sight isn't too awful, but he is completely deaf & I had him front de-clawed a year ago after he destroyed the sofa & two chairs... Sam had been here for a year already, & I knew Marco would be safe - they're both indoor only cats. Sampson could care less about the cats, but Otis was very interested in them & Marco was very distressed.
I had put up the gate as you guys had recommended. I was really impressed with Sampson! He tried to block Otis as the cats ran under the gate. Otis really wasn't going to let that stop him he really wanted to see the cats.
:-[ I feel awful, because Otis really is a great dog! What a great personality - he'll make a great pet for someone this big dog experience! He's got the basics & just needs a little re-freshing.
I guess I'm just going to have to face the fact that I'm probably going to have to get a puppy & train it from the start so Sam can have a buddy & for Marco's safety. :-\
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Julie I want you to know that my husband had the same concerns bringing a new dog into our house. He was very worried about the money aspect, damage to the house, yard, etc. Kiah really loves having a playmate. Yes you have the extra expense once a year on shots, but it's so worth it. That is if all are healthy. If not we have a savings account set up for rainy days. I beleive that 2 dogs are better then one. They exercise each other and aren't begging you to play with them all the time. I am very happy that we have Kitana.
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First I have to tell you I looked at Gweck's Paw Print and love the 4th picture. And I have to ask -- how did you come up with that name ???? It is quite unusual.
I'm sorry things didn't work out for Kristi but am glad he still has a chance at getting a good home.
... definitely nervous, excited and scared at the same time at the thought of getting a second dog let alone another big paw. So we need some advice. We are afraid because of the financial thoughts, more food, more vet bills, more everything....
I think it's like having a skin-kid. (We don't have one but I am married to a Navy man so know plenty of people who do and some of what they've gone thru when adding another body to the household.) Everyone's almost always worried about something and finances seem to be at the top of the list. And everyone works it out just fine. As for vet, shots only happen once a year. Injuries are always random no matter how many kids you have.
...In general we're just nervous, we don't want to get in over our heads. We live in Chicago (Lakeview) to be specific. We live in a condo, we are 2 blocks from a park that we take Gweck to everyday, sometimes 2x a day. Also we're close to a jogging path (not that we would take Otis jogging but nice scenic walks :D) ....
It sounds like you are in terrific area and the 2 would be able to play with each other often. It also sounds like they won't be lacking in affection or exercise! 8)
...Were any of you nervous about getting a second dog? Were you scared about the financial impact of 2 Giant Breeds? anything helps! Thank you!!!! Julie
I'm always nervous when I know a new kid is coming, even if it's just for a visit. Will they like me? Each other? What bad habits do they have? How quickly will hubby teach them new one's :-[? As for finances, it has never really crossed my mind. I'm usually thinking about everything else and know the rest will settle itself. My mom is always concerned for us about the money so I always make sure we have a min of $1000 in savings.
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... Sampson could care less about the cats, but Otis was very interested in them & Marco was very distressed.
I had put up the gate as you guys had recommended. I was really impressed with Sampson! He tried to block Otis as the cats ran under the gate....
It sounds like Sampson is a great protector of what's his. You are very lucky :)
...:-[ I feel awful, because Otis really is a great dog!....
If it was meant to be, it would have been. This just means there is a different one out there who needs your special touch more.
...I guess I'm just going to have to face the fact that I'm probably going to have to get a puppy & train it from the start so Sam can have a buddy & for Marco's safety. :-\
Perhaps you can find an older one that has already been exposed to cats? One can hope :D
Best wishes,
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Personal opinion: I like lazy. And have a HUGE soft spot for Mastiffs. I would get the Mastiff over an Aussie any day. And I would contact an Aussie rescue to help this guy find his dog a new home that will treat it SO much better.
I had a neightbor with an Aussie. Boy was she a handful (the dog, not the neighbor :))! I know energetic puppies that had more down time than her ::)
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As having an aussie I will warn you they are extremely high energy. They tend to be very clingy and they need structure and some way to channel their energy. If you do get the aussie NEVER try to corner it, they will snap. Make sure you socialize them because they can be iffy with strangers, but the fact he was okay with meeting you guys indicates he should be good. They are extremely smart and loyal dogs. Look more into the breed and spend alot of time with him if you're really interested.
Try taking him places and watch his reactions. I love my aussie but I'm the first to admit she has issues. Also with him being crated so much he's going to have a ton of energy right now so take him out for a long play session and see how he is after. But I'd suggest giving him a chance, they're really smart and he is young so you can still change his ways. He also may be actually one of the calm ones and won't be as hyper once you get the pent up energy out.
If you have any more questions on aussies you can PM me. There are also a few other aussie owners on here too. I'd love to see pictures too!
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I agree. Aussies are not for the average owner. Not that I don't think you could handle one, but I've never met one that doesn't act like it's on stimulants all day long. If they aren't kept busy or occupied or have a "job" to do they can turn into real terrors.
I, too would pick a mastiff over an aussie any day. Even though I think they are great dogs, and my parent's had an aussie mix, I just don't think I could keep one occupied enough. But if you're an active family it might be the right dog for you. I much prefer a couch potato to a dog with a permanent sugar high.
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I'll toss my hat in too and say that I would also take a mastiff over an Aussie. Not that I think that Aussies are not perfectly wonderful for people with very physically active lifestyles, I just don't think that I could cope with the type A personality of an Aussie.
As far as affording multiple dogs, after a while, you really don't notice the extra expense. The yearly vet visit is timed with our income tax refund arrival because it is a good chunk of change to take all three in, but other than that, the occaisional emergecy is doable because they have been few and far between. We eat more hamburger than steak, and a vacation to the Bahamas is a pipe dream, but I really like camping better anyway. My skin-kids and hockey is more of a financial drain than the dogs, any given year.
Stella
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If you do get the aussie NEVER try to corner it, they will snap.Â
I thought that you had a lot of good points about aussies.. but this line worried me. :-[
I've known many aussies and although they can be "reserved" with strangers, reserved does not mean skittish, shy and scared. It means "ok my Mom/Dad says you can pet me, but if I don't know you I could care less about you". I don't believe snapping if cornered is an aussie trait, that sounds like the reaction of a frightened dog. My current aussie boy, Mojo, has his CGC and my deaf and blind aussie, Zephyr, was the sweetest angel in the world when he was around.
Also aussies shouldn't act like they're crackheads all day. lol They need to be taught a "settle" command when they're younger. Most breeders with working lines can't believe that people think aussies have to be on the go 24/7. The reason I prefer aussies to Border Collies is because they have the gusto to go all day, or chill on the couch/bed/floor for a day with you(though they DO need work and jobs to do, they can't do nothing everyday). They don't care what they're doing as long as they're doing it with their owners. :)
BTW where is this aussie that needs a home and what information is there about him? I know most sane people would pick a mastiff over an aussie, but aussies are my heart and soul(yes even over dear Tenchi, but don't please don't tell him, its an extremely close 2nd). Good luck with whatever you decide.
Moni
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The reason I said that is most aussies I have known would snap if you tried to corner them. One was in an abusive situation but another was the sweetest girl in the world who I grew up with. She was our babysitter and would keep herd on all of us and the other pets. But if you tried to put her in a corner she would go to bite....I think it mostly stems from the strong herding urge and that they don't like to be gotten the better of. Lacey is definitely one that can't be cornered except maybe by me or my mom. She also can't handle strangers but we're working to get her better about it. So I was just speaking from my experience and it is something to beware of if you are considering an aussie because it could be a possible problem.
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i think lots of exposure to different things is invaluble for any breed at all ages. i also think that there are exceptions to every 'rule'. growing up in a breeding show home, we had many Mastiffs and we only had a couple that were not like the others. one became kennel shy [i was too young to know the details] and another became dangerous because of the way he was raised by the family that bought him [he was a puppy from my bitch's 1 litter and became food protective, charged at a kid while on a walk, and tried to 'get' my mom outside the show ring]. the one that was kennel shy had to be put to sleep :'( and the other 'disappeared' despite our best efforts :'(.
i guess what i'm trying to say is that any dog can develop issues regardless of our best intentions. a high energy working dog that is already an adult, has been caged a lot, & is scared of people will require plenty of rehabilitation & time. and a generally low energy dog will require its moments of playtime with plenty of socialization so it doesn't develop any neuroticies (sp?). this bit has nothing to do with breed.
BTW - my mom now has an Am Staff that they adopted from the animal shelter. he is the MOST sweetest, loving :-* boy in the world. i don't like him called a pit bull because 1) of the negative stigma attached and 2) he has never fought in the pits, um, that we know of.
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how old is he ?
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um -- not sure which 'he' you are asking about :D ;)
Bacchus, the Aussie, is 10 months
Otis, the Mastiff, is 2 year old male brindle
Dudley, the Am Staff, is ... OMG..... it was Feb. 1995. holy cow how time flies ...... we feel he was around 9 months but they say 1 year. soooooo that makes him around 12 years old. :o i can not believe this
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UPDATE......
I have decided - after a lot of thought & sadness :-[ that we may not be the right home for Otis and/or he may not be the right addition to our current family...
I am sad for selfish reasons, he's so sweet & loveable... But I am confident that he will find a good home.
I have passed all of his info on to Julie & told her all of my "findings" after spending time with him. She said she will contact his owner, etc.
I will continue to keep my eyes & ears open... the right one is out there somewhere... :-\
-k.
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i'm sorry kristi. that must have been a very hard decision to make.
hopefully julie wioll post that they decided to 'take the plunge' into multi-dog-dom :)
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HOORAY!!! ;D
-k.
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I talked with Otis' owners also and let them know that I would be able to foster if they aren't able to find a forever home soon.
Julie, I have a mastiff so I am prejudiced. They are wonderful companions and we don't know what we would do without Nola. Good luck with tomorrow's get together. I hope it goes well for all of you.
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Jules-
I don't think it will be a problem... he's not very alpha.
Sampson is fixed (he's 8)- he didn't care there were no issues here on either dogs part...
Good luck! I'm so excited for you! :D
-k.
ps. call me & tell me how it goes!
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I've been following this thread.. and I just wanted to say I hope everything goes well. Paws crossed. ;D
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Julie,
I have had more problems with my female adjusting to other dogs than any of my males, not matter what the sex of the newcomer. Even my extremely dominent intact male doberman lived in harmony with another intact male dog. It really depends on the personality of the boys involved, and you'll have to try it and see. They may take a bit to work out the logistics of a new pack dynamic, but it can potentially be just fine.
Stella
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recent personal experience:
we just added ;D a 3 yr intact mastiff male (pre-named Elvis) to our crew. Kado is about 5 yrs old & was neutered a few years ago. they are doing quite well.
i had all the concerns that i see expressed here. i did not get to meet E before he came today :-\ about 6 hours ago. we have a very large yard so let E explore it, mark, & get a bit used to us. then we let out Holi but he was so exuberant in his wanting to meet her that he scared her. this did not surprise us since she is generally timid of dogs, esp. large one's since K ran her over. we put her back in the house & brought out Rosie. she is also timid around others & again, he was so exuberant that he scared her.
let me add some background on Elvis. the woman we got him from is in the military & married. she got E when he was a baby & she had a 2 yr daughter [now 5 yr]. she now also has 3 yr & 12 mth old daughters & they are trying for another child. she discovered that with working & caring for everyone, there was not much left to give E the attention he deserves. he got fed 5.5 cups at night then walked & then walked the next morning. beyond that, nothing much was done with him so i expected him to be quite excited when he got here. back to my experience today ...
we put Rosie back into the house, put a leash back on E's buckle collar, put a choker & leash on Kado, then did the scary act of introducing 2 adult male dogs. well ... everything went without a hitch! after a while we removed K's leash then eventually released E. by then E was pretty tired but they played lightly anyway. everyone is in the house now & E has been panting almost constantly; collars are still on the boys "just in case". we currently have E crated to try to get him calmed down.
   the worst part is all the humping! i know it is part of figuring out who's what but it does get obnoxious after a while. E keeps licking K's p***s and air-humping. K has growled at & snapped towards E to get some space. this has been going on for a while. when it was time for dinner, we gave E 2c food then ended up putting him back in the crate for digestion.
I am thrilled that things are going so well. i have introduced many dogs but my only experience with 2 males [both intact] resulted in a big fight. i would like to ask some questions. am I getting happy to soon? should i expect things to get more tense later? when will the humping stop??
thank you all for the advise. i'm hoping this will help julie & gweck with their current hopeful situation.
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i am SO happy for you all!! about Otis, that is. the computer thing sucks :o
i look forward to hearing how well Otis is settling in once your visitors leave ;D
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Yay for Otis! Yay for Julie! Yay for Gweck! Boo for computer!
Give us an update when you're able!
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Use your imagination here - picture an old teletype machine - deet...dee-deet...dee...deet...
This just in... the latest update on Otis...
Julie & I are tag-teaming on this one - it's my turn...
Julie won't be able get Otis into her place for more evaluation with Gweck for another week.
We are both concerned about Otis getting to the "right" home with someone who knows & understands BP's. (We would hate for someone to take him in & then possibly dump him in a shelter later.) We are also sensitive to Otis's owner's needs to care for his allergic son & to act quickly.
So, I networked over to Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue & spoke with them regarding some possible assistance if the owner must act now. I spoke with Otis's owner & gave him all of the info regarding the group, etc. He was happy for the help.
Great Lakes said they would contact him & help out in any way that they can so that a great dog like Otis will find a good home!
Julie & I are working on a happy ending here... one way or another!
Go BPO!
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it makes me so happy & relieved that there are people like you out there. i knew i couldn't be the only one :)! thank you for posting Otis' saga. it makes my heart happy that there are people doing their best to help a newspaper-ad dog find a very good home. i will make my next wish that he should quickly find the best home possible, even if it can't be with Julie or Kristi.
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Hello All,
How ironic.....I got the call yesterday about Otis. I am involved with Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue. I had already talked to Otis's owner last week and at the time he thought he has Otis placed. I tild him I would call him back on Monday (yesterday which I did) to see if he still needed our assistance. Great Lakes is more than willing to evaluate this boy (from the sounds of it he is a great dog)and take him into rescue should he pass. I left Otis's Dad a message and I have not heard from him yet.
Kristi,
thanks so much for calling us in on this. I would hate for Otis to fall into the wrong hands especially since he is still intact! I'll keep you all posted.
Thanks,
Kim
Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue
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Hello All,
How ironic.....I got the call yesterday about Otis. I am involved with Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue. I had already talked to Otis's owner last week and at the time he thought he has Otis placed. I tild him I would call him back on Monday (yesterday which I did) to see if he still needed our assistance. Great Lakes is more than willing to evaluate this boy (from the sounds of it he is a great dog)and take him into rescue should he pass. I left Otis's Dad a message and I have not heard from him yet.
Kristi,
thanks so much for calling us in on this. I would hate for Otis to fall into the wrong hands especially since he is still intact! I'll keep you all posted.
Thanks,
Kim
Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue
Kim-
I will PM you with my cell # & fill you in directly on my observations.
I am soooo happy that you are on this! ;D
-k.
go BPO! go BPO! ...it's like a little cheer!
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Kristi...
Not sure if I an find a PM here. I am brand new to BPO. You can email me at DePalma91@aol.com
Thanks,
Kim
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;D WOO HOO ;D
I found the PM. I called Kristi so hopefully we can help this guy. Keep your fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Kim
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this is so exciting! i love stories with good endings ;D
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this is so exciting! i love stories with good endings ;D
****latest update****
Left a message with roxygirl... we are off Otis's rescue!
It is exciting - isn't it! I feel kind of like a "superhero"... da ta da!
paharts-
I just have to tell you... I love the signature on the bottom of your post!
"We might not be able to save them all, but we sure can try."
My philosophy exactly!;)
-k.
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thank you kristi. that does mean a lot to me :) i like to hear about people who feel the same as i do about these giant lovable :-* teddy-bears.
is julie still considering getting Otis? i know she has to wait until her visitors leave so am just wondering.
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Next chapter in the Otis story. I talked with Kristi and agree that Otis sounds like a great dog. I have contacted his owner again (left another message) about surrendering Otis to Mastiff Rescue and am waiting to hear back.
It was great to talk to you Kristi and thanks again for calling us at Mastiff Rescue :)
Kim
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Julie-
Kim knows you're still interested and about the situation with the visiting dogs at your place this week.
We were formulating a "back-up plan" if the owner must remove Otis before next Monday...
Call or PM me, & I will give you Kim's number so you can contact her directly. ;)
-k.
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I so want this to work out for Otis, Gweck and your family. Hopefully Otis's family can keep him until your company has left;
Best of luck!!! Fingers and Paws crossed
Randy & Harley
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I live in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square and would be able to foster Otis between now and 3/23 (possibly longer but we will be away for a couple days). My b/f works from home a few days a week, we have a dog walker and an extra crate. I know Nola would love some company. If I can help in any way, let me know.Â
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Julie,
As a second back-up plan, just in case...hahaha. ..ya never know...I will be in the area until Tuesday. If you need any additional help with fostering of Otis or whatever, just let me know! ;D
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Julie or Kristi,
Have you heard any more about Otis? I just want to make sure he is okay. We have tried to contact him several times but no call backs. I just wanted to make sure the big guy didn't get dumped out of desperation.
Thanks,
Kim
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Kim-
I haven't heard ANYTHING - let's see what Julie says...
I'm getting a little nervous!
:-[
-k.
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I hope she has heard from him. If he did bring him to a shelter I will probably get a call anyway but I hate for him to have to spend one minute there. I doubt that he was that drastic but just curious why we never heard back from him ???
Kim
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Which breeder did he come from? I believe ALL the breeders have a "return policy" if there is a problem. They DO NOT want AM's ending up in shelters. With this boy unaltered, that could mean he ends up with someone who tries to breed him. That wouldn't be good. The breeders can place grown AM's. There is a man on the AM Yahoo board that just got a 2 year old AM from an AM breeder. The family that has the boy with allergies needs to contact their breeder...
modified to add:
I just got off the phone with the originator of the AM breed who is in OH and she said she would GLADLY take Sam back no matter what breeder they purchased him from. She confirmed that ALL of the breeders DO have that agreement that they will take a dog back if there is a problem. :) Before he would go to a shelter, please contact a breeder if not the originator. PM me if you'd like.
Jacquie
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Otis where are you?? I have been following this thread since the beginning and SO hoping for a happy BPO ending. He seems like such a doll.
Otis are you there???
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maybe we should all email and call this guy? stress that he needs to contact julie, kristi, or kim and let us know what's happened. maybe it would sink in that there are a lot of us worried about otis and will do everything possible to be sure he gets into a great forever home.
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Jacqie,
Otis is not an AM he is and English Mastiff. Not all breeders take their dogs back in fact most don't. Mind you I am talking from a rescue perspective and deal with dogs that are mostly purchased from back yard breeders or worse pet stores. Those breeders just care about the money and don't really care much what happens to the dog once they get paid. Otis was bought by a college kid who knew his Mom loved dogs and thought she wouldn't mind having Otis. He was wrong and the Mom said no so that is where Otis's current owner came into play. I commend him for trying to place Otis however I begged him to neuter him first and let him know that rescue was there to help him place the dog in an "approved" home. I hope someone hears from him soon.
Kim
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If any of you talk to him (or Julie, Kristi or Kim) PLEASE tell him to contact his breeder...or ANY of the AM breeders for that matter. Thanks! ;)
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Just an FYI....with Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue the first thing we try to do is find out who the breeder of teh dog is. If the breeder is a member of MCOA (Mastiff Club of America) we try to contact them about the dog. More often then not the breeder isn't a member and the dog ends up in rescue and gets a wonderful loving forever home. We have quite a few surrenders that beg us not to contact the breeder because they don't want the dog "going back to that terrible place". They say they bought the dog to get it out of there and if they had the money they would have bought them all. THe thing is they should have run as fast as they could and not given that "breeder" a penny of thier money. Our emotions keep them in business :-(
Kim
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Thank you so much for the update Julie. I can put my nerves to rest now ;) Please keep us posted.
Kim
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Hi,
I am Otis' "mommy". I have been reading all of your posts from the beginning of all of this. First, I would like to say that you all are wonderful people and it is so nice to hear that you all are willing to help us out with Otis. Otis is a wonderful dog, and we would never just dump him with anyone. We are hoping to not have to put him in the rescue, and hoping that Monday works out with Julie. (he even has an appointment Sunday for a bath so he looks perfect for his date with Julie) My husband has recently left her a message confirming the date. We want him to go to a loving home, but we don't know how much longer we can wait if this doesn't work out with Julie. We were just at the doctor's office again with our son, Jake, as they are talking about putting tubes in his ears because he constantly has fluid in them and his nose is constantly running from his allergy to Otis. So I just wanted to give you an update and please don't hesitate to ask me anything, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks! Tracie
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Shoot, I wasn't worried about a BPO'er breeding him. ;) Especially one of the "regulars". I just was afraid that Eric would let "Joe Blow-his cousin's neighbor's dogsitter's sister" have him. I hope, hope, hope that you can get him as you can tell how much you love your Gweck! But if there is a problem, let him know to get with his breeder. There are only 12 Am Mastiff breeders and they LOVE their dogs...it's not a sad, stinky, dirty kennel situation but more of a living room with breeders family situation. No shame if it doesn't work out and Eric has to let him go back....but luck o' the Irish to ya <in my best Lucky Charm guy voice> in being able to keep him with you forever!!
WOW! Sorry I've been missing these posts!!! The owner called me the other day and said he hasn't talked to the rescue yet because he's waiting till we can take Otis for a couple days to see how he does with us, our place, Gweck, our cats etc. We have the last dog with us!!!! FInally and she is I'm sad to say already starting to drive us crazy and I brought her over yesterday and she'll be here till Sun (not too bad but at the rate she's going she might drive us crazy!). But don't worrya bout Otis!!! If all goes well and we adopt him, I promise I will get him neutered and not breed him!! ;D Cheers!
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I've been following this thread since the beginning too . The suspence is killing me ! ;D
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whew! :o
I really was getting worried there... Yay for Julie!
Thank you Tracie for being patient & kind...
We (at BPO) do have Otis's best interest at heart!
We understand how hard this for both of you & your family... Anything we can do to make it a smooth transition to a new forever home - just let us know!
Quote from BPO paharts: "We can't save them all, but we sure can try."
I wish there were more of "us" out there, then there would be less of "them."
-k.
ps. thanks also to all you BPO'ers who are following this thread & sending us all of your support - you rock!
go BPO!
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Tracie,
I am so glad to hear from you ;D My name is Kim and I talked to Eric about Otis before he met Kristi. I truly hope it works out with Julie however if it doesn't I just wanted to let you know that rescue is hear for your guys. It really is a wonderful thing. Otis would go to a foster home (most likely mine right now since I am available). He would be ther efor a minimum of two weeks so his foster family could really get to know him and then he woudl be matched with a family that best suits him. Please know that all potential adopters are thoroughly screened. THey must complete and application, their vet references and personal references are checked and if those all go alright they must have a home visit. On a home visit a volunteer goes to their house meets everyone that lives there and spends about 2 hours with the family looking at every inch of their house and yard. We do not adopt to just anyone by any means so I hope that makes you feel better.
I hope your little boy is feeling better soon and I hope Otis finds love with a new forever family. If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at DePalma91@aol.com
Take Care,
Kim
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I am so glad to see that there are so many people looking out for Mr. Otis. ;D;D;D I had assumed because the thread was in the American Mastiff area that he was an AM. And ALL 12 AM breeders will take back their dogs which is why I was being so adamant about them getting in touch with their breeder (when I was assuming he was an AM). I so hope it will work out for one of the BPO'ers to give Otis a forever home. :)
Jacquie
Jacqie,
Otis is not an AM he is and English Mastiff. Not all breeders take their dogs back in fact most don't. Mind you I am talking from a rescue perspective and deal with dogs that are mostly purchased from back yard breeders or worse pet stores. Those breeders just care about the money and don't really care much what happens to the dog once they get paid. Otis was bought by a college kid who knew his Mom loved dogs and thought she wouldn't mind having Otis. He was wrong and the Mom said no so that is where Otis's current owner came into play. I commend him for trying to place Otis however I begged him to neuter him first and let him know that rescue was there to help him place the dog in an "approved" home. I hope someone hears from him soon.
Kim
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I am so glad to see that there are so many people looking out for Mr. Otis. ;D;D;D I had assumed because the thread was in the American Mastiff area that he was an AM. And ALL 12 AM breeders will take back their dogs which is why I was being so adamant about them getting in touch with their breeder (when I was assuming he was an AM). I so hope it will work out for one of the BPO'ers to give Otis a forever home. :)
Jacquie
Jacquie-
I can see your confusion! ???
I had originally posted to the main board, but the thread was moved later on to the AM board (not the OEM board where it should go).
Maybe we should have it moved to the proper place to eliminate any future confusion?
-k.
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I dont know how to move an entire thread...can you do that? You could always go to the original posting and modify the subject line to read "Otis the OE Mastiff". I am just glad he is getting so much attention! ;)
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I can't move the thread, but Bear can... ;)
I'll ask!
-k.
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Getting Otis "snipped" will greatly reduce the need to pee on everything, but there will be a lot of training involved as well....i pretty much agree with the comments thus far. GOOD LUCK WITH OTIS!!!
Leah
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I'm sure (or at least hoping) he'll calm down in a day or two once he figures out what is going on. Everything is new and exciting for him right now, plus you're not his people yet. Once he realizes you're in charge, hopefully he will listen much better.
Good luck. ;)
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Jules-
It's ok... breathe deeply... ohmmmm...
ZooCrew's right, it's gonna take a day or two for him to figure out what's going on.
This may be the first time he's ever been away from his home.
You've got my number, call if you need me!
-k.
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Julie,
I am glad to hear Otis is safe and sound with you :D
Be careful with leaving him home alone with just baby gates. I would use a crate if you are worried he could eat something or "someone" while you are gone. Make sure Otis knows you are the BOSS so he knows you are his alpha. Usually with fosters there is a two week "honeymoon" period where the dog is just awesome then after that every quirk the dog has comes out in flying colors. Best of luck to you and Otis :)
Kim
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I'm so happy for Otis! I'm sure it will take some adjustment. Hang in there! It does get better!
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AW, don't get frustrated. It took Puck and Farley a good week before Puck decide well I guess he is staying-might as well like him ;)
Now they really like each other. They play really well and even sleep together sometimes ;D
Hang in there ;) ;D
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Hey Julie!
Wow. Sounds like a rough couple of days, eh? I would get him neutered. Even if you aren't going to keep him. Its just a good idea. I'd do it as soon as you can. I hope things work out for you guys! It sounds like it will be a bumpy adjustment period, but if you can stick it through, it may just be awesome. And if not, don't worry! Otis will find a great place. You won't have failed him or anything like that.
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My husband and I temporarily fostered a dog before he made his way into rescue. It was tough work, and we turned into absolute messes too. Little sleep and a lot of stress pretty much summed it up.Â
I think we were just so used to the house (our house of 3) running smoothly. We were spoiled by things being easy with our dog, Max, and forgot how having a new dog in the house is a lot of work. Even when we first got Max, it didn’t start that way. The first two weeks with him were hard on all of us. I remember making calls to dog trainers to see if I could get an appointment for the next day.
So, you’re allowed some breakdowns. We certainly had our fair share. It’s hard work, but the rewards are amazing. I wish you the best!
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Oh I hope your day gets better!! As everyone else has said it will take a few days, weeks even to get everyone used to each other and for them to realize that this is it we all live here; Otis is very lucky that you are giving this a try as I am sure you are aware he has got to be thinking why am I here and when do I get to go home??
Again, hopefully life will get easier by the minute!!
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Well, at least it's never dull in a nut house! I'm sure everyone will get in to a routine soon...maybe not soon enough, but soon! ;) I do have an image of cats and dogs and you flying full speed through the house... ;D ;D ;D Think situation comedy?
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I am VERY partial to brindles. I love your pix .... You should post more of the "brindle pack"!
Matthew and Goliath
Glad to hear the meeting went well. Crossing my fingers that the next will also. Be sure to keep us posted.
Cindy
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here's 2 pics I can't believe that's all I've gotten! He walked into Gwecks crate and Gweck followed. At the moment we're noticing some dominance stuff going on argh! Gweck's like I was here first and Otis is like I weigh more...and so on. So we shall see!Â
Wait up!...You have 2 dogs who WANT to go into the crate???????????? :D You are so damn lucky! :D ;) :)
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It will take some time but it will get better. For us we always make sure that we have a safe zone for the cats. We use baby gates with the plastic cut out of the bottom so only the cats can slip through. We also use the "leave it" command.
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Well they look like they like each other enough to play. They are plating, right? ;D
Love the pics. Otis looks like such a sweetheart.
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Yeah, I can imagine the cats will take some time. In my experience, the dog usually adjusts faster to the cat than the cats do to the dog (unless of course the dog hates cats, but that's another story).
I'll get to experience that when we move and I will have to move in with my parents for possibly quite some time while hubby looks for a house to live in. Add my now 4 dogs plus 2 birds to my parents already 1 dog, 2 cats and 2 birds (inside, more animals outside) and it will be a big wild party. NOT! :o
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Any update? I haven't been around to see if there've been new threads on Otis....
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Yeah ,I've been wondering too . What happened to Otis ???