Friday, May 3, 2013

On the New Pooch

It's amazing how the heart can make room for more love. If you remember a few weeks ago, Hubs and I were TOTALLY distraught over losing Jiggy. We started visiting local shelters in Virginia, but we didn't make a connection with any of the doggies that we met.  About 3 weeks ago, I was visiting a friend who doesn't live too far from the Prince George's County Animal Shelter. I decided to take a look because my husband and I had scouted the site and we had a few dogs in mind. I was looking at curly, little Bichon types, while my husband laid eyes on this guy:

At the time, his name was Bush because he had a bushy tail. I wasn't sold, but I still paid him a visit. Let me tell you, it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
This is a picture of him during our first meeting.

The folks at the animal shelter shared that he was resource agressive, especially about his food and toys and that he was a handful. Well, I can attest to the fact that he has lots of energy - but it's good, happy energy. He is aggressive when it comes to hugs and kisses, and that's about it. He also greeted me with a wave during my first visit, which immediately sucked me in. More about the infamous wave in another post.

I went home and told my husband all about him, and we went back together so he could meet him. They instantly connected: 

As a matter of fact, Shawn went to pick him up from the shelter without me. 
Hubs and Tyson on their way home from the shelter. 
We also decided that we had to change his name. Bush wasn't going to work for us. We had a list of cool names, and ultimately decided on Tyson for several reasons. He was full of misdirected energy. He was misunderstood. He's also sorta squat and muscular. We decided Tyson, after Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson, was totally fitting. 

The first few days after bringing him home were a little trying. He didn't like his crate and cried the first night. We had a few accidents. He wasn't aggressive about his food, but he didn't like to share his toys. 
We eventually had to get him a new e-collar. He chewed through this one :-/.
After watching him for a few days, we wondered a couple of things: 
1) Had he ever had a home? He was a stray, so we have no background information. 
2) Was he as old as they said he was? The gnawing on furniture, perfect teeth, and EXTRA playful spirit made us wonder if he was almost 3 like the shelter said he was. 

Well . . . 

After a visit to his vet, we soon learned that hes about 1.5 years old. Basically we're working with a semi-puppy. This helped us make sense of some of his behavior. 

Tyson being a good boy at the vet. 
We're about 2.5 weeks into having Tyson as a member of our family, and we love him! 

We've had our moments . . . 

Somebody snuck into the kitchen and tore up his box of flea medicine.
RIP to one of my decorative pillows in the bedroom. 
He chewed my husband's laces off, but he was wearing the shoe. . . smh.  
. . . But Tyson is really starting to thrive!

He loves to people watch:

Staring out the window, fixated on the children playing outside
He loves to hug:
He lives for hugs and kisses! 
He's kind to strangers:
Making a new friend at PetSmart
He's reflective: 

He loves to shop: 


Most of all, he's full of love:

After Jiggy, I wasn't sure that I ever wanted a new pet. I still have my down moments when I think about my little guy, but Tyson has brought his own unique energy to the house, and I'm grateful for it. 
That's a look of fake innocence.
He's finally free from that e-collar now that he's healed from being neutered. 
I'll be back next week with more about Tyson, his first obedience class, and the importance of adopting pets. We just can't get enough of him! 

Until next time . . . I'll be loving on my new doggy! 
He also loves to ride in the car and look over my shoulder. 
Have an awesome weekend!

2 comments:

  1. Awww Toya, LOL at the name (TYSON)!!! He is so cute. I can totally relate with the puppy thing. We got a beagle, Bruce(after Bruce Wayne from Batman) when he was 2 months and now he is 9 months and he is so full of energy.

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  2. Why did this article make me cry? I just know how much it hurts to lose a dog but I also know there is so much healing when adopting a new one. I can't wait to meet Ty!

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