Last night was New Year’s Eve. My teen slept over at a friends house so Reese the dog could not sleep with him. My little guy’s bed is too small for both him and Reese so that was out too. I did not want to get Reese’s stinky Frito smell and dog hair in my own bed and I could not possibly leave him alone on his second night on his new home so, I slept with him on the couch and we rang in the new year with a deep sleep!
When we got up I gave Reese a bath. I used the hand held shower sprayer in the bathtub. At first I saw him eyeing the 4 inch gap between the shower door and my arm so I closed it quick and the rest of the bath Reese was fantastic. He was very calm. . . no shaking or whining at all. He just enjoyed his massaging shampoo and warm rinse. Then after I dried him he went Crazy and ran through the house like a red streak stopping occasionally to rub his face and back on the rugs. SO CUTE!
Then we had a sad incident. . .
Reese was asleep on the couch next to my 10 year old. My son reached over to pet him and Reese snarled and snapped at his hand. (No skin was broken.) It really scared my son and made him fearful to go near Reese today. Later in the day Reese was sleeping at my feet while I was working on the computer. I brushed his back when I moved my foot and he snarled and bit again.
I had a talk with my son. I explained that because Reese has lived his last 8 months in a kennel, he is not used to many people touching him. He is certainly not used to being woken by touch. In the pet store he would wake up when the people came in the shop, by barking dogs in the kennels around him and by the goings on of the daily business outside the bars and the glass of his cage. My son immediately understood and connected this to the fact that Reese is so easily startled and scared by the littlest noises. My son made the awesome suggestion that we say Reese’s name to wake him before we try to touch him. Great idea!! This has been working tonight, and my son warmed back up to Reese and relaxed on the couch with him during a Bowl Game.
Reese has “asked” go outside to go to the bathroom with not one accident in the house. He smells so fresh and clean from his bath. We worked on the “come” command a bit. My son gave him a tiny elephant stuffed animal with a rattle in it. Reese will chase it and bring it back to play fetch!
He ate brunch and dinner (I set out his breakfast but he didn’t want to eat until later.) And he hung out with my teen a lot who luckily is home tonight so Reese has a buddy to sleep with and I can sleep in my bed!
Happy New Year!
You can read about Reese’s adoption story here!
Hobbies on a Budget
Congrats on your new rescue! That’s tough to get used to – from both sides! Hoping for a great continued story!!!
MoonRae
~smile~
Amanda @ Survival Guide
I have a chihuahua/beagle mix. She can be sweet but nippy at my youngest as well (she is 4). They say chihuahuas are not very good with kids.
Christy Maurer
Awww he’s so cute! Congrats on your new dog and I’m so happy he’s a rescue dog!
Fun Reviews & Giveaways!
Awwww hes so cute!
Dena Sablotny
Good luck with Reese, he’s adorable and thank you for rescuing a doggy who needed a forever home!
Olivia R
So glad you rescued him…have ever heard of a Thundershirt ? Best $35 – $40 I ever spent. My lab was petrified of thunder, fireworks…pant like crazy, quiver. When I put the shirt on her she is upset about the sound, but just lays down quietly and wants to be comforted back to sleep. It can be bought at any pet store and is 100% money back guarantee. People use it for stress, anxiety in pets.
Denise Taylor-Dennis
So nice of you to get a rescued dog. Reese is such a cutie. Congrats.
Sacha Schroeder
Adorable! I love that you got a rescue dog. We need more of that!
courtney erickson
aww!! what a sweetie! give him a scratch on that sweet little head of his for me. 🙂 all of my pets have been rescues and it is so rewarding.
Amy Osborn
What a cute dog
francis485
ooohhh he is too cute, i love my furbabies so much, i have four min pins, reese is just like them, you will love him. enjoy
Holly Trudeau
What a sweetie pie! Rescues are the best, our dobie/weimie mix is a rescue & he is the greatest dog! So sweet and gentle, love them all 🙂
fee roberts
I’m not really a dog person. I just don’t trust hem. I was attacked by a dog several years back and I have never gotten over it. I have two cats I rescued though that I just love dearly =D
Nikkie Cossairt
Thank you for taking in a Chihuahua. I love my Chihuahuas so much!!! I have 4 of my own and I have a rescued female whom I am fostering while I find her the right home. I have never been blessed more.
Elle S.
Beautiful 🙂
Everybody should opt for a rescue pet!!
Elle
hey_wren@yahoo.com
Kelly A. Tanner
Rescuing pets is such a great thing to do! We rescued an older cat last year and she is so sweet!
Peteyn
Reese is precious! We have a rescued chihuahua, and are looking to get another. Our dog is perfect, even when he’s baring his teeth!
FireRunner2379
My wife brought home a cat a couple of years ago from the shelter and it was doing some of the same things. When it bit my youngest son and broke the skin that was the last straw. She had to take him back, and the Vet agreed that it would likely not change. She ended up getting another one that has turned out to be great! Good Luck!
Anonymous
What a cute dog. I had a dog like this that I rescued for 13 years and I had so much fun with that dog I hope your s brings you as much love and joy as mine did. wilcarvic
[at]gmail[dot[com]]
jenzen69
Love your little Furbaby, we just got a miniature Dachshund and he is so fun
corey1971
He is SO cute! (Corey Olomon)
clynsg
Unfortunately, it is not hard to find an animal that needs rescue, and in my case, I haven’t even had to go to a rescue agency! I live in the country, and it is true that people just dump animals. I now have 3 dogs (and I am not even a real dog person!)–one (a Chiweenie) was a ‘gift’ from my son-in-law, who got him and a littermate from a family which was going to destroy them. The Great Dane came to me from someone going through a divorce who could no longer care for her, and the German Shepherd was actually purchased by my grandson, who is living with me. I also have cats–the oldest was found as a kitten by that same grandson in a snowdrift, the next was abandoned and just came up to me in the yard and then into the house, and there is also one who appeared as an almost feral kitten that I have managed to semi-tame. He stays on the porch, won’t come into the house, probably because of the dogs–although he has become very unconcerned when he knows they are inside and he is on the other side of the door!
cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com
Keara B.
What a sweet post! It breaks my heart to think of what these dogs went through in a kennel, but you really are an angel for taking him into your home. He’s a very blessed little guy. 🙂
cathy henatyszen
what a lucky little dog !!
my brother has one just like him, but his is a girl
dhjax1
I have two rescue chihuahuas….one now stays with my mom as he was extremely dog aggressive with my other dogs and does not like men either…possibly mistreated by a man?? The second chi I rescued in oct 11 from our local pound…..saved him from euthanasia as he had kennel cough so bad it turned into pneumonia and severly underweight….he is now eleven pounds….was 4 when rescued…. It took nearly six weeks just to get him well but now he is happy and healthy. He gets aggressive with food but I control that by feeding him in a crate…. Sorry you are having trouble with your chi but I’ve found out that most chis, especially rescued ones seem to have some sort of aggression issue whether to other dogs, people, food or whatnot….hope things are going ok with your new baby now.