Topic: My boys... (long)

[sunsoaker]

I have to start With Georgie. You've seen the pics of Lexi. Believe it or not, when we got her, I was looking for a small dog! After Lexi passed and I felt ready for another dog, I did a lot of research. The Papillon has a lot of the personality traits of a Rottie, but in a small package. They are rated as the smartest small breed, and one of the top rated for intelligence of all breeds. They also can cost upwards of $1000 dollars... ouch. While researching the breed, I ran across the Papillon Rescue. I had applied to adopt a totally different dog. Georgie's foster saw my application and called me. There's a story behind Georgie and it used to be posted on the web but they must have finally taken it down. Anyhow, Georgie is one of over 72 dogs rescued from a home in Penn. The hows and whys of how the lady let things get that way is a long long story, which varies depending on who tells it, so I won't repeat it. Anyhow, Georgie was one of 27 Paps sent to a foster in Tallahassee. This woman had run a kennel years ago but had shut it down in her retirement. She agreed to take as many as her kennel would allow space wise in this special circumstance. She is the one that saw my application and thought we'd be perfect for each other. I passed the home inspection with flying colors and my application was approved. Georgie then became a part of my family.

This is Georgie the day he arrived at his "forever home"



Georgie was a very very timid little boy (and underweight). He wouldn't look at me and would run if I looked at him. He never barked or made any noise for that matter. Housebreaking him was impossible due to not being able to handle him at all. He wasn't aggressive at all, I just couldn't get anywhere near him. The good thing was that all I have to do is say nite nite and he will go right into his crate, where I could reach in a pick him up. He would tremble uncontrollably and bury his face under my hair in my neck. When I went to a friend's wedding out of town, he went with us as I couldn't bear to leave the scared little guy with anyone. By this point, he had attached himself to me. Would follow me everywhere and lay at my feet. He would even sit next to me on the couch - as long as I didn't reach for him. There was another couple there with their mini daschund and after just a couple of hours in the same room, they started playing together. It was the first time I'd seen Georgie play with anything, much less another living thing. It was at that point I decided to get Georgie a playmate.

Enters, Buddy. This is when we first brought him home. Tiny tiny little guy (was the runt of the litter).



Buddy was gotten from a local breeder and didn't cost anymore than Georgie. There was no waiting, and I really felt Georgie would do better with a puppy rather than a grown dog that might have issues of its own. Buddy is registered, and his registered name is "Georgie's Buddy".

Between then and now, Buddy's ears have had a hard time deciding if they were going to stand up or not. The drop-eared version of this dog is called a Phalene, and the ears are the only difference. Here's a couple of pics showing the same dog (if you can believe it)

Ears down and small white blaze almost gone - color changing..



Ears up and I think his final coloring



Most recent of the pics - ears down... I believe he is a Phalene.



He is definitely all puppy!!!

Georgie has benefited greatly from having Buddy around. He now runs and plays, he'll bark (sometimes too much or at nothing), He will come and paddle my leg or butt with his feet when he wants out, or wants anything for that matter. Buddy has taught him how to interact with everyone, even when company is here, with the exception that I still can't reach for him. They say he wasn't abused, just neglected, but I'm not so sure I believe it. And just look at him now... so much healthier and happier




And here they are out playing together...



So now y'all know the loonng story of my beautiful boys.  Georgie is 4yrs old, Buddy is now 9 mos old and has been a bit bigger the Georgie for over a month now, and definitely not as fine boned. Georgie weights 5.5 lbs.... Buddy is almost 7 lbs.  Very much a downsize from Lexi..

[Jim]

I remember you telling us about Georgie when we were in Destin last year. He is precious. It's amazing that he still won't let you reach for him. Something had to happen to the little guy for him to be that timid.

Buddy is a baby doll. He is so cute. I bet he is a great companion for Georgie and maybe he will help Georgie overcome his timidness when he is around people.

You have some fine boys there Barb. for sharing the photos and stories.

[Dianna]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, Barb! They are just so precious!

 I am so pleased that Georgie has come such a long way with Buddy as a companion. Maybe he will learn now that he was intended to be "Woman's" Best Friend and that he has a reason for living. There is no telling what all that the poor thing went through before he came to his forever home. Like you, I think he may have been abused. I am so happy he has you...

That little Buddy is a dollbaby! Surely now, with Buddy's help, Georgie will make even bigger strides towards getting oriented to you. Buddy looks like he will look any person with two legs in the face and make them fall in love with him. Didn't take you long, did it? 

Have you still got cats? Do they both get along with them? I am just curious because in the first thread you mentioned that Lexi had gone over the Rainbow Bridge, but I don't remember if you mentioned if the felines have, too....

I think Angel needs a playmate, too. Even though she gets to visit her cousins every other week-end, I think she gets lonely not being around other four-legged babies all the time. I might have to borrow one of my neighbor's babies this summer, so they can have play dates...

[sunsoaker]

Georgie has made lots of progress since Buddy came here. He has most certainly been good for him. I expect it won't be long before I can reach and pet him at the very least as he sits on the floor and "talks" to me when I am hold Buddy. I can look directly at him now and he doesn't turn away. If I am laying on the couch, he will not only lay next to me, but on me!  I do still have to pull the "nite nite" think to be able to pick him up, but he no longer trembles when I do.  He will jump down at his firt opportunity though.  Georgie was one messed up little guy and it will take a long time to get over all the issues, but I'm sure he will in time...

[sunsoaker]

Too funny Diana. When Buddy was smaller, everyone that saw him threatened to go home with him...

I still have all 4 cats. Pita (the Pain In The Ass) will have nothing at all to do with the dogs and will swat at them if they get too close (she has no front claws so can't hurt them).  Kit and Boodles tolerate Buddy and we have actually caught Snowflake and Buddy playing together.  Buddy licks them to death, like he's cleaning them. He does that to Georgie too. And Georgie will clean Buddy, they clean each other's faces and ears.  Both dogs clean their paws and legs the way a cat would and from reading on a Papillon board, that is evidently a trait of this dog. They are neat little guys with personalities unlike any other dog I've ever been around.  I do hope they adjust to being in the woods!! I am going to fence them an area where they can run and not let them have run of the full acre. I'd be afraid something would get them before I could rescue them!

[Dianna]

I do hope they adjust to being in the woods!!

You have already found you a spot?

A fenced-in area would be great for your mind, Barb. You can let 'em out to do their business, then let 'em back in. If you let them run free, you risk the chance a hawk or buzzard might take to scoop 'em up for fast food. Not to mention anyone driving along that would love to own those adorable pooches!

Angel and Molly (AB's fur-baby) constantly clean their paws like they might have been cats in another life...

[sunsoaker]

We don't have an exact place chosen, but we do know the area we will be and that we will be out of town in the boondocks...  So yes, a fenced run is a must!!

[Dianna]

You will love the boondocks, Barb! 

I just hope the deer don't eat up your efforts at gardening!