Thursday, June 26, 2008

Free Pug

Really, would anyone like a 9 year old pug? Basically healthy, other than some allergies, pk, potential knee surgery...oh, she's also prone to total freak out, temper tantrum style fits.

I'm *mostly* kidding. Yesterday afternoon, about 5 minutes before I had to drive out to the barn for practice Rudy attacked Kittie. She used to be much, much worse, but she's gotten better. Not perfect, but better. I honestly have no clue why she goes after Kittie. Rudy has had issues with other dogs, and she's tried to pick fights with Abby, but Abby just ignores her and it goes nowhere....Kittie gets afraid and Rudy seems to feed off of it. Abby jumps in when Rudy attacks her sister, so I end up with a big, messy pile of fighting pugs. Part of me wants to just walk away, let them "work this out", but how on earth can you walk away, if something happened to one of them I could *never* forgive myself. I managed to grab Rudy, Kittie and Abby were shaking, completely freaked out, covered in drool and spit, but not a mark on them.

I tossed Rudy in their room without saying a word, let Willy just have the run of the house and left for class. Abby did fine, not really mentally there, but did well considering. Kittie was a mess, ran around the first jump, *never* completed a set of weave poles, totally not like her at all. We probably should have just stayed home, but usually within a few minutes everyone is back to normal.

Rudy's the first dog I've ever even gave a thought to rehoming, but I'll never do it considering her age and potential for expensive health issues. Even though actual fights are rare, I know Kittie is walking on egg shells around her...and it's just not fair to her.

3 comments:

Margie said...

I wish I had some words of wisdom for you but I just don't. I don't really have those sort of issues with my three and if I did, I'm not sure I would deal with it any differently than you currently do. Like you, I would not let them work it out. Goodness knows where that would lead to.

Give all the pugs a hug from me.

westoverpugs said...

Thanks Margie, I hope you never have any issues. Who would think pugs of all breeds would be so prone to this fighting nonsense?! 99.9% of the time they're fine...it's just every now and then.
I have this sinking fear that as Rudy ages she's going to get worse and worse.

Jamie said...

I am so sorry! I have the same problems with Seamus and Cash (the reason I left PV). They rarely fight, but when they do, it frustrates me to no end. I have tried letting them work it out on there own (like you mentione), but it doesn't help....they actually just escalate. Cash tends to instigate things, but Seamus tends to actually cause damage since he is larger. Cash has numerous scratches typically behind his left ear as Seamus grabs his ear and won't let go. Sorry that I don't have any good advice. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone! I have tried water bottles, firm tone of voice, yelling, time outs....nothing works. What's worse is that they only fight around me....never around my husband. If I'm not home, they cuddle, play, and generally love each other. I really think Cash resource guards me....and I have no idea what to do about it. I understand that "wits end" feeling. I just finished stopping a fight. :(