Am I Turning Esther Into A Sissy Dog?

RonE · 04-14-2007, 08:05 PM

All this talk about hog hunting has me concerned.

The first time I saw Esther, in August 2005, she was lean, mean, completely uncivilized and mostly disinterested in human beings. She had roundworms, a raging infection in both ears and she was only marginally housebroken. This was about as relaxed as she ever got. It was love at first sight.

Stay tuned for the 'after' picture. I have to go make supper.

sillylilykitty · 04-14-2007, 09:29 PM

Where's the after picture! I wanna see it!!

RonE · 04-14-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillylilykitty

Where's the after picture! I wanna see it!!

Sorry. it took me longer to burn dinner than I planned on.

Here is Esther this evening, after a brutal day of playing at Tail Waggers. This could just as easily be the end of any good day for Esther.

squirt1968 · 04-14-2007, 09:47 PM

Gosh Ron I gotta say the first picture looks like a healthy happy ready to go dog. Second one well tired and shinny coat!! LOL

RonE · 04-14-2007, 09:54 PM

I worry, though, that if our half-acre yard is ever overrun with wild boars, she won't be up to the task.

I think she needs to go to doggy boot camp.

The Canidae DOES seem to be agreeing with her, doesn't it?

iwantmypup · 04-14-2007, 10:03 PM

First of all Esther Is a cutie doggy!!! She is adorable and ready to go up for anything in the first pic And in the second pic she is adorable but tired and looks like shes saying " Don't take pictures , I need my beauty sleep.. I get the boars tomorrow .

" lolsza

cshellenberger · 04-14-2007, 10:07 PM

Esther looks great and I'm sure chasing tennis balls makes her as happy as chasing down piggies!

Cassie Nova · 04-14-2007, 10:07 PM

I think that second pic is what all dogs should look like....

Laying comfortably on the couch, after a good day of play and a nice dinner. (The shiny coat, too!)

ETA: How big is she? Looks so bigly small, if that makes sense.

RonE · 04-14-2007, 10:13 PM

She was 59 pounds when we got her and actually looked anorexic.

She's 80 pounds now and could probably lose about ten pounds. She'll do that easily in the summer.

She's about the size and shape of a lab and most people assume that's what she is - right up until she opens her mouth.

I complain a lot about her, but she is a very good dog.

sillylilykitty · 04-14-2007, 10:14 PM

Ooo, shiny coat! Esther is a cute dog! Maybe a picture before exercise would be better to compare to the first pic! Or was the 1st picture taken after exersice to?

Jaylie · 04-14-2007, 10:47 PM

Wow...first picture..."Okay, I was almost hit by a car today, got my dinner out of a garbage can, and was nearly torn to shreds in a dog fight...Today was a pretty good day!" Second picture..."DAAADDDYYYY!!!! Did you see how that other dog was teasing me? He wouldn't give me the toy, daddy! why didn't you help, daddy? Man, you better be getting me a pretty good dinner to make up for what you did to me today!" Lol, that's SO funny!

Cassie Nova · 04-14-2007, 10:50 PM

Sounds like a big girl to me, lol!

I actually wondered how you got plott hound outta her until you posted the pics- I never saw the brindle.

RonE · 04-14-2007, 10:56 PM

That first photo was taken during a test drive at the shelter. She had arrived there a week earlier after being a stray for lord-knows-how-long.

They have some woods with paths behind the shelter where you can walk the dogs. She took turns dragging me and my son through the woods and I am grateful we didn't see a rabbit or a deer.

When my daughter met her the next day (after I'd already signed some preliminary papers) she was appalled. She wanted a lap dog. It was about six weeks before we could even pet Esther. She wasn't vicious - she just wasn't interested.

It's taken some time, but she has developed into a very affectionate animal and a great family dog.

sillylilykitty · 04-14-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

That first photo was taken during a test drive at the shelter. She had arrived there a week earlier after being a stray for lord-knows-how-long.

They have some woods with paths behind the shelter where you can walk the dogs. She took turns dragging me and my son through the woods and I am grateful we didn't see a rabbit or a deer.

When my daughter met her the next day (after I'd already signed some preliminary papers) she was appalled. She wanted a lap dog. It was about six weeks before we could even pet Esther. She wasn't vicious - she just wasn't interested.

It's taken some time, but she has developed into a very affectionate animal and a great family dog.

Esther looks and sounds like a great dog. And to answer your question, I dont think you turned her into a sissy. I think she has learned to be the family pet and that she doesnt heve to worry about her own safety or anything else like she had to think about as a stay. So no, shes not a sissy, she's just not the tough stray dog she used to be because she doesnt need to be.

RonE · 04-14-2007, 11:10 PM

Here she is engaged in the dangerous, but necessary, task of defusing a live Kong.

sillylilykitty · 04-14-2007, 11:17 PM

Good thing you got her to diffuse them! Wouldnt want one of um to blow up in your face!

cshellenberger · 04-14-2007, 11:24 PM

ROFL!! Good one!

lovemygreys · 04-14-2007, 11:55 PM

Wow....Esther sure is a beauty! Love that shiny coat!

xoxluvablexox · 04-15-2007, 12:08 AM

Aww she's so pretty. The second pic looks like she's thinking, "You can't take ictures of me now, I had a hard day out catching tennis balls and I need my sleep!" LOL. She has such a pretty coat.

OC_Spirit · 04-15-2007, 12:14 AM

I couldnt really say unless you got out and tested her. Not on bear as that would be illegal these days but perhaps a small boar with her on a leash. See if she even fires up at the sight/smell of them.