The latest addition to our busy household. We adopted Dudley on May 18th, 1999.
It was an accident really. Greg and I had gone out to lunch and we got back to work too early. I suggested we go to the Humane Society (we work next door to it) to kill some time. He gave a very firm, “NO!” but I must have said or done something right because a few minutes later we were there.
We looked at the kitties (there were no puppies, thank doG). Then Greg suggested going into the big dog room. I don’t particularly like going there because I always cry. I feel so bad for those big dogs who were given up. Especially when you read some of the stupid reasons for surrender:
“barks too much”, “too much work”, etc–why did you get a dog in the first place? Who in the world doesn’t know that it is work to raise a dog?
Anyone?? OK off my soapbox…
So we looked at all the sad dogs. There were some really beautiful dogs there. There were a ton of German Shepherd mixes and Black lab mixes too. We walked around to the back where they keep some of the dogs when they are really full (they were really full too, I don’t remember seeing any empty cages). On the back stretch was “Tiger”. A Chow mix.
He was just beautiful. We both sort of gasped when we saw him. But we had to go back to work. I don’t remember the exact chain of events, but to make a long story well, not quite as long, after I visited Tiger on my lunch break for a few days we went back and adopted him.
We changed his name to Dudley. I’m not sure how we decided on this name. I like the name Tiger, he certainly looks like one, but we already have a “Bear” and I thought we’d have to change Murphy’s name to “Lion” so we could say, “Lion, and Tiger and Bear, Oh my!”
Also Tiger was the dog’s name on “The Brady Bunch” and I was feeling a little too Jan Brady calling him. So Dudley it was!
We brought him home and ignored the instructions that the woman at the Humane Society gave us. I know our dogs, they LOVE other dogs. I knew there would not be a problem introducing them. I was still shocked at how very easy it was though. We brought Dudley into the back yard, Murphy and Bear came running out and greeted him with waggly tales and kisses. He was a little apprehensive at first (for about 3 seconds) then he gave Bear a big smooch on the forehead and it was as if he had lived with us forever.
He was an outdoor dog at his last home, so we anticipated problems with other animals and with people, but he has shown none. He is, however, fascinated with the kitties. He will stare at Misha for hours. He learned early on from Lazlo not to touch the kitties, just look.
As far as group dynamics, Murphy is still top dog (he probably always will be) and Bear and Dudley seem to be fine with being quite equal. I never see them being dominant over each other.
Our vet also said he believes Dudley to be Chow and Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull). I think he’s probably right, Dudley has that upturned smile like they have.***Update, in 2007 we had Dudley’s DNA tested and he’s actually: Mastiff, Lab, Chow and Akita.***
We were also very shocked that an outdoor dog would have no trouble going potty outside. He woke me up at about 5am on the first night. I took him out, he did his business and we were good to go. He had a few accidents but nothing much.***Update: he pees on the floor all the time now (2008) but he’s still wonderful.
He is a very good listener. On our first day together, I noticed that he was missing for awhile. I tracked him down upstairs on the bed surrounded with 6 pairs of my underwear! I picked them up, showed them to him and said, “No these are not yours!” and he looked very sad and has never done it again.
He’s very sweet, he gives hugs and he can be comfortable anywhere as long as he can touch you. He came to us with manners too! He didn’t jump up, beg, or steal food but Murphy being the good teacher of naughty habits that he is, Dudley has since picked up some of these more annoying traits.
He’s a wonderful dog…we are very lucky!
Posted under Random Thoughts
This post was written by Amy on May 18, 1999