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Posted by Elizabeth on 4/30/2008, 3:48 pm
209.81.106.28
Just got back from the vet. Had to take all the dogs in for heartworm checks because we took them off Heartguard for the winter.
We've been noticing that Tsavo is not exactly overjoyed with the new puppy, but we figured that he would get over it since he has not had problems with any of the other puppies we have fostered and babysat. We thought that once Tchaka improved his manners a little Tsavo would warm up to him and they would be pals. NOT!
Apparently we have been misinterpreting Tsavo's actions. The vet says that he is very uneasy about the pup and feels uncomfortable around him. And apparently the puppy, who has just recently become great pals with Argos, is picking up on Tsavo's feelings and is acting very disrespectfully towards him. So, where normally you would think a 121 pound dog would be full of confidence, Tsavo has very little. The vet used the analogy of a small dog who thinks that he is very tough and wants to take on the world- well, Tsavo is the opposite- he's more like what you would expect a small dog to act like, except he is in a giant body. Poor Baby. The vet thinks Tsavo wants me to make the puppy go back to wherever he came from.
I think it might also have something to do with the fact that Tsavo is so super sensitive and sweet- he knows the puppy is important to me and so he won't bite him or do anything physical to put him in his place, even though that is exactly what he should be doing.
Sooo, we got some instructions on how to better handle the situation to make Tsavo feel better about it and to get the puppy to behave himself around Tsavo. Hopefully we can work with them both to improve the situation. Tsavo is my real baby and I want him to be happy. But man! What a WEENIE he is, lol!
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