German Shepherd Rescue Alliance of Wisconsin

Bruno

DIARY OF A RESCUE DOG

by JoAnn Lomax (you must read all of this, it is hysterical!)

December, 2003 - Bruno is doing great.  We are coming up on 2 years since we first met our favorite pet.  Seems as if we have had him forever, he is such a part of our daily life.  Our boy is so smart, but then I guess most animal lovers think their pet is a genius too.  Over the past year and a half Bruno has:

* Attempted to eat shoes, socks, toys, shower curtains, rugs, paper >products and my partial denture.

* Pulled mattresses off the bed, comforters, pillows, curtains down from the windows, dumped wastebaskets, tore up toys, and dropped toys in the toilet and plugged it up...busy boy!

* Learned to walk on the coffee table, and in the bath tub, jumps up on counter tops, sleeps in a twin bed, and knows his own blanket.

* He has learned how to effectively get your attention by climbing up in your lap, all 108 pounds...he is heavy!

* When he wants to go outside, and you are standing up, he will jump up on your back and shove you toward the door...honest to goodness!  Not a good thing to encourage!

* Grab your keys and Bruno runs for his leash.  He actually jumps up on the file cabinet and pulls his leash down and head for the door.  Outside he runs to the garage or the gate to get out.

* Open the refrigerator and he thinks it is "hot dog" time!  We give him one when we leave for work every morning.

* Taking him to the veterinarian is WW III.  He do not like the vet.  So planning is vital to take him in.

* If Bruno is quiet, you had better get up and look to see what he is doing...he chewed a $10 leash in half!  And, we have to put away the nylon stockings...he chews up Mary Ann's knee highs all the time.

* Loves water, so watering the grass and giving him a shampoo works well for us.

* Plays with his toys constantly, and knows when he gets a new toy...it becomes his favorite.

* Bruno remains very protective toward Mary Ann and I and sleeps in one of our bedrooms all the time.  When we are in the same room, he will lay across the doorway and take a nap...we move and he will know it.

* If Bruno is asleep and we do not want to disturb him, we'll just sit and watch him sleep...until it is bathroom time, then "you gott'a go".

This past year and a half has been very rewarding.  We continue to miss our Bullet, yet Bruno has brought his own brand of loyalty with him, and this we are grateful.  Rescue animals are wonderful pets, and Mary Ann and I always talk about how we got Bruno and the joy he has brought into our lives.  We look at Bruno and say "you are a blessing and we love you so much"!  He's our boy!

Take care.
Thanks!
JoAnn

******

Hi Sue, its been a while since I sent an update on Bruno.  Just want to share a recent event.

February 11 - Update - Bruno, Just a short note to let you know Bruno is doing fine. He's gained a little weight, looking healthy everyday...eating heartily and evacuating piles (whew!). He is getting comfortable with us brushing him. His coat is becoming shiny everyday. Mary Ann and I notice he watches his hind quarter, so we spend very little time on his hip area right now. Still using the brush side of the brush and not the teeth side. Bruno is finally sleeping in his bed. He was a little reluctant at first, so I put his blanket on the bed and he would lay down for short periods. Now, he just hops up on his bed and looks around...as if "this is mine"? It still amazes Mary Ann and I that he will not go through a door that is slightly ajar. Must be something from the past.

We are still having fun convincing Bruno that night time is for going to sleep. He wants to jump from bed to bed...big fun for him...little sleep for me! Somehow, Bruno equates Mary Ann and my lying down to "It's time to climb up on you and sit". I bought him 2 more toys...mistake! He chews the corner off, so I have to come up with something else. I don't want him swallowing pieces of plastic. Maybe a large dog biscuit when I leave for work.

I have been taking Bruno out for a walk in the morning and he walks very well. So far I have managed to stand up and not be pulled down the street. All in all, this has been a wonderful 2 weeks. I know that week 3 will be just as fruitful. Take care and have a nice week.

*****

February 28...Update...Bruno is just fine! He is so wonderful and continues to make a difference in our lives. You would not recognize Bruno...he has gained a sufficient amount of weight...not the skinny dog we got on January 26th. His coat is becoming so beautiful and shiny (with the Vita Cap - 2 per day in his food, a little Vitamin B (powder) for his itching and dry skin, Vita Coat skin and oil supplement for his coat) he looks great. The brushing is going well...no fuss from Bruno.

He is still distinguishing night from day...in that Bruno thinks night is for playing and "jumping from twin bed to twin bed". However, he is sleeping in his twin bed now... most of the time. The two of us in one twin bed is a little much! He continues to be very independent and spends 30-45 minutes amusing himself with his toys, balls and raw hide bone. He brings them and drops them in your lap.

One thing I have noticed about Bruno...when we let him out for "his business", sometimes he'll see birds flying off. Well, I have noticed him trying to catch them. He stands on his hind legs and is walking trying to reach them. The first time I saw this it was amazing...the dog is upright and walking on his hind legs. I am trying to capture this with a camera...now! Also, Bruno does not "run" along the fence and in the yard...he hops like a kangaroo! It's amazing to see.

Bruno has slowed down on gobbling up his food. He is spreading it out over the day. However, he loves the raw hide bone...he can demolish one everyday if I give one to him. I am talking about the large bone ($4.98 a piece). He has figured out a way to get our attention when he wants to go outside. Bruno will come to one of us...jump up and literally put is front legs around our neck (like a hug) to get our attention. That will get you moving! He is barking a little more (which is fine) because for a while when we first got him he would not bark.

Bruno has become very protective of Mary Ann and I. This we love!

Now, the next adventure is getting him a bath. We are taking him to a grooming place. They have a whole set up and protocol to get the dog familiar with the surrounding before the bath. It may take a few visits. It has been a month...and what a wonderful month it has been. Thanks for saving Bruno for us to see and bring home. As soon as I get his pictures back I will send you one for the web page...adoption page. We still miss Bullet terribly, however having Bruno is a joy...he has made a difference. Thanks again.

*****

Update on Bruno: I took Bruno to the post office with me. Everything was fine until I was getting out of the car. You know how you have to turn sideways to get out of the car due to bad knees. Well as I am sitting with my legs out of the car trying to stand up...Bruno decides he want to get out too. You had to see this to appreciate it...here this dog was trying to crawl through my arm...past the seat belt (I managed to grab him by his collar) and stuffed him back in the car. Next it was trying to come over the steering wheel. Then, Bruno decides another tactic...he climbed up on my back with his front legs around my shoulders and was trying to crawl over my head. Well the battle was on...I could not see a thing and was having difficulty breathing, plus I was getting tired because I was losing the war...and dog hair was flying everywhere. Finally, with much pushing and shoving I managed to get Bruno off my head and into the back seat. When I stood up outside the car, you would have thought I had been in a snowstorm with all the dog hair in my hair. I picked hair off of my coat for 20 minutes while standing in line in the post office. I hope the folks in line did not think I had fleas (smile).

Needless to say, NO ONE came over to give me a helping hand. With a dog standing almost five feet on his hind legs, I guess that would discourage a person.

But, I love this dog...he is a challenge. At least he has not pulled the mattress half off the bed anymore...we close the bedroom door when we leave. Bruno has really gotten comfortable with his surroundings. We are completing our seventh week together. What a joy he is! Now, to make an appointment to take him into the vet. He has been swiping at his ear. I examined him and it looks scratched and redden. Talk to you later via email. Hello to your husband.

*****  

March 11:  Here are Bruno’s latest escapades. He has been a delight but has had us running ragged lately.

Chewed up three pairs of shoes.

Mary Ann got home before I did and found Bruno had pulled her comforter off her bed and into the kitchen area. Mind you, the comforter is queen size! So, we tried to out think him the next day and tucked the comforter in under the mattress the next morning when we left for work.

On Mary Ann’s arrival home, Bruno had dragged the mattress half of the bed trying to pull the comforter off. He must have really worked at this. Mary Ann decided she would wait until I got home before repairing the damage. On my arrival it was all I could do not to burst into laughter. Mary Ann was not amused!

Bruno has gained weight nicely...now we have to watch that he doesn’t get any heavier. It’s down to one and a half meals a day. Eventually it will be one meal a day (we mix wet and dry).

Bruno loves his raw hide bones, however, we have to make sure (when he gets quiet) that that is all he is chewing on! I found him this morning with another shoe in his mouth. So, everything is behind closed doors when we leave for work now.

Last night it was "play time at 12 midnight" ... charging around the upstairs full steam ahead ... jumping from bed to bed having himself a good time. This we will have to get under control ...

I have taken a roll of film and hope some of them turn out good. He is still a delight and fills our days with much joy. Bruno still likes to sit on Mary Ann and "pester" her to death when she is trying to sleep. We have to close and lock her bedroom door on the nights she is trying to get some sleep before going to work.

Next, it’s bath time. We are going to take him to Pampered Paw. I will have him "spit shined" in no time.

Hope all is well with your family. Take care and God bless the Alliance.

*****

March 15:  Bruno is wonderful. Boy do we love that dog. Yesterday, when we got home, I went into the bathroom and "observed" these muddy paw prints in the tub. Bruno had been dropping his toy in the tub, pushing it around and then climbing over to retrieve it (just his front legs thus far). His legs are so long and he’s so tall he can actually get into the tub. Bruno is constantly awaking us to new adventures and we love it.

Mary Ann was leaving for work and I brought Bruno into the pantry to watch her go to the garage. Our pantry has a wrap around counter with a window. Well, I wanted Bruno to simply raise himself up on the counter to look out. He jumped up on the counter (all four) which absolutely shocked me ... I didn’t think he could do that ... now, it’s how are we going to get you down! I had to get a chair so he could step on the chair and then the floor. It was comical thinking about how I was going to get him down. Bruno is really warming up to being brushed. Mr. Personality is still loveable and has a hearty appetite. We hate to leave him in the morning and race home to see him in the evening. We are so grateful that John Allen, a Chaplain here at Froedtert Hospital, told us about the Alliance.

***** 

It has been a while since I last sent an email on Bruno. So, here is the latest update.

1. Bruno is doing just fine! He looks sooooo...good. His coat has improved significantly...Lord knows we have brushed him and removed so much winter hair, he should be bald! Bruno is brushed everyday and sometimes twice a day. We have collected 4 Walmart bags of hair. Poor dog probably thinks he has died and gone to heaven.

2. Bruno is still full of it! Since the episodes with him dragging the comforter off Mary Ann's bed...(we close the bedroom door now) he decided to chew up a pair of Mary Ann's shoes. Now that all shoes have been placed in closets...Bruno decided he would chew the binding on the carpet off...a runner we had in the hallway. Boy, he must have worked at that all day!

3. Bruno is sleeping well in his bed! I am trying to capture a picture of him with his head lying on his pillows. Has Bruno got his days and nights straightened out? Not really...he woke me at three fifteen in the morning to play with his ball. Bruno jumped up on my bed and stood over me...then dropped the ball on my head. Next, he decided to sit on me because I was ignoring him. That will get your attention!

4. Appetite.-.eating well. He has gained 10 pounds and is up to 88 pounds. We took him to the vet for an ear infection...got a cleansing solution and ointment. The trick was trying to get the ointment in his ear. Because Bruno would not cooperate, we resorted to putting the ointment on our finger...playing with him and massaging his ear...then sneak the ointment in the ear. We felt if we got it in the ear it would trickle down into the cavity. His ear looks really good...no redness and he will let us put the medication in now!

5. The warm weather has been a blessing. Bruno loves going outside, so we prop the back door open and let him run in and out at will. Having a fenced in yard has its perks. Now, it's cleaning up the backyard again! There is a poop ditch out there. I don't want to fumigate the neighbors.

6. I bought a treadmill for myself. Well, Bruno and the treadmill are enemies. He does not understand the wheels rolling and the mat moving. Once he tried to bite the treadmill to get it to stop. I solved that problem real quick. He goes outside and I do my 5 minute walk. I am working up to this slowly!

7. I have a couple pictures I will get in the mail to you so you can see what a fine specimen Bruno has turned out to be. He is still loveable...and we have spoiled him to death! When Bruno climbs up on the couch and lays his head in your lap...you know you are putty! If we have to admonish Bruno, he tucks his tail and comes over to rub against you...wanting a pat! Now, we have really lost the battle. But we would not have it any other way! Soon, we will be taking Bruno to St. Louis to meet our family and that should be an interesting visit. However, Bruno seems to ride nicely in a car, so I believe we will be okay.

*****

Update: 04/30/02 - Our energetic boy managed one more feat...when Mary Ann arrived home she found that Bruno had hopped into the bathtub, grabbed the end of the window curtain and pulled the whole thing down!  Yesterday, we had been in the bathroom and this time we observed these paw prints in the tub.  Of course he was admonished with "this is a No NO" to which he immediately snuggled up to us for a pat.  That did it...we melted on the spot.  Who is controlling whom around here!  Mary Ann and I have got to get better control of this situation!  Maybe a tub bath will cure him of this fascination with the bathtub.  Never mind we put him out for the morning to burn up some of that energy.  He runs, jump, chase and race around the yard like a mad animal, but somehow that is not enough!  Then we leave the TV on (Sesame Street) every morning...maybe that's the problem?  Maybe he is tired of the show and needs a distraction. Now, the going question is "what will we find when we get home"?  Nevertheless, that's our Bruno and we love him.  Last, but not the least...I had made myself a ham sandwich and left it on my plate.  I took careful aim and thought I shoved it farther back on the table...I turned to do something and guess what...he grabbed the sandwich and literally swallowed it whole.  Bruno was admonished again...to no avail.  Problem solved...don't leave anything within his reach. He is definitely a challenge, but that is what the literature says about German Shepherd's. 

Again thanks to GSRAW for rescuing Bruno and you and your husband fostering him for 6 weeks. The past three months has been absolutely glorious. We love this dog!