Wish us luck---looking at a new family addition!

[SA]

We have been wanting to find the right dog to add to our family.
This beautiful girl was posted from a family who simply doesn't have the means to care for her anymore.
She is a 3 year old Irish Setter.  She is coming over this evening and if our "meet and greet" goes well, she will be spending the night to see how she does.

Wish us luck as we meet Kenai tonight!

[val2525]

She's pretty. But I hope you plan to fatten her up a bit! Good luck tonight!

[Shirley U Geste]

Ohhh, she looks like a sweetheart.

Hope all goes well with the visit and she fits right in.

[zoesam]

I'm so excited for you! She's very pretty. Is she a pup? She does seem awfully thin or maybe just a puppy. I hope everyone gets along!

[SA]

I have a feeling this picture might be a little older? This picture doesn't look like a 3 year old dog to me. Unless she's mixed with something?
I know setters aren't the pudgiest of dogs, so she could be slender. Unlike my little porker shepherd mix.

But like I said, I suspect this is an older picture.

[SA]

Here's the other picture they posted of her:

[zoesam]

Love the tennis ball pic! I think you're right, she looks like a puppy in that pic & pups can be skinny & awkward in their growth phases. She looks all head in that one photo, but it may be the angle too. She is very pretty, I love the coloring.

[Deleted]

Awww good luck Liz - I hope it all works out. I'm sure you'll post some photos of your own after the visit...you know we're gonna want more pictures lol!

[blissfullymiserable]

She's cute!

[Deleted]

She's a beauty. Do you have other dogs she needs to get along with?

[SA]

Yes. We have an 8 year old german shepherd mix. He's calm, likes other dogs and is not a dominant type.

She is on her way over now! I hope it works out for everyone involved.

[Deleted]

Can't wait to hear all about the visit.

[Deleted]

Oh she is gorgeous I hope it works out for you guys. Look at that face, she deserves a loving home that can give her the proper care. The first pic definitely looks like she's in the gangly puppy stage in it. That tennis ball pic shows her personality really well, her eyes are so sweet. Love her name also. Be sure to snap a recent pic of her so we can see what she looks like now. Sending happy doggy vibes your way from Bella

[SA]

Well, they got into a couple of "domination" fights.  As expected.
They did well together outside.

I'm still not 100% sure.  We are going to keep her overnight and see how they do.

She is totally dominant and my Oscar is a total pushover.  He kind of fears her.  She was roaming the house and he sat outside, with the door wide open, whining.  He didn't want to come inside.

All is calm right now, but it's like we're sitting on pins and needles waiting for another fight to break out.

Here they are at a calmer moment:

[Deleted]

She's such a pretty girl. I hope it works out for all of you. Especially Oscar.

[Deleted]

She's soooooooo pretty!

May have worked better to introduce them on neutral territory but probably not since it's her being dominate. Poor guy some strange woman coming in bossing him around LOL He may put her in her place before it's all said and done and if he does that may be the end of it, they may be best buds or it could get bad, so yeah I'd be on pins and needles too. Are you planning on keeping them in separate rooms during the night?

[zoesam]

She looks nice & filled out in that photo too. I hope she is not stressing Oscar. Will keep my fingers x'd for you all! Especially Oscar. She's a beauty, but I know it can be hard on an older 'only dog'.

[SA]

Oscar roams the entire house. He was only crate trained as a pup. She is crate trained and has her crate here. We are going to crate her in the hallway between the bedrooms. Oscar normally sleeps on our floor or DS floor. We want to keep them separated, but close. Show her that Oscar is "in control" of the house.

We crated her for about an hour so Oscar could eat dinner. She did well in the crate. Went right in for DH and was comfy there.

There's hope, but I still don't know.

She has a really dry upper nose. I need to look into that. I've never experienced it on a dog before.  ETA:  But we've ever only had 2 dogs so not much experience LOL.

[Deleted]

It could just be her normal nose. My dog doesn't have the typical cold wet doggy nose. Her nose is almost always warm and dry feeling, our old cockers nose was the same way. Maybe it varies by breed because our collies always had the cold wet noses, or just by the dog. I don't know.

Maybe after everyones nerves get some rest tonight you can get a clearer picture of how things would be tomorrow.

[Deleted]

She's beautiful! But Oscar is the important one.

(((Oscar)))

[zoesam]

You are wise not to rush into a decision.

[Deleted]

Have you looked up Irish setter rescues in your area.I'd probably get some info on a couple of those to give them if you decide it won't work out.that way they have other good options for her since it sounds like they can't afford to keep her.that way she'd be matched with the right family.

[SA]

I hope it works out.
The last couple hours have gone well. She has really warmed up to us. DS was laying on the couch and she jumped right up on him and burried her nose into his neck and started falling asleep. SO FREAKING CUTE!
She has listened to every command we have given her (sit, lay, in the crate, etc)

The poor family. The mom simply didn't have the heart to come. The dad was tearing up when he left.
They had her for 2 years. Then he joined the Air Force. Found out his wife was pregnant when he was in boot camp. They moved out here. He's lower ranking (read:very little money) and he works alternating night/swing shifts 12 hrs at a time. Their baby is 9 mos old and she is 18 wks pregnant with momo twins (rare) and with some complications. They both know the dog wi suffer. They will not have the time or money to care for her. They are making a tough (but probably right), decision.

[val2525]

I hope she works out then, so they'll know she's in good hands with your family.

[jellybeanscloset412]

Liz she is a beautiful dog. I hope it all worked out and you keep her!

[Deleted]

She sure is a beautiful dog and how cute that she snuggled up with your DH. She sure knows how to worm her way into your hearts. Add me to those who are worried about Oscar feeling like a second-class citizen, though.

[Deleted]

Not to be debbie downer but we had an irish setter "shannon" years ago.  Don't was extremely hyper and stubborn!!!  He was destructive in the house.  We started putting him in the basement when we went out.  He chewed the banister and through the basement

Now on the flip side my ex was a kook and perhaps it was the way he handled the dog.  But I do know they are extremely high strung.

[Deleted]

How is it going this morning?

[SA]

So far so good!
Last night was uneventful. She was created until she wanted out at 2 this morning. DH put both dogs in our room and she layed on the floor on my side and OSCAR layed on the floor on DHs side.

They looked like they wanted to play with each other this morning, but we're both a little hesitant.

I just text DH and he said they've been fine all day. No spats.

I'm sure they could be best buds.

I'll share more pics once I get home tonight. I'm pretty sure we are going to keep her.

Oh, and DS19 said she looks like a "Chelsea" and we should change her name LOL! She does look like a Chelsea, but we aren't going to change her name!

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2015 20:56:39 GMT SA said:

So far so good!

Oh, and DS19 said she looks like a "Chelsea" and we should change her name LOL! She does look like a Chelsea, but we aren't going to change her name!

Chelsea is a lovely name, but I think her original name is more suitable...as in 'can I' live with you?