Apropos of those heart-wrenching stories/movies about dogs that return over great distances to re-unite with their families, skeptics have noted (from the prevalence of lost dog notices) that many canines seem incapable of finding their way home from the next block over.
The proper retort is that such dogs may damn well know where they are, but are enjoying their adventure too much to return.
I remember in Mad magazine a “news” article about a family from Seattle who lost their dog while on a trip to St. Louis. “Six months later the dog showed up in Atlanta, still walking the wrong way.”
Five quatloos says the dog’s name was Herschel.
Eh, it varies from dog to dog. I once found a dog who was obviously lost. It let me catch it and look at its tag, so i called the owners, who were out looking for it.
The poor dog was senile, and barely recognized it’s people. They had let it out to pee, and it wandered away and couldn’t find its way home. (It’s legal to have an unleashed dog and here, if it stays on your property. And my guess is that this one did when it was sound of mind.)
I felt really bad for the dog, who was obviously very confused.
I am not you and I am not your dog, but just on general principle – and because Lucas is so adorable – I do hope you make every effort to keep him. Every situation is different, of course, but one of my most beautiful, loving, and memorable dogs was the result of patience and persistence in the face of behavioural difficulties.
I hear you. He’s being pretty cute right now, which helps–less spooky. I need to get him to play, to go for runs, have fun. Saturday will be important. I do think he needs a companion, which will take a little time.
The puppy mills are one of several reasons I don’t really have respect for the Amish.
He did well with the other dog (a Bichon mix) and is now ok with getting in the car and with a harness, but he had bad separation anxiety today. He can’t go to doggie daycare like this, and he needs to be in different situations. Yesterday he got in my lap and gave me some kisses, which is a big deal since he was a little cowed by me before.