Dutch Shepherd Forum

Well, we met Cedar today, a rescue dog brought up here from California from a kill shelter. Unbelievable that they put dogs and pups to sleep if they are not adopted out after 3 days!

He is the sweetest thing, and I'd like your opinion on if you see DS. Tried to take some good shots but always hard when they move around so much, and got a couple of short videos.

These are all of Cedar, or Cedar and Sugar. They look so much alike! Cedar is more silver brindle where Sugar is more gold brindle and Cedar has a white patch on his chest. As we were walking the dogs, everyone kept stopping and asking if they were brothers.












http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOlvqfW1 ... 1w&index=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeWbQpSe ... 1w&index=2

And I wanted you hear from experienced people about what they thought about Sugar's reaction to this first meeting.

When I was meeting the foster lady, she had Cedar and another pup she is fostering. Sugar saw them up ahead and put the brakes on. Something she typically does when she sees a dog she doesn't know, but usually with bigger ones. I coaxed her up and she was hesitant and Cedar was a little excited. I said lets walk and we all walked but foster mom took the other pup back so it was just Cedar and Sugar. They pretty much ignored each other. We went to the beach and they ran a little bit but not really playing together. We went up to the grassy area and got them to play (see video) a little bit, but that was it. So, is this good or bad or neither for a first meeting, considering that I am thinking of adopting him?

He's definitely cute! I don't think it was necessarily a bad thing. Dogs bond differently with each dog and I'd take it as a good sign that they didn't have an all out clash. You probably had a mix of emotions and she was feeding off of it and acting extra reserved.

When I first brought my oldest male setter home at 12 weeks, my 5 month old female initiated play and he hid in the bushes. I couldn't get him to look at her for the first few days. He was the same way with his first litter. The puppies scared him to death and he'd leave the room if they stopped nursing from mom and walked toward him, but we kept 2 back. The 4 of them are all the best of friends now.

Awww! He is wicked cute! I think DS mix looks definitely possible, tho I am new enough to the breed that I wouldn't go on my opinion. Not being new to more common breeds in general, though, I'm not seeing anything that jumps out at me as being definitely something else.

I think for a first intro that went well. The dynamic will likely be a bit different for a bit when/if you get to the part about Sugar suddenly having an interloper in HER turf... As opposed to neutral ground. But if they were amiable enough and neither was antagonistic or aggressive right off the bat I think that's an excellent sign that a friendship has room to grow.
I'm feeling all anxious and soft and squishy on your behalf semply because I'm predisposed to have a soft spot for brindles named Cedar! My old rottie/pit, the blind wonderdog and therapy-dog extraordinaire, was both brindle and named Cedar.

Thanks. I guess I think its on the positive side because when they first saw each other, while Sugar was hesitant, Cedar was very friendly and wanted to play with her. But we started walking and everyone was calm and it was all good. I think Sugar felt that he wasn't bothering her, so she relaxed right away. We did go to the beach where there are so many smells that would overpower wanting to play with each other. When we went up to the grassy area, they ran and when they paused, Sugar initiated more play, "come chase me", so I saw that as a positive. I see respect as a huge positive.

Sugar has had lots of dogs over and is tottaly fine with that. We had my son's dog stay with us for a week and a half, no prob sharing her bed and toys and house...

I'm not sure if he is DS, but they looked so similar...he has a bigger head, but Sugar is very petite in the head area, with a very short muzzle. But he has some boxyness about his head at certain angles and the bottom of his snout at the front seems a little bit more bigger. Reminded me of the English Setter we know...and he is very thin. He is very calm, and affectionate.

She also said she feels he must have been abused because of some fears he had with meeting her husband and going into small spaces like an elevator, but I only saw a friendly confident pup while out on our walk/play. Super sweet and super soft!

I think Cedar is adorable. I know I am not supposed to, but love his white bib. think Sugar's play initiation was good.

Sue, I didn't have time to watch the vids yet, but from your description, the first meet sounds fine to me.

Opposite sex is important. They played some after a while, and did fine on the walk. He's young. I'll bet in time they'd become fast friends.

He sure is a cutie, and they could pass for bro and sis, eh?

Does the spousal unit know about this yet?

You have to take him!!! He is so cute !!!!! I didnt watch the vid either, but from what everyone else is saying It sounds good. When I brought Sadie home, they got along right off of the bat, and that was two females. Sadie was in the crate quite a bit until they got used to each other. Its not a good idea to just throw the new dog in the house and have a free for all, not saying you would, but just saying.

SOoooooooo, Ditto what Leih asked..............Spousal unit?????

Ya, he knows. Gave me some grief about it, lol, but he'll come round. He will fall in love when he meets him!

They do a foster for a week before we can adopt him, just to be sure its all good. Won't be able to do that till next week tho.

Oh ya, and another thing I wonder about, is he tries to mount the other pup he is fostered with and has been told no by the pup a number of times. Sugar will NOT stand to be mounted by other dogs and will start out politely evading, the get more forceful if there are continued attempts. Actually, all dogs we know that have tried with her, have gotten the message, so if Cedar gets it, then it will all be good, but if he is persistent, then I'm not sure. He is fixed already. And of course I would also be putting a stop to it if he tries. He did not try when they met tho.

Sugars Mom wrote:And of course I would also be putting a stop to it if he tries.

There you go...just remember who's boss

yes, I agree, though I think the 2 of them will easily work through that issue if and WHEN it arises.

Hoping hubby will be able to meet Cedar today. Foster parents went away on a little trip with the dogs. Here is another pic I pulled out of the video of Sugar and Cedar walking. Shows the diff in coloring. Can't wait to see him again!

I watched both videos,the second video, with the play is great! (Not to mention how adorable Cedar is!)
When Diesel met Halo for the first time, they ignored each other. The bonding happened after we formally adopted her but it didn't take long. Now they are besties and are always looking out for each other.

I hope it works out

Thanks!

How exciting for you!! Best of luck, sounds like it will work out well.

OH my gosh! How exciting. The one week foster should help them get to know each other too. Good luck!

So, here is an update.

Cedar and his foster family were coming back into town on Monday but it was too late for us to meet that day, so we met yesterday. She did tell me that while they were away for the week, they saw some concerning behavior from Cedar around children. He really hadn't interacted with kids before, just in passing, which he had been fine with. Apparently he barked aggressively at a kid and she she stopped him, he got all tremory. She said the kid was really boisterous, and Cedar obviously did not like it. She thinks from his reaction that means he has been traumatized by kids. Not sure if that is the case, but something to be aware of.... Sugar does not like boisterous kids (except ours) but Sugar will avoid, so this is not something I'm used to dealing with.

So, my hubby and younger step son met Cedar yesterday and it all went well. Cedar loved following my step son around. Both him and I are in love with Cedar. My hubby is still not sure...just all the added responsibility. We want to introduce my older step son to Cedar before committing to the foster to adopt week (as he is the most boisterous of the 2 boys), but he won't be back until next Wed.

Then, when we got home after meeting with Cedar, she contacted me with news that there is someone else interested in meeting Cedar this weekend. So, unless we commit to fostering him, if the other person meets him and are suitable and want him, he could go this weekend : (

So on one hand, I'm thinking we could get Cedar tomorrow and then have some days with him before the boys come back, then a few days with the boys and Cedar before committing to the adoption, or we take a chance and if its meant to be, its meant to be. I would hate to have him here for a few days, then the boys come, and Cedar gets nervous or stressed with the change in activity level. Or, he could be totally fine and love it. Hmmmm, what to do...

He is really sweet, very calm, smart and I don't think will be too much bigger then Sugar. I think he would a great dog. The only other concern I have is that if both dogs have fears, which they both do, it could make things worse for both of them instead of better. What advice do you all have on that?

Wow.you have a lot of choices and things to think about! And the hard part is that it revolves around Cedar's behavior, which you can't know before hand!

I do know that my Xena is nervous and that when we added Thor he was a huge help because he is SO laid back about everything. They are the best buddies and playmates and really, really his calm nature has changed her attitude on many occasions. If I had added another doubtful or fearful dog, I don't know that it would have escalated her fear, but I am not sure that it would have made her so, well, normal either. Does that make sense?

Good luck to you all in your deciding. It sounds like he is a wonderful boy.

Gosh, Sue...

I think what Lauren says makes a lot of sense. Geyser definitely is influenced by the temperament of another dog(s) she's around.

I think the dog issue would be more concerning than the kid issue, since Cedar could most likely adjust to your own family and its activity level, even when it fluctuates. He may never love super active stranger kids, but I bet he'd adapt to your own (he'd take his cues there from Sugar). And, as long as he had an escape route to a safe place...a crate, whatever...he'd probably be fine.

The only way you'd know is to do the foster week.

The other thing is, if you're kind of on a path to maybe getting a second dog (seems that you are, once you start down that road ), you may want to wait for someone to come thru DS rescue that would not have Cedar's issues?

Sigh. Keep us inforned!