“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!”
Meet Trygvi. (Trygvi: from the Old Norse word for faithful, essentially the Viking version of Fido.) He’s a year-old boxer mix, more or less. He’s a rescue, so we don’t really know, but that’s what the vet thinks. We’ve had him for two and a half weeks.
Trygvi spent the first week of that being quiet and needy. We weren’t even sure he could bark.
He’s over that.
Morgan the Ferocious Monster spent the first few days beating the dog up and eating his food. It’s very important to establish dominance early. Now the cat is mostly spending his time in the bedroom, where canine presence is forbidden.
Tryg is snuggly and sweet, rambunctious and utterly without manners. We’re working on that last, and he’s already greatly improved. Formal obedience training starts soon. He needs a lot more exercise than Grendel did at that age. “A four mile walk? I’m all warmed up and ready to play now!”
It is possible to wear him out, but it takes work.
Everything goes in his mouth, absolutely everything. Trygvi is on a mission to disassemble the couch and eat it, bit by bit. Needless to say, he’s not allowed to roam the house unsupervised. Crate training is a good thing.
I suppose we’ll keep him.
Entirely unrelated: medieval marginalia (NSFW).
on Oct 5th, 2012 at 11:45 am
So cute. He stole my heart when he was still “French Fry.”
on Oct 5th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
He is a cute little booger. And very sweet, and biddable. And willing to put everything in the world – more importantly, everything in the house – into his mouth.
on Oct 5th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
I thought he was adorable, and I don’t even like dogs.
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 5:25 am
LOL* So ‘Frenchfry” is Trygvi now huh? I like it. He’s very cute. Yep, he’s still got puppy in him. Now you get to go through that allllll over again. It’s taken us almost a year now to get Griffin to play, bark and not be afraid of everything. He’s not a chewer except on toys or the cats. (Specifically MacCallister who apparently is HIS kitten.) He doesn’t steal food, barely will eat people food unless I put it IN his bowl. He’s also a rescue. Poor guy is so damn sweet and gentle.
I’m glad Tryg is doing so well. I can’t think of anyone better to have as his new ‘doggie parents’
Liz/Erzebet
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 6:38 am
Keep on him. The everything-chewing is partly anxiety, and will reduce. Once it does, try a serious hot sauce dabbed on his “problem” items, and he’ll get more careful. Once he gets a mouthful, give him one of his acceptable chewtoys, and he’ll start connecting “OK & safe to chew” with those… more strongly.
My boy won’t chew on a pipe if you bury it in beef liver and call it “Bambi”. Ever. Again.
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 6:39 am
Also: soooo cute! Snuggles! Who’s a pretty boy? YOU ARE!
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Thank you for saving him and for loving him forever. It sounds like he’s found a perfect home with people who understand that he’ll need patience, love and guidance but will have tons of fun along the way.
God bless your whole family with special SC kisses to Tryg!
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Of course. we do beat him with sticks and hammers, when no one is watching.
on Oct 18th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Puppy! Big, dumb, adorable puppy! Who needs a skritch behind the ears? You do! Yes, you do…
What?