Meet Twister!

I have been off line for a week. For those regular readers, I apologize. We got a dog—well, actually a puppy. We’ve been promising the kids that once we bought a house, we would get a dog. Well, having bought said house last fall, you can imagine what the kids have been asking for. Up until last week, though, they could not agree on what kind of dog. My wife and kids went to a local pet store to get shells for our hermit crabs. As they walked in, there was this dog. All five of them said, “Oh! Look at that face!” So…meet Twister!



He is part Rhodesian Ridgeback and part Australian Shepherd. Fortunately for us, he has the size of an Australian Shepherd, with the MONSTER bark of a Ridgeback. He thinks he is about twice as big as he really is. He is incredibly smart. Once he knows something is OK, he never worries about it again.

Twister is also a rescue. Only about 10 months old, he has already been through two homes, and several surgeries. Due to complications inherent in Ridgebacks (aka Dermoid sinus, which is particularly problematic for Rhodesian Ridgebacks), his original family could not afford to keep him. We got him from the Texas Independent Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue (petsmart link), after they took care of the botched treatment of the problem. We have been working hard to help Twister understand that he is part of our family.

For the last week, nearly everything we have done has been an adjustment for him. Everything from playing ball (which took two days for him to start) to getting in the car (he wrestled out of his collar the first two times) has been a fearful experience for him. But, he is finally acting like a puppy—all ten months of him. And, it’s like having a little child all over again. He is now wrestling and nipping and playing, just like he should be.

If you’re thinking of getting a dog, I recommend adopting a rescue. Just be careful. Do your due diligence and check out not just the dog’s history, but the organization you are getting it from.

For my part, if you get a chance, donate to this wonderful organization.
In Texas: T.I.R.R.R. (petsmart link)
Nationally: Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc. (USA and Canada)