My Little Pirate - aka Brando

[renaultf1]

I have an update on Brando. :D:D:D:D

This past Tuesday he got his cast off (6.5 weeks):D:D. His break has healed well (no more surgery!!!) and the only visual reminder of his ordeal is a little hair loss on the back of his leg where the splint was and a sore on the front of his leg where the cast rubbed where his leg bends. The sore started about 6 days before his cast came off, so we were lucky that he went as long as he did - vet said it was mild to most that happen and pretty much unavoidable. He's walking fine, although after a little running last night he was a bit sore and limped a bit - so HE decided to take it easy and sit for a while.

Last night was the big night though - I got Brando and Ruby back together…YAY!!!! They had been separated since he broke his leg...usually Brando in the kitchen with someone and Ruby in the living room with someone - separated by a baby gate. At night Brando slept with me and Ruby was crated. There had been some serious tension between Ruby and Brando immediately following the injury - but about 2 weeks ago, the tension subsided. Ruby would come up to the baby gate and yodel to Brando so I could tell at least she was ready to have him back. He stopped growling at her and would put his face thru the gate, so I was pretty sure he was ready as well, but I wasn't doing it until his cast came off.

So last night, I had my brother walk Brando down our driveway and across the street from the house and I walked Ruby. They sniffed each other and then I took them for a walk down the street. About 1/4 mile from the house, they were rubbing up against each other...I forgot how cute they are together as a pair.

Since then, they've been off leash together in our dog pen - only briefly as the vet still wants only brief running from him for the next few weeks. Ruby has initiated play with him in the house and he was happy to join in...he stops when he doesn't feel up to it anymore. They've been on a couple more walks together and there is no tension at all.

The only eventful thing that happened was this morning around 2am. Brando sleeps on one side of me and Ruby on the other. Well, last night they were on opposite sides than they normally are. Ruby got up to have a drink of water and when she jumped back up on bed, she jumped up to her old side of the bed - on top of Brando who was sleeping :rolleyes: - I awoke to some serious growling as he was startled out of sleep. No worries though, Ruby just climbed over me and went to the other side of the bed. She probably did it on purpose knowing her! :rolleyes::D

So...my little pack is almost entirely back together again:D:D:D. Liyah is still on the road - another show this weekend and then she comes home the end of next week. Although, quite likely she'll come back in season or will go in shortly after she is back. Then I'll be back to running 2 packs - Brando is intact and I get the double fun of both Brando & Liyah being carriers :eek::rolleyes:!

[Nemo]

It's great to hear he's doing better and your pack is almost back together again.

Good luck with Brando and Liyah when she comes in season, hopefully your house is set up to manage that. Sounds like it is based on past posts. Sounds like a risky situation with carriers.

[Basenjimamma]

Happy happy happy news. So glad taht Brando,the pirate, is finally doing better. Now he just needs to get strong and feisty again..

[renaultf1]

The house is definitely set up to handle it - as am I. My breeder isn't too worried, nor am I. Having seen how persistent boys can be to an in season girl, I've long had the plan figured out. Logistics are only slightly different to what I've been doing for the last 6.5 weeks, and the baby gates won't do, real doors will take their place.

Originally when I talked with my breeder about separating Ruby & Brando because of the leg break, we all agreed it would be good practice. And besides, who knows how long Ruby & Liyah will get along, so I've always had that plan - running 2 packs - I wouldn't have added a second girl without a plan of what to do if it didn't work out.

Hey, I'm living the dream…:eek::rolleyes::D

[renaultf1]

@Basenjimamma:

Happy happy happy news. So glad taht Brando,the pirate, is finally doing better. Now he just needs to get strong and feisty again..

Thanks! Although he sounded plenty feisty when Ruby jumped on top of him at 2am! :D:D:D

[Nemo]

@renaultf1:

The house is definitely set up to handle it - as am I. My breeder isn't too worried, nor am I. Having seen how persistent boys can be to an in season girl, I've long had the plan figured out. Logistics are only slightly different to what I've been doing for the last 6.5 weeks, and the baby gates won't do, real doors will take their place.

Originally when I talked with my breeder about separating Ruby & Brando because of the leg break, we all agreed it would be good practice. And besides, who knows how long Ruby & Liyah will get along, so I've always had that plan - running 2 packs - I wouldn't have added a second girl without a plan of what to do if it didn't work out.

Hey, I'm living the dream…:eek::rolleyes::D

I wish I had your fore-thought for pack appropriate housing. Of course I didn't know I would be trying to build a pack when I bought my house. I guess I'll have to move to "live the dream". LOL.

[renaultf1]

@Nemo:

Sounds like a risky situation with carriers.

See, this is what I don't get. I don't want ANY unplanned breeding happening at my house - ANY!, REGARDLESS of if they are clear or carrier. So to that end I need to be vigilant and have a plan. To me, ANY unplanned breeding is a risky situation. Maybe I'm naive, but I think if I were, I would have heard about it by now from my kids breeder.

Hey, I don't even want Ruby & Brando having safe sex at my house!

[renaultf1]

@Nemo:

I guess I'll have to move to "live the dream". LOL.

Usually the saying "living the dream" means you're living the nightmare - it was meant facetiously. ;):D:D:D

Oh, don't worry, the pack was no where in the plan when when the house was built - but it is the perfect house for a pack or multiples…and we have 2.5 acres that can quite easily be divided into multiple dog areas! :D:D:D

All kidding aside though, I wouldn't build a pack that isn't appropriate for the house I'm in or that the breeder thought I couldn't handle, but I'm a planner. Which is why I started with a male/female combo to begin with. We've already talked about my adding another boy if/when Ruby & Liyah can't be together any longer.

[Nemo]

@renaultf1:

See, this is what I don't get. I don't want ANY unplanned breeding happening at my house - ANY!, REGARDLESS of if they are clear or carrier. So to that end I need to be vigilant and have a plan. To me, ANY unplanned breeding is a risky situation. Maybe I'm naive, but I think if I were, I would have heard about it by now from my kids breeder.

Hey, I don't even want Ruby & Brando having safe sex at my house!

Only thing I meant was if on the extreme off-chance it could happen there would be the added complication of potentially producing affecteds. It's just an additional level for concern. Sorry, my job tends to make me think in risk mitigation all the time and it appears to be creeping outside of work.

[Rita Jean]

Great news to hear the leg is healed and doing so well. Great you all are family together again. Way to go thinking and planning ahead great job.

Rita Jean