Day 11 (I think).

It's been an interesting week of adjustment for everyone. I think Rollo is just a bit of a delinquent teenager who needs understanding and love. He responds so well to praise and distractions like biscuits lol and there's nothing to beat ignoring the undesirable behaviour. He has mostly stopped barking at cars although cycles and scooters can still worry him.

 We've had a few incidents of aggression between the two boys but they are starting to be less angry with each other. They can sniff each others faces without growling and sit on the sofa together. Frank still turns his head away of Rollo gets too close but no growling. Even the jealousy if I touch Frank has disappeared. I bought this cute bandana from www.yellowdoguk.co.uk so that we don't always have to walk with a muzzle on. My criteria is, if there are lots of people around he must wear it for now.

 Rollo likes to destroy things. Especially evil things that come through the letter box. Funny it should be Amazon boxes. He steals plastic bags and rips them to shreds. Pens, shoes, plant pots.....So far, apart from the post, he has chewed a hole in my duvet cover (from sucking it), poo'ed in the spare room three times and wee'd in various places. He is beginning to understand the dog flap but only if I hold it open for him.
Rollo's harness kept coming undone! So I splashed out and bought a very nice hard wearing one. It wasn't cheap really but will last him. Found a matching collar online too. Frank got a new collar too. With skulls on.

 We've had quite a few visitors including my youngest son who uses a wheelchair. The muzzle is great for introductions until Rollo can be calm. He loved my son Joe who spent hours throwing a ball for him.

Even the lodger is winning him over. He found out being bossy didn't work but a soft voice and biscuits had Rollo asking for cuddles and kisses. Frank is looking less resentful thankfully. Freyja is just Freyja and couldn't care less. She sits on Rollo if he gets on her nerves. Freyja has been to the vets for anti biotics for the infected skin on her elbow from lying around in the garden. She has cataracts too so is going blind, bless her. It's hard for me to see her age and steal myself for the inevitable end. Not just yet I hope.
Getting another dog has been both fun and a little anxiety inducing. I worried about how they would all get on, leaving them alone when I went to work and how safe the house would be for a puppy. Rollo is a puppy after all. Interesting to see the interaction and differences in all three dogs regarding character and age. Frank was always the baby but now he seems very grown up in comparison.
Rollo is still not eating much but the slow introduction of raw food is going well. He won't starve lol. He loves tomatoes and strawberries as well as pizza crust but what dog in it's right mind would refuse pizza crust?!

Day one.

Last Thursday (was it only four days ago?) Frank and I bundled into the car and drove to Tunbridge Wells to meet Rollo.
I didn't know what to expect and got there far too early. Frank and I took a stroll to the town and sat outside a cafe. I drank Earl Grey tea and Frank had water.
A short drive to the woods where we were to meet Rollo and as soon as I saw him from a distance I knew he was the one lol. We quietly fell into step with Tracey the dog walker and Rollo. Off for a walk with no bad interaction between the dogs. We swapped leads and after a good walk and get to know each other we headed back to the start. I sat down on the grass and Rollo sat with me. I gently introduced myself, stroked him until he relaxed, he gave me kisses and sat near me. And that was it.

Paper work etc done we got ready to leave for home. Rollo jumped into my car the minute I opened the door! We got him out and Frank was put in the back. He wasn't a happy bunny when Rollo got in the front but they soon settled.

The drive home was uneventful. Both boys slept the whole way.
Back at my house the intro to Freyja went smoothly, she is so chilled. No barking or biting. Frank and I showed Rollo around the house and went for a chill out in the garden. Rollo had other ideas and explored and investigated every toy in the house, collecting every ball for himself.
He spent the evening manically and obsessively playing with a tennis ball until I just had to take it away. The other two followed their usual routine after dinner and slept on the sofa. Although Frank kept giving me dirty looks as if to say 'why have you brought that jerk into the house!?' Rollo wasn't interested in food.
The boys slept on my bed that night as far apart as physically possible without falling off.
I have had moments of thinking perhaps I had bitten off more than I could chew. The disruption to our routine was more than I expected and my overdeveloped sense of guilt kicked in and I got to worrying about how all three dogs would cope.
Three days later I am happy and delighted I took the risk. Freyja and Frank will adapt, but more of that later x

Welcome!

Once upon a time there were two dogs. One rescue English Bull Terrier called Freyja and a Patterjack called Frank. They had been happily living with their human for a year after their friend Meg the 13 yr old three legged English Bull Terrier had to be euthanised because she had cancer.
That was until their human decided to get another rescue dog!
That dog is Rollo the rescue Patterdale aka nutjob.

Here is Rollo's profile at the rescue.
http://rescueremediesdogrescue.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20&sid=3c7a1d6260a8493e3093b3d991ddade8

Follow his story as he grows up and integrates with his pack and the world x