When I got him.. 
Leaving for his new digs
Wasn't much snow in Kingston
She likes me
Bailey Happy.. Soon he will be ready for a Forever Home.. YaHoooooo he's really a good guy.. like most bassets are.. Sherry ( his foster Mom likes him already )
10 comments:
He is absolutely gorgeous.........
and what a fast recovery.........
Great job Helen and good for you
Bailey....time to enjoy life.
Bassets are among the sweetest animals on earth. How tragic to imagine the mistreatment that would make one of these dogs aggressive and mean. I'm so happy to see this story and the pictures.
Yes, Anonymous, He is gorgeous, and loving and so bright! It is no wonder he's making such a fast recovery. Still lots to do but he's going to be an amazing addition to someones home. I'd keep him myself but I won't be in a position to have dogs for a while in the Fall.
Hello Helen
It looks as if you have worked wonders for Bailey I even notice his nails are clipped ! Something I could never do since he was a puppy.
As Bailey's former owner I must say that he was loved and pampered but when the aggression started it put both us and him in harms way.I do not know what caused this aggression but suspect having 2 dogs in the house. Many attempts were made to break him of this aggression and I was forced to cage him and his buddy Benson whenever people were in my home. I am really hoping that Bailey is happy and aggression free and will welcome him back into my home with his old buddy Benson if the aggression is truly gone.
Les Mcadam
Bassett Lover
Alpha,
I can understand your offer to take Bailey home again but I have to say that I think it would be a mistake.
Bailey is loving and bright. We can build new behaviour patterns but if put back in an old enviornment the old patterns will take over. I wouldn't want that for you, Benson or Bailey.
One of the reasons the foster system works (in my opinion) is because it gives the dogs a bridge to new behaviour that we can then burn to keep them from returning to the old place.
Bailey's new better behaviour is based on a new home/family/pack enviornment and routine. He will need to go forward to a 4 ever home that starts from somewhere similar to allow him the support needed to keep the behaviour.
um first tom s how wud u like it if baily was ur dog and he attacked u several times and u didnt no why and u send him to this place and i was to write to u tht u mistreated him but u really didnt u have to think about what u say throughly first befor speaking man
sherry would it be posible to alow benson and baily to rejoin from time to time because every now and then when no one is watching he is always looking out the window making his scretching soudns and i think it is because baily is gone
Hello again.
Firstly, As Bailey's foster Mom I have limited say in his life. That stressful job belongs to the rescues and the wonderful people like Helen who run them. I do have opinions and will voice them. (I recognize that I mostly do not know it all and even when I do can still be wrong. LOL)
Secondly, I think it possible for any of us to make well intentioned bad decisions that cause problems in otherwise good dogs, horses and other animals. I have always had well trained but barky/whiney dogs. At an agility class with my last dog a beagle-basset, a trainer remarked that noise answered by noise makes for more noise. I thought about that for a while and changed my responses to barking and whining to silent ones. Belle's barking was noticiably reduced in weeks.
Thirdly, I think Alpha needs to be commended for seeking out a breed rescue when he reached the end of his rope with Bailey. He could have found a vet who was prepared to uthanize for aggression towards humans, or left Bailey at a shelter where they don't have the resources to deal with behaviour issues and so they worsen.
I have more I'd say but Bailey informs me he needs out.
Alpha,
You asked me about Bailey and Benson keeping in touch. I don't have a short answer for that.
I am still getting to know Bailey, he is a complex dog. Bailey is still getting to know me and his new enviornment. There is much we still don't know about each other.
He is bright, interested in his world, loving, friendly.
He is a big boy, moderately food motivated, and enjoys his exercise.
He is a leader not a follower and a bit of a spoiled brat.
I am finding that it is likely that Bailey's knowledge of the world and training has holes in it. He is bright enough for that to cause problems, some uniquely his own. I am concerned that Benson likely has the some of the same issues having lived with Bailey.
I am coming to believe that Bailey is going to be best placed in a single dog home and would strongly recommend that you assume the same of Benson unless or until you and he have spent some time with a professional dog trainer who can evaluate and suggest what is best for your household. There are some amazing pet dog training classes in Ontario currently. I would be happy to ask my local group for a recommendation for your area.
I do not doubt that Benson misses Bailey and that it would be a joyful meeting, initially. I think it would rapidly return to the negative sibling behavior however. Also dogs are not like people, Benson's sadness would not go away but be refreshed by seeing Bailey.
Also if I might continue to express my opinion, both you and Tom are right. It is very tragic that not knowing what you didn't know created this sad situation. Bailey is not the only "victim" here. Both Benson who is missing his "sibling" possibly not having the skills to welcome a new one, and you who is dealing with the results of well intentioned choices but not knowing what wasn't known are also "victims" Those of us with more experience need to take the time to help those that do not know, as well as work to deal with those who should/do Know and don't care.
Sherry
Sherry & Helen,
I feel confident that I made the right decision in calling you in for Bailey's sake and I do agree that a 1 dog family would be best for him .
He is a beautiful Basset and a big cuddler and will make someone a loving pet.
P.S. Tom I take no offense as I most likely would have had the same reaction as you
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