THURSTON

1/22/08: This handsome fella is Thurston; you know, like Thurston Howell, III, on Gilligan's Island. He was lost, you see, but now he's found and he's in a much better place.

Thurston is a black horsecoat. He'll be 4 years old on 7/17/08. He's such a sweet boy even though he had very little care in his previous life. He was absolutely filthy and his ears looked like they had never, ever been cleaned. He was an angel, though, getting a bath and having his ears cleaned.

Thurston has obviously lived in an airline crate for most of his life because that's where he seems to be more comfortable. His foster mom is working on that though, so he'll come to understand how much fun he can have outside his crate with people and other dogs.

Thurston is heartworm positive and must undergo treatment before he can be placed for adoption. He will not be available for about two months, but check back periodically to see how he's doing.

2/20/08: Thurston will begin his heartworm treatment on 2/25, so he won't be available for adoption until around the first week of April. Thurston has really taken to the good life of living inside where it's warm and cozy. He's absolutely no trouble at all. He's very well behaved and house trained. Check back for updates on this sweet boy.

6/30/08: We have done Thurston a great disservice by inadvertently not updating his information. Thurston has been heartworm free since April 7, and could have been enjoying his new home for almost three months. We are very sorry, Thurston.  Thurston is absolutely no trouble at all. He's so laid back and easy; he's a real joy to have around. So,for those of you who have been looking at Thurston over and over, he's ready now!

9/20/08: It took a while, but we finally found the perfect home for Thurston! Thank you, Donna and David, for giving Thurston the second chance at the good life! I know I've said this before, but it truly was love at first sight for Dotty!

9/22/08: Thurston was guarding my sofa cushions when I came home at lunch time. He was sound alseep. But, when I woke him, he got so excited and jumped up and down and little, giving me kisses. What a neat way to come home! I took him for a short walk around our cul-de-sac and he really enjoyed that. I tried to listen outside the door to see if I could hear him whimpering when I left, but he whimpers so softly. I couldn't tell.

When I came home after work, he was asleep again... on the couch again. I think he's taken the left side of the sofa as his own. But, that's fine. We had a small blanket on that end anyway. It's Thurston's now.

He was excited again to see me and immediately went to the side door where we had exited the house to go for our noon-time walk. So, I gave in to him and took him for a walk down to the corner and back before I fed him his dinner.

He was still a bit worried during the night when I got up out of bed to go to the bathroom. He ran down the hall, whimpering, looking for me, and when he found me he sat outside the bathroom waiting for me. Then, we went back to bed and he was fine.

David is home today, so he will be with him this afternoon after he picks him up from the vet's office. Dotty Moore

9/23/08: went back to pick up Thurston this afternoon and speak with Dr. Machery. She told me that not many of the rescue/adoption organizations they work with seem to be as caring and thorough as yours. I just wanted to share that with you.

She checked Thurston's ears with the longest scope she had and said she could not see his ear drums. Either they are really deep or his ear is misshaped or something. She cleaned his ears the best she could but said there is still some wax down in them. She gave me some ear cleaner to use twice a day and some cortisone pills to give him over the next two weeks. I'm to take him back in two weeks for a recheck.

She said he weighed 58 pounds and did not need to lose but may 4-5 more pounds.

During the afternoon I took him to a friend's house to let her meet him. While we were there, I clapped my hands about something and he lifted his head and though he had heard it. I tried again tonight, but didn't get the same reaction.

He was Mr. Happy Fellow again tonight when I came home from the class I'm taking. He was jumping up and down and giving juicy kisses again. And, he thought it was time to go for another walk, so he headed to the side door again. That only took two times for him to learn! If he's as fast learning sit, stay, down, etc., that will be wonderful! I'm going to hold off on putting him in obedience class, though, until I know his ears are well. We'll just work on a few things here at home.

That's today's report. I'll send you a photo of Thurston with Dr. Machery tomorrow. Dotty

9/25/08: Well, our little boy is coming along. Today was day two on his ear medication and we have seen a slight improvement. He seems to be able to hear some of the loudest sounds, such as dropping a box, just every once in a while; but, he can't seem to make out from what direction the sound is coming. We're just thankful to know he does have some hearing.

I began trying to teach him a couple of things using sign language. And, I'm proud to say he is one very smart shar pei! In two days, he has learned "sit" and "come" in sign.... and he obeys them. We'll be working on "down" next, I think. These seem to be the easiest for me so far. I'm very proud of Thurston. Dotty

Thurston and his new doctor, Dr. Machery

9/26/08: Oh, I meant to tell you one other thing. Thurston has become quite more vocal since we’ve begun treating his ears. I think he was actually trying to carry on a conversation with me yesterday as I was talking to him.  He began grunting then making different vocal sounds almost as though he was forming words, then he became really playful.  I think he’s beginning to feel better.  Maybe he had some discomfort and/or pain in his ears before that is now beginning to ease up.  David said he also barked at the man who was measuring our fence yesterday and it sounded like a big dog’s bark, not a seal.  And, in additional to learning the signs for sit and come, he is also now shaking hands with me. I think he may have had some training at some point in his past, because he seems to learn these things so quickly. Thanks for letting me brag on him… AGAIN! Dotty

10/6/08: “Our boy” has become quite different in his behavior since we first brought him home.  Since his ears have been cleaned out it seems he can hear a few sounds, but is still extremely hard of hearing.  He will go back to Dr. Machery on Thursday this week for a check-up following the completion of his medication.  He cannot hear voices unless someone yells.  He does not hear the alarm clocks or doorbell, nor the tv or stereo.  He does react to a car driving by with his speakers so loud it rattles the windows, but we’re not sure whether he’s hearing that or just feeling the vibrations. 

We walked by a guard dog on Saturday which lunged at us from his (thankfully) tied up location, but Thurston acted as though he didn’t hear him or see him.  He just kept his pace while I nearly had to jump start my heart to get it going again!!  That worries me a bit if he was to get out somehow and another dog attacked.  I’m afraid he wouldn’t hear and might not see him coming if he weren’t looking right at him.  We’ll just have to do our best to make sure he will not be able to leave the yard without us.

He is learning signs well so far.  I’m in a bit of a quandary trying to figure out how to get his attention without startling him and trying to make him understand what it is I’m trying to get him to do on a couple of commands.  But, he has learned “sit”, “come”, and “shake hands” very well.  He is getting “down” about half the time so far.

He walks very well on the leash and loves our walks around the block.  Of course, he has to pee on every mail box and half the bushes every time we walk!

He has become quite animated.  In the mornings after we wake up and I take him downstairs to let him outside, he jumps up and down like he has springs on the bottom of his paws.  He will bounce a few times and take my hand in his mouth very softly.  And, he looks so happy, almost puppy-like.

When I come home at lunch time to let him out, he is at the window or the side door looking outside whimpering softly.  But, when he sees me, he will run to me wagging his entire back side and jump up a little on his hind legs, anxious to go out.  I don’t think he’s whining when we leave but just goes back to his bed and lies down and goes to sleep for a while.

He will bark at people who walk on the sidewalk outside our house or down the street next to our yard, but just stands and watches the little kids who live next door. Speaking of the children next door, when they first saw him in the back yard last week, one of them said, “Look, Mommy, Charlie turned black!”  I thought that was funny.

Sometimes when he becomes excited about something he still makes “talking” sounds as though he is trying to carry on a conversation with me, especially when I get up and walk to the kitchen or laundry room. I think he’s thinking we’re going outside or he is going to be fed and is excited about it.

He loves to play chase.  When we go out in the afternoon after I come home from work, he will chase me in the back yard a couple of times before I give out.  Then, he’ll run to the door to be let back in saying, “I’ve had enough now.”

We took him to a church function on Saturday afternoon where he got to meet several people and was absolutely no problem at all.  He loved the little kids who squeezed him at the neck and played with his tail. But, he favored the man cooking the hot dogs who actually gave him two of them at separate times before I could stop him.  I was afraid he would have problems during the night but seemed to sail through that with no more than a dry heaving session once and a few belches and toots throughout the night.  But, it did make me nervous when he woke me trying to throw up, because that was the beginning of Charlie’s downfall.  So, I watched him closely for about 3 hours during the night before I knew he was okay.  He just went back to sleep and seemed to sleep peacefully. I gave him a little extra yogurt before we went to bed hoping the enzymes would fight the weenie bacteria and it seems to have. 

I should record him during the night and send that to you.  This dog has an entire repertoire of snores!  He has one where he sounds like a whale song, another like a pig snorting, another like an electric band saw, one with a whistle from his nose, and another that sounds like he’s trying to move his tonsils to his tail end.  It’s a real musical and percussive symphony with Thurston and David at night!!  I actually had to get up and go downstairs to the couch one night they were so busy with their music making!

Oh, and he has learned that sleeping on the bed with momma and dad is the preferable place during the night.  He jumped up on the bed while playing around one night and it seemed to amaze him that he was up there.  The next time he stood at the side of the bed with his front paws up on the mattress trying to climb up with his back paws, but couldn’t do it.  So, I’m afraid I gave in and picked up his back side and put him on top of the mattress with me.  He will sleep there about half the night then get down and sleep in his own bed.  Yes, he is already spoiled!  It is funny to watch him get down from the bed or the sofa.  He will put his front paws over the edge and just slides down and off.  He lets gravity do the work so he won’t have to!  He doesn’t seem to enjoy jumping up to get on the bed or in the car.  We usually have to lift his back side in for him.

It looks to me like he has lost a little more weight, but, I will let you know what Dr. Machery says after she gives him the once over on Thursday. Dotty

11/3/08: Thurston is doing just great. I had thought I might send you a video of him in his obedience class, but it's too difficult to try to film him and train him, too. He has learned the signs for watch me, sit, stand, leave it, lie down, come, and shake hands. He is working on leaving it at a distance and sitting when we stop during a walk. We haven't figured out a good way to get his attention, though, when he's not looking directly at us. We have tried a flash light and the trainer tried a really loud whistle but he didn't even budge for eithe rone. Maybe we'll get to show off a little if we can go help on Saturday. I'll check with David when he comes in tomorrow and we'll let you know. And, if not, I'll try to make a little film at home and send it to you. Dotty

4/6/09: Thurston eats a bit faster than I thought he would, but he doesn’t gulp it down. I guess he just really, really loves his food… especially when I run out of plain yogurt and have to use the fat-free vanilla instead! He loves a spoonful of cottage cheese or oatmeal with his food, too. And stand back if you’re making homemade vegetable soup. That boy loves the veggies… especially boiled squash! I only switch a meal once or twice every few weeks, though, just to give him an occasional change.

Thurston is a Velcro dog. We’ve stepped on him or tripped over him 4 or 5 times at night because we couldn’t see him in the dark and he was as close to us as he could get. He is right at our feet every time we move… from room to room, outside, in the bathroom! I’ve learned to send out radar with my big toes! He loves to lay down with his body tightly against ours, too. He has finally gotten to where he will let me file his nails, but only when he is sleepy with his body cuddled up against mine. He hates to have his nails cut, though. He actually growled and snapped at the vet’s aide last time. Scared me… and her… a bit. But, regardless, he’s my sweetie. I couldn’t have imagined loving him this much the day we adopted him. It’s hard to believe we’ve already had him half a year. Time gets away too quickly.

Thank you for letting us have him! We will do our best to be at the picnic. Dotty and David

3/12/2010: Cindy, per your request, below are some of the newest photos of Thurston.  He is meeting his other grandparents (my in-laws) and their babies, a little dog and a kitty.  He made friend with their dog, but their cat would have nothing to do with him, although he was willing to meet.  She hissed at him big time, and he just turned his head as if to ask, “What’s up with you?”.
 
He is showing a bit more age in his face with a few more white hairs appearing.  He’s still the laid back guy we adopted, but he does do a little “oh boy!” jig when I grab his leash for a walk around the block.  We can’t walk as far as we used to because he limps when we get back if we walk further… as a matter of fact, so do I!
 
He is still on medication for his panic attacks, but I have reduced the dosage and he is okay the majority of the time.  He is also taking his daily medication for his arthritis, his fish oil, and vitamin E every day. 
 
We bought him a new bed which he naps in, but he still prefers to sleep between momma and dad on their bed!  He still snores like a buffalo, but then, so does my husband. (My tribe named my husband Snoring Buffalo… he can’t deny it.)  Thurston and he make a good percussion section every night.
 
He is still my sweet love puppy and I love him more today than I did a year ago. He is good company when David is out driving his truck.  He actually talks to me now, too.  He makes rather loud guttural sounds for several seconds when he’s asking for food or just trying to get our attention.  Yet, he never responds to our voices.  That’s a very interesting fact to me.
 
I got a big, wet, doggy smell hug from him this morning when I left for work.  He had just come in from the rain.  Dotty