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11:30pm

Hrothgar and his daily biting on his Daddy

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Hrothgar

Hrothgar was adopted from the HSMC not even 2 weeks after I started as shelter director in Nov. 2000. He was about 4 years old and had been abused. We know he was abused because every time you went to put a leash on him, he would throw himself on the floor and shut his eyes.

Now thing about this, you have the clasp of the leash in your hand. Now it looks like a fist. Stop and picture, leash in hand going toward the dog's collar to clip it on. Dog thinks fist ready to hit.

It took about a month to get Hrothgar over it with me. But more time with my husband, his daddy, George. It was more like 2 or 3 months. Hrothgar finally learned he would not be hit again. Then he became a love bug and a happy dog. He greets everybody with a smile and tail wagging. However, that changed one summer day.

You see, one day the dogs were outside and Daddy came home. I outside with them going "it's Daddy, it's Daddy." Being all excited with the dogs. I told the dogs to go get him once he had parked the car.

Hrothgar took me, Mommy, very serious when I said go get Daddy. Hrothgar ran up, latched on to Daddy's arm and started running to bring Daddy to Mommy.

Now just picture a 100 pound lab grabbing the forearm, turning his head (skin twisting under the teeth), and running. Daddy had no choice but to yell "ouch, ouch, ouch" all the way across the yard cause Hrothgar was not letting go.

After all Mommy said to "go get your Daddy". So Hrothgar thought Mommy must need to see Daddy now. He was trying to help out.

From that day one, each time Daddy comes home, he jumps up and grabs Daddy by the arm to bring him into the house to Mommy. If Daddy makes it into the house first, then Hrothgar still grabs him to bring him into to see Mommy.

Each and every time, Daddy yells "ouch, ouch, ouch". Once Daddy is brought to Mommy, I say "good boy Hrothgar" who then runs around snorting alike he is laughing.

Hrothgar is 12 years old now, so his days of jumping up in the air is not great. So Daddy has to kind of lower the arm so Hrothgar can get it. However, I can tell you that I don't think the "bite" had change. Hrothgar still has some jaw muscles and uses them daily on his Daddy.

Some day, I need to get Daddy to call ahead to Mommy that he is coming home so I can video tape it. The daily bite is just between Hrothgar and his daddy and I hate to see the day when it never happens again.

Hrothgar was 4 years old when we adopted him. We have had 8 wonderful years with him and even with cancer now, I want at least 5 or more.

It is because of Hrothgar that I try and get folks to adopt older dogs. Some folks think 4 years is old. But I think it is a nice age when adopting a dog. They had a life before (good or bad we usually don't know). But their new life with a new family usually brings out the best in the animal.

Any how, keep an eye out for a video of Hrothgar and his daily biting on his Daddy. Hopefully coming to Zootoo soon for your viewing pleasure.