Meet Little Boy: Our Newest Dog Rescue!
Welcome Little Boy (aka “Lil Boy”) to our fur family! He’s the newest rescue in our growing household, which now includes five dogs and one cat. Adopting Little Boy was one of the fastest decisions we’ve ever made. Sometimes our furry additions come into our lives by chance, other times by choice—but each one holds a special place in our hearts. Here’s what makes Little Boy so unique…
How it all started on a Van Life Road Trip Shelter Stop!
It only took us a few minutes to adopt little boy our newest dog we rescued from the animal shelter! We were on a van trip and decided to stop by the animal shelter to see if there were any available adoptable small dogs or foster-able ones. We just got rid of Krypto recently and I was wanting to add another small dog if we could find one that would fit into our lifestyle and crew of 4 dogs and 1 cat at the time — which now with Little Boy means we are a fur family of 5 dogs and 1 cat now!
But reflecting back the long wait time and 1 girl working on Sunday or Maybe it was Saturday at the shelter really tested our patience since we had the RV and all animals waiting outside. It was hot we were headed back home and just dropping by. But, we did walk though the entire shelter and it was crazy to see EVERY SMALL DOG had either been adopted or was being “transferred out” meaning a shelter or organization — someone else was getting them. Yet there was a line of people asking for small dogs all the time!
So I hate this one shelter for the fact that they only have mainly big dogs and now they euthanize to make room for more! If you haven’t heard Krypto’s Rescue dog story or don’t know what happens to dogs that are not adopted (aka stay at the shelter too long) then you should read up and feel a little compassion in your heart to adopt don’t shop and rescue a dog!
After A LONG Animal Shelter Search & Rescue Mission…
But after a long search and rescue, we were able to find this ONE LITTLE BOY who was a stray on hold until the next day! So YES, we still had to wait, but not just till the next day but a few! Since he had to have surgery to get neutered. So his owners had 7 days to claim him then he was available for adoption (after he was neutered). But we were able to apply and pay the fee to adopt him if everything worked out (prematurely).
I can’t tell you how many trips we made back and forth writing down potential dog names only to go back to the front desk and find out they were not available for adoption! So when we saw Little Boy I went back to check him out a time or two and he looked so much like Birdie I was convinced they were related (until we did a DNA test later on and found out my suspicions were wrong) 😭
The FASTEST Dog Adoption Decision we ever made… (yet slowest process)
But either way it only took less than 30 seconds when they brought Little Boy into the doggy meet and greet room. We almost instantly knew he was going to be part of our crew! When they put him down and left the room, I called him to me and he tried to go back out the door to the girl at the shelter who had handed him to us. But then I told NVington to extend out his hand and Little Boy went over to him. Then NVington picked him up and Little Boy licked him so YES we instantly knew we were going to adopt him.
All the waiting, line, and time, process etc… would turn off most people trying to adopt at the shelter, but we were prepared to wait a little while since we were familiar with the disheveled-ness of the animal shelter process or crew.
Little Boy’s Quirky Habits
- Loves to Play: He’s obsessed with balls and could play fetch for hours!
- Adorable Sleeper: He insists on sleeping under the covers and will paw at them until you lift them up for him. It’s the cutest bedtime routine! And he is the cutest little sleeper you’ll ever see!
- Smart & Fast Learner: He has quickly followed the other dogs and fell into the tribe routine fast. The words “treat, outside and sleep” are no longer Greek but well-known words in his vocabulary.
- Little Boy with a BIG personality! He might be little, but he can hold his own and seems to pick fights regularly!
- His NOSE is out of this world. He can smell through boxes, doors, cabinets, walls, and will remember where you put his toys (especially his ball) 🤦♀️
- Table Surfer: He’s incredibly curious and has been caught pulling paper money off the table—talk about expensive taste!
Dealing With Marking & Potty Training: A Common Rescue Dog Challenge
OMG within the first 5 minutes of bringing my new little rescued shelter dog home, he started peeing marketing all over the house! He even peed on my clean laundry bag of clothes! I immediately grabbed him said NO and took him outside while repeating that word “OUTSIDE”
Then, I thought about the fact Roland (our other rescue dog) also use to pee not mark but PEE puddles all over the house, he has peed on beds, at other peoples houses just not good!
So we found the best solution is to put a “strap” on them. It’s a diaper belt for boys. They also make diapers for girl dogs too. The each fit a little different to cover their anatomy properly.
For persistent marking issues, a dog diaper for male dogs (aka “diaper belt, belly band, dog wrap“) can be a game changer. They make these in disposable and washable reusable versions These are designed to prevent accidents while helping dogs adjust to their new environment. With patience and consistency, even the most stubborn markers can learn.
Chewing Habits and Solutions: Stop Dogs From Chewing + Teething
We’ve dealt with the chewing issue with all of our dog rescues (Birdie, Roland, Petunia, Krypto, and even the Cat we rescued Johnny) But after adopting Little Boy we were reminded again about the chewing issue! From Paper, to napkins, to shoes, to clothes, potty pads, money and more some dogs like to chew! Little Boy himself is curious and loves to explore with his teeth. Here’s how we manage chewing:
Provide Plenty of Treats & Chew Toys:
Give them Chew Bones & Treats (or what we call T-R-E-A-T-S by spelling it out in our household). The dogs and cat all know what the words means but thankfully they can’t spell yet. But, having bones or longer lasting treats to chew on can help. Some last longer than others and it depends which dog is eating them! We have things like highly digestible rawhide dog chews.
Long-lasting chews like rawhide alternatives or dental bones can help redirect their energy. I try to find easily digestible dog bone versions as well as non-edible ones like the “Nylabone Power Chew Toys” that last for months! Also, treat or food dispensing toys that require mental stimulation to enjoy can help disrupt any bad chewing patterns.
Meet Their Needs:
Make sure they are getting enough food and water. Maybe they are hungry! Start by making sure they get the nutrients they need during feeding time! Make sure to take your dog on walks and let them run around to burn off some of the energy they have built up!
Training and Supervision:
Teach them what’s off-limits, and always supervise until they’ve learned the rules. They also make bitter or bad-tasting Chew Deterrent Sprays that you can use to keep your dog from chewing things you don’t want them too!
So remember if your rescue is chewing, it could be that they are teething, maybe their gums hurt, or they are bored, it could be a number of issues. So, how do we stop the dogs from chewing in our household and what do we do when they do chew… Also, understand that if they are young they might just grow out of it, they have to learn what they can chew and what they cannot.
The Mystery of Coughing: What We Learned
Recently after bringing Little Boy home one issue that popped up was his persistent coughing. At first it was just a cough and I thought hairball also inspected his mouth and the hair around it to see if his passageway was clear, did he have anything he swallowed, or was the hair around his mouth getting in causing him to lick, do weird things with his mouth and cough?
I also searched the Internet for “dog coughing up white foam” and “why my dog is coughing” plus “What to do if my dog is coughing up clear or white foam” etc….
Some results said Coughing means your dog has Kennel Cough, and since we just got Little Boy from the shelter a few days ago, that was a possibility. However, I decided to take a peak at my dogs vet records as I knew he just got his check up and a bunch of shots. This led me to seeing that he had received a vaccine for Kennel Cough. So that made me feel more at easy and suppress that thought (until further investigations)…
Clean Up Crew (aka Mommy to the Rescue)
I spent most of the night cleaning up using a whole roll of paper towels! Now I have to watch the blankets as he was sleeping on top of me part of the time when he decided to cough up some “stuff” He also coughed in several places all over the travel trailer (lake house) Daddy stepped in it after getting up to storm the kitchen for food and wake everyone else up at 2am. So Karma sucks but I cleaned it all up!
Here’s what helped:
Again, shortly after bringing Little Boy home, he started coughing intermittently. At first, it was alarming, but after some observation, we ruled out emergencies like kennel cough, especially since he’d been vaccinated.
- Hydration and Food: Offering fresh water and soft food helped clear his throat. Little Boy was happy, playful, eating drinking, and acting normal other than this cough that came up here and there. It seemed to be worse one night and he was coughing up white slimy mucus for a few hours. We usually use FreshPet but found another Version at Petsmart for Small Dogs (VitalPet, etc…) He ate, drank some water used the bathroom and seemed to be acting fine. One of the search results had mentioned making sure he had food and water to clear his throat and wash out the “Cough” or underlying problem.
- Monitoring Symptoms: Some results said Take your dog to the vet immediately this is an emergency! I am not a doctor, so each case is unique! We kept track of his behavior and made note of any mucus or other signs.
- Considering His Background: He did also just have a major surgery a few days ago to be neutered (all part of the shelters dog adoption process and procedures). So I take into account all that has gone on in each dogs unique situation. Adjusting to a new environment and recovering from his recent neutering surgery could have contributed.
- Grass Eater: One other thing I noticed and usually happens with shelter dogs or rescue dogs is they eat grass, when they first get home. But, can you imagine what their stomach feels like after they have eaten so many different foods and all the stress they’ve been through. Like many rescues, Little Boy’s been munching on grass, likely to soothe his stomach after the stress of shelter life.
- Medicine: We did end up finding an OTC medication to help treat his symptoms at our local Tractor Supply Store.
Other Thoughts + Investigation
Table Walking, Chewing and Curious! Since we just got little boy he has been a nosy boy. He likes to steal paper napkins and chew them. He also pulls the feathers off the cat toys, and I have found him on the table several times, pulling out paper money! So, to be honest he could have ate something, OR since he just came from the shelter, maybe he ingested something there. Worse maybe they left something behind inside during surgery or he is having a reaction to the medications? Maybe the food, treats, things he has eaten good or bad caused a problem. — Again why I plan to watch him!
A Few Days Later…
When I woke up at 5 Am I let the dogs outside to potty, then gave them some soft food. So far, everything is good no more coughing or wheezing just sleeping like a baby! Thankfully, the coughing subsided after a few days, but this experience was a reminder to observe and document any symptoms in new rescues.
In closing, I’d say make sure your watching and observing your dog, I wouldn’t leave him home alone, and be sure that they are breathing acting normal in every other way. It might be an emergency, something that that ate, an infection or something more serious. They might need vet treatment or antibiotics, some medication, it depends! But, I know the first thing the vet will ask is things like: What color is the dogs mucus (white or clear)? How Often do they couch, vomit, etc… How long has this been going on?
Fear, Intimidation & Fighting (Cute but BAD)
One last thing to mention and I’ll have to give some more updates about is Little Boy’s BAD behavior towards other DOGS + HUMANS too! He barks, chases, bites, attacks, etc..
You might not believe that such a small guy can get in such big fights! He has an attitude problems that just pops up from time to time. Sometimes he attacks his brothers but has gotten snappy with his sisters at times. He chases the Cat every opportunity he gets. But the cat seems to instigate a lot of it too! But I’ve even had to go to the pet vet medical emergency room not just for him attacking others but for getting beat up (aka jumped after getting into it with his other pups)!
Recently we try not to leave him and his Brother Roland alone and watch them closely when in small quarters like the bed, RV van, and any time they have to cross paths. I think Little Boy is jealous of Roland getting any attention since they are both boys and Roland is an easy target (with his shy demeanor)…
So we either separate them or if they get into a fight, we have to put a muzzle on Little Boy! We ended up pulling over on our last Van Life road trip to get an Adjustable Comfort Fit Dog Muzzle by Coastal. This dog muzzle comfortably allows the dog to drink water and pant.
Final Thoughts
Adopting a rescue dog like Little Boy is an adventure filled with challenges and rewards. Every dog has their quirks, but with love, patience, and care, they become cherished members of the family. We’re thrilled to have Little Boy join our pack and can’t wait to share more about his journey.
Don’t Miss A Thing…
💯 Meet Us: Since Adopting Birdie we’ve acquired 4 more Rescues in our crew! Currently, we have 5 Dogs and One Cat! You can meet all the animals here!
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