Topi was adopted 1/22/18 by the Schaus family (WI) and is now brother to NR alum Addax.
Date(s): 11/27/17. Album by Terry. Photos by Terry. 1 - 30 of 30 Total. 7932 Visits.
1 This affectionate boy is Topi.
2 Topi (left) and Edmi (right) were turned in to the shelter by someone claiming to have found them. Because Topi is a year or two older than Edmi, we assume he is Edmi's father.
3 We don't know what the injury had been to his head, but it has now healed nicely.
4 Topi is 3 or 4 years old.
5 He weighs a nice healthy 20.5 lbs.
6 Once home, the boys were clearly glad to be out of the shelter but were apprehensive and wary, wanting to keep some distance. (Topi is on the right.)
7 And yet they really seemed to want to engage with me. Just look at those tails go! (Topi is on the left.)
8 Little by little they got more comfortable with coming closer. (Topi is on the right.)
9 Eventually Topi's longing for engagement won out and he began coming right up for pats.
10 Topi was more comfortable outside than inside, and seemed nervous to go through a doorway.
11 Gradually, though, both boys got used to coming into the house through a door left propped open.
12 Leash walking was a totally alien concept to both boys. They would start to panic when they felt any restriction. Fortunately they did not mind having a soft harness put on, which made practice on leash easier. He is still far from leash trained, however, and needs a lot more practice.
13 Topi is quietly curious about things and generally goes at a slow, investigative pace.
14 Getting used to the house also involved learning proper housetraining skills, and this has been going very well. With sufficient outdoor opportunity, he confines all of his potty business to outside.
15 Indoors, Topi (left) and Edmi spend most of their time just lying around and watching. In the first few days, Topi would often do a soft, mournful, singing howl as though he was calling to someone. A former family member who got left behind? We haven't heard him do this any more after the first week or so.
16 Always alert and watchful.
17 Enjoying some sunbathing on a warm afternoon.
18 Finally, after almost a week, Topi (left) and Edmi dared to get onto the couch. They seemed surprised (and delighted!) at this privilege.
19 In his nice new martingale collar!
20 Initially Topi was wary about taking treats from our hands; he tended to snatch and run as though he thought we were going to try to grab him. Now, though, he is all about the goodies and takes them gently.
21 Patiently hopeful.
22
23 May I come up?
24 Topi gets along well with other dogs that he meets, although initially he can sometimes be a little barky about it.
25 Topi discovered antler chews! He hasn't shown any inclination to play with or chew on anything else, toys or otherwise.
26 Why do you keep pointing that thing at us?
27 Topi found a new place to watch TV and keep a close eye on "Mom" at the same time.
28 We were delighted the first time he crawled into a lap on his own and initiated the snuggles.
29 Foster togetherness!
Download MPEG4 30 In his first few days here, Topi would frequently do these mournful little howls. Was he calling for someone? Expressing anxiety? He has not done it at all after those first 2-3 days. Click for a short video.
