Update #2 on Wilbur Foster, I mean Orville...wait - who are you dood?

[Frannie & Callie]

I found out from IDOG this morning that the Athens shelter had all of their paperwork mixed up and that I actually have ORVILLE, not Wilbur. However, if he doesn't respond to "Orville", I'm renaming him "Wilbur" - I think it's an adorable name! I wondered about this, as this dood looked nothing like the one from the Athens shelter! Below is a picture I took of him yesterday at the vet.

Orville/Wilbur spent a comfortable night at the vet. The great news is that he is heartworm NEGATIVE (doing a happy dance!). I was worried, but not sure how The bad news is that he is 10-15 lbs underweight, malnourished, and has whip-worms. The vet is concerned about his skin, and has ordered a shave-down so she can see what's really happening under the dreads. He also has to have an "anal pluck" which sounds terribly unpleasant.

Otherwise, it was all good. The vet said that O/W has an incredibly good disposition, that he was cooperative but not absent. There were reports of more tail wagging!! She is aging him younger than the Athens shelter did (they aged both doodles at 5), but my vet thinks that his teeth are way too clean for him to be 5, especially when one considers the neglect. She thinks he is between 1.5 and 2.5 years old. Overall diagnosis "he needs a little time and love, but he will make someone a wonderful pet"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight will be the big test...I'm picking up O/W this afternoon and taking him home and letting him have a "moment" to decompress and THEN I'm going to get Callie from daycare. I know Callie will be her adorable, muppety self when she sees a new dog in the house so I want him to have a comfort level first. I have NO idea if this is a good or bad idea. I've been advised to let them slowly out into the yard to get to know each other but I don't have a yard! ANY ADVICE???

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It doesn't surprise me that the paperwork was mixed up. He will probably respond to both names, because he's used to hearing both of them. But when he hears his brother's name, he is probably going to look around, so watch for that, it will give you a clue. With his own name, he'll just look at you.
The purpose of the advice to meet in the yard is two-fold...part of it is to meet on more neutral territiory than the inside of the house, but the other part is so they can meet off-leash. Dogs react different to strange dogs when they are on-leash, cannot approach each other from the side/rear as they normally would, and have no flight option. So it would really be better for them to meet inside the house off-leash than outside the house on-leash.
I am thrilled that he is younger than previously thought (increases his adoption chances 100%) and that he has such a good temperament. Thanks to you and IDOG, O/W has a bright future ahead, probably for the first time in his life! Good luck with the meeting, and hugs to you, Callie, and "What's-His-Name"!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I love Wilbur as well, but had I not heard Wilbur I would have thought Orville was cute as well. So either way it is great. What they suggested to me is that they meet in the back yard, but since our back yard was like a lake, we did it in the garage. They did suggested though that we drop their leashes so we don't have leash aggression issues. We first took the girls out of the house, then walked the foster through the house and then met up with the girls in the garage. Then just let the butt sniffing begin! Hope all goes well. Removing any favorite toy(s) up front is a good idea as well. I've had to put some of Lucy and Sophies favorites away as it caused growling and snapping! Can't wait to see new pics and hear all about it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That's great news from the Vet. I love that tail wagging picture. I can't wait to hear about the first Callie/W/O meeting tonight.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I would let W/O get used to the smells of your home first before Callie comes home. But when she does gave them meet on your driveway, then walk them to the back and let them do their doggy introductions by themselves. Be prepared for little interaction between them at first. If Dallied has a favorite toy remove it from sight. No sense in asking for trouble. Think of them as siblings who only want what the other one has.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am glad the tests are coming back okay so far - keep us posted!
As far as Callie and O/W meeting, just don't make a big deal about it. I think it will all work out.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Orville/Wilbur...whatever...he is still precious! I do agree that Wilbur is a fantastic doodle name for him. It sounds as though he is well on his way to being that perfect pet! I am anxiously awaiting your update of Callie meeting O/W this afternoon...good luck!