Rancho Ridiculouso

11/27/2025

Today I had visitors at the shelter, and they had a three year old adorable little girl.

Junior absolutely was enamored with her as soon as she got out of the car. He usually is bad about jumping up on adults but not with this little one. It was as if he knew she was too little to do that to. He would lean into her and lick her face. She too was really liking Junior. He weighs 100 lbs and was so gentle.

When we went into the gated yard of the shelter Junior climbed the fence to be with her again. It was the sweetest thing ever. And when they went to leave and we went out of where he was I closed the gate. He again climbed the fence to get right beside her as she got in the car.

He has never been around little children before so I was really stunned at his reaction. He really is an amazing Rhodesian Ridgeback with the sweetest temperament.

11/25/2025

The girls (Kyra and Roxy) and I went for a ride today. Roxy is loving life, doesn't even need a leash to get to the car, sat on the console and came right in the house when we got home.

I think you can tell by the look on her face how happy she is. She's got quite a set of ears lol!

And...I think you can tell by the look on Kyra's face she's saying, "I knew this crap was gonna happen."

11/25/2025

Damn....Roxy and I have bonded big time lol! She is now by my side constantly and jumped on my bed and slept right next to me last night.

I've always said that once a troubled dog finds the right home environment all their behavioral issues tend to melt away. The definition of the "right home environment" is one that works for their breed, personality and temperament mixed in with a very nurturing owner.

In the case of Roxy ... Rancho Ridiculouso couldn't be more perfect for a high strung, nervous and high energy dog. Even though the pack consists of now 13 dogs it is a calming place. In just 3 1/2 days Roxy is calm, no nerves, not bitey and very relaxed.

Roxy can go out on her own through the dog door when she feels like it to roam the 5 acre yard that overlooks the river and wildlife. She can come back in at will, and she's now joined the pack when I'm making their dog food. They all lay quietly on the kitchen floor watching and hoping I drop some meat. For me it's like playing the game Twister because I have to step through and over everyone.

I really believe that Roxy was isolated somewhere in her original home for long periods of time which exacerbated her nervousness and pent up energy. I've put her in the mudroom from time to time while cleaning floors, and she loses her mind and barks incessantly wanting out. For a dog like Roxy long confinement can be the worst punishment that would bring out all of her bad traits she had been demonstrating.

I really don't ask a lot from my pack, but they instinctively know what is expected of them which makes for a well behaved and happy pack of dogs and especially for me.

I can't bear the thought of pulling the rug out from underneath her now that she's bonded with me so I officially have added another dog to my pack lol. Not at all what I had planned......

11/25/2025

Look at this. Roxy laid right beside and let me rub her. She even kissed my face. I think I’m in!!

11/25/2025

I lifted the hay bale with my tractor, got the netting on it and then put it in the round bale feeder. It wasn't a big deal at all!

11/24/2025

The horses and donkeys ate the entire round 1000 lb bale of hay in less than 2 weeks!

Today will be the first time I'm putting another bale into the round bale feeder and covering it with the netting by myself with the tractor. This should be interesting. Probably would be a winner of America's Funniest Videos lol.

11/24/2025

I have to share with you what happened tonight with Roxy. I've said that I am not going to ask anything of her and leave it up to her to decide what she wants from me.

The dogs had been fed and all my chores were done so I opened the puppy pen gate that surrounds my sofa. Roxy followed me in, and I sat down on the sofa.

She jumped up next to me and looked right into my eyes. Then she pawed my arm as if asking for a pet. I put my arm around her gently and gave her a soft hug. Then she jumped down and went to a different area of the sofa.

Guess she wanted me to know that she's beginning to warm up to me lol.

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11/23/2025

After consultation with my friend and professional dog trainer Bob Hennessy we came to the conclusion that Roxy needs to stay at Rancho Ridiculouso for a while. She needs a place where she can decompress and allowed to simply be a dog.

For Roxy's entire 3 years of life she was basically a house dog with a small fenced yard.....not perfect for such a high energy intelligent breed. At RR my backyard is 5 acres fenced with lots of smells of wildlife and lots of places to explore. And there is a dog door so she can go in and out at will. She learned to use it in a nano second. She's somewhat getting used to the pack and follows us everywhere.

I'm not going to ask anything of her and let it be all up to her as to what she wants from me. No rules and regulations so to speak. That way she hopefully can get rid of her fears and nervousness, but it will for sure take a while.

She was fascinated by the donkeys which I'm certain she's never seen before, and they with her. I always find it interesting how the horses and donkeys always know when there is a new dog in the mix. They come down to the field adjacent to my yard to meet the new dog.

Oh Lord....please don't tell me I may have added a new dog to my personal pack......

11/23/2025

First of all let me update you on my dishwasher. I couldn't even get the dang thing out of the cabinet! Removed the screws attached to the cabinet, and the top of it moved a little, but the bottom would not move. I even brought in a crow bar and lifted it up a little, but then it was too tight on top to move. I finally gave up which is something I rarely do lol.

A friend is dropping his dog off tomorrow for a play date. Hoping together we can get it out, but one of you mentioned taking off the bottom plate and using a fan so I'm going to try that today. Great idea!

Then....I. have a Roxy the Mini-Aussie update.

She is now here at Rancho Ridiculouso. Turns out she is not at all socialized and is a bit of a mental mess! I just thought she was nervous, shy and cautious when I met her.

At her new home she bit the husband, attacked their cat, was very food aggressive with their male dog and pooped all over the house. She would get in the husband's lap and cuddle, and when he got up then came back she bit him.

Roxy is very unpredictable. While in the car waiting for me to pick her up they said she growled at every man that walked by. She lived with her owner and her adult son so I'm thinking there was something between he and Roxy. She was fine with the 23 year old daughter of the couple that took her, but she's living with her parents right now so she couldn't take her.

Their home has a lot of people coming and going so for a highly nervous and unpredictable dog like Roxy there was no way they could deal with her behavior.

Here...one minute she will let me pet her, and the next minute she tries to bite me. Of course my pack is making her nervous, but I do think in a couple of days she will settle with them. Barkley knows she's nervous so he stalks her, and I have to be right on top of it at all times.

I have a pen around my sofa as a dog free zone. Roxy kept jumping up on it wanting in but when I tried to pick her up she snapped and ran away.

This poor girl has apparently been so isolated, untrained and maybe even treated harshly that she is a real mess. Because of that I didn't want her to go back to that situation which is why she's here.

I'm thinking a single active very patient woman is what she needs to become attached and feel safe.

11/22/2025

Know what I'm doing on this lovely Saturday? Taking my damn dishwasher apart!

After the great flood this week it's still flashing "leak" and will not turn off so I had to switch the circuit breaker off. I went on You Tube and it said to first turn the circuit break on and off a few times. That might reset it....but nope...didn't happen.

I'm charging my drill because I have to pull the dishwasher out, turn it over on its side, take the bottom off, look for water in several places and dry it.

When a naughty dog turned the sink faucet backward and turned the water on it was cascading from the counter to the floor like Niagra Falls. The dishwasher is right next to the sink so obviously water got to the leak sensor so now I have to find that sensor and dry the area.

My resume just keeps getting longer and longer......

11/22/2025

Roxy the female Mini-Aussie update.

Roxy has been rehomed with a couple that are active hikers and are very experienced dog owners. They walk 5 miles every day with their male heeler and understand the needs of a high strung, high energy, nervous and unsocialized dog like Roxy.

With the proper amount of exercise and socialization I know Roxy will settle into being a calm and well balanced dog.

Thank you to everyone that shared and networked her. Once again we found just the right home for her!

11/21/2025

UPDATE: Here's my Dexter breed bulls Beans and Frank at their new home. They went to a neighboring ranch so close to Rancho Ridiculouso that they still have a gorgeous view of the Needle Rock formation.

But they are much happier where they are now because they have Dexter girlfriends! It won't be long before they are proud papa's.

The photo of a young Beans is the condition they were in when confiscated by Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection. They asked if the sanctuary could hold them temporarily until they could find permanent placement. That temporary ended up being over 3 years here, and they were finally legally turned over to me. During that 3 years I was able to get them back to the amazing health they are in today.

That was the first and only "Bull Rehabilitation" here at RR lol.