Meet Lurch: A New Addition to Our Off-Grid Family
Meet Lurch, the newest member of our off-grid family. Lurch was originally known as Tippy, but he never responded to that name with us. Strangely enough, he instantly answered to Lurch, and it stuck.
Lurch was my dad’s dog. With my dad’s health declining and him needing to move into a care home for additional help, we suddenly faced the reality that Lurch needed a new home. At first, we didn’t step forward, mostly because we weren’t sure how Dreugan, our reactive and anxious dog, would handle having an unfamiliar adult male dog in the pack. After every other rehoming option fell through, we decided to give it a try — carefully and slowly.
When we first walked Dreugan up to Lurch’s pen, Dreugan wasn’t calm, but what gave me hope was that Lurch showed no aggression. That was an important sign. Since Dreugan struggles with anxiety and can be reactive around unfamiliar dogs, we knew this introduction would need to be taken step by step.
Before allowing them loose together, we walked Lurch and Dreugan side by side on leashes several times. This helped them adjust to each other’s presence without any pressure. On our road trip home, we kept Lurch in an enclosed crate in the car so Dreugan had no choice but to share space with him, while still keeping Lurch safe. At first, we stopped and walked them separately. With each stop, we brought them closer together until they were comfortable walking near one another.
Eventually, at a stop with a dog park, we let Lurch and our two girls off leash while I kept Dreugan leashed. Things went smoothly. After more practice walks together, we reached the point where we felt confident letting them all loose together in a pen. To our relief, everything went well.
Dreugan is protective of me, so I’ve been careful not to give Lurch attention around him too quickly. Today was a big milestone — the first time Dreugan saw me pet Lurch when I put his new collar on. Instead of reacting, Dreugan simply laid in his spot and watched.
It’s still early, and we’re taking it slow, but so far the progress has been encouraging. Lurch is finding his place in the family, and we’re hopeful this careful introduction will lead to a strong bond in our off-grid pack.
Learn more about us
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
#OffGridLife #DogIntroduction #ReactiveDog #NewDog #DogPack
Tag: Dog Adoption
Dreugan’s Journey: From Rescue Pup to Loyal Protector | Life at Ka-Hoon Campground & Plateau Hame
**Dreugan’s Story: Our Lovable Protector with a Gentle Heart**
Dreugan may look intimidating, but beneath that tough exterior lies a sensitive soul who’s deeply connected to our emotions. He’s fiercely loyal and protective of our family, especially me, yet he’s surprisingly gentle and perceptive. Whenever another dog misbehaves, he’ll climb on top of me, as if trying to communicate what happened. This has been especially helpful as Weillow, our older dog, has started showing signs of doggy dementia, sometimes having accidents indoors. Dreugan has become our gentle alarm, alerting us to these moments with compassion.
We found Dreugan when he was just four weeks old. Someone posted a litter of puppies for sale, and though we hadn’t planned on adopting, we felt drawn to these little pups. When we arrived, only two puppies remained. One approached us eagerly, but the other hid, clearly frightened. While the first seemed friendly and easygoing, the one hiding—Dreugan—was anxious and unsure. He nipped at people, clearly in distress, and I knew in that moment he needed us.
Raising Dreugan hasn’t been easy. He’s a 3/4 Husky and 1/4 Rottweiler, a mix that brings out his strength and independence. He’s broken my finger, given me rope burns, and had his share of stressful moments, especially around other dogs he doesn’t know. But with patience, reassurance, and a lot of love, he’s grown into a wonderful companion. Although he doesn’t show affection in typical ways and sometimes acts indifferent, he also sneaks in moments of softness—like cuddling with our new puppy, Vibria, when he thinks no one’s watching.
We may have unknowingly supported backyard breeding by adopting him, but we’re thankful he came into our lives. Dreugan is proof that even the toughest-looking dogs can be big-hearted protectors, bringing out the best in all of us.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
——
#KaHoonCampground, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #RescueDog, #HuskyMix, #ProtectiveDog, #DogAdoption, #DoggyDementia, #DesertLife, #OffGridCommunity, #LoyalCompanion, #HomesteadLife, #NewMexicoLiving, #CampgroundLife, #DogStories, #DesertHomestead
Meet Vibria: Our Scottish Dragon at Ka-Hoon Campground
**A New Addition to Our Family: Meet Vibria**
Yesterday, something special happened. While scrolling through Facebook, I was reminded of when we brought home Litha nine years ago. Sadly, Litha passed away from cancer a few years back. While reflecting on that memory, I received a notification about a new post in a New Mexico pet group. I usually don’t get these alerts, so it immediately caught my attention. The post featured three puppies that were found on Cahoon Street in Roswell.
For those who don’t know, Brent’s original Scottish surname is Colquhoun, which is why we named our campground Plateau Hame de Colquhoun, also known as Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center. It felt like more than coincidence—the name Cahoon being another variation of Colquhoun seemed like a sign.
We believe things happen for a reason, so we made the six-hour round trip to pick up one of the puppies. We named her Vibria, which is Scottish for “female dragon.” She’s already stolen our hearts.
What do you think of our new furry addition?
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
——
#VibriaTheDragon #RescuePuppy #ScottishHeritage #ColquhounClan #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter #NewMexicoLiving #OffGridLife #PuppyLove #CahoonConnection #SignsFromTheUniverse #DesertCamping #RoswellPuppy #DogAdventures #FamilyAddition
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 