Fostering as a Team

Some dogs are easier to foster than others. Jessie's saving grace is that his attractiveness is in inverse porportion to his behavior, ergo... he's rotten, but very cute! The saving grace of all babies really.

Every day, Jessie continues to show improvement. Although Ken & I have taken the lead on it, I realize that all of the animals in our home also contribute to Jessie's rehabilitation.

Louie - has taught Jessie that cats are NOT to be messed with. Two days ago, Louie chased Jessie around the house. Stalked him & swatted him... until he had Jessie cowering in a corner of the bathroom. Normally, we wouldn't allow this behaviour, but Jessies continued aggression required more, more, more in the way of natural corrections.

Diesel - the first to stand up to this little bully. Diesel is a social climber & is thrilled to finally be allowed to dominate someone else! I've been very proud of Diesel as I watch him correct firmly, but without crossing the line.

Brynn - after allowing almost a dozen lunge/attacks, she's decided that Jessie isn't allowed near her. She's teaching Jessie that a growl means back off or you will be sorry... a lesson I'm not sure Jessie has experienced before.

Bo - poor, scared, Bo-baby. 130lbs of muscle, 600lbs of jaw force... and he's frighted of a puppy! Bo gives Jessie the opportuntity to learn how to interact with a submissive dog. Bo knows that he's to be quiet in the house... so we've started focusing on letting Bo play with the puppy outside. Outside, Bo chases Jessie barking and doing the play bow. Jessie doesn't seem to able to read this as play behaviour and runs away... but maybe with time...

Isn't he adorable?! Charlie, renamed Jessie, is working his puppy magic on our hearts. When the other dogs aren't around, he is a typical puppy. Sweet, funny, cuddly!



His dog aggression has continued to challenge our patience. One of the biggest obstacles is teaching *our* dogs that it's ok to show dominant behaviour towards Jessie (something they are not normally allowed to do). The cats have the right idea - swat now, talk later.



Still, he's showing progress. Although he lunged at dogs twice today, once I stopped him by voice command & the second, I let Diesel deal with it by pinning Jessie on his back & literally lying down on him... when he was let up, Jessie ran for cover!



Outside, where the dogs know they are allowed to bark, jump, play, tussle... Jessie has learned that a lunge will elicit a more powerful response... and he leaves the other dogs alone. Inside, we're still working on it! Here is Bo letting know Jessie know that he can't be bullied outside!

Crazy Charlie

Our newest foster, arrived Christmas Eve. He's teaching me lessons in patience and patience and patience. No one has taught young Charlie manners, and now he's homeless. It's our hope that he can be rehabilitated so that he will no longer attack other dogs, but only time will tell. It may be that Charlie is the victim of unscrupulous breeding and his mental issues might be biological. Sometimes it's hard to forgive the ignorance of people. Forgiveness... a lesson I'm working hard on!

Poem for Joseph

In this moment

Our eyes connect

And there is

Nothing but this moment

As our hearts connect

And we glow with simple joy

And the pleasure of each other's company.

Thirty-five years separate

Our mortal forms, but

Our souls know nothing of time.

Foster Dog - Bradley

I'm a new foster-mom for dogs. Bradley is only our third foster. He's been her for 2 days and I have to wonder.... how the heck did this dog end up a stray?! He's such a well-behaved boy. Quiet inside, playful outside. Obedient, friendly, ok with cats & dogs. No aggression issues. He even knows some tricks. There is NOTHING wrong with this dog. The only thing I can think of is that he was a "runner" - aka didn't get enough outdoor exercise or stimulation.

How many dogs - like Bradley - end up on death row because they are "runners"? Perhaps if people realized how easy it was to train a dog to walk on the tredmill, there would be less dogs given up for adoption.

Here are two of my favourite Bradley pictures - notice how his feet aren't touching the ground!

1st Post

Oh where to begin.... in the present of course!

We thought it might miss us this year.... but winter has arrived and with a vengence! Today's temperature: -10C with 28 km/h winds. Brrrrrrr!

Poor Ms. Ginger-Leigh doesn't fit through the house doorway... so she's stuck outside! It's been so cold, that the snow freezes to her shoes and compacts. She has shoes only on her front two feet - and as the day goes on, the snow turns to ice. Poor thing looks like she's walking on 4 inch heels on her front feet only! Twice a day, I'm going out to knock the ice off.

As usual, the dogs are loving the snow... but not the cold. Only Diesel wants to be outside for any amount of time. Bo & Brynn are both very glad to have doggie coats - even if Ken thinks they look silly. Let's see him go out in -20 with only a light coat on!