Dog Park Success!

Dog Park Success

I usually wait until the foster dog has bonded with my dogs for a week before I take them to the dog park. I feel like it gives the new dog a bit more security when they enter the park. Not to mention bonded with me, so they don't just wander off without any sort of guidance. But with Hannah, my instincts told me she would be okay right away.

We went early yesterday to beat the heat. There were several people there and as we walked toward the gate Hannah started barking with enough alarm to make me wonder if this was a good idea. I continued into the entryway, unleashing the dogs and opening the gate. Off they went! Hannah was fine. She was wagging her tail and doing all the proper greetings. She also LOVED the place. She took off running all on her own and looked so happy. I love watching the dogs run. It is a vision of pure joy. Hannah even went with Woodson on his perimeter check (something he has to do each visit).

Today is much cooler so we plan to go again this afternoon. I'm hoping KJ can get some decent pictures.

Hannah is doing great. She's a very well-adjusted dog. Fitting in perfectly. She's more than a little obsessed with squirrels. I have to hang on tight when we're going down the driveway and in the park. The little rodents are everywhere right now. The babies are grown and they are gathering as many acorns as they can.

It's nice to have a foster who is used to being on a leash and knowing the main reason we are outside. especially when it's raining!

I wish I had video of the incident last night. Hannah is short and I'm guessing can't see the top of my bed. She freely jumps up onto the bed, by the way. Lily (cat) was sleeping on the corner of the bed when Hannah jumped up very close to her. Lily went straight up (as only cats can do), flipped over and landed on the floor. It was so funny!

Hannah's Arrival

Hannah's In The House!

Just got home with Hannah and it looks like she's already playing with Brett and Woodson. They have run back and forth from my room several times. I walked her in the park before I brought her in the house where I learned she LOVES squirrels. I'm lucky I keep a tight grip on the leash. She also does some major scratching after she pees. Pretty funny. Brett does this a little, it's when I know he's done, cuz sometimes he goes, walks a bit then goes again. Hannah scratches for about six feet away.

Her owners were really sad about giving her up, but it's gotten really hard for them to walk her and she has a lot of energy. They seem like really great people. Have had so many dogs and cats in their lives. Have been previously involved with Northern Lights Greyhound Rescue. I was able to stay for a bit and talk to them, but I needed to get home and get Hannah settled in before I left to pick KJ up from work.

She's well-trained, used to a crate, in fact, loves her crate. She will lay down when you tell her 'place'. I'm trying to get some pictures now, but she's very busy checking the house out.

She's been spayed and doesn't need shots until next June. She has a microchip but I will need to get it scanned to get the information. Such a sweet girl. Small, especially when she stands next to Woodson. She's half his size, but a healthy, thick mahogany coat. Her nose looks short, too, compared to Woodson's, but he has a really long nose!

I'll get some pictures this weekend and post them asap!

New arrival

Foster dog #20

Hanna is a small 5-year-old rough sable and white female collie.  She is spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, and is micro-chipped.  She is being surrendered because the couple who own her both are disabled and they feel bad for her because they are not able give her the care or exercise she deserves.  It breaks their hearts to give her up but they are thinking of her.

Hannah is a good dog who has had a couple levels of obedience training.  This small collie (40-45 lbs) is friendly toward people and ADORES children.  She is good with both dogs and cats.  She walks very nicely on a leash and rides well in a car.  Hannah is used to being around someone who uses a cane.  She does not chase cars or bicycles.  Her owner does not consider her a barker; she barks but not a lot.  Grooming is tolerated but she can be finicky when you brush her back-end or hit a snarl.  If loose in the yard she may leave the yard to go visiting especially if she hears or see children nearby. 

Hannah has no health issues and no fears/anxieties.

She's close by, too, so no transport needed. I'll get more details tomorrow and will probably be able to pick her up this weekend, if they're ready. 

Update on Lady: she's had her test for Addison's disease and it was negative! She helped her human brother move to college this past weekend.

Lady Update

Lady was adopted on Sunday by a wonderful family who is absolutely the perfect match for her.

There was some turmoil leading up to it, as she had a post-surgery complication that made the vet think she has Addison's Disease. He had to pump her full of steroids so the stimulation test for Addison's can't be performed until those leave her system, and her new family is going to follow up on this. 

They sent two pictures of Lady on their deck and an update, saying since their house has all hardwood floors except for the third level of their home, they had to carry her upstairs the first night, but that she's adjusted quickly to the bare floors. This often happens with dogs who have never been inside. At my house I have flooring in my entryway, bathroom and kitchen. She got fairly used to the entryway, but avoided the other two spots.

Looking at these pictures I wonder what the chances are of her becoming a water dog??? I've never known a collie that was, though. We'll see.

Camera-shy!

What is it about dogs with cameras. Some love it when you point the camera at them as if they know they want to show you their best look.

Others dip their head as if you're scolding them. 

KJ took a couple pictures of Lady the other night out on the deck and that's exactly what she does. She really is one of the friendliest dogs I've fostered. You just can't tell by her pictures!

Some notes I compiled last night:

Wants to be with people. Will steal food if you're not looking. She's thin. Boney actually. Was hoping to fatten her up a bit but I don't think she's gained any weight. She's petite, 56 pounds, but not a diva. Tomboy. Plays pretty rough. But once she's spayed will probably gain some weight.

Has a high prey drive. Chases my cats if they run, but doesn't hurt them. I think she'd go after my rabbits though. She tries to take off after squirrels and we have these ground hogs or wood chucks in the park across the street. Maybe they're big gophers or baby wood chucks. Wild rodents that tunnel through the park. But man, she hears them chirp and if loose would be gone.
She's good on a leash except when she sees something she wants to chase. A little training and she ll be fine. She's smart. She flows when she moves. Pretty head and holds it up like a show dog. She responds well with a quick tug of the leash.

Her coat is better but still dry. I've brushed her a lot and it looks better each time. It's been trimmed in places which will grow out.

Has good recall when in the house. Can bark a lot and whines when I leave, but settles down.

Not bothered by storms.

Lady's 'in-season' winding down

Finally! If you've ever been around a dog in heat, you know what I'm talking about. This was my first experience. Lady was supposed to be spayed yesterday, but the vet called and wanted to delay it, to make sure. I haven't Googled it to find out why, but they don't want to spay when they're in heat. The humping has finally calmed down in the last day or so. Even though Brett and Woodson are neutered they were still trying their best, and it's been going on for four weeks. I can't take Lady to the dog park, but I did take Brett and Woodson there this morning. It's been too hot to go all this past week. But today I finally have three dogs all sleeping at the same time. I think leaving Lady home while taking the other two, she was anxious enough to wear herself out while I was gone.

So, Lady is scheduled for surgery Aug. 2. Then will be ready for adoption. If she gets adopted quickly and/or locally, I'm hoping I can hand her over before she needs to go back for the removal of stitches. Otherwise I will have to kennel her when we go on our trip as it will be cutting it close.  

Yesterday

 

Lady's favorite look-out. I'm afraid she will jump right off sometimes, but hasn't so far. She's had a bath and several good brushings. Still shedding that under-coat. It looks like certain areas have been cut away, probably where burs were. I believe she will always be light-colored, but this is also sun-bleached from being an outdoor dog, so it's possible her coat will grow in darker and it matures. She has enough markings to be considered white factored, which makes sense, as I was told one of her parents was all white.