Sleeping collies

Bunker (left) and Woodson

I've never known a collie who doesn't sleep on it's back.

I'm sure other dogs/breeds do this, Brett doesn't. He likes to sprawl on his stomach kicking his hind legs out behind him.

We made a really quick trip to the dog park after picking KJ up from work and before the board meeting. Bunker got humped by a rottweiler and he stood there growling until the owner pulled his dog off, but did not fight. 

Tentative adoption for Bunker

I talked to W last night for over an hour about Bunker and she feels it will be a good fit. She said they'd been watching the website for several weeks and when they saw him pop on she just knew he was it. They are past the small kid stage and we discussed Bunker's need for gentleness. They have 20 acres, horses, cats and  a fully fenced yard. Bunker will have a border collie sister (they have also had two Belgian Tervuerns, so are familiar with herders), and the dogs are not allowed to run loose even though they are in a rural area. He would not be allowed to be loose around the horses until they know how he is with them. When she is at the barn she takes the dog with her, but on a leash or tie-out. She said when they're inside the dogs are inside, and when they're outside, the dogs are outside. They are going to drive here the Friday before Memorial Day, have the dogs meet and if all goes well will take Bunker with them and be able to spend the rest of the long weekend with him. I don't see there being any issues. Bunker gets along with all the other dogs he's met.

Later last night, I saw evidence that leaves no doubt Bunker has been abused. KJ was in his room and for whatever reason he threw a pillow at Brett. Brett is used to this. It's part of their relationship. They literally wrestle and KJ will grab stuff (soft stuff) and throw it at him. I was laying in bed reading. The next thing I know Bunker is up on my bed behind me as if to hide, thinking, I'm sure, that KJ was after him. 

That said, this morning he's showing more normal dog behavior. He's chewing on tennis balls, initiating play with Woodson and right now he's now laying on his back with is feet in the air in that typical collie pose. This says, I'm relaxed and secure. 

Clippers!

I got the clippers from my sister and while it was better than nothing, what I really need for Bunker are industrial clippers! 

He took it like a champ though. KJ went to work on his tail while I brushed his front end. Piece of cake. He didn't like the buzzing around his ears, though. Eventually I went to just scissors and cut closer but not up to his skin and will continue brushing. Minus the $500 set of clippers, it's really the brushing that is working the best.

I found out that when we're actually gone, Bunker is fine. But if we're home and he's inside while we're outside, i.e. sitting in the driveway with the neighbor (which is right under my bedroom window), Bunker is not a happy boy. I came into my bedroom to find two pillows and a towel chewed up. Go figure. 

Whoever adopts him, will have to know there is no getting anywhere inside the house quickly. Bunker's nearness makes that impossible. I'm always waiting for him to actually get out of my way. Patience will be needed and I'm not sure if this will ever go away.

I need to get a picture of him when he stands on the bench seat on the deck. He gets up there when a dog goes by. I don't think he would ever jump, but keeping a close eye on him is a good idea.

When he eats, I have to stay there in the room with him. If I leave he follows me and then my other dogs would eat his food. He snapped at the cat when she got too close while he was eating. If I walk up to him while he's eating, he backs away from his dish and I can pick it up.

I'll be calling a family in Nebraska in the next few days to talk to them about Bunker, and apparently there have been several more inquiries about him, so he should have a forever home soon!

Bunker's page on MWCR.org

Bunker's available!

Improving Bunker

Bunker got a clean bill of health at the vet today. No heartworm, no Lyme's. He will need to be tested again for Lyme's in six months to make sure he wasn't infected by the ticks he came with two weeks ago. He has one tooth that is dying. It's not ready to come out, but eventually will have to. Doc said it was probably from a blunt trauma, possibly a kick.

He's gained over one pound, his fever is gone, and they said they could tell he was feeling so much better. 

I told the vet how he hovers, and even presses his nose on the back of my leg to follow me around the house. He thought that could mean anxiety, but Bunker also goes up to complete strangers at the dog park, and latches onto them, so I don't think it's anxiety. I think it's his way of soaking in as much attention as he possibly can. I was telling people today, he's recruiting a new family!

I spent 45 minutes brushing him this evening. He is so good. Just lays there and lets me brush even when I know it's pulling on his skin. I continue to get more of the mats out, but will have to cut the rest sooner or later. Still waiting on getting some clippers. But he gets his bath tomorrow.

A few shots after the brushing. The maltese is Tuffy, who lives next door.

Velcro

I don't feel sorry for Bunker, he's in a good place now and will find a great home, but I do feel really sad on what can be speculated about his past. He is 100% a velcro dog. Of all the other fosters, I have not seen one this bad. He follows me everywhere and even seems somewhat anxious to be right with me, in that he will have his nose against my leg as I walk through the house. I have to be careful not to trip over him. When I sit down he sits next to me, with his head near my hand. He doesn't put it on my knee, just holds it low near my leg. I get the impression that he was left outside either on his own or chained up, and never really given much attention. He's social, so he must have been properly socialized at some point. He seems to be housebroken, aside from the first two accidents, he's been fine. I'm leaving my bedroom door open at night now, giving him full roam of the house. I'm also leaving him loose when we're gone, with no problems. I can't leave my own dogs loose on their own!

KJ got him to play yesterday, too. He said he was playing with Brett and Bunker started jumping around wanting to play. I brushed him on Friday. Like Jinny, he doesn't want to stand and there is so much to brush, so  I was able to lay him on his side and just brush. I'm starting to make progress on the undercoat. It wants to come out, it's just so caught and tight to his skin. He seems to enjoy it, but I think it's more he just wants to have hands on him. 

When he finally lays down, he is at my feet usually touching me in some way. Dogs live in the moment, but is he thinking about how his life has changed from being homeless to having a home? Will he always know that things could be worse? Then I jump to all the other dogs out there who are chained in back yards, given basic food and water (or not), but are never talked to, petted, or brushed. Bunker is really dirty. There are thorns and tiny sticks embedded in his coat. His tail is one giant dreadlock. Where did he come from? How did he become lost? Did anybody look for him? Was he dumped? I always think these things when a foster comes in as a stray, but with Bunker, for some reason I am thinking of it more. They all seem grateful for the attention and care, but Bunker seems more so. What have they done to survive? Who gave them food, but couldn't take them in or maybe they tried, but couldn't catch them. 

I can't save them all, but I can do one at a time. I am so thankful for the opportunity. 

I so want to give this dog a bath!

But doc said no bath for two weeks post neuter. I'm still finding the occasional wood tick. I'm going to brush him this afternoon so will be able to look for more and hopefully that will be the end of it. His coat is so dense at the base that it's hard to feel for them until they get a little bigger. I can still rely on my sixth sense when it comes to finding wood ticks on dogs. For some reason, I can give random scratches somewhere on the dog and it seems that's where the tick is.

We went to the dog park yesterday, early, meaning before people get off work. We were the only ones there for a bit. Then Sugar (yellow lab) showed up, and then Murphy (Shih Tzu). 

Bunker did well with both. He followed Murphy around the most and eventually when Murphy's owner sat down, Bunker was right there begging for attention. I also sat down, mentioning Bunker would be available for adoption soon. She laughed, but said he was definitely a sweetheart. As we sat there, two more dogs came in. A black lab mix and what looked like a schnauzer, or maybe a mix. 

They took the longest time in the entry way, Woodson and Brett were standing at the door, and the woman asked KJ to call them away, which he did. Their dogs came in a bit aggressively, so I took hold of Bunker's collar. As the woman was walking toward us, she commented on how Bunker wasn't getting any exercise. I smiled, mentioning that this was his first visit. 

I continued talking to Murphy's owner, Murphy was under the picnic table we were sitting at, Bunker standing in front of me. We turned to watch the black lab behind us on the fence line. Murphy's owner commented on the fact that the lab wasn't neutered. We turned back around and the next thing I knew, the lab was on top of Bunker, coming up from behind him. I stood up, not letting go of his collar, pulled him around, giving the lab a knee, and was able to break them up without getting bit. We both started walking away. Me toward KJ at a different table, she just started doing another lap of the park. The lab started following us, I turned and said "NO!" which made him turn back. We gathered up and left. I don't know if Bunker gave this dog a look, or if the dog just snuck up (on me, probably not on Bunker), and attacked. Bunker, being freshly neutered, may still be giving off hormones, too. But he was getting along great until this other dog arrived. I'm thinking we'll give it another shot this afternoon, but I'm not sure. Most of the regulars get along just fine, so I think Bunker will be fine. 

Two cell phone pictures.

Later we left Bunker loose in the house while we ran a quick errand and he did great!
I asked the vet about the garlic chews I've been giving Brett and Woodson and he said they're great for digestion, but he wasn't sure how well they worked with keeping the ticks and mosquitos at bay. Other people at the dog park are telling me they have found ticks on their dogs. I have not found a single tick on either Brett or Woodson, so until I do, I'm going to say the chews are working!