There's a nice blanket overtop of everything. Beckett is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY. He runs around the farm in the snow and is an absolute snow dog. He tosses it up in the air and spins circles. But at the same time, he's keen to come outside after 10-15 minutes to warm up. He's got no undercoat!
Lemon also loves the snow. Although its getting piled up so much that when she tries to follow Beckett she lands in too big of a pile and has to squirm her way back out. 12 pounds isn't really meant for snow :P But she's a good sport about it and its funny to watch her go like stink through it like she's tunneling.
Alphie and Alvin really don't care for the snow. Poor Alvin steps out and is already up to his belly swimming in the stuff. To his credit, he hasn't had any accidents inside. Slowly, he's figuring out how to be a well-mannered dog around the other dogs. I'm letting everyone tell him off. Even Alphie has gotten a good tell-off that isn't too severe. He's still on the annoying side, but that's in his class-clown nature. Once the kennel cough runs its course through here (by next weekend at latest), Im going to bring Alvin to daycare with me. He needs stimulus the other dogs arent giving him here. Mostly, he needs someone to play with. Lemon will play with him a bit, but shed rather play rough with Beckett or chill out with Alphie.
Alphie's kennel cough is slowly going away. He hasn't put on any weight whatsoever, and its worrying. Not only can I see his hip bones, but Im starting to see parts of his spine too. Im hoping once the KC runs its course, he starts putting on some weight. Regardless, hes still a happy, cuddly, easy-going dude. His sickness isnt running him down much.
Allie is whatever about the snow. Although she hasnt come any further than the last few days, shes still my couch potato, cheese scrounger and doesnt hang in her kennel very much. Soon Ill be working on taking her leash on and off. Since shes so hesitant to be touched, Ive been leaving it on just as a trust measure. I dont want to set her back by letting her offleash and then freaking her out by putting it back on. So when were on the couch later today Ill take it on and off a couple of times, to get her used to it. Weve still got a gate to make for the fence, so it isnt secure. Once its secure its not a big deal as we can work on the leash issues slowly, (they might not be issues at all), but Id like to keep the speed up. Shes come so far. Shes so close to being adoptable.
Oh, and I suppose the whole point of this blog was a new arrival.
Welcome: Helen
Helen is from Taiwan, also being fostered for Island Dogz. Although she looks like a German Sheppard, shes actually only about 20 pounds or so. So Sheltie size. Island Dogz has been wanting to bring Helen for awhile, but shed been labeled reactive. After seeing videos of her I went yeah right, reactive my butt, she just doesnt like dogs right up in her face. Thats fair.
Helen was dropped off at daycare yesterday and did just fine. She got bowled over once or twice by a golden retriever puppy with no tell-off. She interacted with everyone just fine, and has good introduction skills. I had dogs in her big personal bubble and she was fine. The ONLY thing, which isnt reactive at all, is that she doesnt like dogs playing right beside her muzzle. She tells off, appropriately. I too dont like people right in my face. She is polite, well-mannered, social. Not really playful with other dogs (yet). She is a people dog. Super friendly. Cute as a button, friendly, social with everyone -I dont think shell last in foster care very long :P
She walked in here just fine. The only dog she told off was Beckett -hes blind and got a little bit too much in her face-, but he went oh yeah, sorry, and they were fine. Social skills are about communication. People dont like the growls, the tell-offs, the barring of the teeth. These are all signs of a properly socialized dog. You wouldnt chastise your kid for asking another kid to get lost or please leave me alone. Sure, there are dogs that are fine with absolutely everything, but these are far and few in between, just like people.
So, we welcome Helen, who hasnt had any accidents inside (yet), slept through the night in her crate, and is as friendly as they come. We will work on her not putting her paws anywhere and everywhere, and she will need to learn barriers around doorways -she could be a bit of a bolter or escape artist that way-, as well as leash skills, but yet another highly adoptable pooch in the house.
One more and we are a full house. I have my fingers crossed for an adoption or two by the end of the month, but there is no time limit on the foster front. There are average times of course -about a month-, but you take them on for the long-haul if necessary.
Hopefully Ill get some snow pictures to add to this blog later today!
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