2013 In Review

Well, another year of fostering comes to a close. It's been an eventful year. We've had 28 dogs come into the foster fold, 16 from British Columbia, 10 from Taiwan, and 2 token dogs from California (we rescued Coleman/Floof who even though he was Californian and I told myself not to go down that road again looked too much like Lemon. The little friend he was found with was euthanized. Duke hitched a ride with him after his pending family realized he was 2-3x the size he was supposed to be.)

We had A LOT of quick fosters this year, and dogs that didn't get posted on the networking sites they had homes lined up before they came, just pending the week of review in a foster home, and meet + greet.

Snapped up before we had a chance to heavily network/ get applications in:

• Zipper (adopted by Meshum, who was supposed to only be cat-testing him!)
• Katrinka (although we posted her that day, she went to a training program and was applied for that night!)
• Sunshine (golden retriever, networked through a friend, put application in same day as arrival)
• Lexie (pre-approved adoption, to my good friends Sarah and Tyler)
• Sunday (pre-approved for adoption. The original dog applied for -Cinderella- wasn't an ideal match. But we found one. Sunday stayed all of four days.)
• Lacy (had an application before she arrived, though needed to be approved)
• Polly (pre-approved, needed meet + greet to confirm due to child in the home.)
• Neela (a leftover pre-approved application brought Neela over, hoping she would be the fit.)
• Heli (pre-approved repeat TG adopter, brought to foster to screen with other dog in home)
• Duke (although his first home had to bail because he was bigger than what they realized/too big for strata I got a message from previous foster Suzie's family looking for an outgoing male. Guess what, I just got one! No need to network :) )
• Do-A (Do-A was very special in that I had a senior couple come to me looking for a middle-aged lab. I took the application and found Do-A, who turned out to be a perfect match).

Most of the other dogs had multiple applications. Coleman stayed the longest although we aren't quite sure why. But that is the mystery of the foster home. Sometimes the dogs you think will get multiple apps wait for awhile but get a perfect app, some dogs you think will likely be around a bit have tons of applications, some dogs a dog gets lots of apps but it's hard to find "the home". Each one is unique, but each one -barring Champ who is adoption pending, deciding between 5 homechecked families I guess-, they go where they're supposed to.

These are the faces of 2013.

From L/R - Angel, Cinderella, Cashew, Cheddar, Coleman, Obi, Zipper, Leila,
Wrangler, Champ, Peanut, Riley, Sunshine, Katrinka, Lexie, Sunday, Alice, GG,
Vibo, Lacy, Neela, Polly, Heli, Duke, Chopin, Levi, Do-A, Penny

It wouldn't be a year end reflection without some highlights. Here are my "Top 10" for 2013.

#10 -Sunshine: Sunshine was my first golden retriever foster from Taiwan. Like most goldens she was beautiful inside and out. I haven't had a golden in awhile now, but I'm sure I'll be asking to foster one again soon. I was also overwhelmed by the response of adopters who would really like to adopt an adult golden retriever.

#9 Dog of Beauty: Neela. Everyone has a look of dog they like, but sometimes a dog is so gorgeous it's universal. This year, the resident beauty queen was Neela the Formosan Mountain Dog. @ 26 pounds she looked like a miniature Belgian Malinois. I couldn't take her anywhere without being mobbed!

 

 #8 Heli, the one I learnt from the most. Usually it's not a puppy that teaches me the most in the year. But at just under four months Heli had more intensity in her than any dog I've seen before at that age and although she wasn't here long before being adopted, my dogs and I needed to sort her out some. Heli taught me the importance of making a breed-savvy match.

#7 Champ. Champ is my new foster dog with The Victoria Humane Society, which is created by Penny Stone and other employees/volunteers that have been fired from the SPCA. I'm excited to be a small part of this new adventure. I'm also very glad that the VHS will be doing homechecks, a vital piece of the adoption puzzle that in my opinion the SPCA greatly misses out on. Also, it's pretty awesome that the new Victoria Humane Society will focus solely on BC animals.

#6 Riley. Riley in and of himself was a good dog, but not one that I remember a lot. We had him a few weeks, of which the first two weeks he spent grieving the loss of his previous family. Riley was the only dog I have had personally surrendered -he was previously a daycare dog-, where I got the papers signed and was handed his leash collar and watched his previous home walk out the door. There was good reason he was surrendered -nippy with children and not a fan of their erratic movements-, but even with good reason, it was still very hard to watch. Still, as much as those few weeks hurt, Riley now lives with a retired couple who don't much like kids either.

#5 Perfect Penny. Every once in awhile a truly "perfect" dog waltzes into your life. A dog that is loyal, by your side, quiet, good with everything you introduce them too. A dog that the second day you know them it feels like you've known them a lifetime, as if you move in sync with one another. They are few and far between, but Penny was truly a perfect dog. Brilliant off-leash, bomb-proof personality and exceedingly loyal her new family calls her "Penny the Wonder Dog". It will be a long time before I meet another rare "perfect dog", but having one is truly a wonderful experience.

#4 The Border Collie who got away. It's no surprise that Zipper went to a cat test and never returned. His bomb-proof, sensitive but loyal nature was a winner. Zip was awesome all the way around, although he had energy for days and needed some much needed "calm training". It was a joy taking him up to try herding, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Three borders is too much for me, but I'm glad he will continue with sports in his new home. If I was going to foster fail this year, it would have been Zipper.

#3 GG. GG was an amazing girl with multiple applications. Although on paper there were more ideal homes, I decided on a whim to do an application that was all of a five minute drive away. Well, GG found "her girl" there, and the previously super quiet dog HOWLED and HOWLED all the way home from the homecheck. She knew where she was supposed to be. I had some disappointed other applicants, but in the end, a VERY happy GG (now Molly) whose family is very happy to have her.
When dogs know, they know. :)


Recent Update from GG (Molly) and "her" girl.

#2. Coleman (aka Floof). No matter how much logic sways a person, some faces can't escape you. California rescue is a strange creature in itself, with how big a thing it has become and how unfortunately a lot of it is shady. Still, when I saw Coleman's little face and how much he looked like Lemon I couldn't sit by and do nothing. The little friend he was brought in with was euthanized. So, despite trying to stay away from Cali, Floof came, spent over two months with me (we're flooded with small little dogs) and was eventually adopted to the manager of Paws and Claws here in Victoria. He reminded me love is more important than everything else. It is not where your from that matters, it matters that wherever you end up, you end up loved.

Floof with Lemon



Floof's picture... I couldn't say no.
 

#1. Do-A -the dog that almost made me cry-. I have yet to cry over a foster dog. Mostly because I find it to be such a happy thing, for them to go on their way. Besides, if I was sad about leaving, that would just filter down to them and they would be sad. But Do-A's adventure nearly had me bawling.

I was contacted over the summer from a older retired couple who had recently lost both of their black labs. They were searching through the SPCA but couldn't find a middle-aged mostly lab that would suit their lifestyle. They were finding lots of Rottis, pits, mixed-breed and the odd lab mix with some sort of behavioural problem, but at almost 70, they weren't up for that. So, I found Do-A in Taiwan and had him sent to foster. He was a 5-6 year old yellow lab, and from day one he was perfect. Loved to fetch, housetrained, calm but playful, a real follower. The type of dog you're happy to foster and the type of dog you know will make whoever they adopt them infinitely happy.

So Do-A hung out with me for a week or two, and then met his parents. Love at first sight is the best way to describe it. Since Do-A has been adopted he has protected his dad from a cougar, he goes boating every weekend, he follows his dad around the 5 acres every day, and sleeps at the foot of the bed. From a stray of 3-4 years to treasured family pet of two seniors who needed a happy, laid back lab. He will start therapy work in the fall, where he will go to hospitals to sit with seniors, and possibly attending childrens' reading programs. I think there's a little magic in all adoptions, but this one takes the cake.

Beautiful Do-A (now Tucker), the epitome of bombproof. 4-5 years on the streets, and the best dog you could ask for!

Well, that's all for 2013! We already have fosters lined up for 2014, so stay tuned :) I hope we get as many awesome dogs as we have had this year. Only a few annoying ones slipped in this year ;)


Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match

Petfinder is online dating, but for dogs. The downside however is we get one chance, one pick. We can't say "I'll try you" and dump them if they don't work out.

A dog is a lifetime commitment. You'll be spending years together. It's a "till death do us part" kind of arrangement. So, in fairness to both yourself and to the dog you are applying for, rescue needs to figure out if you're a match. Now that's not to say that there won't be learning curves or some days where you slam your head against the wall wondering what on earth brought the two of you together, but you deserve the best possible chance at being happy with your new companion, and your new companion deserves the best possible chance at being happy in their forever home.

So it's hard sometimes, when you get a lot of great applications, but they aren't necessarily right for that particular dog, or they could be, but you have to pick the best out of multiple great options.

It's hard explaining your qualities just don't line up. A one-person quantity time dog would be absolutely miserable here, just as a Beckett type dog -active and requiring dog company- would be absolutely miserable as an only dog with someone who is around a lot. Jinks would be a horrible fit for anyone with minimal dog experience, and could even become dangerous in different hands. Shane I'm sure could fit in anywhere and be loved and give love, and there are lots more like him. Dogs that are so adaptable you just have to tell them what they should love most and they will.

Some dogs do best with someone home most of the time, some dogs couldn't care less as long as they get to do tons of fun stuff, lots of other dogs are adaptable either way.

So some tips to see if you're a match.

1) Make sure you thoroughly read the adoption ad. Important details are usually in there such as whether they would prefer a home with other animals, or a home to themselves, whether they are cat safe or not, a good fit for children, and if they have any behavioural problems. You'll get an idea of energy level too. Don't get stuck on the picture. A pretty face is just a pretty face. You'll give yourself a slap upside the head if you adopt a pretty face that is a menace underneath that beautiful exterior. Not saying you shouldn't get a dog you like the look of, but make sure you read the ad. Oh, and before you reply to the ad, PLEASE read it. I really dislike and usually dismiss queries that have the exact information you're looking for right in the ad.

2) Examine your own lifestyle carefully. The idea of a high energy dog is nice, but living with one is usually a whole different ball game. A low energy dog doesn't mean he's incapable of any exercise or adventure, it just means he can happily be a couch potato. Most medium energy dogs require about 1 hour of dedicated exercise a day, and then up from there.

3) Decide on puppy/not puppy. To me, a puppy is any dog under 5-6 months of age. After about five months they are teenagers. They are easy to housetrain, can stay home a reasonable amount of time by themselves, and are over their big socialization periods so not nearly as much time and effort as a little bitty puppy. That said, they are now teenagers who haven't had stability in their previous lives, so you might get yourself into more trouble with a 6-10 month old. Still, go by bio.

4) Don't be offended if the rescue doesn't find you to be the best match for the dog in care. You have every right to know the reason(s) why, but please know we are trying our best to make a match, which involves two parties, but one of the parties is completely reliant on us to get it right.

5) Be open to another match. Of course have some requirements, but do let the people who know the dogs best help you decide. Unless you require your dog to be under a certain weight for house restrictions, be open to 10-25 pounds lighter or heavier either way. Be open to a gender switch, an age gap, and perhaps a totally different breed mix. Keep the focus mostly on your needs. Not to say you shouldn't be picky, just to say that if you open yourself up you might just find the dog you've been looking for but didn't stumble across yet. Your soul-mate with paws might just end up in a totally different package than you predicted.

Above all, try not to take it personally. It has been the rare dog in the last two years of fostering that does not have multiple applications -unless they're black and/or have some issues. We can't clone dogs, and there are always dogs getting overlooked for their prettier/younger/more photogenic counterparts. The easy, pretty dogs get lots of applications, its just how it works.

After you've adopted your dog, even if it takes months to find "the one" you won't remember how long it took to find them. I promise you that.

Christmas Foster Puppy

Well, it was feeling weird without having a foster dog in a few weeks, and since there are no flights from Taiwan over Christmas, and the TG bus isn't coming down for a few weeks, when I saw a picture of this guy... I caved.

This little guy has been through 3 "gift" homes in 2 weeks. He was given to someone as a gift, then given to someone else as a gift, and then yet again a third time given to someone as a gift until that person decided it would be best to surrender him.

Penny Stone (fired from SPCA) and her cohorts have just started up the Victoria Humane Society, so that is where he's surrendered to. And he has a ton of applications, so I'm pretty sure he must be adoption pending. No idea. If you really want to apply for him, send me an e-mail. No idea if I have any power of persuasion though. Actually at this point I'm not even really sure what the adoption procedure is. So I'm far removed from the loop.

Anyway, he needed a name so we decided Champ. It'll change soon enough I'm sure.

After 6.5 hours of going strong in the play department, he FINALLY sits still.

Champ is an independent, high-energy and high-drive Aussie mix. He's got energy out the wazoo! He's also got tug drive out the wazoo and is already showing class herding dog traits -wanting to chase anything or any dog in sight. So far hasn't been nippy, but I think he could become nippy if he lands in a home that doesn't set clear boundaries and structures his time. He's cool, a handful but has a nice overall temperament. He really shouldn't become a first dog owner's dog.

The most important thing that we're doing with him is turning freedom into a privilege and responsibility instead of an expected right. We're doing this with umbilical work. Which means he has to be within 8 feet from wherever I am, indoors or outside and has a leash on him most of the time (indoors or outdoors). Being so independent he has to quickly realize humans are his gateway to the things he craves. If he continues with the assumption that he gets whatever the heck he wants whenever he wants, he's going to be a puppy who you call and he runs the opposite direction. The value of everything else far outweighs humans.

Day three I'm just starting to take that leash off inside. The idea is that he needs to stay in my radius, if he gets away I call him (I just use "pup" or if he's getting a little too cocky a stern "you think so?"). If he decides to come back into the bubble he maintains the off-leash freedom. If however he gives me that "Eh, I think I'll see what's over this way" and doesn't return, it's a quick trip down the hallway or into another room and the leash goes back on for 15-20 minutes. If I can't trust him to stay close in the house, I would never be able to trust him to stay close outside, and even with a secure yard, I'd really rather not be chasing down a fast puppy. And besides, if I had to do that, he would be rewarded by me having to chase him. So nope, don't have time for that annoying stuff.

You learn inside, then we take it outside. He is most miffed that he doesn't get free access to the yard -before he was hear I doubt he even had a collar on, let alone a leash. I'm stepping on his leash way too much, or holding it when we're out to let him completely off yet. If his new owner wants to let him have all that freedom, that's their problem. I will try my best to give him a head-start.

Here is what is coming of that umbilical work though:

Eye-Contact!

After two days I'm pretty sure this is the first honest eye contact I've gotten from this puppy. Of course I could train and praise him to look at me with clicker training and all that good stuff, but I try not to do any command or food reward type training with my foster dogs. I just try to create good habits which will help a dog and new people start a relationship together. There's a lot you can do when freedom becomes it's own reward.

At this age puppies are so mouldable into what we require from them, as long as we can show them what that is and reward it in some fashion. Of course, we have each dog's individual temperament to deal with. They aren't all the same and a lot of them require different things from us to become the best they can be. Shy or clingy puppies need almost the opposite approach. They need to be endlessly rewarded for going AWAY from us so that they can build confidence.

Regardless, I hope someone smart-dog savvy (herding dog savvy better) is the one to bring him home, ideally with another herding dog or two to teach him. Unfortunately dogs with "potential" have potential in both directions. Champ has the ability to be a champion in sports, in off-leash hiking, in almost anything someone could do with him. At the same time, he has real potential to be a big pain the butt.

The longer a dog goes figuring they own freedom, the harder it is to break them of this belief, also the crankier they are when you take it away and start rationing it. So you get a lot of 7 month, 10 month, 1 year, 1.5 year, 2 year old teenage dogs surrendered because they don't give a darn about their people, and now they're teenagers and getting into some wicked trouble. All for lack of a week or two or some foundational stuff. To be fair,  they probably don't know that.

My guess is this little guy will go home before New Years. If he decides to sit still again, I'll try some other pictures. He sits still maybe all of 5 minutes a day except for the time he's crated (he whines for a minute or two and then is out like a light). That's the other thing we'll be working on... starting to create an off-switch in him. That however, is a few-month affair and I definitely don't have a few months to get a great off-switch.

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

PS: Thank you Kobi and Mika for the Christmas Present, and Tegan the pupy got the dogs an awesome assortment of toys. We're open for other Christmas presents too, but would rather get a picture update of any previous foster dogs and their new families. Those are the best gifts of all :)

A Beckett Update

Just a quick update for anyone that' s been following Beckett.

We've had what will likely be our last vet appointment in trying to help Beckett's very quickly deteriorating mental health. We have been through the gamut of holistic aids: rescue remedy, homeo-calm, sleep aid, flower essences, bach stuff, good raw diet complete with lots of Omega Oils and such. We have tried to keep his schedule as typical as possible, always including light exercise and he's been going with me everywhere now, though he tends to sleep 90-95% of the time wherever I take him anyway.

We have tried over the counter prescription Melatonin which has been giving us the best effect, but it's not changing behaviour, it's just knocking him out enough so that most of us can get some sleep. That, and the more he is on it, the more he needs. He is a fast healing, hardy sled dog who at about ten years old took half the time to heal 10 stiches in his foot than it does a young dog.

We've done blood, urine, fecal, had three vet checks over the last two months. The only thing left we could do would be to scan for tumours, which would involve an expensive (and most likely highly disorienting) trip to Vancouver where he would have to be put under anaesthetic, and if a tumour did show up (two different brain kinds, or a massive liver one), all three would be inoperable. It would just let us know which he had.

There are two other prescription drugs we could try, however they both have large side effects, and if there is a tumour, they would cause him more pain than the potential good outcome. So it's been decided neither of them are suitable or worth the risk.

We are trying a brain-diet now, and we'll see if it has any effect. We are keeping careful watch on the calendar to count up how many good days versus how many bad.

Beckett will definitely make it to his foster party on Jan 11th in Langford, BC. However, as much as we want him to make summer, if it becomes time it becomes time. It is not fair for us to keep his body here if his mind is already crossing. He was, and still is a beautiful spirit, a kind understanding dog and I think we owe all life to finish with some dignity.

That said, it is not time to do that just yet, and we will enjoy every day we have with him.

Mark Your Calendars -Foster Get Together

Beckett has been having a few really good days, mixed with quite a few downright sad days. He is starting to need is drugs more often than not during the day. He still hasn't been able to be left alone. One day he freaked right out when he must have woken up while I was in the shower and I found him digging at the door. He stares out into space a lot, sleeps most of the time.

That said, he is happy to go for his 40 minute or so walk with the collies (though Jinks is going loopy because that's all she's been getting lately), and has been okay sleeping in the laundry room. I stay out on the couch with him some nights, but some nights I just need to sleep. If I'm overtired and cranky it just makes him worse, so thinking longer term helps take the brunt out of each day. It is nice on the weekend that I get to go to agility with Jinks without him, and take the collies for their own hike sometime too. Beckett has always been a quality time dog, and to have him change into a dog who needs me all the time is both tiring and makes me sad. Of course he is worth every moment.

In recognizing that we might only have a few more months with Beckett, we're going to do a foster event so he can meet up with some of his old buddies. We'll get a photo with him and as many old foster pups that show up.

The Foster Event will be Saturday January 11th @ 3:00pm.
The event will take place at K9HQ Doggy Daycare (my work), and indoor location in Langford, BC. So rain or shine we'll have a good hour or two. Dogs will be on leash so that those who are intimidated by other dogs aren't overstressed.

There is a facebook event here for anyone that does facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/599646976739655/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

If you can make it to the event, that would be fantastic.

In other small news, we're all going a bit bonkers without a foster dog. Heli (now Pentu) went home last week and we haven't had board dogs. Even with as off as Beckett has been, he truly loves other dogs visiting. We'll be getting a foster or two in the new year.

Until then Merry Christmas!

Puppy Cards

Ah,  a puppy's puppy card. That ticket to getting away with murder with other dogs because you are "too young to know better". It is amazing what grown dogs will put up with: excitedly jumping all over them, mouthing and chewing their ears, paws, tails, toes, barking in their face and using them as obstacles in their zoomie races. Obnoxious licking, whining and just totally making a right little monster out of themselves -all things that when a puppy has their puppy card most centered/social adult dogs will just ignore (though look absolutely annoyed at times).

The puppy card is also a mysterious thing. At some point, it vanishes. Adults start treating the puppies as adolescents, and they can be mean about it too. All that fun -that is no longer acceptable-. A puppy card usually vanishes between 4.5-6.5 months, sometimes earlier and sometimes later on different factors. Most of the time the more confident/brash/cocky a puppy, the earlier that puppy card flies out the window and the world of manners sets in. Shyer, more careful or just plain socially "dumb" puppies don't tend to lose their card until later. I've seen labs hold onto their puppy card until 7, 8, sometimes 9 months. They mentally just don't "get it" so why bother say the adult dogs. But when that 9 month old suddenly loses his puppy card he is IN FOR IT.

We've had three puppies over the last few days. Heli(Pentu), here for foster until tonight when she goes home, Tegan (previously Lexie the golden mix pup) here for just an overnight as her parents were going to a Christmas party, and of course Shane.

Shane is the oldest at 19 weeks tomorrow. (4.5 months). To my knowledge he still seems to have his puppy card, though he doesn't do a lot of ridiculous idiot behaviours that need to be addressed and pronto. Don't get me wrong, he's still a puppy and does puppy zoomies and has a habit of grabbing Jinks tail when she's ignoring him, but he has a good idea of what is acceptable and what isn't. Herding breeds tend to be more respectful in their play -they mind space better- so they tend to keep their puppy cards a little longer. That, and providing they have a few good role models early on they tend to "get it" faster when all of a sudden they lose that puppy card. A few good tell-offs and they're smart enough to realize they might not want to try that again. Shane is a thoughtful, laid back type puppy as well.

Tegan is only a few weeks younger than Shane (guesstimate 17 weeks). Golden mix, possibly with some corgi or something short legged. Jerrad calls her the "golden-weenie". She is a sweet but bold puppy, always in the middle of everything and though she's not the kind that would start something, she's ready to finish it if need be (she has a bit of herding dog in her somewhere I think, as that tends to be a herding breed trait). She's not a personality that would back down. I can see her puppy card starting to dim though it probably won't completely disappear for a few weeks yet. Tegan has also spent quite a few weeks as an only dog in her home which might play a factor in her losing it quicker. Dogs who live in multi-dog homes tend to (though definitely not always) lose it quicker because for better or worse they practice their behaviours on their people instead of on other dogs, and don't refine their skills as they go. Besides, humans can't teach social skills nearly as well or fast as other dogs. Puppies with other (adult) dog(s) in their home, because they are exposed to it on a continuous basis, have more time/frequency to learn. That's also why puppies raised with calm adult dogs, tend to be calmer themselves. They mimic what they see.

And then we have Heli (Pentu)... She is only 12-13 weeks and she most definitely does not have her puppy card. Even Beckett will tell her off for smaller infractions dogs twice her age get away with. To be fair, Heli is a bit of a different beast/temperament altogether. She is, what I assume anyway, what a Karelian Bear Dog is supposed to be like. I've had a few KBD mix puppies before but none of them have this kind of demanding, controlling, invasive drive. Heli tries things not to get a kick out of them (lots of puppies just want the attention/are bored), but to see if she can control the situation. She is confident, smart and would play someone -or some dog- like a harp if she could. I doubt she's had a puppy card for awhile. She already acts like a teen dog, trying to figure out where she stands in the world, and she has ideas that she should be on top of the pyramid. At the same time, she is a keen follower of a person/strong-minded dog. That's not to say she isn't going to challenge them at various points along the way or that she doesn't need strong reminders. But, providing the tell-off is strong enough (she needs them quite strong or she doesn't take them seriously) she gets it -for awhile anyway-.

Even the way she tries to sleep with other dogs is controlling. Most puppies will just snuggle up beside, maybe put their head on a shoulder or something. Heli's FIRST attempt to snuggle Beckett is to put all four paws over top of him and squish him. To which he promptly rolls her off and doesn't allow her to snuggle until she's by a side. She is no dumb puppy who isn't aware of where he body is, or what it means.

The first day or two I thought "hmm, she isn't particularly active" -she doesn't run around like a hooligan-, she doesn't play crash and run type play, she has a good off-switch. She will initiate play with Shane but he will rarely play back with her. And it clicked a day or two ago -around Thursday I think-. She's mentally challenging in almost everything she does. My dogs are just smart enough not to play into her challenges. So, they rarely play -only when it is play and not a mind game.

For example, her bad habit #1 is that she likes to take stuff from other dogs' mouths. Now, this is a typical puppy behaviour that they just have to learn, but with her it's different. She doesn't do the "hey, I got your toy, come chase me" type play that bored puppies do in order to get a rise out of other dogs. Nope, she hovers over a dog and their toy, just hovers there awhile. Then she sticks out a paw and places it on the toy with the challenge "what are you going to do now." And then after awhile if the dog hasn't backed down from the toy she takes it, runs away three steps and drops it. She doesn't want the toy, or to get a rise, she wants to know she can have control over a situation. She is amazingly bright like that.

Unfortunately for her Tegan saw through her plan while she was here and the two got in a little scuffle. Tegan got over it, Heli held a grudge for another hour or so (she was beaten!). 12-13 weeks and holding a grudge. If that's not independent, controlling KBD I don't know what is.

She tried that tactic the next night with Jinks and Jinks took her by the neck and pinned her for almost a whole minute before she let her up. After the initial pin she just held her jaws there over the air -no full hold- and she did not leave until that puppy went limp. Heli has decided it might be best to rethink trying to snatch Jinks' stuff -something I'm sure she'll relearn a few times.

Now does this mean Heli will grow up to be dog aggressive or anything like that? NO, in and of itself it doesn't. What it does mean though is that she will need to be around social, but not permissive dogs who will keep her in her place, that will remind her consistently and effectively how to behave around other dogs. She needs shepherds, collies, other Karelians, dogs who don't put up with nonsense. She needs to be around almost exclusively dogs she can't control. --The more she practices and gets successful from controlling, the more of it she'll do.

She is a sharp, intelligent, manipulative, strong-willed but independent dog who is true to her breed. So it's a good thing she's going home with a breed-savvy home who has a nine year old KBD mix to help socialize her to all things KBD.

Having this kind of dog is a really neat experience, but she will never be a typical "blonde" Labrador or retriever, nor will she be a bit of a nasty herding type who just wants to be with their person. She will be the dog that doesn't mind leaving you behind and finding her own adventure, and who is smart enough to get whatever she wants if she puts her mind to it, brave enough to take on anything that comes in her path.

After all, she was bred to take on a bear. We could except nothing less from her!

Heli/Houdini Beckett

It's been an exhausting week and a bit on no part of puppies. Beckett has lost what vision he had left (which wasn't much to begin with) and seems to be having huge separation anxiety which is leading to escapism. For being a blind senior dog I have no idea how he does it.

Came home tonight after getting groceries (maybe a half hour outing). He had his exercise today and the door to the laundry room was left open so he could go lay on his bed beside Jinks' crate -which is what he seems to do these days. If there is no other dog out, he will go lay by their crates. He's spooked me a couple of times because he won't pop his head up for his name all the time now. Usually if you'd call Beckett when you go home he would poke his head out and go "hey I'm here, just chilling." I've found him a few times in the laundry room, calm/relaxed, but just out of it. Like he's glazed over and not present.

Anyway, came home tonight to find him completely gone, and no trace of how the heck he managed it. All windows closed, all doors closed/locked, the doggy door is really heavy, and no indication of scratch marks, etc. Unless he's figured out how to open and close doors behind him on me he just poofed himself. Mastermind Houdini. He was picked up about four blocks away and he's back now. But god. How do I keep this old, anxious, seemingly going senile dog safe if he can poof his way out of a secure --well I guess not so secure now- house. I think drugs are in Beckett's future.

He is also anxious at night while the other dogs sleep. Jinks is highly destructive and won't sleep through the night loose (she will suddenly start throwing her toys around 2 in the morning), so she has to be crated. Shane isn't completely reliably house-trained, but I think I might leave him out anyway, or I might start sleeping in the living room with Beckett. Every time we bring him in the room -even with his bed- he just paces and paces and paces, drooling the whole time. It used to be, for the last few months if he woke up and started to pace a little we just called "hey Beckett, go lie down" and it would snap him back into reality. So yeah, Beckett is starting to lose it.

Vet wise, he's super healthy physically. Blood tests and urine tests came back completely clean. He's in good shape, a healthy weight, no signs of physical age catching up to him too fast. It's hard to see his mind starting to collapse though. I think we're going to have to see about some anxiety drugs.

On brighter news, we have Heli (Pentu) staying with us a few days as her adoption is finalized. She is a little Karelian Bear dog mix puppy from TG. Nice girl, a follower, not too much grit too her. A nice middle of the road puppy. She will be going home after the weekend to live with TG alumni Zora the Karelian Bear Dog. Keep the bear dog in the family!

Heli in the snow.

The required foster pup Beckett snuggles.

Glamour shot invaded by pine needle on nose.

And puppy pictures wouldn't be complete without one of Shane, whose ear started to stand up the last few days. He's so cute :)

Young Master Shane with what Jerrad is calling his "ear-hat"

Well, better start researching some anxiety drugs.
The lavender/rescue remedy approach alone hasn't been working. (Tried a thundershirt too).

Emily Out