This and That in the Foster Front

Well, we've hit a pretty good routine and things continue to go well. Jasmine has good days, and has the odd off-day, but is comfortable and happy. Migo is working on his guarding, and is doing well with a combination of positive and negative reinforcement. Being a teenage boy, he needs to make sure his boundaries are crystal clear, and usually with teenage boys, that means being a meanie to them sometimes to make sure they get the point. While working on behaviours like this, I like to try a 'say no (negative), but say yes to something else right away. (positive).

IE: You are NOT allowed to guard your toys, but you ARE allowed to play with me, or you ARE allowed to pratice your sit in order to get your toy back. Just saying no, they don't understand how to redirect the behaviour. You need to give them another outlet. Say no -loud and clear-, but then say, let's do this instead. Also, in my still limited readings and understandings, it is not in the best interest of the dog to have his toy taken away for guarding. After all, he is trying behaviour out in order to keep the bone, and could escalate. So, the toy is removed immediately upon the smallest of guarding behaviours, and given back quickly afterwards. As if to say 'You share your toys, you keep your toys.' He is getting it.

He won't guard with Lemon anymore -she tore a strip off him when he tried-. He doesn't guard from people, so its easy to work through. He's just at the stage where he's a teenage boy whose settled in with a lot of confidene. Now he's testing how far he can get. Too bad Migo, you're not going to get very far here! As many fosters before you would tell you: I'm a bitch! Sometimes 'fair' doesn't come into the equation.

DimSum has also become fairly people social providing the people have the right energy. I've been networking her and had a request for a meet+greet that kind of interestingly was only a 3 minute drive from our farm on another fairly big acreage property. So, although she didn't put in an application, I decided to treat it as a challenge for DimSum. She did quite well, she would sniff the lady and stay close, but wouldn't allow her to touch. If the lady had of had food, it would be have been a different story. I was quite proud of this shy, slightly fearful girl though! To even hang out close by to a new person within a few minutes is a really good sign. I'm unsure if the woman who saw her will put in a application, but I think it would be a good set-up for DimSum. Nice big yard, other dogs. More than anything, I'm just glad DimSum passed her 'challenge' of having to deal with a new person interested in her! Now I have an idea of what to look for when she gets her official meet+greets.

And Zephyr continues to be his awesome self. He'll have the odd cranky moment but he totally understands the 'evil eye' from me. So, we understand each other, and he's cuddly, so he almost feels like another Beckett. Less playful Beckett, but very similiar energy. He's decided the couch is the safest spot -his foster mum is grumpy just like him sometimes, so when foster mum is on the couch, there is no craziness allowed on the couch!

DimSum has a prospect now.
Nothing for Migo.
Jasmine has a prospect, but just in the initial stages, so we'll have to see on that.
Nothing for Zephyr either, but I hold out some hope that maybe the people who wanted Brojack will want him instead. But, out of everybody, I don't mind if he stays.

Brojack has a few applications we're working through. He's popular and he should be!

Also, if anyone has been reading the TG blog (mostly likely hey ;) ), Toast, who I fostered over a year ago is being returned due to the illness of her mother. Toast has a potential home already lined up, and a foster back up on the mainland. I'm not 100% sure yet, but Toast's K9 sister Noon, if she needs, is welcome here in foster camp with me. We'll make sure those two are well taken care of!

And a few funny pictures from the last couple of days:

DimSum contemplates on how to get through Zephyr in order to play with Lemon...

DimSum gets a better look at how she is supposed to get to Lemon...

Zephyr gives the hard stare. He is not going to let DimSum over to Lemon...

DimSum decides if she can't get to Lemon, she might as well have a snooze.

There's a good feeling in the air! I hope that means some families are getting closer to finding their furever friends :)

Emily Out