I Need a Bigger Couch -and other things

Okay, so I can't get a full shot of us all on the couch, but that's how I've been spending my morning. Me, and six pooches, squished all together on the couch. Allie, Helen, Alphie on the left, me in the middle, and Beckett, Lemon and Alvin on the right.

Everybody is coming along well, and the biggest change I've seen with Helen coming in is with Alvin. The other dogs are quite polite with him, but Helen puts up with no guff -she's in no way aggressive, she's just very firm and direct. Alvin understands her very clear and precise communication. Suddenly he's no bother. Although I never thought I'd say it, he's kind of growing on me. Welcome to doghood little man!

The pipsqueak. My fingers look HUGE!

Alphie's kennel cough isn't completely gone, but he isn't hacking nearly as much, and definitely not as hard. He's still got some eye-goobers, but his appetite has drastically improved, as has his mobility. When we're laying on the couch together he's not shivering or wheezing. I'm so glad. I was quite worried about my little man. Out of everyone here, I always look forward to seeing Alphie when I get home from work. Most of the other dogs maul me, and Allie comes running to the baby gate to see me in. But Alphie stays on the couch until I come around the corner and then nearly wags out of his skin in happiness. He's so nice. I know he's a little black, bland boy, but I tell you, he really is a best friend. He's so lovely, but not needy.

It's a rough life I tell you! 

Allie continues to make progress. She can go walk in busy areas without a worry until someone stops and wants to pet her. I just tell them, "Sorry, she doesn't like being petted" and some of them look at me like I'm crazy, but most go "Oh, okay" and continue on their way. People have to learn dog's have personal bubbles just like people do (although if you told that to Lemon she'd roll her eyes). Allie isn't nearly as quick to jump away from a stranger's approach now. She trusts that I won't let them touch her.

Allie is a perplex puzzle to me. She's not people fearful, and she's not overly shy, she just doesn't trust anybody. I see glimpses of trust with me (I woke up from a movie yesterday with her head on my butt, and my hand on her head), and even though she still skitters away from my touch a lot, she doesn't skitter far. It's like she's going, "No thanks, let's hang out from here." I think she trusts I'm good company and won't do her harm, but she still isn't comfortable being approached, even by me.

Although Helen and Allie are nearly polar opposites, Helen is good for Allie. Helen is outgoing and affectionate and kind of needy. Ying to Yang? They need to rub off on each other a bit ;) I know it'll take awhile for Allie to find her perfect match, as whoever that is has to let her come to them completely on her terms. But I've promised her that person or family is out there. And for as long as she needs, she's got us. And I admit, as frustrated as Allie gets me sometimes, I do have a big soft spot for her. She's recovering, and healing, and its not a fast process. She's making me learn some patience though, and I could use some more of that :)

Allie with her role model Beckett. Out of anyone, Allie trusts Beckett the most. When I work with Allie, I always have Beckett with me. He's her mentor.

Helen has also fit in with relative ease. She's having a hard time adjusting to her new food, but otherwise is doing well. She's got a few bad habits: like trying to countersurf (She isn't quite tall enough to do it efficiently ;) ) and trying to bolt out the door when it opens, but with postive reinforcement (she's got no spine, so hard corrections are for her) she's getting there.

The most frustrating part about Helen is that she likes to try to get away with stuff, and be completely sneaky, but then when she's caught she can cry like a baby. I'm pretty sure she's never been told 'no' and is finding rules scary. It's going to be interesting finding a balance with her. I don't want to put too much stress/pressure on her, but I need to make sure she gets the point. She's definitely a soft dog though. Soft dogs are both a good thing and sometimes troubling. They usually don't put up any resistance, but at the same time you risk scaring them with almost any correction. I'm sorry my dear Helen. Rules are rules. Once you learn them, there's no need for correction :)

Helen looking out the window. She's fascinated (and frustrated) by windows. She doesn't quite understand why she can't go say hi to the people outside! -There's kids tobaggoning across the way.

 Lovely Helen.

Lemon still has kennel cough too, and with recovering from her spay, has been couch-bound by her own choosing the last day or two. Lemon is exactly the kind of dog I'm grateful for. She feeds of everyone else's energy. If they're wild, she's wild. If they're chill, she's also a couch-potato. Little miss follower.

And now, some pictures from the last few days:

The yard, full of snow! Too bad we couldn't finish the gate in time so that it was a secure yard :S (Dear snow, please go away so we can finish the gate!)

 Jerrad out with Helen and Allie

Three Chihuahuas in a Row.

 Lemon mid-shake.

 Alvin: "Please foster dad, LOVE ME!"

 Helen face shot.

 Ying and Yang Dogs.

 Foster dad on duty.

Lemon returns to her humping roots :P

It seems like a rather slow time for adoptions. Maybe everyone got dogs over Christmas? Either way, I'm not quite sure why nobody has any real interest. (Although someone did make a good point that I'm giving Alvin a hard time on this blog.) Helen isn't up yet though, so that could change. Who knows. Either way, the pack is happy. A couple of snotty noses, but good chemistry.

And an awww moment to finish off the blog. Alvin is keeping care of sick Alphie. He's grooming Alphie's ears and head. I'm not quite sure if Alphie wants to tell him off, but he hasn't yet. Maybe they'd make good brothers yet :) The one that needs to learn how to be a real dog, and the one that needs to be a little less cranky.

But I very much doubt anyone wants to adopt them together.
But then again, in rescue, you never really know how the cards are going to be dealt.

For now, I'm just happy. Group foster -even if its only 6 six- works. Alvin couldn't become who he is becoming without stable dogs. Allie could not learn to begin to trust without role models to learn from. Dogs heal other dogs, plain and simple.

I'm just here for food, pee-breaks, supervision and direction. And for the fosters to have the manners needed to be good house pets. My role is rather minimal, but it is a role nonetheless.

We all have a part to play.

Emily Out

New Arrival in a Snowy Wonderland

So, its snowing like no tomorrow here in Victoria. As a Saskatchewan girl, its no big deal, but its pretty much shut the city down. Today there are only 8 dogs at the daycare, so Ive been given a snow day too!

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!

2 Week Update

Alphie was diagnosed with kennel cough, but nothing more serious. With the meds, he should be KC free within 1 1/2 weeks. Lemon has some light coughing too, but unless she gets anymore serious, she should be able to ride out her KC without drugs. Not a sniffle, cough or extra lethargic day for the other three. Bordetella works!

Lemon was spayed Tuesday, and is slowly becoming her old self. She isn't playing quite yet, but she's back to her fairly independent yet cuddly self. No more 'pity me' baby.

Allie has done really well this week. She spends very little time in her crate out of her own choosing -even if it is available-. Most of the time now she's a couch potato. She visited with Sherry, another volunteer and did great. Went up for some cheese (though rolled her eyes at the beef jerky!), got comfy on her couch. Even jumped up beside Sherry once or twice to give her a sniff. I had my sister over yesterday which kind of confused her (although we don't look all that similiar, we have super similiar voices.) After an hour or so Allie was fine with Kathleen hanging on the couch with us and having her stroke her toes. Even with her open crate she didn't go into hiding. Yes! We're well on our way. She still isn't a fan of being touched (she'll let me pet her once she's settled on the couch, but I don't know if she particularly enjoys it), but she's no scaredy cat, and there's less and less potential for fear bite (there's ALWAYS potential in any dog, so to rule it out completely isn't realistic.)

I see her with a middle-aged couple who like shorter walks and to putter around in the garden, and don't mind that she isn't overly physically affectionate. Of course she could go to other situations too, but she needs a quieter place, somewhere she can relax. Another week and I think she'll be ready to go to a special home. No idea if that home is out there sooner rather than later, but I'm not too worried. As much as people seem to want to adopt overly friendly, kissy-face dogs, the shy guys are the easier to have around. They don't ask for much, are hardly ever 'needy', and its really rewarding once they decide they trust you. Allie's an easy-keeper. Rough around the edges still, but an easy-keeper. If she stays months I don't really mind.

As for Alvin, I'm trying to think of his annoyingness as entertaining. He is definitely entertaining. He's a one dog circus. He makes tunnels for himself out of the blankets, throws his chew boys clear across the room to go chase them, and every five minutes or so tries to get you to pay attention to him. Although he peeves me off, I can see a young boy or girl having a lot of fun with him. He's got a family out there somewhere that will want to laugh at his sillyness. Alvin can fit pretty much everywhere. Busy family, retired senior, single dog, bunch of dogs, cats, farm, bachelor apartment. It's hard to believe for a dog that could go just about anywhere, that he doesn't have a single application. I admit, he's kind of ugly, but he is funny. Surely someone must want to adopt him?

No apps on anyone. Oh well, everyone is settled at this point, and despite the fact that there are 5 dogs in the house, it feels like maybe 3. Alphie is so lazy, he's like having a cuddly cat. Allie doesn't ask for anything -she's not the princess she was last week. Throughout the time I've been fostering, I've learnt that it isn't the number of dogs in the house, but the overall energy of the group. The dynamics are much more important. I've had 3 dogs in the house and been nearly pulling my hair out. I've had 7 in the house (the most I had at one point), and despite the extra poo, it was a pretty zen week.

Besides, weeks 3+4 are the best fostering weeks. The dogs have learnt the routine, they've pushed the boundaries and I've pushed back. Their pack has formed --it isn't an uncommon sight for everyone but Alvin to be hanging out on the couch. They all realize he's a misfit :). Their 'issues' usually start melting more and more away, and the shy guys suddenly get lightbulbs that they don't have to be so shy. But hopefully we'll see some adoption before about week 5-6, as although only a few dogs have stayed until that point, that's usually the 'the honeymoon is over' phase and the boundaries get tested in all new ways.

So I will enjoy the next two weeks, and have my fingers crossed that these Chihuahuas find their forever homes soon. But even if they don't, I forsee another foster in the near future.

Update: I am the Dog's Woof

Open crate, and Allie has decided I'm still better company. She's also not flinching when I pet her on the couch. I'm not sure if she overly likes it, but she tolerates it anyway. I also took her over to Sherry's (volunteer for Island Dogz) and she did very well. Got some cheese, was as curious as possible, hung out on the couch with Sherry for a bit and generally followed Beckett around. She's confident until you go to pet her and then she's like 'no thanks' and goes back to being independent. She isn't a coward anymore at least. Just needs a quiet home that knows she's still a work in progress, and isn't overly affectionate (she could be done the road though!)

Photos from the Couch

Alphie is scheduled for a vet check tomorrow. His cough/cold is getting worse :( I'm just hoping its not going to pass to anyone else. Everyone else is vaccinated against it (so is he), but you never know. If we get some meds tomorrow we should be KC (or whatever it is) free within two weeks. Fingers crossed its just kennel cough. Will update you all tomorrow.

I'm not Feeling so Hot

Tidbits

1) Alphie's meet and greet last week never went anywhere. Very sad, as he tried so hard to win them over, and I really thought he had. Oh well, he's a good snuggle butt. Easy to have around.

2) Allie is turning into my sidekick and couch companion. She's still a bit of a wallflower, but something in her has decided I'm not too shabby as far as humans go.

3) Beckett finally snapped. Alvin the pest finally learnt some respect. And I let Beckett go like stink on that little dog's ass (Beckett never makes contact, but he's super scary looking when he finally snaps. I've only seen him snap on 3 different dogs at daycare, and now, they all respect him -and as stupid as they'll play with others, they play properly with him :P) So, last night Alvin learnt that he shouldn't be a pest -at least to Beckett-. Finally, some progress.

4) Alphie seems to have some kennel cough or potential uppe respiratory infection. She's a snuffly, gooby little man. So off to the vet today to book him an appointment. It is not unusual for KC/URI to come up with them from California and not show itself for a week or two. It's been a big change on his little system, and its certainly much colder up here. No signs of it transfering to the other dogs, but we'll be on the lookout. At least KC/URI is fairly easy to treat.

5) We finish the fence tomorrow -providing no downpour!

Small Moment of Comfort

I'm sure it could have waited a couple of days, but it made me smile too much not to share. While doing our last 'couch session' last night, Allie fell asleep against my arm, and stayed there a good half an hour or better and let me stroke her chin and nose. This morning, she jumped up on the couch and is currently hanging on the other end -no attempts to get closer-. I think she's decided I'm okay company. For a human.

ALLVVIIIIIINNNN ---and other things.

I'm turning into Dave from Alvin and the Chipmunks. Someone once told me dogs live up to their names, so be careful what you name them. I got exactly what I named Alvin. The annoying chipmunk.

I admit, I'm not the most patient person in the world, and perhaps I have too many buttons capable of pushing, but I've never met a dog that's been able to push all of them at once, and by just being plain ANNOYING! And I thought Graelee was annoying. Alvin is a whole category to himself of annoyingness. Alvin might just be killable annoying.

Alvin has his stupid little head everywhere. If he isn't sleeping (which thankfully he does a lot of) he's bugging somebody. He walks on top of Beckett, -like 'hop on pop' walk on him-, pesters the heck out of Lemon, and always seems to want whatever spot Alphie has made himself comfy in. I'm somewhat regretting I was hard on Alphie the first day or two, cause Alphie had a good hate-on and I don't allow any form of being a jerk here, but I'm beginning to understand why Alphie was a douche-bag. I'm starting to develop a serious dislike of this little idiot dog. I admit, there have been a few times I just have to put him away or I might just kill the little bugger. Better for his safety that he's crated than throttled.

He doesn't get anything. Not that he's stupid, but that he seems, well, like he's broken. He doesn't understand dog body language, he doesn't understand that he's not an entitled prince. Before us I'm almost 100% sure he'd never been told "NO". No is not in his vocabulary. Neither is stop, away, get out, get up, or MOVE. He just isn't phazed by anything -except food. Still, that has a rather limited effect ---GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME. Then the food goes away and he's GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME for the next hour.

And he has the most annoying habit that if no one is paying any attention to him he just sits in the middle of the room and squeaks. Like a mouse squeaks. And he squeaks until you pay attention to him -nicely or not-.

I've done the nice route, I've done the quite physical route (as far as you can go with a Chihuahua anyway), I've done the positive reinforcement thing, I've done the completely ignore thing, I've gone the dog-signals type of information route, and the "I mean business" route. Hard, soft, cool, calm, angry, frustrated, nothing. It all yields the same result: ANNOYING!

He's not a bad dog. He really isn't. He's just making me pull my hair out because I expect stuff from the dogs here, and Alvin expects that the world revolves around him and that he shouldn't fit into any of the rules. (The rules are minimal by the way. Although they now include: don't be a complete pest!) It's also slightly frustrating that the harsher I am on Alvin, or the more frustrated I get with him, the energy rubs off on Allie too and she gets back in her 'OMG, back to my crate' mode.

But we've made some progress with Allie. She is now "I will come for Cheese" dog, and if I move, she's heading to the kitchen figuring she'll be getting some tidbits of cheddar. She won't take them from me when I'm standing (leaning over her still makes her skitter backwards, and it probably will for a bit yet), but if I sit down, she'll come up and grab a piece. Slowly she's becoming aware that I offer more than just one piece and doesn't dart away with her spoils as much. I will take 'will come for cheese'. I just wish she'd like something a little cheaper :P.

I've also done a couple of 'couch sessions' with her. Perhaps a weird idea, but I bring her up on the couch with me, and I don't ask for anything except that she stay there with me until she's calm and relaxed. Throughout the session I move closer to her. She likes when I stroke her paws. I'm even getting kisses to my hand. At first it was a struggle getting her up on the couch (we're still using a leash at all times, I won't be taking it off until she's comfortable with me handling her enough to put her leash on and off) but after a few times she now knows 'up' and will get up on the couch with relative ease.

Now that she's relatively 'settled' I want to try to move her forward a bit faster. If left to her complete own devices, she'd have nothing to do with us unless it involves one of her walks, a pee break or cheese. I don't mind if she isn't an overly peoply dog, but I do need to make her comfortable to be approached, and to be petted, and to not feel people are going to hurt her. These are basics and I need to make sure she's okay in her own skin before she goes wherever it is she eventually goes. Not that there aren't people out there that are willing to work with how she is now, but I think I'd be too nervous to see her go without the basics. She has so much potential to be an awesome family pet, but at the same time she has a lot of potential to regress.

As always, the right person(s) for the right dog. Matchmaker matchmaker, make us a match. (But first, please find Alvin his match okay.)

Emily Out