Allie Found Her Inner Puppy

I've somehow turned the fearful dog into a needy dog. Or more precisely, MY needy dog.

This week has been a weird rollercoaster of Allie growing leaps and bounds each day (or more, morning). Monday she crawled into bed with me. She went on and off the bed for about an hour, not sure if she was safe, but wanting to be up there nonetheless.

Tuesday she hopped right on up, licked my eyeballs to wake me up, and hung out for about half an hour at the foot of the bed.

Wednesday same as day two, but she spooned with me instead of taking the end of the bed. Lemon gave her a funny 'what the, well fine then' look and graciously went to cuddle with Beckett instead. When I went to have a bath she laid her silly little spaniel butt beside the dog and ever couple of minutes gave me a bark and grumble to let me know I was supposed to be paying attention to her!

And today. Today she jumped into bed, licked my eyeballs, smothered me with kisses and paw waps to the face (of all the things she could have picked up from Helen, WHY was it the face-smack she learnt????)  And then, what did that little silly spaniel do. She playbowed at me. At first (7:30 is early more me Thursdays :P) I was like 'oh, stretching'. But she did it again, and again, and then she stuck her head under my hand and decided what the hell, she'd start playing anyway. So I played with her -super duper gently- on the bed for about 20 minutes, and my goodness, when she's playing she doens't care about me handling her at all. I roughed her up like Lemon and after she settled down a bit she let me scratch her ears and stroke her back and she looked -for maybe the first time even- like she was thoroughly enjoying the physical attention.

I think someone has swapped spaniels on me. A month ago my expectation would be that she'd warm up, like to hang with me, tried to share my meals, and probably that's as far as she'd want to go. But now, she wants to PLAY with me.

This is super exciting, and yet at the same time, that part of you guys 'man, that means she's work now'. It's easier when they're shy! But they're happier when they aren't, so that's the main thing. Dear Allie, you have found your inner puppy. You are ready for your forever family :)

Helen is Adopted!

Helen was adopted today. Happy dance!!! She joined her great people parents, and new canine brother Pierre, who she will help calm down and show that people aren't so bad after all. In a way, she gets to be a therapy dog -for another dog! Good luck Helen!

Helen in her TUAPA sweater. 

I must admit, it feels kind of weird having only four dogs (you wouldn't that weird right, you'd still think I'm crazy!!). It's like there aren't enough warm bodies on the couch! Alphie is doing really well at Sherry's, and she's much enjoying having a laid-back foster so that if someone tries to sick a foster on her, she can say 'back off, I've already got one!' Although I miss him, there have been countless times today I've gone 'and there Alphie would have been squished. And there Alphie would have been squished'. Blind husky. Non-complaining 13 pounder. There be lots of squishing. But I completely trust Sherry with my baby! So it's working out all the way around.

Alvin will be staying for awhile longer yet too. His application is having some medical issues they need to address before they believe its fair to welcome him into their home. Fair enough. We'll continue looking for his perfect home. As much as he bugs me sometimes, he does well here. He has learnt he is a dog! He is not an idiot, brat, nuissance, bother or shit-disturber anymore. He's still a bit of a bug, but he's gaining more confidence, no longer being too needy, and gaining some independence -he goes up and down the stairs now without too much trouble! And if you lean down to help him, he skitters up faster to show that he can. It's a flip-flop now between Lemon and Alvin being the more annoying. The difference is Lemon has an off-button, and knows I know how to push it. Alvin not so much. But he's changed a lot since he's been here. Some people might think his 'spirit' has been beaten down a bit, but I would argue that just because he isn't as quick to do some of the funny looking idiot chihuahua things, that he's still a clown. A loveable, affectionate, silly little clown. Now he's just a more socialized clown.

So, Alvin and Allie for a bit yet. But that's okay. Now that they've been here a month, they're pretty close to family. Easies!

And, for the kicker of the whole day (I didn't want to hijack Helen's adoption happy dance, but I couldn't wait), I woke up this morning with Allie in my bed! Licking my face! And what's this... she stayed in bed for awhile too. Wait, what! I swear I was dreaming. But nope, I woke up the second time and she was curled right into my chest with her tail almost up my nose. She still wasn't up for me giving her a good scratch, but whatever. I got a cuddle! She gives me so much. I hope I've given her just as much in return.

Victory for Helen, Unfortunate Turn for Alphie

I'll start on the most awesome note of the week. Helen did indeed win over the people at her meet+greet. They want to adopt her! They saw how awesome she was with their boy, they know she'll be a great influence on him. No trial nonsense, and although I said we could wait until the weekend as they work during the week they said 'bring her tomorrow. If we need to, we'll take a day or two off work.' BOOYA! So I bring Helen to her new home after work tomorrow. Now, I'm not going to count my chickens, but that's as promising as it gets to me! Last current foster to hit the foster front, first one (95%) to be adopted. Way to go Helen. And thank god there are some people that know what they need when it walks in their house.

On a sad note, Alphie has failed his trial. Not because of his eyes, but because the father and son developed significant allergies within the first couple of days. :( :(  When I got the news I was speaking to Sherry, the wonderwoman of Island dogz and the most awesome person this side of Yvette, and I mentioned that Alphie would do better in a quieter foster home -though he's just fine here! He is most definitely welcome here, and I will stick by him through thick and thin, but really, he just wants a couch to hang on and no dogs bouncing all over him (IE: Lemon and Alvin). After describing him to Sherry she said she'd take him as a foster. Or "office manager". So Alphie, unless I hear otherwise, will be finishing his foster care out with Sherry, with a bunch of his own couches, and only one laid-back dog to hang with instead of a bunch of playing brats and a blind husky that keeps jumping on top of his comfy spots. If for any reason that goes bust, he will be welcomed back here in a heartbeat. In the end, he's my responsibility.

It's one of those moments where I don't know whether to beat myself up or not. Alphie will do better there, but at the same time, I made that foster commitment to him (indeed to save his life even), and I feel like I'm bailing out. What I do kno, is that I will do all in my power to have a good home environment for the dogs in my care. No matter how much I am fond of Alphie Sherry's home environment (super quiet) is much more in line with Alphie's best interests. Don't worry bland, black boy, you won't fall through the cracks here! I will try to give you what's best for you -even if that isn't me.

As far as I know Alvin's homecheck is on for Wednesday evening, and I have to phone to set up a meet+greet with Allie. I'm flip-flopping with her in general. How much do I ask in a home for her? What does she need versus what I want for her. What is the best situation for her? Am I being too protective?

Really, once I think it over awhile, Allie doesn't have a 'perfect' scenario. She doesn't have a lot of boxes that need ticking. Just one really BIG box. What it comes down to is that all Allie REALLY needs is commitment warts and all. Someone that knows she's an onion dog. That she needs kindness, patience, time. She doesn't have bad behaviours, she isn't high-energy, fear-aggressive, --she's a flight dog--, or horrible on walks. She ignores people and they ignore her back. She's got a bubble. She isn't anything that needs a ton of understanding about canine communication. She's just plain and simple, untrusting and slow to warm up. I can give her potential home all the tools to help her bond, but I can't give them the patience and time to work her through it.

So, what is great about her potential home is that its a single woman (points, I think she'd do best with one person to bond with), and that there are other dogs in the household (super points, as she will look to the other dogs for what to do). However, it doesn't seem she knows much if anything about fearful dogs, so we'll see how that goes. I'm going to trust my gut on meet+greet. But that won't stop me from flip-flopping right up until the meet+greet. Oh Allie. I want what's best for you, but most importantly, I want you to have someone to love you forever. I think I'm afraid of it being a woman who thinks just her prescence can heal the broken dog. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid!

So, an interesting upcoming week for sure. And its only Monday!

Emily Out

Bits and Pieces from a Scatter-Brain

A couple of ups, and a down or two over the weekend, but the ups have more than made up for it.

Firstly, we did a homecheck for a couple who want to be pre-approve to adopt somebody, they were looking mostly at a particular dog in Taiwan, but really, they just want somebody who is going to fit them. I love un-picky people after the fit and not the look, age or size. AWESOME people. Their current dog does have some behavioural issues (fear agression with both people and other dogs) but the way they understand him is simply amazing. They understand they most likely won't be able to 'fix' him, but make sure his problems are managed as best as possible.

Where do they hide people like this -we need to clone them! (I secretely wish they might be interested in miss Allie Bubba.)

It's like having a child with ADD or Autism or what-not. There are lots of ways to deal with the problem and make the best out of the situation -and indeed many of the people with these 'disorders' are more stable than those without- but it is a condition, most likely lifelong. It is part of their being and to think it'll completely go away is asking for trouble.

Anyway, I brought Helen to meet them, as I wanted to see what kind of energy Pierre would need in a second dog. She did awesome. Helen is a super polite dog, awesomely dog-social. Despite the 'reactive' label she'd be given and that sometimes she can be a downright snotty snob, she knows her meet+greets, she knows how to deal with unbalanced dogs . She's a fleer like Allie. She won't engage in hostilities unless someone has her backed into a corner. She'll very politely just excuse herself :P Despite being a foster dog, I knew she was the best out of my current pack to deal with Pierre anyway. (Beckett is big and blind, Lemon thinks EVERYBODY is her friend and is tiny. Not necessarily great dogs to have meet+greet possible fear aggression)

Anyway, Pierre most definitey is the kind of dog who will hugely benefit from having another dog, but from the visit I could tell he needs a calm, adult female with stable energy. He doesn't need a play partner. He needs a stablizer. (THEY GET THAT TOO. How cool is that!) Not that he needs a 'role model' to follow, he just needs someone impeccebly well-balanced and confident in themselves to feed off of. So, in bringing Helen I might have just brought them exactly what they needed. We'll see if she won them over, but I'm so glad they are so open to just bringing in somebody that 'works'. Really, that's what rescue is about -especially in the second dog world-. Finding the second one can be hard. The first one you make work because they are the only dog, but the second has to not only fit the people, but fit the other dog.

But they've dealt with so much -and so calmly and realistically- with the first dog I know whoever lands with them -regardless if they have 'issues' or not- will get the attention they need.

So we'll see where that one goes. I have no real idea, but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they'd like to adopt Helen. Maybe they'll want to meet+greet Allie?? ---I can dream can't I?

On the Alphie front, he was brought in to the vet by his trialling home and has dry eyes, and small ulcers due to them. He's on drops now and might need them the rest of his life. I have my fingers crossed that doesn't get in the way of him staying with the awesome family he's trialling with. They haven't asked me to come get him, so I think we'll be okay. Daily eyedrops, even if they're for life shouldn't be a dealbreaker right? (Opinions wanted!) But this is rescue, you never knows which or how many straws breaks camel backs. Sometimes I feel like I'm playing the jenga tower!

Alvin's meet and greet got back to us too, so he's scheduled in next week providing his potential new mum is over a nasty flu. I say, that's okay, keep that flu to yourself! Alvin has his normal dog days when he's part of the pack, and he has his days where he reverts to the Chihuahua who doesn't know how to do anything, but that's all apart of learning to become someone or somedog new. Good days and bad days.

Allie's homecheck will be done today.

Hmm, wait a second. Might it be possible that everyone is adopted in a week??? Alphie on trial, if Allie's homecheck goes well she could be going home this week too. Once Alvin's homecheck is done he can pretty much to go his new home immediately if they're a good fit. And if AWESOMEST home fell in love with Helen, who knows.

I think two. It could be none, it could be all of them. I think we're in for an interesting week!

Alphie on Trial!!

Alphie went to trial today -they loved him so much they didn't want to wait for his eyes to fully clear up. Good luck little man!

(The only reason it's not a full adoption is because his eyes are still not up to snuff. Two more days of polysporin and a vet check will rule out anything, but we want to make sure he's healthy for them! I'm pretty sure its nothing serious, but I never doubt the power of Murphy's Law to screw something up. Oh god, how I pray its nothing serious!)

Pics of Alphie in foster care:

Trials always make me nervous, so I'm not offically counting Alphie out of the foster front until two weeks from now, but he's such an easy man if he needs to come back no big deal. The worst mistake to make with trials is thinking they're in the bag. 80% of the time they are, but as soon as you get cocky karma throws you a monkey wrench. Unless there's something severely wrong with his eyes, I'm sure this one is good to go though.

Oh, and on a side note, I came home to a jumpy happy spaniel all over me that jumped up -after nearly mauling me- on the couch and let me pet her with no flinching, no scooting over, no bending of the head thinking I might hit her. Just a happy spaniel ready for a good scratch. One month anniversary present? There's suckee spaniel underneath it all. The personality is as pretty as the package :) She's still an onion dog (layers of abuse and unkindness have taken their toll), but she wants to trust.

Trust in the process. Things work out how they're supposed to. You can't change the past, you can only move forward.

Welcome Back Lemon-Brat

Safe to say Lemon is officially back to 'normal' from spay and kennel cough. With a house full of mostly couch potatoes, she's the firecracker. She makes Alvin play with her, and Helen is mimicking Lemon -which is funny, cause Lemon's play includes a lot of humping-, and as per usual, after her hours of play, she's zonked out in a stupid position beside me snoring in my ear.

It is moments like this I go, why the hell am I giving Alvin a hard time? Lemon is just as annoying. My answer for this is: Lemon is mobile -she's a ping-pong ball- and she has dog skills (albeit, a little on the impatient side). Maybe what bugs me most about Alvin is that he can't do much on his own. Stairs and furniture are huge obstacles for him. But, if I was six pounds, they'd be mountains to me too. So, props to mister 6 pounds for dealing with me, and with annoying Lemon. At least now that she's feeling better they can be annoying together :P

Oh, and he's making progress on getting up on the couch. You leave him whine and pout and be an idiot for a few minutes and he'll eventually scrabble his way up, only to leave a few minutes later. Boys, they never know what they want! ---As a previous purse boy, he's so used to being picked up to do ANYTHING. Too bad mister.

Today was an awesome day. Alphie had a fantastic combo homecheck+meet and greet. A great family with older children who he promptly snuggled with. He did his job and completely ignored me and loved up the family. I'm hoping to hear back from them tomorrow. The weirdest thing was that one of their sons (adult son) goes to school with Jerrad in Mechanical Engineering. Small world -though it always seems to be in dog rescue-.

Allie also made progress today and has gotten full 'off-leash' house priviledges. Before she was much too skittish, had potential to fear bite for me to bring her out of her crate if I needed to. I needed to make sure she was comfortable with my approach. Although I was still a bit unsure, at almost a month here, I knew it was time whether I was ready or not. She proved the benefit of the doubt works :) Now, I can crawl into her crate with her and put her leash on. She's still a little jumpy about it, -she isn't too fond of the approach- but she doesn't throw herself into a temper tantrum or become a fish out of water. This will be a process for the next few days, but I'm hoping soon she'll associate the leash with her walks, and that she'll want it to be put on. Time, patience, kindness. They will slowly mend her.

Allie has a homecheck on Sunday. Someone else is doing the homecheck, but I've given them the laundry list of 'Allie Bubba', all the good, and all the things she needs work (more time, patience) on. I'm a little torn. She's ready for her special someone, I know she is, but how do I trust its the right person? She's still one heck of a project dog -she might always be a project dog. In my gut there's no wiggle room with Allie. Either the person(s) is/are right, or they aren't. No maybes. I've promised her no maybes. I haven't felt so conflicted about a foster before -I think its because I'm worried about her. If/when she goes, will she take long to make a relationship? Will she even make a relationship? Will she regress to how she was before? Will they keep her forever despite her flaws?

And most importantly, Will she be happy? I see some happiness in her now, that sparkle in the eyes, that real wagging tail, the silly spaniel dance. I know she's capable of sharing this with someone else, but are they ready to wait for it? No use twisting my stomach in knots about it until the homecheck comes back with news.

And last, but not least I had a great conversation wtih Yvette at TG. I'm not sure quite why, but talking to her always makes me calm, and yet excited at the same time. Calm because I know she knows what she's doing and that I trust her to continue the track record, but excited because she talks about all her dogs and I want to foster all the buggers. Well, not all of them ;). If/When Alphie goes, we'll be up for another foster :) I'm SO glad to be possibly having another TG dog. I think I was going through withdrawal!

In closing notes, I have a suspicion Alvin's potential family got cold feet, as I haven't heard back from them. We'll see. He's a good dog, he is. I'm just being a confident, jerky female. Don't you worry Alvin, you'll find that home eventually (but it's still not here ;) ).

Pictures

I've been feeling a little pictureless for a bit. Both Allie and Helen really dislike the camera. Allie can go from happy spinning spaniel to 'run for the crate' when the camera comes out. My dear, how am I supposed to show people you've improved? Maybe its part of her tactic to stay longer??

So, some pictures:

Hard Knock Life

Allie: "It wasn't me. HE pulled the blankets in!"

Beckett of the LONG LONG legs.

A Contemplating Lemon

Helen's "If you don't love me, I'll DIE." face.

Alvin mid-sneeze.

Alvin's Dark Side.

Finally a body shot of the pretty Helen.