New Dogmobile

Well, both the vehicles died in the same week, and both of engine failure. FML. When things like to go wrong, they really like to go wrong in clusters. I can feel the money flying out my hands... So, as much as it burns the bank, we can't go without transportation. That's the downside of living on the farm. Busses and walking are kind of out of the question.

So we poked through the ads and found our new dogmobile!

1997 Subaru Legacy Outback

It's even got a dog barrier already! So, I can easily tote around 5-6 dogs, or more depending on size (although I like 6 to be my max unless we're talking Chihuahuas). We've got to get some new tires on her, but she's a bit of an upgrade from the 88 Tercel and the 86 Camry. Here's hoping she'll last us at least another 3-5 years.

Funny story. This car had a lot of interest, but I was the only 'articulate' person who replied to the ad ;) Writing skills pay off!

In other quick news, I'm scratching my head wondering how the heck Chow hasn't had any interest. She's a pup for crying out loud. Isn't everyone supposed to want a pup? Maybe its a slow time for adoptions??

Tomorrow I pick up Marley (the Cali dog), and bring him to his foster mum, and tomorrow or Tuesday, Promise and A-Lang show up --A-Lang will almost certainly have another foster home, but he'll land here if he needs to.

Boarding is picking up a bit too, so up to a full house this week. But that's okay. I don't like the transition periods of having a full-house (those 2-3 days), but once things settle I really enjoy having 4-6 bodies around.

And now, to a nap. I've been stressing all weekend about vehicles that I think I need to crash.
Emily Out

Mopey, a Twist, and the Bladder of Steel Continues

With no car, Jerrad had to stay overnight at a friend's after his shift. There are no busses even close to home at 1:00am. None of the dogs even came to bed with me! Brats! So after tossing and turning for awhile, I decided to sleep on the couch.

This morning I've done 3 about half hour walks around the property. I'm antsy. Not that I usually go anywhere, just that without the ability to actually go anywhere, I feel stuck. And its really close to an hour walk to GO anywhere. I'm also not used to Jerrad being away completely overnight. Big bummer!

I don't know if Chow is picking up my nervous energy on her leash, but she's resigned herself to NOT peeing on her leash today. She's been doing well this week with it though she knows she can wait until daycare to poo! She's a brat that way! She knows the drill. She doesn't pee, she goes back in her kennel, and she's making no fuss about that. But when her last pee was last night at just after midnight, and its about 11am now, I'm close to giving in -but won't, I'll probably go do another loop in the next hour and she'll probably finally pee-. I think me being off is throwing her. She's sensitive. She's really a dog that mimics the energy being fed her. Beckett is indepedent, if he doesn't like the energy, he leaves. Lemon is one of those nearly bomb-proof dogs that would do pretty well most anywhere. Chow is a dog that would really benefit from someone that understands gentle, sensitive dogs. She doesn't understand what to do when you aren't in a calm, mostly assertive state.

PICTURES OF THE CREW

Dogs Tired after Daycare

Chow always looks like she's smiling.

Lemon playing with Chow.

Raging Beasts.

She's even happy when she sleeps!

I've also been a bad foster mum and have been calling her Lemon and Beckett's 'sister' instead of their foster sibling as I usually do. To be perfectly honest, if I owned my own home and didn't have to worry about possibly moving with 3 dogs, I'd adopt her. She fits in flawlessly. She sweet, but still has character and spunk. And its annoying, because I know, except for commitment to 10-15 years, I can offer her everything a puppy needs. BUT, she's not mine. I'm sure once we find her a great family, my attachment to her will mostly go away. It wouldn't be fair of me to adopt her without knowing what the future holds. MAYBE if we had already resigned a lease for another year, but nope. My brain has to trump my heart. But I'm sure she'll find someone even better than here!

On a different note, I really have to find out why I'm getting attached more and more. I'm not sure if its the dogs (Chow is DEFINITELY a dog I would have considered for adoption, even before Lemon), but for whatever reason they just get to me more. Maybe that's not such a bad thing though.

And cause I like to post some of the better pictures of my pooches, a few of them too :)

Size is all about perception says Lemon to a little Beckett.

What nice Chompers you ladies have.

Lemon won't let Chowmein play with Beckett's tail. LOL!

What you sneering at?

Hmm, I wonder who didn't get to go to daycare ;)

The other note is about Migo, who I was going to be fostering temporarily until his potential home including the autistic son meeted and greeted with him. Unfortunately, Migo's home backed out, AND Migo has developed pancreatitis, which they have to get under control before sending him. So, no Migo until at earliest the end of March. Get well Migo! I'll make sure you have a foster spot if you need one :)

Well, off to do another loop. Pee for Chow here we come!
Emily Out


Fingers crossed the Camry is salvageable.
Emily Out

Car Goes Kaput, and More Videos

Well, its been a LONG day. Went to grab groceries and the car suddenly quit on the highway. Done. Kaput. And so it was with the diagonostic. She's done. Engine has no more in her. Would have to get a new engine, which at minimum would cost twice what she is worth.

RIP Tercel, for being over 20 years old and only costing us $700 you gave us three years of flawless service, never once leaving us strandred. We had a Toyota before that did the same thing. No issues until she went for good.

So, suffice to say groceries didn't get bought, but we did get the Tercel towed close to work. So, I went to work an hour early, without Chow. That's life. There was no way to go get her, but she had her pee, she had her food, and she had a bone in her crate. She would just have to survive a nearly full 'work-day'. And she did. She's been kind of nutso tonight, but by about 8:30 or so settled back down again. She's been to daycare all this week, and been out on multiple hikes so she's not too strapped for exercise. Heck, what I feel guilty about is the norm for a lot of dogs. ---Now I really know why people bring pups to daycare. After a long day of work, you really just want an hour or two to chill out without a puppy clobbering you.
We'll hopefully get the Camry up and running over the weekend -she fizzled out about a week ago, and we just haven't had the time to bring her in and didn't have an incling the Tercel was about to kick the bucket so didn't bother-. If she bites the dust too, I'll have to dig deep to buy another junker. Money things like to show up all in a neat little basket of costs. Hopefully nothing else goes down the sinker soon! I'm just glad I have a seperate account for vet stuff for Lemon and Beckett set aside. If there are plans in place, there's no huge panic, and Murphy doesn't like to sink his laws into your life.

So, not much to report since I spent most of the day figuring out the car, at work or getting back from work. But I do have a series of smaller videos :). Hope you enjoy.

Oh, and a Cute Picture for Good Measure:

If I owned my own home, I'd just keep Chow. But, I'm a mostly-broke student who rents, has two dogs already, and now has to most likely buy another car. I think Karma is telling me "Who do you think you're kidding, don't even think about it!"

But I must admit, they all play so well together. But life is life, and I know her family is out there somewhere. So until then I'll enjoy each and every day I get to foster her :)

Emily Out

Some Videos

Well, I thought I'd finally post some videos :) Chow plays super quietly, as you'll notice throughout. And she obviously plays well with Lemon, a 13 pounder who thinks she's part husky.

Submissive Chow

The Bed is Good for Sleeping, AND for Playing!

And the Most Epic Video.

Chow versus Lemon

Complete with Battle Music!

Not much else to report. We are making progress on mission "pee on a leash" and she is usually peeing between 8:00-9:00 instead of holding it so long anymore. However, with going to daycare 3-4 times a week, she seems to be holding her poo for daycare time! She has pooed on a leash before, so I know its possible, its just one of those things that might be difficult during her time here in foster care.

I'm crossing my fingers she gets a home with a yard, then her new people won't have to work on it anyway. Regardless, we'll still continue to work on it.

Figuring out the other incomings. Thinking in general about attachments, and perhaps lack of attachment with foster dogs. But that's a blog for when my brain has wrapped itself around the ideas.

Thanks all for tonight folks.

Emily Out

The Nylabone, and Nipping Bad Behaviour in the Butt

Nylabones have saved me a great deal of destroyed other belongings. Big, little, no matter the breed, dogs really, really enjoy these toys. Even Beckett has gotten into them -and he's not a toy dog-. So it is no surprise Chowmein's favorite toy is a nylabone as well. A puppy who is still developing her chompers, she will spend HOURS chewing her bone contently. Although there will be no habit of it, we wanted to make sure she would be okay left up to 4 hours crated -something that might be a reality wherever she is adopted. The more skills they have, the easier the transition to their forever homes. Suffice to say, Chowmein was A-Okay for her for hours and was quite surprised to see us home at the end. As if she was going 'Oh, I just saw you, and I was chewing my bone.'

AKA: The nylabone is a puppy's best friend!

NYLABONES

However, when one introduces toys into the mix, guarding behaviour can jump in too. Chowmein has potential to be "a guarder" (why do we figure this is just one of their many traits, I have no idea) but she's young enough to nip the behaviour in the butt fast. She's quite the sensitive bugger, and takes correction personally, so she's learning fast.

Chow with her Bone after Daycare

Catching the behaviour early in the puppy stage curbs it. Like a toddler trying to go 'mine, mine, mine' they have to be taught. Good dogs don't just 'happen', it takes a lot of patience, a lot of teaching, a lot of nipping bad behaviours in the bum. To be sure it is amazing so many of them turn out so well! I am always impressed to find well balanced rescue dogs who have little in the way of negative behavioural problems. Reality is, I'm spoiled with TG dogs. They learn from other dogs. Sure, they have some things to work through, but there are usually no huge issues on the plate to start with. Working on a blank slate is much easier than to work on one that's been scribbled on.

It is typical in our society to say: "Oh, my dog's a jumper." "Oh, my dog's a guarder." "Oh, my dog's a barker, or a puller, or my dog is anxious." As if that's a trait that's as built in as fact such as 'Oh, my dog is black, or oh, my dog is a Rhodesian Ridgeback." Behaviour is NOT a trait of a dog, it is learnt, and practiced. Of course certain breeds have tendencies towards different behaviours -herding or protecting, or being anxious for example-, but behaviour is learned. If at this stage Chow figures out guarding behaviours get her no where, she won't practice them anymore.

Regardless, Chowmein won't be "a guarder", she will be a dog that has learnt that it is in her best interest to guard. That is very different. It is not INGRAINED  in her, it is not part of her DNA that she be a guarder. It is learned behaviour. And so, funny enough, is NOT being a guarder. That is also not in her DNA, and it is ALSO learned behaviour.

Now, that's not to say her guarding behaviours are severe. They aren't at all. They're little signs. A puppy testing out behaviours to see if they work to get her what she wants. The curl of a lip, the postering over her nylabone, sometimes the quick nip of a dog that comes too close to me when she is there (only with really high-energy dogs). They're signs that most people wouldn't even notice. They aren't severe -which means they aren't a problem -YET-. The more she is able to practice the smaller behaviours and benefit from doing them (keeping her bone), the more she will esclate to get what she wants.

But Chow is really basically a 4-5 year old. She's impressionable, and she hasn't hit the bratty teenage stage yet. She's almost a blank slate.

So, what we're doing is very simple:

If she shows any guarding behaviour towards her bone when the other dogs are around, it IMMEDIATELY gets taken away from her. I don't even verbally correct her .By the toy's immediate removal after the behavioural 'the lip curl, or the postering' becomes a signal that the toy will be removed, not that she will not have to share. Since she'd much rather keep her bone, she is learning quickly -lip curl behaviour takes the toy away, so I don't want to lip curl. Not sharing gets the toy taken away, I don't want the toy taken away.

At the same time, to build tolerance for sharing,  I set a time limit on Lemon or Beckett, or if at daycare whoever is playing with the toy she willingly shared. After a bit of them playing with it, I take it away and give it back to Chow. This way, she understands that sharing, the toy comes back quickly. It is not gone forever. Therefore, it is not worth losing for a long time for, if she just has to share for a few minutes.

When it comes to the couple of times she's tried to guard me (only twice, and she hasn't tried again in a couple of days), I quickly remove myself from her prescence, and do not allow her to interact with me for a few minutes. The guarding behaviour -in Chowmein's case, an air-nip, a very minor guarding behaviour- instead of making it so that she keeps me, makes me go away. IE: the behaviour does the exact opposite of what she wants it to do. It is unnatural to practice a behaviour that doesn't benefit you.

With more advanced signs of guarding, the training would be more deliberate and focused, but for Chow, its a matter of 'you share, you get the bone a lot, you don't share, it goes away'. Very simple. Easy to catch on. And indeed she's catching on fast!

So working on the little things and nipping bad behaviour in the butt before she even becomes a teenager. In no way is she a bad dog! All puppies go through a testing of many, many different behaviours to figure out what works to get what they want. It is an exploration. Just like children who need to find ways to express themselves. To be in the world without the help of parents eventually. We expect our dogs to learn a lot on their own -they don't have their mums with them while they are young. So, we have to be their to guide them. Of course they learn a lot (more most likely) from other dogs too.

So, when you think 'my dog is a barker', 'my dog is a guarder, 'my dog is anxious' ask yourself what behaviours they are allowed to practice which reinforce those particular behaviours. And then, if you have the drive to try to change the behaviour (and believe me, its a heck of a lot harder when its been ingrained in them so many times that its almost like nature to them to be that way), ask yourself how to move around the variables to change that behaviour.

Think of it as somewhat of an equation.

For Chowmein's Toy Guard for Example

How Chowmein Intends it

Toy + Lip Curl = Other dog will leave/she will get to keep the toy, which equals a postive association with Lip Curl. Therefore, since it was positive, and worked for her, the chances of doing it again are more likely.

However, if you factor in my 'correction' you get

Toy + Lip Curl + Removal of Bone = Chowmein gets no toy. That is a bad outcome for Chowmein. Being a negative association, the chances of doing the behaviour again, are less likely.

Of course, you have to weigh those up against all the past experiences too. Just like you're own bad habits (like my chocolate addiction...) it won't go away cold turkey.

For example, Beckett has always been -and will probably always be to some extent- a 'marker'. IE: He lifts his leg on pretty much ANYTHING outside. For at least the first two years I had him, I didn't even really notice -or really, to be perfectly honest, know much about marking-, but was always embarrased when he'd lift his leg on something inappropriate like a stroller or other dog sometimes, or a bike. But through discplining the behaviour he has become a lot better.

Still thinking in equation it would go like this:

Lift Leg = I'm the big bad Man
Lift Leg + Putting on the leash on an off-leash walk = BUSTED. Marking makes my freedom go away. How the heck can I be the big bad man on a leash?

Of course, the timing has to be on as well, which is why he's usually worse for marking when he knows I'm about 5 seconds from him. There is no point for correction after that -they don't get the association to leg lift = leash for example, or lip curl = toy being taken away.

He still marks out on the trails, but not on every bloody tree or stump now. We're not perfect, and indeed, having a perfect dog would be a little boring don't you think? But we're getting there :)

Unfortunately, most of us don't know there is something afoot until there is a real 'problem'. All big behavioural problems have smaller triggers that have led to them. Of course in fostering its sometimes interesting to try to break down the behaviours as they've had different owners in the past usually. Anyway, I blab. And I'm sure you need no more equations!

I have no pictures of Chow and her Nylabone for tonight, but I can happily report that she is sharing it with Beckett as I type. She drops it near his nose, grabs one end and chews, takes a small break, sees if he wants a turn, and if he doesn't, she takes it back. Good girl! Eager-to-please dogs are really quite lovely to work with. You show them what you want, and they do it :) But still, they have to be shown.

Emily Out

Dear Murphy, Stop Messing Around

For being on foster #24 and just under a year into fostering, I should really know my boundaries a bit better and know not to go messing with Murphy and his stupid law. But, when a 7 month old's life is on the line, that just doesn't happen.  Dear Murphy: This one was going to die, can't you lay off!

Regardless as much as I'm chicken without a head running around stupidly now, I know it'll work out.

But, its hard to juggle potentially 4 incoming dogs all at once.

We have: Marley, the boy from Devore who was going to be put down. He is coming mid-week instead of this weekend or next weekend, so throwing a bit of a monkey wrench into things. Ironically, its a small rescue world (or, I seem to be a in a lot of the rescue world at once), and through Jeneane, I got in contact with Larissa, who previously fostered Primus for Turtle Gardens, and who works with New Bark. So, she can bring him to the island, and most likely hang onto him for a few days until we can go grab him. Man am I ever glad for my seemingly far and wide connections these days!

Marley has a foster home lined up, but he is my responsbility to back up. So, for now I have to count him mine until things are sorted out. If you count the chickens, shit hits the fan. Expect the worse, and you suddenly have an easier time of things. So, until those first few days of being fostered are over with, I'm not in the clear. I'd say he's seven months and shouldn't have a problem, but if I really start relying on that thought, something is bound to happen.

Marley, Saved from Devore, CA



The next two are TUAPAS. I had agreed I would foster A-Lang if Molly/Jasmine (Promise) could come into foster care. Tuapa has REALLY been wanting to send A-Lang abroad, but being an older guy, he hasn't had the opportunity. I didn't quite realize they meant for me to foster them together -I had thought send me A-Lang first as as reward I'd get to foster Promise. Or vice-versa in order. Oops, miscommunication. They will come in the next couple of weeks providing their passenger is a go. They are both middle-aged/older dogs and both 'easy', but they are two warm fuzzy bodies coming in together. We're looking into getting another foster home for A-Lang, because we know if we get that one, it'll make things a lot easier.

Handsome 50 pound, 8 year old A-Lang

My older girl Promise

The fourth dog is Migo who is coming into to temporary foster-care with me from Ocean Dog Rescue at the end of the month. He will meet his autistic brother to see if they're a good match. But, I think Murphy is going to mess this one up, and turn him into a full foster. That's what my gut is telling me anyway. Anyhoots, he is definitely coming and I'm looking forward to having him.

Yep, and that's how it all comes down at once. I'm sure things will work out so that I only need to foster 2/4 dogs, as I think Jerrad just might beat me if I take all four in within a week or two of each other. But Migo is a definite, and I definitely have to be Marley's back up. If that delays the trip of the TUAPAS, I suppose that is what needs to happen.

Why is it, if I commit to three dogs in three months, suddenly they all need to come within a two week period of each other? Memo to self: only commit to one specific dog at a time!

Oh, and in some non-crazy news, Brojack, who came down with Chowmein and is being fostered by Meshum has a homecheck with his most likely new dad on Thursday. Peter has been 'courting' Brojack, coming and taking him for walks while Meshum is at daycare, and he always brings a new present for him. He takes Brojack out for swims, and has shown him off to all his staff (Peter owns the restaurant right beside the dog daycare). Providing everything is a go, Brojack will get his forever human, and Meshum and I will be spoiled rotten and get to see him a lot!

Seriously, you can wait your whole life and never come across a dog like Brojack. He is pretty much a 'perfect' dog. A real gentle, loving guy -much like Peter, his potential dad ;)

Will keep you updated. :)

Emily Out

Port Renfrew Loop

Every couple of months, we get the itch to go to Port Renfew, at 2-3 hour drive away, with great sandy beaches, and usually, very little in the way of other people on them. For Valentine's day, mum sent us Subway giftcards, and a gas gift card, and since it was still wet and nasty out at the farm, we headed out yesterday. We haven't been in awhile!

We stopped in to visit Mother Goose Sherry of Island Dogz and drop off paperwork and checks for Helen, Alvin and Allie. I also got to see how Alphie is doing -which is VERY well indeed. His eyes have cleared up, he's put on weight, and he is a sleek, shiny, extra happy little man. I snuggled him up a few minutes before leaving. It isn't written in stone yet, but Alphie is pretty much a foster failure. His K9 brother Junior (Ridgeback/Pitt/something elses) has really chosen him, and that's the deal sealer right there. I highly, highly doubt Sherry will be able to let him go -which is good :) Although she doesn't think so because of tight money, she's the best home for him. And he's a great little mascot with big bat ears for Island Dogz.

On the road, we hit up a trail, then got to Port Renfrew. The dogs ran around for an hour or two, and despite almost losing Lemon a few times (she went absolutely looney near the middle and seemed to lose her mind) we had a great walk. For a bit we hooked Chow up to Beckett so they could run together, and for the most part Chow stayed pretty close. However, she can DEFINITELY pull Beckett along instead of the other way around, so to be on the safe side, she came back on leash with Jerrad holding her.

Pics up at Port Renfrew

Our batteries died about halfway through our trip, so unfortunately, not a lot of pictures.
After Port Renfrew, we all loaded up again, and set off. We stopped in Lake Cowichan, and decided to hit up the bargain store to see if we could find batteries. Not only did we find cheap batteries, but we also semi-raided the leash and collar section of the store. Cool looking collars for 1.50 a piece, no matter the size (bought four, two Beckett sized, two Lemon sized, though really should have picked up a nice BIG one), and we picked up two chain leashs for 1.50 a piece too -they are hard on the hands, but good for puppies who want to chew their leashes all the time! With everyone asleep in the back, we carried on to Duncan, grabbed a snack, and hit up another short trail.

On the way home, just for fun we decided to do the about 40 minute smaller loop of one of our old favourite spots, Devonian Park (which was our #1 walk in our old home). I also managed to get the camera working again, although by this time Jerrad was much less keen to wait for me to take pictures.

Chowmein: I'm going to be bigger than Beckett when I grow up!

 Looking all puppy here.

And two of my dogs just for fun:

The Big and the Little

Finishing up Devonian Park

Oh, and the 'bladder of steel' continues. Chowmein peed at 9:00 yesterday morning, (and peed at 9:00 this morning too), but throughout all of our journeys yesterday she didn't pee or poo. And she didn't all through the evening either. By the time midnight hit, I gave up, and put her to bed. She didn't fuss at all throughout the night, and didn't pee on our trip out at 7:00am, or 8:00am and quite contently went back to her kennel. We got a pee at 9:00 this morning! 24 hours!!!! That is a record I'm sure! I don't know if she willingly goes that long, or if its a leash thing. But, we're making progress in the mornings at least!

Emily Out