Fosteroni!

Just playin'

2012-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Nothing new to report, just thought I would post some videos and pics of the cuteness! also exciting is that we have had 2 accident free days, fingers crossed :)))

round and round, Pasha is usually the chasER not the chasEE. Thats love!

Eating a stick on a bench. A stick that was regurgitated in the wee hours of the morning so maybe no more sticks...

Laser pointers, not just for kitties!

The dog with 2 butts.

2012-03-04T14:53:00.001-08:00

Little Ernie has been here nearly a week and it's time for a little progress report!

First the noise issue...

This little Beagle is doing soooo well in the crate! Since he is being housebroken he is spending the majority of his day in the crate and he is really starting to like it in there, he has lots to do with bones and toys and when he does start the baying and howling I totally ignore it and it stops pretty quickly! I think his longest (although intense) howling session lasted about 3 minutes in the last day or two which is really impressive considering how nuts it was when he first got here, and that was pretty unusual since he has really been quieting down after a few protest whines or barks (there is a pretty crazy variety in the vocalizations, sometimes it's hard to not to laugh). TOTALLY IGNORING (not even looking at him) his baying/howling really works, and of course if he is in the crate you have to be fair and give him plenty to do in there!

House breaking....

This has been a little tough! but today he did 2 full sets of pee/poo outside so I'm starting to have hope again:) Yesterday there were 3 accidents, including on my blanket/brand new couch (which I later napped on until I noticed a mysterious wet spot on my pants), pretty frustrating since there were many trips outside, he would literally be outside for a 1/2 hour and come inside and pee... So now I'm stepping up his time in the crate and he doesn't have free time inside unless he's gone potty outside, happily today he seems to be getting the hang of it and I'm looking forward to having a housebroken puppy sooner than later;)

Being outside.

I'm not sure Ernie has spent much time outside?! his toenails were insanely long and POINTY like a cat, not the nails of a dog who walks on sidewalks... also he seems a little timid, he's interested in dogs and people but hangs back a little, now that his kennel cough has cleared up I've been letting him greet dogs on leash and he's doing really nicely. He also walks really nicely and doesn't pull as much as some little beagles I know (i'm talking about you little Buster!).

Inside manners.

He has been a tasmanian devil since he been here, launching himself onto all the furniture and standing on my desk and counter surfing etc and generally not having the greatest house manners... Did I mention peeing on the couch:/ When he and Pasha play together they can get crazy so I have been letting them have playtime together and have alone time with me. I am proud to announce that I now have a little Ernie sitting next to my feet under my desk enjoying a toy:) He can be still, I had my doubts! I am going to work on teaching him "off" and to "chill out" (aka, sit/lay down next to me and relax, this involves cookies whenever he sits next to me on his own accord), also he should probably learn "sit" soon right? this poor dog, 8 months old and never been trained at all... I'm hoping to at least improve his manners and have him housebroken and crate trained by next week!

both dogs being quiet.

the beginnings of "the chill out"!

what's this under the butt move??!! hilarious!

these two pups luuuuv each other! they sit there and kiss each others face all the time, I'm so glad that they are good buddies, my last foster dog Dunkin wanted nothing to do with her so there wasn't much in the foster experience for Pasha!

Beagle-Mania!!!

2012-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Tuesday I pulled an 8 month old Beagle puppy from the Euthanasia list at ACC to foster for http://poshpetsrescue.org/, sadly little Ernie (formerly Tony) was about to meet his maker but was spared last minute and is the newest "Fosteroni" up in Washington Heights, abusing and being abused by resident doggie Pasha;) When Linda told me there was a dog we could save from the "euth list" I was super excited, until she said it was a Beagle... SO LOUD! SO NAUGHTY! SO STUBBORN! TOO SMART! also too cute, but so so LOUD. I took comfort in the knowledge that there are legions of Beagle fans out there and Ernie is cute as heck so I figured this would be an in-and-out foster and after meeting him I'm willing to put up with anything for a few weeks to spare his tiny butt!

Saying goodbye to the folks who were nice to him at ACC!

we stopped at the dog run for a little freedom on the way home from the pound, lots of pent up energy!

The first day Ernie acted like a loon, but who wouldn't be after being sprung from the clink! Zoomies around the dog run, zoomies around the apartment, jumping baby gates and counter surfing and the omg the HOWLING!!! holy crap, holy crap, angry neighbors and eviction any minute! and the potty situation... 5 walks that day and he only wanted to go potty inside, sometimes immediately after coming inside from a long walk, didn't seem to a user of wee pads either.

munching on bones in his crate.

we've added some comfy towels since then to cozy up the crate and hide some kibble in;)

the whole crew.

this is pretty much what they would do constantly if they were not physically separated.

To get Ernie even more adoptable I'm concentrating on the 2 most troublesome issues first, the howling (he does this when left alone in another room) and the housebreaking. Pasha has a ton of food dispensing toys and Ernie really took to them and has a really great attention span, and now like Pasha is crazy excited to see them come out! He gets both meals in a food toys in his crate and that keeps him busy and quiet for awhile and then I guess he takes a nap cuz I don't hear the toys being moved around and I also don't hear little Ernie;)

can you believe this was his first exposure to his Busy Buddy toy, Ernie's a dog genius;)

We kinda have a rhythm now, wake up, walk and dog run (did I mention he has been accident free for 2 days? yes, he goes potty outside now and gets lots of cookies for doing so) Ernie and Pasha get their breakfast in a food toy, Ernie is fed in his crate and chills out for and hour or two, then insane play session, then back to crate with a bone or cookie toy, more play, more crate, more walk, more play, dinner in crate and on and on! I think it's working pretty well, he's not complaining about being in his crate at all today and it's only day 4:) I think crate training is a valuable tool but of course the goal is to prepare him to be left alone at times in a larger space or the whole apartment/house and to have some things he likes to do (that he's allowed to do!) so he doesn't get in trouble by playing in trash cans etc when his folks aren't home;) This way he's working his big brain on the food toys and then burning up the puppy energy with the wrestling and learning to be alone and gnaw on a bone while thinking about chasing bunnies, hopefully this sort of foundation combined with actual obedience training (I don't think he's even been trained to sit yet much less anything else) will keep him a happy (and reasonably quiet) Beagle.

So far so good! he seems to be developing some good hobbies (bones, food toys) that will keep him quiet and more importantly busy and stimulated, and I bet one day he will be an expert at "Find it!" use his crazy hound nose to find cookies around the house and hidden objects etc... perfect Beagle fun:)

Note on Ernie (so far, stay tuned for updates!):

1. Maybe not quite housebroken but working towards it, I am hopeful;)

2. Walks nicely on the leash, curious about dogs and people we pass. Sometimes he sees a person or a dog he's interested in and just stares wistfully at them as they walk away.... sigh.

3. No food aggression.

4. He seemed to have a little "separation anxiety" when he first got here, of course it's hard to say since he had just come out of the shelter and was in a new place with new people. Everyday he seems better and calmer and quieter and I have a feeling with enough exercise and busy toys/bones this won't be a problem, having doggie company probably helps a lot too.

5. Doggy company? YES PLEASE! he loves my dog and I'd love to see him go to a home with another playful dog so they can wear each other out and snuggle afterwards;)

6. Other animals? curious about the cat, he has been batted on the nose a few times and is learning polite kitty boundaries. Ignores my birds which is a surprise considering he is a Beagle after all.

7. Destructive? Hard to say? he is still pretty young and in full puppyhood and I do see a little mouthing here and there, I'm pretty sure at this stage he would definitely get his little self into trouble if left alone as far as jumping on counters and sticking his face in the trash so I have never left him in another room unsupervised or uncrated and have no plans too;)

8. Likes the car and was well behaved in the backseat with Pasha!

9. Due to a little Kennel cough he has not yet been neutered but is scheduled for this Wednesday.

10. I'm not usually a Beagle fan but I am an Ernie fan! The little guy needs a home with folks who understand a Beagles hardwired needs/drives and can give him an outlet for that to keep him happy and balanced! he also needs an education and lots of firm, gentle, consistent, leadership and I'm pretty sure you'll have a happy little buddy in Ernie;) he couldn't be more lovable!

The fox and the hound;) gotta love his smile!

to fill out an application for Ernie go to http://poshpetsrescue.org/adoptadog/ernie/

General Beagle info from http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com a site I check when I get a foster dog who is a recognizable breed, has some helpful info and can help you choose an appropriate dog for your lifestyle and training abilities. Here are some things you should know if you are one of the uninitiated, and some things you will chuckle about if you are in the know;)

Beagle Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em

Beagles are conveniently-sized, handsome and easy-to-groom, friendly with people, peaceful with other pets, and with their appealing soulful expression, it's perfectly natural that many people consider them as potentially wonderful pets.

However, Beagles were developed as hunting dogs and they have many hunting dog behaviors "hardwired" into their genes.

Beagles need much more exercise than most people give them, which is why you see so many fat Beagles with health problems. Though they're often kept in city apartments or condos, they should not be. Beagles require long frequent walks and a fenced yard where they can stretch their legs off-leash -- FENCED because Beagles are explorers and chasers who will follow their nose wherever that fascinating sight or smell takes them, and since Beagles are endowed with selective deafness, they seldom come back when you call them.

In addition, you can't leave them outside unmonitored, for Beagles are prone to wanderlust and can be adept climbers and diggers. Also, Beagles left outside become bored and then they bay and howl and dig holes.

The Beagle's vast stubbornness and distractability call for early, consistent obedience training. Use food rewards to motivate him, but don't indulge too much or you'll end up with that portly Beagle I mentioned earlier. A Beagle is often found with his head buried in the garbage and he will cheerfully filch whatever morsels you leave within reach!

f you want a dog who...

Is conveniently-sized, sturdy, and athletic
Is completely natural in appearance
Has a short easy-care coat
Loves exercise, play, and outdoor activities
Is good-natured and peaceful with everyone

A Beagle may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

An extremely careful search to find good-tempered lines
Providing a goodly amount of exercise, not just a couple of walks around the block
Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
An independent "what's in it for me?" attitude -- can be obstinate
Keeping him on-leash or securely fenced
Controlling baying and howling
Slowness to housebreak
Moderate to heavy shedding
A distinctive doggy odor
Concerns about a lot of potential health problems in the breed

Dog fight = No good

2011-12-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Last Friday Pasha got into a really nasty dog fight over a rubber Chuckit ball, as you can see she lost in a big way and now her butt cheek looks like swiss cheese:/ Fights at the dog run happen fairly regularly but they are usually the doggie equivalent of Jerry Springer Show fights, noise, hair pulling, slapping, maybe a scratch or two but nobody going to the hospital. This one was seriously bad (and surprising, since the other dog is usually friendly and has great owners who have been bringing him to the dog run since he was a pup - they were understandably very jarred by this all and are looking into how to prevent this from happening again). The bite went deep and tore into the muscle so the muscle itself had to be stitched back together as well as the skin sewn up... So no running around for a few weeks, mostly homebound, short walks to "take care of business" only. Today it's a week later and she got a gold star from her vet, drains out, healing nicely and Dr. Tsung says "couple more weeks of nooooo exercise!"

Last Friday.

This was taken after she came home from getting patched up, drugged and hurting, poor Pasha!

Eeeeeeeek!!! Pretty gross right? Those white things sticking out are drains, keeps the skin from closing up so you can squirt antiseptic into the wounds to prevent infection, the vet said the wound was filthy and they had to flush dirt and wood chips out of it.... The red stuff is the antiseptic mixed with blood leaking out where the drains stick out lower down the leg, there was less of that after a few days. As nasty as this looks she didn't seem too bothered by it, no limping, no crying, she was on some pain medication but still you'd expect some discomfort? And to my relief she is just as happy as ever and doesn't seem to be anti-dog after the incident, as happy to greet other dogs on leash as before.

yup, one on the groin too. when I had to irrigate her wounds she would roll over or sit and cock her leg so I could get at it more easily;) and she especially seems to enjoy the hot compresses!

Less than a week later, drains are out and it looking a whole lot better :)

Those big holes are where the drains were, they should scab up shortly.

sooooo bored..... hate cone....

WHAAAAAT??? VISITOR!!!! my friend Dan was in town for a few days, Pasha LOVED him! even the cone couldn't save him from her slobbery love;)

Soooo how to wear out the 2 year old pup who is used to at least an hour of chasing the ball and wrestling at the dog run everyday.....?? For now she needs to be kept pretty quiet so we are relying on "boredom busters", thinky toys, involving strategy and coordination, doggie problem solving = mental exhaustion leading to naps and a little less restlessness;) doesn't replace physical exercise but will hopefully prevent overwhelming cabin fever for the next few weeks.

Here's our stash! These are all food dispensing toys, instead of the 15 seconds it normally takes her to eat breakfast and dinner from her bowl it can take 20 min - 1.5 hrs (yes I'm a looser and I totally timed it) anyway she loooooves them:) I have a few videos of how they work and the sort of focus they require. They work best if your dog is a pig like mine, perhaps less so if you have a grazer.

first crack at it, she needed a little guidance... she achieved "genius level" later that day according to the toy instructions...Very cute but not challenging enough, might bring this back for something more involved ;)

the Busy Buddy or as we call it the "green lantern" is my favorite, she loves it and it is less loud/messy than the Kong Wobble and the Buster Cube. This takes her about 20 minutes to eat a meal sized cup of kibble, and since it involves more angling skills than brute strength it is usually a quieter affair (but still enthusiastic).

This is similar in principle to the Kong Wobble, she loves them both but they are LOUD! She has been refining her approach to the Buster Cube, trying to turn it over on the bed instead of whacking it around the apartment... Better to hand these out when you will not be home to enjoy the crashing noises:/ or better yet if you are lucky enough to have a patio or something...

The winner in terms of longest time to empty is officially a frozen Kong, I clocked that at 45 minutes per Kong, AND it takes 2 for each meal, so 3 hours a day if she is served breakfast and dinner a la Kong!!!

She is super excited to be handed any of these options, sick or well these food dispensers are great for keeping your dog busy while they are indoors, and time consuming appropriate dog hobbies are good for your personal property and the dogs mental health! Below are some articles I found while googling for suggestions to keep my patient content while cooped up (also during inclement weather) and check out those crazy fun toys by Nina Ottosson, maybe Santa will bring her one;)

http://www.designerdoggy.com/by-designer/nina-ottosson.html?gclid=CIi3rs_S4awCFQdN4Aod9idhog

http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/brain-boosting-games/1721

http://www.k9station.com/mentalstim.htm

Special guest star Lexie!

2011-11-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned the awesomeness of the folks at my dog run many times in the past and I am doing so again, so many rescues, so many fosters! Susan who I "officially" met today at the dog run is fostering a pretty little lady named Lexie! Lexie has won the foster dog lottery living with Susan, a veteran foster mom, but is now looking for the perfect forever home... Lexie's family brought her to the pound (for the second time) because they didn't want to take care of her anymore, basically Susan said, they didn't feel like having to give her exercise, NICE:/ I'll post Susan's description below but my impressions of Lexie from watching her in the dog run this afternoon is that she is as SWEET as she is ADORABLE! Susan thinks she may not be used to playing with other dogs, little socially awkward and barks at the other dogs "I WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU!!!" but is totally dog friendly and soon enough she'll be in the doggie club, she also has doggie roomates at home, a big German Shepherd sister and a little mystery mutt brother, small medium and large! Lexie can be a little shy of strangers at first, I was talking to her Mom for awhile and she would circle closer and closer and finally sat in front of me for some scrunchies:) and it's obvious she LOOOOOOOVES Susan and was showing off how nicely she comes when called and sits on command;) So here's Lexie has to say for herself, transcribed by Susan ;)

she's so cute she doesn't look real!

Hi! My name is Lexie. My foster Mom says I am a wonderfull little girl, a delight to be around and a family would be very lucky to have me in their lives. I have soooo much love and joy to give. I am house trained and know all my commands, I am very bright so I can learn much more too. I have a sweet and gentle nature, but I also have the confidence to stand up for myself with other dogs when I need to. I love to play so I do need to be able to run and get exercise every day. I want to please and to be a good girl. I listen to my foster Mom very well. I get along with other dogs, big and little. I would be happiest with another dog who is not too dominant. I also get along with children. I am very healthy, which you can see from my shiny and very soft coat and big, bright eyes. I am also a good watch dog. This does mean that once in awhile I bark when I hear strange noises, but I live in an apartment on a busy street right now and mostly I am very quiet. If I do bark it's to warn you about something unusual, I know to be quiet when asked. I am a great size and weigh about 25lbs. My age is approximately 4 years old. I am really a sweetheart-and a great snuggler. Oh...and I am ADORABLE. You can find out more about me, and hear the dramatic story of how I was rescued by emailing: pound2penthouse@gmail.com

with her foster mom and big sis!

again the contact info for Miss Lexie is pound2penthouse@gmail.com

Doggie updates!

2011-10-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

I'm always curious to see how the Fosteroni Alumni are doing and am not above the occasional solicitation for updates and pictures (or asking previous adopters to pimp my new foster dogs to homes as awesome as theirs)!!!

From Jean concerning Charlie (formerly Sphinx)-

Charley is doing FABULOUSLY well. We are still totally smitten, even after all this time. And all his bad behavior! Well, he's not bad, he just counter-surfs like crazy. And is a total jump-up snuggle attention hound. This summer in Maine, he learned how to jump off a dock or a riverbank in pursuit of a big stick...picture attached. He's in it for the drama, legs splayed, getting as much air as possible. So great! I will send this call for help for Duncan to my friend who just lost her dog of 15 years...maybe she would be interested in meeting him.Nice to hear from you , and nice to know you're still doing this amazing work with the dogs.

xo,

Jean, Joel, and Charley

he looks so mature and handsome!

And from Meagan, Mom to Bronx (Dingo during her foster days). I see Bronx photos on a regular basis on facebook, clearly this dog is adored!

Hi!

I will spread the word! We love Bronx so much, she has become such a big sweetheart. She gets along with Rush really well, they play ALL day. They have developed a deep bond, which is what we were hoping for. Last week Rush was getting bullied by a German Shepard at the dog park and Bronx came running over and barked the other dog away! This is just one of the many times she has protected Rush. Bronx has caught a squirrel and a seagull so now is only off leash in small critter free areas like dog parks but . She was also featured on the front page of the West End News (our local mock newspaper)! She has also finally found an interest in dog toys! Primarily bouncy squeaky balls and nyla bones.

Thanks for helping us get such a great dog!

Meagan

Dunkin has been adopted!

2011-10-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

So in under a week Mr. Dunkin is back living in Brooklyn with his new Mom and Pop, and bonus Auntie and Uncle! Natalie and Andre discovered him on petfinder.com and of course found him irresistibly handsome and couldn't wait to run up and meet him asap! Andre came up for a meet and greet a few nights ago and they got along really well, and Natalie met him the next morning and joined us in the dog run for a few hours where she got to see Dunkin in action with the other dogs and people. Honesty about my foster dogs good and bad points is super important to me and I was glad that between the two of them they got the see the whole spectrum first hand, if you know what you're in for homework-wise, think you can help with the issues and sign up for it then hopefully the dog will be placed ONCE instead of shuffled around... lying/ommision=very bad start! So of course Dunkin was adorable and great with my cat and played nicely with the dogs and affectionate and charming and all those great lovable things we had reported buuuuuut and to my mind more importantly they got to see his squirrel mania where he turns into a screeching lunatic on a pogo stick at the and of the leash, and most importantly his resource guarding which was my main concern... he growled at Andre about his toy and kept running off with it, and attacked Pasha when he had the most insane squeaky toy and had worked himself into a little frenzy, don't feel bad for her she was most definitely trying to steal it, and after the fight was broken up did steal it (and then I took it and put it high on a shelf since fighting is frowned upon), don't worry neither dog was hurt at all despite all the noise! Having both grown up in families who adopted rescue dogs, some pretty serious cases, they both seemed like a good fit for the little guy and when they saw him at his worst and were calm about it (and still interested) I felt comfortable that they were a good fit!

So now Dunkin lives less than a block from Prospect Park with Natalie and Andre and 2 other room mates who are both dog lovers and on board with the new addition!

this video is one of my worst and I apologize for any motion sickness but look how happy she is:)

filling out adoption forms at my place, why wait?? I got the ok from Laurie and agreed to drop him off that night!

happy boy...

Brooklyn ho! off to his new digs:)

When we got to the apartment he was not shy about exploring and he met one of his new room mates as well who was of course enchanted and after a few minutes I snuck out the door. I will be happy to post any pics and updates they send my way and I hope to see him around!

Odd man out :/

2011-10-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

This morning for a special treat I thought I would bring my guys to the woods in NJ where lots of dog loving families go for a little hiking and off leash action, my hope was that he would get tons of attention from people with his "adopt me" jacket and perhaps land a new home close to the woods with some kiddos and an active outdoorsy fam! I wasn't sure about letting him off leash so I rigged 3 leashes equalling about 15 feet and headed out with my friend Erin for company and doggy back up, he loooooved it but when I would drop the leash here and there but I didn't feel confident that he wouldn't go bounding off into the wilderness after a chipmunk so he ended up staying leashed while everybody else got to run around and explore freely... When we reached the dog beach there were so many dogs approaching him who were off leash that I think he felt a little nervous and outnumbered and started really barking at a few of them, everyone who had thought he was adorable quickly changed their minds since he was sounding like such a menace (understandably) although he still wasn't trying to bite! It wasn't getting any better so we took them on a trail with less dogs which he enjoyed but I felt so bad when he spotted squirrels and other critters and wasn't allowed to chase em, I also felt a little bad for myself because when he spots them he develops Hulk strength and my little outing wasn't all that relaxing as I was dragged up and down the mountain;) hopefully one day when he is super bonded with an owner he can run around in the woods and be trusted to come back, I know he'd love it! To make it up to him we went home and spent the afternoon in the dog run so he could run around and play too and as with previous visits he does play nicely with most of the dogs and occasionally shouts at a few that he doesn't care for. He tends to be a little shouty on leash, Pasha is too so that doesn't help, some dogs they pass and ignore and some they'll bark at for no reason, but if they are allowed to go nose to nose it is usually friendly, this is a habit I have been trying to break with my dog for months without success so if anybody has any tips I'm all ears!

Here's a little treat dispensing video, he's super calm where food is concerned, he's a slow eater, will leave food in his bowl, doesn't seem too worried about eating when other dogs are around.

paws, paws, paws:)

Over the hump!

2011-10-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

Getting a new foster dog is doubly stressful for me now that I have a dog of my own! But I think there is a three day hump for most dogs, seems like it takes about that long for them to relax and their real personality to show itself, takes about that long for me to relax as well and feel like I don't have to be monitering them at all times... around day three you can usually tell if they are house trained, how friendly they are, if they are truly anxious and all that stuff, and having Pasha (and of course my cat) adds the extra element of watching the two dogs reeeeallly closely to make sure no one gets hurt or bullied. So here we are on day 5 and I couldn't be happier with how things are going:) Duncan is much mellower than I originally thought, he and Pasha are getting friendlier and she is acting less territorial and actually wanting to play with him, he's doing well at the dog run with the people and the dogs and has really calmed down about the cat AND the birds! He's seems to be a really well adjusted dog with really nice manners and should adjust fairly quickly to his new forever family when they come along.

Up here in Washington Heights we are super lucky to have what I believe is the largest dog run in Manhattan, and even luckier to have really friendly dogs and neighbors who are almost uniformly dog savvy and pro rescue pups! As you can imagine this really helps the foster dogs up here (and there are a few) with the regulars being more than happy to love up the new guys and give advice.

video of this morning at the dog run.

It seems that about an hour of off leash time and running around keeps him pretty content for the day. He also may make a decent jogging buddy, I ran down the block with them the other day on a walk and he seemed into it, Pasha on the other hand tries to play tug with the leash so that doesn't really work out;)

When I see him starting to get a little restless/anxious (usually dragging the bed around and chewing on it) I take out the tug toy and they can go at it for a few minutes to let off some steam!

you're getting sleepy....

sleeeeepy...

sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy....

After all that dog run fun everyone was pooped and we had a group nap on the couch, he's a serious cuddle-bunny and he and Pasha look so comfy all squished up together!

I love the happy circles:) and he walks right into his halter when you put it on!

for more info on Duncan you can email me at aprilkelly4377@gmail.com

Pit Bull awareness day:))))))))

2011-10-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Pit BUll awareness day I wanted to post my favorite pittie celebrity Pit Bull Sharky of youtube fame! I can seriously waste whole afternoons watching him be the nanny to baby chicks, guineau pigs, baby bunnies etc... ENJOY and SMILE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=pUV1oTciznE&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf9wHkkNGUU&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoHYmUx2Uuw&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFQNaWg7BZU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=T-SdLDdHEkQ

First impressions on Mr. Dunkin

2011-10-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

So this is day four of Dunkin's residence at Chez April and things are definitely much much better! First day or two he seemed a little neurotic, dragging his dog bed around and balling it up under him and then sucking the fabric and then tearing it, doing the same when he was in the crate, whining and barking when I left etc... Pasha liked him ok at first but when it dawned on her that he would be sticking around she got pretty jealous and perhaps a little "depressed", and as a bird dog he was of course crazy interested in the birds in the birdcage (that hasn't changed and probably won't) - but here we are a few days later and he's settling in in and everybody is getting used to each other!

First impressions of Mr. Dunkin good and bad as always!

1. Let's get this out of the way first... Little shy/afraid of strangers, it doesn't take him too long to warm up to people but if they get too familiar too fast he will snap at them a little. He has snapped at 4 people including myself on the first day, we only knew each other for an hour or two then and it was in a crowded pet store, but in each case it was a similar scenario, people he didn't know leaning/hovering over him and/or grabbing his halter, in each case a few minutes later everyone was able to mush on him and he was giving out kisses! These are warning snaps with no intention of injury, his teeth literally graze the skin if they make contact at all (I felt teeth but there was no pressure), I take biting dogs seriously and I promise I wouldn't understate this or make excuses for him AND I wouldn't keep a dog around if I though he was dangerous to myself, my friends or my animals. I'm keeping my eye on this but I don't feel too worried and I tell new people to let him come to them and of course not to lean over him!

Dunkin comes from a family with a bunch of little kids who he grew up with but if you are a family with kids considering bringing him into your home I'd advise cautious introductions and lots of supervision till you are certain he is comfortable and everybody is cozy and bonded! and probably better off with older kids who you can educate on doggie boundaries;)

He has also been really good at the dog park (I'll provide videos of that in the near future), good at socializing and playing in general and was very very tolerant today of a certain obnoxiously relentless puppy chasing and biting him (I'm talking bout you Charlie!), he was snarling and barking ferociously at him but wouldn't touch him :)

Check out this great podcast on dog bites and dog fights, Ian Dunbar actually says to give credit to dogs who show great bite inhibition when snapping and offers one example similar to Dunkin's saying that a known reaction where no harm is done means the dog is actually really in control of his teeth and trustworthy, actually calls them "brilliant dogs"! I see a fair number of dogfights at my dog run (sometimes my dog Pasha even starts them) but this podcast has made me more a lot relaxed and I think every dog owner should give it a listen, it offers a lot of perspective.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/radio/404-bite-scale-and-how-evaluate-aggression

2. Housebroken? He's peed in the house twice, first day and morning of the second day, but I think I can safely declare him housebroken, in fact he takes forever to pee outside! also strangely he doesn't "mark" he pees all at once when he finally gets around to it.

3. Separation anxiety? not really! I've been putting him in the crate when I've gone out for a few hours and the first few days there was some whining and barking when I left which seemed to die down by the time I went down the four flights to the lobby, but today I heard nothing:) He likes his crate, he goes there to hang out when the door is open and I leave him some rawhides and bones when he's actually crated, and of course he has doggy company which I'm sure helps. In a few days when he and Pasha are better buddies I'll give him more freedom:) I also have a baby gate up and practice keeping him in another room sometimes when I'm home and sometimes he'll whine a little then, but today he has started to go into the other room to play or hang out in his crate and seems to be a little more independent.

4. Good with cats? Like most of the dogs that have come through here he is obsessed with the cat! first thing when he gets in the door he runs looking for the cat, so yes he likes cats but mine thinks he is pretty annoying although he means no harm. I bet in a few days when the novelty wears off and he is less overeager she will go over and check him out, she usually does:)

5. Birds? please don't adopt him if you have birds like I do, they will never have peace!

6. Good on the leash, yes and no. He is pretty decent on the leash but becomes super excited when he spots birds/squirrels, lots of pulling and lunging and whining then, you will not have a relaxing walk in the park with all of those running around, I enjoy our night time walks a lot more when those critters are asleep! I'd love to see him placed somewhere he can be off leash often, large yard, walks in the woods, he should be able to chase some birds on a regular basis, he is a spaniel after all and should be able to follow his instincts regularly.

7. Exercise? Yes please, this is a hunting dog and if you try to turn him into a couch potato I'm thinking your apartment would be destroyed... I've been bringing him to the dog run for at least an hour a day where he can run and socialize with other dogs/people, he plays fetch, chases other dogs and stalks some birdies and he still has energy when he gets home to play tug with Pasha. He's gonna need a pretty regular outlet and I think would become a neurotic nut without it. He also really likes to play with toys so if the weather is terrible you can play with him indoors as well:)

8. Affectionate???!!! VERY, once he decided he likes you! he's a mushy boy, generous with the kisses, loves to snuggle, lots of doggie smiles:))) He's not a velcro dog but he does follow me around for most part, sleeps under my desk, hangs out in the bathroom when I'm showering, at the dog run he checks in a lot and will sit by me for awhile before running off again. After three days he is pretty bonded to me which I found out today when I left him in the dog run with friends to run to the water fountain and refill our water bottle, they said he was very very upset and trying to follow me ( I felt terrible!).

9. Commands?? He knows a few things and has nice house manners! He knows sit, give paw, off, no, I think he knows stay. He's also very quiet in the house, will bark at a doorbell but not much else. Now that the dust has settled I'm going to see if I can teach him some more tricks:)

10. Resource guarding? maybe a little, I'm not too sure yet. Knowing he can be snappy I haven't stuck my hand in his food bowl yet, but I have hand fed him and have held his bones while he was chewing them and he has been super gentle and also takes treats very very gently. His first day he growled a little when I was by his crate when he was eating out of the kong but since then I have been standing right next to him while he was eating and he didn't care. The dogs are fed a few feet apart at the same time and there has been no trouble with that either, they both need to sit and give paw before they are given their bowls. Pasha has stolen bones/toys from him and though he growls he doesn't bite.

11. Likes dogs? Yup, he'd do great with doggie siblings, he's pretty easy going despite Pasha being a jerk to him for the last few days. And as I mentioned earlier he has been doing really well at the dog run, he will stick up for himself with growling and barking but definitely isn't starting anything and looks like he's having a good time and playing nicely! with regular visits I'm sure he'll be making friends and within the week I wouldn't be surprised if he and Pasha become BF's, they have finally begun playing together and I think she's accepting him :)

Second day he was here, can you feel the tension??

look at those big feet!

I let them on the bed to encourage cuddling;)

they're getting there, I saw her give him a kiss earlier...

their first game of tug! Dunkin is finally holding on, he used to just drop it.

the elasticity of this toy takes it to a whole new level! tug-o-rama:))) grrrrr!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm smitten already?? I'm not alone, below are some testimonials from people who have had the pleasure of spending time with Dunkin!

Barbara J. Kennedy I've met Duncan. He presents like a dog anyone would enjoy living with. I hope he gets adopted in this area.

Leslie Grisdale

I got to play with this fella today! He's adorable! Anyone in the market for a four legged roommate?

Duncan!!! Foster dog number 6.

2011-10-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

I gave myself a break from fostering for the summer but had been getting the urge again, and through a series of events I got a new foster dog a little earlier than planned! Meet the very handsome Spaniel mix Duncan! 3ish years old, about 45lbs, sexy, sexy haircut, giant muppet feet, and the biggest puppy doggiest eyes I've ever seen.

Everybody say awwwwwwwwww....

making himself at home.

the eyebrow twins (that's my dog Pasha on the right).

St. Josephine

tolerant foster sister to annoying cat obsessed dogs!

I'm told he was surrendered at a Brooklyn Animal Foster Network adoption event by a Mom on bed rest who had baby #5 in the oven and was understandably overwhelmed. He was loved and taken care of by a family with a bunch of kids and they are hoping he finds a forever home where he can get all sorts of love and attention:)

He's been here for about 24 hours, very good natured, very excited about the cat, even more excited about my birds (Spaniel=hunting dog). Getting along well with Pasha and other dogs at the dog run, was shy with me at first but now follows me around and gives out smooches and snuggles! housebroken? maaaybe, he has peed inside twice, but that seems to happen with all of them until they learn the ropes and get used to their new environment - I'll keep you posted but I'm hoping the answer is yes, at least he pees like a girl, straight down on the floor so the linens/couch will be safe;) at the moment he is being crate trained and will be given tasty treats for peeing outside.

Whatever kind of mix he is the Spaniel in him is very squirrel/bird oriented, he reaaaaally really wants to go check them out and will pull on the leash and make lots of high pitched noises, he is a fairly high energy dog and would do great with someone who would take him to the woods/parks daily to chase all the little creatures (who hopefully he can never actually catch!). Based on the little I know so far I'd love to see him with an active family with a yard! What a sweetie, I'm so happy to have him:)

for more info on Duncan you can email me at aprilkelly4377@gmail.com

Belaaaaaaaaated Snicker's update!

2011-10-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

So it's been a few months since Snickers was adopted and I had yet to post his update, I was going to at the time but my internets were down and I never quite got around to it... but here I am with a new foster dog and being a slave to chronological order cannot post him without the long awaited Snickers wrap up!

My man Snickers is now a Brooklynite. Adopted by a super nice couple who were looking for big personality in a small sexy package. They had made the trek from Crown Heights to Washington Heights a few days before and had gotten to know him a little, and as soon as I brought him to their apartment you could tell he felt right at home and totally knew that he was with his new folks. He was my longest foster to date and I was really really happy to see how relaxed he was with them right away... sigh...

checking out his new Pop

He never got to play fetch at home since Pasha was such an obnoxious ball hog... and he has a jealous kitty brother;)

Update from his Momma Shelley, a few weeks after the adoption, bonus points to them for doing the work to make scrappy Snickers a solid citizen!

-He's doing awesome! He's the perfect size and temperament for us. :) We both really, really love him, he's a little doll. He's totally cool with new people in a controlled environment, he met our friends last weekend and had no growls, snarls or snaps at them, though I made sure they plied him with plenty of kibble. ;) He checked out A-OK with the vet, and she owns a pair of chis herself so I know he's in good hands. :) He adores playing fetch and even started playing with the small plush toy that came with his bed, which makes me really happy! He totally ignored it his first week here, but then my husband approached him with it after he'd settled in a bit and now he loves to fetch and shake the snot out of it. :)

He loves walks and we try our best to tire him out, but he has a lot of energy. ;) We walked him to the slope last weekend, and this weekend I hope we can take him to a dog park--he comes when called but I don't know if I trust him enough off-leash yet... he likes to curl up on my lap when I'm working on paintings, and he's almost always beside myself or my husband when we're home.

We want to enroll him in training classes, and socialization with other dogs is a big effort we have to make! He has been barking a lot at other dogs on the street, and I think that stems from being alone with the cat. Ah, on that note we fended off his separation anxiety by feeding him with kong-style toys in the morning. Keeps him busy and distracted until we come home. :) He's a wonderful little companion, thank you for being such a good doggy-mom to him while he was in your care!

I still can't believe someone was rotten enough to abandon such a little angel.

Do I have two kitties now?

2011-05-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Snickers has learned a new trick from Josie the cat! Soooo cute, but the first time I found him up there I forgot that there was a screen and panicked!

looked like a good idea huh Snickers ;)

Snickers has been doing really great! We've been having some pretty awesome weather lately and have been spending even more time at the dog run, and the little guy has become increasingly social (for him), he approaches people a little more readily, sniffs a few more dog butts, chases the occasional ball and when strangers go out of their way to pet him (knowing that he may growl/snap) he's a little more open to their advances then a few weeks ago. He is heading in the right direction:)

Gummy Bear!

2011-04-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

We have an update on the Snickers trying to bite strangers situation! a positive one:) in the last 2 days FOUR different people have pet Snickers despite his fearsome snarling/snapping routine, they called his bluff and still have all their digits, they reported "gumming" and "I felt teeth but, he's not really biting", the consensus is that the little guy is kind of a faker (with a caveat: I'm sure if he felt truly threatened instead of semi antisocial he could deliver a pretty good nip but this bodes well for the average interaction outside the house, inside the house he may try to protect his turf) :) My friend Derick declared Snickers his official friend after about 3 hours and a 1 treat in. So pet Snickers and you have a 90% chance of keeping your fingers;)

hiking again, he's king of the mountain

heading home, they're wiped!

The Snickers report

2011-04-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

We tell no lies here on Fosteroni so here is the good the bad and the ugly on my little buddy Snickers. I love him to pieces but he's not perfect (yet!).

Bad news first? yeah, let's get it out of the way.

1. Snickers is very protective of his home. My friend Tracey came over yesterday, who he had met last weekend (she was petting him and everything) but not at his house and he totally barked, growled, and was snappy at her for the first 15 minutes she was here, after that he was mostly cool. I did my best to correct this behavior, he was told no and bad dog and she was given treats to give him when he was being good etc... Tracey was not intimidated and told him to "quit it" which did discourage him and she was able to pet him at points. I feel like this is a problem that would be helped by repeated exposure to visitors (I haven't had a ton of people over since he's been with me), lots of treat bearing visitors and being mindful of not backing him up when he acts this way i.e. not picking him up and coddling him, telling him NO etc... he's not nasty he's just a scaredy cat, if everybody ignores his growling and gives him treats when he behaves this may be phased out pretty easily. He also came with me to Audrey's house the other night (my friends are my foster dog guinea pigs, thanks you guys!) and she gave him a bunch of treats to butter him up and was able to pet him and he even snuggled up next to her, but every once in awhile he would growl and snapped at her at one point. Because everyone pulls their hands aways when he snaps (as they should!) I can't tell if he would bite for reals or if it would be the thing he does to dogs where he bites near them without making actual contact? either way it's off putting and needs to be worked on obviously.

2. People outside? different story, he's pretty much indifferent to everyone outside, ignores strangers totally if he can. If they try to pet him it's 50/50, some people he doesn't mind, doesn't love it but doesn't mind, other people he will growl at a little. Dogs same thing, he'll ignore them if he can, if he can't he'll growl a little and snap near them without making actual contact.

3. While I now consider him housebroken and trust him as far as my place is concerned he did pee at my friend Audrey's the other night, he was marking, he had been outside only an hour or two before. He peed inside about 3 times at my place during the first couple days and after that I think he realized this was his place too and has been good ever since. I've never really spent a lot of time with male dogs so I'm not sure what this is all about, if I take him visiting in the future I'll be keeping him on a leash so I can correct him if he goes to lift his leg.

4. Due to his general salty behavior and small size we will not consider adopting him to a household with children.

That's the worst of it, not unusual Chihuahua behavior, certainly not the worst I've seen!

Now for how awesome he is! and he really is pretty great!

1. Anyone who has read the earlier posts knows I love me some Snickers! He didn't make a great first impression with me either (grrrrr), but after day 3 or 4 I was his one and only and I have been the happy recipient of that concentrated Chihuahua affection. He is a lovebug, totally cuddlesome and loyal to those he loves and trusts. I can do just about anything to him and he will not bite me.

2. Easy to care for, he walks well on a leash, isn't food aggressive, good in the car, doesn't eat much.

3. For a Chihuahua he is surprisingly quiet! if there is something going on in the hallway he may bark, or something extra crazy outside he'll go off but is easily quieted down when you tell him no and quiet.
Yeah, I thought I was in for some serious yappies fostering a Chihuahua but was pleasantly surprised.

4. He's really pretty good with other animals, at my house he lives with Josie the cat and Pasha the dog and there really haven't been any major problems. He used to be growly with Pasha but now they are like siblings who annoy each other occasionally and have little squabbles, I totally trust them together and they both seem to enjoy the company. He has gone after the cat once or twice, she'll just turn around and swat him and that's the end of it, usually they just ignore each other, they have been left alone in the same space together without incident and have even come close to snuggling once or twice. I think he'd do great living with other animals, he doesn't whine when I go out and I think that has a lot to do with having a friend to stay with.

see:) look how sweet.

5. As I mentioned above I do consider him house trained now, but I'm sure he will mark a new house though so be prepared for that. I kept him confined for awhile when he first got here, he was in the bathroom when I wasn't home and kept close to me or at least in the same room when I was home, when I caught him lifting his leg I was there to scold him.

6. He's a good sport! he loves going for regular walks and even better loves joining Pasha and I on hikes, he is getting very bold in the woods and is becoming quite the mini athlete, he will run right through streams and jump off rocks and everything. He's not just a lap dog, he won't be happy hanging out on a pink pillow!

7. He really excels at snuggling and affection, he will make somebody a very lovable little companion. Loves sleeping under the covers at night, I have named this maneuver "Hot Pockets", he's my little heating pad:) Also very sweet is when he gets into one of his spontaneous smoochie moods, he will look at you and then charge over and lick your whole chin with his tiny little tongue, he is very earnest about it so I let him do it for a bit even though I don't love doggie kisses.

Hot Pockets

did I mention he snores?? loudly, like an old fat man.

leave me alone I'm sleeping.

I do my best to give you the most honest information on my foster dogs and their behavior/problems. I want them to go to the most appropriate/prepared homes possible and to be adopted ONCE with no unpleasant surprises for their new families (none that I knew about anyway), some dogs are super well adjusted and could go almost anywhere but some need a little extra work and Snickers is one of them. But that's the worst of it for the little guy, needs a little work on his social skills is all and pay attention to the house marking in the beginning and when visiting. He's such a sweetie that I think he's definitely worth the effort!

-April

Can you relate?

2011-04-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Sent to me and Pasha by my good friend Audrey, and no thankfully Pasha is not that simple! enjoy, these doggie inspired blogposts by Allie Brosh!

it's a good thing pasha's not this simple!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/04/wild-animal-simple-dog-goes-for-joy.html

also these! with some good tips on how to tell if your dog is retarded. ;)
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

Daytrippers!

2011-04-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Since our Sunday hike was such a blast I took advantage of the nice weather Monday (nice when we left the house anyway) to take the dogs to the woods again. Snickers really had the hang of it this time and impressed me by boldly charging through streams of chest high freezing water (chest high on a chihuahua)!

Going down the stairs is always very exciting for him, not sure why?

Check out the stallion dance on his hind legs;)

lakeside stroll

awwww.... they're little buddies

we took a break by the stream and I had some time to draw.

They were both feeling very mellow.

driving back home.

Snickers likes to stand behind my left arm so he can see everything.

Siiiiigh.... somebody adopt Snickers before I do... I'm serious. and to tempt you to do just that here's some adorable bonus footage from the next day at the dog run. As you can see he is learning to play, and becoming a bit more social, at one point he ran for the ball with a bunch of dogs (although I didn't get that part on tape). Pasha is a real superstar at the dog run, she is so freakin' fast that she almost always gets the ball, even when they are thrown to other dogs which has made her unpopular with some dog owners :/

just let him have it Pasha, it's good for his self esteem!

Over the river and through the woods and into the bathtub we go!

2011-04-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Most Sundays I have standing hiking plans with my old college roommate Tracey and her dog Max, she's one of the few people I know who has a dog, has a car and can be on the road by 8:30am (although yesterday she was a liiiitle hung over so we got a late start and an early finish). It was a chilly morning and after some doubts about whether it was a good idea to take Snickers along we decided to go for it and hope for the best. He LOVED it! We went to Harriman State Park and everyone (well maybe not poor Tracey) had a great little hike, nothing crazy maybe 2 miles and little Snickers totally kept up and enjoyed the crap out of himself! He climbed rocks, he ran through little streams, he peed on every tree/rock/bush he passed (I was amazed he didn't turn into a raisin from the loss of moisture), and he was off leash the whole time and stayed with his people!

If you are interested in adopting a little dog it's important to realize that they are still REAL DOGS and they do still love the exercise and the stimulation of a good romp in the woods, my maltese Lulu would hike and swim and climb rocks and seemed so proud of herself that she was no lap princess, she was a miniature rugged mountain beast! After seeing how much he truly enjoyed himself I would love to place him with someone with that kind of outlet, he probably wouldn't be a good option if you are hiking the Appalachian trail or anything but he'd be game for a leisurely hike any day!

you're a natural little man!

he's got the hang of it now for sure, one of the gang!
(sorry about all the jostling, the iphone doesn't really have a steadycam feature)!

Max just had his 7th birthday last week.

Happy birthday Maxi-pad;)

why do you smell like Tequila aunt Tracey?

next week same time same place,

unless Snickers is adopted of course!

since he doesn't have any flea control on it's into the bathtub...

OMG! I do not like this :/

resigned...

but look how handsome and sparkly you turned out!

I love this little fart, you will too if you meet him and give him a few minutes (and maybe some cheese) till he stops growling and being afraid of you. Extra impressive was that he was a good sport about the bath, didn't growl at me once, he usually doesn't but if ever there was an occasion for a toothy protest I thought this would be it!

out and about!

2011-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

It's been just over a weeks since lil' Schnickers has joined our household! He is no trouble at all, behaves kind of like a house cat, hangs out looking cute, not very demanding, comes over when he's wanting some love and snugglin! Fine little watchdog too, barks when there's extra interesting stuff going on in the hallway or outside but most definitely not a yapper! Other good points, walks very nicely on the leash, good with the cat, not food aggressive. He's a funny little guy, verrrry cautious with new people, usually ignores them if he can or watches from a distance, will "bite" if they insist on petting him before he's decided they're alright and they have ignored his initial growlies ("bite" meaning teeth grazing skin with zero pressure, I'd tell you if he actually bit people, honest!), of course once he decides he likes you he reeeeeeally LIKES YOU, he is a happy silly lovebug with me now and he's warming up to people more quickly, especially if they are carrying treats! As for other dogs he is sort of indifferent but behaves pretty well if they make advances, as long as they have good manners, if not they get the growly bluff, he doesn't know what to do with other dogs because he doesn't seem to know how to play?! We've been spending a lot of time at our dog run lately and today he started lingering by the crowds of people and dogs a bit more instead of roaming around alone like he did the first few times, he's interested, that's a start.

united front!

Pretty Pasha enjoying the heather garden.

this was a few days ago, Snickers the lone ranger....

I'll post some more recent dog run videos when I take them later, you'll see the improvement.

even ignored all the sexy ladies...

No man is an island;)

2011-04-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

I called it! snuggling within 3 days... I'd love to see Mr. Snickers in a 2 dog family, despite the occasional tazmanian devil noises he isn't actually aggressive and as you can see is enjoying the doggie company! They were left alone today, actually LEFT alone isn't quite right, he escaped his bathroom area to join her in her hallway area, wanted to keep them separated till I totally trusted them alone but mini houdini had other plans... at any rate there was some camaraderie when I came home:) Also likes people (though definitely timid at first!), I have 2 shadows now and double the kisses!

close, closer...

snuggling;)

Little Sneezy is settling in nicely!

2011-04-08T12:51:00.001-07:00

Leetle Schnickers is such a good little guy! He's still under the weather (ubiquitous kennel cough, every foster I've gotten has had it but his sneezes are the most dramatic I've heard!) and a little unsure his new situation but his lovable personality is showing itself in snippets! last night he forgot himself and gave me a few smooches on the chin;) Sometimes he also forgets to growl at Pasha, sometimes they are even touching and he might sniff her, also sniffed the cat... You're not fooling anybody Snickers, you are a mushy little man.

looking guilty.

zzzzzzzzzzzz's

It'll take a few days to know whether he is on the calm side cause he doesn't feel so great or because that's how he actually is, but for a Chihuahua he is pretty mellow so far! He spends a lot of time watching me from across the room, sometimes he'll come over for some affection, also an excellent bed buddy, likes to burrow under the covers (very cute!), definitely feeling more friendly he gets verrry happy when I come home and sometimes he wags his tail when I look at him (sounds stupid but he was not so waggity when he first got here.). He also seems extra excited to be in the car, fond memories perhaps? Loves going for walks, prances down the street, doesn't seem worried about the dogs or people we pass, he is neither friendly nor aggressive. At home he seems ok with my cat, they more or less ignore each other, I did hear that he snapped at the cat in his previous foster home though, he does snap at my dog if she invades his space (she is much bigger, he may be a little scared), I'm not too worried about this, it's noise and bluster and I haven't seen any teeth/skin contact and it is happening less frequently and I think he could totally be adopted by someone with cats or dogs in the household and would find his place in a few days.

He's a sweet little furball, can't wait to see what he's like in a few more days!

Meet Schnickerrrs!

2011-04-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I picked up my very first foster since I adopted the last one, a little Chihuahua named Snickers! I don't have much info on him except that he is 4 or 5 and fixed (I should have the rest later on). He's been here with us all afternoon and is still a little unsure of his new situation, but occasionally he forgets that and sits on my lap or starts to play, then he remembers to growl a little ;) the growling is just noise and he never makes any actual contact. What a goober, I give him 3 days before he's playing with me and snuggled up to Pasha!

the little guy!

He looks like a bat and a teddy bear had a baby;)

Pasha progress report:)

2011-03-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I was just trying to figure out exactly when I first learned of Pasha, and how long I've had her... Feb 22 from Laurie @ Brooklyn Foster Animal Network... "April, a very needy case. Read the safer test. Volunteers are raving about her. Can we have her delivered to you asap?" she was on the euthanasia-list and I was suddenly available to foster because of a cancelled trip, things do happen for a reason;)

So this pup has been in my life for exactly 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier to have her here! she has the sweeeetest disposition and we are getting to know each other, pleasant surprises, problem solving, working out logistics of becoming a dog OWNER again... no matter how awesome the dog it's never eeeasy but it is worth it, she's definitely worth shuffling some things around. I'm happy to have a permanent resident again, it's been a little tough getting attached to the foster pups, watching them learn things and improve and then handing them over (although honestly I couldn't have been happier with the adoptions I've had!!!). Next time I foster, which I'm thinking will be sooner than later, somebody will be staying with me. Plus she'll make an excellent big sis to the new foster pups!

So on to miss Pasha's progress! She's suuuuch a good girl, so sweet and eager to please, fun to train, happy to go with the flow, loves car rides, hiking, making friends at the dog run, kissing the kitty;) blows my mind that somebody abandoned her, but I'm glad she ended up with me! It's never totally smooth sailing with a new dog, you have to be realistic and expect a few issues, we have a few here, they're minor but still... She did get into things once or twice while I was at work, the recyclables, the quinoa and cat food, nothing terrible but worth preventing! So for now she's in a confined space while am out, baby gated the hallway so she has the hallway and the bathroom to play in, with some of her sturdier toys and bones and her bed etc... perhaps most helpful, I don't put food in her bowl in the morning, she gets her dog food + treats and peanut butter or yogurt frozen into a kong overnight! I timed it yesterday, since they are frozen it took her a good 40 minutes of solid effort to empty it (and she gets 2!), FOOOOOD!!!! she is very motivated to empty those suckers, I'm sure it burns off some of her mental energy and gives her "an appropriate dog hobby" so she doesn't get bored (tip from Dr.Ian Dunbar of http://www.dogstardaily.com/ works like a charm!). Also she is a bit of an excited/submissive peer, this has happened a handful of times, she is clearly housebroken but this seems to be something different, we're off to the vet next Monday to rule out physical causes and if not then we'll work on it (I've been reading up...).

I love my new doggie, fostering has been a great way to find a forever dog and to help other guys in the process. Can't wait to see how excited she will be to have doggie house guests, I'm hoping to get back to fostering in early April, who will be our next visitor???

teaching the beast patience!

awesome trick interrupted by falling bicycle!

Another favorite game of ours is hide and seek! She has to sit and stay while I hide in another room (with a toy or treats) and when I say "OK" she has to find me:) shes' veeerrrry proud of herself when she does and then she gets cookies or we play catch. Whatever kind of mutt she is whether shepherd, dobie or rottie they are all working dogs and need some kind of problem solving to challenge them and keep them from getting bored! she also has a backpack like Dingo;)

Wha' Happened?

2011-03-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

Dearest Pasha is only a 1 1/2 years old(ish) and I had been amazed at her excellent house manners, extra impressive considering she has not been allowed any serious exercise since she was recently spayed... Today it got the better of her, when I came home surprise!!!! things were not where I left them, 5 shoes were on her bed, she had carefully extracted some of the wool from my UGGS (similar to stuffed toys right? perhaps it would have been better if she had done visual damage, then maybe I'd stop wearing those ugly things), also her plastic food dish (plus the food measuring cup!) were shredded, a bottle of vitamin E oil left an oil slick on the rug and bottle in tatters and IS THAT QUINOA ALL OVER THE FLOOR, and the COUCH???

Yup, predictably cabin fever struck.... probably didn't help that I had taken away her real bones, the duck she gutted, the rope toy she shredded, the ripped up tennis balls, leaving her with only a Nyla Bone and her Kong bone, unacceptable! Pasha is great at keeping herself entertained, she looooves to throw things for herself and chase them, but these things are usually hard and super clanky on my mostly hardwood floors which I fear will annoy the downstairs neighbors! I've been trying to leave her with the least aurally offensive toys when I'm gone, which has clearly resulted in a protest.

Todays carnage.

The gutted duck is especially pitiful.

$100 later... (+ treats unpictured)

I call this picture "Hope"

Kong Wubba, please hold up to her abuse!

(I deserve kickbacks for promoting Kong products so frequently on Fosteroni!)

The irony of Pasha's timing is that tomorrow was the day I had chosen to declare her officially healed and able to run around and had planned a trip to the woods to celebrate! This morning we had played a little fetch to make sure the incision site looked alright after some running around. Oh well, trial and error... hopefully with the new batch of more rugged less loud toys will keep her more appropriately occupied while I'm hard at work earning money to pay for all her toys and to buy myself more quinoa.

P.S. Pasha has been trying to get treats out of the Kong with laser like focus for a good 45 minutes now:) I'm ignoring the slobber all over the rug, it's worth it and the rug is washable...