Another Foster Fail Closes our Doors!

Ok so the unexpected thing happened, we fell in love again!  

We have our 2nd foster fail on our hands.  

We tried to foster 8 month old Juby or Bradley back in December 2012 from BARK VA but Juby came down with Kennel Cough and Bradley was kenneled with her.  With him being exposed to the illness, we had to pass on fostering either of them.  Within a short period of time, sadly, Bradley passed away from intestinal issues.  Juby was adopted by another family shortly there after.  

Several months passed and we had an opening for a foster dog.  We had picked out 2 potential fosters from BARK but once meeting Dante, we decided to foster him. That day we were told he was the brother to Juby and Bradley.  That there were initially 3 of them but they could only catch 2 of them.  

Dante, now known as Apache, came to us as a feral pup that was a year old and lived as a stray for 3-4 months.  He was never socialized with people.  He didn't know what living inside a house was like or having toys to play with or having a human family that would love him and show him what a good life would be like.  With a little time and patients, he's coming around.  He only has one quirk, as any living thing does and that he needs "his space" or he snarls, growls or barks.  He doesn't attack anyone or anything.  He just lets them know that they are in "his space" then gets up and walks away.  The rescue group thinks that since he was as close to feral as feral could be, he will outgrow this with time as he continues to learn that we aren't going to hurt him and don't mean to scare him.

So this is this what living inside is like!

Anyways, he's come a long way.  With him being here for the last 2 months, seeing the progress he's made, understanding his idiosyncrasies, we fell in love with him and just can't give him up.  It would destroy everything we've worked so hard to teach him.

Meagan says it was like deja vu because she was heartbroken that we didn't get to foster either one in December but end up adopting their brother 6 months later!  She says it was just meant to be.  

Left to right:
 Dallas, Roxie (1st foster fail), Apache (2nd foster fail) and Sunshine (also a rescue)

With us officially adopting Apache and making him our 4th dog, we are unable to foster any more animals.  No worries though.  There are still many, many animals that need help.  I will still be very much involved with the rescues. I will just be playing different roles.  I will be doing home visits, handling pets at adoption events, etc.

Apache was adopted!

My name is Apache!  

I got my name from the patches on my backside!

I'm a neutered male Great Pyrenees Mix.  I was born in March 2012 and I'm a nice medium to large size dog weighing in at only 60 lbs. I do need to put on a few pounds.  I have long hair that needs regular brushing to prevent knots, which I had a lot of until I was brought to the rescue.  I didn't mind them clipping out the knots or shaving areas to get rid of those matted areas.

As a pup, I was not socialized or had any type of training.  A leash, what is that?  I'm shy but I'm treat motivated.  My favorite treats are milkbones dipped in peanut butter, bits of chicken (like popcorn chicken) and cheese.  My foster mom is using bits of hot dog while she trains me.  I have a lot to learn being in a home environment.  I have to learn to sleep in a crate. I don't like that but I know it's for my own safety until I learn the ropes of being a family dog.

I didn't know what stairs were until I arrived at my foster home.  It took a while for me to get the idea that I'm supposed to go up and down them.  I'm getting better but still a little uncertain.  

Until I am overcome my fears and learn to be the best dog I can be, I need to have a yard with a secure fence and no small children. I won't hurt them but loud noises or sudden movements scare me.

I have learned in just a few days that walking on a leash is a good thing. I don't pull but I do enjoy sniffing all the mailbox posts and other things along the way.

I need a home without small children and a confident, friendly and playful dog to help me be the best dog I can be.

Apache Update

Apache has been here for 8 weeks now and is so sweet.  He is starting to show some of his "true colors".  He is completely confident outside and loves playing with our dogs.  He is still is working on his confidence inside the house; sudden movements or unfamiliar noises startle him.  But hide your socks! He loves them :(

He has not had an accident in the house and is going to the back door to let us know he wants out .  He is also learning to scratch at the door when he wants in.  His eating habits have picked up and is up to 4 cups of food a day.  He is not crate trained but it's not for the lack of trying.  He's afraid of them and anxiety sets in.  he really doesn't need to be crated.  He is coming to me for attention by pushing his nose up under my arm for petting or nibbling at me.  We haven't been pushing to hard on commands as of yet since our complete trust has not been earned.  That will come with time and patients.

He can jump a 5 foot fence with out hesitation!

His personality is quite interesting.  He is quite loud while playing and quite clumsy as well.  He is learning that there is an invisible fence that lines the inside of our split rail fence and has been shocked a few times.  It's all a learning experience.  He hasn't gone to the area he's jumped before.  He is very gentle while taking food from us.  He still doesn't know basic commands as of yet.  The breed itself is quite stubborn and he's living up to that.  He leans into you when he want's attention. If you're not expecting it, he could knock you over.

He is quite the pooch but we love him and are more than happy to make him a permanent member of our Forsht Family!

Darby (aka Etsy) has been ADOPTED!

Hi my name is Darby (aka Etsy)!

I'm a 1 year old Shephard / Hound mix that weights only 53 lbs.

I will arrive in my new foster family's home late Saturday night but until then, this is what my current foster family has to say about me:

Etsy is a super sweet, friendly, hound mix.  She is full of kisses and her tail never stops wagging.  She loves to take walks but needs help with her leash manners.  She's doing really well on her house training.  She loves to eat and doesn't mind getting a bath :)  She is great with other dogs, ignores the cat and LOVES kids!

She does need a fenced yard to run and play to burn off some of that puppy energy. She will then get in your lap to take a nap.

Etsy has been with us for about 3 days now and this is what we've learned about her.  She didn't responded to "Etsy" so the kids picked "Darby" for her name.  She wants to play with our dogs but since she was just spayed on the 28th, she can't.  She is quite strong so we'll have to work on her leash manners.  We also have to work on basic commands and other simple things like begging for food, counter surfing, jumping on people.

She is getting quite good at the "come" and "sit" command with positive reinforcement and a small piece of hot dog. She is very gentle when taking food from our hands and is learning to "sit, stay" for her food at meal times.  She is super friendly and wags her tail for almost anything.  She is getting better with her crate training.  She is goes into her crate for a cookie, cries for just a minute or two, then settles down for the entire night.  I leave the crate door open for to go into on her own during the day and tell her she's a good girl when she does.  We pulled out our laser light and she chases that for a while to help burn off some of her energy.  We'll be working on her leash manners next week.  I don't want to "throw" too much at her all at once.

So, Darby has been with us for a week now.  She is making great progress in her house manners!!!  She hasn't had 1 accident in the house or her crate since she's been here.  She is now in a "sit, stay" command prior to being fed.  She walks wonderfully on a leash as long as a "gentle leader" is used.  She LOVES the laser light.  If you ask her where the light is, she goes to the drawer and barks waiting for you to bring it out for her to chase.  She attended her first adoption event today and did wonderfully.  She was calm and eventually went to sleep in the store :)

4/14/2013 Darby (aka Etsy) found her fur-ever home with a loving family that has a 3 year old boy that loves her to pieces :)

Mina was ADOPTED!

Lets meet Mina!

She is a beautiful 3 year old Golden Retriever Mix. She is very sweet, somewhat shy girl that is good with people including kids, dogs of all sizes and cats too!

She has been successfully treated for heartworms and is now ready for her new Fur-Ever home!

This is what her current shelter foster family has to say about her:

• Mina is a great girl, she is very cuddly, can be very persistent for petting/attention(buts her head into you till she gets your attention)
• She sleeps w/ my son some nights, doesn't chase kitties, likes big and small dogs.
• Her only flaw is she is growly w/ other dogs over food. She growls and snarls but doesn't attack. I just feed her in a crate to remedy it. It's just food (dry kibble) I can take the food away from her and if I sharply say "Mina, knock it off" she will stop
• She shares rawhides, waits patiently for her turn for fish oil (I give fish oil capsules every other day)
• She doesn't much play w/ toys, sometimes she will play tug w/ my lab but that's the most I've seen her play w/ toys
• She walks well on a leash but can chew through a leash in a heartbeat if you aren't paying attention.
• Mina LOVES snow!!! It is her obsession, you can't get her in once she's out in it. She'll be out in the yard on her back rolling in it.

I will keep you posted on how she is doing and update her pictures  upon her arrival in our home on the 24th!

If she isn't too stressed from transport, she will be at the pet adoption event

Mina was adopted at the event today.  She was the highlight of the event with her calm temperament and lovable personality!  She will have the company of the feline kind and lots of doggie friends that come to visit!

Stevie has been ADOPTED!

Hi my name is Stevie!

They tell me I'm a 4 month old Collie mix that weighs approximately 23-24 lbs right now.  I was surrendered to a shelter because my previous family lost their home.  I love to play and need lots of training since I'm only a pup.  My new foster family will help me with that I'm sure.

 I will  make sure that my foster mom keeps you updated on all the tricks I will be taught and my progress in training.  I know I will have lots of kids and 4 legged friends to play with so this should be lots fun!

Ok, here's the scoop so far.  I'm terrified and sore from being neutered on Wednesday.  Too many new smells and sounds to get used to.  So far my 4 legged foster siblings have been trying to make me feel at home since I was just separated from my mom, Bailey. Roxie has kind of taken me under her wing.  Oh and let me tell you that I've never had a collar on or been walked on a leash.  What a huge learning curve for me.  It will take some time to get used to even with the dogs to follow around.

I love to play with my 4 legged foster siblings!  I really cling to Roxie. I follow her around where ever she goes.  I absolutely love having all kinds of toys to play with but not quite sure what that big pillow like thing is on the floor that Roxie sleeps on.  I'm sure I'll catch on.  

Roxie checking in on me!  Shhhhh, she's my favorite ;)

I don't like my crate!  I did sleep the night through last night with no accidents or crying but today when my foster mom left, she had to put me in my crate and I cried.  I'm not sure for how long though.  I'm sure I'll get used to that as well.

I don't like people either.  They scare me.  When ever someone comes towards me, I cower down with my tail tucked and run the other way.  I even get out of their way when they just walk by.  My foster mom is trying to get me to trust her by giving me small treats. I am gentle when I take them but then run the other direction.  Trust is something that is earned and my foster family hasn't earned my trust yet.  Maybe one day but boy it sure is hard being a pup in a new home.  There's so much to learn.  I hope their patient with me because it might take some time to adjust.

They tell me today is January 30th and I've been in my foster home for a few days now.  I still don't like my crate :(  I am learning that people aren't all that bad but I still don't like it when they approach me too fast. I'm being called "Little Stevie" because the German Shephard next door, his name is "Stevie" too and I really don't want to meet him up close. (They say he's not too friendly.)  I do come when called though.  My foster parents are thrilled that I haven't had an accident in my crate or the house!!! I still am a puppy with a few puppy teeth left and will try to chew things that aren't mine. 

I decided to curl up with Sunshine this time :)

I've escaped under one of the baby gates in the kitchen and that has been blocked off now.  Roxie is still my best friend and I usually go where she goes so I'd probably do best in a home with another playmate to keep me busy.  My foster mom keeps trying to get me to "sit" but I'm not sure what that means yet but I'll learn because I LOVE treats!

I'm curling up to Sunshine. She's my buddy as well :)

 

Today is February 3rd and I've just returned to my foster home after being at an adoption event!  That was stressful and tiring but I did it.  I got to meet a bunch of other dogs and people.  I don't mind riding in the car and so far I haven't gotten car sick.  My foster mom wants me to stay safe so I ride in my crate.

I'm learning that people are a good thing but it takes me a little time to warm up to them.  I love my foster family and I'm starting to go up to them for attention.  I'm also learning "bedtime" means go to my crate.  I expect a treat for being such a good boy for doing so.  My foster mom is starting to teach me new tricks like "sit" but she doesn't seem to push it just yet since I'm still a little scared of new things. I do have to sit before my foster mom puts my food bowl down for me to eat.

They keep telling me I have a "Stevie Wiggle" when I wag my tail.  I guess it's because when I wag my tail, my entire rear end wags with it!  I love the snow.  I eat what I can of it then "root" through the rest.  I'm still learning how to walk on a leash.  It's been way to cold for me to be outside learning how to be a good boy and walk properly.  I have been on 1 or 2 small walks.  Cars scare me and I run the other way.

Ok today is February 8th and I'm doing very well!  I am really good at the "bedtime" command and will beat you to my crate :)  I do not like too much silence so my foster mom leaves a radio or the TV on for me.

I went on a walk today and I'm doing better.  The cars didn't bother me too badly but there were 2 other dogs out that I'd never seen before that I wasn't too comfortable with. They didn't come too close because they were chained in their yards.  So many new sights, smells and sounds to get used to.

I don't like changes too much. If something gets out of place, like a laundry basket in the floor, I bark at it to make it go away.  This is all new to me but I'm sure I'll get used to new things pretty quickly.

I'm still love to romp and play with the other dogs in my foster home.  I get very loud when I play.  You'd think we were fighting with all the crying that goes on but Roxie and I cry or whine every time we play. I think she tries to be louder than me.

I seem to be getting the hang of the "sit" command.  I know when I do, there is a treat coming my way ;)  My favorite treats are small pieces of hot dogs but dog cookies work too!

Well, today is February 18th and I doing really good.  There isn't much to update you on but I just wanted to say Hi! I can tell you that I'm very vocal when I play and my foster mom leaves my crate door open during the day and I do go in there on my own to sleep.  It really isn't a bad place.  I even beat my foster family in there at bedtime. I turn around and sit like a good boy should and wait for my bedtime treat!  I also circle the back door when I need to go outside!  I'm still a little shy when meeting new people but once I get to know you, I give all kinds of puppy kisses and my "Stevie Wiggle" comes out.  I am a great watch dog though.  I bark at anything new or that shouldn't be outside in my yard.  Someone would be really lucky to find such a good pup like me :)

I guess today is February 24th and I attended my 2nd pet adoption event which was pretty scary!  I was around other dogs that I don't know, lots of people wanting to come pet me (which I didn't mind too much) and lots of strange sounds and smells.  I don't like these events.  I turn real shy and uncomfortable in these situations.  I'd really love to find my fur-ever home so I don't have to worry about these events anymore and I can show my "real colors".  I think I got my last set of age appropriate shots today so I hope I'm good for another year!


Today is March 3rd and I finally found my fur-ever home with 2 other furry friends and 2 teenage kids to play with!

I've heard from Stevie's new family and he's playing with his new furry friends and has been rolling around in the snow.  All is well with Stevie and his new family!  I'm so happy for him!!!!

Carly has been ADOPTED!

Lets meet Carly (aka Clary)!

 

I don't know much about her yet except for what Dogs XL Rescue tells me.  They think she's a 4 year old Shepherd mix that only weighs approx 50 lbs.  She is good with dogs, cats and LOVES people.  They tell me she is pretty laid back and calm on a leash.

I can tell you that when I got her home yesterday, she was a little unsure of herself but later that evening she started to feel more relaxed.  She knows quite a few commands (sit, stay, shake, comes when called) and is very laid back so far.  She seems to be house broken but we are still learning her "need to go outside" signs.

She does not get up on the furniture but absolutely loves one of my dog beds.  She circles the floor if one of the other dogs is on it. Once they move, she immediately goes over to lay down.

She want's to play but due to her recent spay, it's not something she can do just yet.   She doesn't seem to mind her crate since she goes in with little coaxing. I don't really think she'll need one for long.  Just until we learn a little more about her.

Ok, so it's been a few days since Carly arrived and she seems to be coming out of a shell.  She is showing a little more interest in the other dogs but I still don't want her to play too much just yet.

She's a very smart little girl that knows your basic commands.  She is great with kids and just wants so badly to please her human.  She sit and stays while I put her food bowl down for her to eat.  She listens very well and has caught onto our household routine fairly fast.  She has started to get up on the couch (I think it's a a monkey see, monkey do thing since all of my dogs are allowed on the furniture) but if told, she will get down immediately.  Sometimes I don't even know I have a foster dog :)  She'd be perfect for any family!

Carly was adopted by a family with 2 little girls and another Dogs XL dog that was adopted last year!

Update on Carly:  She's now know as Bria and is the perfect dog for her new family.  She and her new furry brother, Lewin are the best of friends.  Here's a picture of her in her new bed!  Yay Bria!