Sweetie Petey gets a Haircut

 Our little foster pup got all groomed up today. 

Not Fostering Now

I've fostered dogs for about 10 years now. Its been a crazy, wild ride and I wouldn't change one minute of it. Not the sad, sick pups I had to nurse back to health, not the wild, untrained dogs who gnawed on my table legs and not those who made me a foster failure.          ---->


Those days were full of fun and laughter and also some heartbreak. There were dogs I was happy to see move to their forever home and those that took a piece of my heart with them when they left.

Now I'm beginning a new life adventure and can't foster where I'm staying because of these two rambunctious beauties.

They are big, they are young, and they would probably squash any little dog that happened by. Not because they're mean, but big dogs play rough. They can push the couch 5 feet when they rock into it.
I'd hate to see them trample a little guy and due to an old shoulder injury I usually only do small dogs.

I miss fostering so much! I miss those sad little eyes looking up at me when they enter my house for the first time and I miss watching them transform into the happy-go-lucky pups they always should have been.

As soon as our house situation is settled I'm back into fostering. There are too many dogs out there who need me, you, us.

Doxie-Chiweenie? Feist? Foster Dog!

Lexie, my foster pup has been here about two weeks and she's a sweet little ball of energy!  She's running circles around my 12 year old Shih Tzu, Gracie, who just wants to lay on the couch.


There are some quiet times...



She makes friends easily...






And just today I got an application I really like. Now the work begins to ensure that this family is a perfect fit because this little girl deserves a family that will have patience for an energetic puppy, time to give her the exercise she'll need and enough love to give her that furever home.

The Throw Away Dog

Got a call today from a friend who works in a shelter. A family was dumping their 7 month old dog off because it bit the father. He said the dog was aggressive toward his daughter and he got in the middle and it bit his hand. As he turns the dog in he says he's had problems with the dog from the beginning. They said they adopted the dog from our rescue. We looked it up and will be picking up the dog tomorrow. He'll be evaluated and we go from there. We'll pay for training and socialize him. The shelter says so far they've seen no aggression and he seems to be a normal exuberant puppy. Hopefully, he'll be adopted. We've done it before, we'll do it again. And probably again and again and again...

Okay, listen up...if you're going to get a dog you have to train it. Training takes time and patience. If you're having problems figuring out how to train a dog, hire a trainer. A good trainer. One who will train all the family members, too. Dogs need to know how to behave, but people need to know (and practice) how to train a dog. Some stranger taking over your dog for a few weeks is not training anyone. Everyone in the family has to be trained right along with the dog. That's how you create a successful relationship with your dog.

Next issue; A dog is a family member. You are his pack so treat him with the same love and affection that you treat the rest of your family/pack members. Learn to work with them, learn from a good "positive" trainer to make a successful relationship with the family and the dog.

You don't give up on family members. You don't dump them in a shelter where they'll be stuck in a cage, confused and scared and away from the only people they ever loved. You wouldn't do it to your children, don't do it to your dog. If you can't promise the dog forever, then you aren't ready for a dog.

Okay, sorry. Vent over.

Foster Dogs & Training

Foster dogs come into my home with all kinds of issues. Where to potty, not sharing toys, snapping at visitors, excessive barking, fear, shyness, aggression...the list goes on. We learn about their problems as days pass and work with each as best we can. Some are quick to heal, other's take time.

A few months ago I had a foster dog that would wake up at the crack of dawn barking. I don't know if it was the light or maybe something she could hear outside, but every morning come 5 or 6 o'clock she was up and insisting everyone else wake up too.

That little pup is now adopted out to a good family who are having a great time with her. Her 5 a.m. jaunts were over and she fit into her new life just fine. A great match up for family and pup.

Now my little Shih Tzu, Gracie, rescued from a puppy mill two years ago, picked up this bad habit and runs around the bed barking, 5 or 6 a.m. every morning. She doesn't know the difference between weekends or weekdays. Sun up? Gracie up? Everyone up!

Any advice as to how to stop this crazy behavior?

Easter Bunny Breakfast for Rescue

Rescue Dogs