Archive for January, 2009
Sienna bounds like a doe
Here is another update on a puppy from the Sweetie litter we fostered in the summer of 2008. Little Cookie has grown into a fine Sienna! Here is a note and photo from her forever family…
Sienna smiles in 2009
I adopted Sienna a/k/a Cookie several months back. She’s close to 8 months now and doing great. She’s a beautiful teen pup (around 40 lb. now) but much sweeter than a human teenager. Sienna is still the best dog ever. She’s so smart and so good. She only chews her rawhide bones or toys (occasionally a cat toy), but not our shoes or anything else (yet). She knows how to roll over and leave it (leaving her food or anything else until we say okay – save for live animals); she’s been doing these tricks for awhile. I wish I had the time and resources to get her into agility or something fun like that – she would be so good at it. We take her for plenty of walks so she can release some energy and so I can feel like I’m getting a work out. We have a little lake near our house that makes for a good mile or so walk there and back, and she loves chasing the ducks away. She loves making us run after her with a frisbee in her mouth, thus we have yet to teach her to catch a frisbee and bring it back. You should see how fast she is. She leaps and bounds like a doe. Another reason she’d be great at agility. She still goes to my mom’s house once a week for play dates, as my mom is still unemployed and has an older dog (Buddy, purebred white cocker). Sienna’s helped teach him good pack behavior, since he was always a loner dog before meeting her. `Although she has tons of energy, she loves to sleep and cuddle too. She still sleeps in bed with me. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Foxhound in Mia shows through
Another pup from Sweetie was little Oreo. Here is an update from her forever family along with a photo…
Mia today
Mia is now almost 8 months old and only 28 pounds – about 20 pounds smaller than we thought she’d be, but really a perfect size! Her foxhound genes are very apparent. She loves to chase the squirrels in our backyard and whines almost as if she’s in pain at the door to be let out to chase them. She loves to ride in the car and is a very good traveler, very alert to see where we’re going, but curling up on the seat to sleep if she realizes it’s going to be a long trip. She’s past chewing things that aren’t hers, but she still likes to “find” socks and carry them around. It’s funny to see the guilty look on her face when she gets caught with them, drops them and comes in close to apologize by rolling over on her back as if to say, “got to love me!”
Adopting Mia was the best decision for us. As my 10-year-old daughter says, “Mia is the perfect puppy for our family”! Her start in a foster home, with a family we think, is a big reason why her transition into our family was so easy.
-Barb K.
Puppy Report
A lot has happened, I hope I can remember it all. First of all, I called everyone who adopted puppies and heard back from everyone …and everyone had WONDERFUL things to say about their new family members! I was thrilled. Everyone seemed to be doing well and really falling in love with their new dog. Some families reported that potty training was nearly complete, others that it was still in full swing. Both of these extremes (and everything in between) are normal for puppies. They are small, and subsequently their bladders are small and therefore they need to pee frequently. Add to that the lessons they have to learn about holding it and indicating to us when they need to go and it makes sense that this first lesson is a difficult one for some pups.
The families with resident dogs reported that their puppies had inserted themselves into their pre-existing dog packs with confidence, some even trying out their dominance at this young age! (more…)
Saving Annie
Before we took in pregnant Annie (then named “Martha”) as a foster, she was rescued by the Fulton County Illinois Humane Society. We just received a note from a volunteer who cared for Martha while sheltered at the Humane Society of Fulton County, Pam K. …
Martha (aka Annie)
After reading all about Annie and her puppies I knew I had to let you know how much this story touched me. You see, I knew Annie when she was still “Martha” and so thin you could count every rib on her body. She was so thin but had this big belly. And she was so weak. We were worried she would have strength to deliver the puppies. I am a volunteer at Fulton County and do the Petfinder write ups. I was so thrilled when HELP rescued her. We knew she didn’t have much time before she gave birth and were so happy we were able to get her out of our shelter. A shelter is no place for newborn puppies with all the noise and the germs. We did try to build up her strength and gave her extra food. She did manage to put on a little weight but was still
Letting Go
Hermes
Today my son cried and cried at breakfast. He said through his sobs, “I don’t know why I am crying!” I think he is missing his puppies. No matter what I said though, he denied it but I’ve seen this before. He needs to grieve their leaving and I don’t blame him. I miss them too, but my missing is much less intense. He was their primary playmate and they were his. He, being an only child, really enjoys having little ones who are ready and eager to play with him. And they were there for him, without requiring anything more from him than his company. Of course he misses them. I could try to convince him that having the pups in their new homes is best for everyone, I could remind him of how unavailable I was during their last few weeks with us, I could try to avoid his grief by telling him we’ll get more (more…)
Up Next on Canine Fostering
Sweetie, our summer foster mama
As the story of Annie and her puppies comes to a close, do not fret! I will continue posting but the focus will change. I will give updates on the puppies (with photos!) and Annie and how they are doing in their new homes. I will also be posting on our previous fosters and how they are doing today, 8 months later. And finally, I will be including more information about our dogs (3 of which are rescues) as well as training tips.
So, keep checking in! We will also be hosting another dog family shortly…of course.
