2 Years Fostering

Well today marks the second anniversary of me fostering dogs. 2 years ago today a little jack russel came into our house and from their the fostering began. 2 years on we are on foster dog no. 32. You may all think its amazing the amount of dogs I've saved over the past 2 years but in reality I don't know where I'd be without them. I've said this many times but people really need to know fostering isn't just good for the dogs its so good for the people involved too. 

In the past 2 years I've learnt far more than anyone will ever learn as a dog owner in their lifetime. I've had hands on experience with nervous agression, separation anxiety, untrained dogs, deaf dogs, old dogs, young dogs, different breeds of dogs... the list could go on forever on what I've experienced and from that experience you learn what to do in certain situations.

And of course without fostering I wouldn't have my two terrible terriers. Tinks and Binx! 

I have no more to add on Chance, we will be going for a nice walk with him tomorrow to meet our rescue photographer and get some good photos of him :)

Lucy, Chance, Tinks, Binx and Sally 

On a Hold

Can't believe its been so long since I posted but unfortunately I have nothing new to add. We seem to have to a halt with poor Chance and he is not going anywhere. I'm pretty sure I did write a post not long back with a proper update but it must have just been that I emailed it to Kathy and forgot to put it on here. I've been very busy with work and college work and of course keeping on top of these four doggies. 

So instead of doing a totally different update I'm just going to post what I have written for the website. I'm classing Chance as my dads foster though as he really is my dads dog so this is written as if my dad is writing it: 

Chance is settling much better into a home environment now. His separation anxiety is starting to settle down and now when left he will just curl onto my bed and sleep.  In his new home it may take him a while getting used to being left again and he needs someone who has patience to accept his initial anxiety.   Also someone who doesn't mind him sleeping on their bed.

Although he can be left it would be best if this was left to a minimum.  He needs someone who is around most of the time to earn his trust and make him feel comfortable.  It takes a while for Chance to put trust in people, however once he has gained his trust he is an extremely loyal boy who will follow you anywhere so again a patient owner will be needed who understands even if he is a little scared at first he will soon come out of his shell and enjoy a cuddle. 

The best way to gain Chances' trust is taking him on plenty of walks.  He loves being out on a walk and will get giddy and prance around as soon as he sees his harness.  He walks very well on the lead and does not pull at all.  He doesn't react to other dogs on the lead and is very curious about the world around him.  We don't think Chance can ever be let off lead, he has selective hearing and as he is nervous could easily be spooked but to Chance a walk on the lead is just as good!

Chance likes to sleep on my bed at night and will dig under the covers and cuddle right up. He sleeps all the way through the night and still stays in bed when I get up to let our other dog Sally out in the middle of the night.

He is very well behaved and although he has no basic training in terms of sitting for treats and recall he is fully housetrained and when he does get a treat he takes it from your hands very gently.

During the day Chance loves to curl up and sleep on his big bed in front of the fire and doesn't mind when the other dogs come and sit next to/on him. Chance would be fine being rehomed as an only dog, however may do well with another older quiet dog to bring him out of his shell and improve his confidence.

Chance really is a gentle boy and I think the only reason he is still here is because of his quiet nature and separation anxiety, which has really come along now. He has a perfect nature though and is so well behaved.