Fireworks

So its that horrible time of the year again when theres fireworks driving our dogs mad. Tonights been the first night to see Tinks response. Hurray, she is not fussed! At least thats something less to worry about twice a year. Em used to be petrified of fireworks and it was so awful seeing her so scared. Just thought I would copy over some advice from the West Yorkshire Dog Rescue facebook page. 

The weeks leading up to November 5th and continuing through until the New Year can be a traumatic time for some pets. Signs of ‘firework fear’ or the phobia of loud noises can range fr

om mild behavioural changes to severe destructive behaviour.

SIGNS INCLUDE:
• Hiding away (under table, behind sofa...)
• Seeking closer human contact
• Whining or barking
• Destruction of living area

HELPFUL STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AT HOME:
• If you have to go out leave the TV or radio on and close the curtains
• Provide a ‘den’ for dogs (containing favourite blankets and toys) where they can hide (dog crate, under table)
• Obtained from your vet - Use an Adaptil Diffuser in the room that will provide ‘refuge’. The diffuser needs to be plugged in twenty four hours a day and ideally from at least a week before the anticipated event. Adaptil helps your dog feel more calm and able to cope with the fear better. Feliway is a similar product available for cats.
• Don’t drag your pet out from under the table/ behind the sofa as this will increase their fear. Your pet has chosen this place as a safe haven.
• Try not to punish your pet as this will make them more anxious and reinforce their fear behaviour.
• Try not to reassure your pet either! This may prove difficult; however, you are reinforcing their fear by signalling that they are showing the correct response to the situation.

EMERGENCY SHORT TERM HELP FOR YOUR PET
• Medications that your vet may use to help your pet include;
• Valerian & Scullcap tablets – work very well at reducing mild anxiety and are safe to use in combination with other medications.
• Diazepam or Alprazolam – provide both sedative and anti-anxiety effects. It is important that the treatment is given before nightfall and therefore before the ‘bangs’ start. A test dose should be given on a quiet day to assess the effectiveness.
• In very severe cases a stronger medication may be prescribed

REMEMBER!
Long term management should be sought rather than a quick fix. A process called ‘de-sensitisation’ teaches your pet not to react to the fear stimulus and then eventually to associate it with something positive

 Gatsby and Gemmas response to fireworks is to bark along with them. 

 I will post some photos after this post so keep a look out :) 

Random Post

So when I say its a random post it pretty much is. Yesterday I bought a book as a bit of a laugh for me called 'The Dastardly Book for Dogs'. I just thought I'd share a paragraph that seems very true.

There was a time not long ago when dogs were necessities, not accessories. We coralled wayward sheep in the farmland. We brought warming brandy to climbers in the hinderland. We were a valued asset to every fireman, a faithful sentinel for every rag-and-bone man and a slavishly loyal friend to everyman. We roamed freely because we earned our keep, and our agressions and wanderlust were celebrated, not curbed. It was a time we ran on the ground instead of being toted around in frilly pink satchels, a time when we were simply hosed off in the garden instead of ferried to the groomer. It was a time B.D. - Before Domestication, when we could be what we are, dogs.

Dogs should be treat like dogs simple enough to say. So if you want a funny book looking from a dogs perspective it looks like a funny read... and was only a pound :) 

And staying on the subject today my calendars quote is so true:

You ask of my companions. Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog. They are better than beings, because they know, but do not tell - Emily Dickinson 

Photo Shoot

So yesterday Studio 18 put on their annual charity day and chose West Yorkshire Dog Rescue as their charity. Being the 'best dogs' in the rescue at the moment Gatsby and Gemma were invited along to get their photos taken by the Examiner. Unfortunately I was working so didn't go along but apparently they were both very well behaved, which to be honest is no surprise. Thanks to the lady as well that made the dogs a tray of Peanut butter dog biscuits! The dogs love them, even though they are restricted to one a day on their diet. 

I really don't understand why these 2 have been in rescue so long, they've both been in around 6 months now and really they're both such lovely dogs. The only bad thing I can say about Gemma is that shes a slobbery monster! Haha, she loves giving kisses first thing in the morning and when you come home and I'm sure she tries to nibble your ears. She's such a cute girl though. And Gatsby well hes just a total stunner, I love him to bits. He's just a chunky boy. Can I just say he is full patterdale, his stocky body does make him look a bit like a staffie but that is just because he's fat. Not that I've got anything against staffies, I absolutely love them since being in rescue and especially after meeting the gorgeus Domino last week. 

The other day we went for a nice long walk in the field. Gemma was great off lead and loved playing fetch, even though I did have to tug the ball off her. She was so well behaved chasing after the ball with Tinks. Gatsby does not have the best recall and because I was on my own I didn't let him off the lead this time, it's hard enough keeping an eye on Tinks nevermind worrying about him. He didn't seem to mind anyway and just walked next to me through the fields. Unfortunately I didn't get to take any photos. Again because I was on my own and keeping an eye on 4 dogs is a challenge as it is. 

So Gatsby and Gemma are two gorgeus chubby dogs, it has now been decided they can be rehomed separately as long as they have another dog for company. I will try add some pictures at some point this week. 

Lucy, Tinks, Sally, Gatsby and Gemma x

Good news....

... No Gemma and Gatsby have not found a home lol. Although that would be fantastic unfortunately that's not the good news. 

Ambers new owner text me last night, I've been thinking about her a lot since she left, worrying about whether she's settling in and how they're coping with her but theres been no need what so ever. Amber sounds like she's enjoying her new life well and truly and I can tell she's getting spoilt! She is meeting new people, new dogs and loves her new best friend, the young boy she has been rehomed with her. She gets walked 3 times a day and apparently greets him like he's been gone forever when he comes back after school. I am so happy for Amber and the family who rehomed her and I am so happy they accepted her into their family straight away and ignored her quirky barking behaviour when she meets new people.The best thing is I know with this family she will get everything she needs and more and I think it won't take too long for her to get used to people and calm down with new people.

So thats one piece of good news but theres another! My dads cousin started fostering a couple of months ago after an emergency dog came up, Penny the JRT. After doing that they fostered Heather for a short while and recently they have fostered a staffie, which is yet to be put on the website named Domino. I have met him and he is such a stunning boy so I couldn't blame them when they said they wanted to adopt him! Which is great news, even better they will continue to foster in the new year. This is why it is important to share posts on fb! So family can find out and  have their hearts melted by these dogs! Oh and another good thing about Domino he absolutely loves their niece (8) and nephew (2) and they love him to bits right back. I'm so happy for the family. 

Now one more... but keep hushed for now Blitz the staffie has got his new home after spending so long in rescue. So lets hope his time with his new family goes well and he will become a permanent addition along with his doggy friend Tallulah.

So thats all for now, 

Lucy, Gemma, Gatsby, Tinks and Sally xx

A quick fostering poem

Well I haven't done a poem in a while but I'm in the mood right now so have wrote this one. It's not great, I've stumbled a few times while doing it but I think it pretty much sums fostering up. People always ask me how do i do it? How could I not do it really? I love fostering, it has pretty much become my life. Yes I form bonds with these dogs but it has come to the point now that when the day comes when they go to their new homes I am so ecstatic for them, its hard to be sad. And when you get another dog to help straight away, at what point do I have to be sad for the last dog, who is now living the perfect life. Oh and note when I say people I mainly mean the rescue, and my old fosters new owners :) And their old ones for that matter. 

Also I feel I should be the one thanking WYDR, they have provided me with this amazing opportunity, they've given me my gorgeus dog Tinks, who is my whole life now and not only that, when I was really down after quitting uni I had fostering that well and truly changed my life. It's made me so happy and has given a distraction over Ems death last year. West Yorkshire Dog Rescue and fostering have well and truly being my therapy <3 


People keep thanking me for all I've done,
Yet all I think is I haven't helped enough,
What I do, I love, and I don't feel I can stop, 
So don't thank me for sharing my love.

It's getting to the point of addiction with this,
Sounds crazy doesn't it, but fostering really is, 
You get to give a dog all the love they need,
Making them change, more than what you'd believe.

And eventually it will come the leaving day, 
You can't help but having to wipe a tear away,
But seeing them smile as they leave you behind,
A look in their eyes, a thanks for saving their life.

You have to smile as you look towards the door,
Another dog waiting for you to adore,
And as they look with sad eyes upon you, 
You smile and say 'don't worry, I'll save you' 

And you see, the process begins again,
A never ending circle removing all pain,
How can I stop now and not save a life,
Dogs are far too precious to not be treated right. 

Researching the Patterdale

It is said with any dog you plan on getting you should always research the breed. I pretty much know everything about the jack russel and Gemma is such a quiet dog that just wants to curl up but Gatsby... he's his own individual and has a different character in a way I can't describe. So today I decided it was about time I researched the breed. Normally I do this before I get a foster dog, if it's a breed I'm not familiar with but I didn't get much chance with these two. Originally I thought the patterdale was just the typical terrier. Apparently not. So let me help you and show you what I've found about the breed. I must say Gatsby doesn't seem to follow the breed 100% but what dog ever does?

The patterdale are more of a laid back kind of terrier compared to other terriers and are not as yappy. They are very solid terriers and apparently do have bull terrier bloodlines. The patterdale terrier is mainly a hunting dog, they are good watch dogs and are very hard. They are more likely to kill a fox than let it get away like foxhound. Patterdale terriers need a firm owner that will take charge of them, to prevent behavioural problems. This is probably the reason why Gatsby is food possessive and can be possessive over his 'spot'. He does need someone who will tell him no and stand their ground so he knows he is not the boss! The patterdale terrier needs plenty of walks to burn energy, although they are quiet in the house and love to curl up when out and about they have a lot of energy. On this note Gatsby currently doesn't have the best recall so it will take time and trust to let him off lead in a field. Until this happens he will need a lot of walks on the lead and a lot of training. Patterdale terriers need to be stimulated and burn their energy, especially if living with other dogs to stop any fights. However saying that, this does not seem to be in Gatsbys nature. He may growl at a dog in warning but will not fight with another dog. 

So overall Patterdale terriers are stocky terriers that need a confident dog owner to take charge. Gatsby would definitely need this and would be a lovely companion to another dog friendly dog. This would improve his confidence and make him an even better dog than what he already is.

Looking very positive now the patterdale terriers have no health problems and they require very little grooming so they are technically very cheap dogs on that note and you don't have anything to worry about.Obviously Gatsby is a chubby man at the moment which can increase the risk of health problems however we are working towards him losing this weight gradually. This is why it is really important to not overfeed your dog! It is not good for them and although Gatsby is a very healthy young boy if it's left to long it can be horrible for the dog.

Anyway, I've talked to much now. So thats all:

Lucy, Tinks, Sally, Gemma and Gatsby 

Two Chubby Doggies

I think one of the best ways to describe Gemma and Gatsby is chubby. Gatsby is such a fat little patterdale and Gemma is slightly overweight. So obviously now it is diet time in the house. Tinks is getting chunkier anyway so she needs it too. So they get given food once a day, at teatime. As Gatsby is possessive over food I am no longer leaving food out all day for them, so if they don't eat the full lot (100g) when I give it them at tea time thats it for the full day. We are also on no treats terms except maybe carrot sticks. So hopefully the 2 of them will start to lose the pounds. 

Gatsby is such a lovely little boy, his favourite thing is a good scratch on his back, he loves it when I do that and pulls his lips back in a grin. He was so well behaved in the bath last night and think he quite liked all the attention of a good massage. Gatsby has got on really well with our 2, he loves playing with Tinks and tends to just ignore Sally. 

This is where I get to the point of Gemma and Gatsby together. Personally I don't think they need to be with each other. They are hardly ever cuddled up to each other like I'd thought and only occasionally play so I do think they could be rehomed separately as long as they both have another dog in the house. 

Gemma is such a sweetheart, she is always wagging her tail and smiling at you and just loves to be cuddled and loves her belly rubbed. She is constantly rolling over for me to wag her tail. She is brilliant off lead and overall is just a perfect little girl. She'd suit pretty much anyone. 

Well I'll add pictures at some point but for now thats all,

Lucy, Tinks, Sally, Gatsby and Gemma x