Home and Back to Normal

Huuuge apologies for the lack of posts but life has been a bit hectic, I finished college just before going on holiday and as I've said my hours at work have gone up which is needed. But I am now back from holiday so really need to get my head back in gear with this blog. Even though my hours have gone up at work, college is now over so the main stress and time taker is over. I get a lot of people asking what I plan on doing. I genuinely aren't 100% sure, I'm not topping my course up to a degree because I don't have the time, patience or money. I may take an online course in Canine Behaviour but for now I'm just going to relax, enjoy the dogs company and been at work. September I may start the course but for now I need to graduate from my current course, enjoy my 21st birthday and try grow up just a tad.

Chance is still with us, getting a bit tired of saying that but I'm sure one day the right home will come for him. While we was away he grew quite fond of the petsitter and after she left would go into my room to look for her. He isn't just a mans dog, he is just picky in who he chooses to love... but aren't we all. Chance will make such a great pet, he is so loyal and although he isn't big on giving you love he will happily accept love of you and loves a good stroke behind his ears. Sometimes he will stand by where you are sitting, looking at you as if to say stroke me. Then you can see the happiness in him as you give him a good scratch. There is really nothing else to say that hasn't being said.

From what I can think there isn't much else to add so from now on I'll try and keep updated but with a dog like Chance there really isn't much to say.

Lucy, Tinks, Binx, Sally and Chance xx

Unfortunate News

Yes I've been quiet lately but really there is so little to update on. Chance is still with us and looking for his forever home. By the looks of it he'll still be here while we're on holiday at the end of this month so our dog sitter has an extra dog on her hands.

Now I must say no there is no bad news on Chance, the bad news that Phoebe is back. You may remember the lovely lurcher girl who was with us 2 years ago. Unfortunately her owner is getting a new job meaning Phoebe would have to be left longer hours, which she just would not cope with. If you remember the reason she initially came in was separation anxiety. After having her for the short period of time 2 years ago I think we did learn it is boredom. She needs access to a full house, plenty of walks and someone in most of the time. To read more in Phoebe at first read back on May 2012 here - http://lucythedogfosterer.blogspot.co.uk/2012_05_01_archive.html. Phoebe needs a home with another dog and can live with children over 5. She is very gentle with children and is used to her current owners young nephew. Other than her high activity levels and being unable to be left long Phoebe is the all round perfect dog. Sometimes dogs are returned in rescue, sometimes life doesn't turn out as people plan and the dogs life gets affected but at least we are here to find Phoebe the perfect home and make the transition easier. 

For every piece of bad news I do have some good. You will more than likely all remember Bunny who we rehomed last year, she held a special place in my heart and her owners have never stopped updating me with her progress. Any mischievous antics, naughty ways, fantastic behaviour they have told me about. Now a few months ago Bunnys owners daughter had a baby. Now Bunny is the loveliest of dogs but when she first came into rescue she was a nervous wreck who didn't even want to approach new people. I'd just like to share this photo (with owners permission) of Bunny in her home with her little niece. For all the people who rehome their dogs because your having a baby look at this. This dog would not go near people at one point in her life, she was so scared after being let down in life but look at her now!

Remember When...

I'm sure you can all remember when Chance first came in and we classed him as deaf. Over time we've learnt hes not deaf but has selective hearing. You say his name and he will glance over. Today he was stealing Sallys biscuits, I shouted Chance, he pricked his ears, went back to eating so shouted him again and he creeped forward after he'd filled his mouth with food. He is a very cheeky boy, if he thinks nobodies in the house he will counter surf so the kitchen door needs to be shut! 

Today was the big decider of whether he was deaf, Chance was let off lead! My dad went up to meet our rescue photographer and the results are heart warming. He looks so happy I could cry and it makes me so proud to have accepted him as a foster. If it wasn't for this rescue he would have being PTS simply because nobody wanted him at the pound. Chance responded well off lead and mainly comes back to clapping, so don't think his hearings perfect but he can hear the noises that matter. He loves running next to you and will keep going even when you've stopped... at which point he'll turn around and realise and come back. I'm so happy for him and don't think theres much more to say other than here are the photos:

 

 

 

So hard to post

I really have so little to add, Chance is really more of my dads foster dog so I'm finding it so hard updating on how well he is doing. He is getting more confident and when he is out on his walks he is the happiest boy around, he walks lovely on the lead and if you want to go for a run he can run next to you.

All I can do for now is add this video of him and hope that someone sees the true happiness in him :) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM4Peg3LD_k&feature=share

P.s. really sorry for the lack of updates but had a mad assignment rush but I'm on the final countdown and education for me is nearly over... not that I'll stop learning. Working with animals is a constant learning curve and you learn something new everyday :) 

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.

Chance in Pictures

 

So here are the rather delayed promised photos of Chance. He really is a handsome boy! We have come to realise Chance can not be left for long periods of time so will need a very special home. He suffers from separation anxiety and will howl even when there are other dogs around. I really do feel sorry for him, he has such a sad face. 

He is slowly coming out of his shell and every now and then you will see his tail do a quick wag when he catches a glimpse of you and he will come close for a kiss. All this old boy needs is a bit of time and love. He is fully housetrained and when we're home he spends the majority of his time asleep in front of the fire. He loves his walks though and walks really nicely on the lead, no pulling at all, he just walks to heel. Chance is dog friendly and just tends to stay out of these threes way. He would be okay with another old calm dog. We have yet to test him with cats but I think he would be cat friendly as he is such a gentle boy. 

Lucy, Chance, Tinks, Sally and Binx xx