Eventful Week

Well no doubt quite a few of you saw on facebook about Rosies little run away so I best start with that. Last Saturday Rosie decided to take herself up and over the fence in the garden to go on her own little walk. My dad was in the garden and took his eyes off her for a few minutes, which is all it takes. Since we don't normally have big dogs the back of our garden has a smaller fence of around 5ft. Anyway she took herself off into the fields and dad was out for an hour looking before calling me at work. I am aware someone put on facebook the next day that it was bad how I hadn't informed the rescue but please know as soon as I found out I called Kathy and went straight home to have a look for her myself and to put a post on facebook and Dog Lost. Unfortunately I had no luck and had to go back to work to finish my shift. At 2:30 I got a phone call to tell me a gentleman had Rosie around a 15 minute walk from my house in fields we often walk the dogs so went home from work early to get a wet, mucky and tired dog who was very glad to come back to the home comforts of warmth and food. 

I was informed that Rosie was found so quick because Rosie had her tag on with 2 contact numbers and my address on so please please please make sure your dogs are tagged! Rosie is of course microchipped which would mean the vets would be able to inform us but a tag ensured she was never taken to a pound, she was home as soon as I knew. You may be thinking now what to do if you lose your dog? Call all local dog pounds, vets and inform anyone you may see walking their dogs of your lost dog. Contact the microchip company and get your dog on Dog Lost with plenty of details. Post your dog all over facebook, the best group I know of is Yorkshire Animals Lost and Found but obviously post on all your local selling places etc too. Speed is everything and obviously go out looking with plenty of smelly treats. Put a smelly dog blanket on your washing line outside so they can find their way home and your dog will be found... trust me! 

So on to a positive note Rosie is home safe and sound. She is none the worse for her adventures, she just had a few scratches and was a bit hungry. Rosie is getting so much better in the house, she has had one accident in the past few days so we are very proud of her! She can now be left longer than 2 hours without having an accident too so the improvements shes made is amazing. This isn't too say in a new home Rosie will not have accidents for the first 2 weeks, every dog takes time to adapt so people do need to know that... not just with Rosie but with any new rescue dog. Rosie will obviously need a home with very high fencing to prevent any more runaway missions but other than that Rosie will love the simple life. 

House Living

Meant to post this on the 28th November but it went as a draft instead :/

For a dog who has only ever known kennel life Rosie is getting much better living inside. Houetraining was proving difficult at first but now she is getting the hang of it and knows to go for a wee when shes outside. Occasionally she still does have the odd accident but its just a case of keeping a careful eye on her. She will normally have an accident if left which could be a part of separation anxiety. Rosie is also a scrounger and loves to pinch food. So far shes had all my threes tea, fish food and likes to help herself to food in the biscuit bin.

Rosie does not like loud noises and doesn't like being outside if traffic is going past. She dislikes fireworks and will not go outside at all if she has heard them at night. She is a very loving dog though, loves it when you first come downstairs in the morning and gives very big cuddles. She is a quiet dog needing the quiet life though. Plenty of love and attention and someone around most of the time. I know it is a long shot but it would be amazing if Rosie got her forever home before Christmas. If not, the advent calendar is full of treats for four dogs including Rosie and I will get her a special treat bag to open on Christmas day. Rosie is not into toys, she doesn't really understand what to do with them but squeaks do get her attention and she loves cardboard boxes.

Rosie did have some proper photos done and as you can see she is a very beautiful dog

Guess what?

Well guess I should finally get around to posting the good news. After her viewing the last time I posted Candy was rehomed. Her newly retired owners have plenty of experience about dogs and have a jack russel friend so were perfect for her. We all miss her lively attitude in the house but I've spoken to her new owners and shes settled in brilliantly. Been on plenty of off lead walks and interacted with new dogs off lead which I'm happy with.

We do have a new dog, I'm really too tired to post full details though so will copy the email I sent to Kathy. She is a 10 year old Welsh Foxhound and an absolute darling! She really is the sweetest dog needing a loving retirement home. 

Rosie is not 100% housetrained but we are working on it however I do think it will take some time. Rosie is a quiet dog and very easy to live with. She is good on the lead and does not pull at all, she does get a bit tired on her walks so only needs a couple of short walks a day. Rosie is quite a loving dog, she likes to sneakily jump up and place her big paws on your chest when your trying to do something. She loves lots of cuddles and strokes but isn't in your face about it.She is very gentle and even when she jumps up she does it so gently, she just lets her presence be known. Rosie does not have an aggressive bone in her body and will let anybody go near her and take her food off her. She is brilliant with the other dogs, she just ignores them and doesn't care when they try steal her food. She is starting to come out of her shell and every so often she will prance around trying to play but I don't think she really knows what to do.

Rosie spends most of her time curled in bed, looking out of the window and watching the world go by. She would suit a quiet retirement home where she will be given all the love she deserves. Rosie has seen children on walks and has not being bothered by them but I think she'd find it a bit too much living with them. Visiting children would be fine. Rosie loves being on the furniture and likes to surf worktops, so she needs owners who will be observant of this and make sure the kitchen is blocked off from her. Owners can not be houseproud with Rosie! Rosie just needs time and training on the accident front and lots of love and cuddles. She'd be best with a securely fenced garden.

Rosie has never lived in a home so she is just getting used to home life and it could take some time to housetrain her, unfortunately I think that will make her hard to rehome but she'll be here as long as she needs to be.

No Change Here

It is very hard to update when I have little to say. Candy is still here and doing well, I don't know what else to add about her except what a brilliant dog she is. I find it very hard when people ask me her difficult traits what to say because I have seen past them. Seen past the pulling on the lead and barking at other dogs. Seen past her trying to chase small furries on the street. I just hope someone else can do the same because for her bad traits, Candy has twice as many better traits. Things I just can't see past... the snuggles she gives, her curling up next to the other dogs, her patting you when she wants attention, her squidgy face etc. etc. 

On to some good news Candy does have a viewing later today with an ex foster for the rescue who clearly knows all about dogs and would love another playful active dog to be a friend for her jack russel. So fingers crossed they see all her good traits and bypass the bad ones. No dog is perfect but thats what gives them their character and personality :) 

Her day will come

Firstly I'd like to apologise if my formats a little different, I'm writing on my phone for the first time and if it goes well may make blogging easier in future.

So candys viewing went really well the other day, since she was in a funny mood and playing up with other dogs at the farm where we did the viewing I thought she'd ruin it for herself but she was really well behaved and only had a sniff at the couples springer spaniel. I was so happy and everything was going well but unfortunately the couple decided she may be a little too strong on the lead.

So time for a few home truths on candy. She is dog reactive, she will bark at dogs she sees on the lead but she doesn't have one bit of aggression on her, personally I think shes frustrated because she's on a lead and can't say hello. Off lead candy is fantastic and has brilliant recall. Next candy does pull on the lead, not overly and as she's only 11kg she's not too strong but she can yank if she sees a small furry or bird. She's like a terrier in that respect but dogs will be dogs and she just needs a firm hand to keep hold. Candy is very food orientated so this does help with dog reaction, she just needs some on lead training, which is much harder when you have three other dogs. I'm convinced it wouldn't take long though,  her prey instinct though, I don't think can be taken out about her.

And finally and most importantly candy is a lap dog, she loves to be with you, she will constantly be sat on your knee and will ask for attention if you stop stroking her. She will give you the funniest grin that you can't help but fall in love with. She'll follow you everywhere and be the most loyal dog. Candy is near perfect, she just needs time and all the love in the world.

A few weeks ago I went for a walk and a 10 year old girl joined me, candy didn't even bother with her as she walked with us. She was full of questions about the dogs one of which was what if you don't find her a home, to which i said I would, she kept asking saying but what If we didn't. As much as I persuaded her I would find her a home in the end i had to tell her I would look after her if she didn't. She then went to ask the same about the next foster dog I will have. I admired her curiosity, but it made me sad how pessimistic she was. What if I couldn't find a dog a home? The dog would end up passing without a real owner. The truth is foster dogs are loved just like my own, should they go to rainbow bridge when their with me I'd hope they'd wait for me there. These dogs arent just rescue dogs they are temporary members of my family and will be forever treated like that until their forever home comes. And every dog has a forever home come forward, it can take days, weeks, months but that forever home will come. Being in rescue requires a sense of optimism, if you don't have that you would never rehome a dog but I do and candys home will come forward!

In the meantime though She'll be spoilt to lots of love, new toys and plenty of treats :) 




 
 
 

Back at the Start

Unfortunately the people who viewed Candy last week did not feel a connection with her, despite Candy being on her best behaviour so Candy is back looking for her forever home. As I always say the dog chooses the owner, and Candy just didn't choose them. However another couple have registered interest and will be viewing Candy in about an hours time so fingers crossed this viewing will go well and Candy behaves well around their springer spaniel. 

Candy had her second lot of vaccinations yesterday so is properly ready to go to her new home now, so I'm going to stay optimistic and hope for the best for today :)

Lucy, Tinks, Mr Binx, Sally and Candy x

Holiday Time

So we have just come back from a week away in Scotland. Even Candy came alone, just going to show foster dogs really are members of the family. Candy did very well and travelled the 5 hours curled up asleep. She loved being at the beach and there was a point where it felt like time to let her go and she did brilliant. Candy has amazing recall and even if she gets distracted by another dog she will come back. Candy is still dog reactive and will bark at the dogs on the lead, however she is not agressive and if she gets to meet them she will have a sniff and be very friendly. We met our friend Lee up in Scotland who is fostering a gorgeus deaf bearded collie named Blue, him and Candy fell in love and were both running off lead together clearly very happy. Blue can be seen in the photos but he is reserved for his forever home so don't ask about him :) Candy loves playing in the sea and will happily splash in the waves and chase after a tennis ball. It was so nice seeing a dog that was once abandoned and was so ill to be so happy with life. Below you can see Candy off lead on the beach in her fancy coat.

We have received interest for Candy and she has had a viewing today which went quite well so its just a waiting game now to see if they would like to adopt her, so watch this space and I will keep you updated, but for now enjoy some happy beach photos of Candy.