Little Gifts

Someone has given me Kwik Sew Pattern 3357 which includes 2 styles of no sew fleece dog coats in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. Basically it looks like a massive babies bib with long ties - you end up with a coat shape that covers the back that has two long straps which go round the neck and cross over the front chest, loop back around the armpits and tie on the back. It's a great idea for people who can't sew and you would get 2 coats out of the length of fabric you required so also fairly cheap. I did a google and it looks like the pattern is still current/available to buy. Whippetsmum I do have a few dog coat patterns now in different styles and sizes but I am actually making oodles of coats for rescue right now so can't loan them. I had the same problem working out sizes, particularly with the coats that have the stupid tab fronts - I want actual neck sizes! I ended up measuring a few dogs and going from there as I was told it wouldn't matter - rescue would find a dog to fit the coat! I've mainly knitted smalls and mediums and sewn everything from large to giant. With the spare bits of fleece I also made some pom poms and stuffed dog bone toys. And I always trawl my local op shops for any rib fabric pieces so I different colour options as the coat style ones don't require much.

I started putting coats on my old SBT as her hair had thinned. She tolerated it for the sake of feeling better. My younger SBT (who had a healthy coat) just happens to like to wear clothes so gets upset if the coats don't come out on a cold night. As soon as she sees me with one she assumes the position for it to be put on! Even with a coat on she also crawls under all the doonas with me so we tangle legs. I think she is just one of those strange dogs as I don't even know how she breathes under there some nights! I also have a shar pei foster. He was not so healthy when he first arrived but his coat is nice and thick now except on his very wrinkly legs and belly. I decided to try and coat on him at night and not only does he seem comfortable wearing one but he sleeps more soundly. He is not the type to get under blanket or make himself a nest and sleeps on a very simple bed on the floor (his preference) and does have a tendency to get quite warm in the underbelly area as he has loads of extra skin so I keep a close eye on him and he is only coated if the night is really crisp. I think if you pay attention to your dogs sleeping behaviours (are they snoring or restless?) then it will tell you if they are cold or comfortable. If they have the resources to make themselves little nests or lie against something warmer (like their mummy!) then they will. If you put a coat on them and the snoring keeps you awake all night then at least you know they felt good!

I've thinking of you and your missing fur babies too Rach given we lost dogs at the same time last year. I hope the pain has lessened for you. Alyson

Hi Leanne! Welcome back!

I know the thread is currently focussing on a particular DOLer but I wanted to add my two cents worth about what DOL has done for me. I joined DOL looking to find a home for a keeshond that had been dumped on my elderly parents that none of us were able to keep at that time. As all my dogs have been rescue dogs I then got a bit addicted to the rescue threads and loved reading everything on there and absorbing the useful information that came with it. There are a couple of DOLers from there who I adore because of what they do, their skill and knowledge and how they respond to issues on DOL. It is likely those people don't even know who they are - I worship them from afar! I also went through a settling in period where it felt like the old timers were picking on me just because I was a newbie, but like a grown up I (eventually) moved on and accepted that everyone is entitled to their opinion and the world would be awfully stagnant if issues and beliefs were never challenged. I am always happy to share honest information about myself in threads but have always been quite private regarding where I live, my phone number, etc so it actually took a lot of trust for me to be part of my first ever DOL Secret Santa last year. The came the Sock Monkey Swap. This year I will bravely participate in the Christmas Card thing too! Now I have actually met some other DOLers in the flesh and am now a foster carer for one, exposing myself to a breed that I'd never even seen up close before! And later in the year I will be house and dog sitting for a very special person. Every connection you make on here can lead to even more in real life if you are open to it. It never ceases to amaze me how much diversity, passion AND compassion is here on DOL. I love this place!

No animal deserves to be treated so calluously. It's hard for me to accept that we share a society with such cruel thugs. Hugs to you and the boys Rach. I'm sorry life wasn't better for you Cookie.

Well it is one year since Ricky left us. Even though I was worried at first, having foster dogs has really helped change the energy in the house - we are a house full of dogs again, which is just how I like it. I still think of Rick most days and call her instead of one of the others. The house is still full of comforting memorabilia from her. Even pulling the winter coats out felt good because even though they wont warm her again there is a foster dog who is nice and toasty in her coats instead this year. Life moves on. The sadness of missing her has faded so that all I have are my happy memories of her now. I hope others who are coming up to their one year anniversary find the same peace.

I got my heart girl as a 13 week old rescue when my old girl was heading towards 14. My old girl had lost her son two months before and just aged overnight from the loss. She was always very nurturing of other animals so she took the new pup under her wing and it brought life back into her. She lived till almost 17. I hadn't planned the new pup either - she needed a home and we offered her one. It ended up being the best decision for all of us. I have no regrets and didn't struggle with managing the age difference.

That is so fantastic Rach!!!!!

Oh they are all so beautiful! You can't beat the natural joy of a puppies!

There are numerous photos on the internet of homeless people with their dogs and the dogs look so connected to their human I think they would go anywhere with them. Those connections are very important to marginalised people as well and the pet may not get the level of care we would give to them but as long as they are not malnourished, injured or in pain then I think we have to show some compassion and understanding. Slightly OT but I was out at lunchtime and walked past a homeless man sitting on a small concrete edge with his pants pulled down slightly, doing a poo into a garden bed. Right next to the bus stop and outside the shops. He was quite delicate about it, bless him!

We can't control everything unfortunately. I'm glad you found out about Sascha and I'm glad you ahd her in your life and gave her the love she deserved. Take care Holly's Mum.

Farewell Wally - may you and Mack be running amok together again!

A keeshond needing a new home is how I came to be a DOLer! At the time (2 years ago?) there did not seem to be a breed rescue group anywhere and there was no interest in the boy my parents had dumped on them from anyone on DOL (rescue and breed sub-forums). BFR took him on as a surrender and one of their kitten foster carers snapped him straight up.

Big, beautiful boy, thank you for making a difference in WP and Mr WP's lives. They will never forget what a wonderful dog you were.

My wonderful rescue group (one broke person really) gives us candidae or Blackhawk Holistic for our foster kids. I've never checked use by dates but I hope she gets it discounted! My current boy was malnourished and was eating every couple of hours. He had reduced down to 2 feeds a day but at present is back up to 3. I let his behaviours guide me on how hungry he is feeling as he can still put on a little more weight. I give him greek yoghurt or sardines on top of his cup of kibble. I find he is much more settled when he is getting the food his body needs so maybe increase Buddy's intake for a while and see how he goes? My other dogs get 2 meals a day but breakfast is really just a snack - they like the routine of brekky and dinner so we humour them! Oh and we always use PB to get tablets eaten!

Oscar is only just speaking to me again after the Million Paws Walk debacle. He is going through an unsocial stage.

I'm glad there is a lovefest going on!

Hi Jackie, I think I am starting to experience this with my current foster boy. He lived with an owner who likely adored him for 2 years but then had to surrender him. He was temp cared for by someone he knew before coming to me. He has been here now for 6 weeks. I am finding he wants to leave the house (even with me) less and less and even people who he has met a few times he is now wary of like they were strangers. It is like he is only comfortable if things are a certain way. This will impact him finding a forever home and will add to his stress levels unnesecarily. So I am going to start working with him on leadership and gesture leaving using Amichien Bonding techniques. This might also help you as well. It is fairly easy to do. Try www.leadyourpack.co.uk and check out the 'status' area about reuniting and gesture leaving. Under www.sharpeirescue.com.au there is a link to 'leadership' in their library section which expands on the leadership techniques. I find the techniques quite simple, they don't cost anything and they certainly don't mean you can't spoil your dog - you just do it on 'alpha' terms. As the alpha the aim is that you take away the worry for your dog in your absence - he learns to feel safe and believe that you have everything under control for your pack. Some seperation anxiety can be because a dog doesn't know what to do in the alpha's absence. We often tend to talk a lot to our dogs when we leave and of course they don't have a clue what 'instructions' we have left them with. Then when we get home and they are all manic we feed that by talking in a high pitched voice and responding to their jumping rather than ignoring it and letting it settle. I used to have a dog I had to chase around the house to get out the door. Now I go silently to a special treat jar (only used for leaving the house), grab treats, am followed out the back by 3 dogs, they sit and get a treat, I close the door and leave, all without saying a word. It is a positive routine for them. When I get home, even if one of them is bashing the back door down I come in, put my stuff down, open up the back door without saying a word, they come running in, and I go back upstairs and sit on a chair and call them to me and give them cuddles. If they go too silly they get ignored. Usually they all sit in front of me desperate for their turn for cuddles. After that little routine is done everyone goes back about their business. It only takes a couple of minutes.

T you may not be so popular when they start defluffing them and someone has to clean it all up! I actually keep all the dead toy/pillow/doona stuffing. I seal it in an old pillow slip, wash and dry it and then make new dog beds out of it! The ultimate in recycling!

Sounds like an excellent turn out and lots of enjoyment at so many walks around Oz! Great really to see so many well socialised and behaved dogs out there. The only concern I had on the day was that some of the puppies looked a little young to be out at a public event (for vacc reasons).

He is a beautiful looking boy!

Huga I bought that fabric too for the rescue coats! I said to my sister "What trim should I add to these alien coats?" she said "Are you blind? They're moose!" D'uh.

I went to the Gold Coast one thinking I could take some lovely pics of my foster boy on the sand but he hated every single second of it and we didn't even walk - we were just wandering around the stalls and going to watch some entertainment! He's a shar pei and I've never seen him droop his whole wrinkly body low like that before. I doubt anyone had a clue what breed he was - he looked more like a science experiment gone wrong! Epic fail....

I'm soooooo jealous! I don't even like small fluffies but sometimes T you get ones that make me melt!