Little Gifts

Keep at it!

I'm so very sorry Sas. I hope life is wonderful for you over the bridge big boy. XXX

GO SAM!!!!

I am very textural and just love it when a crisp photo makes you want to touch their fur or stroke their whiskers. Amazing shots T! Although one of the meerkats has a goober near his eyes I want to pick off.....

You know what I find sad about all this is that the new owner has no idea of Pups routine with you, what he likes, etc and you have all this amazing photographic history of him that the owner wont get to see. What a loss. Good on you for giving this little man such a great start in life! I've loved watching him and your dogs grow through the photos!

I've just gone through this with a 7 month old foster boy. The only treat I could motivate him with was lamb puffs. What I did was get him to first look at me using the lamb puffs, then when he was ok with that I used the lure of the lamb pufs to get him walk to heel without the leash on. We did this loads just wandering around the backyard with his eye on those lamb puffs. I also had to get him to sniff the leash quite a bit until he saw it was no threat. Next while he was focussed on the food I clipped the leash on. It took a few goes because of his fear. I had to leave the leash draped up over my should rather than hanging, so really we were just continuing the walk to heel with the leash clipped on but not in use. After a few days of this I tried straightening up and holding the leash. When he started to stop and panic I would go back to the 'look at me' then 'heel' again - things he felt safe and familiar with. After two weeks of this every day we left the yard. He seized up a bit when I went to put the harness and leash on but then got caught up in the excitement of leaving the house with the other dogs. First walk he dropped and froze several times and I had to coax him back up with lamb puffs and 'look at me' then 'heel' again. By our third walk outside the yard but still with the other dogs he was first out of the front gate and didn't stop once. It was a slow process but it was important to be consistent and simply go back a step if things got too much for the dog. He is now in his forever home and still needed to walk with another dog for anxiety reasons last I heard. Hopefully he will transition to solo walking. One good thing about this approach was that I never had him pull on the lead - he was never in a rush to be too far away from those treats! Edited to add that you might want to try a harness for walking. I think they give the owner better control and are safer from escape and feel more comfortable for the dog too - I generally use Puppia soft harnesses that look like little crop top singlets. If I was an upset dog I could think of nothing worse than having something yanking on my neck.

Don't let one idiot put you off doing something you have a passion for. Since being on DOL I have also offered monies for dogs in the rescue threads as sometimes money can help to transport, short term kennel or vet work a particular dog that has found its way into your heart. I've never had to be chased by someone for the money as like you I know what I'm doing and do it willingly. I had an incident where I tried several times to get a dog released to me and transported interstate to me but the pound just kept telling me the dog was taken. It ended up on the PTS list and I put my money towards a local group rescuing it at the last minute. Unfortunately someone broke into that pound and the dog I loved plus some other bull breed types were stolen, probably for fighting. Ever since then I knew I had to stay out of the pound threads and generally my monthly donations go to a handful of rescue groups and individual rescuers that I have a fondness for (rather than specific animals). I am now fostering myself again and have some new ideas on ways to make some money so I can continue to donate as well as foster because it is something that makes me feel good about the world. Every little bit helps when it is in the right hands. So Kendra I hope you can continue to do what makes you feel good too. Get that crazy PMer blocked and report them to Troy as well as provide the details to Pound List as suggested above. And thank you for doing your bit to make a difference.

It's very easy to see why you fell in love with him! I'm jealous he's become a campin' man - my girl agrees with Lilly that camping sucks!

They are all beauties!

Is that pic an easter bunny joke? Surely they can't belong to Bart!

A few days can make so much difference in rescue land! I've come home to a very non-plussed Ocsar - just like I'd popped down the shops for a bit! His eyes are clear (although an inner eyelid still seems to be covering most of his eyeball?), he has filled out a smidge and his coat seems very thick with a lot more grey and brown in it. Certainly any small hairless spots stand right out now rather than be the norm so something is working for him! It reminds me of a mountain gorilla's coat now! Character wise he's all happy and cruisy (I think he was originally referred to as a very chilled boy!) and my sister left me a note to say he likes to carry his bed in and out of the house at his own leisure. The stairs are certainly no problem for him now either. He must still be enjoying extra meals because he is definately giving me a look to say he is expecting his lunch soon! I'll take some more pics when I unpack from my trip and locate my camera again. Hoepfully you guys can see the difference too.

Hello there Bart!

I'm so very sorry that you had to go through this awful experience. Thank you for doing as much as you did and giving her a lovely morning. RIP Sage. May life be wonderful for you now beautiful girl.

And lastly, Stussy giving me her version of the finger for going away, while Oscar is checking out the recipe books.....

Oscar slept straight through for 8 hours but since we've been up he's already had 2 feeds and is wandering, wandering, wandering. He's obviously having a hungry, restless day. I'm going away for 4 days and my sister will take over everything so maybe he knows change is in the air? I know Stussy can already tell and I haven't even packed a bag! First pic - well there will be a prize if you can guess which bit is his head! Second pic a walking away shot - as close to a back ender as I could get today T!

Same from me. Hugs to you and Sage.

Sam's Warehouse? I've only ever seen plastic ones at mine before which is why I thought these were a better deal as they wont go brittle. The guy who is selling them has advised the bucket section is 140mm high 180mm deep and 220mm wide. Apparently they own kennels and bought hundreds of them and of course have way too many. But if Sam's have them I will get a couple there. Thank you for the advice K&C!

How exciting! I can't take photos at all despite learning on a fancy 35mm camera in high school and making digital videos and broadcasting programs at uni (although normally behind the console for the latter). I think it is because it involves 'numbers' and I don't like those things! Oh and Happy Birthday you!

Heavy and hot but with more meat on his bones I hope it might help balance the weight out. Good nutrition will certainly give him the energy he needs to carry it around! He looks like The Biggest Loser contestants all left him a present when you look at him from behind. That's a photo I haven't taken - don't want to embarrass the poor boy.

I found these on ebay and have asked the seller to confirm size and material. If they are metal and not pathetically small I'm pretty sure I will buy them at only $10. I am happy to buy 10 for $100 if other foster carers or rescue groups also need some? You would need to pay me for what you bought though as I am poor at present with medical bills to cover and don't have donation funds coming in to offest against (I'm currently off work on unpaid sick leave unfortunately). But I will pick up and deliver around Brissie. Let me know if you want or need one and feel free to spread the word with your carers as I wont be doing anything till after easter now and the guy has a few for sale. Here is the link to the items: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270921055814 Update - thread is no longer relevant as they are avail for a similar price at Sam's Warehouses at present!

Ams all 3 dogs just had a big play out the back with some stuffed toys, a squishy dog bed, tuggies and a tennis ball. Oscar was right in there and particularly loved giving the dog bed the what for! I doubt Stussy will play bitey face with him as she gives up if the other doesn't do the same back (she is desperate for a play buddy though). There could be wrestling on the cards though as he likes to pounce and has had her on her back once already. He's only had 3 meals since 5 this morn. He hasn't wanted any more. Eyes are looking good. Skin isn't flaking at all today. He still hasn't barked that I know of. We'll do the ears for the first time tonight. Do I wipe them out with wet ones or a damp cloth or a dry clean cloth first though? Not had much to do with yucky ears - guess it's time to learn though! And don't forget the malaseb sometime.....

If you think he looks wrinkly in that then check out a sleeping pic!

Can someone PM me the link? I forgot to add my email addy to his list. Thank you!

Yes, we have a new boy at Chateaux de Puppee Sneefer - Oscar de la Wrinkles! Poor Oscar has enough skin for 3 pei and finds it a smidge hard to see, but Ams is working on fixing that. He needs fattening up but is already finding his feet here - he did some prancing for us last night, gave Stussy a run for her money in the tugging and toy destroying department and makes lots of very interesting noises! Oh and when he eats or drinks he needs a bib! He is a very quiet boy who has started seeking smooches and tummy rubs. He also likes to look out the front door and do his own independant thing. A lovely calm temperament is on display at the moment but I think he might have some naughty boy hiding undereath all that skin based on some of his chewing and playing techniques last night. Time will tell!

His face has matured a lot too. Good luck Timmy!!!!!