Dogless in Richmond

So, it feels like forever since I've had a dog fostered with me.   Rosie went a while ago to her new home and there hasn't been a dog run from up North yet.  Those dog runs take alot of work for Turtle Gardens so I know I have to be patient until everything comes together to bring a van of dogs down.   I usually spend my 'down time' doing things I don't normally do when I have a dog (going to movies, shopping for stuff I don't need, etc).  Unfortunately I usually don't get as much walking in and I end up spending more money on things I don't need.  Two very good reasons for me to have foster dogs !!  

Another week and a bit and I should hopefully have another dog to show the sights in the Lower Mainland.   I will have a canopy on my truck by then making it easier for me to work on testing each dogs ability to be left alone.   Usually in the first one or two weeks of a new foster it's really hard to trust leaving them in the vehicle when you go into a store for a few mintues, as I value my upholstery.  I also don't leave them alone in my apartment for fear of them crying or barking and disturbing my neighbours.  So far I haven't had a single complaint as I have had so many quiet, well behaved dogs.  The most I leave them alone at home is to go upstairs to the laundry room and they're usually sitting by the front door waiting for me to come back in (no crying or barking...just waiting).

The dogs I have fostered so far have been great with being alone in the vehicle for a short amount of time (usually under 15 minutes) but I'm always nervous leaving them for the first few times, not knowing what they will do alone in the vehicle.  Adoptive homes typically want to know how a dog will do with being left alone, whether its for 15 minutes or 4 hours....so with a canopied truck I can give them a nice little 'den' that is virtually indestructible and I can test their ability to be left alone.  

I have been fostering now for a year and a bit and I'm loving it!  If anyone has any interest in fostering please contact Turtle Gardens and if you have any questions ask Yvette to pass me your email address.  I'd be happy to talk to anyone about my own experience.   

Rosie goes to her new home.

Rosie has been adopted by a retired couple in the Lower Mainland.  Her new name is Molly and she will get lots of love, affection, attention, walks, etc.....all the makings of a great home!   She has already passed the test with the grandkids and apparently she was very gentle with them.   Good luck little girl!

Update on Rosie

Rosie is back with me and we are waiting to find the perfect home for her.  The couple that she went to on an overnighter wanted a bit more time to think about adopting a dog.  They loved Rosie and she seemed to have made herself right at home quite quickly.   

I actually really missed her on the night she was gone.  She's a great travel-in-the-car buddy and she is awesome company at home too.   

Apparently when I left her for the overnighter she didn't whine for me so I think she will have no problem moving on to her new home.  

Rosie loves her toys

Honestly I'm not sure if she loves this one toy or if it frustrates her more.  It's a rubber tube with a tennis ball in it and its designed so the ball will never come out ; ) ....sorry Rosie

Thanksgiving

I'm not sure if this would be Rosie's first thanksgiving or not.  If she is approximately 1 year old who is to say whether she was born or not by this time last year.   We went to my sisters for a fabulous lunch (kudos to my sister the cook for the day).  Rosie did really well with the other 2 dogs there, once everyone settled down.  We took them to the lacrosse box and let them rip around and get their energy worn down.   We had a good afternoon and Rosie slept on the trip home.  

She is going for an overnight visit tonight with a potential adopter so I'm hopeful that all works well with that.

Rosie goes to the curling club.

I was supposed to curl last night but I have been battling a horrible cold this past week and with a blocked ear and vertigo I thought running around on the ice wasn't such a great idea.  So, rather than have Rosie wait out in the parking lot, she came into the curling club with me and sat on my lap for 2 hours while we watched my team.   She was a little nervous about all the people sliding on the ice but she settled on my lap quickly and fell asleep.   She was a real hit with everyone and one of the curlers from my league was going home to show her partner Rosie's picture.   She's the kind of dog you can take anywhere!

http://www.refresheverything.ca/turtlegardens  - DON'T FORGET TO VOTE DAILY FOR TURTLE GARDENS

Rosie - 1 week update

Rosie – 1 week update / Fostered in Richmond

Rosie is cute, funny, cuddly and well behaved.   She does not have the little dog attitude and in fact I think she believes she is a bigger dog than she is.    When we walk down the street she is really good on the leash – either walking beside or slightly behind.   Although once we stop sometimes she likes to get to the end of the leash to smell whatever is around.   When we come across other dogs she does not pull to get to them and she is friendly and not overly excited about the greeting.   She definitely likes people and is really happy to solicit a pat from anyone nearby.  She is not much for barking although if she sees something that looks out of place when we’re walking she will bark (i.e. like someone cutting through a hedge or lurking about).   She is quickly corrected and is learning to ignore things when I ask her to.    She has come very close to cats and rabbits and she shows very little interest.  

Rosie takes grooming very well.  She sits there very stoically and doesn’t protest.   When we come home from a walk and I dry her off she seems to really enjoy it, until you get to drying her face and then it’s playtime.   She likes most of the toys that I have and she shows some interest in fetching items back to me.  

She doesn’t jump up at me and she waits until she’s invited to get on the couch.   If refused, she goes and lays on her bed.   She is such an easy dog to have around.   She’ll go for a good walk and she also likes down-time at home.    One of our regular walks is to a field nearby and she loves to run circles around me and pick up clumps of the cut grass.   She zooms past you, mouth wide open and ears flapping and its hard not to laugh at her. 

She gets excited to go to dog daycare and the staff at Playful Paws tell me that she plays a little bit with the other dogs, but mostly she likes to just hang out.  She rides in the vehicle really well.   She sits in the spot you give her and either looks out the window or lays down.  

Rosie is housebroken and has learned to ‘sit’, is learning the command ‘stay’, and she walks nicely on the leash.  She may not be the prettiest dog but she sure is cute with tons of character.   People can’t help but smile when they see her coming down the sidewalk.  

Drying off after our walk

Rosie

I am currently fostering Rosie for TG K9 Rescue.  
September 27, 2010 update:

Rosie - Fostered in Richmond

I'm sending a day 2 update because I just can't help but send you the photos of Rosie after her bath.  I stopped at a friend of TG's house on my way home with Rosie and they jumped forward with the offer of a bath for Rosie....who's going to refuse that?   So she was bathed and dried and even got her nails clipped (thank you thank you thank you....I'd love to name names but not sure they'd want that or not).  She took it all very well, she was quite stoic really.   Her hind end has not caught up to the front which has already shed the longer coat...so she looks a little mismatched at the moment but what a cutie she is.   When we got home she ate some food, drank some water and then slept for a while.  We went out walking and she did super good on the leash.  Once we got going there was no pulling and she walked beside or slightly behind me, constantly looking up at me to check in.  She showed minimal interest in the cats we've come up to (within a foot of one of the cats) and she was quite good when we ran into the wild rabbits in my neighbourhood.   She is cuddly although she doesn't jump on your lap or jump up much...maybe she thinks she's bigger than she is.  On our walk she showed alot of curiousity for where everyone was going and she was friendly and wanted to go up to anyone who extended a hand for a pat.   She slept through the night well and when we showed up at dog daycare this morning she whined at their door to get in....I guess she could hear the dogs on the other side and wanted to get going on her first day.  

p.s. She really seems to like riding in the truck which I assume I can thank Dave for having taken her in the Van everywhere.

What a little character she is.   Playful, cuddly, a teeny bit snorty (which adds to her charm) and who can resist that little underbite that she shows occassionally.