6 WEEK UPDATE FOR WHITESPOT

I believe that as of today, Whitespot has been with me for 6 weeks.  These dogs that I foster start to show me more and more who they are as time goes along,  as they get more comfortable and settle in.   To me, it seems the three week and six week marks are significant for some reason.  Whitespot remains a very nice, well behaved, calm dog.  He is still a star at dog daycare, although he’s had to learn that the people have to be shared with the other dogs, they don’t all belong to him.  He gets along with almost every dog we run across, however he objects to the dogs that are still intact (pretty typical reaction though I’d say).  He has fit into city life as though he has always been here.  He is not nervous around traffic or lots of people.  He is great on leash and is getting better at responding to hand signals, as he knows I will follow through if he tries to ignore me. 

I do notice more lately though that he seems to need to zoom off some energy occasionally.  He is still very happy with dog daycare and he loves our walks but, just like other dogs, he get the zoomies.  He needs a quick sprint at some point in his day.   After our walk at the beach I now take him to the fenced soccer field nearby and let him run.  I put two 20' leashes together so he has more freedom at the beach, but when we get to the soccer field, we walk the perimeter and then all it takes is the flick of his tail and he's off like a shot.  I drop the leash and let him do his thing.   He runs a few large circles and then stops and comes back.   One more flick of the tail and he's gone again.   We do this a few times and then head home.  This seems to be enough to tucker him out.  

It's beautiful to see a dog run for the joy of it!   Take a look….

Unfortunately the video is just from my cell phone so not the best quality.  

I'm so tempted to let him off leash at the beach these days too.   I feel that he's ready, but its just so hard to do it.  Partly because he's not mine, partly because he was on the lam 7 weeks ago and also because he is close to a possible adoption.  I have had dogs with me that I've felt were ready for off leash on day 1 and some aren't ready for a few weeks.   They give you a good idea of when the right time is but I'm being chicken about Whitespot.   Off leash in a large fenced field is good but I'd love to let him go on our dog-beach walks.   I guess it doesn't hurt if I leave that privilege for his future family. 

If Turtle Gardens hadn't spayed/neutered just five of the dogs

that I've fostered here's what the result could have been:  

AREN'T YOU ESPECIALLY HAPPY NOW THAT THEY

HAVE A SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM?

I know...I'm weird ; )

Help support the continuation of their spay/neuter program by
doing some fundraising.  It really doesn't matter whether you raise
$5.00, $50.00 or $500.00 dollars.  Every bit will help them.

Here is a link to the fundraising page: 
http://www.turtlegardens.org/ways-you-can-help-turtle-gardens/fundraising-ideas-jillian

...help with the existing ideas or come up with your own idea
(like a portion of the proceeds from your Spring Clean-up Garage Sale, etc)

FULL DOUBLE RAINBOW

I don't think I have seen too many rainbows that you can see a full arch, touching down at both ends.  But, to see a double rainbow, both of them full to the ground was amazing!  What a great night it was for weather yesterday.  Interesting clouds and brilliant rainbows.  I'd like to say Whitespot was in awe too but I'm pretty sure he was watching the other dogs approaching. 

A GREAT LONG WEEKEND

The long weekend was a busy and fun time for me and Whitespot. 

Friday night was spent having dinner and sitting around a backyard fire with good friends.   There were six of us and a dog for each person. Out of the 6 dogs, 3 were TG dogs (Buttercup now Rosie, Ruedi and Whitespot).   The dogs all got along well and Whitespot enjoyed the freedom of the enclosed back yard.   I brought a cushy dog bed out and he laid down next to my chair and when not getting pats from people around the fire he laid down and slept.  He is so easy to have around.

On Saturday, we had a long day at the dog beach.  We saw one of my foster dogs from last year, Queenie (now Maki) down there.  She was so happy to see me it made me smile and it made me even happier to see how much she loves her people.  Her and Whitespot were pretty mellow with each other but it seemed like they still knew each other.  After the beach we went over to my friend’s sailboat at Burrard Marina for a barbeque. Whitespot jumped from dock to boat like a pro but with limited space for everyone to sit and a dog who was too interested in the table of snacks, he hopped back to the dock beside the boat.  Once he settled he was content to lay there and look around and sleep.  He didn’t mind being on the boat but with such a small amount of space he was a bit restless. 

Easter Sunday….and what could be more appropriate than a rabbit for Whitespot to admire.   The rabbit population in my neighbourhood has exploded with the arrival of Spring.  Whitespot would love to get up close, but he's pretty well behaved on leash around them.  He is getting used to remaining calm when he sees them run by us when we're walking but that doesn't stop him from being on high alert when we get close to any location where he's seen them before.



'I thought I saw a rabbit'

 

'I did....I did see a rabbit'

Sunday afternoon was spent back at the dog beach.   We walked and stopped and chatted with lots of dog owners and at one point towards the end of our time there, we came across a guy and his wolf hybrid.  What a beautiful, gentle dog.  While we were standing chatting, Whitespot must have been tired from our day, because he found a hole that another dog had started digging.  He dug a bit more and made a comfy bed for himself.  While we were hanging out, along came Lisa with Rosie (Bonnie Lassie).  She recognized Whitespot and came over to say hi.  I had actually met Rosie’s brother the weekend before at the Trout Lake gathering.   TG dogs really are everywhere!

(pics are thanks to Aaron and the camera on his phone)

After a long tiring weekend what could be better than a Kuranda bed...a nice reminder of his TG days....

Could there be a better ad for Kuranda beds?

WHITESPOT'S VET UPDATE

I took Whitespot to Dr. Ubi on Saturday and he was pleasantly surprised at how well he has done in the 4 weeks since he had seen him last.   No recommendations other than to keep up the walking we've been doing and to come back in a few weeks for follow-up x-rays.  

So....how do you mess up such a good day, with good results?   You change his food to the next bag in line.  I mixed the 2 foods together to gradually introduce it but it seems the new food does not mesh well with Whitespot's stomach.   Saturday and Sunday he gassed me out of home and out of vehicle.   Poor guy!  He is still nervous about pooping on leash and then we added a second problem. : (

Last night around midnight I was cursing having taught him to ring the bells at the door.  He was so restless and he kept ringing them to go outside 'just in case'.   I hated to ruin the good results of training so I responded each time.  On the last trip outside, I took him for a bit of a walk and then he finally settled around 1:00 in the morning and fell asleep.

On a night like that, living in an apartment, you can't help but wish for a backyard with a door you can just slide open for them to go out.

We switched back to the food he was previously enjoying, added some pumpkin and hopefully all will be well again today.  

DARN LEASH

It doesn’t seem to matter how long or short the leash is…a dog will get tangled!  

There must be a law stating that.

Notice that Whitespot is now harness free?  He is outfitted with a Martingale collar and a quick release collar with his ID tag.   I have two leashes attached to each other and clip one on each collar.  When we get somewhere and I want to give him a little more length I just unclip the leash on the ID collar and he has about 12'.   

A couple of days ago I took Whitespot for a walk at our usual beach.  We had a good long walk and when we were driving home I stopped at a fenced and gated soccer field.   We walked the perimeter and knowing that all gates were closed properly I dropped the leash.  He stayed by my side until he realized his new freedom.  He ran to the fence, promptly peed and then sniffed some good smells on the ground.  Meanwhile, I continued walking.   I was nervous about him being unhooked from me because a soccer field is still a large enough area to make getting a reluctant dog difficult.   But, when I was about 50 feet or so away he looked up at me.  I waived him over and he trotted right towards me.  WHEW!   He did this easily a few times and then just resumed walking by my side.  We only stayed a short amount of time and there are no real big distractions in that field but it’s nice to know we can work on off leash recall in a safe place.  

Whitespot has an appointment at the vet tomorrow for his 4 week follow-up.  Fingers crossed that he is healing well.  From the outside he looks great!  I want the vet to say he looks good on the inside too.  

RIDING IN THE TRUCK

Whitespot started out riding in the back of the truck and would lay down and sleep, no matter how long or short the trip was.  He now rides a good portion of the way, standing up and looking out the window.  He especially seems to like it when my window is rolled down and he can smell everything we pass. 

Here’s the view over my left shoulder as we drive towards the beach

He will actually rest his head on the back of my seat or on the ledge on the back window and close his eyes…almost falling asleep, but still determined to stay sitting up.   When I have left him in the truck to run into the grocery store, etc he lays down and sleeps.  He now knows he can’t just dart out the door when I open it.  I make him sit and wait until I have the leash in my hand and give him the O.K. and then he can get out.   He is a great travel partner.  

POOCHIE BELLS

Quite a while ago I received a set of bells from a friend of mine.  They’re called Poochie Bells and you put them at your front door and train your dog to ring them to ask to go outside.   I finally hung them on the door knob last week and every time I took Whitespot out I moved his face right up to the bells and had him move them.  Lots of praise and then out the door we went.   A few days later, on Saturday, I was on the phone and knew that he wanted to go outside but I ignored him until low and behold he rang those bells on his own.  I got off the phone fast and praised him and took him outside.  I was so excited that he got it that quickly!

Since then he has rung them a couple of other times on his own.   It’s so exciting when a dog starts to show you he’s catching on to what you’re trying to teach.   I tried to catch him doing it on video but you know how it goes when you bring that camera out….all normal activity stops. 

I realized a couple of nights ago that I was making a mistake.   When Whitespot rang those bells on his own I was taking him out and going for a walk too. I don’t want to train him to ring the bells to ask for a walk or he’ll be ringing them every hour.  I only want him to ring the bells for a quick trip outside so I will now just take him out for a quick trip to do his business. 

POOCHIE BELLS LINK

A VIDEO WORTH A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME....

Whitespot's friends at Playful Paws Dog Daycare took footage and edited such a great video I wanted everyone to see it.   I can kinda understand how mom's feel when they drop their kids off at daycare and they appear to have more fun there than at home ; )   He obviously loves the staff!   

They have posted the video on YouTube as well as Facebook and apparently it's making the rounds.  I hate to admit but it made my eyes well up.

LINK TO YOUTUBE

THREE WEEKS HAS FLOWN BY

Me and Whitespot have spent a lot of time down at the dog beach.   He meets every dog happily….even the dogs that are cranky or snippy.   I can’t imagine that he has an aggressive bone in his body.  All of the humans he meets love him and when they find out I’m just fostering, so many say they wish they could take another dog.   He has such a great, easy going personality.   I haven’t met too many huskies but he just doesn’t seem to have that go-go-go personality.   After a few weeks with him I can’t seem to pin down what breed’s personality he is the most like.   Let’s just say he is a breed all to himself!  

Someone meeting him would likely never be aware of his deafness.  He is no different from any other dog because of it.  It is such a non-factor that I mostly forget that he is deaf. 

In the coming week I plan on taking him to a gated off-leash park.  Since his anti-inflammatories have run out he still doesn’t seem to be in any pain or walking any differently on that leg but I do need to be careful that he doesn’t run too hard.  I might just opt for a 20’ line.  He will have more freedom and we can continue working on his recall.   It should be fun!

FRIENDS OF TURTLE GARDENS FUNDRAISING DINNER

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO MORE INFORMATION

Fundraising Dinner and Auction

Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan St, Vancouver, BC

6:00 pm Friday June 3, 2011

SORE HIP?

I tried to catch a decent clip of Whitespot walking.  If his hip is sore at all, you'd never know it.  He hops over logs and sometimes prances when he walks.   Things you'd think a dog would not do if their hip was sore.  Once there is tension on the leash he turns to come back to me.  He's such a good boy!

We had a good weekend.  Lots of walks, which have increased in length so we can build some good muscle and maybe avoid surgery.   I would be surprised if he ends up having surgery at all.   He's doing very well but today his his last day on the anti-inflammatories so we'll see how he does this week. 

On Sunday we met up with the TG bus in Delta for the dog-run.   What a nice bunch of dogs (as usual)!  Whitespot got to see some of his old buddies.  I love it when they recognize each other and are excited by another TG dog.   The reunion that pleased me the most though was Whitespot with Dave.   Whitespot's tail was wagging like it doesn't wag for anyone else.   Dave says he can see a big change in Whitespot now that he's learning city skills and is one on one.  He seems more confident.  

After the dog run we met with Nancy and Ellen (former TG dog Balsam) for a walk in Tsawwassen.   Ellen is looking very trim and healthy and she has sure come a long way with people, other dogs, and car rides.  Nancy says Ellen even takes treats from strangers now.  

Whitespot has sure settled in to our routine well.  He is not a restless dog.  On a weekday he has dog daycare and then a decent walk in the evening and on weekends we have one long outting during the day with some walking and some sitting and then a shorter walk in the evening and he is a happy dog.  

...on the picnic table watching the dog park

WHITESPOT AT PLAYFUL PAWS DOG DAYCARE

All of my foster dogs go to Playful Paws Dog Daycare in Richmond.  
http://www.playfulpaws.net/

One of the staff, Sarah, sent me some good pictures of Whitespot and I wanted to share them so everyone can see just how comfortable he is there.   The shot between the bars is him looking through the fence between the indoor dog area and the office.  Apparently at the end of the day when he sees other dogs leaving for the day he waits for his turn and is on the alert for what the staff are doing in the office.   He really seems to have a good time there.

Lounging in the sunshine on the bench.

Is it my turn yet to come into the office?

Smiling!  

WHITESPOT'S 2 WEEK UPDATE - ON THE TG BLOG

FOLLOW THIS LINK:  WHITESPOT'S 2 WEEK UPDATE