RETURN GUEST AND RUNNING ON THE BEACH

Last week, me and Riley had a surprise guest.   Whitespot, who is now called Merc, was being boarded by the dog daycare that I go to.  His family had booked a trip that he could not travel with them on and they felt confident leaving him with Playful Paws who already knew him from his 9 weeks of foster time.   Merc is still very dog social but he was trying to claim the person who was boarding him and was being a bit overbearing with the resident dog.  So, what a treat for me to have a few nights with him.  He looks great and is a very happy and confident boy.  I think as he has grown out of his teenage phase he has become a little more cocky, he struts like he knows he's good looking, but all in all he is still the same funny, quirky guy.  Riley was a little put out with having to share his recently acquired digs but after a day together they were playing quite well.  Merc has always been especially good with little dogs.   After a few nights with me and Riley he went back to be boarded.  I heard that when he went back he did alot better at sharing the people.   This dog will aways hold a special place with me...it was so nice to see him again.



Merc...looking more handsome than ever.



Synchronized fence sniffing with Riley

Back when I was fostering Merc I used a 40' leash and making sure you don't get all tangled up is a full time task.  You have to make sure you're on the right side of the leash and hope that the dog doesn't get zoomies and tie you up by running circles around you.   So 2 dogs, one at each end of an 80' leash was just asking for trouble when they both decided they could get along well enough to play.   I left the video as is and you can catch my 'oh oh' moment before the camera gets off track. 

Today, Riley and I went down to the beach and he is getting alot more confident about venturing further away from me but most of the time he is right at my side and even when he goes venturing away its still not very far...unless there's a crow on HIS BEACH.  

SHAKIN THE SAND OFF...AND VISITING WITH YVETTE

I absolutely love the sport mode on my camera.  It allows me to catch mid action shots that I'd never be able to capture otherwise.  It also has helped me shoot those dogs that magically know exactly when the camera is about to click and they turn their heads away.

I went to take rapid shots of Riley and he shook the sand off and I thought the pictures were kinda neat.  Don't you wonder how they don't hurt themselves when those ears slap to the sides of their little faces?

As you may know from reading the Turtle Gardens blog, Yvette is in town this week and me and Riley went and met with her the other night.   Some of the TG dogs once they have been adopted have, what I think is a funny reaction to seeing her again.   Like Queenie (now Maki) at the TG walk last year who went up to Yvette and pretended to not know her.  You could see she was pretending because she still wanted to be nearby but not necessarily acknowledge her.   When Yvette sat for a few group photos you could see Queenie, who was off-leash and had a choice, devotedly sitting by her feet.  Anyways, Riley went up very tentatively to Yvette's outstretched hand the same as he cautiously approaches a stranger.  As we stood and talked he kept going back to her and smelling her pant leg and shoes (something he wouldn't do with a stranger).  Finally, after a delay, he got excited about seeing her.   He then jumped all over her lap in the truck to lick her face.   It was a happy moment to see rescued dog reunited with rescuer. 

A GREAT DAY AT THE BEACH

So, I'm not sure whether to say I haven't blogged much because quite frankly I don't want to see Riley go or if I should blame it on being busy.  Blogging does seem to get these foster dogs adopted quicker and Riley has just been such a great joy to have around.   We went down to the beach on Sunday and had so much fun fetching and wading in the water.  All off leash too!  He has been fetching the ball at home and this sounds like just an ordinary thing to most dog owners, but TG dogs just don't seem to come to town with that skill in their bag of tricks.  In fact, for some it can take some time to even want to play with toys at all, much less run to get them and bring them back.  But, Riley runs fast to get the ball and runs equally fast to bring it back to you.  He jumps up to bring the ball to your face!  Maybe he thinks I'm supposed to take it back from him with my mouth?   He's just so friggin cute in everything he does. 

Well I tried throwing sticks for him at the beach and even with all the distractions he fetches it.  Oh, unless it has too much sand on it which he doesn't like getting in his mouth.

Here are some pics of Riley fetching his stick:  (You can click on a picure to make it bigger)

...another stick?

Another thing that can take some dogs time to adjust to is the water.  On Riley's first day at the beach he wouldn't even put a foot in.  But yesterday, when I waded in he walked out to me.  When he got to the point where he could just barely touch I would hold him under the belly and turn him towards shore.  I would hold him for a few seconds to start paddling and then let him swim back.  He kept coming back for more and he seems to be enjoying it.   When I come back to the beach with him he gets all wiggly and proud of himself.

He is so good off leash.  He sticks close by, almost tripping you at times because he's too close.  His confidence is building and he will now venture a little further away from me.  When I whistle for him he stops what he's doing and darts back over to me, tail wagging and happy to be called back.   What a great little buddy he is.

After the beach we went back home for a bit.  Do you think Riley had a tiring day at the beach?  It's a very hard life, but some dogs gotta do it!

THE LIFE OF RILEY

So, yesterday was the dog run and it was a busy day.  Riley was brought into the barn and he immediately went to hide.  I left him there for the duration of the adoptions and when almost all of the dogs had gone I went to meet him and coax him out of hiding.  Such a scary adventure for these dogs and once they arrive after their long ride, we are quick to unload them.   Unloading is stressful too because they don't know what's happening and I like to believe the quicker we get it done the less stress it is on each of them.   I tried to get a leash on Riley and he wasn't having any part of that.  I had him cornered with no where to run and hide so I gave him some time to get used to having me near him.  I withdrew the leash and put out an empty hand instead and he let me pet him.  He was afraid of me moving forward with the leash.  The funny thing is that as soon as I petted him on his side he moved forward to snuggle up on my lap like he couldn't get close enough.  He warms up very fast as long as you have the right approach (patient and gentle).   But, no matter, we will be working on socializing him with so many people he will wonder what all the fuss was about.  New people will represent affection and treats and good things.  His world is opening up and it will all be good.

I took a couple of pictures yesterday of Olivia as she came with us until dinner time when her new people could pick her up.  What a gem of a dog they got themselves.  She walks along side you and runs a bit ahead so she can look back up at you better.  She is going to bond hard and fast and be an awesome companion!

Today was Riley's first day at dog daycare.   For the first day, we get going as early as the dog daycare opens so he can be there before most of the dogs get there and the introductions are a bit easier that way.  The staff at Playful Paws are very dog savvy and I always feel good about taking the dogs there.  While we were getting ready in the morning I was able to catch him on video.  He can balance very well sitting up or standing on his hind legs and when he sits up he kicks out with his front legs together...it's so cute.  I could only catch him doing it when he lays on his back though.  He's quite playful, which is a good sign of confidence and trust that he can do that with me after his first day.



He wasn't very happy to see me walking away but I'm told he did well at dog daycare.  He did not play very much with the other dogs though and opted to follow the staff around.   I'm hoping he will get into the groove of playing as the week goes on.  

After daycare we went to the beach and I put Riley on the long leash.  He stuck very close by, like a shadow and was nervous at first when new dogs approached him.  I know he's dog social from being at Turtle Gardens but these new dogs in a new setting had his tail tucked for a bit.  By the end of our time down there he had a full curl on the tail, even when someone approached.  When down at the waters' edge he didn't get too close until I stepped ankle deep in the water and then he came in to meet me.   I think he will learn to like it once he figures it out.   On our walk back to the parking lot he started venturing further away on the leash.  He would stop and look back at me and if I clapped my hands he ran back to me like a flash.  

Tail Barometer:  FULL CURL

We got home and he had a bath which he took really well.  He didn't even try to escape.  Small dogs are so much easier to clean. 

Oh yeah...and guess who is happy to ride in the car too?!

WHO IS NEXT YOU ASK...

Riley is on the Turtle Gardens bus right now.  He will come to Delta tomorrow and I will get to start my 20th foster gig.  It's been a little while since I had such a small guy...it will be nice to have someone to cuddle (you do cuddle don't you Riley?).  Pictures, videos and stories to follow.  I wonder if he likes horse statutes (we sure know Sail didn't).

SO SIMILAR...YET SO BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE

I saw Jude tonight with her recently adopted TG dog Lacey and previously adopted TG dog Mya and was telling her how much Lacey looks like Jaxon who I fostered last August.  I was going through pictures to send her and realized that Little Bear (late 2009 foster) also looks like them.   It never ceases to amaze me how many TG dogs remind me of other TG dogs, but I guess when you get the same mom or same dad for many litters its bound to happen.  I guess that's how we all manage to point each other out in the city too.  "Hey your dog looks like my dog..."  TG dogs ARE everywhere.


LACEY

JAXON

LITTLE BEAR

TG ALUMNI BEKKA

Yahoo, someone answered my call for pictures. 

On my last dogless blog I asked for your less than perfect pics from your best buddies.  Its not too late to still send me pictures...we have one more dogless week before I can foster-blog again.

To see the previous blog ....(click here)

Thank you Wendy from Salt Spring for sending these pics of Bekka (and friends):  The third shot is my favorite!



Apparently the sheep is not for sharing today



Their best 'pretend to be wild dogs' pose



TWO DOGLESS WEEKS

Anyone wanna help me fill some blog days with your own Turtle Gardens dog and the pictures you never submitted to Yvette for the TG blog because they had a stupid grin, or were licking their nose or winking with both eyes, etc.   Send me something and you will be posted right here! 

Email me at foster4tg@gmail.com

Here are some pics of the my foster dogs (except Dalia's foster Renata)

SAIL (NOW DAKOTA)

MY FIRST FOSTER - BELLA NOEL (NOW KAIA)

EATING GRASS AND GRINNING - MINDY (NOW BRYNA)

MINDY

DALIA'S FOSTER DOG RENATA

TOWEL DRY ME AGAIN...AND I'LL GET YOU GOOD - ROSIE (NOW MOLLY)

YEAH....WHAT THE DOG ABOVE ME SAID!  - QUEENIE (NOW MAKI)

YAWN - TWO WEEKS OF NO DOG BLOGS?  - WHITESPOT (NOW MERCUTIO)

SAIL WENT HOME TODAY

The people adopting Sail live on the Island and have been missing a dog in their lives since their dog passed away last year.   They both work from home and are looking forward to beach walks and having a new companion.   Spot who came to town a few weeks ago and stayed overnight at my place was also going to her home today so she tagged along with us.  Gloria, who is fostering Genoa (Sail’s pup) was also fostering Spot so she brought both dogs to the Ferry with her today.

When Genoa saw Sail she was quite happy to see her mom and took no time in going to her belly to check out the milk situation.   Sail hopped away with an ‘I don’t think so’ expression.   It was so cute to see them together.   They behaved in ways that Gloria and I haven’t seen them with any other dog.

I went on the 7:45 ferry to Duke Point because I was worried about sailing too late on a long weekend.  Even with walk-on you can be bumped to the next sailing….it’s about the number of life jackets, so they only let so many passengers on – either walk-on or in vehicles.   Well, I really didn’t need to worry about whether I’d get on the 7:45 or not because I walked on with Spot in a dog carry bag and with Sail and went up to the dog room and they never even used the upper car deck.  They didn’t load even one car up there and it was a little weird when we sailed away with an empty deck.  I thought I was alone but there was one other person and her dog and one or two Ferry staff but that was it.  So I walked the dogs around the car deck for a while to give them a chance to check everything out.  They walked quite nicely together.

After our little walk we went and sat on the ground near a railing.  We had our own private view of the water and some sunshine to bask in.  Both dogs laid down and dozed.  You can’t ask for anything better when you take dogs on the Ferry.  

A sleeping position reserved for the Ferry deck.  Apparently
wind on the belly feels good.

The people adopting Sail were very happy to see her.  They had asked at the Ferry ticket stand about the cut off time for me to buy my return fare and get back on Board and in the process had told the woman about adopting a dog so we had to take Sail over to meet her and get a cookie and then they were on their way.  Her new name will be Dakota and she walked away with them quite well.  I had to get going so I can’t honestly say whether she looked back for me very much.   Spot happily left with Maureen, on her way to Quadra Island where she will have other dogs in her family (including a TG alumni) and a beautiful yard to hang out in.  Her new name will be Tilly.    I can’t wait to see the updates from both dogs.

Do sleeping faces get any cuter?