SKITTLES SAYS GOODBYE

Last Saturday I took Skittles to an off leash and fenced dog park to see how he would do.  Just as I suspected the second that leash is unclipped he wanders around sniffing with his own agenda.  When called he doesn't even look my direction.  So on went the leash and we left for the beach.  While I was driving to McDonald Beach I was thinking its just as well as we get more exposure to potential homes down there anyways.  So Skittles and I head off on our walk. 

I feel the need to share a quick video of him walking along side me so you can see just how close he sticks by when he's on leash.  The extending leash hardly ever moves.  

So as we walk down the beach...here is the sequence of pictures that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new life for Skittles.  I didn't even know at the time I was catching pictures of his new family.

Skittles...looking down the beach - hasn't noticed the dog in
the distance yet

Ears go up..."I see him"

"Lets go closer...he looks like he's having fun."  When I enlarged the
picture I can see Leah up on the hill looking towards Skittles.

" wanna play? "

So this little black dog and his owner approached and I introduced Skittles and she really liked him so I told her I'm fostering him and he's looking for a home.  She asked where he was from and when I told her Turtle Gardens she said Crosby was from there too!  Crosby used to be Ritter and Leah had recently sent an update on him. (CLICK HERE for the Turtle Gardens Blog with Crosby's update)  Leah even mentions they would like to adopt another TG dog soon.

Skittles is going home tonight to Leah, Brian and Crosby and he will have a feline friend as well.  A new name is already picked out and I think he's going to be Geno, which suits him really well.



I always seem to get these pics right before they're adopted.
They look right up at you like they want to say something...
like they know it's time to go.

 I'm not sure if you call it Kismet, Fate or Destiny that we were on that beach at the same time.  Either way - as Yvette would say "how cool is that!"

SKITTLES AT DAYCARE

While I'm busy at work, Skittles has been busy having fun at dog daycare.   Playful Paws Daycare takes the best care of all of my fosters and I do like to give them a shout-out every so often.  They have daycare for big and small dogs separately and they also do home boarding.  They recently posted a video of the dogs on the little side and Skittles of course is in the center of alot of it (not one to be left out of any action)

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Playful Paws is in Richmond at No. 5 Road and Westminster Highway
Check out their blog for more information: http://www.playfulpaws.net/

In other news, Skittles now has a few applications and we have had one meet and greet already.  I will post an update on that soon and will also add some pictures from the last week that I took...maybe even a video.

SKITTLES ONE WEEK UPDATE

I've had Skittles with me for one week now and I'm floored that there isn't a flood of applications for him.  Some dogs have a way of surprising you and applications are the opposite of what you'd have though.  Well, he's got such a cute, easy personality that he's welcome to stay as long as he wants.

So far, I've only heard a single bark out of him.  He's even quiet when he plays.  He likes toys but only plays briefly if he's on his own.  I've been told that he plays well with other dogs at daycare and even meeting dogs on a walk he initiates play.  When we are out and about he goes up to strangers with a tail wagging and accepts any attention he can get.  He is fearless in his approach with most dogs too, no matter what size they are.  He really does seem to have a bigger dog personality for such a little package.  His coat is a little patchy because he's had mats cut off but he's still very soft and I don't think his haircut takes a single ounce of cuteness away from him.  He accepts being brushed and at times seems to enjoy it but is still a bit sensitive to being brushed some of the time and isn't sure about it all.  

He is curious and has a funny, quirky way about him.  When you talk to him he dances around you a bit and likes to reach his head back to fan his face with his tail.  He is also very well balanced to stand on his hind legs.  It took a couple of days for him to get on board with eating dry dog food but once he realized that's all that was being offered he finally dug in and has been eating his food with enthusiasm.  In fact, when we get home from dog daycare he runs from the front door to his dog dish to eat.

I have also found a treat that he really likes and can get him to come running from any room to sit and take a treat gently.  I love how he crunches a corn puff, so I had to catch him on video: 

On Saturday night I had a friends birthday to go to, so Skittles went to another foster's home (thank you Jodi) where he had the company of two pugs and a couple of cats.  He did well with the cats so it's good to know he could go to a home with cats and fit in very well.  When other dogs are around he does need to be watched carefully at first because he'd sooner lift a leg on a toy that the other dog is enjoying rather than have to share it.  He is completely clean at my place but then I don't have another dog around for him to impress.   I'm sure he is capable of learning not to do this but just needs some guidance.  

Skittles is a great companion and someone is going to be really lucky to have him.  He is becoming more entertaining the longer he's here and the more I get to know him the more I love him!

SKITTLES THE TWO-LEGGED DANCER

Skittles is on a bit of a hunger strike right now, as he's waiting for something better to come along.  He did eat a bit of food at the barn on Saturday and ate some food when we got home Saturday afternoon.  On Sunday he ate a few pieces and then gave me 'the look'.   I added some sweet potato and he licked that off of the kibble and even picked up a few pieces of kibble to make sure he got all the good stuff off of both sides and then deposited the kibble on the floor.  So tonight, I added a spoonful of turkey/veg/rice baby food and again he licked that off of the kibble and left every piece clean.   I ate my dinner while he slept a bit and when I got up and picked up the plate off of the table this is what I got.....

Apparently someone has learned the fine art of looking adorable to get what he wants...or perhaps it comes natural to his breed.   Either way, he was happy to recreate the dance for me once I got the camera out.

He had his first day at daycare today and when I picked him up he was practically shuffling with being tired.  I was told that he did very well and that he played with quite a few dogs.  I suppose the entire new experience was enough to wipe him out.  

MEET SKITTLES

Skittles is my new foster who came down with the Turtle Gardens van today.  He was already fostered for a while with Vicky up North and she's done a great job with him. He's pretty much ready for adoption as he  is no longer the shy and fearful dog that came to Turtle Gardens.  He is friendly and curious and playful.  (The pictures are from Piper - taken at today's dog run - thank you Piper...amazing pics as always)

After we left the barn in Delta we came home and Skittles seemed quite restless.  He drank quite a bit of water, I showed him around and he could not sit still.  Not even long enough for me to enjoy a bowl of soup.   So we headed out the door and walked to the school field.  He's actually pretty good on leash already - he got the hang of it very quickly once he realized that he really wasn't going to be able to just run anywhere and everywhere.  He's not all that fond of the leash when we're at a stand still as it just holds him back from exploring those extra few feet away....so he kept biting at the leash, although after our walk he wasn't doing that much anymore. 

He has eaten a bit and drank some more water and still didn't want to settle.  So, out came the cushy dog bed and I put it next to my computer.   He actually looked like a kid that was over tired and was fighting off a nap.  I put him on leash and he paced and whined for a bit.   I ignored him and worked on the computer for a while getting some Turtle Gardens dogs posted on Petfinder and he eventually settled on the bed and has been asleep for the last two hours.  I knew it!  He just needed help to get in the nap groove.