The Lilly Chronicles - Part 5

Well, Lilly has been here just over a month.
and the progress she has made is super!
she goes in and out with all the other dogs
she even goes out when we open the door for her!!
She is learning to just sit still when we want to pick her up
and she knows the feeding times and the excitement everyone gets when
its supper time.

We still need to work on asking for out, learning to trust a bit more
and the leash. Right now Lilly will not tolerate the leash and adding
to her anxiety is not a good thing right now.

Lilly is even learning to come through the Doggie door!

She is responding so well and her continued progress is hopeful.
Lilly is looking for a family with older children (10+) dogs and or
cats...can be an only dog though. Perferably a fenced in yard not a
must though and someone who will contiune to work with Lilly.

Until next time!

-- Tammy

Tink's Foster Iggy

Tink and Iggy

Iggy

Iggy

I just wanted to let you all know that we picked Iggy up this morning in Lancaster. This is my first experience with owner surrender and fostering so I wasn't sure what to make of it all. Iggy's a pretty big boy probably right around 25 lbs--he makes Tink look very tiny at 15lbs! He's well mannered for the most part-- knows how to sit, comes when called (and when he doesn't I know he's found something good, like Tink's kong) and is very content to chew on a bone.
He did show some aggression when Tink literally bumped into him, he continued to growl and become quite possessive of the bone. He did this twice and lost the bone both times and earned a time out both times. He has since then let me touch him while chewing and brought a bone over to chew in my lap. He responds well to verbal praises and cherios (thanks Jodi!) and I think it's only a matter of time before he realizes I'm not going to take everything away from him. He came from a home where it seemed like the kids (5yrs and 1 younger) were all over him even dropping stuff into his crate. I'm sure he had things taken away from him quite frequently. He loves and needs a lot of one on one attention and rightfully so!

He's a smart boy who went right to the door after we came home and immediately pooped outside! He and Tink said brief hellos (she licked him!) but for the most part could care less that the other is around.
Aside from his age of 9 he shouldn't be too much of a challenge to place. He's active but not outrageous, inquisitive but fairly polite. I think a family with an older kid or no kids at all would be lovely! Of course this is all day one, I am well sure that things can and probably will change a bit as he becomes more comfortable!

As I type this, Nick is teaching him "down" and distinguishing between sit and down and back and forth and trying to trick him with not much luck. With Igg's food motivation the whole training thing should be relatively easy.

He's such a happy guy--he's going to make the right family a wonderful pet!

-- Vicki
Tink's Blog

Sparky

Robin, i wanted to take the time to tell you how much i have come to love sparky. my vet puts his age at about 3 years old, which possibly explains why he was dumped at the shelter to begin with; they never taught/trained him to be the gentleman he is quickly becoming, and if you don't train a boston from day one, wellllll, you can get a sparky. he takes to the attention and training quickly; he loves the attention and is actually quite a bit smarter than my last two that came as pups from a champion breeder here in CT. he is a snuggly love bug, but i have had to draw the line with him as he would prefer being "pack leader", but to his dismay, it's me. i've been working on manners and obedience, and he does test me now and then, but i am firm with him and if he had a tail to go between his legs, that's what would happen, as he goes into his crate for a self-imposed time out when reprimanded.

we have no problems so far passing other dogs; he looks, but no barking or carrying on. i have a trainer that will be working with us starting next week regarding walking on leash without pulling, heeling and paying attention. he does have a short attention span right now, but i am working with him daily and he is getting so much better. he does sit, down, stay and leave it. he sits at his dinner bowl until i say he can have it. he's a great watch dog, and has learned to stop barking and sit when it is someone i know at the door. he is especially fond of the pizza guy; i wonder why? (cheese) he has learned that i go out the door and in the door before he does. kip told me he doesn't really know how to play, so we work on fetch and other fun games. i am not fond of tugging games, so we don't do any of that. my vet says it's not so much aggression as it is fear with him, which is why he reacts with a growl or bark. working on that also.

i! sparky & i would love to be on your website. i am so excited to let you know that sparky goes on walks with other dogs now (together w/one walker) and loves to run & play in the dog park (yes, they are all unleashed). no fighting whatsoever!!!!!!! he is in a 4 wk training program 2 hrs a day and is loving it. we are working primarily on the front door greeting; i need him to bark for my protection but NOT to go for my friends when they come in the front door. he needs to learn to back off & stay, so the trainer is working on that with me. not sure if i sent a picture; here are a couple just in case i did not. he is a wonderful dog and i feel truly blessed to have him in my life. one of the pics has him in his favorite window in the sun.


and goofy as it sounds, we do the "sparky dance" every night. he likes to walk on his hind legs, so when i say let's do the sparky dance, he dances on his hind legs, and yes, i dance with him. corny, but fun.

he lets me handle him anywhere (kip did a great job desensitizing him) and still gives me kisses, even though he can't always sit on the couch with me and must sleep in the crate at night (not in my bed where we would both prefer) so he understands he is the dog and i am the person (this per my vet's instructions for now). right now it's invitation only so he curls up in his wonderfully comfortable bed looking sad & pathetic (i tried it out) and loves to lie in the sun in the window seat all day.
i have him licensed in Avon, and you are not getting him back. he loves to ride in the car with me and get a plain munchkin from the girls at the dunkin donuts drive thru. i usually am not a people food for dogs person, but he loves it so it's a special treat for him when we go.

my vet says he's a wonderful dog but a handful, and that we should be perfect together as long as i am willing to put in the time with him, which of course i am. he's a wonderful, loving dog and i am so happy that i have the opportunity to get to keep him and love him.

kip is a gem, and did such a great job with him.

take care, and know that sparky is in loving hands. corinne freaney

-- contributed by Robin

A Major Achievement

Ha-Na has finally learned how to jump up onto the couch all by
herself! Now, if we could just figure out those steps!

She will go up a few steps if i put her in the middle. But she wont
start going up by herself. im sure she will be flying up and down
with the other girls in no time. She really is a loving dog, so much
wanting for attention.

-- Amy

Amber Finds a Forever Home

Just wanted to let you know that Amber will be going to her Forever Home on Tuesday, February 17th! Her new mommy has off that week and will be able to give her the much needed one-one attention she so deserves. And by a happy coincidence, she will be the neighbor of Bea. The two girls will be neighbors again, only this time they are in loving homes and not cages.

-- Contributed by Emily Tiemann

Daphne Update

I just got off the phone with Valerie, Daphne's new mom. I must say that I am very pleased to say that things are going wonderfully! Daphne came out of her crate yesterday, and pottied outside with the other dogs. She now has a fenced in yard to run, and came back in all by herself with her new "pack". She also was out and about with her dog brother and sister for a ride in the car to Petsmart. Valerie said that she walks better on a leash then all the others! She even got to sleep in bed with them last night. Which I am sure that she loved! She is bonding especially with her new dad, Kevin. Valerie says that she thinks it's because he gives her lots of food, go figure. Talking to her definitely confirmed my thoughts of her being a great fit with their family. Valerie said that she put Daphne up on the couch yesterday for a nap and she crawled right over to her son, who was sleeping there as well, and they were nose to nose! Thanks so much to Debbi who highlighted this family for me! Have a great night!

Tiffany

The Family Dog Bed

Click photo to make larger.

-- Contributed by Katie Jane Costanza of
4bostonlovers2chat@yahoogroups.com

A Dog, A Cat, and A Rat

This is a video of a homeless man in Santa Barbara and his pets. They work State Street every week for donations. The animals are pretty well fed and are mellow. They are a family. The man who owns them rigged up a harness for his cat so she wouldn't have to walk so much (like the dog and himself). At some juncture the rat came along, and as no one wanted to eat anyone else, the rat started riding with the cat and, often, on the cat! The dog, will stand all day and let you talk to him and admire him for a few chin scratches. The Mayor of Santa Barbara filmed this clip and sent it out as a holiday card.