Griffin: end of week 4

 Griffin continues to be a gentle house guest.  He has discovered squirrels at the bird feeder RIGHT under his window.  So, though he may live with a cat and be tolerant of her, she is very curious about the bushy tails, I think he'd give chase if given half a chance.  Likewise with deer. He smells them in the meadow and forest and won't leave the smell alone.  He has a very good nose.

We left him in the carriage house with Storm when we went to dinner last Tuesday.  e came home to no damage or bad aroma in the house.  He just needs a babysitter, so he won't be alone.  

Griffin puts himself to bed when I head in that direction.  He sleeps from 9:30 to 5:30 with few interruptions.  He can hold his pee from 8:00pm to 7:00am if there are too many air-borne distractions when we go out at 9:30pm and 5:30am. He has very rigid pee spot requirements so if I don't take him to his preferred spot and he doesn't really have to go, he won't.  Frustrating for me; no big deal for him. 

He takes is pills eagerly now that we wrap them in meat.  He's almost got "down" but sometimes he acts like he's never heard the word.  If Paul waits long enough and reinforces the placement of the treat, he suddenly remembers.  He'll "stop" licking or chewing when we ask.  He'll "wait" for a bit but doesn't know "stay".

 

Griffin: end of week 2

 Griffin is settling to his new routine.

He is not food aggressive or protective: we can move his food bowl when he's eating.  He doesn't lunge for his bowl when we put food in it; instead, he waits to be invited to eat. He doesn't like peanut butter, so we hide his pills (doxycycline and Denamarin for liver support) in meat: one decoy, two decoy, hidden pills and the last decoy. As long as he thinks there's more meat coming, he doesn't spit out the pill.  He takes the meat with a gentle snap, not enough to hurt, but also sure to receive it. He's gained a little weight but still has his youthful figure. He's just not as sharply boney. 

Before the snow, Griffin pulled off the path to poop.  Now that there's snow up to his belly he sniffs for where he has gone before but can't get off the path. He might be a poop eater.

Griffin knows his name and usually comes when called.  He is learning "down" but he came with a great "sit". He is learning to be on a towel we have put at our table while we eat but would rather be on the sofa. Paul is working on "shake" and "paw". I bring out a doggy-puzzle before bedtime.  He knows there is food under the yellow cups and scratches like mad to get to it.  One night he was able to pick out a cup with his teeth. 

Even after 3 baths, he still scratches and bites his back end.  He usually stops if I say "Grifffin, stop". While he doesn't love his bath and doesn't like going downstairs to the bathroom, he stands quietly and respectfully in the tub while Paul rubs and scrubs him.  He's only a 3-towel bather. His back and belly are less red, and some hair is growing in but there is a sharp and visible line where the flea damage occurred. Above the line toward his shoulders his hair is thick and fluffy.  

Griffin and Storm get along well. Sylvester isn't a fan. Yet. 

Our nighttime routine is very peaceful. After a pee break, he rests with his head in Paul's lap. Paul takes him out at 8:00 then goes to his computer.  After his puzzle time and a pill, Griffin and I go out for one last pee at 9:30.  He heads to his bed on the floor beside my bed.  He seems to know the word "bed", at least at 9:30 at night. He stays there until I get up at 5:30. An occasional scratch and bite, but he doesn't wander or talk all night.

His biggest issue (after his medical problems) is separation anxiety when his man leaves him.  I am apparently chopped liver. He whines, howls, and barks for a long time at the offending door or window. Then he scratches at the door.  We have built barriers to prevent damage, but I've seen nose and paw prints on the windows much higher than normal. A radio didn't seem to help. Toys with food didn't help since he's not a chewer and he doesn't seem to know what to do with chewables. If we leave a paper or rug on the floor, he poops on or near it.  He may have been paper trained to help with his previous owner's long days.

Watching for Dad

Griffin: Day 4

 He really doesn't like his pills.  He doesn't like peanut butter either.  He spits the pill out but keeps the cheese and eats around the pills in his kibble bowl.  Lebanon bologna worked this morning.

He knows what happens when he goes down the stairs to the basement...a bath.  While he just stands in the tub and lets Paul scrub and rub him, it's not his favorite, so he has to be urged down those stairs. 

Sylvester is in a high state of anxiety any time he's upstairs.  He's better in the loft. 

King and Queen on their thrones

Griffin: Day 3

 We were told Griffin is timid around men. 

Tuesday night Griffin just couldn't settle.  He fussed and cried at the garage door which is where Paul disappears for much of the night.

Wednesday night he fussed but decided his bed pillow beside my bed would be adequate.  Much better sleeping arrangement. 

Griffin: Day 2

 His social calendar was packed today. We got up at 5:30a for a brisk (10 degree) morning pee, had a leisurely breakfast of soaked oatmeal and Proplan 30-20. Then he and Paul saw Dr. Kim at Centre Animal Hospital for a full assessment and all possible immunizations since he came with no records. Teeth and boosters will come later. He's a healthy 39# with a nice waist.

The afternoon was spent in the carriage house snuggling with Storm. They had lots of curiosity and tail wagging, but no hissing or growling.  

Kissy-kissy

While Griffin is in the carriage house, Sylvester spends some quality time in the sun. He is not comfortable or relaxed and listens intently for the click of dog nails on the wooden floor.  Then he's gone in a flash.  

After a full afternoon of love, Griffin came back to the main house and protected me from 3 deer in the back yard.  He watched carefully and growled quietly until they were out of sight.  That's the only time I've heard him growl.

Sleep didn't come easily to our new boy.  He knows which door leads to Paul and Storm and stands there talking to it, begging it to open.  Even after several trips outside and a change of bedding location he wandered, scratched, and fussed looking for his 2 lost buddies.  Maybe it was the vet visit that had him uncomfortable, or maybe this is his real personality, but this will not do, Monsieur. Perhaps we are looking at some separation anxiety.   

Griffin: First 24 hours

 He’s a gentleman. I’ve never trusted a first -night foster to be unattended all night. Griffin slept on the sofa from 9:00p to 5:30a. He might have gone longer but since I was awake, we went out. 

He's found his spot.

He has a badly flea-bitten rump which causes him endless scratching and biting. Paul gave him a bath immediately upon arriving home so there are no more bugs but it’s going to take a while for new hair to grow in. Benedryl isn’t helping. 

He’s thin but not emaciated. Wanda at Wiscoy suggested oatmeal and some proplan 30/20 to settle his digestive tract since he had been eating Pedigree, a sugary grocery store food with a 1-star rating from dogfoodadvisor.com. His stool is firm, so he probably doesn’t have a high load of parasites. He pulls off the trail into the weeds to poop just like Remington did. And he doesn’t travel as he does his business. 

He turned up his nose at peanut butter but likes string cheese and bacon. 

He knows “sit” and his name. He might know “wait”. He traveled in his 6 cars from Dayton to Julian well, in crates and tethered. He came with a new pillow bed and a lovely orange harness. And fleas. 

His teeth need attention. We don’t know when his last immunizations were. I'm sure hoping he’s heartworm negative. 

He hasn’t met Sylvester yet. Griffin and Storm ate dinner face to face with the breezeway door closed between them. Neither was fazed. At their appointments today for meets and greets in the carriage house, Storm stood still, murder mittens at the ready, as Paul and Griffin (on a leash) explored. Again, no worries by either. 

I brought Sylvester up from the basement while Paul and Griffin were out. He lasted about 30 seconds before he dove for his safe room. I’ll take his water fountain down to him. 

Griffin is a very calm, orange and mostly white Brittany, possibly 7 yo, neutered male with an elegant head and a long cropped tail with a stinger. We haven’t heard him make more noise than a talk to himself. We were told he doesn't like men especially, but he fusses when Paul leaves him behind. 

We could be in trouble if his behavior continues on this path. Just putting it out there now: foster failure warning.  

Storm as hunter and NBRAN Transport

 Storm caught a mouse in the garage.  She's all about hunting now: beetles, bugs, mice, anything that mores.  Paul often carries her between houses now since she spends so much time hunting. 

We transported 2 Brittany puppies (6-7 months) to DuBois.  Tjhey came from Cheri Heimbach, Gambol's breeder in Lewisburg. They have a neurological disorder that gives them very shaky movements.  Apparently, there is no cure or alleviation of this condition although it isn't painful. They were crammed into a 1-dog crate and didn't mind at all.  They traveled quietly. They are to be fostered by Theresa Bair in Canton, OH where I took Huck in April. 

Then the garden club had a tour of the Happy Valley Lavender Farm. It's 3 yo and has about 1000 plants.  It's not Provence or Australia and they are kept gumball sized so it's not English hedges, but it's very cool anyway.

Dinner at Champs.

Huck: Day 6

 We went to be early because I knew we were getting up between 10: and midnight. Sure enough, at 10:00 the barking began. He might have heard some barking in the valley or he might have had a dream, but we went out to pee. Again around midnight. Then he was settled for the night. As soon as we came back inside, he ploped on his bed with no worries.  Peculiar boy.

Huck needs to work on:

• coming to his name ("Huck here")
• not counter surfing (cans with pennies help, on the sofa too)
• putting anything over his head, hooking leash to collar
• walking on a short leash without circling his handler
• controlling his excitement when seeing/smelling deer/squirrels or even us
• anxiety when his person leaves
• jumping on people (sharp "NO" is working)

Huck is pretty good at:

• chewing on bones but not Kongs (we've had no other chew problems)
• NO
• house trained but needs to go out at about 6 hrs.  He'll bark to let us know.
• travels in a car with no anxiety or upset
• doesn't beg at table; learning to stay on his spot while we eat
• eats quickly; drinks a lot but not out of the toilet

Huck is friendly but strong.  If he thinks there is an interloper nearby, he'll pull me nearly off my feet, then circle me with the leash.  His adopters need breed knowledge and experience as his previous owners used an e-collar but maybe didn't have any training on how to effectively use it.  Click-NO might have been the only training Huck has had. Huck lived with a Labrador and 5 cats. He might have been terrorized by the cats.  He was calm when a large dog approached him at the vet but barked wildly when approached by a small dog.

Huck and Paul have passed the water trough numerous times on their walks; Huck usually takes a quick drink but today he hopped in and looked like he was in spa-heaven.  Water was right up to the top with all the rain we've had.

Sylvester spent the morning between the loft and the sewing room following the sun.  In the sewing room he found a wad of aluminum foil which he batted around.  He has a favorite pile of fabril that he forms Just so after I shove it all back in its place.  It's a battle with no winner...until I use it all. 

Huck: Benadryl to the rescue

 After a good day of normal walks and gnawing on his marrow bone, Huck had a terrible night.  We are sure he isn't used to sleeping in a crate.  He may be lonely and afraid of abandonment or something, but he was up again from 0100-0230, barking, whining, and running circles around the breezeway.  When we went out, he reminded me of Dad's old model airplanes on a wire.  Huck ran circles around me.  I finally put everything chewable out of that room, gave him a Benadryl, and went back to my bed and Sylvester.  That seemed to do the trick.  He was quiet until Paul joined him at 0545.  What did I say about longer days?

I bought this at Giant food store a spontaneous, impetuous, purchase.  Yellow is an unusual color for grocery store orchids. It rebloomed after sitting on the kitchen window for a year.  It's in a terracotta orchid pot which I drench every week so it gets the moisture it needs without getting soggy.  This is the bottom blossom; 4 more to open up the stem.

Phalaenopsis amabilis, commonly known as the moon orchid, moth orchid, or mariposa orchid,

Huck: Day 3 Days are getting longer and it's not because it's spring

 Last night Huck and I hung out till 9:30 (an hour after my bedtime) before we started our bedtime prep.  Snack with minimal water, pee, and again, he walked into his crate peacefully but balked when I closed the door. He wasn't as frantic as last night. I sat with him for 30 min talking and patting his paws.  When I covered him he told me "Not yet" but when I ignored him, he settled down.  

I thought I heard him rattle around at 0300 but I ignored him.  At 0500 (an hour before my normal wake up) I definitely heard him, so I got up to take him out.  No puddle.  He burst out of the crate like a maniac and raced around the room. No water in his pan. No food in the dish.  What's this hotel coming to? Eventually he slowed down so I could get the leash on him to get out to water the daffodils. (Relief) The day has begun. 

By the time we took care of business and had breakfast Paul arrived at 0545, his normal time.  Then they were off for a forest walk and a supervised marrow bone chew.  Heaven at a 5-star hotel. Then a nap.

We have a change of plans for next Wednesday. Chris has a long-term foster lined up in Canton, Ohio so we cancelled my airline ticket and the rental car.  Huck and I are going to drive 3.5 hrs to meet Theresa.  Then I'll go the rest of the way to Dayton.  I really like the plan because it gets Huck to stability sooner.  

Huck: Day 2

 Paul took him out at 0545 but he had already peed in the corner of his crate.  So, we'll need to tweak the bedtime routine.

Huck doesn't like to put his harness over his head.  Even with a treat he's reluctant.  He doesn't pull on the lead (unless he sees a deer) as much as some dogs we've known but we still double leash him for safety.  A longer leash that gives him more roaming space works wonders, too.He has a hunter orange collar with our names/phones, so one lead goes there and the other on the harness.  

He settled on the futon pillow while we ate breakfast.  We are hoping to teach him that is his spot, so he doesn't wander, counter surf, and worse while.  He's an "eyes-on" dog at all times for the time being. 

Today Huck visits Centre Animal Hospital for his immunizations so he can go to the kennel next week while we are in Dayton.  The only medical records we have are from when he was 6 months old.  He has some catching up to do. 

His vet results are good.  No stool sample issues. He tested positive for Lyme so he's on doxycycline.  With the number of crusty old tick bites, we aren't surprised.  He takes pills easily with a hunk of cheese. He was so focused on what's next he didn't even know he'd swallowed. 

Huck has made himself at home. He'd prefer Paul's leather sofa but settles for the quilt covered black settee.  He loves to check out what's on the counters.  I see some penny cans in his future,

Huck

 We picked him up today. He's almost 4, friendly to us, and has a beautiful orange coat but might be a bit of a wild-child. He traveled confidently: no nausea or crying. He sat next to Paul while tethered to a safety belt as is our normal dog-pick-up mode.  (Paul drives dog-less.  I drive when we have a dog.)  Huck's kind of stubby so maybe he is a French Brittany as it states on his purchase agreement from the breeder in Lancaster.  (Lancaster is known for its Amish puppy mills, so who knows what any info from them means. His parents are listed with French names, so maybe that's the French part.)

He is curious and checked out every corner of our house as if he were a drug interdiction dog.  He even marched right up our scary, see-thru steps. The top gate is closed as are the bedroom and bathroom doors, at least until we have a better handle on his manners. I'm glad we had the whole afternoon for him to watch dog-TV out our big windows.

He brought a deer antler with him to chew and immediately found ours.  Thunder and other weather noises don't seem to bother him as a small storm rumbled through late this afternoon.  He frogs like a Brittany. He's a counter surfer but seems to know he's not supposed to.  He reacts quickly to a sharp "NO". He has been allowed on furniture, so we'll try to teach him to ask before jumping. Paul played with his dinner bowl with no ill effects.  Huck is definitely a speed eater. He barked and whined when Paul brought Storm over for a look-see through the glass.  Storm hissed.  Huck has fallen in love with Paul who takes him on walks and gives him treats, so I'm not sure if he was reacting to Storm or to Paul playing with someone other than him.  

We were told his sleeps in a crate. He goes into the crate easily but was anxious as soon as the door closed. He furiously licked every bar multiple times, no biting though.  He panted and paced and was very uncomfortable until I put a blanket over the crate. He finally but reluctantly settled with only a few whines left in him.

He's had his big snip so the most important vetting for Huck is getting up to date on immunizations.  He doesn't seem to have been to a vet since he was 6m old.  He's also not on any flea/tick/ heartwork meds.  

Bear

 No noise from the bear as s/he bent the tall shepherd's crook 90 degrees.  Wren didn't want to settle in bed as she usually does. She scratched at the door and rang her bells vigorously.  I took her out but didn't see or smell anything unusual. Perhaps she did.  

'Splosion in Wren's bed

 Wren goes to bed easily and immediately after her 8:30 walk out and a snack. She stays quietly in bed until Paul gets her up at 6:00AM.  But this morning something happened!  Her bed had a corner chewed off and the stuffing was 'sploding.  When Paul came in Wren was astounded that something like that could happen.  What an April Fools' joke. 

Wren: Day 6-7 The Big Snip

 She gets "vocal" when she meets new people the vets said.  Paul dropped her off at 7:30 AM and by 3:00 she was ready to come home.  She was a little shaky but she had meds that help with that. We watch her instead of making her wear the dreaded cone during the day. She wasn't interested in eating dinner but did have a bit of water.  She slept well,  uncrated, with only a few whines and crashes into walls or doors.  

Wren: Day 1

 Morning came early but with no mishaps.  She ate breakfast then went for a long walk.  At the 91AM walk they saw a large porcupine. Wren wanted to play soooo badly.  She pulls hard and casts on leash. She definitely looks like a hunter as she snorts up every molecule of scent.  She also found some deer M&Ms. 

She brought a doorbell with her with a comment that she rings when she wants to go out.  Paul heard her.

She knows sit and here pretty well, but as with all Brittanys, probably as long as there's nothing better to do.

We had a big wind, lots of rain in a thunderstorm this afternoon but the thunder didn't faze her.  

She does like to jump on people.  Haven't seen her on furniture or counter surfing (yet). She seems to forget who we are after a long or short break.  She gets a little nervous and might bark or waggy-tail-growl. She has seen Storm through glass doors twice and barked but maybe she was barking at Paul.  

Meet Wren

 

Lilly and (W)Ren on their freedom ride to NBRAN intake

She's a 15 months old from Dayton, Ohio.  She was adopted with her littermate but had no ears for training except for her sister's commands.  That and a change of jobs by her adoptive family required that the sisters come to NBRAN.  Her incoming name was Ren but since she's a bird dog, I think she needs a bird name, so we are spelling it Wren. We'll see if it fits.

We spread out the doggie equipment that has been stored for a few years: blankets, towels, toys, dishes, and futon pillows.  Both cats immediately adopted the 2 big pillows!

Wren had a 6-leg drive from Dayton to Julian that was as usual on time.  She's a good traveler and seems purposely cautious. Paul and Wren took a nice long walk to get their kinks out. She sat on her blankie during our dinner.  Cats are in their spaces so we have no distraction there. She ate, drank and we were all ready for bed at 8:30.  She went into a crate cautiously and howled for 5 minutes after the light went out.  Then she settled and I didn't hear a peep.

We had decided that since Storm gets Paul up about 5:30AM, he would do morning duty.

Welcome Tigger

 Tigger joined us on Nov 22.  The shelter told us he's 9 yo and 51 lbs at his neuter surgery. He was picked up by the Animal Control Officer in Blair County as a neglect and abandonment case.

Until today we’ve had a glass door between dogs except when Paul closely supervises Remington. Today we opened the door and put a baby gate between the boys. This is better for smelling and lets me wander in and out more easily. I’m real cute jumping the fence. We’ll keep this going for a few days before taking the next step. 

Here are my observations after 4 days:
Knows “Tigger here” from across a room and usually outside at leash length  with right hand open palm, flipped down to side. 
Knows “NO!”
Good with cat
House trained except for marking and that’s getting better. 
Sleeps all night 9:00p-5:30a.
Walks loose lead usually but he’s a strong puller if he smells an interesting bit.
Quiet, seldom barks.
Friendly but not a lap dog.
Hasn’t chewed anything inappropriate but mouths/humps pillows.
Wears belly band and harness willingly.
Curious.
Goes to the “pee spot”  and is learning to pee on command.
Learning to “Wait” with flat hand motion in front of his face. 
Highly food motivated.
He likes a rug or folded blanket as a pad to sleep and rest on, not too squishy so he will keep it flat.
 
Loud sharp noises (gun fire) alarm him but he settles quickly. We’ll revisit this next week during hunting season.  Didn’t mind the vacuum cleaner. 
Doesn't know how to play with toys but would love running with deer and bunnies. 
Eats with head in crate for safety but not crate trained. The shelter had some concern about food possessiveness, I haven't seen that. 
Has a large, 1.5x.5” skin tag on chest
Doesn’t seem to be able to sit. Folds himself to lie down.
Shy/timid at first
Doesn’t like the car. I can lure him in and help with a lift and some very tastey treats. 
Don't know about separation yet but he  seems mellow. He whines a little when I leave his space but settles quickly. 
 
I think he’ll make an active person a good companion. 

Brady has a home

 We drove Brady to half way to his new home today.  He's such a sweet soul and has recovered amazingly well from his early life neglect.  He travels well and will make his new family a great pet. 

His last days with us were not without puppy trauma.  He ate his leash!  Dr. Oleson gave him  a vomit med and within 15 minutes she presented me with a lovely tray of blue bits of leash. He was fine after that.

Brady and his talking ball

 I bought Brady a ball that makes noise when it rolls. At first Brady was curious but reserved. After 10 min of listening and “watching” he now plays with it and talks back to it, tail wagging a mile a minute. He’s not the same dog he was a month ago. He jumps in our laps full of strong, insistent kisses, he’s gained a couple of training treat pounds, and he has greeted visitors with the Brittany welcome. He can still be skittish, but now it’s blind caution, not debilitating fear. He can go flat belly down, but now it’s more teen stubborn behavior (I want to go this way, not your way.)

He’s ready for an experienced puppy/teen home. 

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