My (Foster) Dog

[gocrow77]

Congrats - she will make an amazing addition to your family!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

She is gorgeous!

Whether or not you find that she is a good fit, or that you are ready for another dog, you have given her a great gift. Under your loving care, she will get a chance to both heal and shine.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Thanks everyone, what nice comments!!

Well, I got a chance to look at all her paperwork from the shelter tonight. I have her AKC registration paperwork too and I looked up both her sire and dam, and found a website for her kennel. I am happy to say that her background is a littler German Working lines, German show lines and a lot of American and Canadian show/pet lines. So her genetics could be a lot worse. Plus I was able to look up some heath information on the first couple generations back and I am happy to say they seem like very healthy dogs so far. I don't plan on showing her or anything, heck, don't even know if we'll keep her. But all this information is good to have and very very interesting. (great to know where to look for this information

)

One another note she does have some food guarding problems. They are mild and so far only directed towards our cat and other dog. She has no issue with me taking her bowl from her (I don't normally do this with a new dog in the house but I needed to stop her from barking so much in the kennel with the cat on the other side of the sliding door

).

She is not eating hardly at all and she is seriously under weight, she's what I would call emaciated because she is not only lacking fat but muscle. I don't think she's had enough exercise to develop her muscles or she's been stuck in a crate for a long long time. She is housebroken so no issue there, and her manners around strangers are superb. We had a group class in our home this evening and there were about 15 people here. I briefly took her out of the crate just to allow her to interact and she was SOOOO incredible with everyone, even the couple of kids that came out to say hello. Really exceptional from a 6 month old puppy.

I hope she starts feeling better from the Kennel Cough soon, and her appetite perks up too. I cannot wait to start training!!!

ETA: I also contacted the breeder, her contract states that NO "adopter" (

) is supposed to take one of her puppies to a Shelter.

The family that surrendered Shyanne only had her for two weeks so I am hoping to get some interesting information about where and why this pup has been shuffled around.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Interesting, I would love to know what the breeders will have to say.
If I wasn't so far away and have so many dogs already.....
She is a cutie.
(what are you feeding her? My picky eaters converted beautifully to a raw diet and are blossoming on it)

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Beautiful dog!

Committing to a new dog after another one passes is tough. Lots of emotions and thoughts. Even so, perhaps this is meant to be.

What is the dog's history? She's emaciated, has papers (and kennel cough) -- strange combination. What is her story?

I imagine she will become a very loyal dog to you and yours (if you keep her, and I imagine you will). There is something about rescued dogs, especially those abused or neglected, that when they are adopted and find love, warmth, and provision -- they are so grateful and they express it in everything they do. (After they settle in and know they can trust you, of course.)

I wish you both the best. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

 

[redhen]

OOh shes so pretty!!!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
Yes it is hard. Last time I lost a dog I got another puppy about five months later. I was not ready for it and it was a mistake in some ways. It actually worked out though, because this other puppy was the dog I PTS last month. I miss him so much I cannot even express it. Makes my chest ache. And perhaps you are correct, that this pup is meant to be ours...I have yet to really feel a lot one way or another. I know she's a good dog, possibly a great dog. My heart isn't tugging really one way or another. I will leave the final decision up to my husband, as long as I am thinking she's such a good dog, and doesn't show me any really bad behaviors. That will be a deal breaker for me right now, even though I can handle most behavior effectively. I am not looking for a behavior project at this time and really cannot "afford" to have such a dog in my house with my 3 year old daughter.

So much to think about and consider.

Her story? Well I got clearer picture of it today when her breeder called me. I emailed her last night. Seems Shyanne was sold as an older 4 month old pup only two months ago to this family with kids. On her surrender paperwork the person said they'd only had her for two weeks. But when I talked to the breeder she described the family and it's probably the same people. Whether the "two weeks" was a typo or not I have no clue.

Kennel cough is rampant in Humane Societies. She contracted it there, and after two days on antibiotics she's no longer sneezing green snot all over. She's still sneezing and coughign though. I am feeding her 3 small meals a day to get her weight back up in a way that doesn't make her digestive system go haywire. Her appetite is really good, though she is somewhat food aggressive with other animals, I have yet to see that with people. I am not about to test her right now with her being sick and so skinny. I'd growl at someone looking at my food too if I was so underweight.

What I DO know about the people that bought her...LOL this is sorta funny. The breeder called them today after she left a voicemail on my phone. She asked how Shyanne was doing and the woman told her she was "really doing well and she is a great dog". Yeah they sure think she's a winner don't they??

The breeder is pretty upset over all of this, but has yet to request Shyanne back, though she has a right to the request per her contract wtih the purchaser.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Jamie,

I'm glad you have the dog. I suspect this will work out well. Save a copy of this thread. Mark your calendar two years from today and re-read the thread, then re-post how much of a blessing she is.

My gut reaction is to be judgmental of the breeder. I read in-between-the-lines well and I automatically have questions like, how did a responsible breeder allow this dog to go to a home where she was so neglected and then to know the dog went to the pound and was in foster care and not intervene. If I were the breeder, I would be embarrassed! Jamie, wouldn't you say it's safe to bet that anyone you work with would NOT seek out a dog from this breeder if they were in the market? Well, all of that is "judgmental" and beside the point.


I have had more than one experience loving an animal that I was determined to remain aloof to. Seems like "the universe", as some people say, intended that animal and I to be good friends.

Sometimes animals have a way of showing up when we don't think we are ready for them. I don't know, perhaps out of some sense of duty, I end up paired with them and it becomes a beautiful thing that I neither expected nor desired. I could give five specific examples, but I will just give one. (I touched on this in the thread where I complained about my poodle -- I know, the shock and shame of it! -- and I may have touched on another story . . .)


Our first standard poodle was a dog we decided to get, after we picked our trainer, for the purpose of being a service animal to my eldest child. We actually intended to find a female poodle, as I was outnumbered in our home by all the males, but a breeder donated this guy to us. I was rather indifferent to the dog. I had a task and a goal, but I had no interest in bonding with the dog, etc. Probably because I was busy, or had loved and lost dogs before, or who knows why, I just wasn't interested in any attachment.

The dog did his job with the eldest and did it well. He also adopted the youngest, who had seizures (among other things). The dog alerted to the youngest's seizures. We did not train him nor ask him to do this. He would NOT leave the little one's side when he was having a seizure. If I was in the other room unaware of the seizure that was or was about to begin, the dog would bark until I came. The dog would stand in between the little one and anyone visiting if I stepped out of the room. He apparently made it clear that no one was to get near my son if I wasn't there to approve. (This was just what was reported to me. I was told the dog would move from my son's side, to in-between my son and anyone else when I stepped out of the room. He then would supposedly put on a "vicious look" on his face. He would return to my son's side when I came back in the room and resume "smiling". It was hard for me to believe, but I was told of it to many times to discount.

Of course, these are just a few highlights. I could give many more examples of the wonderful things this dog did.

The day my son died, the dog went nuts. He absolutely knew. I called our dog trainer because it was so remarkable. Of course the dog went to the funeral and burial. And, I am NOT one that is fond of dogs going everywhere such as the grocery store in a purse, etc.

After my son died, the eldest, to whom this dog belonged and rightfully served, complained that the dog left him in the night and came to me. Apparently, I cried in my sleep, had nightmares, and would quit breathing. The dog would apparently wake me up. I have no memory of any of it. What I do know is the eldest became so angry at what he perceived as the dog betraying him and abandoning him, that the dog unwittingly became mine. Another thing we worked with our trainer about. I really wanted this dog to stay with my son, but we also know to trust some dogs, and this dog especially. We got another dog for my son.

I could tell you about a human predator the dog "caught". My dog "got loose" as we went from the front door to the car, I was furious because he wouldn't come, but he was "on to" and alerting to a man with a gun who was stalking children on Halloween. I was slow to catch on and furious with the dog for not obeying and for barking and "cornering" this man. There came a point when I asked myself what the dog was so upset about. I saw a gun and engaged the man in conversation -- I still had no control (seemingly) over the dog. In the "conversation" the man gave himself away. I was able to get the dog and call the police. The man was arrested just after he set off an explosive the next block over. Of course I wonder what he would have done had the dog not interfered.

I could go on and on sharing story after story, but the point is: this was a dog I wasn't interested in, but was a blessing in so many ways, and especially to me, the one who was indifferent. This dog was "meant to be" with us.

I've also heard story after story about animals who were unexpected new "members" of the family and later turned out to save the family or family member in some way.

Jamie, my "gut" tells me you and this dog are meant for each other. Rescued dogs, are so grateful. The human who didn't think they needed, wanted, or had room to love them, who does love them in the end, becomes so grateful, too.

Good luck to you!

(PS, stay away from my poodle bashing thread lest you hate me.

)

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
Well, yes and no LOL. I didn't post who the breeder was out of privacy for several reasons. First she has no idea this thread is up, second this isn't my battle to fight as the dog still is property of Kitsap Humane Society, and third I am really trying hard to keep my "dog snob" self from becoming an ugly monster regarding this situation. This breeder isn't "impressive" by any means, but I think for right now I am done with "impressive" breeders for personal reasons. It's pretty laughable when my last two dogs cost thousands of dollars, not including training, were from highly regarded working bloodlines, parents on both sides and for many generations were highly titled dogs. They were both beautiful in an exceptional way, robust, blocky, heavy boned, balanced, and high drive. Oh and both male.

Then...comes along Shyanne. White (unaccptable in the AKC standard of the GSD), frail, soft, lanky, exceptionally feminine, basically free, pet lines pedigree. She's a polar opposite if you only take in regards to the GSD breed. NEVER in a million years would I have considered buying one of these dogs. But suddenly there she was. And here I am.

She is already a blessing. But I don't know if I should keep this blessing to myself or send her on to someone else. And my husband is seriously beefing about the WHITE hair all over!!! LOL

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

And I am very sorry to hear about your son. Nothing else I can really say to that, except thank you for sharing that personal story here.

And I have been following the poodle thread, no thread that has a weird sounding title regarding dog ownership goes unnoticed. LOL I've been reading, but not sure what I can add to it so I keep my mouth shut, or fingers quiet, as the case may be.