Step Two-introduce dogs

I knew I needed to be calm, otherwise Buddy and Jade would pick up on my anxiety about the whole dog and baby thing. 

It was hard but I think I did good. 

Very interested in crying.

At first Jade was really under foot. She would follow me from room to room. She has since relaxed and doesn't pay us much attention. The one thing we need to work on is not walking around her, to make her get up when she sees us coming.

Buddy now is on high alert. Anytime she makes noise he comes trotting. He just stares at us, like are you taking care of that? 

If Jenna is really crying, he will ring the bell and ask to go out. I see this as a good thing, he needs to get away from it so I try to do better at jumping up to let him out. He needs his space. 

The day they came home from Moonshadow...this happened, I'm what? Our dogs aren't normally cuddlers with us or each other.

Dog Fighter by Nina Ottosen

The dogs got "The Dog Fighter" toy by Nina Ottosen from Mama. This is the coolest toy ever. Meet my most food driven, street smartest dog: BUDDY--this made it much more fun.

This is level one: Easy



This is level two: Medium



Level three to come! There are stoppers that I can insert, and then he has to move them before he can slide the cylinders. Then level four looks like it's more suitable for smaller dogs (very small pegs)

"Buddy Crate"

Well Buddy turns 4 years old on Friday, but he's still not to be trusted. He destroyed the house today!

Around rest time 12:45pm Will texted me photos of the house. I will post photos if I can get them from Will.

Today was Buddy's fifth and last day in house as a free dog. I'm not sure what all he tore up. I know of magazines, a wicker basket, and he ate an entire bag of $11.00 dog treats--possibly the bag too.

So here are some reasons crates are a good thing and not awful, sad, torturous things your dog should never have to get in. Jade and Behr love them, and look for them now that they are in the garage and are only used on the cleaning lady day.

• Housetrain (he is less likely to tinkle where he sleeps)
  
• Protection (so he doesn't ingest harmful things)
• Protect your property (so he doesn't ruin your things)

To begin we fed the pups in their crate with the door open so they would begin to love the crate. We also would toss treats inside from time to time. The crates are in the family room, but we've read many books and articles discussing location between family room or bedroom. Bedroom isn't an option for us right now. (Cat and I'm allergic to dogs)

Back to Lessons

Buddy and I ventured back to dog lessons tonight. It was great. Just us, Ginger a lab puppy, trainer's dog Meiko (black GSD) and Tommy Grammer

We were working on Stay and Come. Buddy did great, I was so proud of him. He didn't hackle, and only had one outburst when the wild puppy got close. I'm quite sure we gave the owner a mild heart attack.
I really think being around Meiko is a good thing since he is so incredibly calm.
I overheard the lab owner talking about dropping her off this Saturday for a stay at Tommy's to train. So jealous I wish we were dropping a dog off there!!

I LOVE YARDS

I love yards, I love the grass, I LOVE to roll....please get us a yard!

My Buddy

Just playing before group lessons.

Our New Bed

Costco $20 smells like wood chips, so reminds me of a hamster...but not so bad.
We thought Buddy would be the first...and I think he was, but here was the first encounter.

Yes, I was watching the Dog Whisperer, I know many of you dislike him, but we still agree with some of his ideas. Mute if you need!

After that he went to the rug in front of the door and laid down. At first we didn't quite get the hang of it.


Everyone seems to love it!

Furminator Power!

But don't leave it on the floor, someone may eat it!

Bad Dog

This $6 dog has eaten quite a bit of expensive things. This time he was even supervised! My favorite hot pink leather gloves have come to an end. HOWEVER, since our anniversary and Valentine's Day are both in February....and Will's google reader sees my blog....

Lacrasia Gloves
Women's Unlined Leather Wrist Length Gloves $65
Size 7

His new big toy!

K.C. and Bobby just gave the dogs a Christmas toy...Buddy quickly claimed it! Now the countdown is on until it is destroyed. This may take him a while it's really big and strong!

We Crashed!

I took Buddy for a bike ride. He saw another dog and the owner came toward us...and he lunged...and we fell. I fell right on top of him.

My knee hurts so bad!! I forgot what it was like to have a scrape.

Buddy The Chewer!

Will has been leaving Buddy and Jade out while he walks Behr in the morning. If Buddy is crated and Will leaves with Behr he howls like no other wolf. Well this morning was the last time I get to sleep and hit snooze two times. From now on Buddy will be crated.

Will came back to find the furminator handle chewed off and the current book I'm reading, Love the One Your With gnawed on...here's the kicker it's not mine! It's Shana's...so Shana, I hope that copy wasn't special, I don't think it was autographed...but I'll replace the book!! Don't worry Baby Proof is upstairs by my bed, yet to be read. I was reading on the couch last night that's why the other one was downstairs. I'm so sorry!

That first picture reminds me of this:
see more puppies

Behr Talkin' to Buddy

Uh...me sitting in my jeans and bathrobe, I'm home sick and freezing! Now that I looked at the video I totally know we have NO life, so you don't need to remind me. Oh and that we are dog crazy...I know that too!

Behr as a Baby!

8 weeks at 14 lbs.

6 months at 65 lbs.

These photos were taken by Missy Hume in Peachtree City, GA. She owned him at the time these were taken, we never got to see him like this, but isn't he so cute?! I think he weighs 79lbs now. I think he is kinda skinny, but the vet says he is perfect, anymore weight would cause harm to his hips. Check out more of Missy's work at momentsbymissy.com

We say good-bye to Buddy

Tonight we drove Buddy to be with his new foster mama. I told Michelle, his new foster mama I'd probably stalk their house to come see him! They live very close to us, so we can still see him.

Here are some more pictures.

We couldn't decide if he was lazy or just smart!

I went upstairs to shower, this is what I found when I returned!

You don't know how powering the feels to be surrounded by such size and energy!

Update on Us Day 5

Thank heavens Will beat me home to find both #1 and #2 in Buddy's crate! Thankfully he didn't get in it, so he is still clean. Let me tell you I've only picked up two of his #2's and it takes both hands in the bag to pick it all up, it's HUGE!

Oh and this morning I bailed on our 5:30am walk...well I didn't get extra sleep! Behr, Jade, and Will left for their walk. Now Buddy doesn't bark. He howls! So maybe he does have more wolf in him than we thought!

This afternoon Buddy had much energy. I don't know where it came from, but he also started chewing on our toys. He and Behr were running as fast as they could from one end of the house to the other, no traction...we took up all the area rugs! I had to stop it quick, Buddy should not be playing.

Will is taking Buddy to Michelle's house tomorrow to meet the home visit vet to possibly begin treatment for heartworm. I am so excited this is finally happening. I'll update you tomorrow with news from the vet.

Oh and tomorrow I get the walky dog. This means I've got to go to Target and get a helmet. I can't wait to safely bike with Behr, I'll post a picture.

Nothing new to report

Buddy is the same. It's kinda neat how Behr almost knows he can't play. He doesn't rough house with him, like he does Jade. However, the fact that Buddy should have the energy Behr has and doesn't is very sad.

I am feeling better about the situation. Not as rocky or roller-coaster like as I have been before.

Funny Buddy Stories:
While I took Jade and Behr out together Sunday morning. Buddy snuck upstairs and laid his head on Will's pillow!
Then while I took a shower and Will was working out in the garage, I put Buddy in the kitchen with the baby gate. When I got out of the shower he was comfy on the couch!

More later! Thanks for reading and all your nice thoughts!

Night 2

Buddy did great during the night. No accidents, no throwing up. However, he has kennel cough. :-( I'm not willing to continue putting my dogs at risk by fostering. We just don't have the room, okay that's a lie, I don't have the heart to separate and exclude one from our pack. We do everything together.

Last night and today I'm feeling better about the whole situation. I am okay with letting Michelle foster him into good health. She's a great person for that, and has a very calming dog named Maggie. While over here we have two rambunctious teenagers. Since Buddy ignores their play, I'm thinking he must feel really bad.

Last night I laid on the floor parallel with Buddy and just rubbed him. He keeps his eyes closed the whole time. After my roller coaster of emotions yesterday I got to thinking the one thing that I really don't like is being patient. I want him on meds, taken care of, on the way to recovery Right Now. I don't want to wait for a rescue with the funds. I think that is where this all started. But things are better now.

If in 6 months he is ready for adoption, and we still want him, we'll try! Even with Will's comments of the whole well that's 6 months we could have bonded with him and trained him. Anyway, it'll be alright. Buddy needs to rest now. We'll still have 10+years after that left.

First and Last

We just went to visit Michelle who will be Buddy's next foster mama. I told her my concerns about wanting to keep him. She reminded me that he is mellow now because he is sick. He will change once he is healthy and he still we be intact. That could cause us problems with Behr. Then he will get fixed and he could change even more.

However, whatever happens I will not foster a dog again. I'll help in other ways financially, donationing, or transporting. I can't do this...my throat hurts, and I don't cry, ever. Will seems so upset. I don't know what I want. After I left Michelle's house I was okay with her fostering then us possibly adopting him. However, I've seen rescue applications and they are hard. We don't have a yard, we have a small home. We already have two dogs and a cat. We will probably have a child one day. All of these things will be working against us. Even if we do train and exercise like mad and have the perfect work schedules.

I feel good because Buddy isn't dead. But I feel bad too for many reasons. I just kinda feel sick. I had no idea this would be so hard. Why didn't I listen to those who told me to back off? Why didn't I rescue a breed we don't love?

Michelle has done much work trying to find a rescue that will fund Buddy. She gone to a lot of trouble. I so just want to tell her to stop, we will fund it all, and keep him. I don't know what to do...I think I'll call my mama.

Buddy's First Night

So he gobbled down his food. Seemed fine, snuck into gobble two bites of Jade's food. He's sneaky! To sleep we put Behr in the kitchen with the baby gate, and Buddy in the big crate. Got that?

Thankfully the big crate is big enough because at some point between midnight and 7am Buddy threw up in the crate. It didn't get on him, I'm SO surprised and he didn't eat it. He didn't whine or bark. Will said he didn't want to get in the crate initially and he had to verbally correct him because he was pawing at the crate door. Partially our fault we usually don't lock the bottom. So we've, ok Will has taken the tray from the bottom of the crate out side and sprayed it off.

So far this morning Behr and Jade are being really playful, they need a walk. But Buddy is just laying behind me as I type. I hope he's okay. I'm being really impatient with this HW treatment process and finding a vet to do it for less money and someone to help pay for it. I just want to scoop him up pay for it all and start treatment. However, I "know" this is a foster.

I'm going to meet Michelle and Mabel today and hopefully she will have some news for me and Buddy. I'll let you know what happens. Then I can talk to Michelle about foster vs. forever home. Can we do it financially forever? Upfront costs, yes. For 12+ years....times 3 all the same age, teenagers! times 3 vaccs and 3 meds and 3 kennels for vacations!

I'm pretty sure we gotten rid of any houseguests that were planning on ever visiting. I'll never have to use all this fine china at Thanksgiving or Christmas because no one will come, as Mama says, "we'll have hair in our mac-n-cheese!"