Oooo I love this guy!

The great Ian Dunbar explains it all from the pups POV.  Please watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOW0IKO_zfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Q_9X63KlE&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTkYvn1HjrI&playnext=1&list=PLA2FE055157C024D5&index=43

on shelter dogs, really interesting/sad, please watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKglba7o_8&feature=related

Employment?

So I've had Edwina for a week and she is now over her kennel cough/tummy troubles and is gaining energy!  She is still being a very good girl but it is becoming clear that she will soon be entirely at home here and with familiarity will surely come boredom (and destruction of my personal property).... A smartypants like this needs something to do, and though we are still working on the basics, sit, down, come, stay, as well as practicing me leaving her alone (at home, in the car, outside Starbucks (all done safely where I can see her but she can't see me) it seems we need to get our working dog a job.  As I've mentioned I am not a slick dog trainer so this is like the blind leading the blind. The consensus on what she's made of varies but most can agree she is likely a mix of is Aussie Shepherd/Catahoula Leopard Dog/Blue Heeler, all herders of one kind of another, all likely to go mad without feeling useful!  Oh boy, again not so much livestock to herd in NY so it'll have to be a half measure.

I've read many times trawling the internet that doggie backpacks are great for making dogs feel useful!  They will be entrusted with the very important job of carrying things for you, water bottles, poop bags, toys... so this is what we will try, we bought a cheapo backpack at Petco today and she doesn't mind wearing it, so next time we go for a long walk she will not be a freeloader she will be my sherpa;)  Perhaps we can gather sticks along the way, maybe at home we can collect shoes and put them back in the closet?  The premise seems to be that it's will make them feel proud and important to feel they are doing something for you and will satisfy the need to work and contribute to the pack welfare.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Patiently waiting outside Starbucks, not a peep and very relaxed.  

Although most definitely on the look out for "Mom":)

New uniform.

She's a looker, now when I walk down the street and someone says nice eyes they mean the dog : /

Foodie toys to keep her busy while I'm gone, 

she'll have to extract her breakfast kibble one at a time!

We'll find out soon exactly how clever she is...

(after Ruby goes home, they cannot be trusted when food is involved).

We also have a Christmas visitor, babysitting sweet little Ruby the Chihuaha/Papillon mix (also a foster pup, if you'd like to meet her I can give you her foster Mom's info!)!  Though super cute and a sweetie she has a pretty BIG case of "Little Dog Syndrome" (meaning behavior that would be extreme bad manners in a big dog but is tolerated since she's a peanut.  For the most part after day one I managed to get them sorted and at least teach Ruby that I'm the boss, but if I'm number one then who's number 2?!  Watching the 2 of them hash that out is like watching Dynasty, power plays, spitefulness, jealousy, examples - refilled the water bowl and gave it to Ruby, she went to drink and Edwina shoved her out of the way and drank all of it, NONE left for Ruby, if I call Ruby Edwina comes over and shoves her out of the way so she can be pet instead, also steals Ruby's toys, and it goes both ways, Ruby attacks if Edwina comes near her bowl. We're doing our best to mediate hopefully they'll figure it out...

Taking a break from their bitchy drama...

!!!Also learned at the dog run the other day that miss Edwina can CLIMB fences, climb in the most literal sense, up one side and straight down the other.  I'd been worrying about her jumping them but I'd never seen a dog climb one, I wonder if that's how she ended up in a shelter, did she run away from home?  How will the little escape artist ever be safely contained, sigh...

Notes-

1.  Friendlier with strangers then she was when I first got her, she acknowledges most people who pet her (still nothing crazy...), but we did have visitors, the friends who foster Ruby and she was extra friendly to them, downright silly at points! perhaps being on her home turf makes her more comfortable or less distracted?

2.  Seems I am truly her pack leader because she follows me from room to room and there is a lot more eye contact and more opportunities for a "mother may I", I try to make her "ask" permission for most things, including entering my bedroom or approaching the cat.  I feel like kind of a jerk but that's what they recommend and she too big and strong for her to think she has the upper hand : /

3. Working on stay, this one's not going so well, don't think I'm getting the point across correctly... we bought a clicker today so maybe that will help? 

4. Come is going a little better, I confess I have nicknamed her Dingo (she looks like a wild dog!), she didn't respond to Edwina anyway and it doesn't exactly roll off my tongue.  When she "comes" she gets treats or really good scrunchies! She's learning, maybe one day far off in the future she'll be allowed off the leash outside (my biggest fear is her taking off!).

5.  Although I feel like a total jerk (and it's not what I want, I would truly love a doggie foot warmer) she is not allowed to sleep in my "den" and entering it all is invitation only.  Sigh... if you tell her no and stay she will lay down at the doorway and watch wistfully until an invitation is extended, this applies to the kitchen as well.   She does really well with respecting boundaries, and is learning good manners, also this will hopefully prevent any separation anxiety...

For info on Edwina please call 917 374-3260 and check out the link on the upper right of this blog for the Brooklyn Animal Foster Network info and adoption process etc...

-April

Day 5

So this has been the first day she has had full run of the apartment with the cat and I am happy to report there was no mischief!  While I'm sure she managed to annoy Josie at many points during the day when they are always around each other the urgency wears off for Edwina, but as soon as we come back from a walk the first order of business is find and herd the cat (the cat doesn't seem too put out by it and perhaps could use the excitement/exercise)!  if it's not alive she's not interested, there is a pile of rejected toys on her blanket, also a reject beef bone... She has only the one interest, herding, and playing with other dogs.  Last night she herded a little poodle at the dog run (he was inoculated for kennel cough and liked to play rough so didn't mind being shoved around) and tonight at the empty dog run she was trying to herd me : /  I cannot wait for the course of kennel cough meds to be done so she can chase/play with other dogs and get some satisfaction!  At home she is still an unbelievable couch potato.

I think it would work better if she didn't have a stuffy nose from the kennel cough, not sure she can smell the "high value treat" very well...

So far she knows sit and down and is learning come, if I don't have a treat she won't usually come when I call her, but if I go somewhere in the apartment she will usually follow.  During our walk tonight I tied her to the bench outside of Starbucks and watched her through the window while I was on line, no whining but she was keeping her eye on me and sitting nicely.  She was also sitting quietly at Barnes and Nobles last night (socialization mission), she pays some attention to me when we are home but is much less attentive when we are out, she pretty much ignores strangers, if someone is petting her it is not unusual for her to be watching something across the room with her back to the person, she seems slightly more friendly towards men.



Important:  something to be aware of if you adopt her is the MDR1 gene, I'm not totally sure what it's all about but ask your vet about it when they prescribe medications/heartworm prevention pills since some will have a bad effects on dogs with this gene including early death!

"Many herding dog breeds are afflicted with a mutation of the multi-drug resistance (mdr1) gene. This gene encodes a protein (P-glycoprotein) that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs that carry the mdr1 genetic defect cannot rid their brains of the problem drugs. The result is a neurotoxic buildup that can cause abnormal neurological symptoms and/or death."

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dogs/1005760-all-those-have-herding-dogs-herding.html#ixzz18tZBPAf2

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx

Notes on Edwina.

NOTES

1. Shows no aggression whatsoever, to man nor beast (although I wouldn't leave her alone with a squirrel)!

2. Her greatest wish is to play with Josie the cat! Her first waking thought is where is Josie? what is she doing and what does her butt smell like today?  Josie is a pretty good sport but Edwina's earsplitting conversation and indelicate manhandling are still a little off putting, I'm giving it a week before they can be safely left alone together and I come home to find them cuddling.

3. If she could tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas it would be a squirrel of her own.

4. Walks really well on the leash, if she's pulling you can be sure there is a squirrel somewhere that she has spotted, or a dog she wants to meet.

5. Plays well with others, at the moment she's in quarantine with kennel cough but before we found out about that she was happily meeting and greeting every dog and person we met.  And if a male dog tries to get fresh (she is in heat) she primly sits down and eliminates the opportunity.

6.  Takes food from your hand like she was handling baby mice, she is soooo gentle, you feel no teeth at all and she has no food aggression.

7.  Comfortable and well behaved on car rides, just goes to sleep in the back seat.

8.  She's not obvious about her affection but she is always nearby, sitting by your feet, laying down outside the bathroom door if you're inside, she is usually close by or watching.  And the last 2 days I have found her head suspiciously within petting/scrunching distance and I've gotten a few unsolicited kisses ;)

STRATEGY

My dog training skills are pretty paltry, I've read some, seen the dog whisperer, listened to people with well trained dogs.  Lulu was decently trained, she would sit and come and stay (for a little while anyway), she knew a few gimmicky tricks, dancing, rubbing her face with her front paws like a mouse, she liked to ham it up!  The difference between Lulu and Edwina is that she was equally motivated by approval and food, clapping or treats either was a good enough reason to do what was requested!  I haven't figured out what Edwina wants yet... she likes food but I haven't found anything that she's crazy about, she likes me but doesn't worship me...? So at the moment I'm a little stumped on how to motivate her.

This is what I'm focusing on now...

1.  Lots of sitting, she knows this one so we're milking it!  she has to sit for food, before we will open a door, and when she's getting the leash put on, and she sits if she is annoying the cat too much.  I'm not a believer in overly dominating a dog but I would like to be her "pack leader", she should understand her food comes from me and that she's not in charge.

2. Trying to keep her calm around the cat, she REALLY REALLY wants to play with the cat, and when I say play I mean play, not kill and eat the cat.  She barks, she whines, she bounces, she gets up in her face and pushes her around with her nose.  Thinking if we can teach her to be gentler the cat will let her get closer and tolerate her better.  Right now the cat is hopping from desktop to table top to couch top, she's not afraid just avoiding the harassment.  Luckily Josie is sticking up for herself and not hiding and Edwina has been swatted/hissed at and is slowly learning some manners.

3. Preventing separation anxiety!  She's becoming fond of me and wants to be close by, and gets upset if she locked in the other room (which I do sometimes to give Josie a break and the birds a chance to fly around, as well as when I'm not home).  She does whine and bark a little if she's excluded but I'm trying to do it regularly so she becomes ok with it.  The last thing anyone wants is a dog who is upset/whining/barking all day.  I had success with Lulu by ignoring her for a few minutes when I came home, and not making a fuss of her before leaving, my comings and goings were not a big deal to her.  Hoping that will work with Edie too.


That's all I've got so far, I've got to say that Edwina is pretty good already, she's really calm in the house, easy to walk and doesn't start any trouble with other dogs, also appears to be housebroken (lots of accidents the first 2 days but nothing since!).  She's a pleasure to have her around and I hope if you're looking to adopt you would consider meeting her!

Inauspicious beginnings...

A few months ago I got it into my head that fostering dogs would be a good idea, a half measure between being dogless and a dog owner again. My dog Lulu died suddenly last spring and I have been missing her in particular and dogs in general.  Dogs can be a burden, you can't go anywhere, you have to run home after work, it's hard to find an apartment with a dog, there are lots of reasons not to have one but despite the inconvenience you cannot deny how much they add to life (you know, if you're a dog person).  Since April I have been dog free and it has not been an improvement, on grumpy days there is no doggy silliness to combat bad moods, I've gotten fat from not walking enough, my floors are unnaturally clean, and when I have to drive to Maryland I am traveling solo, perhaps a foster dog could be the remedy.

Introducing Edwina, my first official foster dog.  This is what I've been told: under one year old, dog and people friendly, might be ok with cats, had a litter of puppies (mommy nipples!) and was brought up from a shelter in Baltimore, don't know how she ended up there.  Really really wanted a small dog to foster, someone easily contained when necessary (house breaking etc...), small poops, wee wee pad for the occasions I may be gone longer than a bladder should last, and if they bite it's stitches not plastic surgery. But I came a little late to the adoption/foster party and the pee-wees were taken, so home we go with a 35lb Australian Shepherd/Cattle Dog (not sure what she is, looks like a cross of those but with a leaner frame?).

where  am I and who are you?

under the weather...

Trial by fire! holy shit, explosive liquid diarrhea the first night, splat all over the floor (in my BRAND NEW apartment!), pee running across the uneven floors... and the dog didn't have much personality, I had lost the foster dog sweepstakes.  So it's oatmeal and chicken/rice to bind her up, please PLEASE work.  Oatmeal is a miracle!  2 days of oatmeal and pedialyte and miss Edwina is bright eyed and diarrhea free.  So it turns out she is not a dull spiritless dog, hard for a girl to put her best foot forward when she has diarrhea and is in heat (getting spayed soon), not to mention being shuffled around from place to place.

almost back to normal!

From what I've read this breed is cautious and really smart, they are working dogs and bred to be capable of independent thought.  She's been watching and assessing and slowly making up her mind, sometimes sitting near me, I'd get a wag here and there but certainly not the shameless doggie affection, silliness and bottomless kisses I'm used to.  But this morning I got a smooch on the face so thats a start!


For information on Edwina please call 917 374-3260