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Articles from February 2018

Lucy Steele: Notes on a foster dog

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Lucy was traded to us for one of our foster dogs because Lucy liked to chase her former foster parent’s cat.

Last updated: March 12, 2018

Base Info:

  • Arrival date: February 24th, 2018
  • Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 1 year plus
  • Weight: 50 pounds
  • Spay/Neutered: Yes: Mar. 12, 2018
  • General Health: Good
  • Temperament: Good

History

Our rescue received a call from a woman in Morristown who found Lucy in the middle of a road and took her home. Lucy did not get along with her dog and was too strong for the lady to control. Lucy went into one of our foster homes, but wanted to eat their cats, and was too strong for her foster mom to handle. So she’s here now and I’ll see if I can’t help her settle in and accept her role in our pack.

Known Issues & Progress

When Lucy arrived here with her foster parents, she got along with me just fine. We made the trade, getting Sasha out of a pen, Lucy in, and Sasha loaded into their car. As they were leaving, I let Lucy out of the pen to explore the big play yard. She walked beside me calmly.

She caught sight of their car as it descended our long driveway that runs beside the play yard. She looked at me, looked back at the car, then started whimpering! She ducked her head, tucked her tail, and slunk back to the pen. When I approached, she started barking at me with vehemence. She has since been doing her best to chew through the fencing or dig out and barks threateningly at me when I approach.

Feb 26th: By Saturday evening I was able to get Lucy to let me come into her pen and chat with her. We are friends now. On Sunday she wanted to crawl into my lap and snuggle.

People Skills

Once she got past her hurt over being moved again she has been sweet and friendly. She knows her name, comes on command, sits, shakes (paw), has learned, “In your room”. During play time she likes to race around at full speed. Sometimes she involves me in her play, not always gently. Once we became friends, she did come over while I was sitting in a chair outside and draped herself across my lap so she could snuggle a bit and I could pet her. She seems sweet, now that she’s no longer angry.

Gets Along With Other Dogs

She has dominance issues with some other dogs. She has given her neighbor, Kringle, no problems and she has been in the yard with Buddy (a senior beagle). They got along fine. All of my gang have been out to touch noses with Lucy through her fencing, no harsh words were exchanged.

Lucy insists on intimidating Josephine. That makes Josie anxious and she just wants to go inside, away from Lucy. This is unusual as Josie gets along with and wants to play with EVERYONE, even dogs much bigger than her.

Lucy tries to intimidate Callie too. There is no aggression in this, body language that relays the idea of “I am boss, you knuckle under”. Both Callie and Josie capitulate and want to escape.

Housebreaking

I’m told she is fully house-broken and crate trained. She won’t becoming into our house because we already have FIVE dogs (Blondie and Cochise are 90 pounders) in our little house and that’s too many as it is.

Miscellaneous

Lucy likes to chase cats a little too much.

Lucy has some separation anxiety issues. She settles down once her person (currently, me) is out of sight, but as I’m leaving or if I’m playing with another dog she acts out in a fit that is rough on chain link, could be disastrous to a home. Our Retriever brand transport box crates do hold her at night, so crating while away is an option.

She calms down and is lovey once she has my undivided attention.

Gallery

In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales or videos about Lucy, click those to open the related story.

Rainy day play time – with Josie (Video)

Lucy DOES love a belly rub!

During a break, Lucy snuggles in for a back scratch.

Lucy likes to stay close. She gives kisses too.

Going for a truck ride headed for surgery

Unhappy about cone after spay.

Angel Steele: Notes on a foster dog

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Angel transferred here from another foster home because she was not getting over her fears and is badly stressed out which affects her behavior.

Last updated: Feb 10, 2018

Base Info:

  • Date Arrived: January 13, 2018
  • Breed: Beagle/Shepherd mix
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 8 Months at original admission
  • Weight: approx. 55 pounds
  • Spay/Neutered: Yes
  • General Health: Good
  • Temperament: Good. She’s a blend of active and submissive. I suspect she’d been mistreated when young.
  • Departure: Angel left on Rescue February 16, 2018

History

Set out beside a road outside a campground.

Known Issues & Progress

All I know about her so far is that she has been frightened of people and destructive of household furnishings and personal accessories. I will be working on building trust with her to get her past these issues.

Housebreaking

No major incidents in the Bunkhouse. She has peed on the floor a couple of times but that’s because she needed to “go” and she was stressing over my attempts to get a leash clipped to her collar. Nothing deliberate. As she’s learned my routine she is not stressing over things.

She does well with her crate. She likes to get outside, but is eager to get back to her “room” in the evening: partly because it’s getting chilly . She doe not like cold. She is rough on her bedding, she does well with a good blanket but anything quilted or fiber-filled (like a pillow) is history. She IS still a puppy.

Gets Along With Other Dogs

I was told she got along with other dogs. Observations of her interacting with my dogs (through a fence) and with Mystery (her roomie in the bunkhouse) is that she is benign and submissive.

01/14 This evening Angel and Buddy were in the yard together. She invited him to play and they had a great time chasing one another.

01/17 I took Angel and Mystery out together this morning. I was late, they were desperate, so I took a chance. They took off and chased each other through the snow for about 15 minutes (pausing momentarily now and then to relieve themselves) before they both came, panting and licking the snow, back to the gate to the bunkhouse. We all went in, they each got a big drink of water and went back to their crates for breakfast. Angel demanded a belly rub before she’d go into the crate, but otherwise was cooperative.

See Angel and Aggression video in the gallery below.

People Skills

Angel was, reportedly, frightened of people. She and I are getting along fine. She always seems happy to see me. We’ve had little other people traffic out here lately to test her on.

01/17 As she’s becoming more comfortable here she is coming out of her shell and becoming more rambunctious. She wiggles around so much I have a hard time getting a leash clipped to her collar, and she pulls really hard. I’m shopping for another Walk-Right harness. We have two but they’re both in use.

01/22 Harness arrived. It makes a big difference in walking her. Because she chews things up when bored I take the harness off before crating her.

Miscellaneous

Angel has become quite friendly and eager for attention. A belly rub usually puts her into a blissful stupor!

She is still destructive of bedding because she’s high-strung and gets bored easily (the Shepherd part of her). When weather allows (it IS January) I get her out to run in the yard with another dog as often as possible to wear her out (see Angels Play Day below).

Gallery

In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about Angel, click those to open the related story.

Upon arrival Angel kept her tail tucked and her head ducked.

That tail is up and she’s making friends.

Angel doing her famous Lizard Run

Hugging or wrestling – depends on the intensity!

Happy about yard time

Angel and Aggression
Click for Vid

The next day I let Angel play in the yard with her roomie Mystery:

On a particularly nice day, she got an extended play session.

Resting after a busy play time.

Enjoying a sunny day

Conversation with her friend Callie

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Sasha Steele: Notes on a foster dog

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Sasha is a sweet, smart, and loving girl who holds much promise.

Last updated: February 24, 2018

Base Info:

Sasha

  • Arrival date: February 16, 2018
  • Breed: Border Collie mix
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 7 months
  • Weight: 40 pounds(?)
  • Spay/Neutered: No
  • General Health: Good.
  • Temperament: Sweet and playful

History

Picked up as a stray running at large by Newport Animal Control, she was not claimed nor adopted and was in danger of being put down, so they called Steele Away Home. We did not have any open fosters but a transport was leaving in a few days: that would open up some homes. Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital agreed to board her until a foster opened up. And here she is!

Known Issues & Progress

Sasha looks to be in good shape and is a sweet tempered, friendly little thing. The folks at Cedarwood say she is SUPER smart and has already learned several commands.

Sasha is an Aussie in temperament: that makes her smart and active. She will never be a good apartment dog, but for someone with some room to play she will be a great family companion. From what I can see so far, she should be good with kids too: she’s active, but not violent.

People Skills

Sasha has done well. She has proven to be affectionate and obedient — most of the time. Sometimes she develops “selective hearing” when I call her and she’s doing something fun. She knows”come”, “off”, “sit”, “fetch”, and “play”.

She can be excited and bouncy when she first comes out of her pen, but settles down nicely once she’s run off some of that energy. She has been friendly and accepting of everyone who has visited here.

When I’m sitting in a chair outside, supervising a “free play” period, Sasha often swings by and lays across my lap to get some head pets before going back to play with the others.

Gets Along With Other Dogs

Yes. She is eager to play with everyone. Sasha and Josephine have already had a successful play session. The older dogs may not appreciate her exuberance, but so far she is sensitive to this and scales back when she got to be annoying to Josie. (Video below)

Housebreaking

I’ve started working with her on this using her pen. She has come to prefer not to poop in her pen. As long as I’m consistent with her play times she complies.

She is good in a crate.

Miscellaneous

She gets bored in her pen and likes to toss around her water dish. That makes it hard to be sure she always has access to water. I gave her a chew toy and a ropey toy hoping she’d play with those instead. She seized on the ropey toy and immediately used it like a golf club to smack her freshly filled water dish across the pen. (sigh)

I have a plan … see Water Dish-Toy video below.

Feb 24th: Sasha left us today. Another foster home had a dog they could not handle. All the foster homes are full, so it was decided to trade one of my well-behaved girls for the one who needs more work. Sasha was selected for the trade. She’ll do fine there, Sasha gets along with everyone.

Gallery

In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about Sasha, click those to open the related story.

Sasha says, “Let’s PLAY Josie!”

Josie has the high ground over Sasha.

Solving Sasha’s penchant for water dish tossing. (click for vid)

Between play sessions, they still want to play.

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Kringle Steele: Notes on a foster dog

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Kringle is energetic and can empty a bowl of kibble faster than anyone I’ve seen.

Last updated: Mar. 10, 2018

Base Info:

  • Arrival date: February 16, 2018
  • Breed: Boxer Mix
  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 2-3 years
  • Weight: 45 Pounds
  • Spay/Neutered: Yes: March 12, 2018
  • General Health: Good
  • Temperament: Good

History

Kringle was picked up by Newport Animal Control as a stray. She was held, but no owner came to claim her. No one was willing to adopt either and she was in danger of being put down, so N.A.C. called Steele Away Home and asked us to take her. We needed to board her at Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital until a foster home became available. Cedarwood also treated her for a bad case of worms.

Known Issues & Progress

Kringle is excitable and effervescent when first let out of her pen, but it takes only a short time of running and playing for her to calm down and be enjoyable to work with. With a little training she should become a good companion.

People Skills

Kringle is high energy at first, but she calms down and is a sweet gal. Obedient too, she’s learning her commands.

Gets Along With Other Dogs

Good. She got to play with Josephine, got too rough, Josie told her to back off … and she did: calmed right down, then walked away to find something else to do (video below)

Kringle has been in the yard with all the house dogs, no issues with any of them.

Kringle and Lucy got a play time together (video below).

Miscellaneous

Kringle is gentle on her bedding.

Gallery

In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about Kringle, click those to open the related story or video.

Josie is not sure about playing with Kringle

Kringle comes on too strong for Josie’s comfort. (video)

Enjoying sunshine and a chew toy.

If you let me inside, I’ll let you play with my toy.
–

Kringle got a Coolaroo for her pen.

Kringle and Sasha get a play date (video)
 –

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Cochise vs the Dump Truck

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Today we had some driveway work done. The driveway up to my workshop is a MESS! All washed out and badly rutted. I bent a rim on Marie’s Subaru by taking it up this driveway. It’s time to dig deep into the pockets and get repairs done or it will just keep getting worse.

Cochise insisted on going out to chase the tractor and the dump truck and hurl heinous threats at everyone. He stayed on his side of the fencing, they stayed on theirs. He got so worked up early on that he leapt up against the fencing, bounced back, and did a back flip!

After a half hour of these intense aerobics, I went out with a lead to bring him back to the house. He offered no resistance at all. His tongue was hanging so low he was tripping on it!

We got half way up the hill to the house and he just flopped over on his side and panted, “I can’t go any farther, carry me!”

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