Last week Cochise went to Cedarwood for his annual inspection — I mean examination, shots, blood tests, and a good, thorough poking all over. He had an unusual lump on his leg that raised some concerns.
In the end, what they found was described as “the most unusual thing we’ve ever seen.” – which is becoming a recurring theme with Cochise.
Although this young Husky looks a little rough at the moment, she is indeed one foxy lady! Even more so once I got her brushed out.
Last updated: May 18, 2018
Foxy was surrendered by her owner to Animal Control. She stated she had given Foxy away to two other families, both brought her back. That’s the factual information.
I would conjecture that this is yet another case of someone adopting a Husky pup because she was SO cute, but without knowing anything about Huskies. The pup was likely raised without any training until she got big enough to become a nuisance by being her bouncy, happy-go-lucky self. Then it’s “we have to get rid of this dog, she’s out of control” time.
And of course: it’s the DOG’S fault.
Fortunately N.A.C. recognized that Foxy would not do well in a shelter and called Steele Away Home. Jen already has her placed with a Husky rescue, I’ll work with her until that transport and Foxy will find a home where her people appreciate the strong, quirky personalities of these wonderful dogs.
Foxy went on rescue transport on May 18th for adoption
Anyone who owns a dog knows that dogs love to run and play. Perhaps a geriatric dog would rather lounge in the sun and warm his aching bones, but most dogs want and need exercise. Walking on a leash with Master is seldom enough so, unless a dog park is nearby, a play yard is required. If planning a play yard, preventing dog escapes is a critical aspect to consider.
Most dogs are protective. Some are natural hunters. Therefore dogs will want to drive away perceived threats like other dogs, school bus monsters, delivery service trucks, and cars with loud exhaust systems. Some will chase prey: cats, squirrels, bunny rabbits, and birds. Others are gregarious and want to play with passers-by. Some have an adventurous spirit and occasionally get the wander-lust.
Our “Houdini dog”: Blondie Bear, fell into these last two categories. She likes to make friends, but also has (or had) a strong wander-lust. She’s a big girl: 90 pounds, but powerful and surprisingly agile for her size. She posed quite a challenge in preventing dog escapes, until I learned a few tricks. Tricks on preventing dog escapes that I will now share with you.
Some dog owners opt for the simplicity of putting their dog on a chain or vinyl coated steel cable that is attached to something solid. As a permanent solution to dog escapes, this is a terrible idea. Many communities are passing ordinances making it illegal to tether a dog for more than a very short time (like an hour). No one wants to see a dog living his live on the end of a six foot chain staked to the ground. This is abuse and can result in criminal prosecution.
If no other solution is available, using a cable & trolley run to extend a dog’s range while keeping him secured is better than a simple tether, but still presents problems especially in the area of potential injury to the dog.
Every once in a while, the dogs get revved up because something exciting is going on outside and I’m not in the house to calm them down (because I’m part of what’s going on outside). When they get all wild-eyed they sometimes decide they need to “kill” a dog bed. The damage is not intentional. If they flap a blanket, damage is minimal. Flap a dog bed and it tends to tear the cover. Once the cover is torn, stuffing pops out. Once stuffing pops out, everyone *needs* to help pull it out. There is just something about dogs and fiberfill!
This is mostly Callie, but Blondie sometimes gets into it too. Callie is usually very good to her bedding, but when The Beagles get nusto and run through the house Barroorooing, that gets Callie excited too — if she’s loose. When crated she sits calmly and watches them. So if I have to leave the house for more than a couple of minutes, and can’t take them out with me, I crate Callie and Buddy. The rest will be fine.
When a bed gets torn, the proper thing to do would be to put the stuffing back inside and sew a patch over the hole. But I don’t even know where the needles and thread are kept, much less claim to be adept at using them. So I use the skills and materials I do have:
Rainy is an affectionate, attractive gal who is looking for a stable family to love.
Last updated: Aug 2, 2018
Rainy came to Steele Away Home because the shelter she was at closed. Her first foster home handed her off because she killed their pet rabbit. Her second foster home handed her off because she got nasty with the other dogs in their all-in-home foster. She came here because we are set up to give some dogs their own space while they learn to get along with the others.
Rainy was transported to 3 Hearts 4 Paws on Aug 3 for adoption.
Rainy has taken to being moved around quite well.
She was Heartworm positive, has been treated, and is now fully recovered . She’s in great shape and likes to play with Callie and Josephine.
She is sweet and affectionate with all people. She likes to snuggle. All afternoon long she was calm when we were together. This evening, when I took her a blanket for her dog house and to spend some time with her, she got a bit rowdy. I think she got excited thinking she was coming in the house. “Sorry, girl, Callie has the House Dog spot.”
As she has settled in here she has gotten more boisterous, but not unmanageably so. I am working to teach her not to jump up on people. She likes to give kisses and loves a belly rub.
Rainy is quite obedient to voice commands as we go between crate and the door (and back) vids below.
Not so good at first. Rainy started out with issues about her personal space and especially in guarding food and treats.
These issues have been dealt with and Rainy is now a full-time house dog sharing space with 5 other dogs. Rainy eats in her crate only because she prefers to. The door is left open so she may leave when she’s done if she wants to. She prefers to sleep there at night too. This is her safe place (and it has a really cushy folded up quilt to lie on).
Outside, she likes to run and play with the others. I’ve had no trouble with her getting aggressive in play at all. Several vids below of her behaviors.
She is housebroken.
Does not bark in the house but her vocalization is decidedly Husky. She sometimes gets conversational (vid below). When kenneled outside, she barks if there is something to bark at. Her first night here was a full-moon. Other dogs on the mountain were barking and the cows were bellowing like elephants. Lot’s to bark at, so we tried crating her inside. That first night went poorly, but she has since settled down and is good in her crate (vid below).
She does call me (Husky speak, not barking) when she needs to go outside, or wants to eat, or is lonely; otherwise she’s pleasantly quiet.
Rainy rides well in a vehicle. She loaded up readily and sat calmly as I drove on several trips. She rides behind the seats and makes no effort to force her way up front.
She is good on a leash.
When she arrived she did not seem to know any commands and did not respond to her name. By the end of her first afternoon she had “In your room” down pat. By her second day she will “come” when called regardless of far away she is (vid below). After 6 days we also have “sit” pretty well down. Now we are working on “paw”. She’s smart!
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about this dog, click those to open the related story or video.
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| If you enjoy our updates, Doggy Tales, and educational articles consider subscribing for notices when new pieces are posted. It’s painless and you can unsubscribe any time you want. Your e-mail address is used ONLY to deliver these notices. | [email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”] |
The old saying about necessity being the mother of invention is absolutely true. In so many instances I have cobbled together something or other specifically to meet a need in the life of my family or friends. Even my life as a furniture maker was made successful because I could design pieces to meet the specific needs or desires of my clients. I find that even in making dog treats, I’m looking for ways to innovate.
For the past few months I have been helping out our canine rescue group: Steele Away Home, by making healthy dog treats that are sold in Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital. The purchase price of these treats gets applied to the rescue’s medical bill at Cedarwood. This is one of several efforts Marie and I do as The Julian Fund, which raises funds specifically for S.A.H.’s veterinary bill.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Sasha is a sweet, smart, and loving girl who holds much promise.
Last updated: February 24, 2018
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!
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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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
Arrival date: February 16, 2018Kringle 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.
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.
Kringle is high energy at first, but she calms down and is a sweet gal. Obedient too, she’s learning her commands.
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).
Kringle is gentle on her bedding.
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.
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Mystery is a chocolate lab, husky mix, but she is definitely a Husky in build and personality. If you like the quirky, independent personality of this breed, you’ll love Mystery.
Last updated: February 12, 2018
Arrived here: January 11th, 2018Mystery was picked up as a stray and taken to Newport Animal Control in November 2017. Because Huskies do not do well in close confinement, she became stressed, depressed, and aggressive. N.A.C. management asked Steele Away Home to take her in so she could get out of that environment and regain her sanity.
Mystery is a Husky. Huskies have a personality all their own. I’ve worked with Huskies in a shelter environment before and they do NOT do well in close confinement. It’s heartbreaking to see how fast this spirited, independent breed sinks into depression when incarcerated. That was the case with Mystery. She came to Piney Mountain because we have a large, fenced play yard and big pens for our fosters to live in until they can begin house training.
Upon arrival (yesterday), she was fine with me: friendly and obedient, but when other dogs came near her pen she would bare her teeth and charge the fencing to warn them off. Some of them did not take too kindly to that attitude!
I’ve given her several solo play sessions in the yard – which she enjoys immensely — and she is calming down already.
After a few weeks she is able to play with the other dogs in the yard. She’s a bit too rowdy for Josephine’s taste (Josie is our smallest) but she’s not being mean, just big and bouncy.
Doing well. There have been no incidents in the bunkhouse. Even when in her pen, she will avoid defiling her 10′ x10′ space as long as I let her out regularly. She usually needs to run a couple of laps to get her bowels moving … then slams on the brakes and assumes the position. She’s funny.
When I’ve got her loose in the bunkhouse she has not shown any tendency to chew things up or get into things. She’s curious, but not invasive.
Not so good at the start, but that changed as she felt less stressed.
After a few days to decompress, Mystery wanted to play with her roomie: Angel. That went well. She and angel have had several play sessions together (see vids below).
Mystery HAS become possessive of my attentions and will warn off other dogs if I’m in her pen with her. If I’m in the yard with both her and another dog, there are no issues. She also shows food-guarding behavior with dogs — not with me.
Very good. She is friendly and comes when called. She does not jump up on me (much) and she walks well on a tether/leash. She has had some training before.
It got to a point where when leash-walking her between Bunkhouse and play yard she’d be dragging me along. I put her in a Walk-Right! ™ harness and that cleared up right away. Then, one night, she chewed the harness off. I’ve ordered another, but in the mean time she is responding better to a “slow” command and tug on the collar-mounted leash. She learned and remembers even without the harness.
I got the harness, but don’t need it. Mystery now walks very well on a leash and collar.
Mystery is a typical Husky, and as such can be more of a handful to manage than most other breeds. Huskies tend to be highly intelligent, deviously clever, independent thinkers, and OPINIONATED. They are also hilariously entertaining and devoted family dogs. To manage a Husky, you need firm boundaries and a good routine. Let a Husky decide she’s in charge of the household and you’ll have a frustrating challenge on your hands.
I brush her daily and she’s looking much better. She loves the brushing too. She talks to me constantly while I’m doing it. That is SO cute!
Feb 12: After a dog gets fixed I like to take them for a “just for fun” truck ride so they don’t come t think that getting in the truck means someone is going to cut parts off them.
Today I had errands to run, so I took Mystery Steele with me: she was spayed last Friday but is feeling better now. She was not at all hesitant, hopped right up into the truck and settled herself on the passenger seat. She rides really well!
One of my stops was Tractor Supply Co. in Newport. She went in with me and did a superb job of staying right beside me, never pulling on the leash, never toying with products, never having to be coaxed to come along, quite calm when I stopped to speak to a store employee. I was SO proud of her! We even met a Weimaraner puppy who was a bit bouncy and overly friendly, but both did well and were quite civil to one another.
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about Mystery, click those to open the related story or video.
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The next day I let Mystery and her roomie, Angel, out to play in the snow:Mystery and Angel get a long play day in especially nice weather. |
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