Sappho and I had a wonderful time when we attended Lori Steven's fabulous workshop on walking in balance with our dog using TTouch. Not only did I get to spend the entire day with Sappho, we spent the day with NR foster mom and Adoption Coordinator Julee, and foster boy Dandy.
We attended the seminar on Vashon Island at the NW School of Animal Massage, on a beautiful farm with horses and dogs. It was small seminar, less than 10 people, so we received lots of individual attention and the dogs who needed space got their space!
Foster boy Dandy letting me practice TTouch on him!
I didn't get many pictures of Sappho because most of the time I had her in my lap, or on the table while I practiced TTouch on her. We learned a couple touches, practiced on human partners, and then practiced on dogs.
I learned so much about TTouch and after seeing the progress Dandy has made from being a completely shut down dog, afraid to move or interact, to seeing this confident boy who wanted nothing more than to lay on his tummy for scratches made me realize how much power is in TTouch!
Dandy and Sappho watch while their foster mom's learn the new touches!
Owen got neutered on September 7th, so in most cases he wouldn't have to still wear a cone! However a few days after surgery he snuck away and did a number on his incision. It swelled up and started to look infected, but I kept a close eye on it and applied neosporin a couple times a day. He wears the Comfy Cone, which is made of a soft, firm padded cloth and doesn't have any sharp edges or hard plastic.
He's doing better now, but each time I take his cone off he tries to bother his stitches unless he is actively engaged with me or his foster sisters, or eating! So while I can't watch him he continues to wear the Comfy Cone. These pictures are from him kenneled in the car, where he stays during the day while I'm at work.
While Owen is usually a pretty good sport, sometimes he does want to try and play on my emotions and act like the most pitiful, pathetic little dog this side of the Cascades! Here he is after 15 minutes after going out for a walk, hoping I'll feel bad for him and let him out of his crate for cuddles or more walks!
Owen is a guy with moderate energy, and is happiest hanging around at your feet or being held in your arms. He does like to check out the yard sometimes though, and he'll even chase you around the yard!
Maya likes to chase her ball and will run over anyone that gets in her way (including Owen one time, ouch!) so he doesn't venture too far from one of his humans when Maya is racing around. He's a tender soul who is still learning that the world isn't as scary as it appears, so while I encourage him to explore on his own I also interact with him a lot outside just to help boost his confidence.
Like any rattie though, when he gets going he can really pick up speed!!
Owen is a fast moving little guy, so getting decent pictures of him usually involves trickery of some kind! One of the easiest ways is to give him something to chew and take as many shots as quickly as I can!
A snaggletooth Lucia would be proud of.
These are from the first night I had Owen, and he is being a remarkably good sport about so many pictures!
Meet Owen, the little 18-month old rat terrier from southern California. You may recall seeing Owen over on another New Rattitude blog where he first stayed after coming up here to Washington. Since Owen's transport came in about a week before Lucia went home, Julee took him until Lucia went home and my foster spot opened up again.
Owen is a sweet, loving little boy who I suspect spent most of his life on the streets. He is learning basic house manners but there are signs that his life before he got a New Rattitude was not very pleasant. Even after a week under the devoted care of Julee, he is underweight and parts of his fur feel very rough. He reacts to reflections in the mirror, and he attaches very strongly to a person and doesn't want them out of his sight.
This isn't terribly unusual though. Strays on the streets of California live rough lives, and it can take them a couple weeks to settle in and start to feel secure in foster care. Owen is getting that time now with lots of structured time as well as learning clicker training.
I've also started him on a raw diet with a variety of protien sources, veggies,and supplements to put some weight on him as well as improve his overall health. He's got a ravenous appetite and his desire for food is strong enough that it is an obvious stressor for him. Once he realizes that he doesn't have to scavenge and compete for every mouthful I have no doubt he'll settle down.
He is quite smitten with the girls though, and while Sappho isn't fully comfortable with him yet, Maya has already played with him. Since up until last Thursday he was a fully intact male he still has some hormones in his system and so the girls are giving him lots of discipline when he starts acting like a rowdy frat-boy!
Last night was Lucia's final night in foster care before going to her new Momma. We took it easy, hanging out at home and being careful to not make any changes. We did have a couple tasks to do though!
Oh no, not a bath!
The first order of business was a bath. Rat terriers are very clean dogs, and rarely need baths. I wanted Lucia to be squeaky clean for Maggie though, so into the sink we went! Lucia did not approve of this nonsense, but she stuck it out with me!
Watching that treat.
It helped that I gave her treats frequently throughout the bath! After I put the shampoo on I let it sit for a few minutes, and Lucia scored lots of treats during this time. She's such a trooper!
All done!
After that order of business was done, it was time for some fun after she dried off! Yesterday we stopped by the wonderful pet store All The Best Pet Care and Lucia got to pick out whatever toy she wanted as her "Going Home" present. We perused lots of toys, including balls, rubber toys, soft plushy toys, squeaky toys, etc. What did Lucia choose?
Cat toys! These are little plastic rattle balls with a strip of fur attached. We frequently joke that Lucia is a "cat terrier" with her propensity for rubbing up against you and perching on high places, but she also loves kitty toys! These aren't Lucia's first cat toys though. I have a couple other kitty toys (soft balls) that she loves and is so delicate with that she never damages them.
Gimme!
Unfortunately Lucia hasn't had those kitty toys since she has been with me since Maya is far too destructive to handle kitty toys. It seems fitting that Lucia's "Going Home" toy is something she could never have while she lived with my pack!
So after the bath, we took out the kitty toys and went to the front room and played with her new toys for a little bit. The toys are put up now but Lucia knows where they are and stands by the desk, whining hopefully and staring at me!
Put your paws together for Lucia on her adoption! Our special needs girl who has been in foster care for thirteen months goes home to a wonderful, loving woman who already loves her.
A few weeks ago an application came in, and I met Maggie. I talked with her on the phone and learned about her, her rat terrier Ray, and how she came to be interested in Lucia. Like many of us, Maggie has a heartbreaking story of a dog with severe reactivity, and that experience drives Maggie to help fearful, undersocialized dogs.
Maggie has more than just a huge heart though. She learned a lot from her reactive dog and is comfortable handling a dog with special needs like Lucia. She isn't out to be the hero to all needy dogs, just to be the hero to one or two dogs who really need her.
She has another dog, Ray, a 9 year old, easy-going character who is perfect for Lucia. Ray is happy to be with his Mom, happy to be outside, happy to be walking - just happy to be! He and Lucia have taken walks together and at first Lucia snapped at him, but on our second meeting there were some covert sniffing of one another and Maggie walked them both together for a period. Ray is the type of boy who will avoid conflict when he can, won't take offense if Lucia gets snarky with him, and will welcome her as a friend whenever Lucia is ready to make that move. He's a balanced, loving, and funny boy and I couldn't ask for a better sibling for Lucia.
Lucia goes home tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures of her getting a bath tonight! Maggie is about 3.5 hours away from me, so after work we are making the drive to her so that Maggie and Lucia can have the whole weekend together.
Maggie knows that integration will be slow and that it will take time to earn Lucia's trust. She sees the potential in Lucia and knows what a loving, affectionate dog she is. Maggie is willing to give Lucia the times she needs and that patience will pay off big time!
Lucia loves her head kisses.
Adopters like Maggie are rare gems. We have amazing adopters and our dogs have incredible lives, but occasionally we get adopters who want to adopt one of our special needs dogs and go above-and-beyond to give them wonderful lives. It takes a special person to work with a dog like Lucia who is still overcoming her years in an abusive home, a dog who never experienced proper socialization, and who lived in fear of strangers and other dogs. I am so grateful for Maggie for opening her home to this incredible dog, and tomorrow I drop her off knowing that she is in the perfect home.
And now for a little fun - last night the girls got chicken backs for dinner. I knew I had to capture Lucia's hilarious jaw-chatter on film!
