ChaCha Out on the Town

Yesterday was our first Adoption Event with ChaCha! She was a perfect little angel. The event was held at the Baltimore Pet Shoppe in West Philadelphia. No takers, but it was a great introduction to see how ChaCha would behave out in the real world. Its been so hot, so I have to admit we have been practically hibernating inside. We have done pack walks at night, but that is in our own neighborhood. She has been on lots of car rides, but it has been to and from doctor appointments!

As we suspected ChaCha was friendly with everyone she meet - people, dogs and the shoppe's one-eyed kitty named "Winky!" She was giving out kisses left and right! To the people, kids and the other dogs she met! She was quite the charmer! ChaCha is great about eye contact and being well mannered when meeting new friends. She was so good, she got some new toys, or as we call them... new babies.

ChaCha loves to carry her stuffed toys around to show them off to everyone. She will give them up to you and then bounce over to them when you throw them. It really makes her tail wag!

Next weekend, August 11th we will be at Chic Petique over in Northern Liberties from 11am - 2pm

Sweet Little ChaCha

Sweet ChaCha is a 1-2 year old, 30# dark brindle mix that was found as a stray on the mean streets of Philadelphia. She is happy-go-lucky and you would never think that she had suffered from what we think were painful chemical burns all along her backside. ChaCha is currently in a loving foster home with two other older male dogs whom she loves to play, cuddle and wrestle with. She also lives with 4 cats, and everyone loves her! She is sweet with all people and animals. She has the makings to be a potential therapy dog with the right trainer and leader! ChaCha is great in the car, easy to walk, and she takes direction and correction very well. She is spayed, healthy and up to date on her shots. Her burns have healed, and it is currently unknown if her fur will grow back in her scarred areas. For now she does require sunscreen on sunny days, and a little lotion to keep her new skin from getting dry and itchy. She has been so sweet about all her treatments, allows you to clip her nails and do whatever with a reward of cuddling time on the couch. 

ChaCha is currently in foster care and available for adoption through Philly ACCT and her ACCT ID# is A16508566. She is ready to find her perfect forever home, so if you or someone you know may be interested in adopting ChaCha please contact her foster mom directly via email: amiewagner@me.com

www.phillyacct.org

Mastering Mister

**UPDATE**

MISTER has been adopted! He found a perfect family of 5, with a stay at home mom and a new dog sister! He is spending his first summer with them in Maine! Best of luck to Mister! He is always going to be part of my heart! 

We ask so much of our dogs. Especially shelter dogs. They aren't born speaking or understanding human language or culture. Most people don't speak or understand canine language or culture. We discard them when they aren't a perfect fit or become the slightest financial burden. The shelters have a ginormous task of re-homing these lovable, needy, beasts. The shelters do an amazing job at recruiting volunteers that love these animals and do their best to help the animals transition into hopeful new homes. And still there are so many that get lost and don't get to ever have a wonderful home and love for the rest of their short lives. Our Philly shelter is full, again. We are very excited to find Mister a forever home so we can help another dog in need asap. This has got me thinking all about what we are doing here as foster-dog-parents and what our goal really is. Our goal is to teach our foster dogs how to learn HOW to be the World's Greatest Pets for their new forever homes. 


I have always loved dogs, and had a desire to communicate with them. I have always fully committed myself to the dogs I have adopted, no matter what. I never really thought about my life without any of the ten dogs I have adopted prior, I was so busy teaching them that I never stopped to think about what it means to teach a dog how to live in a home with people. A shelter dog that understands how to live in a home is the very basic expectation for most families that adopt rescue dogs. A lot of people don't know how to teach a dog this part. We set the dogs up to learn the other stuff - sit, shake, heel, stay, fetch - the basic obedience part/ aka the fun stuff! By fostering shelter dogs we get to do that foundation/transition part - we get to teach the dogs the basics of what a family home has to offer. We get to teach them their basic manners and basic interspecies communication! By putting this time in now, they are at their best to be the sponge to please you by learning what you want from them! 
Mister has been perhaps one of my best stories to date.

He came to us in need. He was stressed. But three weeks in our home and with the guidance of our pack he has blossomed! I feel more pride with him than any other dog I have had in my home. He is loving, sweet and has learned how to be balanced. Balance for Mister has been scaling affection with discipline, and he has been thriving on this. 


Mister has a fun, calm, easy-going personality that has bloomed in the last couple weeks. He is lovable and playful, a perfect mix for a perfect pet! He loves a good game of fetch, and then laying at your feet while you watch tv. He has learned to trust us that we will come home each time we leave. He has been great while at home alone, no accidents, although a stuffed toy did die last week! He has learned to make good choices of how to spend his time - like when he gets excited he finds his favorite bone/chew toy and goes to town on it. When he pays too much attention to the cats he instantly comes when we call him with a "Mister come!" 


Mister has learned to trust people again. At the adoption events he is interested and friendly with others, yet he listens to us. He has transformed on command for us. We did the hard part to teach him all this while at our home, and now he is ready to melt into a regular family life in his forever home! 

Mister is happy, healthy and well balanced. He is ready for his new forever home. If you are looking to save a life and want a dog that will mold into your lifestyle and family, Mister could be World's Greatest Pet! 
He is the best deal in town at only $50 adoption fee!


amiewagner@me.com 

www.phillyacct.org

Spring Has Sprung!

Mister has arrived! Today we spent the day at PetSmart in Plymouth Meeting and Mister was excellent! I have been spending SO much time with him I didn't realize how good he has become. We have made more progress than I gave Mister or me credit for! And he looked great today! 

The hair loss has lessen quite a bit, and he has put on some much needed weight. After a couple of Malseb baths Mister was shiny and new looking! Which reminds me - I need to get MY hair done! 


But really, Mister has made a lot of progress. Matt was great today about handling Mister at the event. I was worried Mister might be too attached to me, but he wasn't at all. He was attentive when I was around, but was calm and relaxed about the crazy-Pet-Store environment and in meeting all the people! He was great in meeting the other dogs - not an ounce of aggression or any reaction to aggressive/dominant dogs. He was eager to meet the other dogs, but not pulling or anything inappropriate. 


Mister was also great with all the kids he met today as I expected. He was gentle and sweet, as always, looking for love and affection. He thrives off being petted and talked sweetly to! That is his THING - sweet talk and hands on loving! Treats/food? He could pass. Playing with other dogs? nah, he'd rather be at your feet or by your side! I think that is the makings of a World's Greatest Pet! All he needs now is a loving home, daily exercise, and a little more work on his basics like down, shake and stay. The good thing is that he doesn't want to run away or wander off! 

These adoption events are a great place to figure out what type of people are attracted to Mister and what they would expect from him.  We meet a great family that was interested in him and talked about concern for his behavior in the car and with a cat in the home. 


I'll be honest, our car ride experience hasn't been perfect. He just doesn't have much experience in the car at all, like most dogs from the inner-city shelter. He does get anxious in the car. We had been tying him to the back seat in his harness, which he eventually settles down. We did find he liked having his head out the window!  On the way home, we tried something different, I rode in the back seat next to him, and he laid down like we were on the couch watching tv - so cute! It wasn't perfect, but he can totally learn to ride in the car with manners, he just needs more practice!  We'll work on that this week too.

The other concern has been with cats. Mister hasn't hurt a cat, or even attempted to put his mouth on the cats, but he is interested in them. But it dawned on us today, maybe it's more OUR cat that is the problem! Our housecat Kitty Kitty goes in and out the dog door at his will, and pretty much does what he wants when he wants. Our cat also likes to pick on the dogs and get them in trouble. Kitty Kitty sits right in front of the new dog in the house like - "I dare ya to do sum-thin!" And if they don't do sum-thin, he teases them by walking in front of them and running away so they chase him. Also Matt has been gone a lot in the last two weeks since Mister has been here, so I have had my hands full with trying to exercise three dogs, and maybe I haven't done so well. I have just been doing boring ol' walks. Anyways, after we came home, Matt introduced Mister to the super-fun-new-to-Mister-game of fetch. Talk about tiring some dogs out! <Mister is laying down napping away now!>


Point being, that since our 30 minute super-fun-game Mister is being  better with the cats. Not so fixated on them. He hasn't been aggressive at all, just too curious and the cats don't really like the intrusiveness of his face in their personal space even if they ask for it! Cats. We are going to work on that more, but again I think he has the makings of a great pet that can live with a cat. 


I think the appropriate exercise routine for Mister is a disciplined 20-30 minute daily walk and a game of backyard fetch. And maybe a little more credit from me, because I think Mister has made more progress than I realized! 


And just for fun... Blue learned to fly during the fetch game! Notice... Mister is not a jumper! ;-)

Good dogs. Mister is well on his way to becoming a World's Greatest Pet! Willingness to learn, affection motivated, great walker, gentle sweetheart and ridiculous cuteness is already in him! 

Pack Power Nap

 I think all the boys are getting along nicely... don't you think? Mister loves his Petey... and Blue loves Mister

Petey came to me with 'separation anxiety' too, but his issue was he needed to be with another dog... thus Blue is Petey's soulmate! Petey was destructive (not anymore) and loud for hours with his "sad song" when he was left all alone.

Mister has a 'people-attachment' issue. When I leave the room and close a door it starts. Mister starts pacing, drooling, crying (it sounds like he is saying.... "I want my momma" when he makes his noises - it is so cute, but so sad!)... he makes himself crazy and its is not healthy or helpful. So I am trying to ease him into a normal life... I have to go back to my regular schedule next week, so I have high expectations for him! 

We are teaching him where to sit in the house and how to give us space. We are practicing the 'no look, no talk, no touch' approach with him. Which is HARD because he is so cute and I just want to hug him and love his anxiety away! But we know unearned affection encourages that exact behavior that we don't want!

In addition to the discipline and training at home we have been trying to walk/exercise the built up anxiety out of him. 

He is a WONDERFUL walker! Such a joy, possibly the most enjoyable dog I've ever walked. Always slack in the leash and he is just right there at my knee. This morning Matt ran with him too for the first time, Mister did great! He had lots of energy to run and again was perfect on the leash. Later in the morning I walked all 3 dogs for about an hour. But I also have been coupling Mister with Blue so that he starts to bond with the dogs and not so much on me. Again, he did excellent. 

I gave him and the other two affection at the end of the walk. I had some errands to run today, so I needed to leave them at home for about an hour. I feed them all, and then they all laid down for their daily slumber. I started to get my things together to go. Mister got anxious, I put him back on his dog bed and gave him a 'stay' command. We had to do this three times before I actually got out the door. But he did it! 

I snuck around the corner of the house, and nothing. No sound, no whining, no loud pacing. I wanted to be sure.... so I got in my car, and with the windows down I listened for about 5 minutes. Still nothing. I started the car and listened another 5 minutes. Most excellent silence ever! 

I did my things and when I came home, it was still quiet. I peeked in the front window.... Mister and Blue were playing and wrestling quietly! I still can't believe it! 


Progress feels REALLY good today. I really think we had a major break through with Mister here. 

Between the exercise, training, discipline, loving patience for Mister adjusting to a normal home-life, and the power of the pack he is on his way to becoming another World's Greatest Pet!

Americas Next Top Model (dog)

 Mister loves attention more than anything.

He wants to take a good picture...

 But that flash is SO bright!

 Almost there buddy! Mister looks so old in these pictures, but he is only around 2 years young.

Mister has some kind of allergies, we think. He has hair loss around his eyes and on his ears. His hair is very thin on his face. For some reason his coat looks dark grey in the pictures, but it actually black.

I am learning that one of the greatest photography challenges in life is taking a picture of a black dog!

Mister is super sweet looking in real life. His expression is usually saying "love me, please?" It is super hard to resist wanting to just take him into your arms and snuggling with him. It just so happens that is his FAVORITE thing to do!!!

Mister.

 He already knows his name. Mister. His tail wags every time you say, "Mister." I don't think the name fits him at all, but since he knows it already, and answers to it, we will be keeping the name. Mister. 

Listen Mister. 

Mister you gotta sit. 

Mister walk with me.

Mister your going to have to listen to me. 

Look Mister, that is my spot on the couch! 

I'm having fun with his silly name. 

Mister is incredibly affectionate. He loves nothing more than to be next to you, or on your lap, kissing you and looking deep into your eyes. He was a joy to walk this morning for the first time. He followed nicely and walked right behind my knee. I used a pinch collar and never corrected him once. He mirrored my speed perfectly - brisk, sloooow, run - he was right there. He enjoys being with his person more than anything else in the world. In fact, this is Mister's achilles heel I believe. 

In our house, we will be working with Mister to learn balance. He needs rules, boundaries and limitations BEFORE affection. I don't think he has been told 'no' very much in his life. All he wants is to be with his people, but it is a balance. He is kinda sad looking with his hair loss, so it is easy to feel sorry for him, which in dog-language translates into being a softy and not a leader. Mister needs leadership. He has confidence issues that result in his people-attachment.

Mister is just my kinda dog. He ended up in the right house. Our pack is going to do our best to rehabilitate him into the World's Greatest Pet. Matt and I can see the potential in Mister. He is gorgeous! His muscle structure and body build is impressive, and that face! 

Oh my gosh, that face can make you melt!  Stay tuned... this is going to be fun!