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