Lucky update

Tuna fish and Lucky do not mix. He has truly been getting sick of the rice/hamburg/chicken concoction that I have been feeding him, so I left a tiny bit of tuna fish in a bowl for him and gave it to him with his meal.

Too much fat fed to a skinny sheltie = stinky messes on the floor and on them.

So, he spent the night downstairs last night.

Except, this morning, I woke up and he was beside the bed.

So, he must have climbed the stairs.

By himself.

Not bad for a sheltie that we though we might lose only 2 weeks ago.

Shatzi is on PetFinder!

Yep, the big girl is ready for her forever home!

Click here

Spread the word far and wide (I'll write up what we have been working on for the barking issues later).

Shatzi went to her forever home on May 24, 2008.

Foster Dogs #9 & #10: Lucky & Banjo

On November 30, I picked up 2 male shelties from an owner who needed to find a new home for them. Their names are Banjo and Lucky.

Banjo is a very healthy 6 year old male and once he is neutered, he will be available for adoption. He is such a sweet cuddlebug! Who can resist his pretty face (he is the one on the left).

Lucky isn't in great shape, though. I rushed him to Holly's vet in Portland where he stayed for a week getting IV fluids and numerous tests. See, Lucky is severly underweight and Holly & I thought we might lose the little guy. But, thankfully, he is coming around nicely - in fact, he is at my feet right now waiting for his next meal. He gets stronger every day and is going to be a little hellion once he is all better!

moar funny pictures

Dog Book Review: Cautious Canine

Cautious Canine: How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears
Patricia McConnell
$6.95
www.dogwise.com

This short book is a great primer for owners of shy and fearful dogs. Basically, Dr. McConnell teaches the reader how to use desensitization and counterconditioning (D&C) to help fearful dogs get used to unfamiliar people and situations. This positive method approach is extremely effective – I have used it on numerous foster dogs with great success.

The key to D&C is to use very high value treats and to start at a distance from the feared object where the dog is not showing any fear. For some, this distance might be only a few feet. For others, the distance is a few hundred feet and then small steps are taken over a long period of time to bring the dog closer to the feared object.

Recommended for the library of anyone who fosters dogs.

Foster Dog #8: Shatzi

Shatzi means "sweetheart" in German. She is definitely has a sweet sheltie heart. A really big sheltie heart!

Shatzi is the biggest sheltie I have ever met. She isn't huge like a Great Dane, but she is big for a sheltie. And, she has a bark to match. Big and loud. Especially when she sees or even hears a car.

So, Shatzi needs some training and needs some vetting and then can go to her forever home.

Charlie

Charlie Bear, an Aussie/Golden Retriever mix, stayed with us for one week. He was turned over to the Bangor Humane Society because he was too shy and did not warm up to the men in the family fast enough.

In the week that he stayed with us, he was a very good boy. However, he needed to be in a foster home with bigger dogs - the ones here are just too small for him to play with.

So, he traveled to another home and there he will stay until he is adopted!

Sunshiney Spirit

Spirit,

a Pom mix, looking very cute.

Smelly, but cute. She likes to roll in smelly things. Like skunk. And, deer poop.

She loves to bark. Sounds like she has been a smoker - hoarse and deep! You should hear her howl! At night, she loves to cuddle with me and Robbie.

Outside, she runs and runs. She is very fast and such a tease!

This last one is Spirit and Ella wrestling. Can you tell which is which? And, yes, I was standing in the house and took the picture from my dining room window.

Compassion Fatigue

I have compassion fatigue. And, it is starting to affect how I feel about rescue. I feel tired a lot. Some days, it feels like all I do is work and take care of dogs. All I hear is barking. All I smell is dogs. Like there is no pleasure to watching the dogs eat their dinners. To playing ball outside with them. To having a cuddle on the couch. To training.

It is even harder to listen politely while people make stupid excuses for giving up their dogs. We are moving and can't take him/her. We don't have the time. We can't afford it. Blah blah blah. Every animal rescuer has heard all the excuses and we all know that most of them aren't true.

The hardest thing of all is when we ask for help from others and get no response.

So, since I feel myself getting bitter and tired, I am going to have to do something about this. The shelties rely on me. My own dogs rely on me. Holly and the other sheltie rescuers rely on me. I do not want to burn out and not be able to help!

Here is a good definition of compassion fatigue:

Compassion fatigue is what we feel when we've cared for others more than ourselves, when our sense of responsibility to others has become exaggerated or out of balance.

The Animals in Our Hearts website has some great articles and links for people who have compassion fatigue.

Growling

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned a great book called "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. I really think that every dog owner should have this book and should read it carefully.

One of the hardest parts about owning a dog is understanding them. And, to us, a growl is a scary thing. To a dog, it is supposed to be scary.

A growling dog is telling us that s/he is feeling like their personal space is being invaded. It means "Leave me alone." It means "You scare me and I want you to go away." It means "I am warning you. Please don't make me take evasive action."

So, we have to figure out why our dogs are growling, determine if we can help them with the problem and then help them. We should never punish a dog for growling.

If a dog is growling because it is afraid, which many rescue dogs are, then we need to analyse the environment and figure out what is causing their fear. At that point, we need to either remove the thing causing the fear or move the dog to a place where it isn't afraid. This protects the dog and the people around it. We do not want to inadvertently push the dog over its limits.

Then, we need to try to help the dog get over whatever it fears. I have talked a bit about this here.

Jelly Rolls, Hotdog Rolls, and Alpha Rolls

My dogs and I have a strong relationship filled with mutual respect. They have earned my respect by showing how forgiving and resilient they are when a new foster come home, when they are introduced to new situations and how incredibly intelligent beings they are. I feel that I have earned their respect by being a kind, loving, and confident leader. I am not dominating them. I am leading them. To me, there is a huge difference. One makes me look like a dictator. The other just puts me at the head of the household as the one who has responsibly to and for everyone else.

We practice the "Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF)" program in my home. I enjoy giving special food, treats and toys to my dogs. However, since the pack only gets these things once they have earned them, they aren't spoiled.

For instance, when I decide that everyone would get a biscuit, we practice NILIF. This is how it goes:

• I walk to the kitchen and open the biscuit jar. All the dogs rush into the kitchen behind me.
• I wait patiently, staring off into space, for said pack to figure out what I want from them.
• Ella is usually the first. She sits (look, she has done her work!).
• I say "good sit, Ella" and hand her a biscuit.
• Little doggie lightbulbs flicker on above the other dogs heads.
• One by one, each dog sits: Good sit, Maggie. Good sit, Blackie. Good sit, Duchess. Good sit, Robbie. Good sit, Bear. Good sit, Spirit.

With a new foster, sometimes the task at first is merely to take a treat from my hand once all the other dogs have gotten theirs. Then we work up to sitting with the others. No fighting and no stealing treats. No jumping, either. No treat for misbehaving - once the dog settles, THEN they get the treat.

Please notice that I do not ask them to sit. I am merely waiting for them to figure it out.

NILIF goes both ways. If I want well behaved dogs, then I have to work for it. If they want a treat, then they have to work for it.

So, how do I deal with bad behavior?

First, I try to prevent it. If that doesn't work, I will give time outs in crates and separate rooms.

For instance, I like to give bully sticks to the dogs at least once a week to keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh. Seven dogs = seven sticks, right? Wrong! I always have a couple of extra sticks in various spots, in case someone gets up and has their stick taken - there is usually one lying nearby that they can chew on.

Should two dogs decide to go for the same stick and start an argument, I immediately ask them to Stop! in a calm, loud voice (to penetrate the snarling) and take all sticks away from all dogs. Everyone then gets a time out for a half-hour or so or we go do something else, like go to another room.

Another way to use NILIF is at the dinner table. My dogs, at my home, have learned that if they wait quietly, they will get a treat when I am finished with my meal. I did this by completely ignoring them while I was eating and every once in awhile giving them a treat for laying or sitting quietly. Seems a little counter intuitive, doesn't it? It does work, though. It does take some time, too, and all family members have to do the same thing or it won't work (if you have a child slipping the dog food through the whole meal, this method probably won't work).

All of these things that I do help to make my household harmonious. Not quiet, mind you, but harmonious.

Do I ever alpha roll them, like some trainers suggest? No. I don't need to. And, dogs don't alpha roll each other, either. The submissive animal rolls itself. My dogs and I co-exist as a team, remember, so I certainly do not expect them to be submissive to me nor do I expect them to submit to me - what they do, they do of their own accord, because it makes sense to them - because we are a team. Because of respect. Because I ask, not command.

Remember, they respect me and I respect them. I am a benevolent leader and I think about problems and watch for them before they become problems. That's my job, as the one with the bigger brain. I have a routine that I stick to, morning and night. I provide enough things for my dogs to do to keep their minds and bodies active. I know that they are dogs, not furry humans. I make sure that I teach them what I want them to do, rather than punish them for doing something I don't want them to do.

Give

Robbie is a dog that loves to play fetch and tug, often at the same time. In fact, I never had to teach Robbie (or Bear) to bring a toy back. They realized on their own that if they brought the toy back, then I would throw it again. And, they would have a fun game to play. Bear brings the toy back and drops it near me.

Robbie, on the other hand, wants to play tug before he really lets go of the toy. He will often drop the ball and then try to grab it before I can pick it up. Sometimes, he grabs fingers instead of toys, which doesn't break the skin, but does hurt. So, Robbie and I have been working on “Give.”

First, though, I want to explain why I use the term“give” instead of “drop it.” Say, out loud, the term“drop it” as though you are talking to your dog. Do you find that your voice automatically lowers a bit and you become a little more stern or serious?

I grew up giving dogs commands. I did not ask them to do something: I told them to do something. Now, I prefer to think of my relationship with my pets as a partnership. I give them things they need and they, in return, worship the ground I walk on (just kidding). Seriously, though, I want my partnership with my pets to be loving and caring.

Now say the word “give.” It doesn’t have the same tone, does it? It is more difficult to make that word stern, at least for me. You could also use the word“trade.”

So, in order for Robbie and me to work on “give,” we need a few tools:

• A toy. If Robbie resource guards toys from me, I would choose a low value toy for this, like a rope toy, since he doesn’t really like those. Since Robbie doesn’t guard, I am going to use a fleece tug at first and work up to a ball.


• High value treats. Wellness Pure Rewards Jerky is great for this. So are tiny pieces of dehydrated hot dog. I have prepared for training by making all my treats about the size of a pea (use scissors). And, as a side note, biscuits do not make good training treats. They are bland and most dogs don’t go crazy enough for them. Instead, use what I call “puppy crack.” This is any treat that a dog will do anything for: Duck Breast, Jerky, Chicken, hot dogs, cheese, etc.


• A treat bag is also helpful, since many high value treats are greasy. The bag keeps your pockets clean. I prefer the Gentle Leader French Hinge Bag.

So, Robbie and I go to a quiet place and I give him a few treats to get him warmed up. Then I offer him the tug. He starts pulling and I show him the treat and click when he drops the toy to take it. We repeat this many times over many sessions. Each session might only be a few minutes. We always end our session with a really good tug and then a “jackpot” of treats. When he lets go the final time, I give him 15-20 treats right in a row.

The next step is to have him place the toy in my open hand. It might take awhile and my clicker will come in handy for this. As soon as Robbie brings me the toy and nudges my hand with it, I’ll click and then give him a treat. We’ll do this for a few sessions.

Then I’ll expect him to nudge the toy in my open palm. Click then treat. He WILL figure this out on his own, trust me. I’ll just wait patiently until he figures it out, with my hand open so he can get the hint. Then he’ll have to drop the toy in my palm. Click and treat each time.

Once he consistently drops the toy in my open palm, I will show him my open palm, say“give,” and when he does, click and treat. I might have to help him here by shaping this a little. He might just drop the toy for a second at first. Then 2 seconds, then three until he lets go of it and lets it be for as long as I want. The clicker is really helpful for this, since timing is everything.

Once Robbie is successfully giving me a toy in my open palm when I say “give,” I will start randomly giving him treats – maybe every three times or every fourth. This will help the behavior be resistant to extinction (he will remember it for a very long time and do it without treats). Eventually, I won’t need to clicker at all and only once in a while will I need treats. And, for Robbie, the playing of tug or fetch is reinforcing in and of itself, so treats might not even be needed.

By working with Robbie in this way, I will have accomplished a number of things:

• Robbie has learned how to politely play with toys and to give them up when asked.


• Robbie has learned to think for himself while we were training – he has to figure out what I want.


• Robbie has become more confident, since his problem solving skills are improving.


• Our relationship is stronger, since we worked as a team towards a common goal.


• I have a better trained dog and I haven’t had to use punishment to do so!

Right now, Robbie and I are still on the first step. But, I know where I want us to go in the future, so am able to measure our progress and will rejoice when we reach the final goal.

Medication Tricks (or, How to Fool Maggie)

Maggie Mae has seasonal allergies. She has a runny nose and goopy eyes and tends to reverse sneeze quite a bit. Most of the time, she is OK without medication, but when I woke up the other morning and found half of my pillow soaking wet from doggie snot, I realized that something had to be done!

So, Miss Mags gets her medicine once a day. It took a few days to figure out how to give it to her. Here is what didn't work

1. Hiding the pill in cheese, meat or treats.
2. Feeding it to her in her food bowl with her dinner.
3. Plopping yogurt on it and expecting her to miss it.

Here is what did work:

1. Grinding up the pill and mixing it with yogurt and then adding the entire concoction to her food. At first, she didn't like it. Now, she eats it all. Thankfully, no more doggie snot.

I think I must add a pill to each food bowl at dinnertime! Each dog has his/her own needs - it is for this exact reason that everyone now has their own crates (and, my dining room has no space):

• Ella gets a pink thyroid pill at dinner.
• Duchess gets a green thyroid pill at breakfast and dinner.
• Blackie get a Rimadyl at dinner.
• Robbie gets either a DGP pill or Rimadyl at dinner.
• Maggie gets an allergy pill at dinner.
• Bear gets a digestive support pill at dinner. (We are going to try Honest Kitchen's Perfect Form soon, though).
• Spirit doesn't need any pills.

A coworker once asked me how I kept track of it all. It isn't hard to remember what each dog gets. What is hard is when I forget the order I put the pills in the bowls and I have to figure out what is in them!

Fearful Dogs

Shelties tend to be a breed that is very shy (or, in other words, fearful). They tend to be afraid of all the normal things that fearful dogs are afraid of: children, strangers, cars, etc. Some will just run under the bed and hide. Others will bark aggressively in order to frighten away whatever is frightening them. And still others will be pushed beyond their limits and start nipping and biting. Most dogs who get to this stage are called "fear aggressive."

Helping a dog overcome its fears is a time consuming task. However, the rewards are huge. And, there are a lot of resources out there to help a fearful dog.

Trainers

Going to an experienced, positive method dog trainer is one of the most important things a person can do if they have a fearful dog. I really stress the positive method part, since punishment will only worsen a dog with fear issues. It will not make him better. If you would like help finding a positive trainer in your area, please e-mail me (or, leave a comment and I will e-mail you).

Books

Patricia McConnell - Cautious Canine ($6.95)
This short book outlines a step by step approach for helping a dog overcome its fears. McConnell writes in an easygoing and straightforward style that even an inexperienced dog owner can follow. I give a copy of this book to any adopters who adopt a fearful dog. *Any book by Patricia McConnell is worth buying and reading!*

Nicole Wilde - Help for Your Fearful Dog ($24.95)
This book is much more comprehensive than Cautious Canine. It also has a step by step approach, but includes help for anxiety and phobias, too. Ms. Wilde is a respected dog trainer.

Jean Donaldson - Culture Clash ($17.95) and Dogs are From Neptune ($16.95)
Culture Clash is THE book I recommend for all dog owners, whether they have a fearful dog or not. "Dogs are NOT humans. Dogs ARE clever and complex creatures that humans need to take the time to understand in order to live together successfully."
Dogs are from Neptune has specific case studies and treatment for dogs with aggression.

Websites

Shy Dogs FAQ

San Francisco SPCA Article

Veterinary Partners

Foster Dog #7: Spirit

Miss Spirit, aka Sunshine, aka Mystic, is a little adorable Pomeranian Sheltie mix. Looking at her markings and coat, it is easy to think “sheltie.” But, when she turns her head and you get a profile – she definitely has some pom in her!

Spirit is foster #6 (well, really #7, if Duchess and Blackie do not count as one). She was spayed last Thursday and is just now feeling a little better (she is zoom zooming outside). The stitches itch, though, and she has a hard time bending to lick them, so gets a little frustrated! The noises she makes!

She is a timid little girl who has an easier time dealing with people than other dogs. She is starting to play with Robbie – since he never leaves her alone and is always pestering her to play. She is also good with Ella and Maggie. The first night she was here, she slept on the bed with her head on Maggie’s rump. And, if the play gets too rough, she will often run and hide behind Miss Mags.

Spirit can take or leave Bear, whom she is having a hard time communicating with, since Bear only responds to canine body language, especially sheltie body language. Spirit tends to vocalize her displeasure with the close proximity of other dogs and Bear can’t hear, so she often feels the need to nip at him. THAT is body language he can see and understand, so he now tends to give her a wide berth. But, Spirit doesn’t seem to be any more timid around Bear than the other shelties.

Blackie, however, gets into growling contests with Spirit. Of course, both are on the bed and both think that this is THEIR place to be – no other dogs up here, thank you very much. Well, the rule in this house is that bed privileges go only to those who have earned them. And, I am the only one who decides who is on the bed. Any excessive growling or snarkiness, and you have lost your bed privileges for the night.

First, everyone must learn the cue “Off the Bed.” I teach each and every foster (and my own permanent dogs) this term. First, we practice jumping up and down off the bed – I use treats to lure them. Then, we do this while I use a hand motion and say “Off the bed.” I eventually phase out the lure and then just reward when they are on the floor.

I also teach “Get on this bed.” Which is actually taught in my household as a game, since once they jump on the bed, we play sock muzzle or belly rubs or feet catching, depending upon how safe it is to play such games with each dog.

Maggie, Ella and Robbie all sleep on the bed off and on through the night. They usually choose when and where, since they allow other dogs on the bed. Harley and Bailey, the two Siamese cats, always sleep on the bed. So, there is some room for another dog or two. If anyone tries to monopolize the bed, they are asked to get off. If they don’t, I gently pick them up and deposit them on a dog bed of their own on the floor (sometimes, during the night, I do not reinforce with a treat). No yanking collars or anything like that – just gently touching them and then lifting up and to their own bed. Blackie especially responds well to this (he does NOT respond well to touching his collar to move him). Spirit needs a little more work with staying off the bed once she is no longer on it, but once she becomes more confident, she will feel more comfortable sleeping in her own bed occasionally.

KVSSC Club Day

Ella, Duchess, Blackie and I went to Augusta on Sunday for the Kennebec Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club's match - obedience, rally, conformation trials. We didn't have many people attend, but Holly managed to snap a few really cute pictures. One was of Ethan, the best Aussie in the WHOLE WORLD, greeting a sheltie puppy. The other was a picture of Blackie and Duchess - with Blackie making faces!

Downtown Dog Days

Ella, Paula and I attending the Bangor Downtown Dog Days on Saturday. We bought a Aerobie Dogobie Frisbee from Epic Mountain Sports. Robbie really loves running to catch it (and, I can actually throw this one). Ella then runs over to him and they run around the yard playing tug.

We also found a cool ball at the Grasshopper Shop. It was the perfect size for Ella to herd and had cute ladybugs on it. Sadly, once Blackie got ahold of it, he immediately put a hole in it and shredded the darn thing. Oh, well.

At noon, the Franciscans came for a Blessing of the Dogs. Ella twitched a little when the holy water hit her in the head, but really enjoyed the drooley little boy who was patting her during the ceremony.

We went to the Bangor Humane Society to look at the dogs available there (for Paula) and didn't find anything. Then, we drove around looking for a place for lunch. We stopped at Pepino's, a nice Mexican Restaurant, because they had a place where we could park Ella and the car in the shade.

On the way home, Ella was pooped! She slept the whole way with barely a twitch!

Fostering!

Phew! I am participating in a few blogging challenges: Liz's One Local Summer Challenge, S.M.S.'s Book to Movie Challenge and 3M's Book Awards Reading Challenge. Maybe I should come up with my very own challenge! Like, how many dogs can we squish into Stephani's house challenge.

Duchess is losing weight very nicely. She is visibly slimming down each and every day. And, she has become more active and more vocal. When the pack and I play ball outside, she barks at everyone - just like a little cheerleader (or an old hen telling them to settle down).

Blackie is more active, too, but is showing his age a little, since he tends to over-do-it if I let him. Then, he is achy and snarky when the weather cools off at night. I have begun giving him a DGP arthritis supplement each morning to see if that helps. I think it is, since this morning the little s*** stuck his head into the zucchini patch and leisurely ate a small, tender morsel - flower and all. The dog has no shame - none at all. I mean, at least grab it and run - don't just stand there at the outdoor buffet!

And, Spirit is with us. Well, not right at this very moment, since she is recovering at the vet's office from her spay surgery. But, the little angel seems to be fitting in a-OK. She is a little skittish, but slept the other night on the bed curled up next to Maggie (with her head on Maggie's butt). The funny thing is, every time I look at her, I want to call her "Sunshine."

So, should you decide to come visit, don't expect to have any conversation for a few minutes - visitors cause ALL the dogs to talk! At once!

The Week from Hell

Ah, the last week has been so very very long:

• Got bit by a potential rescue dog and had to tell the owner we couldn't take her
• Close friend lost her dog the next day
• Attended an event for work (I really don't like social events)
• Attending a wedding (see above - but this was actually fun)
• Drove to the County and picked up another (very sweet) rescue dog

So, didn't have much energy to post....

Duchess and Blackie Settle In

Over the past few days, Blackie and Duchess have settled into the daily routine very nicely. Here is what we have been working on:

Duchess is perfect just the way she is. She comes when calls. She hasn't had any mistakes in the house since we got her bowels straightened out. Her skin is now a lovely light pink instead of a bright red (from the concrete in the shelter, I suspect). She doesn't look as bloated as she did when she first came home and she has begun looking like a 10 year old - rather than a 20 year old. She does have an appointment with our vet to have her skin and fatty tumors checked.

Blackie is a good boy, too. He comes when called. He loves to play ball. He takes treats gently. However, we have been working on his house training, since he urine marks in the house. When he first arrived, he would lift his leg to mark every 30 to 60 seconds. So, he needed to be tethered to me, be outside or be in his crate.

Over the past few days, he has come to learn that our bedroom is also his bedroom and he has stopped lifting his leg completely there. He still has trouble downstairs, since that is where the dogs tend to spend the day. That is also where the most toys are. He tried to mark the corners and the toys. He still needs to learn that inside is not the place to go, but is doing a much better job. In fact, we can get up in the morning, go downstairs and outside - and, he waits until we get there! This is quite a change for being in a house for just 6 days (after being in a shelter for 2 months).

Each night, Duchess lies down on the large LL Bean dog bed next to my nightstand. Blackie always joins her there and they sleep through the night. Maggie took Duchess's place last night and Blackie curled up next to her, but then woke up and growled because he didn't recognize her. She just sent him some calming signals by turning her head away and licking her lips and he went back to sleep.

Then, a friend brought her 4 year old grandson over. Blackie played fetch with him and Duchess followed him around. They did OK - I wouldn't want them to be in a home with a lot of noisy children, but one or two quiet ones would be perfect.

It's Raining (Shelties)!

So, Holly and her husband Chuck, went on a much deserved vacation and now it has started raining shelties. Well, not quite raining. Maybe just misting:

Sheltie A needs to be picked up, vet checked and spayed. She will probably need some training in order to improve her confidence level.

Sheltie B will be picked up tomorrow night. She is spayed, but hasn't been to the vet in years. Sadly, this girl is scared and a resource guarder. Plus, she is overweight, which leads me to wonder if she has a thyroid issue. Hypothyroidism can cause aggression in some dogs.

Then, there is Duchess and Blackie. Two complete dolls. I'll do a post just for them in a minute.

Settling In

Well, Blackie and Duchess did well on the ride home. Blackie stared at my rider’s lap until she deigned to allow him to sleep there. Duchess mourned being left out in the backseat. That is, until my rider’s granddaughter hopped in. She then took advantage of a small, comfortable lap and settled in for lots of great pats.

Once home, they spent some time getting to know my dogs and exploring the backyard. We all tromped inside to eat and then spent some more time outside. Then, we all tromped upstairs – me to read before bed and them to find their sleeping spots and settle down for the night. Duchess was a little wary of the huge flight of stairs, but she stormed up them like the good little trooper that she is.

Ella has been following Duchess around like a nursemaid. The poor old girl needs to lose quite a bit of weight and grow back her coat. Since she is hypothyroid, she needs to take medicine with each meal. She was so happy to be in the (too) long grass that she tried prancing around like a puppy.

Maggie doesn't mind either Blackie or Duchess. She pretty much ignores them.

Robbie barked at Blackie quite a bit. At first, it was a “you are a stranger and you don’t belong here” bark. After we all started playing ball and tug, though, it became a “play with me” bark. Robbie tends to be insecure around strange male dogs, so Blackie was crated while I am at work today. He showed this behavior to Buster, too, so Robbie and I are going to start a little more comprehensive training program to help ease his fears.

Bear is scared of Blackie, though it isn't Blackie’s fault. Since Bear can not see very well, Blackie looks like a moving shadow to Bear – much like my oldest cat (who cuffs Bear whenever he gets a chance). With time, Bear will start to recognize him.

Blackie also needs to be crated because he urine marks – inside. Saying his name distracts him enough to stop, but he spends a large amount of time sniffing and lifting a leg. Hopefully, with time and training, he will discontinue doing this inside. Bear did the same thing when I first rescued him, so I know that time, patience and consistency will help a lot.

Foster Dogs 5A & 5B

Today I am traveling to Kennebunk to pick up Blackie and Duchess. Blackie is an 8 year old poodle mix and Duchess is a 10 year old bi-blue sheltie. They are a bonded pair and have been in the shelter for awhile. Since they are bonded, they will need to be adopted out together.

A "No Foster Dog" Vacation

It is a slow time in sheltie rescue right now - well, in Maine, at least, so the pack is really enjoying their time without a foster dog. Bear and Maggie pair off and wrestle - with Bear often grabbing onto Maggie's collar and tugging.

Meanwhile, Ella and Robbie race around playing tug. Since they are the same size, they tend to run together with a rope in their mouths, side by side, like a pair of matched ponies. I should teach them to pull a cart!

Some people think that the hardest part of fostering would be adopting the dogs out. It really isn't, since all of my fosters have gone to even better homes. The hardest part is the stress that the household is under for the first few weeks as the dogs get to know each other and the cats accept the newcomer. And, it is stressful on the human, since it is the human's responsibility to make sure that each and every interaction between the animals is as positive as possible.

Typically, I keep my foster in my car until "the four monsters" settle down a little from my arrival. Then, I bring out the foster dog on a leash (60 feet long so the foster doesn't realize they are on a leash - to prevent possible leash aggression). Depending on how the dog reacts while in the car, I might start with a greeting between just Ella and the new dog. Then, I will slowly bring out the others - usually in this order: Robbie, Maggie, Bear. Buddy (Foster 4) met everyone at once.

After a few minutes, I either leave the foster dog outside alone and get the other dogs settled inside or I bring everyone inside. It all depends on the dog-dog interaction.

Depending upon what time of day it is, I either settle down to watch a movie and watch the dogs interact or I get meals ready. Ella, Bear and Maggie are all crated when they eat. Ella because she steals food, has weight issues and needs thyroid medication. Bear because he isn't as housetrained as I would like and it keeps him in one spot. Maggie because she gets so excited that she knocks me down and lets others steal her food. Eventually, everyone will have a crate of their own, plus one for the foster dog. Don't ask me where I will put them all, though!

After eating, everyone goes outside to do business and play (and bark). I usually play ball with Bear & Robbie or water the garden while the dogs are playing. Then we all tromp inside and I get to eat. This is where the foster really feels welcome and learns the household rules. If everyone is quiet and peaceful while I eat, then everyone gets a nice piece of whatever I am eating. Yep, I feed the dogs at the table - but only when I am finished eating and they have behaved.

Here are a few pointers, should you ever decide to foster:

1. Know your own dogs well. Know their triggers: likes and dislikes. Some dogs are just not going to be good with foster dogs coming in and out of your household. Mine are all young and are used to this, so adapt well.
2. Some fosters are not going to do well with your dogs. You have to be prepared for this and be prepared to use treats to help them overcome their shyness.
3. Be prepared, for at least a few days, to get nothing accomplished. You should be observing the new dog and making sure that he/she is fitting in well.
4. Be prepared to separate the dogs when necessary. All fosters wear a harness with a thin drag line when they first come home. This enables me to catch them if they are scared, acts like a leash when they need to be housetrained and keeps me from having to grab them. Have baby gates handy to block off rooms. Have crates set up for needed time-outs.
5. Keep your normal routine in place and the foster dog will fall in line quickly. This will also help prevent stress on your own animals.
6. If your dogs have even the slightest tendency to resource guard from other dogs, make sure that all toys, chewies and things that might be valuable (to your guarder) are picked up before the new dog arrives.
7. Crate your foster when you are not there for at least 2 weeks. It takes time for differences between dogs to come to the surface and you do not want a disagreement to take place while you are not there. So, prevent it.
8. Be prepared for the inevitable frustrations of having yet another dog who is not used to stairs, cats, dogs, doors. One who counter surfs, isn't housetrained, doesn't know any cues and is scared of everything. In time, these will seem so minor!
9. Give yourself and your animals a break now and then between fosters.
10. Relax and treat the foster like one of your own.

So, until the next dog, we are relaxing and enjoying our routine. We are practicing our obedience cues and working on getting good on the grooming table and when nails are clipped. And, I am very thankful that I have these dogs to help me foster, since they are the ones that teach the newbies so much.

Buddy: Foster #4

Buddy went to his forever home this weekend. This is what his new mum says about him:

"Buddy is such a doll! He fits right in here, and has made himself quite at home. He just loves to play ball in his new backyard."

The picture shows how happy he is in his new home.

I dropped Buster off to his new home, too, and I think this will be the perfect spot for him. His new mum says that he settled right in, loves her dog Wex and went for a quiet walk. What a great life these dogs are going to have!

It is pictures like these and notes from new adopters that really make rescue worthwhile (besides all the sheltie smiles we see!).

OLS: Week 4

This week was a great week for eating locally - I am getting better at planning and at finding local foods. Plus, my CSA chare started 2 weeks ago - I am hitting more than 5 a day for veggies!

So, I decided to make Sausage and Greens Soup. A couple of ingredients are not local, but everything else comes from within 10 miles of my home.

Sausage - Cornerstone Farm ~10 miles
Garlic Scapes - Firefly Farm ~5 miles
Swiss Chard - Firefly Farm ~5 miles
Scallions - Firefly Farm ~5 miles
Potatoes - 150 miles (County)
Evaporated milk - unknown

The recipe is quite good, but if I decide to make it again, I will use a less spicy sausage! And, Swiss Chard is starting to grow on me - well, not literally, but each time I eat it, raw or cooked, I like it more.

And, I already have my local meal for next week planned - Minestrone Soup using veggies from my share and beans from Exeter.

Buster

Buddy is with Holly tonight - he is traveling with her to his forever home tomorrow. I have Holly's foster dog and am taking him north to his forever home. What a rascal!

PS. That buffet is not normally there - I am working on my dining room and needed a place for it. Can you call my house "Sheltie Heaven"?

Community Supported Agriculture

This is my first year having a CSA share. Using the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association's website, I found a local farm which offered prepackaged shares. My share is from Firefly Farm, owned and operated by Billi, in St. Albans. This farm is about 7 minutes from my house!

Last Monday, I picked up my first weekly share and spent a lovely hour chatting with Billi about local farmer's markets, food, blogs and numerous other things. She lives is a little farmhouse and, besides growing vegetables for the likes of me, bakes bread for her stand. As part of my share, I asked that a loaf of bread be included each week.

Last week, I received beets & greens, Swiss Chard, 3 pounds of peas (2 types), a huge bunch of scallions, cilantro and garlic scapes and 2 loaves of bread: rye and olive. I ate very well last week - you can check my previous post to see what I did with part of my share. Other parts I ate and then I froze some to enjoy later.

After spending time chatting with Billi, I realized how important it is for everyone to know where their food comes from. To be able to connect in some small way with their food chain - rather than just going into the supermarket and buying what looks good. Farming is hard work and going to pick up my vegetables there makes me realize, each and every week, what an important job farmers have in our lives.

Besides all that, though, it just tastes better.

OLS: Week 3

My CSA share started this week - I'll post more about that later - which made this week (and future weeks) so much easier to plan for! So, once I got home from picking up my share, I shelled my peas and blanched my swiss chard and beet greens for freezing.

Then I made Spring Pea Soup, which was good, but a little bland. Next time, I will reduce the amount of water called for in the recipe and add more spices.

Here are the ingredients and the miles they traveled:
Peas ~ 5 miles (CSA Share)
Garlic Scapes ~ (CSA Share)
Scallions ~ (CSA Share)
Potatoes ~ 150 miles (County potatoes)
Herbs ~ 0 miles

I also had some very yummy greek olive bread, which came with my CSA share. All in all, I am very glad that I decided it was time for me to know where my food is coming from and have a farmer "with a face."

Loki

Well, a fellow rescuer is working on pulling Loki from the shelter. In the meantime, I have found out that he is heartworm positive. This is a bummer, since he will require 8-12 weeks of sedentary treatment. But, he should recover just fine. **Update: Another sheltie rescue is taking care of Loki, so I will not be fostering him.**

And, speaking of rescued shelties, I have been avidly reading about Duncan, the cutest sheltie ever rescued, on his mum's blog Winning Duncan Over. It is very nice to see the progress he is making and the love that he is getting!

Buddy & Foster Dog #5 (?): Loki

Buddy is at the vet's office recovering very nicely from his -ahem- operation. He also had his teeth cleaned and I will be able to pick him up tomorrow. Amazingly, Holly and her way-cool friend, Joanne, might already have found the perfect home for him! Yippeee!

So, I agreed to foster Loki, a tri colored sheltie who is due to be PTS this Thursday (7/12) in another state if one of the sheltie rescues can not take him. Look at that face! How could I let him die? So, since Buddy is so adoptable and almost adopted, I agreed to take Loki. Another rescue is pulling him from the shelter and we will arrange transport for him.

Hopefully, he won't be living up to his trickster name (especially when he gets a much needed bath and grooming)!

OLS Week 2: Asparagus Quiche

Week 2 of the One Local Summer Challenge found me very prepared at the beginning of the week and, yet, I somehow managed to have almost no local ingredients ready for when I prepared my "official" meal (that would be because I ate it all - too much at a time, but fresh veggies are so yummy). Panicking, I decided to clean out my freezer and package up the 4 quarts of strawberries I had cleaned and frozen on Independence Day.

Lo and behold, I had, crammed way in the bottom, a small bit of asparagus that I had frozen and forgotten. Since I already had local eggs and milk, I decided to make Asparagus Quiche - with no crust. I would really have had to cheat on the crust, since I haven't found any local flour yet, so I made it crustless and just used butter to grease the pie plate. That is why there looks like a crust - the yummy butter darkened. The recipe is from my favorite cookbook, Simply in Season. I haven't found a recipe in there that I do not like! So, here are the ingredients and how far they traveled:

asparagus ~5 miles (last yrs farmer's market)
eggs ~ 5 miles
milk ~ 5 miles
bacon ~ 10 miles
cheese ~ OK, I cheated and used whatever was in the fridge. I doubt it came from Maine.
butter ~ 70 miles (I had some Kate's butter that I used, but when that is gone, I will be using butter made closer)


And, I found a great local source for the best sausage I have ever had. It is Cornerstone Farm in Palmyra - they attend the Augusta Mill Park Farmer's Market, the Waterville Farmer's Market and the Orono Farmer's Market. If you get a chance to try their pork products, you will not be disappointed! We grilled up their Hot Italian Sausage on Wedneday - oh, yum!


*The shelties LOVE asparagus - as I steamed my portion, I also steamed the woody ends for them. They ate them right up. And, I don't think they like me talking about them on this blog - they are all staring at my reflection in the window behind me and barking at it (shelties - in some way, they are so smart. In others, sigh).

Foster #4: Buddy

Lauren went to her forever home last Thursday and I picked up Buddy on Monday. Very short vacation for the pack and I, but longer than when we had Maverick (#2) and Lauren (#3) at the same time!

Buddy was loved very much by his family, but they were no longer able to care for him, which is why his coat looks funny in the picture - he was given a "puppy cut" by a groomer in order to get the dead and matted hair out. And, no, it isn't normal to give shelties any sort of hair cut, let alone a puppy cut. Usually, we trim up their ears and feet, but that is about it!

Buddy is always smiling that sheltie smile and his ears are very charming - one tipped and one straight up. He is a 3 year old sable sheltie who has cerebellar hypoplasia, which causes a slight tremor in his head, kind of like a Parkinson's patient. This doesn't affect his temperament or his ability to run and play, though, since he has settled right in! Sometimes, he is a little clumsy, but this doesn't stop him - he just tries again.

He has taken very well to being crated, which is a blessing, since he isn't entirely house trained yet. He eats his meals and spends the day there when I am at work. At night, he sleeps on the bench at the end of my bed, on the foot of the bed or on the floor - depending on where the rest of the group decides to sleep. Of course, he, Robbie and Ella have to have their evening "race around the bedroom," which tires everyone out enough to go to sleep.

He will make a very good sheltie for someone with a quiet household, older children and a fenced in yard. Once he is neutered on Monday and healed from that, he will be able to be adopted. If you are interested in adopting Buddy or any of our other rescue shelties, you can check out our website, which is listed in the links section - Kennebec Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club - and click on "Rescue."

Lauren went to her forever home

Well, Lauren was officially adopted this past week. She is now going to be the proud sheltie of a lovely retired couple who live on a lake and are prepared to dote on her for the rest of her days. And, surprise, surprise, we were just contacted about the next dog needing fostering!

Quiet Time with Jello!

So, last night, I decided to make myself some raspberry Jello (with pineapple, of course) and thought that it might be fun to fill some Kongs for the dogs.

Tip#1: Make sure that the small hole is plugged very well. Peanut butter will just not do for this! A soft treat (or two) jammed into the hole works perfectly. A secondary containment of plastic wrap is beneficial, too, just in case the treat pops out).

So, once I got the mess cleaned up from my first Kong-Jello fiasco, I plugged the hole with 2 soft treats. Then, I filled the Kong with the Jello and set it in a bowl and got ready to do the second one.

Tip#2: Make sure that you have a mug or glass handy to prop up the Kong in or the jello will get all over the place when the Kong rolls in the bowl.

Then, after cleaning up the second mess, I propped the re-filled Kong in a coffee mug and set it in the fridge. Since I have 4 dogs, I managed to repeat the whole process (sans messes) 3 times. My Kong-Jello skills by the fourth Kong were much improved!

After my Goat Stew lunch, I decided to take a nap. The dogs each got a raspberry Jello & kibble stuffed Kong. They LOVED them! And, I loved the quiet - disturbed every now and then by a weird slurping Jello noise.

OLS: Goat Stew

This is the first week of the One Local Summer Challenge, organized by Liz at Pocket Farm. Basically, the challenge is to eat one dinner each week made from local foods. The fun part is that I get to define what local means.

Since I have never really focused on purchasing local produce and meat, my goals for this summer challenge are to educate myself about available local foods and, as the summer goes on, find my foods within a 50 mile radius of Palmyra. I want this to include everything in the meal. But, for this first week, and, until my CSA share starts, I limited myself to ingredients from Maine (which is a huge area).

Some of the ingredients for this Goat Stew are very easy to find. Potatoes are grown in Northern Maine. I would have preferred local new potatoes, but I wasn't very organized this week and decided to just use what I had in the fridge. Carrots, garlic scapes and onions came from the Pittsfield Farmer's Market. I cheated with the celery.

I have never had goat meat. There are a lot of foods that I have never had. Most of them, I am willing to try, except seafood. I respect those who love lobster, shrimp, clams and mussels, but I just can't eat them. But, meat and poultry, I will try. So I decided to make a soupy stew for this week's challenge using ground goat meat. Since I cook for one, I tend to make meals that can eat for more than one meal - it saves me time on following days and I freeze at least 1 meal for future consumption when I do not feel like cooking at all.

My goat meat comes from St. Albans, just a few miles down the road from me.

Not bad! People around me turned up their noses and said "GOAT? That will be really gamey and stinky." I guess because goats have a certain odor about them? Well, it was bad bad logic on their part (I mean, cooked chicken doesn't smell like live chicken - and I haven't found a meat yet that smelled like its live counterpart, so why would goat be any different). This goat, while a little greasy (drain off the fat!), is quite mild. Milder than lamb in a stew and I LOVE lamb stew!

Goat Meat Stew

1 pound ground goat meat (or, goat stew meat) ~10 miles traveled

1 onion, diced ~ 10 miles

3 carrots, sliced ~ 10 miles

3 stalks celery, sliced ~no idea!

3-4 potatoes, diced ~ The County ~ 150 miles

3-4 garlic scapes, chopped ~ 10 miles

herbs of your choice (I used oregano, parsley, bay and thyme) ~ 0 miles

water/broth ~0 miles

salt & pepper

Brown onion in a skillet. Add goat meat, salt & pepper and cook until browned. At the very end, add the chopped garlic scapes and brown lightly. In a large pot, combine the cooked onion and goat mixture, potatoes, celery, carrots, and herbs. Cover with broth/water and cook on medium heat until potatoes are tender. This would be nice served with a whole wheat bread - especially with the cool weather of this weekend!

So, my goals for the next week are to explore some local farmer's markets I have not been to and to plan a dinner that even my picky father and sister would eat!

Pet Appreciation Day - Bangor

Ella, Robbie and I drove up to Bangor today in order to share a booth with Maine Aussie Rescue at the Bangor Humane Society's Pet Appreciation Day. Leigh from Aussie Rescue met us there.

We met a lot of people and a lot of dogs. The biggest dog we met was a Great Dane and the smallest was a Min-Pin. There were pure bred dogs and mixed breeds. All seemed happy to be out and about with their people and happy that the day wasn't blisteringly hot.

I was privileged enough to have a 30 second spot on the radio promoting Aussie Rescue. I hope we get some website hits from that! Ella stood beside me for moral support. She was a bit nervous of the large, loud speakers, though, and wanted us to hightail it back to the booth when we were finished.

All in all, it was a fun day!

*Rocky the rescue sheltie is still loose.

Rocky is Still Loose

Well, Rocky is still running loose and avoiding people and bait. His owner is helping out and let's hope that works!

Strawberries!

Last night, I made Strawberry Bread from the cookbook Simply in Season.

My strawberries were a little too ripe for my taste, so I decided to use them in the bread. Oh, yum! Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or whenever! Easy and quick. Since I am not yet a patient cook, I tend to make my quick breads using small loaf pans rather than one large one (so they cook in the middle). This recipe is enough to fill 3 small loaf pans (bake for 45 minutes instead of an hour).

Oh, by the way, the shelties love strawberries!

Rescue Woes

So, Holly, Eileen and I visited the shelter yesterday (again) and they were very nice - I was quite impressed with what they do for their animals. And, they agreed that if the two seniors didn't get adopted in a few weeks, they would allow us to take them.

On another note, our newest rescue slipped his leash and is on the run. We have contacted the animal control officer and hopefully, he will be caught safe and sound. Keep him in your thoughts.

Quiet Time 1

By the end of the day, I am pooped and ready to relax. Everyone has been fed and exercised. Sometimes, I have done all the chores on my list. And, I like to relax by reading or watching a movie.

Now, those of you with shelties know that this can be difficult sometimes - like when a car horn is honked on screen! For the next few minutes, you either have to pause the movie or hope that no important dialogue was said. Sometimes, if you are just reading or meditating, the sudden barking can be quite startling.

So, I keep a whole bunch of food stuffed toys in my freezer for just such an occasion. With 4 dogs of my own and a foster, I have to be creative in order to keep their attention on the toy. Here are the ones I use:

• Kong
• Squirrel Dude
• Bouncy Bone
• Fire Hydrants

I also have a supply of doggie wishbones, bully sticks, sun dried pressed rawhide and deer antlers for them to chew on. But, when I want some really quiet time, they get frozen stuffed toys.

Here is one of their favorite recipes: Mix yogurt and kibble. Stuff into Kong and top with a biscuit. Place in freezer for at least 1 hour. Enjoy (they enjoy the toy: you enjoy the quiet).

Maggie is my fastest eater and chewer. This recipe lasts about 15-20 minutes for her. Since she is the quietest of the dogs, that isn't a problem. For Robbie and Ella, the slowest eaters and chewers, this lasts much longer - about 30 minutes.

Ah! 30 minutes of peace and quiet!

Rescue Outreach

Today, Holly, Eileen and I visited a humane society which has two senior shelties available for adoption. Whenever possible, we try to visit shelters and introduce ourselves. Our goal is to get the sheltie out of a shelter environment and into a foster home, where they can relax and be themselves.

Sometimes, the shelter is very happy to see and meet us and willingly gives the dog to rescue. They realize that shelties do much better in a quiet place, since they can be noise reactive. Foster homes are where they get the care, understanding and attention they deserve and often need. [Imagine Lauren in a shelter!] And, by getting the dog into rescue, it frees up much needed space for another pup.

Sometimes, the shelter flatly rejects the idea of working with a rescue. There are many legitimate reasons for this:

• Fear that the rescuers are actually hoarders
• A feeling of responsibility towards the dog
• The need for the easy adoption fee a purebred dog often brings in
• Not understanding the role of rescue in the shelter environment

At this point, I am not sure what type of shelter this will be. We didn't get a chance to talk to the director. However, we will be sure to impress upon her that even if she feels uncomfortable turning the dogs over to rescue, we want to help out by sending interested adopters her way. This isn't the best choice for the dog, IMHO, but we will do whatever it takes to build trust and a working relationship. And, THAT is what will be best for the dogs in the long run.

Lauren: Foster Dog #3

Way back when it was cold and dreary here in Maine, Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue asked us if we could take one of their fosters. Since they were a huge help with placing my foster dog #2 (Maverick) and we like to help out whenever we can, Lauren came up to us.

She had originally been owned by a hoarder and rescued by LISSR and then adopted, along with her shy brother, Ralph, to a sweet lady.

The only problem with adopting two shy dogs at once is that it is very difficult to devote the time needed to both dogs in order to bring them out of their shyness. A lot of desensitization and counter conditioning using food treats is necessary and is a daunting task with two. Reluctantly, she gave Lauren back to LISSR.

At first, Lauren spent most of her time under my bed. She was afraid of everything! Even going outside was too much for her at first. We practiced quite a bit with just walking out the door. She will now go to the bathroom outside, which sometimes seems like a miracle!

Next week, Lauren goes to her forever home. There, she will be doted upon by a retired couple and wake up every morning to a beautiful lake view. I know that she will be very happy there. In some ways, I will miss her very much. But, I know that she will be going to a home even better than mine and, since the next foster dog is soon to appear, I bet I won't miss her for long.

Robbie

And, the smallest and youngest (but, somehow, mightiest) of the pack - Robbie Rooster!

I managed to adopt Robbie within the same 2 weeks as Bear. Not great planning on my part, since any new animal causes stress to the existing animals and my other dogs (and cats) were not yet used to Bear. But, this little guy was so special, I couldn't pass him up (and, as my friend Holly says - you can't have just one sheltie!! or two! or three!).

Robbie was hit by a car and found in a ditch. The people who rescued him paid a substantial amount of money in order to save his back leg. [They then allowed me to adopt him for a very insubstantial amount]. He will always have a limp, though, since this little guy lost the ball portion of his left hip. The limp doesn't stop him, though, and he zoom zooms through every day.

Luckily for Robbie, he came to live with us - he expresses his emotions through a constant (and varying) range of yips and barks. And, while this barking drives everyone else nuts, I able able to ignore it. As he ages and by ignoring him when he barks and rewarding him when he doesn't, we have actually reduced his barking to alarm barking and play barking. Quite an accomplishment for this little guy.

Bear

Bear is the third addition to the pack. Sheltie Rescue was contacted by a breeder who had a double merle sheltie and wanted to find a home for him. We usually don't take dogs from breeders! BUT, I wanted to go up and see her and her dogs.

Double merles can easily be prevented. Just don't breed two merled shelties together (Ella is a blue merle). However, many uneducated (and unethical) breeders will breed two merles. Some are doing it to try to get a white/albino sheltie. Others just don't understand that in a merle-merle breeding, 25% of the puppies will be deaf, blind or both. So, if a breeder wants to breed merles together, they must be prepared to deal with the "defective" puppies. Some euthanize them. Some find them pet homes.

So, my friend Paula and I drove up to look at Bear. I pretty much knew before I left for the breeder's house that, if Bear came home with me, he would be here to stay, since he is deaf, really crosseyed and hadn't been well socialized.

Let's not talk about what we saw, eh?

Once we got Bear home, he settled in nicely. In fact, he is my constant shadow. And, you can barely tell he is deaf - that is, until you try to get his attention when he isn't looking at you!

Maggie

A few months after getting Ella, I decided that she needed a playmate. I was looking for another sheltie or a Pomeranian as a companion for her. I answered an ad on PetFinder for a male pom. His owner told me that he would not do well with another dog, but she had a female mix breed available for adoption. Would I like her?

Well, Ella, Mum and I drove to Mass. to see Maggie. She is a very pretty girl and we decided to take her. I really have no idea what type of dog Maggie is - maybe an Australian Cattle Dog mix? It doesn't really matter, though.

Maggie is the real leader of the bunch. She can put a foster dog in its place with just a look. And, she also makes sure that everyone gets the proper amount of exercise - by chasing them!

Maggie is a real people dog who loves everyone. Sometimes, that can be a problem, since she like to "go visiting" and will jump a fence to do so. But, all in all, I wouldn't trade Maggie for anything!

Maggie May

Was a Stray

I Love my Maggie May-ah!

Ella Minnow Pea*

Ella is my first sheltie. Soon after I moved into this house, I found a good breeder and bought Ella. She was a tiny little thing, even though she was 14 weeks old! And, she soon taught me a lot about owning shelties - they are smart, fun and loyal.

Ella is now almost 2 and she helps me every day. She is the alarm clock that wakes everyone up in the morning. She lets me know that I am not preparing her meals fast enough. She tells me when vehicles are driving by on the road outside. And, she helps keep all the others dogs (and cats) in line. She happily welcomes each new foster sheltie and teaches them begging manners and how to play.

Ella also accompanies me to most rescue events. She is definitely a princess who loves to show off how pretty and intelligent the sheltie breed is. And, she is the one who really determines if an adopter is a suitable sheltie owner.

I really don't know what would do without my Ella Bella.

*Thank you, Mark Dunn, for the lovely name for my dog. Your great book inspired me!