Debbie Tails #1P - Sit Sit Sit

Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home

When I heard the news of an adoption visit I got so excited!  Maybe this was the one!  At the beginning of the visit we headed out for a walk.  Great idea!  My brindle markings were looking beautiful in the sunshine, I was sniffing, walking, and feeling relaxed.  Not long into the walk, as I was sniffing, I felt pressure pulling up on my neck.  I felt like I was being choked.  I had trouble breathing.  It hurt.  The next thing I know my butt was being pushed down to the ground.  Talk about uncomfortable! I heard some noise but didn't understand.  I was confused. I heard my foster mom say "please don't push on her. We never use force.  Not only does Debbie already know how to sit, but she's learned to sit hearing it said just one time.  In addition she knows a hand signal.  Let's just walk for now and when we get back home, away from distractions, Debbie can show you some of  her commands and tricks". 

Oh! Now I get it!  That lady was trying to get me to sit and the noise I heard was sitSitSITSITSIT.  I just don't understand humans sometimes.  Why would a potential adopter do that to me?  As my foster mom said, I already know how to sit. I've gotten really good at sitting when asked.  I'd much prefer that we walk together and get to know each other a bit first.  But please don't hurt me.  I weigh 65 pounds and that's a lot of weight to push to the ground.   I can say that on a walk, if you unexpectedly want me to sit it's helpful for me you say my name first to get my attention and to ask before my nose is super engaged on the ground. 

My initial paperwork from the Montgomery County Humane Society said "Debbie can sit but not for long".  Clicker training has been a great way to get me sitting for longer and longer.  Now I can sit and stay for 5 minutes.  And at the front door I sit until I hear the word "release".  I like how at my Foster Dog Alliance training classes they start small and then gradually build.  First I learn in a quiet environment and then after lots of practice I work on duration, distance, and eventually with distractions.  Makes it easier for me to learn.  And it never hurts.

Debbie Tails #3 - Making It Out Alive

This is Nem.  At the shelter he was put on "the list"  Luckily  he made it out alive.

Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home

Not all dogs make it...not all dogs make it out alive. I don't know the details...I don't want to know. But I know it's true because of my friend Nem. I first met Nem at a MHCS Adoption Event held at Unleashed by Petco in Montgomery Village (Gaithersburg), MD. He was living in the shelter back then. It was his day of freedom. Someone came up with the wonderful idea to have shelter dogs come to adoption events. What a great idea! Get them outta the shelter for a day, give them a chance at finding an adoptive home, and give them a day of warmth, play, and love.

Through adoption events, classes at the Foster Dog Alliance, and a fun Nose Work class we did together I got to know Nem....I got to hear his story. He's a Pitbull mix. Handsome and super sweet. But at the shelter, he got put on the list. “The List”.

As luck would have it, Nem's life was saved. A shelter volunteer named Mel came to his rescue.  Mel knew what a super great dog he was, became a foster, and got Nem outta there! Yeah Mel! Yeah Nem! Mel gave him lots of love...played fetch...took him for lots of walks....lots of car rides. And more importantly, took time for training. Nem has since been adopted!!! For him, it was a happy ending. Not all shelter dogs are like Nem...not all shelter dogs can say they made it out alive.

Debbie Tails #2 - Rocky Times

Looks a bit like me but this is former foster dog Rocky and his Valentine's Day toy

Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home

Rocky and I both have one thing in common. We were both raised as pups by families who then gave us up when we were 8 months old. 8 months, I was told, is not an uncommon age for cute pups to be

relinquished to the shelter. Guess a lot of that cuteness has worn off. As we've grown more energetic and larger. The fact that we've received no obedience training, socialization, nor the proper amount of exercise doesn't help. “Don't have time”. That's the reason. An additional reason for me was “the kids don't help”.

I'm a smart girl! And I bet Rocky was too. A little bit of training could have gone a long way. In a Pet Finder article about relinquished pets, it was report that most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.

One difference between Rocky and I is that he was my family's first foster dog and I'm (currently) the last...I'm their 9th foster dog.  Uncle Don called Rocky a rebound hound. My foster family started fostering when their current dog Sasha, a Doberdor (part Doberman, part Lab) was getting pretty old. Rocky was a wild one! But he was gentle with Sasha. He'd lay down close to her and was a good companion. And he helped ease the pain of Sasha's passing. Sure is hard to lose a loved one. Amazing how dogs can comfort and soothe and help humans through Rocky times.

 

Debbie Tails #1 - I Had Her At Hello

Doing time at the MCHS in Rockville, MD

Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home

When my foster mom first visited the MCHS Shelter in Rockville, MD, I had her at hello. Amidst all the chaotic action and noisy barking, as she approached my cage there was nothing but silence. As our eyes connected and I gave her my most loving smile, I sat and leaned, pressing my fur against the fence, hoping she could pet me. She talked to me in such a nice voice and as I slid from a seated position to laying down, I lifted my back leg in hopes of getting a belly rub. It was tough for me being in the shelter, away from the warm touch of human hands. That day, my foster mom made a promise to me. She said “I'm gonna get you out of here. And I promise to do my best to find you the best home ever”.

This picture is my foster mom's first view of me on the MCHS web site. Certainly this black and white photo is only a partial view of the real me. My foster mom's a smart woman. She knows that a dog's behavior in the shelter is not fully indicative of their true personality. Being in the shelter can be scary. Therefore some dogs act more scared and timid. On the other hand, some calm dogs may be more excitable and seemingly more hyper.

My foster mom came to the shelter wanting to help a more challenging dog. Boy did she get what she wished for! Back then I was to busy jumping and barging in and out of situations around the house to pay attention. But now I know that promise she made “to do her best to find me the best home ever” was a driving force. She could have taken the easy path, but that promise motivated her to continually work on my training. I'm happy to report that time, patience, and consistent positive reinforcement training got me to where I am today. I'm a great dog and a joy to be around! I'm still my sweet, belly rub lovin' self, but I've learned more things than I ever though possible. My foster mom did her part... teaching me what I needed to learn to position myself to find the best home ever. Now I'm waiting for the best home ever to come find and adopt me.

What motto's or mantra's have you used to help yourself or a pet through rocky times?

Debbie Tails - sneak preview

Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster's Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home

I'm having a great summer but my teenager had a tough time.  Even though she worked hard last year and got a "B" in Algebra, there was a technicality with her being a middle schooler taking a high school level class and she has to retake Algebra during summer school.  Horrible for her but great for me!  For 3 weeks I got to enjoy morning and afternoon car rides!  I love the car!  And I love going places with my foster family.  

While I've always loved riding in the car, I used to be reactive whenever I'd see someone at a bus stop, or a stranger walking down the street.  Back then it was cold out and people would wear heavy, bulky coats and dark hats.  Woof Woof!  I'd give my biggest bark.  At the Foster Dog Alliance, trainer Sarah Stoycos told my foster mom how she could use clicker training to reward me for being calm.  They said that to help teach me not to be so reactive she'd need to catch me before I got barky.  She was instructed that if I barked to ignore. I know....hard to ignore a dog barking loudly in your ear but when I got reinforced for good behavior that gave me positive reinforcement to want to do that behavior again.  And over time, my bad behaviors faded away.

While in the car in a parking lot, starting with strangers very far away, my foster mom would click and give me a treat if I stayed calm.  As the strangers approached (but were still very far away she'd click-treat).   Didn't take me long to get the hang of it and soon I was able to cruise through our neighborhood without any headaches.  As we worked with people closer to the car, to let me know what was coming and to give me a sense of familiarity with the situation my foster mom would say "neighbor".  This did indeed help me! Helped me figure out what to expect.  I became a much better passenger! 

Took a bit more practice for my behavioral change to fully take effect but all 

that practice came in handy this summer when we were in the high school parking lot.  Lots of activity and tons of teenagers everywhere, walking in all directions around the car.  I'd watch intently yet remain calm.  I had my opportunity to be my calmest when we were back  home and my teenager was sitting at the table working on her homework.  Guess who was there to lay quietly by her feet!  My teenager loves this so much that she says "Makes me feel amazing that my dog is there supporting me doing my work.  it gives me a boost and makes me feel I can do this!

p.s.  I am happy to report she got an "A"!!!!