Dog Fosters & Adoptions

'Fragil' is the new foster husky puppy.  What's it like to foster dogs? 

Jim and I moved to Nova Scotia in 2010, where I began to miss all my fur friends I cared for back in Vancouver, B.C. In 2011, Linda, a neighbor, asked if I would join her to co-foster rescued puppies during the day, and then she would take them home in the evening after her workday. I jumped at the chance to work with the rescued dogs for Litters & Critters rescue. Many rescue dogs come from desperate beginnings. It's our job as foster parents to provide a safe and loving environment, feed them, socialize them, observe their traits, and show them love. This process helps the dogs to overcome their past and be ready for their forever loving homes.

Molly Pops is having a great time at Gaetz Lake!

Fostering is rewarding for the dog, foster parent, and new FAMILY. Dogs kept in cages at shelters are not the most ideal environment, as their amplified fears can alter their true nature, making it difficult for potential adopters to pick the right personality type for their homes. However, fostering also comes with its challenges. It can be emotionally difficult to let go of a dog you've grown attached to. But the joy of seeing them find a loving forever home makes it all worth it. Each foster person also has connections within their own communities, bringing the dog to more potential adopters who may not have gone into shelters to pick out a dog. Many people who want to adopt rescues have said they feel too much for all the dogs in a shelter and are afraid to go in and come home with them all! Meeting a foster person who is caring for the foster dog has a better chance of finding good homes, especially for older dogs.

Cuddles, foster husky puppy.

People ask me how I can love the fosters and then let them go. As a painter, every painting I create is an original; no two are the same. Yet, I have to be passionate enough to paint them, knowing that someday they too will find forever homes. Being a pet foster is just like a painter, love and let go! Check out my pet portraits slideshow at the top of the blog page. These portraits have traveled the world to adorn the walls of proud pet parents!

Schmincke, the foster Havanese,
Then, it was adopted by us but sadly died May 16, 2012, at 8 months of age.
In 

November 2011, a tiny little black furball, a Havanese breed, who was also one of our fosters, came to be adopted by us. I named him Schmincke, after my favorite soft pastel from Germany. Sadly, our adopted rescue Schmincke was plagued by all kinds of health issues. He passed on May 16, 2012, from complications of puppy-mill breeding practices. He lived BIG for 8 months, never a day alone nor unloved. We were very devastated and still occasionally find his hair floating out from around the house corners, which I kiss and say hello to my sweetie!

We took some time to grieve, but I believed there is more love to share with some other pet who NEEDS a Forever Home and a good time with us humans!

March 2013: A NEW adoption rescue from Atlantic Small Dog Rescue.

Ziggy, our new adopted Silky Terrier!

This 8 lb. Silky Terrier, neutered male, 4 years of age, came about on my FB friends with ASDR. Ziggy did come with a few bad problems, but with some training and patience, we have overcome many of these issues within a month. I was positive we could do it.

Ziggy was in the wrong place with people who do not know how to handle him properly. Turns out he is a bright and joyful dog who loves to learn new things and will do whatever brings him praise and cheese! It took me a few days to get him to trust me, but we are getting along famously and have fun every day.

Ziggy is wearing a new protective, easy to SEE him in a red jacket!
I also got him a kitty bell for his outdoor collar so I can HEAR him
when he is in the thick of the woods. He LOVES to dive into the thickets, looking for those phantom rats, or at least scare up some birds!

My relationship with Ziggy quickly came to a trusting place, but Jim, my partner, came back from his trip to discover a new dog in the household who was scared of him. Ziggy barked wildly every time he moved about the house. Still, Ziggy wanted acceptance from Jim, but specific past-life issues may have been surfacing, and we needed help in understanding what we could do to help Ziggy trust Jim as a willing friend. I emailed Nahleen, the VP of Atlantic Small Dog Rescue, and she offered a recommendation for the services of Silvia at Voices for Dogs.

Ziggy and Jim, getting to know each other at Martinique Beach, NS

We met Silvia at our favorite local vet, Full Circle, where she led a 3-hour 'Understanding AGGRESSION' course for a group of us who have taken on fosters and adopted rescued dogs, many of whom can come with challenges and unique fears that are unknown to new adopters.

Linda is training with CHEESE. Ziggy and his new best friend Stormy!

Linda has Ziggy shaking a paw, but Stormy says, "Pick me!"

Ziggy has had, counting us, four homes, of which two of those homes had four dogs per household. I cannot imagine the unsettling challenges each home has imposed on its need for security, trust, and survival, with owners who clearly didn't know how to introduce another dog to their already established pack.

Ziggy loves to perch himself on my high back chair
So he can keep an eye on all that goes on in the world!

Ziggy came to ASDR's rescue with a 4-page, handwritten letter from the previous owners, negatively describing the 'badass' dog you would NOT want to adopt. Ziggy was said to not get along with others; he hated other dogs, children, and all people, was difficult to walk, snapped and bit at his owners, wasn't toilet-trained, and so forth. None of these listed issues turned out to be HIS issues for the most part, and thinks Ziggy was desperately trying to survive an angry household with no one to trust, including the dog pack.

Ziggy's foster, Sara Stewart, put Ziggy through the tests, observing if any of this written information is really about this dog. She had him around all her dogs, horses, people, and children, all coming and going on her large and busy ranch, called Furry Friends Inn, and showed himself to be a lovely little dog with some nervous issues, but nothing too severe, as described in the letter submitted to ASDR. Ziggy still has some anxiety and trust issues, though, that need to be addressed positively and more toilet training when he came to my home.

Here lies Ziggy and my neighbor's dog, Charlie, a 14-year-old Labrador who loves to visit my house daily. It took a week for Charlie to stop snapping and accept  Ziggy. I knew to give them both time and walk together, treats, and petting both of them at the same time would let them both know all is good in Minaz World, and there is lots to share! This photo was taken for the first time the two had sat face to face.

I recommend reading and watching the videos of this woman dog trainer, Turig Rugaas. Here is a link to her website. I got a lot from her book called 'Calming Signals', an observation of dog language that helps us, humans, to read what's going on between the dogs and can even do some of those signals back to the dog, letting them know you are safe and are in a calm state of mind.

I am so thankful I found this book in my local library and read 'Calming Signals', also passing it on to Jim to read, BEFORE adopting Ziggy. Jim has been practicing some of those calming signals with Ziggy, and the dog responds to him. Once you know these signals, it is useful when walking your dog and approaching another dog to observe what state both are in, and remove your dog before a dangerous or stressful situation triggers.

When it comes to training dogs, I prefer the gentle method over the punishment and submission styles. I like to develop trust because, in the dog world, demonstrating punishment or forceful submission is considered an out-of-balance behavior that dogs either fear or avoid, and it signals to them that you are an unreliable pack leader. TRUST must be at the center of intent. I want the dogs to trust me, not fear me, so we can have a much better time together.

I can recommend another book, filled with even more interesting insights about dogs, written by Bruce Fogle, titled "The Dog's Mind, Understanding Your Dog's Behavior." He shares scientific studies and dog biology mixed with breeding practices and rearing practices that shape the dog's personality for its life.

Ziggy LOVES new places and finds many paths that I would have otherwise walked right on by! I have to wear my hiking boots to get into his kind of exploring, and yet he also loves to walk on the leash very nicely.YIPPEE, let's go have fun.

Ziggy discovering beach treasures!

Here is Sylvia's website (no longer available at www.voices4dogs.blogspot.ca) and blog, where she has written explanations and personal views on all things DOG-related. Lots of knowledgeable insights to share with us, and is also available for personalized training sessions either by email or in person. We attended one of her organized talks, and if you live nearby, it is a worthy and affordable experience. With patience and positive triggers using CHEESE, Ziggy is now trusting Jim, all within a month, and has dramatically changed into a more confident, relaxed dog who is loving, friendly, and fun. Thanks to Silvia's experienced advice on defining the different types of dog aggression, and what the aggression communicates in dog language.

Adopting from rescues is a good place to find a pet, but be patient and list what it is about a dog that you and your lifestyle are suitable to support. Information relating to traumatized pets should come with every rescued dog, but it doesn't, so it is up to the new adopters to find out about it. This information is just as important as the dog being vaccinated, neutered, and spayed by rescues.

The new adoptive family that takes on an older rescued dog should know that fear can manifest as aggression, and there are various levels to understand what the dog is trying to communicate to us.

Aggression can be addressed through behavior modification techniques, using gentle persuasion and positive encouragement to build trust in your leadership with the dog. Most dogs want acceptance, a safe place, and kindness. Additionally, some dogs like cheese! I think that just adopting without awareness of these issues can be the reason why many dogs end up back in the adoption circle, again and again, each time exacerbating fears and aggression issues due to misunderstandings, as was the case with our new adoptive dog, Ziggy.

Life is GOOD, being safe and loved, our new fur friend, Ziggy!

BARK bark and happy tails wagging, we are enjoying our new fur friend and LOVE him dearly already and look forward to a long life of fun and adventures!... Minaz, Jim, and Ziggy!