Some more tricks

Before I forget about them and we stop practicing them (I swear I forget them before Abby does!):

Abby's new tricks (from a few weeks ago) are rolling over (without luring, finally! I'd forgotten to teach it!) and sitting up to 'beg', only Abby hasn't caught on to the part where her paws are supposed to kinda stay at chest level to help with balance. She sticks them straight up in the air instead, and tries to balance on her bony little butt. So anyway, the trick is called "have you washed your hands?". Horribly cutesy, I know, but Abby is awfully cute while doing the trick so it works. I can't remember if I wrote that I taught her "launch" (jump into my arms).

It turns out my new foster will be a tricolour smooth coat male. It's a long story involving 3 possible fosters before him, all of which couldn't make the transport here for various reasons. I know I say this about all of the possible fosters, but this guy is cute! He's got really neat markings - almost a split face, but the eye on the white side of his face has a black circle around it. He was apparently surrendered by a family with kids, and is a nice dog, but is overwhelmed by the shelter noises and activity. As always, I'm excited and can't wait for him to arrive this weekend!

A Happy Ending

The Bazman got adopted! He is living with 2 sisters (again) - a huuge Shepherd x Chow and another Border Collie. He seemed like a perfect fit in the family since his energy level (and size) is somewhere right in between the girls. His new family drove 11 hrs total to come get him! Apparently he stayed awake the whole drive back - he was probably pretty nervous - but is settling in well and giving his new mom his signature full body wags. I miss my cuddly Bazman a lot. My bed feels so empty without him! At least I get to see pictures of him posted on the BC boards regularly. And I know that he got a really great home!

Once the boy's away the girls will play...

...and resume their favourite contest of Ugliest Face.

I'm probably getting my next foster next week. I wanted a new guy right away so that I wouldn't miss Baz too much. I have a feeling this next one will be much more of a challenge. He is a 9 month old red and white male, and from the sounds of it he's never really been inside the house, or cared for much at all. I'm thinking he won't know any basics, and will need to be crate trained. He does like people, so that's a definite plus! There are also other dogs on the property, so hopefully he is dog friendly. I'm trying not to let myself be too spoiled by how easy Baz was - he just fit right in here with no issues at all! I do like a challenge, though (hopefully not too much of one since finals are coming up pretty soon), and I'm excited about meeting "Chevy", as he's called right now.

A Sunny Day

Exciting news: A family is coming to meet Baz this weekend and if all goes well he might be going home with them! I've grown pretty attached to him, so I'll be very sad to see him go. He's such a sweet boy, and so responsive. If it weren't for the slightly more hard headed girls, I'd be whispering commands all day; he's that responsive to tone and body language! So it might be back to two dogs on Saturday, which will suddenly seem like very few! Basil's been with me a month now, and I got so used to having two myself, plus Mia in the room next door. I hope I get my next foster soon after Basil leaves.
There haven't been too many exciting things happening around here lately since school is getting busier. The three dogs are still playing very nicely together, taking turns in pairs. There haven't been any fights at all in the last 3 weeks (Abby and Baz had a small tussle over a food dish and then a ball when Baz first came).
I brought Abby in to work to have a urine sample taken, since she has leaked a little bit of urine a couple of times. I was hoping it wasn't hormonal, but it's looking like it is. She also has a few crystals in her urine. I still have to call the clinic to get the complete results, but it's looking like Abby will be on those little pink Stilbestrol pills for awhile :(

Snarl and kiss

Abby is undecided as to how she feels about Mia (or else she notices that I'm watching and decides she'd better play nice...)

Lucky Dogs

They had quite an exciting weekend! Friday we went to the beach again, with a camera this time. It was pretty cloudy and rainy, but that was good for us as it meant the beach was completely deserted. The dogs didn't seem to realize that without the sun, swimming would make them awfully cold...so they plunged in anyway, and we had to leave after not too long because all three were shivering like crazy.







Saturday was a pretty normal weekend day. We discovered a new field, though, that was HUGE and empty.
Sunday we went for a hike with 25 dogs!! I think there were about 10 people. We were such a big group that we just kept picking up people along the way. Most of the dogs were Border Collies (with 5 fosters, Mia and Baz included). There was also a greyhound, a terrier, an couple of Aussies, a poodle, a lab x and, of course, the NuttyMutt herself. Basil behaved perfectly, which was nice since I had to have my eye on Abby constantly. She was good with all the other dogs, but when we stopped to play fetch...she just went into overdrive. There were a LOT of dogs to try and chase, but that didn't stop her. She'd choose her target and make that particular dog's life a living hell (by bouncing around it and barking in its ear) for about 5 minutes, then she'd move on. Eventually I put her on a leash (she wasn't letting me catch her, and I was getting very frustrated with her) and I could see her visibly relax once she was restrained. It was like all the pressure of 'having' to chase the other dogs was taken off of her. She also took off away from the group twice to bark at and chase a lab that was excited about a ball - my resolve to work with her on a long line close to other dogs playing fetch has been renewed. I have a few friends with fetch crazy dogs that I can practice with, so that should help.
All in all, the hike was lots of fun, but also very stressful. I had a sore throat afterwards from the constant recalls to make sure that Baz and Abby were still around (not that Abby would leave...but she sure can find a lot of trouble even when she sticks close by).