I would often boast about the fact that I wasn’t a “foster failure.” As many of you know, this is what they refer to the person who accepts the role of a puppy or foster; however, even though you did not plan to do so, once you made the decision, you decided to make the pet the sole purpose of having it as your own. I felt proud about never keeping one of my foster animals, as the more dogs you eventually own, the less your chances of being able to continue to foster. Since very few people have unlimited funds and time to invest in their pets.
A little over a year ago, I fell short terribly for an unruly pit-mix pup I fostered and eight of his siblings and brothers. Why? What made me fall in love with this puppy? In fact, why should I choose to fall in love with any puppy? In the end, however cute they may be, no one with the same knowledge as a foster carer who knows how hard puppies and young dogs must be! Before taking on this litter, I had no desire for another pet. When I was in the middle of this, I was fostering a teenage American Black and Tan Coonhound called Maebe. She was irritating Otto, my “heart dog,” to the extent that I could not get over it. What in the world, which I’ve been asking myself over the last year, made me keep the dog? What was the cost to our previously human-canine copacetic family?
A Puppy Who Is Focused and Connected
For the sake of complete disclosure, I typically prefer the same puppy from each litter I care for – however, I’ve never thought of keeping one before the pup I adored most. It was apparent early on that this big brindle male dog had an extraordinary capacity for concentration, even at four weeks of age. And boy, does I appreciate that when it comes to the form of a pup or an adult dog. I instruct all my puppy fosters to pop snacks in their mouths when seated and paying close attention to me. This dog was the first to be able to keep and apply this concept. As I worked together and the brindle dog was in charge, he was the first to take a seat and fix his gaze on me. Pups with shorter focus time (and smaller appetites for food) continued to play and sometimes jumped over the giant dog to convince him to return to playing. However, the bigger guy would dismiss them all and never look at my face. Like the dog, he said, “Get lost, kids; I’m working here!”
The puppy was also the first to walk with me on the seven staircases from the back of my porch to the backyard. He was also the first dog to be able to follow me back up on the steps. It was my experience that each time I tripped on one of my puppies and fell on my foot, that was because one of them was standing close to or on the other side of my feet.
The day of surgery arrived, and I brought the puppies back to the shelter, where they were changed and later put into the adoption center. I kissed them on their heads, just as I do the day the pups “graduate” from foster care, and then I bid my final goodbye to the baby boy. As usual, I began crying as I said goodbye to this puppy. People at the shelter laughed with a smile – when I exited the shelter, tears streaming across my face. I was in a state of silence. It isn’t easy to send these adorable little ones off into a future that isn’t certain! However, in most cases, I am happy throughout the course throughout the day. I’m thrilled to have gotten rid of the puppy’s poop and urine for a few hours, and I am looking forward to seeing the puppy’s adopted photos with their new families and appearing on the Facebook page for the shelter.
In this specific instance, it was the case that I was crying all day long – enough that I suffered from a painful headache. This is why I found myself lying on my couch with a head pillow when the vet tech from the shelter contacted me to inform me that they could not conclude all of the procedures during the day. And did I want to bring the two males home to continue fostering for a week? My pillow soared over my head while I headed out of the house to collect the brindle puppy and his sole brother, a stunning gray puppy with beautiful pale blue eyes.
When Other Puppies Pale in Comparison
Whenever I gazed at the handsome grey puppy, I would think, “He’s going to go quickly! Someone will adore the puppy.” That person was not me. I was still a bit obsessed with the chunky brindle puppy. He made the cutest eye contact. Even when I was not paying attention to him, I’d frequently find him staring at me.
A few days ago, I viewed an online video regarding “platform training,” wherein the trainer utilized a small box to help dogs find their “station” – to help the dog know exactly what he needs to do, such as sitting up, or lie down (as instructed). For enjoyment, I purchased some snacks and began instructing Maebe, my foster dog, to climb up on the step stool made of plastic, so I figured I’d test the training on a platform for her. The male and female puppies were at my desk, sitting on my pet bed. However, when the brindle puppy smelled food like he does, the brindle pup walked in to join the routine, but the gray puppy did not participate. I worked with the dog and pudgy for approximately five minutes, rewarding them for placing their front feet on the stool. Then, I returned to do some work on my laptop.
A little over an hour later, the chair was rolled back and stretched; then, I looked at the floor to see where my dogs were. Otto lay asleep on the couch in my living room. Maybe I’ll lay on my couch at my desk. The gray dog lay on the bed for dogs near my desk. The brindle puppy? He was sitting on the small plastic stool in the room next to me, watching me from the doors. Did he have been on the stool for half an hour? I’m not sure, but since he seemed unstoppable, he may be.
I wasn’t able to make the decision to adopt the puppy at the time, but considering the past, this was the event that sealed the decision. After I brought both male pups back to the shelter next week to have their operations, I filled out an adoption application.
New Puppy Duties
My husband takes care of naming our pet, so I usually leave the job entirely under his control. But this time, I urged him to consider one aspect: choosing a sociable name. Because the dog would indeed have a “bully breed” look, I was looking to choose a name that could combat any rough-guy stigma associated with these appearances. Despite the potential of the size of his dog, I didn’t prefer to name him Thor and Bruiser.
My husband came up with the name Woody due to the puppy’s coat’s stunning natural wood grain look. I loved the idea. The name evoked the cute cowboy from”Toy Story. “Toy Story” movies – “I’d like to join your posse, boys, but first I’m gonna sing a little song!”
Of course, this is just a chance, but it’s also an amusing or sometimes not-so-hilarious coincidence. Woody has a notable preference for chewing objects constructed of wood, like chair legs, areas of our decks, apples, rosebushes, pet houses, and so on. If it’s made of wood, the chances are it’s received a speculative chew. I’ve had to go through several quarts of Bitter Apple (an anti-choking spray for dogs that is sour and tasteless). It helps discourage the adolescent who is teething. However, most of the time, it causes him to search for something that’s not been sprayed in a while.
In spite of the standard quantity of destruction caused by puppies, Woody somehow hasn’t managed to get my husband offended, who typically prefers dogs but only in the case of quiet and well-behaved dogs. It’s oddly satisfying; Brian likes Woody, although he’s not always well-behaved. He’s packed with passion, energy, and curiosity and constantly moves around in our lives. It’s challenging to keep any grudges against him, even if you do get the fat lip from hitting his head. At the same time, he performs an unintentional hop-up (a kissing bandit movement) since he’s transformed into a charming and funny guy.
Woody’s “happy dog” demeanor didn’t occur by chance, but I’ve nurtured it as an award-winning rosebush.
Raising a Pit-Mix Puppy
Also, considering that it is evident that Woody would develop into a large and powerful dog with a blocky bully-breed head, I believed that it was my duty and that all owners of similar-sized, powerful canines should take extreme steps to ensure that the dog is socialized adequately in a well-trained, well-groomed, and adequately managed environment.
1. Involved Woody with every puppy foster occasion I’ve experienced over the last year. Woody has been a “big brother” to four larger litters of puppies I’ve fostered since being adopted. It has helped him develop incredible interpersonal knowledge, particularly with the smaller, more fragile dogs. He has also mastered his way to the heart of his secure Great Dane mother, who stayed in our house for months while she had her 11 pups. The mother didn’t love him around the puppies initially. However, when she adopted her, he gained her approval as a puppy, but she also liked to wrestle with and engage with him.
2. Enrolled him in puppy kindergarten classes with a positive-reinforcement-based trainer and took him to additional “puppy socials” at the same well-managed facility.
3. I exposed Woody to various animals within controlled environments and took special care to prevent the animal from engaging in unwelcome behavior, even if it happened. In particular, I made sure that when he first was around livestock and poultry, they were on leashes, which meant he didn’t have the chance to witness the animal escape from the animal “by accident.”
4. I searched for ways to allow Woody to be with human beings from all walks of life, specifically children and infants. It’s no easy feat with someone scary for some! However, I’ve ensured every interaction he’s had with children was incredibly satisfying, with extra special snacks and toys. It’s been working so far! When he meets an excited youngster, he jumps up.
5. I’ve carried Woody into all the stores in my neighborhood that allow canines, as well as in every type of car I can access. I always keep treats in my bag to reward the good behavior of my dog, and I do some conditioning if I notice the signs that he’s beginning to become the least a little worried.
The Puppy Adolescent Fear Period
This whole socializing thing might seem excessive to certain people. However, something occurred to Woody seven months ago, prompting me to turn my social efforts into high gear, not cruise control. A few days ago, entirely suddenly, without any trigger I could remember, Woody started raising his hair and releasing a soft growl whenever he was around some dogs or people. This wasn’t always the case. It was just occasionally, but there wasn’t a pattern behind the behavior that I could detect. In the course of one night, he changed from being excited to meet everybody at the table to being happy to see the majority of people and terrified even to meet a few.
I’ve edited sufficient documents on canines’ fear-based aggression that I’ve realized the issue Woody expressed was an expression of anxiety, and the excellent solution to lessen an animal’s stress was to
Add more distance between your dog and the thing or person that you are frightening until he’s able to see the person or object that is frightening in a calm manner;
You can counter-condition your client with generosity, offering him plenty of tasty snacks to help him feel better about the issue but not pressure him to perform certain behaviors.
I’ve also questioned each dog trainer I’ve met personally (and each dog training contributor to the WDJ!) regarding this behavior. They all said the same thing: “It’s the adolescent fear phase. A few dogs experience it; however, any dog is susceptible to it. Continue to do what you’re doing.