kiwioz

Thanks PA :) Yes I thought it would be pretty relaxed and low pressure, and we've certainly got the relationship - he is such a mummy's boy and very eager to please! :laugh:

I'm looking at getting into agility or some sort of dog sports with Finn, but I'm not sure where to start or if I've left it too late. I've always been interested, but he's had quite severe behaviours around other dogs in the past after some trauma as a pup so it was always a bit too much. These behaviours are much better now (though not perfect) and he's so mopey since cal died that I'm looking for ways to engage and socialise him more and I wonder if this is the time to get more involved in some doggy stuff :) He turned 6 in November and has never done anything except his puppy class when I first got him. He has basic commands (sit, down, shake, stay, come) but that's about it. He has fun on the agility equipment in the dog park - though is scared of the tunnel!! Is it too late to get involved? I only want to do it for fun, I'm not particularly interested in competing with him it's more about the social aspect for him (and me!). If I did, do I go straight to the pre-agility beginners course or should I do obedience with him first? There are clubs I can have a chat to, but I thought I'd get a bit of early advice here as they all offer different classes, some more focused on obedience and some on agility. There is also something called Rally O that I've never heard of! Thanks for any thoughts or tips

I'll join in the cuteness, here is my boy as a baby: On his very first day home: Following his big brother Cal around the garden (seeing as we're including cute butts!): And a little older, learning from big brother how to sit up for a treat :)

Thanks Clyde - you are right it is quite nice to have it taken out of my hands! I kept changing my mind on whether it was the right thing to do or not, so it's good really that it is decided, even if it potentially would have worked out well for me. But you're right, she is lovely and has done everything possible to look after her dog so I wish her all the best :) Yes as well as helping him in the heat Finn does seem to enjoy his new 'look' :laugh: :laugh:

Thanks so much again guys for all the thoughts and advice :) Looks like the dog is going to another lovely long term foster home :) I'm thrilled for them that they have found a solution, I really hope it works out well for them. I was still sitting on the fence so while a little bit of me is disappointed, I wasn't convinced it was right for me either so its all good. I'm going to see how Finn goes for another couple of months - luckily until April my partner's work schedule means Finn will have a fair bit of company during the day now that I'm going back to work. Then I might look into other fostering options, particularly seeing if I can fix my fences up well enough to foster more greys :) Thanks again, I really appreciated all the comments in this thread both for and against, and they all played a big part in my thoughts on this whole process

Just thought I'd update this for anyone following at home :) First good news is Finn has perked up a lot since having all his hair chopped off :) Plus he looks super cute!! Vet thought the medication was unlikely to have anything to do with it (because of the timing etc) but agreed he was probably hot, and sure enough that has helped. He also had a broken tooth out so it was possible he was experiencing some pain before the removal. He is still fairly quiet and I worry about how much stimulation he's getting by himself, but before he was not engaging in ANYTHING whereas now he's back to following us around the house and being more interested in what's going on :) As for the foster dog, it is still something I'm looking into. I met with the girl today to chat to her and find out a bit more information, plus the dogs checked each other out. She's not going until March and she has a couple of other homes she's looking into, so just seeing how we go at the moment. I've taken everything in this thread on board and am approaching this with a lot of thought and a fair whack of caution, but I'm interested enough to pursue it, find out more and see what happens. The good discovery from today is that she's trying to get a couple of homes lined up so that there are back up plans. So that if he did end up coming to me but in a month's time Finn and he weren't getting along there is somewhere else for him to go. Or he could stay here for a year, then the other home for a year. Anyhow she is being very thorough, and is planning a good transition with whoever the dog goes to, starting with a short visit and seeing how he goes etc. So next she might come over for a visit at our house and see how the dogs go, then go from there.

Love the story Puppy Sniffer :laugh: :laugh: I always tell Finn what I'm doing and what's happening and chat away to him - and recently in particular there have been some instances where I would swear he has understood. For instance he's very good at not pushing past to try and escape out the door - can't leave it open of course but if we're coming and going he stays well clear, and if I'm heading out he just sits where he is and watches me go. But one day recently I had explained he was coming with me but I just had to pack the car (hadn't got his lead out or used an excited voice or anything), then when I opened the door to take my things to the car he raced out past me, then sat at the car door, tail wagging, waiting to be let in!! :laugh: :laugh:

Will definitely vote to save the scotty, I always used him without fail! My brother was always the car.

Ah sorry I see what you mean now, I thought you mean you personally had a lot os fosters through and were commenting on that :) But yes, you're right, dogs coming and going will certainly have some effect. Yes it is quite possibly a combination of everything, will be a bit of a process of elimination. Luckily I don't think he is actually sick, because he is still full of energy for exciting things like walks :)

Agree with everyone else! Get her in there asap. I have a poodle x who's 6 now - I am definitely not as good as I should be and get him clipped about every 3 months. I'm a teacher and aim for school holidays. But right now the poor munchkin is getting pretty hot, I missed out on his December clip because I didn't get in early enough and my groomers are so popular. They do start to feel it and he looks so happy when he is freshly clipped off!! Be prepared though, he had gorgeous soft wavy hair as a puppy and after his first clip it went to quite tight curls. It has eased back a bit now. But your pup's coat may change a bit after being clipped for the first time :) Oh also just saw your comment about toe nails. In my experience groomers don't have much problem with this :) My terrier Cal used to be TERRIBLE for having his nails clipped. Ever since he was a baby - the breeder even made special mention of it!! But any groomer he went to had no trouble - I guess they are just so used to it, confident and matter of fact that it goes far more smoothly.

That's interesting Erny that you notice the effect on your dogs. Good advice re. pack structure with Finn too. I should add that I'm investigating a few things with his behaviour. He basically seems to be more lethargic than usual and quite 'lacklustre' as it were. However firstly this will partly be the heat, especially as I missed out on the groomers in the christmas rush and he is not being clipped until next week. So that will help. Also he is on epilepsy medication that was upped a few months back and that can cause a sedative effect. His levels are ok at the moment so when he's at the vet on Tuesday for his teeth I'm going to chat to them about reducing his dose a bit again. So with no hair and reduced meds he may perk up, but with all these things happening at the same time it is hard to tell what is the cause is.

That was just one suggestion Tilly - and people were meaning to include it in the contract somehow to cover all eventualities. If I entered this agreement I'd have no intention of breaking it if everything went according to plan. If she was covering expenses and at some point the situation changed and I was keeping the dog, I'm sure we'd work out some sort of 'adoption fee' or arrangement to make sure it was fair for everyone.

Sorry aussielover I think the service bit came from someone else's story - this is just a dog belonging to someone going overseas :) But you are still right that fostering means I have the option to keep the dog! Fostering options are a little more limited over here unfortunately but there are a couple of things to look into.

Fair point DD :) It is hard sometimes to strike a balance between sensible planning and overthinking. It's like how people say if they waited for the perfect time to have kids or buy a house they would never do it. I need to think carefully about this and decide if it is right for me, and make sure certain precautions are put in place, but sometimes it is good to take a (well-considered) plunge!

HarperLee thanks so much for sharing your experience, that's awesome it worked so well for you. Whether it ends up being with me or not, I really hope this girl manages to make it work as well as you did! I hadn't really thought about the aspect of staying in touch with/friends with the owner and dog, that is a lovely side to it and would be a great bonus if it all went well. BDJ considering my own situation changing is a very valid point, and something I'd have to consider myself as well as discuss with her. Though some of those things you've mentioned are easier in this situation than getting a 'permanent' new dog of my own. For example if something (god forbid) happened to Finn, I wouldn't be too worried about only having the temporary one as it would be for a set amount of time. But when thinking about getting a second dog, it has occurred to me that even if I try to time it right and get a dog about his age, something awful could happen to him and I end up still with a dog for the next 8-10 years! But ending up in the situation where I couldn't have dogs at all would have to be thought about.

Thanks it's nice to hear a positive experience and know that it can work if done right. I'm glad it was a success for you - and I do know what you mean about knowing all along they're not your dog. Cowanbree fostering is on my list, particularly greyhounds as I fostered for gap back in brissy. At the moment my fences aren't sufficient but we're trying to see how we could fix them up. For those that have recommended giving Finn time, and expressed concern about how he'd feel when I gave the dog back - wouldn't fostering be worse? Like I say I used to foster but Finn and cal always had each other at the end of the day. Is fostering disruptive for your dog when you only have the one?

Thanks so much for all the thoughts, advice and experiences. Definitely food for thought. I think having some sort of proviso in place for keeping the dog is a good idea, plus all the other conditions that have been mentioned. I think sorting out the expenses side is important for its own sake, as well as being somewhat of an insurance policy for her coming back for the dog. But of course it wouldn't be guaranteed. Giving Finn time to adjust is valid advice as well - I tend to err on the side of thinking he would appreciate another dog but I can't know that for sure and it hasn't been that long for him.

Isn't it funny how these things pop up at certain times - I just met my first Schipperke the other day!! In fact two of them :) (with two griffons, a big black mutt and a gorgeous border colllie x collie rough - quite the doggy family!) I had only ever seen it written down so mispronounced it but the owners were lovely and happy to correct me nicely - I think they were chuffed I recognised the breed :) The dogs were very cute!

:laugh: So you're the little devil on my shoulder right?? :laugh:

Bjelkier ideas for keeping Finn company is something else we're investigating at the moment :) I can just imagine the same thing happening to me if I embark on getting more dogs :laugh: Minimax she is willing to consider rehoming permanently so that is an option, but I guess the only reason I'm even considering it is because of its temporary nature. It may well work out that I decide to get a second dog again at some point, but at this stage am still looking at options where I can avoid that for now. There is of course the possibility she would decide not to come back, she's fairly young and it is an eventuality I'd have to be ready for. It is selfish in a way, but she completely admits that and that is just her 'fairytale solution' as she puts it, and I'm wondering if it might suit me too. Megan those are exactly the sorts of things I've been thinking about. I'd have to think VERY carefully about all those terms and make sure both parties were very clear. As for the dogs not getting along, that is a possibility too - I guess I have that problem no matter what if I want another dog, but it is extra troublesome when it is not my dog and I don't have the same options open to me.

I always want to say hi to random dogs, but only do so if it's appropriate :) Most times it is during my morning walk on the beach, the dogs are offlead and come up to say hi to me. I'm more than happy to return the greeting! :D

Yes very good point. Though potentially easier to deal with in this situation than getting a new dog from elsewhere, as we will have the chance to trial the arrangement and make sure the two do get along.

As some of you will know, I lost my older dog Cal a few months back to liver disease and now have Finn as an only dog for the first time in his life (he has just turned 6). Since breaking up for school holidays and spending more time with him, I'm worried he is not coping terribly well without doggie company. In some ways I'd love to get another dog, but in others we weren't keen to at this stage. We have plans to travel, and are quite enjoying the greater flexibility of having just one dog - for example we can more easily take him places, and my aunt can look after him overnight occasionally whereas two is a bit much for her. There is also the extra expense of two dogs. Plus one day when I no longer have Finn I was planning to be dog free for a little while. However as he is only 6, this could be a long way off yet. An opportunity has come up to adopt a dog on a 'long term home stay'. This girl is extremely dedicated to her dog but had long term plans to travel overseas for a year or two, and her family were going to care for the dog but have now let her down. She is willing to rehome the dog permanently if needs be, but her ideal situation would be to have someone care for him for a year or two with expenses covered until her return. On the one hand, this is a perfect solution for me. I get a dog without having to commit for years and without a full financial commitment, Finn gets company, the girl gets her dog looked after, everybody is happy. Of course I would meet the dog and find out for myself, but he sounds like a completely lovely boy :) And the owner wants to work closely with whoever takes him for the transition. On the other hand, I see the potential problems. Firstly, I would have to give him up, sucks for me and sucks for Finn all over again. Secondly, there are lots of grey areas. What expenses are covered exactly? What happens if he gets sick, or worse, dies? What happens if he has an accident that is my fault? A lot of this could be covered with a well written contract, but I realise it is a potential minefield. Anyone have experience with this? A good idea or stay well clear?

Wow I am extra grateful for my wonderful kennels reading this thread. I have a great place where I feel really comfortable leaving my dogs (well, just one dog now). It got to the point where Cal in particular used to stand and wait to get into the kennels and leave me behind! Then when I picked him up, he'd say hi to me and so forth, then after I'd finished paying he would wait at the door to get back in rather than the door to get out :laugh: My OH has sometimes questioned my decision to leave them in kennels rather than with a friend etc, especially as he knows it costs me a fair bit. But I am just so much happier knowing they are completely safe and secure, and as happy as possible away from home. Finn has no road sense and tries to chase buses and trucks when we go walking, so I hate to think what would happen if he got let out. I was considering starting to leave him with a friend I work with for the odd weekend, but maybe I should just stick to what I know.

This is a bit raw for me having only lost my boy last week But I'm not sure what I would have said if the vet had asked. As it is, they couldn't figure out in the end exactly what made him sick. He had a biopsy a few days before he died so some investigations were possible, and both the vet and the pathologist were very interested from a medical point of view and really tried to find the answer. Even those conversations with the vet I found really difficult, and when I said that to my family they reminded me that hopefully it would help other dogs in a similar situation. Which did help. So I like to think I could say yes, but equally being in that grieving period right now I know it would be a tough one.