Little Gifts

Stick to your routine, speak to him regularly in a kind voice and use soft hands on him anytime you do have to touch him and he will settle in. Some dogs take time to overcome whatever trauma they have been through. I never know whether it is worse for strays who were stuck in a cage in the pound or for those who were surrendered by owners they adored. There is so much they don't understand but dogs are resilient and quick to accept their new circumstances. Give Damon a kiss and a hug for me.

RIP beautiful boy.

That is a terrible loss to the animal loving community and of course his family. RIP Dr Yates.

ItsMeg here on DOL used to make the 4 legged jammies and has given some to Pacers to sell. Go and look in here first as you will be helping out dogs in need by buying from here as well as getting a great product: http://www.dolforums.com.au/forum/68-pacers-fundraising-auctions-general-fundraising/

I am using a pattern I made up for large staffy sized dogs off a Doggone Gorgeous fleecie. Remember to make your ribbing 3/4 of the length you are stitching it to get a nice stretch. I saved time by not sewing rib to the part that goes under the belly and over the back. I just did it on armholes and necks. If you are looking at buying a couple of patterns to make coats for rescue my advice is Kwik Sew 3260 (coat A is very quick to sew), Kwik Sew 3357 (coat A) doesn't even need to be sewn but the ties are long so could get tangled in the industrial washing machines and Kwick Sew 3076 (coat D) is 4 legged jammies. I tried to make a pattern for these myself (I have pattern making experience for humans!) put I struggled to get the length and angle of the back legs right so was very excited to be loaned this pattern! All these patterns are from XS to XL, which is great. Remember you do not need to overlock or zigzag fleece fabric - it gets fluffy but does not fray. I just hem those areas that I don't attach ribbing to with my overlocker. If you were looking to buy a pattern you could look up these numbers online first and see what you like best.

Pics are compulsory!

BJ it is hard when you lose an old one as they have been such a major part of your life for so long. I'm thinking of you. RIP Barney.

Do you have any coats yourself that you could trace around? You can pin each 'shape' to greaseproof type paper, get the basic shape and then add seam allowances. If you are not used to making patterns then using online ideas it could be hard to get neck, armhole and back shapes right. Where do you live though as I do have a number of dog coat patterns that have been loaned to me that you could borrow if you are in the Brisbane area?

I discovered another love of Domino's today - he likes to help clean the house. Now when I say 'help' I mean he gets totally in the way, chewing on the broom, rummaging in the piles of fluff and dirt ready to be picked up, licking the face if you bend down and jumping on the mats you are trying to straighten. He has also mastered the 'walk in Puppy Sniffers way' as she carries baskets of washing, etc. At least he has given me a reason to be a slob!

Thinking about you Rach.

Fingers crossed for the girls!

Congratulations Reuben!!!

Good on you Lisey! I foster for Ams who has posted above. She is bloody brilliant to foster for! Like has been said start with the dogs how you want to continue from the minute they step in the door of your house. Your dog will love some of the dogs you bring home, will be indifferent to others and may even hate the sight of one or two. Having routine and rules for the foster dog from the get go is useful for you and your own dog and I think it helps the new dog settle quicker and understand you are the pack leader and that you will keep it safe and its belly full. I find it is really easy to find something to love about every foster dog and I see it as my job to nurture that dog and bring out its best while it is with me. I want to turn around its fear or reluctance so it can go into its forever home with confidence and excitement. I like to also try and identify its weaknesses and see if I can address them. Sometimes a dog isn't with you long enough to fix/change everything but at least it is on its way and you can pass on what you have been doing to the adopter in case they wish to continue with it. The other thing I do which is probably different to other foster carers is that I give the foster dog a massage when it is sleepy (usually at night in front of the tv). I start from the first night and I want them to become comfortable with my touch as well as feel pleasure. It doesn't take long before you are going from massaging a tight ball of fur to one all stretched out wanting you to do their belly area. This helps when you have to check them over and medicate eyes or ears and trim toe nails - they don't fear your hands. And I talk to my foster dogs a lot and I use their name when I do it.

I can actually see the other side of things and why there is a need to restrict dog access. Unfortunately not all dogs are well behaved and if you add a bit of excitement to the risk like kids running around, then an easily exciteable dog could jump on a child, not even intending to attack, but if the child becomes frightened and the dog gets more excited then the child could be injured or psychologically harmed. Not good for the dog or the child as it wasn't either of their faults. The other thing I think we forget is that some people are allergic to animals and some people are just plain terrified of them. We have to live comfortably together in our communities so I for one am prepared to travel to beaches and parks that are known to be dog friendly so I don't have to worry about any issues arising. I would however be livid if someone ostrasiced my dog from a dog friendly/accepting venue based on breed. Nope. Unless my dog has actually done something wrong and I have been given the chance of rectifying it then that is not on. Large dogs do not equal unreliable behaviour any more than all small dogs equal good behaviour.

I keep telling ya T that it's not there! I promise I'm not lying! There is no Paint in the Accessories area or anywhere else on my sister's laptop! She is very special with technology and is constantly breaking my good computer as well. She does have Bamboo and Corel on here which are graphical programs but since I have no idea how to use them I didn't open them. We also have some games, gatchaman stuff and some family tree programs but no Paint!!!!

My elderly parents have the spawn of Satan and his bride living next to them. They hate any bird, fish or animal besides crows. Serious. Satan actually abused my mother one day because feathers from her bantam hens blew through the rotten wire fence into his yard. He traps neighbours cats and dumps them so the neighbours are unable to retrieve them. I have seen him call a neighbours dog through the fence and then hand it over to the pound saying it was in his yard. He poisoned 2 of my parents fruiting olive trees in the belief the roots would crack his driveway. He put poison in their fish pond. He is constantly cutting their garden back so it doesn't go over the fence line. It goes on and on (lots of complaints to council about stupid things) and she is always the one behind the closed screen door screaming at him to do what he does. We have spoken repeatedly to the police, council and the RSPCA and nothing changes. Mum and dad have been going through the proper processes to get a colourbond 6 foot fence erected to hopefully reduce the problems but the neighbours immediately told them they wouldn't pay for half so dad has got his back up over it and is refusing to pay for it all even those he has the money. I just want them to sell up. In retaliation for the fence issue they trapped mum's cat (they had it in a trap in the boot of their car for disposal) but abused me when I went next door and asked for it back. When I said I would have to call the police for their assistance (we could hear the cat screaming) all of a sudden the cat magically appeared in his garage. I think he thought it would just run home but it was so traumatised we had to go in there and get it. I really had to stop myself from taking a hammer to him. They are truly evil people (the house is full of pictures of Jesus so there are some serious issues going on!). Mrs Satan's daughter actually owns the house and she is just as ugly inside as her mother. I tell mum and dad to keep a note of the dates and times of every incident. I don't doubt Satan could get violent so I have advised them to not talk to them directly about any issues but to take it straight to relevant authorities and the actual owner and do it by the book. My sister and I also intervene when my parents are uncomfortable doing anything. We always do everything calmly aiming to seek a solution and I think that actually confuses Mr and Mrs Satan as they only seem to know how to bully and threaten. But we haven't forgotten one single thing they have done over the years and if push comes to shove they might be a shocked just how far we will shove back. The stupid thing is Mr and Mrs Satan are quite ill people physically and guess who they run to in a medical emergency? They just don't seem to get it, but my lovely mother is better than them and has always assisted until an ambulance arrives. Why can't all these special neighbours just go and live in the same suburb and harass each other????

Paint is what I normally use but it doesn't seem to exist on this old laptop. I was lucky to find Powerpoint! This laptop belongs to my sister (purchased last century) and the programs she has on it are all rather odd/useless, which is why it is only used out of desperation!

Using Powerpoint lets see how we go! (Thank you Dogmad!)

Domino came to stay with us on 26/6. He is full of beans and a tad cocky! He took on poor Stussy after he found a ball and she thought he wanted to play, so we've had to change things a little round here to make him realise that us humans are the bosses and that he will need to learn some manners! I think he has been let do whatever he wants in his previous home but he is a smart cookie and is already learning what he can and can't do around here. Shar pei do amaze me though with their disinterest in the outside world and preference to just hang out with their peeps. Dom escaped from the house this arvo as we were bringing things in the front door and all he did was run around the car looking for an open door and when he didn't find one he run back up into the house! I have found one way to slow him down though - thigh massages - he turns into a statue! I do have photos to add but don't have a program to shrink them on my sister's old laptop at present. Our good computer is in the shop again. As soon as I can I will add some but he is of very moderate wrinklage compared to our previous foster boy!

I know it hasn't been long since he left us but I know Oscar will always have a special place in all our hearts. He went from a boy who looked like he'd given up on life to the most gorgeous smooshy boy and even after two months he was still changing and showing us new sides to himself. To keep him would've meant no more fostering and he has gone to a fantastic home but I know there will never be another quite like him.

Yep, I second AWDRI and how fantastic of you to offer to give a working dog a second chance! As for your other questions it really depends on the rescue group. AWDRI are based in Cairns but operate nationally so they will have different arrangements regarding the care and feeding of foster dogs. I think they advertise on their website and probably on Pet Rescue. Most individual rescuers and groups use pet rescue (www.petrescue.com.au). For example with my rescue group (for shar pei) I am given good quality food for free which I supplement with yoghurt and chicken necks, chicken carcasses, sardines, and treats. All vet work is covered by the rescue group, as is medication. If I need food bowls, crates, bedding, collars, leashes or harnesses I only have to ask for them as well. The dogs are advertised on Pet Rescue and my first dog found a new family in 6 weeks and the second took two and a half months. I am now on my third foster dog. Please be aware that not all rescue groups can afford to cover all the expenses my rescue group does. Because I think I'm getting off very lightly I try and do as many other things as I can to help out - cleaning days, making new beds, coats and adoption bandanas, and repairing things. I see my job as a foster carer to get these dogs ready for a forever home. They may need their confidence boosted, lead training, to gain weight or confidence, identify their personality in a home environment and to be tested with other animals, kids, etc. This info can then be put on their Pet Rescue advert so a potential family knows whether the dog would suit their household before expressing an interest. It is incredibly rewarding and there are so many amazing dogs out there who need new homes through no fault of their own.

This already happened to me. My heart girl came to live with me and my old SBT in Jan 2008 as a pup and in Feb 2008 I fell over her on concrete, landed hard on my butt and ended up with an abscess on the base of my spine. I was heavily drugged and bedridden for about 3 months and had lots of emergency visits and two lots of surgery. My youngest sister, who I had almost no relationship with moved in with her dog to care for me and mine. She never moved out and we now have a very close relationship. Unless she meets someone with their own house I suspect she and whatever dog she has will live with me forever. The good thing is that living here has been very positive for her dog as well. Previously aloof and prone to not eating when unhappy my sister can now leave town and her dog doesn't seem to miss her one bit! Mine are the same with her. Aside from that our parents, extended family and friends know that our dogs are extremely important to us and considered part of our family (my sister and I don't have or want kids) so if we both became incapacitated our dogs would have other familiar people and homes to move in with.

The Kid has you wrapped around his paw and it's only day 1!

It's not just what suits the dog - if the owner doesn't understand the training tool or technique then the dog has no hope long term. When I was a kid you rubbed your dogs nose into its piddle and you hit it with a rolled newspaper if it did something wrong (the newspaper was more for the noise than to hurt them). As a kid though I also remember being told that if the family dog hurt me and made me cry I should do the same back and I did once bite our dogs ear (I was a toddler) after he stole my vegemite toast breakfast. Apparently we were both wailing. It's the same technique we were all taught to get back if our siblings hurt us as well. Dog eat dog! And Puppy School didn't exist. Since becoming an adult I've taken numerous dogs to formal training classes with different trainers over the years (including Puppy School!). Some were with clicker and others not. I will admit to being unco with the clicker so while I understand the concept and think it is great I seem physically incapable of being good at it myself so did not continue using it. I basically click too slow and have not improved (despite my own training!). Not the trainer or the dog's fault but mine. We also had a behaviourist in here who did amichien bonding with us and while some others have poo-pooed it that training concept has made so much sense to us AND to our dogs that we continue to use it and from time to time read back up on it to see if we can do better or refine our approach. For our dogs it seemed like we had started speaking their language. It made a huge difference and it was just so easy to implement. What I like about it the most is I can still spoil the dogs but it just happens to be on my terms and not theirs. Funny thing is that despite the training they (and I) underwent all my dogs have ended up with basically the same skills. And I consider their weaknesses to really be my own. So I would have to say that one size will never fit all so having a variety of training options out there just means there are more resources available to meet the individual needs of dogs and their owners. That can't be a bad thing.

Maybe this info should be in the pet craft thread as well? So useful if you have an urgent need because who doesn't have some daggy track pants, sweatshirt or old socks lying at hand!