1/20/2024 0 Comments Dog boop cameraEach morning, we’d go outside so they could relieve themselves. Once we were past those introductions, I let the dog know they could count on a routine. Bad behavior was always either disrupted or ignored, never punished. If they detected evidence of a previous dog and tried to mark their territory, I’d interrupt the behavior and shoo them outside until they’d again do their business, once again praising them. Once they’d done their business, we’d go inside, where I’d keep a careful eye on them as they sniffed everything. When they peed or pooped, I’d praise them with words, pets, and treats. Every time I brought a new dog home, I’d first let them explore my fenced-in yard. I hope the dogs I’ve fostered would agree and that I’ve made them feel welcome and safe. She simply nodded and said, “You’re ready.” I told her I’d never had a dog but was hoping to adopt later that year. Before I could say a word, the owner noticed my reaction and remarked, “Someone wants to say hello!” As I quizzed her about her dog, I learned she was an experienced dog owner who specializes in challenging breeds. My face lit up - and then more so when I realized it was a red heeler. In February 2019, I was getting out of my car at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado when I spotted a dog. Please, sir, may I have some more? I’m a good dog owner And I learned that she’ll befriend anyone who comes bearing treats otherwise, she can be a bit on edge around strangers. She demonstrated that she knew the commands for “sit”, “shake”, and “lay” - both verbal and gesture. She started playing with toys, especially those conducive to tug-of-war. Once Feebee learned she wasn’t going back to the rescue, and I wasn’t going anywhere, either, she began to relax and show me who she was. Maybe with time, his personality would’ve shone through. He never interrupted my work wanting to play, and he never jumped onto the bed at night wanting to cuddle. After a week together, I never got a sense for his personality. Big was a great dog, but we didn’t connect. While I’ve loved every dog that’s come through my door, not all of them were the right dog for me.įor example, Mr. This summer gave me the opportunity to see past those cosmetic qualities and get to know a dog’s personality. My favorite breeds are vizslas, blue heelers, and silver labs, but any dog that meets those other criteria, from border collies to Shiba Inus to Rhodesian Ridgebacks, are ones I’ll swoon over. I’ve long known I have some superficial canine preferences - primarily, that they be larger than a beagle and not have a curly coat. I love all dogs - but some more than others Our time together taught me three valuable lessons about myself. Over the eleven weeks I lived in Arizona, I shared eight of them with dogs. She was otherwise a wonderful pet, and one I would love to see go to a good home - she’s still available for adoption! Lessons learned I knew I’d never be able to bring Feebee to one of my favorite places in the world: the dog park. Since many unfenced, off-leash dogs roamed my neighborhood, this could quickly turn a bucolic walk into a stressful affair. Big right up to the fence of my neighbors’ farms, Feebee would lunge and grow increasingly agitated as we got closer to other animals. Rocket & NebulaĪlas, Feebee didn’t much care for other dogs - or cats or goats. While there are many worthy causes out there, Best Friends would appreciate your support. They answered all questions, allayed my fears, and accommodated my and my Airbnb landlord’s requirements. Meet the dogsīefore I introduce my fosters, I want to thank Best Friends, especially employees Taylor and Kate, for being so gracious and flexible. So I said yes and dove right in, beginning three months of serial fostering opportunities. But it was my longing for a dog that set me on the path to nomad in the first place, and I’d moved to Arizona specifically to be close to Best Friends. I’d never been responsible for puppies for more than a few hours at a time it felt overwhelming to accept two of them within days of driving eight hundred miles to my new home in the desert. I was already in the Best Friends Animal Society volunteer database from a day trip three years earlier, so when I submitted my foster application, they eagerly returned my call: would I be willing to take two puppies? Within three days of moving to Arizona, I’d attained my life-long dream of having a dog.
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