Andrea's Update

Hi everyone! Andrea here. My foster mommy hasn't been feeling great, so took a break from the blog. Being the sweet girl that I am, I decided I will make an update for her.

Look at me, I'm writing a blog post!

The nice people at the rescue had my growth removed, and now you can really see just how pretty I am. It has shot my confidence through the roof, and my personality is really starting to shine. I will approach anyone for attention and if someone wants to hug on me, I will be glad to accept. I like any form of attention from petting to having my teeth brushed. How many dogs can say that?

Happy to be out.

Everyone has been getting me out and about to meet people. I've been to the dog park to make friends. I do well with small dogs. I've had a tv appearance too! So if you decide I'm the right dog for you, you will have a star on your hands. If you aren't sure if I'm right for you and would like to meet me, my foster family is getting me to events with the rescue. And Husky Haven of Florida will set up a meeting with me if you can't make it to an event. I love to go places. I ride very well in the car. And I love to investigate new surroundings and meet everyone when I am out. I am always on my best behavior when out in public too!

Since it has been awhile since anyone has read anything about me, I should tell you that I now get along with cats. I still get excited sometimes when they run and want to play with them, but if I am getting too rough and my foster family tells me to leave them alone, I do. They still have their own part of the house to where I can not get to, but we often lay in the same room together with no trouble at all.

Aren't I cute?

Even though I am around 7, I keep up with my 2 year old foster brother just fine. In fact, some days, I wear him out. While I'm content just laying at your feet and being loved, I also have the energy to play and go for long walks.

As much as I love my foster family, I am really looking forward to finding my furever home. Don't let my laid back attitude fool you. I am full of love and energy and am just looking for a nice family to share it with.

My foster mom should be back shortly with another update on me. Until then, I am going to go lay at her feet and be a good girl. I don't believe in giving my humans too much trouble and I know that she is thankful for that.

If She Could Talk

Thursday, as the first named storm of the season was saying hello to Florida, someone took a long drive to pick up a couple of dogs and return home. One of those dogs was my new foster girl, Andrea. We named her after the storm, the day of her new beginning. Time was ticking away for her, and during a time when most people are going to avoid making long trips, there was someone dedicated enough to do so. I admire her. I only had to go 20 minutes for an appointment that day and wasn't too amused about the drive.

The image that was being floated around online to get her help

Andrea is a very sweet girl. She can both grab your heart and break it at the same time. She came into the pound as a stray. There, she was called Sasha. She is an older girl, somewhere around 9 or 10 most likely. She's rather small, what I like to call an apartment size husky, weighing in at 44 pounds. Cataracts are visible in both eyes, though she seems to be able to see the things that she wants to see, for example, the cats. Her teeth aren't in great shape. And she has a growth on her face. With all of this, she is a happy girl that has the spirit of a young girl. She keeps up with Sid and keeps both Sid and Onyx in line. She has shown that she is truly the queen. 

Sid checking out Andrea

She settled in rather quickly. After a brief testing of the waters with Sid and Onyx, she was taken outside to be shown the backyard. Until we get the dogs use to the set up out back with the pool and the pool cage, we guide them back and forth. With all of the rain we had, the pool was filled to the tip top. Somehow, even being guided, she walked right into the water. She did not panic. She was lifted out right away and dried. It really didn't seem to phase her one bit. Since I did have a commitment for the evening, I made sure she had some cozy blankets in the crate I have for the fosters, got her settled and ran out for the dinner plans I had with my family. 

When we got home a little while later, she had her first sighting of the cat. I think it is pretty safe to say that to her, a cat is a snack. She immediately went into hunting stance. But with the way we have the house set up, the cats can be kept safe and we can work with the dogs to accept the cats as part of the pack. I don't expect to be able to turn a dog with a prey drive cat friendly. But I do think that with proper work, some dogs can learn to coexist with cats with the right set up and humans. It didn't take Kony long to get to that point and Andrea is already making huge strides. While she would still love to snack on the cats, that hunting stance when they come around is gone. If I can get her to the point that she ignores them, I will be shocked. If I can get her to the point where she won't attack them because she knows it's frowned upon, I will consider it a success. Right now, if she goes for the cats and she is told to stop, she does. 

Andrea with her favorite toy

Some people, when first hearing of a dog with a few treatable issues at her age, may think why bother. Others see the potential. I don't think it's going to take long for someone to see the potential for sweet Andrea. She has a lot of life in her. She also has a lot of love that she wants to shower onto a family. She is still very playful. In fact, she stole the blue dog that was recently replaced since Kony stole the last one. I am beginning to wonder if Kong will sell those to me in bulk since they tend to be the favorite toy in the house. She is so adorable with the way that she carries the toy with her everywhere. She likes to lay with it as well as make it squeak. She is not often seen without her little blue dog when she is relaxing. I guess this means that when she gets a home, the dog will go with her, and Sid will once again have to wait until I can find a new one to replace it with.

Just like with humans, dogs are living longer. Nine or ten years old does not mean she is close to the end of her life. Better foods, better medical treatment as they are growing up, better knowledge of how to care for them is really extending a pet's life. Diefenbaker, my first girl, lived to 16 1/2. The last couple of years she was battling arthritis. But inexpensive medications/supplements as well as a good dog bed kept her quality of life very high. 

Since it has only been a couple of days, she is still coming out of her shell. The one thing that is consistent with her though as she gets more comfortable here is how much attention she wants to pour over who ever will have it. She goes from person to person giving kisses, laying in laps, waiting to be pet. While she gets along with the two young boys and can keep up with them, she will let them know when it's too much.

Andrea relaxing after her bath

Today, I decided to try out a dog bathing center near the house at a do it yourself carwash place. It is a little room with a bathing setup. It was so worth paying a couple of bucks to bathe her there instead of in the bathtub. She seemed less stressed. There was no slipping and sliding. The setup was a lot safer for the dog then doing it in the house. Since I didn't know what to expect over there, I forgot to take a brush and a towel, which I will remember next time. The dryer helped bring up the undercoat that is starting to blow so she does need a brush out desperately in the next day or two. But she is such a gorgeous girl when she is all cleaned up. It's hard to believe that people can just let their dogs go when they are done with them for whatever reason. It is harder to believe with Andrea. All she really wants out of life is to please her humans and give them love. All she wants in return is a roof over her head, food in her stomach and most importantly, the love returned. I'm looking forward to seeing her come out of her shell more and more over the next week or two. It's sure to be an interesting adventure as the boys aren't use to having a girl around and aren't really sure what to make of it.

Good Luck Kony!

Most people look at this past weekend as the start of the summer. For Kony, it was the start of the newest and best chapter of his life. He was adopted.

Kony and Dad

While Kony was with us, he was having a few normal issues from what was most likely food allergies. Of course, shelters don't exactly feed the dogs the top of the line stuff. He had an ear infection and a couple of hot spots. We were working on getting them cleared while he was with us and he came a long way. His skin was doing so much better. The ears were getting better. He was on a grain free food at my place and his new Dad is making the same change to his diet. Hopefully, between that and finishing up his course of meds, he will be feeling tip top in no time.

Kony had a pretty cool personality. His energy level seemed to match what was going on around him. He loved just laying around and being a couch potato. But if Sid was wound up and wanted to play, Kony could keep up with the young pup. He will have a buddy at his furever home. It's easy to tell, both him and his new buddy are going to be beyond spoiled.

I am waiting for word on my next foster baby. Sketch just came into the system and I was going to get him, however, he has some extra needs and with my own recovery happening, I don't think at this time I can give a dog who needs that sort of attention the proper environment. In a couple of weeks, I should be able to, so hopefully I can step up when the next baby who needs a little extra tlc comes in. Unfortunately, there is always a dog that needs that popping up somewhere.

Saying goodbye to Kony

If you would like to learn more about Sketch or help him, more information can be found here. And if you think you may be wanting to add a husky to your life, after you do your research on the breed, you can find a list of adoptable pets on Petfinder.

Getting Out The Front Door

As the starts getting hotter and hotter, the patterns with the huskies will change. Midday outings will start to trickle off unless if it's to the beach. Evenings on the pool deck or the front porch will pick up. Yup, summer is starting to announce itself in Florida. And while a husky's undercoat will protect them from extreme temperatures on either spectrum, it still gets too hot to have them out side during the midday sun running with no way of cooling down. Dog park trips will be moved to evenings or cooler days.

Sid and Kony checking out the front

Recently, the front porch got screened in, as a way to better husky proof things. It helps keep them from bolting, though Sid foiled that plan today. It also let's them sit out front and watch the neighborhood during the evenings. So far, it's been a hit with Kony. He's been sitting outside every night. He really seems to enjoy just being around his foster humans more then anything, though his curiosity seems to get quenched being outside as well. He's pretty good about not jumping up on the screen, unlike another husky who shall remain nameless. The one time he did try, a quick no got him to step back down and he has not tried again. Other then the hoarding of toys, Kony doesn't give us much trouble. He eats, sleeps and wants attention. No table begging, no cat eating, nothing.

Speaking of cat eating, he is making huge strides in the cat friendly area. Earlier today, Sid and Kony had Simon trapped and were trying to play with him. Kony seems to be picking up that Simon is not food from Sid, though I'm sure while Simon appreciates that, he would appreciate it more if Kony would ignore him. I noticed Kony was being gentle with the cat when batting at him. Since it has only been a small amount of time since Kony drooled over the cat, I still distracted them with treats so Simon could get to the other side of the gate. He didn't look too amused at his predicament anyway.

I have been trying to get Kony out as much as possible so people can meet him. He is such a friendly dog, and so far, I don't think he's met a person he doesn't like. One of the best ways to get Kony out is to get him out to the events that the rescue is at. I figure I'll try to get him to as many as possible before the weather just makes it uncomfortable for him.

Kony lazing about at the flea market

This past weekend, he made an appearance at the flea market. He hung out for a few hours in front of the fans and greeted anyone who came by. A list of possible events he can be seen at are listed on Husky Haven's website. He will not be at this weekend's event, but I do plan on getting him out to the one at the end of the month. So feel free to come out and say hello to him and the other great huskies that are out.

He really seemed to enjoy his time out. He has such a laid back temperament and really does enjoy having people shower attention on him. Getting him places is pretty easy since he walks like a perfect gentleman on a leash and sleeps like a little baby in the car. If someone wanted a dog to take places with them, they would be hard pressed to find one better behaved then Kony. He doesn't jump at strangers, nor does he run from them. Busy places don't seem to bother him at all. He's confident and relaxed in every situation we have had him in so far.

Kony seems to get comfortable in new situations pretty quickly, so when he does find a home to call his very own, the adjustment period should be pretty quick. Teach him the house rules, let him get adjusted to any other animals and give him plenty of love. He definitely deserves the love and will return it tenfold. Be sure to come by and say hello to him the next time he is out and about and see just what a teddy bear this guy is. He always has an extra hug for anyone who wants it.

The huskies enjoying a quiet evening

My Three Sons..... Err Dogs

It's always kind of fun watching a fur baby getting comfortable in a new surrounding and really showing their personality. These past few days, Kony has hit that stage. He was always a sweet dog, but now I'm starting to see his playful side too.

Onyx trying to escape the wrestling match

Lately, him and Sid wrestle non stop. He has quite a bit of energy when he has a constructive outlet for it. And he seems to be aware fo his size. Sid seems to get the upper hand in the bouts quite a bit, but I think that is because Kony is being gentle since he is about twice Sid's size. Today, not only did they wrestle, they also decided to play chase me in the living room. Onyx was the smart one. He hid. Onyx usually hides when those two get a bit too into playing. Or he tries to get out of the living room. I can't say I blame him. I try to escape too. Sid likes to include whoever or whatever is around when he gets into playing. But it's nice seeing all of them getting along so well. Kony really seems to be doing well with his foster brothers, and he is so well behaved, I can let him on the other side of the gate if he needs a break from the more energetic Sid for a bit.

Kony actually started a new game with Sid. I keep a toy box in the living room for all of their toys. All of the dogs seem to find it pretty quickly. Kony has started taking all of the toys out of it and putting them on the rug and then laying with them. He then growls at Sid if Sid walks by. He's not being aggressive. He is trying to taunt Sid. This is how Kony initiates play. Sid isn't as subtle in his initiating. He just jumps at Kony and it turns into puppy UFC.

Kony wishing he had some BBQ sauce

Kony is getting better with the cats. He still wants to eat them, but he seems to understand that that is a behavior his foster mommy doesn't desire. He is very good if told to leave the cats alone and walks away from them. Since Kony has been good about listening where the cats are concerned, I have been letting him get closer to Simon so he can get use to the cats. Simon is an awesome cat and he won't back down. He was a boxer in a previous life and can defend himself pretty well. I've never seen anyone throw a left hook like he does. While I wouldn't call him cat friendly yet, though he may be getting there, I would call him cat tolerant. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trust him alone with the cats if they didn't have a way to get away from him, but he seems to be coming a long way. He is not crated at night or when I have to go out, but the kiddy gate keeps him confined to an area that the cats can avoid. There has been no problems and I am quite happy with how he's been doing with the cats.

While Kony can be quite energetic during playtime, the rest of the time he just likes to lay around and be lazy. Unlike another husky I know, he is not constantly looking for something to get into. He's perfectly happy laying on the dog bed or laying next to my chair and getting his belly rubbed. He is a great dog to just lay around and love. And a great dog to poop out Sid.

Kony showing either his intellect or laziness

I plan on taking Kony to some of the upcoming events so others can see just how sweet and gentle this boy really is. More information on Kony can also be found on Petfinder.

Presenting Kony, The Gentle Giant

This past Wednesday, after dinner, I went to go meet Kony, the new foster. I had already had a chance to meet him briefly at an event. Sid and Onyx got to meet him there as well, but I was still a little nervous about the introduction. Let's face it, three dogs and two cats could get a bit chaotic, and somehow, I forgot about Kony's size until I saw him at the pick up meeting. If Kony were to get on his back legs and stand up, he could probably rest his front paws on my shoulder. It is nice being able to pet and hug him without having to bend down though, and he loves being petted and loved. He is a very sweet and gentle boy.

Kony greeting everyone

It's nice to say that once again, things went smoothly when I brought him into the home. It was done a bit differently this time since Sid and Onyx were outside. We brought Sid in first, let him get comfortable, then introduced Onyx into the situation. Onyx does follow Sid's lead with a lot of things. They have become very attached to one another. 

Arrival day is turning into a routine. After getting the dog use to his foster brother's and letting him see the back yard and get use to his surroundings, bath time happens. Unlike Rayzr and Onyx, Kony is not a happy bath dog. Bathing him was a two person job, but once he knew we weren't hurting him, he did calm down. He wasn't happy about the bath after he calmed down, but he is smart enough to know if he doesn't fight us, it ends quickly.

Kony relaxing after a bath

Kony is a pretty laid back boy. He prefers to lay down in the quieter parts of the house. He will play and wrestle with his foster brothers, but he doesn't want to play as much as the other two do, which is every waking moment.

Kony is pretty good in cars as well. He seems to enjoy sleeping through the car ride. He is so quiet and so good it would be easy to forget he was with you until you got to your destination. This is a big difference from Sid who thinks car ride time is also climbing over everyone and everything time and needs to be secured when in a vehicle.

Kony is also a dog that listens. If he is doing something you don't want him to do, which isn't often, all you have to do is say his name and he stops. He doesn't seem to know commands like sit very well, but he is learning quickly. Or maybe he did know and the new environment threw him off and he's starting to show what he knew again. He learned how to use the doggy door in the pool cage, which is actually pretty funny since he seems like he'd be too big for it when he walks up to it.

The one area that it has been very useful that he listens so well is with the cats. He definitely wants to see what they taste like. He hasn't tried to hurt them, but he has stared at the one and drooled. Fortunately, the cats are smart enough to avoid him, and he doesn't have enough of a prey drive to go after them. I think he can be taught to see the cats as part of the pack, however, I do think supervision and caution would always need to be used. Having a way to separate the two seems to be a must. And having a cat that doesn't back down seems to be helping as well.

Because of the cat issue, I did want to crate him though. After ordering a larger crate then the one I had set up for the fosters since he would not fit in the other one, I found out he is not a happy dog in the crate. Over night when the cats are sleeping in one of the bedrooms, I don't mind locking him in the living room. While the dogs are not at home alone a lot, he will be crated then. I am going to try to work with him to make him feel more comfy being crated in case his new forever home prefers to crate their dogs. I found in the past, the easiest way to train my dogs to not hate the crate is to first let them get use to laying in it not closed, then close them in it for a few minutes at a time, each time a little longer. He does like laying in a crate that is open already, so I don't think the next step will take a long time to accomplish.

What a handsome boy!

I think teaching him new things or getting to adapt his behavior is going to be pretty easy. Kony is already a good dog who listens well and he obviously wants to please his humans. He really doesn't need much work, if any, depending on what kind of home he goes into. If you want to learn more about Kony, you can find him on PetFinder.

A Weekend Out and a New Foster

As mentioned in my last post, I had to take some time off from fostering during my recovery. This past Wed marked the one month point and I decided that I feel well enough to start back up. I should be getting my new foster furbaby on Wed. evening, so I will be posting more again.

I did get out with Onyx and Sid this weekend though. The Rays had a bark at the park day where you were allowed to take your dogs to the ball game, so I jumped on it immediately and got tickets for them. There is suppose to be two more of these this season, and I will most likely do them again. If a foster is in my care and it is ok, I will take the foster along too.

Sid taking in the sights

Sid and Onyx were so well behaved and they seemed to really enjoy going. I am sure dogs are like people in that they get sick of the same surroundings every day, which is why I try to get them out as much as possible. I even have an app to tell me about local dog parks and eateries that are dog friendly. While not all doggie dining places are in the app, a good number are. With how well behaved these two were at the game, I am convinced trying new things with them will go fine.

Onyx having a blast

I am a little nervous about having three dogs to take care of, but I am pretty sure it will go fine. There are three sets of hands in this house for doggie outings and walks and there is support from my parents a few blocks away. I know that it will be worth it. There is no feeling for a dog lover like giving a dog another chance at a loving home.

A Furry Break In a Storm

It's been awhile since my last post. We had an emergency 3 weeks ago. It happened right after picking up Onyx, who was to be our newest foster. On the way home, I wasn't feeling well. I was in a lot of pain, which I assumed was from a pinched nerve I had. My sister was with me, and we stopped at my parents' house with Onyx. After being there for a few moments, I knew something was wrong. I went in their room to lay down and ended up on the floor. Onyx came back and sat with me until they came. He watched over me while we waited for help.

Onyx making himself at home

As it turns out, I had a heart attack. I spent a few days in the hospital. But on that first day, I knew. We have our foster failure. I knew Onyx couldn't go to another home after watching over me. And I think everyone agreed. Onyx kept visiting everyone and making sure they were ok. He was a fuzzy and loving break in an otherwise, very bad day.

I had mentioned before how he looked like my Belgian Shep mix, Pembleton. I was excited to be picking him up and helping him. I fell in love with him at first meeting. It was easy to see just how loving he was just by the look in his eyes. I was nervous about the introduction between Sid and Onyx, but as it turns out, I wasn't the one to make the introduction. It was made while I was in the hospital. I missed the first few days. But I was getting updates and knew he was fitting well into the home. I couldn't wait to get released to get home to my two boys. I am happy to report that they are helping me recover. :)

I decided to take a short break from fostering while I was recovering and Onyx was getting use to his new surroundings. I had Sid and Onyx out at an event this past weekend just to get out for the day with my fur babies and we had fun. I got to meet the potential new foster dog that will be placed with us and he was as sweet as the others. I have a few things I need to do for myself over the next week and a half, and then I can make arrangements to bring the next foster into the home. I'm looking forward to bringing the next dog home and sharing all of the experiences that go along with it.

Pembleton enjoying a rare Southern VA Snow

Rayzr Gets A Home

I think most dog owners know the feeling of when that bond is made with your dog and you feel like they complete a part of your heart. When Dief came into my life, I developed an ever deeper bond with her then then I ever expected, and I did not think I could ever experience such a bond again. Sid proved me wrong. I knew the moment I first held him, that I had a companion for life. I think it is pretty obvious to anyone who sees us together, to be able to see the bond that I am speaking of. It has always been an amazing thing to experience, but I learned Sunday, it is an even more amazing thing to witness that bond being formed.

I was sent a message earlier in the weekend that someone wanted to come meet Rayzr at Sunday's event. After getting the details of the time, I arranged to be there early so Rayzr would be ready. I was pretty excited and nervous for him, as I know he is a special dog and deserves a very special home.

Valentino trying to steal someone's heart for a home

The event was at the Oldsmar Flea Market in a dedicated booth to help homeless animals. It is a great location for the animals to get seen, as there is a lot of foot traffic there. In the few hours I was there, so many people stopped by to see the dogs and ask questions.

The area is set up so multiple dogs can be there comfortably. People are able to come by and meet the dogs, play with them and get information on the breed as well as the rescue and see pictures of other available dogs for adoption that aren't at the event. If there is a particular dog someone wants to meet, from what I can tell, the best bet seems to be contacting the rescue and arranging to meet the dog at one of the many events that the rescue attends. Once I heard someone wanted to meet Rayzr, I knew I would make it out there at any time that was needed. After all, the purpose of bringing a foster into my home is to do what I can to help the rescue get the furbaby a forever home. I'm not required to be at all of the events, and I was told when I first talked to them about fostering that if I couldn't make it to an event that they needed a dog placed with me at, that they would help make arrangements to get the dog there. But my weekend plans are usually pretty loose, so I knew during this conversation, I would be able to get the dog to and from the events most of the time. I love spending my weekends taking Sid places, and it is twice as fun when a second dog is in tow.

We weren't there for very long when Rayzr got to meet his potential new Mom. I was a bit nervous at first. I knew Rayzr could win anyone over, but I wasn't sure if his personality was going to come out in all of the commotion of the Flea Market. I don't know why I was nervous, since Rayzr showed what a true teddy bear he really is.

In the beginning of this post, I spoke of the bond I got to watch form. After spending a little bit of time together, as someone on the outside looking in, it seemed as if they were made to be in each other's life. I would be lying if I didn't admit to tearing up a little bit when seeing this. I knew Rayzr had found his perfect home and his perfect human.

I always thought that the first time a foster got adopted would be hard on me. I thought I would be a little down because of missing the dog. While I do miss Rayzr, watching him get adopted was an uplifting experience. There were no sad feelings, and while I did have a few tears, they were tears of joy seeing this bond being formed in front of my eyes.

As I wait to hear about the next foster dog, I am enjoying special only child time with Sid and having my thoughts drift often to Rayzr in his new home. I know he is being showered with love every minute. I want to say congratulations to both Rayzr and Mom. Also, thank you for loving him so much. And don't forget, he likes chew toys. ;)

Rayzr and Mom already in love

Getting Into The Routine

We are coming up on two weeks since Rayzr has joined our home. He is starting to fall into the routine quite nicely. He is eating and drinking more regularly as he has settled in. He has even learned to use the adapter on the faucet outside. He has found not only is it good for a fresh drink, it is also good for a quick shower. He will often go over to the faucet and lean on it until he gets wet.

When he is inside, he is pretty good. We are still working with the begging, but he is learning, if he doesn't beg, he will get a treat after dinner. This method worked with breaking Sid of the begging. Though with Rayzr begging, Sid has become a bit more of a beggar lately as well. They are slowly calming down, depending on what is for dinner. I guess I can understand. There are certain foods I can't resist by the smell, so I guess they have their foods they really want because of the smell.

They are still improving greatly with chew toys and treats. They now know they are both getting the same, so they leave each other alone instead of investigating.

Rayzr relaxing with the tug rope

Rayzr is still finding which toys he likes to play with. He is happy if he has a chewy or a toy he can chew on. He seems to really like the one tug rope, but he still doesn't want to play tug. He has a thing about taking any toy to either the dog bed or under the table next to my chair. Sid has learned if he has a toy in one of those spots, it means that Rayzr wants to play by himself, and is getting better at leaving Rayzr alone. Now that they are getting into a routine and learning each other a bit better, it is making life pretty simple with them.

They do love to play outside together. They do their running and wrestling outside. I am not sure how my neighbors feel about it, however, since Rayzr can be a talkative dog. He has made Sid a bit more vocal, and both like to howl and bark when they are playing. Because of this, they can't play much outside at night. While husky howling is music to my ears, I understand that not everyone else feels the same way. They get talkative inside too. Rayzr is actually pretty easy to get talking. He has a beautiful singing voice.

As part of falling into the routine, I took Rayzr out for his first outing this past week. Sid had a vet appointment and had to be left for tests. When it was time to pick Sid up, Rayzr rode along. He does very well on car rides. He likes to lay down and prefers if the window is cracked so he can get some fresh air. We stopped at the pet store on the way home, and then by my parents' house. Rayzr was very well behaved at the store. When we walked past the bunnies, Sid wanted to climb in with them. Rayzr ignored them.

Rayzr working my Dad for a furever home

Rayzr has taken quite a liking to my Dad. Once we got there, we opened up the screen doors to the porch so the dogs could come and go. Rayzr investigated the back yard for a few minutes, then went straight to my father for attention. After getting pet for awhile, he laid at his feet for most of the visit. When my parents come here, he usually stays pretty close to my father. While Rayzr loves everyone, he does seem to take to males very quickly. I think one day my father will accept that he is a husky person. All I wanted in life was to have a husky companion. Every husky in my life has always attached themselves to him when he is around. I think the breed chose him and he just hasn't realized it yet.

While at my parents, we did a small animal test with Rayzr. My sister's two birds were still there, so we took him inside on the leash to see how he would react. He ignored them. Once we were confident he wasn't going to go nuts, we took him pretty close to the cages. Even with the African Grey growling at him (he growls at all dogs, and brooms, and mops....), Rayzr had absolutely no interest.

Dief searching for Snowball

I know from my experiences with Dief, this is a huge deal. I use to keep small animals when I lived in VA. I could never leave Dief unattended, even with them in their cages. I used to put the cages up high and in a room I could shut off from her to get her to leave them alone. The ferret's cage was taller then me, so the ferret could get away from her. Dief would often sniff at the cage and then lick the ferret as if she was tasting it. Snowball was smart enough to avoid her. I had a carrier for Snowball that I left below her cage. One time after using it, Dief went exploring and got her head stuck in it. The picture was not staged. Most husky lovers know that they often have a high prey drive. Some can be taught to respect other animals as members of the pack. Dief was ok with cats because she was raised with one. However, she was also raised with small animals. She always seemed to think of them as dancing chicken nuggets and hot dogs. It is a breath of fresh air to see Rayzr with the smaller animals. He really just has no interest in them what so ever, whether they are in a cage or running through the backyard. He even ignores the squirrels. If someone wants a laid back husky with no prey drive, I don't think they will do much better then Rayzr. He truly is a great dog.

I know there are some dog friendly events coming up that I would normally take Sid to. Rayzr will be coming with as well. And both events, the rescue has on their schedule. Once I lock in the plans for sure, I will be notifying them that I will be there with Rayzr. Hopefully, he will be able to meet more people and show them just what a great dog he is.

Rayzr relaxing and showing off his good looks

It's playtime!

Now that everyone is getting settled in, Rayzr and Sid are becoming quite the pair. Playtime with the two ranges from singing with each other, to racing each other, to wrestling. Most of the time they keep it outside, however, sometimes they like to include us in on the fun.

Sid and Rayzr making sure to include me in on the fun

We aren't really experiencing any aggression issues either. Every now and again they don't want to share a toy with each other, the one with the toy will let out a faint growl and get up and move. It does not go any further. Rayzr definitely will let Sid know when Sid is becoming too much to handle. Rayzr also has a small grunt he does with us too. But it seems more to be a sign of play, then anything. Dief use to make the same noises. It still makes me smile.

Sid has a favorite toy called a flirt pole. Rayzr isn't exactly sure what to make of it yet. He barks at it when we play with it, but he hasn't used it yet. Even when Sid takes the toy to him to try to get him to play. Maybe he will catch on, maybe he won't. Rayzr's favorite toy right now seems to be a kong toy. Sid keeps trying to get him to play tug with it, but so far, there hasn't been any success.

Rayzr with his favorite toy

When they are outside, wrestling and running seem to be their favorite activity. I am still waiting for them to knock each other in the pool since they will even wrestle on the pool deck. If one goes out, the other must follow, so each trip outside turns into playtime.

Rayzr raiding the toys

Rayzr has quickly found where the toy box is. He digs in there on a regular basis, still looking for other toys that he likes. As he comes out of his shell, he is a lot more playful then he originally seemed. He does not play rough in the house. Usually, he prefers to find a toy he can chew on in a quiet corner. But he has found that every time we move furniture to vacuum, more toys end up in the box. I am going to see if he will play fetch out in the yard next week, though I'm not expecting him to. He doesn't seem to be very interactive with toys. He found a tug rope earlier, and would not play tug. If I tried, he would let go of the rope. He is pretty good about letting us take things from him, whether it be food or toys. 

Now that they are getting better at sharing toys, they also appear to be getting better at sharing other things as well. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, we have a few bowls placed around the living room. Today, they both went over to the same bowl set. One ate, while the other drank. They ignored each other while they did their thing.

Rayzr and Sid sharing bowls

After a day full of play and attention, they usually settle down for the night pretty early. They will rotate around the room and take turns laying with each of us for some attention. I'm hoping tomorrow goes ok, as Sid has a vet appointment to get scans on his leg. I am expecting him to be a little out of it when he gets home since he has to be put under for the tests. I don't expect Rayzr to bother him, since Sid is usually the one who initiates play. I'm looking forward to a quiet, lazy day with the two when Sid comes home.

Bath Day

I wanted to wait a couple of days before I introduced brushing and bathing into the equation, as in my experience at least, neither Dief nor Sid enjoyed the process. I usually just call one of those companies that pull a van in front of the home and take care of it there when they really need it, but I have to keep up on it in between. Especially with the brushing. Let's face it, these dogs can shed. I have puffs of white fur everywhere. It makes me glad I have hard flooring, with a rug in the middle of the living room to give them traction for playing. It feels like just last month that I was dealing with undercoat blowing, but the weather just does not want to pick a direction, so it is happening again.

Rayzr putting up with being brushed.

I decided to do a quick pass with the furminator on both dogs, then take a brush to them. With a vacuum near by and hose at hand, I was hoping to keep the mess down to a minimum. First up was Sid. And as usual, he fought and fought. I was expecting the same from Rayzr. It didn't seem to be his favorite thing, but he did tolerate it. I didn't want to stress him too much, so I did a quick pass to try to get the worst of it. I figure over the next few days, I can add time to the brushing sessions until he gest to where he needs to be, with furminator passes every now and again to help out.

There has been debate over whether or not the furminator is a good thing to use or not. Some claim that it can damage the undercoat, just as shaving the dog can. Most people seem to be in the school of thought if you only do one or two passes in the same spot per session and don't over use it, that it is fine. I have found that I am comfortable with one pass and adding a second brush afterwards. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but I'd rather be safe then sorry. Most who know me, know that I can be a bit of an over protective mother with my furbabies. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Next up was taking him into the bathroom for his bath. I have one of my showers equipped with a shower head attached to a hose to make bathing the dogs a bit easier. Dief would tolerate baths. Sid hates them. It can be sometimes a 3 person job to give him a bath if he really feels like showing his strength. I wasn't sure what to expect from Rayzr.

Rayzr getting a bath

Once the water temperature was set, we put Rayzr into the tub and I turned on the shower. The first thing to get wet was his front paws. He immediately tried to jump out of the shower. After a minute or two of coaxing, we got him back in the tub. After that, he didn't try to escape anymore. I don't think he loves having a bath, but he will tolerate it. That seems to be a good description for him with just about everything he doesn't like, that he will tolerate it. This again just shows what kind of temperament that this dog has.

Once the bath was over, I towel dried him and used a hair dryer on low. He does not seem to be bothered by most noises such as hair dryers and vacuums. In fact, so far, I've only noticed him bothered by one of the vacuums in the house. And when that one comes on, he just moves away from it.

I figured it'd be about 3 to 7 days before he started coming out of his shell some, and he has started showing more of his personality. This includes the two bad habits that we have found. Neither are horrible, and I think with a little bit of work, both can be corrected.

The first is the way that he begs. He is not aggressive about it, but when we sit down to eat dinner, he likes to pick a person to sit next to and hit their knee with his paw periodically. When told no, he will walk away for a bit, but he usually comes back. He has not tried to steal food off of the table though. I think in time, he may pick up on the way Sid deals with dinner time, which is just lay at our feet. I usually give them a treat after dinner if they are good. Sid quickly learned that begging was pointless because of this. I am hoping that Rayzr does as well. Dief was a master beggar. She would bark and carry on and I don't care what we did, breaking her of the habit was not going to happen. Over time we learned to ignore her and if there were guests over for dinner, we would put her out back. While we find the paw to the knee cute, it is something that we are working to correct. I do not doubt that if food was left eye level and unattended he would swipe it. Sid does. But counter surfing does not appear to be a hobby of his, at least that he has shown us.

The hole after it was filled and restarted

The other bad habit I have found is that he is a digger. I know I said he didn't appear to be, but where he was digging, it was hard to see the quite impressive hole. I have kayaks racked up out back and he went under them to dig. Him and Sid have been taking turns on the hole. We are now working to correct this as well. Personally, I don't mind if my yard is dug up as long as it isn't near the fence, deck, or in a path that we walk, but I do understand not everyone is tolerant of this. I plan on building a sand area in one of the back corners for Sid to have an acceptable area to dig over the summer. If these two keep teaming up on holes, I may have to do the sand box a bit sooner then planned.

I do not think that the picture does the hole justice. But they were watched for a couple minutes on the camera taking turns. As soon as the hole was filled, they started working on it again. Tomorrow I will spray down the area with No Dig. We will have to keep an eye on him and correct him when he starts digging again.

Sid with his chew bone

I have found that Rayzr isn't a huge fan of toys. There are a couple he has found he likes, but he prefers chew bones, pig ears and stuff like that. Sid has always been hit and miss with them. I may give him one one day and he goes right through it, the next day, he will leave it sit for weeks.

Rayzr with his chew bone

After a long day of grooming and digging, I gave them a chew bone to settle down with for a bit and relax. Both dogs sat quietly for awhile, and when they were finished, they started making their rounds for attention. It doesn't matter what I am doing, when one shows up next to me wanting to be pet, I have to drop what I'm doing. Who can deny those eyes?

The weather change isn't only taking it's toll on their fur, it is also giving everyone in the house a bit of a cold. Fortunately, both Sid and Rayzr have been perfect angels when inside. They go out every few hours for a little bit of running and come back in to get attention and sleep. They are both slowly learning that sharing bones and food is not a bad thing, as there will always be more there if they need it. Even with separate bowls, they do tend to switch off here and there. It is almost as if they want to make sure that the other one isn't getting something better. Sid's jealousy of attention is still there, but also slowly getting better a little at a time. I would expect within the next week or so for most of it to be gone completely.

Rayzr making use of the dog bed

Tonight, the only thing Sid pouted about was when Rayzr decided to curl up on the dog bed. Sid hasn't used the bed in a few days. If both decide they want to start using the bed on a regular basis, I will bring another one into the living room, but for now, usually one is laying in one of the other favorite spots. 

The new crate for Sid also came today, as Sid didn't like the one we moved him to. I didn't like it much either. The new crate is nice. It's a black wire crate surrounded by a coffee table. This way we won't lose too much room in the house to crates and it won't look like a kennel in here. Rayzr has taken to the other crate quite well. We chose to give him the one that is more for travel, in case it was ever needed to transport him for whatever reason. The cat food is kept on top of the crate to keep it out of the dog's immediate line of sight. Sid never minded the cats coming and going while he was in the crate, and we were wondering how Rayzr would adapt to this. It is like he doesn't even notice. I know it is only three days in, but I think it's safe to say that he can coexist with cats, or at the very least, cats that will leave him alone. They ignore him, he ignores them. It's a nice arrangement.

If I started fostering as a way to find a permanent addition to my family, I would stop right here. Rayzr is so well behaved. He loves everyone. He doesn't get into much, other then the holes he digs. He's been great with Sid and the cats. 

This week, to get him out of the house, I may take him over to my parents. I try to get Sid out a couple of times a week for a change of scenery, and my parents only live a half of a mile from me. On nice days, it's an easy walk. My sister has her birds staying at my mom's right now, so if we do go over, I will be able to report on how he reacts to caged animals. The dogs stay leashed and are never allowed close to the cages, so the birds will be fine. Both birds shared a home with a dog at one time as well. I know it can often be tough to deal with caged animals with a husky from personal experience, but if Rayzr is going to go on the walks for visits with me, it will be nice to see if he ignores the birds the way he ignores the cats. Usually, once we get there, we sit out on the back porch and let the dogs run in the yard and come and go from the back porch. They don't have free access to go into the living room where the birds are located.

Friday, we will also see how Rayzr does in the home without Sid, as Sid will be at the vets having tests done on his leg from an injury at a dog park. Sid can be a bit hyper and likes to jump over other dogs. He didn't quite clear a great dane and hurt his leg. It acts up from time to time and we need to check it out before I can do some activities that I would like to do with both dogs.

Tomorrow should be a quiet day, but if we are all over this cold on Saturday or Sunday, we will be taking both dogs to Enterprise Dog Park and hopefully, we will get some great pictures of Rayzr to share. I hope Rayzr enjoys that dog park as much as Sid does.

Welcome to the pack Rayzr

Yesterday, I picked up my first foster. His name is Rayzr and he is the sweetest husky I have ever met. He is between the age of 3 and 5. There was not a lot of history on him, but the little bit that was known made me positive he would fit in well in the home, even though he has a lot less energy then Sid. Though, I haven't met many dogs with Sid's energy level. The two do seem to be balancing each other out quite nicely.

The day started with heading to an event that Husky Haven has where people can come out and meet adoptable huskies. We showed up mid way through the event so we could get him use to us and learn a bit about him. We stayed close to the event end so he could get as much exposure as possible for the day.

Our first meeting

From the first meeting, it was pretty obvious that all he wanted to do was sit and be loved. There is plenty of that to go around in the house for any of our furry friends. He is very docile, but I was still nervous about him meeting Sid for the first time as well as the cats. I opted to leave Sid at home for the pick up, to try and make things a bit easier for Rayzr.

While all of the supplies can be provided, after I got the call that I would be getting him this weekend, I started setting up a foster kit. There are a few things I knew Sid probably wouldn't want to share, toy wise, so I wanted to make sure there were two in the house to avoid problems. I already had a second crate that I set up. I still wanted to pick up a few odds and ends supply wise. Nothing major. But things to make the adjustment on Rayzr and future fosters easier, at least I hope. We picked both dogs up a bone for later in the week. I want to make sure there is no real resource aggression going on before I put these out for the two. If there is going to be problems with the bones, then I can separate the dogs or make them night time toys for when they are in their crates.

Laying in the lamp stand

Rayzr doesn't really need to be crated as he really doesn't get into much. He is trying to crawl into little cubby holes in the house and has explored the trash, though not getting into it. I am opting to continue to crate him for a few reasons. First being, Sid is crated and I think if we leave Rayzr out at night and crate Sid, it could cause problems. Second, I don't want him getting hurt trying to crawl into a cubby hole unattended if he happens to knock something over. He is still looking for what he considers his safe space. I think the crate helps him feel like he does have a safe space as well. And third, while there doesn't seem to be an issue with the cats, I would prefer one not arise when everyone is sleeping or not home.

Sid and Rayzr introducing themselves

After we picked him up, we brought him home to meet Sid and the cats. We were planning on doing the introductions slow, but Rayzr just kind of dove in. We kept him leashed for the initial introductions. Sid and Rayzr sniffed each other, while the cats kept their distance. Lolita decided to go hide in her favorite room while Simon stayed in the living room watching. Rayzr ignored Simon, and still does ignore both of the cats. When we removed the leash, they continued to sniff and circle at each other, with no growling or signs of aggression. Everything went very smooth, more then I was expecting and more then I could have asked for.


After Rayzr explored the home for a bit, we let him out back with Sid to use the yard. I should explain that the main way I let the dogs in and out, is through the pool cage. There is a dog door installed in the pool cage so they can come and go from the grassy area as they want to. The pool cage has an insulated roof on part of it with ceiling fans to keep on during the summer. On the faucet, a spicket that a dog can get a drink out of at any time is attached. So there is plenty of fresh water for play time. And during the summer if the animals want to sit out while I'm in the pool, there is plenty of creature comforts of shading and a nice breeze. The pool does not have a liner, so I don't mind if the dogs would want to swim during good weather. Sid isn't a pool dog, he prefers the beach. I was nervous that Rayzr was going to go right for the pool on the first time through the pool cage, but he didn't. He did however, not see the screen and ran into it. I think every dog that has been in this house since the cage was put up has done that. We let Sid show him where the dog door is located, and he caught on within a couple of minutes. He can now come and go as he pleases. We have cameras up in the backyard, which allows me to keep an eye on the dogs if they want to stay out for a little longer and play. He has already picked up on the bell that is on the front door to alert us when he wants to go outside. Right now, he will not let us lead him to the door or follow us there unless if we put the leash on him. When he comes in, he can get distracted about coming back to the area in the house set up for the dogs. The first time he came in, he ran into the room where Lolita was hiding and jumped right in the bed. He didn't see Lolita, and almost landed on her. She hissed and ran away. He ignored her. I think it's safe to say that he is good with cats.

Rayzr and Sid relaxing

One thing that is quite amusing about the two dogs together, is how similar they look. With a quick glance, or from a distance, it's pretty easy to get them confused. Looking directly at them, it is also easy to tell them apart. Sid seems to love having a playmate. He is use to being a spoiled only child though, so is still adjusting to the sharing. He tends to pout if Rayzr is using a toy that Sid likes or laying where Sid wants to lay. Separate food bowls makes feeding time easy, however, they do like to swap bowls mid eating. It's almost as if they want to see that they both have the same thing. If they don't fight, I will let them take the lead on that.

Outside, there is really no problem. He seems to like to throw dirt around, but not dig the giant holes like Sid does. They both like to run with each other. They do sing together, both inside and out. I don't know if my neighbors find it as beautiful as I do, so if they are singing outside, I do go out and either quiet them down or bring them in, instead of letting it go on too long. Usually, once they come in, they settle down and go to sleep pretty quickly.

Sid is having more trouble sharing me then his toys though. When Rayzr comes to me for attention, Sid comes and walks in between us and tries to nudge Rayzr away. Rayzr doesn't fight him, but still stays near me for attention. Sid has never done this before when he has been around other dogs at dog parks and other dog friendly events, but I guess in his house, it can be a little different. I understand that this is a learning process for him as well. I expect him to keep getting better.

I am grateful that I do have experience integrating new dogs into the mix though. It makes understanding what they are doing a lot easier. I am even more grateful there isn't any real problems though. Sid only had one incident since we brought Rayzr in, which was peeing on the floor. I was kind of expecting that, as my other male dog I had awhile ago would often mark territory inside the house whenever my mom brought her male dog when she came to visit.

Speaking of visits, the family stopped by at different times to meet him. He greeted everyone with love. He was not skittish at all.

Tomorrow if the weather is warmer then it's been, Rayzr will be getting a bath. Both dogs will get a brush out as well. I tried to give him a bit of time to adjust before adding grooming into the mix. I will also be adding weekly furminator sessions to the mix when needed in addition to normal brush outs. I want to show off just how handsome this boy really is.

Dog park visits are also planned, and there are some dog friendly events coming up that I would normally take Sid to, so I will be bringing both of them along. The rescue is actually going to be at some of these events so we can hang out with them so he is able to meet as many people as possible.

As the second night comes to an end, they are resting, and I will use the quiet time to do the same. It is becoming much easier to relax as each hour passes and Rayzr gets better adjusted to being here. If someone is looking for a calm husky who thinks that he is a lap dog and wants non stop petting and kisses, they will not find a better match. He deserves nothing less then a home with a lot of love and humans who will spoil him.

Good night from Rayzr

The start of the adventure

I have loved huskies for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I used to have my mutt pull me around on my skateboard and pretend that he was a sled dog. As I got older, I started reading about them on my frequent library trips. Everything I learned, I loved.

My first real experience with a husky wasn't until my early teen years. I met a shop owner who also had a husky that he would bring to work with him. I would often go to the store just to spend time with the dog. I loved him to death and I knew that one day I would have my own.

About 17 years ago, I brought home my first husky, Diefenbaker. I had already done years of research, and I found a reputable place to get a puppy from. No puppy mill husky for me. I wanted to adopt back then, but since I got her when I was changing states and moving into an apartment, I was having trouble finding a rescue to work with. Dief taught me a lot about huskies. Sure, I had read all of the ways they can drive their humans insane. But until I experienced it, I could only imagine how it was.

She was a very smart dog. She was constantly thinking. Constantly finding things to get into. Staying one step ahead of her was a challenge at times. But she was also the best companion I could have asked for. Being a medium size dog, their life spans often sit between 8 and 12 years depending on what resource you read. I had her for 16 and a half years. She was born on June 21st and we had to put her down on January 21st. 

Before we put her down, we brought our second husky, Sidney into the home. I opted for a puppy again this time as Dief was suffering from arthritis. Knowing the energy a husky has at a young age, I did not want to bring a full sized husky into the home that could possibly hurt her. I was lucky enough to find a reputable breeder, one that cares about their dogs. I could not bear to deal with a puppy mill type breeder. Again, I wanted to adopt, but our needs screamed puppy. I am very happy with the breeder we chose. It was obvious that they cared about the dog.

I brought Sid home at 8 weeks and 1 day. I will never forget the feeling of finally getting him in my arms to come home.

Sid is now around 16 months old. It is time to consider a playmate for him. Huskies often do better with playmates. After checking pounds and rescues, a decision was made. Why save just one dog when I can help many? I am not working right now. I am on disability due to an unknown auto immune illness. I am home all of the time. I am in the perfect position to work with dogs and make sure they are well loved and taken care of. So, this time, I chose to foster. Sure, it is going to be hard to give up a dog that I will have grown to love. But it will be so much better in the long run to be able to help as many huskies as possible. I always wanted enough to create my own sled team. I guess I'll just do it one at a time. 

Starting the process was pretty easy. I went to the Husky Haven's web site and filled out the application. Within 24 hours, I had a call back. A quick phone interview to gather information on my situation, experience and why I wanted to foster. I know my references and vet will be called next. Nothing big. I chose to fill out the application on the day that I did, as I saw them post on their Facebook page that there were about 6 or 7 huskies they would like to help, but needed foster homes to do so. 

For those who don't know how rescues work, most rescues don't take in owner surrenders unless they have the room. They pull the dogs from kill shelters. If the dog is sick, they get it medical treatment. Most rescues make sure the person who adopts from them know about the breed and is prepared to take on all of the responsibilities of the dog they are adopting. In order to do this, they need donations and foster homes. 

I was pretty lucky. The rescue was also at an event I was planning on taking Sid to the day after the phone interview. I got to meet with some of the other dogs that they are helping and met with some of the volunteers. I know this will be a good thing. Everyone was so nice. They were talking to me about the local sled team I would like to put Sid on. As it turns out, when a foster dog is placed with me, I will be able to also put that dog on the team, health permitting. 

I am now waiting to hear back and for a dog to be placed with me. I'm pretty excited. I have been husky proofing my house and yard for Sid. I think whichever dog they place with me will enjoy some of the changes as well. 

It breaks my heart to see so many dogs in the pound, simply because someone did not do their research. It is bad enough that more dogs are ending up in the pound because of situations out of the owners' control. But lack of research and preparation could be avoided. Purebred dogs can often present certain issues and huskies are no different. Lots of fur, food thieving, escape artists, back talkers, and a few other things. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but it's not all bad. They are very smart. But they aren't for everyone. If you are a husky person, you will find that even their bad traits are amusing. You learn to work around them or live with them if the breed is for you. But some people get them just because of their looks. They don't realize that the dogs have to be exercised not only physically, but mentally as well. This can cause issues for an unprepared person. A bored husky is a destructive husky. I know this happens with other breeds as well. That's why there is a need for rescues of all breeds. It is very important to do your research before bringing any pet into your home. 

I hope that my research and experience with the breed can help a few dogs out along the way. And I will be sharing the adventure of the foster experience as well. I don't expect it to be all easy. I also expect to have days where I want to cry if those two team up to drive me crazy. But I am looking forward to it. I don't think the two cats are, however.