My precious Adopted Shorty

About a year and a half ago, I think about that, my husband and I adopted Shorty, a 3 year old Black Lab.  I wanted to change her name, but, my hubby liked it.  She is a petite size for her breed.  Shorty lived with an elderly lady, who passed away, the family that inherited her did not want her, so they did not look after her.

Shorty was hit by a car, badly hurt she was.  A vet did a botched up job of fixing her up.  And, when she got very badly ill, the family brought her to the humane society.  The vet at the humane society fixed her up, really, really well.  She was like new.  I have a feeling she got attacked by one of the bigger dogs there (she was there for a year I think).  She had one of those cones on, because a neck wound was just healing.

My husband who had advanced MS came with me to the pound.  They brought Shorty out, she laid her head on his lap, he was in a wheel chair, and that’s that.  They instantly adopted each other.

Shorty got along excellently with my Golden, Nikki.  But, she freaked every time another dog came into “her space”.  However, I learned from Cesar Millan…don’t make her stay in her past.  That is finished. My husband and I became pack leaders.

LITTLE by LITTLE her demeanor changed.  Then, my husband died, and Shorty was all mine.  Well, even though I did not feel strong, I decided to go and totally socialize my little vixen.  And, it worked!!!  Now two years later, I can let her loose in dog parks, and this week, I am doggy sitting a big golden lab, and, they are in harmony together.  How cool is that?

My point though.  It takes continuous work, and patience, and teaching, and yes, a lot of learning.  Please, if you own a “Shorty” don’t give up.  Miracles happen even 2 years later…and your little vixen will turn into an angel.  Really!

While the thought of becoming a dog owner is a very exciting notion, it is also one that requires commitment and responsibility. Choosing a dog is an important decision, and there are questions you should ask yourself before you commit to caring for a dog. Read on to learn a few tips that will help you choose the best dog to compliment your family, as well as ways you can help your furry addition make a smooth settlement in your home.

You must bear in mind that when you take in a dog, you are taking upon yourself the responsibility of caring for a real creature—one that thinks, feels, and loves. Make sure that you or other family members are willing to take the time to train your dog (if he isn’t already trained) and offer attention/companionship and discipline. If you’ve sorted out the particulars on that front, then the next question you should ask yourself is this: what traits do I want my dog to have? Dogs vary depending on the way they were raised and the quality of life they have had, but there are particular traits that show up in certain breeds of dog. Do you want an intelligent dog (ie: easy to train)? Do you want a dog that is good with children? Are you looking for a low-energy lap dog or a beefy high-energy dog that can keep up with your active lifestyle? These are all questions you should ask yourself to help you search for the best breed of dog.

Your lifestyle will have a huge impact upon what kind of dog is best for you, so you should really give this a lot of thought. If you have kids, research the breeds that are best known for making good family pets. German Shepherds, most any breed of Spaniel, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, and Beagles are a few breeds that are famous for their way with children. I’ve always had the best results by doing research based on a breed’s temperament. Some of the best dogs I’ve ever had were of breeds I had done thorough research of prior to bringing home. This is a great way to prepare yourself for anything that might crop up, including stubbornness (harder to train!), proneness to certain medical issues, and exercise requirements. So remember, do lots of research among different breeds of dog  before making your decision.

Once you’ve decided on a dog, try letting every member of the family meet him before you bring him home. This is a great way for your new dog to get comfortable with you while he is still in the comfort of familiar surroundings. When it’s time to bring the dog home, ask his breeder or the shelter if they have a blanket, toy, or other familiar item that your dog can bring with him. If it’s a puppy, try to obtain an item that smells like his mother or the rest of his litter. This can be a HUGE help when you’re trying to settle the little guy in his new home. Let your dog roam around the house on his own for a bit (but keep an eye on him if he isn’t potty trained!). It’s perfectly natural for a dog to want to explore new territory and scents, and it will be less stressful for him if you aren’t hovering over his back all the time.

A great way to get your dog to settle a little quicker is to entertain him with activities. Playing with him and letting him accompany you around the house while you do chores are excellent ways to involve him in family life. Also, you might consider getting a set of pet stairs and train him to use them. It doesn’t take long to teach a dog to use the steps, but the time you spend training him will encourage a bond of trust and companionship between the two of you, and this is crucial to turning your new dog into a good pet.

If you’d like to read more about caring for dogs or purchasing dog stairs, visit HelpYourPets.com.

That’s my Shorty, the black lab, always snuggling with Nikki…I love it!

Adoption is fast, growing into the dog you want and love could take a little time!

When you adopt your dog, please make sure you have the patience to give your pet a grace period before you give up on him.

I adopted my Shorty about 1.5 years ago. It took her that long to grow into the wonderful, trusting balanced dog she is today.

When I got her, she would bark, snarl, and pull when we saw another dog. She even growled. I watched a lot of Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, and followed his lead.

She improved consistently over the 1.5 years until today she is inseparable from my Golden, Nikki. Also, she now gets let lose in the dog parks and she loves it.

So please, be patient, for some pets, it takes a period of constant growth to become the dog you want!

Everyone tells me how wonderful my Shorty is now, and they are right!!!

Benny was adopted at 7months. He is no longer with us because cancer took him away.

This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I have ever volunteered to do. First, let me tell you just a little bit about my two dogs, a short little Bio on each. There are pictures on my dog therapy page.

Benny, my black lab, is about 5 years old now. (I never seem to remember exactly how old he is.) Benny is a wonderful dog (even though he likes to steal my pillows). He loves visiting our friends in the home. Clearly, this is where he loves to be.

Then there is Nikki, my 2 year golden puppy. Nikki is a typical 2 year golden. She is full of life. She keeps me hopping. And, just like Benny, she brings pure gold to our friends. Benny and Nikki are on my dog therapy page.

It has been an extremely busy summer so far. Unfortunately, with work demanding more and more of my time, and with home issues demanding more and more of my time, my volunteering has lapsed this summer. This has created a void in me.

The one thing I have learned about this situation is how much I love the dog therapy visiting programs.

Benny has been a visiting dog for a number of years now. We have always gone to the same home, so we have made many wonderful friends.

Well, after my “sabbatical” I went and took Benny to see our senior friends last Saturday Night. This was an unscheduled visit. I could have cried. They were so very happy to see him again (not me so much). We had a “Benny” party in the lobby.

What a wonderful time my Benny had. Of course! Everyone was petting him, and talking to him. Wow, he was being treated like royalty. A true friend come home.

It was just great to see this joy. We all talked and laughed and joked. Everyone talked about their summer, how they were doing, what was going on in their own world. I felt better then I had for a long time. My new resolve is to go back to my weekly visits. I do not want to miss out on these opportunities anymore.

So, my advice, as always is: If you have the inclination to visit with seniors, if you have a dog that loves to be petted, a dog that loves the human touch, then please go to your local Dog Therapy Group and find out how you can join this wonderful work. It is not difficult to get your dog certified.

The three most well known organizations that offer certification; Delta Society, Therapy Dog International and Therapy Dogs, Inc.
There are other therapy organizations and you may find an organization in your area via the internet under dog therapy, pet therapy or animal assisted therapy.

And, for us Canadians, there is, Therapeutic Paws of Canada (my dogs belong to this wonderful group). They offer a volunteer based therapy dog and cat visitation program for senior’s facilities such as retirement homes, nursing homes, Alzheimer day away centers, hospitals and where there is a need. The medical establishment has long recognized the significant benefits of a therapy dog and cat program. The petting and stroking of a pet helps to calm the most agitated resident and stimulates wonderful conversations about the pet they once owned. Recovery from surgery is quoted as being accelerated when there is continued contact with a pet.
As a result of the many government fiscal cutbacks, the facility’s staff is stretched to their limits. The positive impact of our programme on the day-to-day life of each senior throughout our community and beyond cannot be calculated.

photo credit: krossbow

Many people love animals and would like to do more to help them. Here’s a way in which you may consider to do this. Pet fostering isn’t a new concept, but it is growing. Pets who are in shelters for whatever reason, may not always be ready for adoption when they first arrive. They are in need of some medical care and recovery time. They may need help in becoming social again.
The rise of animal abuse is heart clenching and to think of an abused animal being put down do to some ignorant act is sad. If however, these little survivors were given a chance to recover before adoption, wouldn’t that be a great way to show they still have a chance to be loved!!

An animal that has been abused may have to undergo several treatments on their road to recovery. While they recover though, being in a cage where no one can give them all the loving they need only limits their ability to fight and recover, giving them a place with loving people to care for them however, does incredible things for them.

These little fighters learn that they can be loved, that it’s safe to love, and this gives them the desire to live. A three legged dog in a shelter recovering may simply not want to relearn how to walk or even care to play. Putting this same dog into a loving home for his recovery will allow him or her to see what love is, and gives him a chance to learn how to walk and play all over again. The gratitude he shares is more repayment than you could even hope for.

Prime Minister Steven Harper and his wife currently foster cats and have found it fulfilling. You don’t have to be a political icon or celebrity though to offer your home as a fostering home.

There are a number of programs set up for pet adoption. You will need to learn some of the skills involved in caring for specific needs, but the greatest skill you can offer is love and patience. These animals don’t deserve the reasons they are in the shelter, but they do deserve every chance of getting that second chance for love.

When the pets are ready they are placed for adoption. This is a great reward when you think about it. A pet who may have succumbed to her injuries survives because a foster family believed in her, now recovered she can go to a new home where she will live the rest of her days loving and being loved.

Fostering and adoption is something to consider if you love animals, there is a huge need for animals in this situation, why not consider fostering as a way of letting these little fighters know, they are worth it!! The reward of seeing them win, is all the reward you will ever need!