Merry Christmas, My Big Boog

Until next time, Boogaloo.

Santa came and brought our Boogaloo his new family. It took eight months but it was worth every minute. Yes, we had concerns in the first while since Ziti is also dog reactive except she will fight. Max loved to be a party to this action. Boog just wanted to see them. We had to wait it out and be patient. We had to walk them separately. He has progressed so much and the work will continue with his new family. ʻGood things come to those who waitʾ. After his then potential adopter left our home from our meet and greet, we both looked at each other and said ʻsheʾs perfectʾ.

He has a huge home in which to ramble, many lovely walking areas, a family of four and two feline friends. As with any good Pyr, he is fine with the felines, although one of them is still trying to figure him out, one eye open.

As fosters, this is what we do. We save dogsʼ lives by giving them a home until they find their forever home. Tears are shed since it is a bittersweet parting but when you are absolutely certain it is a perfect match, then it's a slam dunk. And, so, Boog, we wish you and your new family a very Merry Christmas. It goes without saying, we will miss him. He had become a huge part of our family.

Our house is now strangely quiet. We will continue to foster for other rescues but a break is in order. Stay tuned for our next adventure as you are searching for your next companion through other rescues in the area. We may just have your perfect match.

Such a stunning boy.

We will miss you, Goob.

Mr. Boog Went on Vacation

He was gone for a week. I've always loved Keshet Kennels. A clean, bright, and well-run kennel with large eight-foot high and a foot and a half underground fenced-in paddocks. It is absolutely gorgeous. It suited this boy so well because he had so much space in which to run around. He was walked and played with by many different people and was immersed in dogs. They have their own stalls with concrete floors and ramps up to the sleeping area with a dog door to a run and then into a larger area as required. Absolutely amazing. And, they give you updates on how your dog is doing.

It's a kennel/rescue and they also do doggy daycare and rent their facilities to anyone to hold their events and rent their paddocks by the hour.

Mr. Wilson had a great time and he was in his element there, I think. He wanted to say hello to all his caregivers as we left.He cried as we drove away. He really is a big baby.

A Job for Wilson

Mr. Wilson needs a job so I came up with some work for him. He can start pulling the cart around. We won't be able to go for groceries just yet but it will be fun to work with him.

I pulled out the cart and dusted it off, sort of. It took a bit to remember how everything hooked up. The harness and shafts are not fitted properly here since I couldn't find the right allan key, but I just wanted to get him out there. He did very well, standing still while I fussed about, did some basics and then finally hooked the cart up. He was very impressive!

Cart Dog

Two too many hikes.

Mr. Wilson in Action

This is an update following a session with another wonderful trainer, Jade Hill of Jaderr Obedience. She has amazing insight and common sense. She is my key in helping Wilson.

Watch Mr. W's video Watch his video. Please pass this link on to whomever you feel might know someone who might know someone who would be a good match for Wilson. Thank you so much.

Ziti, Wilson and Max

• It is evident that Mr. Wilson has not had much exposure to activity from new people in the house to bikes, people, cars on the street.
• We are working with Mr. Wilson so he knows that he need not react by leaping and barking at things by which he is disturbed. He will learn that he needn't react in his silly way. He won't be perfect but he'll become manageable. You need to help him feel safe.
• Pyr experience is necessary.
• Wilson must live in a single home (no apartments or townhomes) since Pyrs do bark at all things they deem a threat including butterflies heading south two miles away.
• He must have a quiet adult-only home because he prefers the quiet.
• He becomes stressed over strangers in the home but once he realizes no harm will come to him, he warms up to the attention.
• He should not be around children.
• He has spatial awareness issues. It could be that he didn't get out of a room at all and has a problem with space. We are working on this. It's quite adorable, in fact, because that's what makes him such a boog.
• He loves playing and running in the backyard. A country home would be ideal.
• He must have a fully-fenced yard in which he can run and play. Know that Pyrs love to spend time outside digging a bed in the earth to stay cool in the summer, and in the snow to stay cool in the winter.
• Pyrs must stay on leash as they are independent thinkers, and do things on their own time.
• He does have Addison's and he takes his medication easily...two tiny pills are dropped down his throat before each meal. Addison's does contribute to his stress levels.
• We are not sure how he is with cats but Pyrs are known to be good with domestic pets in the home. It would take slow and careful introduction. 
• He is well-behaved in the car and in the home.
• He will do well in the right environment with on-going work on his social awkwardness. Engaging a trainer to help you work with him will benefit you and Wilson greatly. There is no better way to bond with your pet.
• He is a really lovable boog to whom you would endear yourself. Ready for a rewarding challenge?

Wilson Meets New Friends

I had him out to a friend's to meet her dogs. He did his barking and wanting to get to them but we just walked forward, and not soon after he settled in, wanting a few sniffs but then ignored them as we kept walking. Sophie (the Pyr) and Skye kept wanting to smell him. Eventually, they were doing the butt smells. He seemed unsure of them at first but before you know it, all three were playing in the fenced half acre. He also went into the house where he met Tiggy the cat. Tiggy was sitting on a table and their noses touched. Wilson was great.

Beautiful Mr. Wilson

Such a beauty inside and out.

Wilson had his bath (I missed his face but will wash that shortly), and some grooming . He has been dewormed. He is now neutered. He is on his way to putting on weight. His coat will begin to get some shine and lose its dullness.

It had to happen. Zeetie finally had Wilson growling at her, ready for a scrap. Oh, Zeetie. My little sweet tomboy. I intercepted it before anything happened.

This guy is just one cutie patootie. True to being a gentle giant, he is so wonderfully sweet but I keep saying that. He is an excellent boy in the house. He loves to lie on the bed and look out the window. Or, lie on the couch and sleep, or, lie in the middle of the kitchen floor while we prepare dinner. He is learning to lie down while we eat instead of placing his chin squarely on the table top, watching us eat.

When we return from being out for a few hours or so, he is either lying at the back door, or upstairs in bed. We do crate him if Zeetz and Mac are with him in the house when we go out (a friend lent me a Wilson-sized BIG crate.) Max just does not like this big guy near him. I think it’s because, again, he is a one bitch dog. He does not like sharing Zeetie, and I think, plain out just doesn't like this guy.

A breakthrough at last on his sighting of a dog. We walked by a house with a barking dog in the back. Wilson looked, 'clever boy', I said. He whipped his head and shoulders around, and took the treat, treat, treat, 'good boy, Wilson'. I will need to up the treat value because the standard treats don't work as a distraction if the dog we pass is on leash across the street. I've discovered he also likes to leap at cars as they drive away from a stop. We were successful with no leaps today.

He'll come around with someone willing to be patient and work with him. Working with a dog like this can only help both of you get to know each other.

He is one amazing Pyr. You only have to meet him to know this.

Settling in Nicely

For the first time I left him loose in the house, I came down to the basement. I heard some roaming around and then nothing on the main floor. I let it be quiet for about 10 minutes. I then went up to check to see what was happening. No dog on main floor, no dog in plain view on the second floor. Into the bedroom. There he was, stretched out quite comfortably on the bed. Where every dog should be!

He has the cutest, squishiest face.

This is one handsome boy. How can you not love that face?

He sleeps in the bedroom with Zeetie and us, and he is very content. Zeetie has not yet allowed him on the bed with her, however, but he can be on it without her.

I have a hard time getting him out of bed mornings he is so relaxed. He just turns over on his back for belly rubs so I have to get the leash onto his collar to do a little convincing.

He and Zeetie can be together, now. Zeetie warns him off when he gets his nose up her bum but once he stops that nonsense, she is ready to play.

He went for a bath, finally. He was a little startled by all of it, and we had to hang on tight but what a clean smelling dog now. It turns out our boy has parasites which would explain some of the lost weight and his lousy coat. No amount of grooming will make it the best it can be with those in him. He is being snipped as I write this, and he'll be sent home with the medication to clear up the parasites.

He is turning out to be an amazing dog. It turns out that the the police went to his original house to arrest the husband. The wife told the police to take the dog away and have him euthanized. The police took him to a shelter, and well, the shelter people knew better. I must say, though, his former owners must have done something right with him. He is an amazingly affectionate dog to those he knows which is characteristic of a Pyr as they are aloof with strangers.

He is still trying to play with Max occasionally but has settled for lying in the kitchen. It doesn't matter how much Max snarls and hisses at him, he doesn't seem to know what lashing back means, and that is amazing. He'll make someone the most awesome companion, once he learns to socialize with other dogs. That will be a work in progress but one well worth it.

It's Wilson

He's up for adoption!

He is stressed but settling in nicely. He is a six-year old baby who is absolutely stunning. I haven't seen an aggressive bone in his body, yet, but he has no social graces when it comes to dogs. He doesn't know when to back off so poor Max. Max is afraid of him so stands his ground, snarling and growling but Wilson keeps on going to him, wanting to play and be friends. We don't let him, though.

He weighed in at 79 pounds Tuesday, April 9th. He needs another 10-20 pounds. It's hard to tell since he is all coat. He has a great spring in his step and that big tail just curls up and around in happiness.

Zeetie, of course, hasn't accepted him yet so he is in his crate during the day. No worries. He gets plenty of walks during the day, and sleeps with one of us at night. Zeetie will lie outside his crate, guarding his food in the crate, claiming it as hers. We send her away. She comes back, and just lies outside his crate in an amiable manner. They touched noses this morning before she did her protest barking.

When people want to adopt, some say, only if he gets along with my dog. Well, first meetings aren't always that great, especially with Pyrs. Zeetie will never like a dog, on first, second or even third day. She is afraid, proprietary and just needs to take time to get to know a dog. There has been the occasional dog, off property, to whom she takes. Bring that same dog into her home, and it's bets off.

This boy is just so sweet with his big fat face. He really is a good boy and walks well on a leash. He is strong when he decides he want to go his own way but a firm check settles him down. I can't wait to give him a bath and am grooming him a little each day. His soft, white hair blows into the neighbourhood in tufts. There will be many bunny and bird homes constructed from this material.

He has Addison's. This disease is another great pretender as it resembles so many other illnesses. It is an adrenal gland dysfunction which is an endocrine-disorder when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of a certain hormone. The adrenal glands sit next to the kidneys. If you are interested in reading more, read up in the Whole Dog Journal. Wilson will live a normal life now that he is being treated. It only costs 45.00 a month.