Introducing Hera

For such a young girl, she has a very mature face.

Hera is, I think, about a year old, maybe a little younger judging by her very puppyish behaviour. Don has been kind enough to let us foster her, and Max, well, he's not happy about sharing Zeetie, but he'll be okay.

She is one of four dogs the dog rescue took in from BETA in Lebanon. This is at no cost to the dog rescue as BETA raises the funds to bring them over here.

She had been tied up on a 30cm rope, and 'people' poured hot coffee on her, said witnesses who called BETA to bring her in. For a dog who has been treated with such cruelty by 'people', she has a very sweet nature, and not a mean bone in her body. Unless, of course, the other dogs get near her food. She is no different from Zeetie, having always had to survive on their own. Frankly, why should dogs let other dogs eat, or get near their food? Someone tries to touch my food, they'll get forked.

She is probably just under a year old and weighs 50 pounds, so she isn't big. She will probably grow a little more judging by her paws and thickly boned legs. Being blind, she needs to be spoken to when being approached, and a hand put out so she can smell you. It's important to speak to her, even if she doesn't understand. Simply so she doesn't get startled by movements.

She climbs the stairs, and comes down them, with help. It won't be long before she is doing them on her own. She can do the few stairs outside fairly confidently now.

She is presently still having some anxiety until she adjusts to a whole new life in Canada. She barks when confused as to what is happening. She has the howl and purr of a husky.

We are working on her house training. She doesn't have any commands, yet, but I am working on them with her. The lucky family who adopts her will need some obedience classes with her.

She will pace circles out of anxiety and trying to figure out where she is going. This may comfort her because it is all she knows from being tied up on a short rope. The only place she had to go was in circles. I know this will be overcome with time, patience and love.

She is fairly good on a leash.

She loves attention, and to play with her toys, especially her ball. She has also discovered her squeaky toy, which seems to bring her joy and comfort.

She gets along well with Zeetie, until she tries to engage Zeetie in puppylike playing. Zeetie wants no part of it. However, Zeetie will rip around the yard with her.

She will make a family a wonderful companion. Children over 12 for this girl, please.

A fenced yard is a must for this pup.

More photographs of Hera can be seen in the right-hand column under 'Ziti, Max and Their Friends'.

Are you the family for sweet Hera?

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.

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?

The Real Mr. Wilson?

We know that as foster dogs settle in and relax, we learn more about them, and their real characters emerge.

As the days go by, Wilson does not appear particularly interested, everytime, in making those longer afternoon treks on which we take him. The morning one is fine but the afternoon/evening ones, well, those are another story. Don't get me wrong. So far, he loves the off-leash romps in the fenced in areas, running after smells to whom he doesn't know they belong. However, on some days, those boring city walks are less than favourable for him. He plants his feet, and as I convince him to come along, his paws move as if he were pulling them one by one off a freshly tarred road.

Pyrtails

Hunting

He is a Pyr, like most, who loves to hang out and survey his domain from the couch or, more favourably, from the backyard or country property and enjoy playtime with friends and periodic romps off-leash in fenced-in areas. He just loves that part.

He is one sweet boy. I now let him, with permission from other dogs' people, go meet other dogs. He just wants to say hello. If the other dog shows fear, he doesn't seem to understand and barks at it. Otherwise, he sniffs around for a bit, wags his tail, and that's pretty much it. He just has a big curiosity.

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.

And, heartwarming it was.

This fundraising concert, Music for the Heart, should have been heard and seen by all. Grace Bruno of Capital Strings does amazing work with her very talented students. And, to see these kids so disciplined and enjoying what they were doing, was, indeed, heartwarming. I could see the awe in audience members' faces as each young musician played their piece. Time seemed to come to a standstill as everyone became immersed in the sounds of violin and piano.

Veronica Pascual-Meagher, Zeke Ruddy

As for the venue, wow. Wesley United Church is a beautiful, small, dog friendly church that really set this concert off with class. The minister was both warm and inviting. She even brought her little rescue dog in for some social time. She also made it clear that dogs were always welcome to services. Where else in Ottawa can you find a place, other than a pet store, that welcomes dogs like that!

We had a good turnout thanks to Eileen Woodside and Grace who worked hard to organize and advertise this event. Just a little over $1500 was raised for which Mr. B's mom is extremely grateful. volunteers work selflessly to organize these fundraisers to save dogs in need. And, a huge thank you to all those who came out for the concert in support of Mr. Beasley.

This beautiful concert all started because of the little fella sitting here, Mr. Beasley (a.k.a. Fraggle), who was found by Diane's (MC) daughter wandering the streets on a winter's day a couple of months ago. Diane took him in but wasn't sure what to do with him next. With emails sent out in hopes of finding a forever home for him, it worked. Within a few days, there were several people in line wanting to adopt him and now he is in his forever home. However, he didn't come without medical issues. He needs major dental work once the rest of his organs have stabilized. A portion of the proceeds will go towards helping this little guy.

Tobes is Home

As expected, Toby is fitting in extremely well with his new family. He was anxious the first night. At one point, he was pacing from side to side of the bed. It wasn't long before he was invited onto the bed and he fell fast asleep. We did our job well.

He has met the big bunny who is dog-friendly. However, Tobes thought trying to hump this little guy was most rewarding. They are working on breaking that habit!

He even breezed through Hallowe'en. He greeted all the kids with tail wags and some with kisses.

His toe is healing quickly now. I'm guessing this is because he isn't playing with Zeetie for hours on end and putting 95 pounds of weight onto it.

Soon, he will be staying at their parents' house and hanging out with their Retriever while his family is at work.

I am so happy for Tobes and his family is so excited about having him join them.