Our little foster dog Jo Jo arrived yesterday around noon. He has some shyness issues that could not be overcome by his adoptive family, so we are going to take him for a while and see what we can do for him.
Sunny is the happy go lucky type, just right for a timid dog as she doesn't pester [for long] but keeps putting herself 'out there' for Jo Jo. She is especially good at giving Jo Jo some confidence already if you can believe that.
This morning we went for a walk around the school field. There were four kids playing on the swings and I noticed Jo Jo was wary of them. So we went over and sat in the middle of the field and watched them for a while. Then I took both the dogs over to the kids and asked for their help. I told them to ignore Jo Jo as he was a little afraid of children and I wanted him to learn that they were not scary. I sat on a little retaining wall with Sunny on the kid side and Jo Jo on the other. They talked to and petted Sunny and were making a fuss over her. Well after a minute or so of that, Jo Jo decided he was missing a good thing and put his front paws on the retaining wall to get closer to the kids. But just then, their bus came and they all had to leave. They were VERY helpful those kids! Maybe next time Jo Jo will warm up quicker and get fawned over too....
It's really nice to have a Sheltie in the house again. They have a sort of universal Sheltie body language that I am so in tune with. The way their little paws look. The way they kind of prance on the front end and wiggle on the back end is just so endearing. They are very apt to cock their heads at you when you talk. And I was so surprised to see Jo Jo rub his face and head on the floor exactly the way Robbie used to do it.
Jo Jo was very shy and afraid of the previous owner's husband. So before Hub Man even got home, I was giving him treats hidden in one of Hub Man's t-shirts that he had worn the day before. Last night when he was giving Sunny pets and rubs, Jo Jo surprised us by going over and putting his head near Hub Man's knee to get a head scratch too. It was a very good moment for the little guy.
I think, with Sunny's help, we are going to be able to help this dog be much more adoptable for sure. Just give us a few more weeks and we will have him winning over the neighborhood kids!
Here he is. He's not smelling the hydrangeas, he is checking out Hamlet who is hiding behind them.
[album 65561 JoeyCatBush2.JPG]
And here he is being spied on by a wary cat.
[album 65561 JoeySpiedUpon2.JPG]
I'm really glad I decided to give this fostering a try. I think I'm suited for it. And Sunny is the perfect side kick for the job! I just hope she doesn't ask for a raise!
[album 65561 Sunny Star2.JPG]
Sunny is the happy go lucky type, just right for a timid dog as she doesn't pester [for long] but keeps putting herself 'out there' for Jo Jo. She is especially good at giving Jo Jo some confidence already if you can believe that.
This morning we went for a walk around the school field. There were four kids playing on the swings and I noticed Jo Jo was wary of them. So we went over and sat in the middle of the field and watched them for a while. Then I took both the dogs over to the kids and asked for their help. I told them to ignore Jo Jo as he was a little afraid of children and I wanted him to learn that they were not scary. I sat on a little retaining wall with Sunny on the kid side and Jo Jo on the other. They talked to and petted Sunny and were making a fuss over her. Well after a minute or so of that, Jo Jo decided he was missing a good thing and put his front paws on the retaining wall to get closer to the kids. But just then, their bus came and they all had to leave. They were VERY helpful those kids! Maybe next time Jo Jo will warm up quicker and get fawned over too....
It's really nice to have a Sheltie in the house again. They have a sort of universal Sheltie body language that I am so in tune with. The way their little paws look. The way they kind of prance on the front end and wiggle on the back end is just so endearing. They are very apt to cock their heads at you when you talk. And I was so surprised to see Jo Jo rub his face and head on the floor exactly the way Robbie used to do it.
Jo Jo was very shy and afraid of the previous owner's husband. So before Hub Man even got home, I was giving him treats hidden in one of Hub Man's t-shirts that he had worn the day before. Last night when he was giving Sunny pets and rubs, Jo Jo surprised us by going over and putting his head near Hub Man's knee to get a head scratch too. It was a very good moment for the little guy.
I think, with Sunny's help, we are going to be able to help this dog be much more adoptable for sure. Just give us a few more weeks and we will have him winning over the neighborhood kids!
Here he is. He's not smelling the hydrangeas, he is checking out Hamlet who is hiding behind them.
[album 65561 JoeyCatBush2.JPG]
And here he is being spied on by a wary cat.
[album 65561 JoeySpiedUpon2.JPG]
I'm really glad I decided to give this fostering a try. I think I'm suited for it. And Sunny is the perfect side kick for the job! I just hope she doesn't ask for a raise!
[album 65561 Sunny Star2.JPG]