I didn't want to post until he was actually IN my house, since last time I posted about a foster, she found a home the day before I was to start fostering.

He's super sweet and chill, but totally freaks out and is petrified if he is without a doggy buddy around. He thinks Ella is cool, and could care less that she gives him the evil eye. He also thinks the cats are AWESOME, and licks them with his big old tougue.

He's probably a 50/60lb is tall and lanky black dog--almost looks like a great dane/lab mix. I'll get some pics up soon, I promise!!!

I introduced him to Ella all by myself, and it went amazingly well. I think they will get along just fine, until he can find his forever home.

Oh, and he smells like dog. blech. definitely need to give hime a bath!!! He's currently napping in his crate, like a good boy, and Ella and the cats are keeping an eye on him.

How wonderful! I can't wait to see pictures.

OMG!! That is awesome! He is kinda big, compared to Ella! How does he freak when his doggy buddy is not in sight? Just curious. Poor thing!

What's the stinkster's name?? Yay, congrats!!!!

Aw, good for you, giving him a wonderful place to stay until his forever home comes along. And hopefully this will convince Boy that 2 dogs is no big deal! Can't wait to see pictures.

Oh, his name is Captain. Which means Boy gets to make all sorts of pirate jokes.

He wouldn't go into my car, come out of my car at the store, go into the store (we had to pick up his food), get into my car again (I picked him up!), or get out of the car at home. And I had delicious assorted yummies for coaxing. He won't go up or down stairs unless he's following right behind Ella. If she's to far ahead, no way.

He's spent several months at the main fosters house, with many many dogs and cats. He was super chill and relaxed and happy and outgoing at the 4 hour adoption event, but became tucked tail 'i'm not moving' shaking dog once separated. So sad.

I put him in his crate for dinner, and now he wont come out. He's tired, and way overwhelmed, poor guy! We're going to take things nice and slow and relaxed the next week, and hopefully he'll be feeling more comfortable!!

Boy is away this weekend, so I get 2 days 'free' to help the dog settle in!

Awwww, congrats on the Captain fostering! Hooray for you.....ou and Ella are going to be his angels. Gina isn't the same dog I got a month ago.....you should keep a diary and watch how he changes....it truly is amazing what you will do for him.

Yay! You'll enjoy working with another dog and it will be good for Ella. Every dog teaches me something new. I've been without a foster dog here for four days and (SOMEONE STOP ME I AM CRAZY) I'm already missing it. I'm standing firm though - no fosters until Ted's done training or until he's off at sheep college.

When is Talk Like a Pirate Day this year? IF it's soon it would be fun if Captain were still around. Arrr!

That's awesome - yay for you! Can't wait to see pictures...

Septemter 19th, every year. I have a co-worker who takes it WAY too seriously and drives me crazy!

Cool! I can't wait to see pics.

Oh, that's so great! I hope he settles in and gets comfortable very quickly-- he'll realize he's in a terrific place, I'm sure.

Will you interview prospective adopters, or will the rescue do that?

Lucky Captain! I'm sure once he gets used to having to think for himself a bit he'll settle in beautifully. He sounds like one of my favorite types of dog - a Lanky Black Dog Retriever.

Yay for you and the Boy. I'll start early = How much does it cost to pierce a pirate's ear...A BUCCNEER.

Sorry, I needed a laugh this morning.

Lucky Captain - we want pictures!!! His insecurity is likely the result of being moved again - he sticks to Ella because he picks up on the bond between you and Ella and knows you'll be back for Ella. But when you leave him by himself, he doesn't know if you'll be back. And cars take you places and don't bring you back so they are scary.
Sounds like he's very insecure and just needs a little time. Take it slow, do very short but frequent little departures from him both with and without Ella, just as you would for a dog with seperation anxiety.
The dog I'm looking after right now literally screamed when I moved more than a few inches away, even if I was within sight and he was with the other dogs (behind a baby gate). It has taken most of this week to get to the point where I can slip outside for about 5 minutes without him screaming - but it's coming along. He should be comfortable here by the time he goes home next week!

Enjoy your foster dog and post lots of pics!

He loves loves loves his crate.

I have to put is food bowl outside to get him to go out of the crate. Once he's out, he'll follow Ella out the door so we can go outside for pottying.

He's decided he won't do my inside stairs at ALL. Not even to follow Ella, or me, or a trail of cheese. I'm going to ask if he's used to stairs/hardwood floors. I've had to give up and carry him because I needed to get him into another room. So awesome our house is split into 3 levels!

I wanted to hold off giving him a bath, but he stinks so bad, Boy is going to have a fit. He complains if you can smell Ella while she's on your lap--I can smell Captain after he's left a room. So we're just going to have to give him a bath.

I brought him (ie, carried) into the downstairs area where I was watching TV last night. He was chill, gave me some kisses, took a little nap, played with a toy. that pissed Ella off--she can share her momma and house just fine, but not toys. sigh. She ran over and took it back from him. So I took it back from her, and put it away. Then I made a point of giving them each their own toy to play with, and I let Captain chew and squeek on his, while i played fetch with Ella with hers. She also collected all the toys she could find (3 dog toys, 4 cat toys), and brought them on the couch with her. Captain was sitting on the floor with his.

I hope he starts feeling a bit more comfortable soon. I'm letting him spend plenty of time in his crate, since that's where he wantd to be, but I'd like for him to be willing to come out of it to hang out with me!

Last night, I took him on a walk around the yard, while throwing Ella's frisbee for her, and he actually did a few of the most ridiculous bouncing play bows ever at her. It was pretty cute. She paid no notice, being the little butthead that she is.

He is terrified of Boy. Poor Boy, really just wants to live with a dog that likes him. Captain's never lived in a house with a guy before, even though he's seen plenty of them at adoptions, and is totally cool with them there. Boy opened the door for us, Ella ran in and bounced on him, and Captain freaked, bolted backwards, and started shaking. I had to carry him in the door, since it was starting to pour, and I was just not feeling like half an hour or more coaxing a dog inside in the pouring rain. So Boy will be handfeeding him much of his evening meals. He did chill and relax with us downstairs for a while last night--he alternated sleeping in a little ball on the floor with coming over to say hi to me.

This morning, we had a breakthrough of sorts--I opened his crate, then got his bowl of food (to entice him out of the crate so I could leash him and take him outside), then realized my shoes were downstairs. So I carried the bowl of food with me downstairs to get my shoes, and all of a sudden I hear kerplumping giant dog paws, and there he was!!! He came out of his crate, and down the scary stairs, all by himself, cuz he was wondering where the heck I was going with his breakfast. He got a nice big handful for that one. Then he even follwed me (and breakfast) up the stairs so I could get his leash. Hopefully this means he'll need less carrying up and down stairs! He's heavy, and those long legs make him very awkward to scoop up.

You MUST post a photo of Captain! I'm falling in love with a vision and need an absolute picture of this boy!

Sounds like he's making very good progress for the short time he's been with you. Poor thing, you never know what's in his background to make him so timid. But you are handling him so well, I know he will be the absolute BEST he can become, with your care!

He's in the photo section (Captain Foster). He looks pretty mopey in all the pics though.

I just saw the photos. He is sooo cute!!!

Hopefully he will warm up to your husband soon!

Boy is no longer a Scary Scary Thing!!! Woohooo!!! I went to work today, like a grown-up, and Boy took the day off cuz he was 'too tired' after his 5 day vacation to San Fransisco (grumble grumble).

Boy let him out of his crate (he came out on his own!), and carried him down the stairs so he could hang out for a bit. And hand-fed him 1/2 cup of kibble. I'm proud of Boy, he did this all on his own, with no instructions from me!! Ella and I have trained him well in the ways of dogs.

Captain grabbed one of Ella's most prized toys (the xmas octopus from the gift swap), and ran up the stairs into his crate with it. Cuz Ella wouldn't let him play.

This evening, he came up and down the stairs twice, all on his own!!! woohoo!!! I may not have to be hoisting a 60lb dog several times a day much longer.

That is great news, Alissa! Isn't it fun to watch foster dogs come out of their shell? Such progress for Captain - good dog!

Congrats! Glad to hear that hes settling in

Uh-oh. Boy invited the big galump up onto the couch to cuddle with him last night. Captain then stood on top of Boy, looking confused, then finally sighed and lay down curling into a little ball resting half on Boy's legs.

Man, Ella was PISSED. When Captain decided he didn't want to cuddle anymore, and got off the couch, Ella promptly hopped up from my lap, and ran over to the spot he'd been in next to Boy, and curled up there herself. With a big old 'harumph' of a sigh. She was actually significantly *more* of a butthead yesterday than the first 2 days. Probably since Captain is out of his crate more, and she's out of patience for sharing.

Uh, oh, the honeymoon is over! They will work things out - no worries. Just make sure they both have clear rules. Sometimes that's the main thing that one-dog households need to do to adjust to additional dogs - just go from "anything goes" to "now there's limits since you have to share us." The same thing happened when Maggie got her "buddy" - my first foster dog that turned into a permanent resident within, oh, minutes of arrival.

This sounds so familiar! I spot that normally wouldn't be attractive suddenly becomes THE place to be when another dog takes it!

Okay, I haven't even gone to look at the pictures yet, and I am already in love with Captain. It sounds like underneath all that fear and insecurity, there is some majorly lovable goofiness and affection. He's making great progress! You are definitely going to have to set the rules--make sure both of them realize that you are the benevolent head of the household; She Who Controls All Treats, Toys, and Things. That. Are. Food. Sounds like Boy may be getting a bit smitten?

Going to look at pictures now!

Just keep at it because it sounds like you're doing good, even though it doesn't seem so right now. I can just picture Ella all in a tizzy trying to guard everything at the same time (Boy, toys, you, the food, the cats). She must be totally exhausted by bedtime.

I just saw his pics. Man, what a sweetie pie. Thank you for helping him.

Ohhh! Guess what! Captain has started wagging his little half-tail! He wagged it last night when I leashed him to go outside, and he wagged it this morning when I went over and opened his crate. Big improvement from tucking and shaking when I opened his crate.

I haven't even had to bribe him out of his crate--he's been coming out on his own the last 24 hours. He also tried to play with Ella while we were running around outside. And, he curled up in between my legs, and rolled over for a belly rub last night! I'm so glad he's doing better, I was starting to just feel horrible that he was soooo unhappy.

Oh, and Ella's been pretty reasonable in her grouchiness. Not that I've been letting her practice, since toys are all up/away if both dogs are out together. But she has been giving him the evil eye less and less (he doesn't notice it, fwiw).

Excellent progress, Alissa!

Well, he's come out of his shell!!!

Starting last night, he turned into this bouncy, playful, musthavesomethinginhismouth, goofy grinning dog. It's pretty hilarious, since he has like no control over his super long legs. He's also totally offended all the animals in the household....

He playbowed to Ella, she ignored him, he ran away, ran back, and play smacked her across the chest while running....

He ran up to the Tortie cat, bounced into the air, and landed in a playbow with his legs on either side of her, and his nose 3 inches from her face. She puffed up, and ran away. He wanted to chase her to play, but I snagged him before he could make her any more upset.

He is *clueless* about signals from dogs and cats. Cat hisses, or puffs, or lifts a paw and air-strikes in warning, no response. He continues to try to lick the cat.

We've gotten so he can play with one tow, and Ella can play with one toy, in the same room, but segregated sides (by the couch, with me blocking the 3feet wide way around). But, he's decided, he wants Ella's toys. She's learrned to let him play, and not care about it, as long as mommy is also playing with her (yay Ella!--amazing what a few long downs and timeouts in other rooms can teach). So last night, I'm alternating playing tug/fetch with Ella, anf fetch with Captain, on their opposit room sides. Captain decided he *must* have Ella's toy. I block him repeatedly from going around the couch, and focus him back on his toy.

He then decides to jump *over* the couch to steal Ella's toy. Ella stands over her toy, and gives him the 'evil stare'. He playbows, and tries to squirm closer. Ella starts showing teeth, he couldn't care less. (FYI, I'm on my way over there to end the standoff, and telling Ella to knock it off). Ella Showe *more* teeth, and growls, and he makes a dive for her toy, and I grab him by the collar and lead him to his crate. Dude has no respect! There will be no toy stealing in my house. NONE I say! I'm also trying to teach Ella that *I* will protect her and her toys, and she does not need to do it herself. I feel that she has a right to play with her toy, just as he has a right to play with his. She got a short obedience routine for her excessive behavior.

I mean, on the bright side, she isn't being rewarded by him backing off when she acts ugly. On the other side, Captain needs some respect. If its her toy, and she's playing with it, you can't just go steal it. Same as she can't steal yours!

His silly half tail is wagging 80% of the time now, he comes out of his crate in under a minute, with no food bribery needed. He's even started smiling, and will sit at the door when asked, so I've got the entrance/exit thing controlled. He's definitely settling in!

Sounds just like the lab pup I was sitting earlier this summer!!! Have fun - both the dog and the cat will figure it out soon.

It's great that Captain is coming out of his shell and starting to behave like a "normal" dog.
A tip from someone who always seems to be integrating "new" dogs into the pack here (either fosters, additions to the family, or houseguests), at some point you may need to step back and let Ella and Captain have a little scrap to establish their pecking order, unless one of them could do serious harm to the other. It is hard to watch, but I've found that once they have their "snap, growl, this is mine, leave me alone, don't bug me, that's MY mom" scrap, they settle in to either keeping each other company or ignoring each other. It shouldn't be over a highly valued treat or absolutely favourite toy, but my suggestion is to not intervene on the other toys or issues unless there is danger to a dog.
Some dogs never do have a scrap - Charley resource guards her kong with a quick growl, but right from the beginning Sadie and Belle seemed to know their "place" in the pack. Princess Belle, for example, will never challenge Charley even though she thinks Charley is just a commoner. But most larger, younger dogs who have come here have had at least one little altercation once they start to feel at home.

Speed bumps in the road, but it sure sounds like the road is heading in the right direction. Way to go, all of you!

Yeah, I have a feeling it'll happen, but I'd rather it happen for him just being 'rude' vs. having it happen when Ella is guarding something. She's waaaay to guardy, and I don't want her to think she can act so grouchy in those situations.
Especially since she used to guard me (from other people), toys from the cats, etc.

Ideally, they'd get in a spat over him being pushy about trying to play with her, with no toys or me involved. Ella is very soft mouthed, and captain seems to be pretty gentle too. Only thing is he's like 3 times her size. I would really like for him to learn to respect other dogs!

Good point - and Ms. Ella just may be the one who teaches him to respect other dogs!
Good luck - it sounds like things are going really well, and Captain is going to be a wonderful dog for some lucky family. Or should I say for "your" family? Any chance you will fail Fostering 101? Hehehehehheheh....

HA!!! I would only consider adopting a dog who Ella likes enough to play with. That's where I've set my bar (and it's pretty high!). I feel like she deserves to have a permanent resident that she likes, at least half the time. I feel like I deserve a harmonious household too. Plus, Boy has set the number of dogs allowed in the house at 2, so if I fail fostering 101, I can't progress onto fostering 102. At least, not until I convince him.

Sounds like things are coming along.
I'm glad to hear the little guy is coming out of his shell. Hopefully he'll get the clue from Ella that toy stealing isn't cool and maybe that he could learn about personal space too.
If he clues in a little, hopefully she can tone down the teeth and posturing and you can have your shalom in the home.

Congratulations on your first foster!!! I started fostering dogs about a year ago and it's very rewarding. Knowing you made a family happy and found an unwanted animal a loving home is a great feeling.

But I do have to warn you... It's sometimes very sad to let them go too. I aways say that my fosters take a little piece of my heart with them when they leave. I'm like a grandmother who loves to see photos and hear the lastest "brags" about them.