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.