The Best Laid Plans

I have been avoiding writing this post. No one likes to admit failure or even when life gets complicated and a little bit messy.  We live in a world that craves perfection and composure. Well screw that idea, I say.  My life is beautifully messy and complicated and I refuse to apologize for it.  It doesn't mean that I don't struggle with those parts because I do, but its within the struggle that we really learn about ourselves and others.

Leroy went back to the shelter on friday.  It was a very hard decision but some things pushed me in that direction.  The most important reason was Leroy was starting to throw up his food.  When it happened the first time you chalk it up to the dog eating too fast or perhaps having a tummy ache.  When it happened two more times it becomes a problem, especially when medication is involved.  His last three meals before I took him back to the shelter all came back up.  It was time he visited with a vet to reevaluate his situation.  I think he was doing awesome.  His itching had been greatly reduced, he was no longer red and his skin had smoothed out.  I was a little concerned that after feeding him 3 meals a day that he still hadn't gained any weight but sometimes it takes the body time to heal.  I know what you are thinking.  This is a perfectly valid reason to take Leroy back to the shelter and I am glad you agree.  However, its not the complete story.

All last week I was struggling with Leroy's barking.  I would say that my dogs are mostly indoor dogs, but really they are both indoor and outdoor dogs.  I have the dogs on a schedule.  They are inside for a few hours and then outside for a few house and then back in.  This goes on all day.  Of course, depending on weather and my schedule they may spend more time outdoors or indoors on any given day.  Most days its an even mix of the two.  Leroy was part of this schedule.  Unfortunately, Leroy likes to bark.  Now he isn't barking to get in or even barking at my neighbors.  He barks at the squirrels in the tree.  He is only barking because that's what dogs do at squirrels, but there is such a think as too much barking.  To top it off, during on of his forays into barking and chasing squirrels he partly knocked down my shared fence with my neighbor.  Things are not going well.

I have amazing neighbors.  They have been so helpful and supportive.  They are dog lovers but they have limits like we all do.  After speaking with them about the fence and the barking, we decided that Leroy needed to find a new foster family or preferably a forever family.  This was a very hard decision but I couldn't ruin my relationship with my neighbors.

I dropped Leroy off on Friday and was assured he would see a vet and they would figure out what was going on with him.  They also said they would find him a new foster mom as soon as the vet gave the ok.

I called the shelter yesterday to get an update but the shelter was slammed with people and couldn't get me any information.  I am keeping an eye out and am sending good vibes to Leroy.

This was a very interesting experience and one that I am very grateful for even if it turned out to be shorter than I expected.  I appreciate everyone following along with the journey.  Many thanks!

Now someone go adopt Leroy!

Hold the Mint

Apparently, Leroy is extremely allergic to mint!  This is a good find and hopefully will be helpful in identifying other things that may cause allergic reactions.  You are probably wondering how we discovered this...

We feed both our dogs grain free food.  Leroy is also on a grain free diet too!  We add mint to our dogs food (among other things) to help with digestion and to help them with bad doggie breath.  Up until yesterday we hand't added it to Leroy's food but my husband ended up feeding the dogs and tossed some in out of habit.  Oh goodness, within about 20 minutes he turned bright red and started itching like crazy.  Poor poor guy!  The last thing we wanted to do was cause him more problems.

Mint is from the plant family Lamiaceae which also includes oregano, lavender, thyme, basil, marjoram, rosemary, bee balm and sage. I will be checking his dog food to make sure the ingredients don't include anything in the mint family. I tried researching any other plants that might share the same chemical compounds as mint but have come up empty.

Leroy is looking good and doing great.  As I have said, I think he could be close to a forever home.  Know anyone who is interested?  Seriously!  I would love this guy to go from my home to his permanent home.  Please please, share this blog with anyone you think would love Leroy!

Pictures to come soon!  We have been busy!

Feeling GOOD

Leroy is making leaps and bounds in his health and it has only been a matter of days.  I think this boy is going to be ready for his forever home soon.  I hope the veterinarians agree at his next check up.

Let's run down some of his improvements:

• His skin has turn from lobster pink to a pale blush but mostly a muted grey
• He has noticeable been itching less
• He has gained some weight although still not enough
• His energy level has skyrocketed
• He is on one less medication!

I am excited that Leroy is doing better.  However, he has become a little more challenging to work with mostly due to his high energy level and his strength.  Leroy is a big dog!  It is hard to see that since he is so skinny but there is a big dog in there.  He is incredibly strong and with the nose of a hound he goes where the nose goes.  Thankfully, I have experience working with a big dog, but it should be something his forever mom and/or dad should consider.  

Nothing about any dog is good or bad per say.  It is a matter of evaluating your needs and skills with the needs and care necessary for the dog in question.  Remember to consider what kind of time you have for grooming, training and snuggling.  Depending on the dog, their needs in these categories will vary with some dogs needing more than others.  Most "problems" are really just opportunities for training which takes time and patience. 

I am so glad the weather is finally looking sunny these days.  I could tell the dogs were getting cabin fever.  They have been lucky enough to hang outside for most the days these past couple of days.  I know they have enjoyed their time although they might have enjoyed their time a little too much!  Some  fence posts have been knocked over mostly because they were old but they had a little help from the dogs.  I don't think our neighbor was none to happy although he never explicitly shared his displeasure.  I am a little worried he is also upset with all the dogs barking.  They have been barking at the squirrels  but clearly this can be a problem.  I am hoping to chat with my neighbor about the situation to make sure we keep the line of communication open.  We love our neighbors and want to respect our shared space.  Fingers crossed we don't have to return Leroy early.  

I also want to remind everyone how awesome it would be to find Leroy's forever home!  If you or someone you know would love to be Leroy's forever home please speak now!  Email me or contact Canyon County Shelter.  I am sure we can work something out so you can take Leroy sooner rather than later and you can be instrumental in his recovery.

Anyone have any tips or tried and true methods to help reduce barking?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Its the love day! What better day to talk about forever love?

Leroy needs a forever home. Is there anyone out there that already knows they are going to be his forever home? Did someone have the same intense need to be with Leroy like I did, except is your need a forever kind of thing? If so let your voice be heard! Tell Canyon County that you want to foster Leroy and then adpot him when they give the ok.

By no means am I trying to ditch Leroy only days after I have had him. What I do know is this journey is going to change him and whoever cares for him (right now that is me). I just don't want to stand in the way of him getting his forever home. I can pass the torch! 

Since it was the love day I had to bring up the possibility that Leroy's Valentine is already waiting for him! Do not doubt that Leroy will have my love until the day I hand him back to the shelter or his forever home. I have enough to go around! 

Happy Love day! Don't forget to hug your dog or cat! 

First Day

Well we have officially spent a full 24 hours with Leroy.  We made it through with no major catastrophes and just two potty accidents (and one of those was one tile!)!

If it is possible, I think Leroy has worn out my Australian Cattle dog (actually both of my dogs are ACD's).  Whiskey is our youngest at just a little over one (and was adopted from Canyon Country shelter just a mere 6 months ago). If you don't know much about ACD's they have what I thought was unlimited amounts of energy.  Some say they are one step down in energy level from Border Collies, but I am not sure I agree.  I think they equal a Border Collie (and I should know since I had a Border Collie).  However, apparently Coonhounds have a ton of energy to burn too!  Leroy and Whiskey chased each other all day!  It was a race around the couch and dining table or outside in the backyard. I don't think anyone actually won. Regardless, it was very entertaining to watch.  Whiskey has some pretty quick and intense moves while Leroy is just all brute strength and legs.

Today was our first walk around the neighborhood.  I decided to only take Leroy since I wanted to focus all on my attention on him.  This certainly didn't win me any favors with Sydney and Whiskey.  I am sure I can win them back with raw hides and treats.  Let's just say Leroy needs some major leash work!  I think my shoulder will recover from all the pulling!!  I had a hound dog so I know they are nose to the ground kind of dogs.  I can respect that focus.  However, they need to respect the leash too. I give a little and they need to give a little.  Leroy hasn't gotten that memo.  Not to worry.  We will work on it.  I think he enjoyed getting out and I am hoping the weather holds so we can make this a daily activity.  He is only walking a little less than a mile and I don't want to do much more.  He needs to heal and gain weight and you can't achieve those goals doing power walks through the neighborhood.  As he gains weight, the weather gets warmer and his leash work improves, I hope we can make it longer.

Another big training area is getting him to know his name!  He basically lives by the beat of his own drum and unless you shout or rattle the dog food bowl, he stays in his own world.  I don't blame him and from what we know he was found "on the side of the road."  I assume he hasn't had any kind of normal up bringing.  Sigh.  So we must work on name recognition, the word "no", "off" and "potty".  Once we get those settled we can start on something more fancy like "sit." I will say it is sobering to work with a dog that is not from the herding group.  I have been spoiled working with dogs who learn to sit or shake or what have you in just a day.  By no means am I insulting the intelligence of hound dogs.  They just work differently and I think are equally as smart, they just need a different approach.  It has also only been 24 hours!  I think we are also still in the getting to know you phase!

In other news…we bathed him for the first time here.  He had some baths at the shelter but as part of his healing process they are asking for baths on a frequent basis. He wasn't too thrilled being placed in the bath tub but once there he relaxed and accepted his fate.  He smells a lot better and he seemed happier afterwards.  What dog isn't happy after a bath?

Ain't Nothin' but a Hound dog

I have a coonhound in my living room chasing one of my dogs.  How the heck did I get here?  My husband would probably say it was due to a streak of insanity.  He is probably right.

It all started yesterday evening as I was madly working on graduate homework.  I was procrastinating on Facebook when a post popped up from Canyon County Shelter.  There was a picture of a sad looking hound and a post urgently requesting a foster family.  Leroy was suffering from a severe skin allergy believed to be caused by food.  They were requesting a foster family for 4-6 weeks. I really don't know what came over me but within a minute of reading the post I felt this deep need to be his foster family.  Where did that come from?  I still can't tell you.  I love dogs.  Maybe that is enough said?  

I jumped into action by posting on Facebook my desire to foster him.  Then I decided to call the shelter at almost 10 pm to leave a message just to be sure I would be at the top of the list.  Of course, for good measure and because I was avoiding my homework, I decided to email them a completed foster application.  In the middle of that homework avoidance-dog obsessing, I remembered to call up my dear husband to tell him what I was doing.  I didn't really ask.  I basically told him what I was doing.  He knows me very well and said he wasn't surprised.  I have to say I married the right guy!

First thing this morning I was on the phone with the shelter.  Let's just say with some back and forth and a trip to Caldwell with my two hyper dogs and 2 year old son, we were the lucky ones to bring Leroy home. Hurray!

Leroy appears to be an awesome dog.  He is sadly in very bad shape physically.  His skin allergy is the worst I have ever seen.  His fur is very patchy and what fur he does have is straggly and coarse.  His skin is red and almost scaly.  He has soars in various places from itching too much.  When you pet him, he feels almost oily yet he looks too dry.  He smells bad but its a bearable dirty dog smell.  His eyes are kind and he has a strong frame with very big feet.  He is skin and bones and I would say is probably 10 lbs, maybe 20 lbs under weight.

This is going to be a journey.  I decided that some journeys are worth sharing and what better way than through a blog (even if its short term).  I also think Leroy could use all the prayers, good karma and kind thoughts that everyone can muster.

I hope to update everyone on Leroy's progress as often as I can and as milestones happen.  Stay tuned!