WOW! Progress!

Ok, pups are fully vaccinated and altered. They have been moved in kennels in the “dog” room with the rest of my pack. This means no more newspapers to potty on, they gotta go outside…..and so far so good!! Yeah! They are lovin outside time! Allie still a bit nervous and will run back to her kennel if she feels insecure, River is happy and playful! We are getting tail wags and all! Joyous moments! And its so nice that they can now play with each other, run around and wrestle! Still working on leash stuff, they just arent having it! But they both have collars on now, so that good. I think River will be ready to be adopted soon! He is such a cool dog. And Allie reminds me of a little Ewok with those big ears!

New Photos coming soon of them having free range of the backyard!

Been a couple weeks!

Been a couple weeks!
A little set back with training, since I was gone a week on my Cali trip. They were a little more grumbly and agitated when we were around. Steve did the best he could to keep up interactions, but I had been the main source, so they had a little learning curve. But it was good for them to work with someone else. After a few days of starting over with them, and started leash training, just looping it and letting them be in their pens or walk around with it on, feed them food, leash is a good thing! We decided yesterday it was time to go outside.

River:
I got down low and crawled backwards out the room and outside, slowly luring with a trail of food, each step forward on his part I held leash so he could not go backwards, we had a few moments of bucking and panic, but really mild and he recovered quickly, slowly ( took forever it seemed! lol) We mad it to a small tree in the front yard which I let him seek shelter under and relax for a bit. Then with a little tugging encouragement we made it to an open patch of grass. My theory in the exercise was that they would gravitate towards us for shelter and comfort if thats all they had in the big outdoors….which worked…for the person NOT on the end of the leash! LOL So I was on the leash and Steve came out and laid down near River and by god….Steve pet him, River got in his lap, River took a potty outside, rolled around in the grass! Almost like a normal dog. This was the most incredible moment ever! A little struggle getting back inside, and still a little skittish, but we will try again outside today! I really think the touch is what is going to make the difference!

Allie: She would not fall for the luring outside trick! Too smart! So we dragged she in her pen to the door, let her rest a minute and then a slight tug and she she panicked and ran under a bush, so let she chill again and then had to pull her out into the open, again I was at the end of the leash and Steve laid down in the grass, and she ran right to him and curled up in the crook of his knee, he petted on her for some time!

So proud of my babies! Still a LONG way to go!
But we will try outside everyday in hopes that they will relax with us inside as well!

VIDEO!!!!!!!!

Two Weeks Tomarrow Night!

River Hawk – He has a tiny little Mohawk on his head! So cute! Anyways scinec Allie was resting today,

I spent some time w/ River, pulled the expen out into the front yard onto the grass, fresh air and sunshine!

Plus this is the only time I can pet him thru the bars! Last time he sat in the corner pretty unresponsive.

Today, he sniffed the air, moved around, watched the cars go by, and even munched on some grass!

And I got a little pet in too. And he got some yummy turkey from the deli! Being aware and responsive,

without panic, for these guys so so huge! Yeah! Good Day!

And I took about a million pics of him! lol  Here is a few!

Allie Gal!

Allie Gal went to the vets today.  Got her wound all cleaned up and taken care of! And vaccinated and nails trimmed, and a collar on! They had to sedate her though to get this all done! She is shaken up, but home and resting! The trick is gonna be getting the meds on it every day and keeping it clean, helps that its shaved though! And wasnt an open gash, more of an abrasion.

Week and a Half Updates!

Little Miss Allie Girl

River Dog!

River had a great time with a roll of paper towels! lol Little miss Allie must have gremlins raiding her expen! She looks so sweet and innocence, and is always tucked into her bed when we come in, but the dishes are tipped over and the news paper torn into a million pieces! River is taking food from my hand, but still wont let me touch him, though the other day it was sunny out and I wanted them to get fresh air and some sun, so I looped the leash and slowly dragged the expen outside, leaving one section open so River could venture out if he got brave, well he snuck under the car!, so I had to drag him out with the leash which of course sent him into a panic, but we sat outside for a long while watching the world go by, and he was leaned up next to the sides of the expen, I ventured over to the other side, and tempted to pet him thru the bars, normally he would jump and move away, but outside was much more scary so I got a good petting in as he sat frozen! He is so super soft, and dirty! But wont let me touch him inside, jumps away, but will sniff my hand so thats good.

Allie will let me pet her thru the bars, sometimes, though still wont take food from me.

She is quick to growl and snap if pushed too far.

But both have ventured out of their pens to explore the room, still very timid, but progress none the less!

Though if luring Allie out with a trail of food we have found River will lunge/snap at her to get to the food,

which sends her scurrying back into the pen.

River takes food VERY gently from me, but may have food issues around other dogs, time will tell.

Anyways got pics up too as you see!

Gonna be a long road, but they seem like sweet dogs who really do want to trust.

My heart goes out to them.

Little things like when they try to eat from a bowl and their chin its the bowl causing it to move, sends them running scared! lol  My coffee cup was scary, slippers are scary….

Can’t wait to give them bathes!

Signing off!

Cassi

www.DiscDoggin.com

Day Three

Allie finally pooped! I know not the most pleasant thing to discuss, but it had been a few days, so I was a little worried! And today I sat next to her crate in the ex pen and dropped food in front of her and she eat it right away with me sitting right there! So thats progress too! She wont take from the hand yet buts thats ok. They also both have been working on their rawhide bones, which is good, to be relaxed enough to engage in chewing. Allie got out of her crate today, with us in the room!!!!!!! Thats the first time we have seen her out! I was also able to reach in and rub her shoulders a bit! River comes out of the expen on his own now, and not just for food lure, he will come out and sniff around and explore as long as we are fairly still. Was able to get a few scratches in on him today too, with his head buried safely in his blanky. So for day three on feral pups I think we are coming along nicely! Allie sits or lays facing out wards now, doesn’t bury her head in the back of the kennel, and becoming more aware of her surroundings! What beautiful pups!

Day Two

River ate cheese and chicken from my hand again this morning.  Tossed some into Allie’s kennel, which she waited till I left to eat. Both have the tops of their kennels off, each inside an ex pen. I go in there periodically throughout the day to spend time with them and offer food. Allie did eat her food in my presence today which is a positive step. She had her head buried into the crate bottom today so I sat next to her for a while, and then stroked her back a couple times, she shivers when over stimulated so I ended our session very quickly, I dont want to push her too far too fast. Later in the day she was laying relaxed facing outwards, more progress for her. River will now come to the front of the ex pen when I enter the room, looking for yummy treats! Still not able to touch, but thats ok. I sat down away from the pen and left the door open, with a trail of food a couple feet away from me, and he ventured out of the ex pen! Sniffed around gathered his treats, as long as I didnt move a single hair! He also mouthed a toy I put in there and tore up the newspaper, and as far as I am concerned is a normal doggie behavior and anything “normal” they do is a step in the right direction!! Allie appears a little less frightened today and a little more relaxed, though still have not seen her out of the crate. Thats all for now!

First Morning/ Full Day One

Ok, i had to separate them this morning to give the dewormer, and so the female does not end up pregnant.
Feel bad about separating them, now they cant snuggle, but they are in expens right next to each other.
And now I can tell who is eating, drinking, pooping etc. Dropped a slip lead in and looped around the female, had to drag her out, screaming the whole way, defecated and urinated all over, sent the male into a panic as well,
So gonna be a long road, not ready for vet check! They are still pretty panicky. Gonna let them rest and settled in.

We had some success late into the evening, River ate from my hand, chicken chunks! All in slow motion!

Allie on the other hand will not even acknowledge my presence, still huddled in back of kennel,
I leave food for her and she sneaks it while I am away!

Baby steps! They are both still pretty nervous and have no desire to exit their crates much less the pen,
I would like to get them outside for a bit, but may wait a couple more days.

I have faith with time they will learn to love, and be loved in return!
They are not aggressive at all, just scared and nervous. Which I can understand!

Night One

http://www.harneycountysaveastray.com/

See above link for the story for where our neewst foster pups come from.

Both Herding breed mixes.

Night ONE

We put our two in their crate in and ex pen, took the door off their crate, so they could get out get a drink and potty, newspapered the floor for now. Sometime during the night someone got out and did both, and the water dish was dry! This morning after clean up, I took the lid off the crate, but left the bottom in there for comfort.
The merle patterned one got right out, the other one said no way! Well, I was gonna name the merle one Brooke,
but She is a HE!  So I think we will go with River. And the darker one I cant tell yet for sure its gender.
But that one is defiantly a cattle dog build, maybe with some tri aussie.
Anyways so far so good here. Gotta get the dewormer down them today! Hopefully the vet and a bath soon!
River has let a couple small growls out, but mostly quiet, observant and scared.
Good Luck ALL!