Fostering a puppy

yellowrose

4 years ago we lost our precious cocker spaniel mix and just couldn't "replace" her.  Last week I was offered the opportunity to foster a 3 month old dappled mini dachund for 6-12 months.  Wow, haven't had a pup in the house for 18 years!  He's got enough energy to power a city block!

This little boy has energy to spare and is so smart it's scary!  We've never had a doxie so if any of you have insight, would love to get clues about the breed and how to lovingly head off behaviors in this fun but obviously smart and determined pup.

If I can ever figure out the pics thing, I'll post his "mug shot"!

Marple

Coonie's got Dashshunds.  I'll give her a heads up if she doesn't notice this post on her own.  Enjoy 'your' puppy.

Marple

bumping up for yellowrose and Coonie

coonie

Awwhhh Yellowrose...congratulations on being a new mommy!

Yeppers....I've got 2 dachshunds. Lucky will be 15 in March and Opie will be 14 in July.

Oh! And I have a sign in my kitchen that reads:

Love is being OWNED by a Dachshund

And that's the honest to God truth...LOL. They don't think they're dogs at all. Or at least, ours don't. They completely rule the house and the family.

My DH just read somewhere that dachshunds were rated #1 in aggressiveness. I don't think that's being mean but just tenacious. We've been through the stages of digging out of the yard, eating a leather couch, leather shoes, carpet.......LOL .......just to name a few.

When we go out of town they stay at a pet hotel, and the owners asked us years ago if we would like for them to have behavior training? Ahhhh, we said no, they're too far gone now:)

They've outgrown some of the mischieviousness but are always ALWAYS loving and loyal companions. I couldn't have made it through chemo, etc without them. They're really sensitive and can tell if something's up. And you're right.....they're very smart! Like I said.......they don't know they're dogs.

I hope you're able to manage with your new baby. I'd love to see a pic if you're able to post one. Just make sure he's got some play toys for chewing, etc. Cause they do like to chew and play.

Good luck to you. Don't let him get the best of you. LOL

Anonymous

Fostering a Puppy!!!  How wonderful.  I began fostering my puppy when I began chemo in May.  It was rewarding, and I called him my "therapy dog".  Actually I am a regular foster home volunteer for Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue,  and though I have had different foster dogs recently adopted,  we had decided to adopt our latest foster puppy, a 5 month great dane puppy.  He's just under a year now but he truly beings us a lot of joy.  Enjoy your new baby!

Merilee

I went to the pound and got a black kitten when I learned I had a recurrance. I named him Shaman and he makes me laugh every day. I know what you mean about having enough energy to power a city block. My little goof runs everywhere he goes-full speed! LOL

yellowrose

Coonie, thanks for the heads up.  We have wood floors so I guess we don't have to worry about carpeting.  He does keep trying to make off with DHs shoes ( side effect of this is that DH is finally putting his shoes where they belong in the closed closet!) 

Little guy's name is Spots due to all the dappling on his back.  His people don't want him up on the furniture so we are trying to keep him off of ours.  Note, I said trying.  I bet I gave him the down command 100 times today and I swear he grins at me when he is caught!  LOL!  He also keeps hiding his chewies under the furniture by nudging them with his long nose.  Then he gets mad because he can't retrieve them!

He discovered our neighbors' miniature poms, mixed breeds, 2 standard dachshunds and a Rotweiler (4 different yards with chain link fencing.)  Spots was quick to try to assert dominance, though how he was going to do that with fences, I wasn't sure.  He is already digging!  With the neighborhood "competition", I don't think he can be trusted in the yard alone! The Rotweiler would enjoy a little snack so DH and I are keeping a close eye on this little guy.

I have been reading but haven't been able to find a definite answer on how much to feed this guy.  He is 7 lbs and we have given him a cup in the morning and in the afternoon.  Is that too much for an active puppy?

So far we are all doing pretty well, though we are still working on many basics as his training has been very sparse.  He has a great personality but greatly determined to be the leader of the pack!

Alpal

yellowrose, Isabella4 breeds dachshunds. She often posts about them on the Older thread. Hysterical stories.

coonie

Ohhh yellowrose....dachshunds DO think (in their head and heart) that they are BIG dogs...lol.

I've seen the hair on their backs stand up so many times.

It's like they're saying......"let me at 'em...just let me at 'em"....LOL

Mind never learned the staying off the furniture rule. I'm sure it's our fault. If I'm sitting, there's usually one in my lap and one sitting beside me.

Mine are bigger than Spots, but I feed them 1/2 cup in the mornings and evenings. They eat Purina Fit and Trim but they both weigh about 16 lbs. We try to watch their weight because they are known for having back problems.

It sounds like you're gonna be busy for awhile. Oh, and they DO laugh at us (you). It's like they're saying...."silly human, I can be on the furniture if I want to".

Alpal...thanks for the info about Isabella. I've got to look that up.

Hugs to all today....((((Spots))))

lvtwoqlt

All I know about dachshunds is, my son's best friend in high school had one, his parents were going out of town for the weekend and we agreed to let Wendel (boy) and Daisy (dog) stay at our house. We left Daisy in the bathroom when we went to Church on Sunday and she unrolled a whole roll of TP and scratched the inside of the door trying to escape. (we never replaced the door). This was before we adopted a basset hound.

Sheila

coonie

LOLOL Sheila!!! I have seen that EXACT scenario MANY times!!

Still have scratch marks on my bathroom door too.

They are tenacious little devils....LOL

coonie

Here's a pic of my boys----waiting patiently for a treat 

yellowrose

Coonie, your boys are adorable!  Love the neckerchiefs!  We used to have a whole wardrobe of them for our old pup.  Gosh, I'm looking forward to Spots waiting patiently for anything!

Sheila, I can just imagine the chaos!  We are keeping our bathroom doors closed to keep this little guy from discovering new forms of fun.  He has started scratching the back door to go out. I hope he doesn't get too enthusiastic!

Spots discovered our spring type doorstops today.  I ended up videoing it because I was practically ROTFL.  He walked too close to one, BOING! it went and he went berserk!  He kept attacking it and would bark at it like crazy until it stopped vibrating and then he would attack it again ( of course DH got involved and "helped" Spots beat the doorstop into submission).  Spots played until he was exhausted.  What a funny little guy and he provides cheap entertainment for everyone in the house.

Alpal

Butting in again! My SIL gave me the most wonderful hint to keep small dogs confined. Put 2 or 3 spring tension curtain rods across the door. Works like a charm for dogs that can't jump very high. Of course the humans in the house have to step over them, but our highest one is only about 8" off the floor. Much easier than a gate and prevents scratched doors. Our big dog (14 lbs. LOL) can easily jump on our high bed, but he's such a wuz he won't jump over the curtain rods. I love the door stop story!!  

lvtwoqlt

Yellow, you need to send that video into Funniest Home videos. It may win you some big bucks! When we got Lady Penelope B. Hound we got a wooden baby gate that uses tension to hold it in the doors. Eventually we found out that if it was just leaning up against the door, she wouldn't go near it so we stopped fixing it tight in the door and just leaned it against the door jams.

Sheila

yellowrose

Just an update on Spots.

I still can't believe it but we bought a sandbox for the dog!  It has totally stopped the digging in the yard but it is so funny when he gets to the bottom of the box.  He snorts in disgust and moves to a new area to dig!  So funny.

He LOVES empty 16 oz soda bottles.  All that crackling noise and they roll all over the place.  If only all pet toys were so cheap.  Problem is making sure that he can't reach bottles with soda!  He's very resourceful and such a thief.

Took him to PetSmart yesterday and people were drawn to him like magnets.  He was in puppy euphoria. 

Thanks everyone for all the advice.  The pet gates are very good as we have 3 exits from the LR and can't watch them all.  We're all together in a toy strewn room now. (He's figured out how to dump his toybox which saves him the time of pulling them out one by one.)  LOL

Marple

I forgot all about this thread.  What a delight to read about 'Spots'.  Aren't puppies grand?  I think so!!!

Edit to add, how are you ever going to 'give' him back?

angelsabove

This is my first time posting here. This topic just caught my eyes as I sit here watching my children play with our NEW baby. We have had her for 6 days. She is 8 weeks old. She is a mini dashund. She is absolutely adorable. Even at 8 weeks old she seems more human than dog. It is amazing. Never EVER wants to be put down.....

Anonymous

I do suspect that Spots may have found his "forever home"  We've fostered a number of dogs, and haven't been inspired to buy a sand box for any of them. 

The rescue group we work with has a number of "failed fosters", who wind up adopting the foster pup, including the woman who is in charge of placing the puppies in foster homes, who has adopted 4 or 5 of them. 

We had a couple of close calls, with really great pups, but two large dogs are enough permanent puppiness for our small house. 

coonie

Awwhhhhhh yep!!! Sounds like Spots has the PERFECT home

Enjoy!!! LOL

Marple

I think I'm getting all 'broody' for a puppy.

yellowrose

DH and I have fallen for this little guy.  Unfortunately for us, his other people haven't yet released him for us to adopt.  In a military area, long-term fostering is very common and I never realized how difficult it could be.  He is really bonding with us. and vice-versa.