Empty House!

So the time has come!

My house has gone from 3 dogs to 0 in a matter of a month and a half.

I brought all three dogs home on my birthday - February 12th. And since then I have come to love each of those dogs for their own individual personalities!

Scotty (Now Farley) - I loved his cuddliness and how he seemed to genuinely find nothing better in the world but to be with you! He walked fantastic on leash and was one of the most eager to please dogs I have ever met!

Chika (Now Izzy) - I loved her sweet nature and how she just wanted to be with us. She was amazing on leash without ever having to teach her and she was always happy to just lay in the sunshine!

Carlin - I loved his happy, curious personality and his endless energy! He loved to play fetch and we'd play for ages in the sunshine and he loved playing with other dogs!

Today my last pup, Carlin, was adopted by his wonderful new family! I know he is going to have a great life! I'll miss you Car!

So since I am going on vacation to Mexico (Yay!) in a couple weeks, there will be a gap without any dogs, as we will be waiting until the next dog run in May. It is very weird having no extra bodies in the house anymore! It seems very quiet... and in a few days it will also be much cleaner than usual, cause there will be no dog-hair bunnies hiding behind the couches, and no hidden dog-pies in the yard! ;)

Can't wait until my house is filled with another lovely foster!

But until then I will take the time to do a cleaning overhaul!

Thank you to everyone who help all the wonderful Turtle Garden's dogs find their forever homes!

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In other news! We have another update from Izzy's parents!

Hi Julia!

We had a break through this morning with house training!!! I fed her at 7, we went out side and she pooped and peed within 10 mins!!!!

This week has been a challenge with her with house training (it didn't help that Troy has been away) in that we would go outside and two hours later she still hadn't peed. So we would go inside then she'll pee within a hour or so inside! I would take her out again after couple hours and nothing, then I would take her out after her evening meal at 6 ish and again no pee or she'll pee inside!!! She seems to be holding it for over 8 hours!!! (14 hours over night) No accidents over night though.

I think maybe it's been because she still a little nervous. Or maybe it's normal fir her to hold it for so long? But this morning was good!! So maybe we are getting into a routine now.

Troys a little upset as she nervous around him still but he had to go away for work for three days just after we got her!! So She has really bonded with me! She follows me and lies on me and is doing really well with sit, paw, other paw, down and stay! She loves Lily too! Likes to lick her a lot and follows her sometimes! She is also learning that lily is in charge and is starting to listen to her commands now too!

She's doing great on the leash. Still scared of cars etc. she loves other dogs and is so good with them! I'm going to set her up on a puppy plays date soon!

We are going to the vets this morning, she hasn't had her rabies and she needs her final DA2PP. She has a couple of funny teeth that I think are bothering her too. They are baby teeth that have been pushed to the side and in her gums by her top adult teeth. We'll see what the vet says to do with them.

We love having her in our family! She's so cuddly and loving! She's the perfect dog for me as I love to give lots of attention and receive it from puppy dogs!!! :)

She is now being more puppy-ish! Playing with a ball and running like crazy! She likes to chew my feet in the mornings and gets overexcited to see me when I get out of bed! She likes to lick me awake mind! Heehee! But she's awesome! We are one happy pack!

Oh and the cats, (sorry for the huge email!!) my Fred Is a bit of a jerk and has whacked her a couple of times, but Izzy is learning to stay away for him! And Polly is great with dogs and will sniff izzy and rub up against her, but if Izzy gets too excited Polly with give her a hiss to but her in her place!!! Izzy just wants to play and be friends! She is gentle with them and is learning that they are not like dogs!!!

So, yes, sorry for the ramble! But that's Izzys week so far!

I hope Carlin is starting to play more and isn't missing his sister too much now!

Will you be fostering more dogs when Carlin is adopted?

I hope so as I like reading your blog!
talk to you soon
Cheers, Sarah

Love hearing that Izzy is fitting in well! So cute about Polly and Izzy!

Well as a first time foster I have to say I have totally loved every minute of it! (well okay... maybe not the 3am puppy pee-breaks ;P) Thank you to Turtle Gardens for letting me join your wonderful team of volunteers! Also, a special thank you to Yvette and Dave for all the wonderful work you do up to help the hundreds of dogs that pass through Turtle Gardens on their way to their forever homes! The work you two do is truly amazing!

Thank you to everyone again and cannot wait for the next dog run!

~Julia

Carlin's in the Spotlight!

Little "Baby Boy" Carlin has received so much attention! It's wonderful! He had a ton of fantastic applicants, and I know he is going to find his perfect forever home!

After Chika was adopted, Carlin was very lonely :( He would search the house for her and for the first day after she was gone he didn't even want to play in the backyard because he wanted to search the house again. He was so quiet at night, though every so often I'd hear a quiet low whine/howl, I just know he was calling for her. But by the next day he was getting his groove back and realizing that without a sister to share the spotlight with he was receiving ALL the treats and affection and walks!

Farley (Formerly Scotty) came over and had a little play with Carlin! They both loved it and after they were muddy and covered in saliva they sat nice for the picture!

It was great to see how well Farley was doing and its clear he is loving his family and forever home! What was funny to see was Carlin is beginning to catch up in size! :D

Carlin is doing very well and is doing well with his commands and his housebreaking! He is even doing much better at waiting for food! We are still working on his excitement and jumping when excited, but once his energy is drained by some good ol' fashioned exercise he is just the sweetest cuddliest fellow :)

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, the other foster blogs, and the Turtle Garden's blog, as you all help the dogs showcased on them find their forever homes!

Chika(Now Izzy)'s update!

Chika has gone to her forever home on the island, and is now known as Izzy!

And Izzy is having a great time there already!

Here is the update from her new family!

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Hi!

We love our little girl! We decided to name her Izzy!

She did really well on the ferry. She trembled a lot but managed to have a little snooze!

Last night she was so good. She didn't whine or fuss. She loves her new squishy bed!

This morning I was greeted to a waggly tail and kisses! She was a little nervous of Lily but as you can see, a nice walk together in the woods helped that!!

Now she having a snooze after peeing in the house!! Never mind! She didn't pee/ poop at all durning her walk! Too much going on, too many new smells and new puppy friends to make!

Thank you again! We couldn't be happier!

I'll keep you up dated!
All the best
Sarah!

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Here are some pics from Izzy's first day with her new family!

I miss that little "Cheeky" girl, but I am so happy she found such a great home to call her own!

Have a great life with your new family Izzy!

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Carlin is doing very well! But is missing his sister! He hasn't really wanted to play outside as much the last couple days. He goes outside, goes to the bathroom, but then even if I throw balls or try to engage him in play, he doesn't pay much attention and instead runs into the house and sniffs by all the doors. I believe he is looking for Izzy. He also sometimes gives a little howling call at night but quiets down pretty fast. He is just missing her, and is calling for her. But when he hanging out with us in the house he is quiet as a lamb! He just gets lonely at night. But today he had tons of fun playing chase with me in the backyard so he is already getting back into his playful grove! It's crazy how fast most dogs adapt to change!

In even better news - Carlin is pretty much housetrained! He has not had an accident in the house in about a week! The "pretty much" part comes into play because we have not seen how long it will last yet. Hopefully, he is housetrained and no more accidents! But it's probably safer to wait a few more weeks without an accident before I would declare him fully housetrained as he is still a puppy!

He is such a little bundle of joy! And is very smart in asking for things! If he knows its meal time he will run over to where he knows I store the food and sit in front of it! And if he has to go to the bathroom, he will stand by the backdoor! What a smart fellow!

And adding to that - as he has been doing so great with his "Paw" command, I have promoted him to the next level, "Other Paw"! He is already getting it! I say "Paw" and he will give me his right paw. If I say "Other Paw" he will lift his left paw! He is still a little slow with the left, as he is still learning it, but I only wait a second or so and he will lift his left paw :) And his "Down" command is coming along nicely! He is getting much better at staying lying down as I stand back up and waiting until I give him the "OK" and a treat before getting up.

Carlin also has some interest in him! Yay! Paws Crossed for this sweet little boy!

Will update more soon!

2 in Forever Homes, 1 To Go!

Well the second sad/happy day has arrived!

Chika's adoptive family has been approved! Yay! Chika is now awaiting her transport to the island to meet up with her new family! She captured the hearts of all who have met her and is going to love her new family as much as they already love her! I'm so grateful she found such a wonderful forever home! I'll miss you tons "Little Girl" Chika! Have fun with your new family!

Playing with Carlin (this pic is from a few weeks back)

Ninja-Dog, Chika, jumps from the bushes to attack unsuspecting Carlin!

Some pics of Chika enjoying the little sunshine that we got today :)

I can't tell if she is trying to wink or giving me the "stink eye"

It's too sunny for me! Bring back the snow!

Oh, Hi! Didn't see you there!

So out of my three foster dogs, only one is left! And I must say he is such a little charmer I am sure he will capture hearts and find his forever home!

Here is a little mini-bio of Carlin:

When I first picked up Carlin at the dog-run to foster him he was shaking and very fearful, understandable after such a long trip and arriving in such a different place! He spent the first night in the crate tucked in the back with his sister Chika. We soon attracted them out with their meal and then after a a day or so of sleeping in a pile together in the corner of the room they started to come out of their shells and really warm up to everyone. At that point new people were still very scary to them and they would come forward with me but were hesitant around anyone new. Now, they are both different dogs! When new people come in they can't get enough!

Carlin has developed into a little sweetheart with lots of energy! The picture of a young boy! Full of energy but loves to be with his people! He can be a little shy at first but is no longer fearful and will quickly warm up to new people for cuddles! Especially if treats are involved ;) He is still learning to walk nicely on the leash, because he is just so interested in all the different smells and sights that he sometimes just wants to get to know them all! I know that with more exposure to those new things, and making sure you are in control of the leash he will walk better and better on leash.He is much more used to loud city noises and walks next to loud traffic with only a few looks if the car is very noisy. He is very good in the car but he can get bored. So usually if you just chuck a carrot or bone in there for him to chew on he's as happy as a clam.

He can get a little excited during feeding or when people he doesn't know enter the backyard. If its a person he only barks a couple times but he will stop as soon as you give him a quick "Chh! That's Enough!". If its during feeding I use the same command and I found keeping my hand raised in a "Stop" sign slows his excitement and stops him from jumping up if he gets too excited and he is doing very well at waiting for his food! I can even move the food around him and he is good at waiting until I give the ok! and that helps lower his excitement even more. He is a very happy-go-lucky kind of fellow! :)

Carlin gets along great with other dogs and would love to play all day! He listens when his sister tells him thats enough! And if another dog gets a bit too excited around him he is very good at giving them some space until they calm down, and then he's right back in playing with them! He is great with his recall, and knows the commands "Off", "Sit", and "Paw", and is currently learning "Down" and "Stay" and is doing very well! He can sometimes get a bit excited and try to jump up on people, I just say "off!" and walk forward until he jumps back off and he gets the idea.

Carlin is a very active dog and would need good exercise each day as well as playtime! He is currently learning to fetch and loves running after the balls, though sometimes Chika distracts him with play ;) He is a very sweet guy who has tons of love to give and would love a nice active home to settle in with!

Running when Called!

Carlin is such a total sweetheart and the minute I squat down he will run over and stand in-front of me wagging his tail waiting to be petted!

He is 4 1/2 months old, seems to be a shepherd mix (maybe lab?), and he has tan with black markings on his face and tail and white markings on his feet. He currently weighs approx. 30-40lbs (I will be officially weighing him sometime this week).

I just know Carlin will steal the hearts of the people and find his perfect forever home :D!

In other news! Scotty (Now "Farley"!) is also doing great! Here are a couple more pics his mom sent me!

Will post more soon!

New home!

The anticipated happy yet sad time has come! The time to say good bye to a wonderful foster and say hello to their new family!

Scotty has been a wonderful foster dog and I loved and cherished the time I had to spend with him and enjoy his warm cuddles on cold nights! (Even though the reason for being cold was walking him in the rain ;P)

But as sad as I was to see him go, I was so happy to see him go to a wonderful new family who loves him so much already! I know they are going to have a wonderful and happy life together! And though I knew they were a perfect fit, if I hadn't known already I knew the moment Scotty tried to take the lead and his new mom put him to task only minutes into their new life together! That is perfect for Scotty who really needs a family who is going to make sure he follows the rules and keeps him in check if he gets a little overexcited! They have told me he is already bonding with them very well and fitting in like a glove! Enjoy you're new life Scotty!

Here is Chika and Scotty playing then Relaxing :)

Here are some amazing pics of Scotty on his first couple days in his new home, as well as a pic of Scotty with his new mom, Robyn!

Chika also has a family applying for her that is currently in the application process, and it will also be a sad/happy day for me when this sweet little girl goes to a new home.

Carlin is my last foster to find a home, and he is still patiently awaiting his perfect home! He is a super sweet little guy! He is an energetic dude who loves to run and play and is learning to fetch, and loves it! Once his exercise is done, he wants nothing more than to lie down next to you and nap, cuddle, or chew on a toy. He loves to lay his head on my knee while I dry him off from the mud outside :)

In the 28 days I have taken care of these pups its hard to notice them growing because I see them everyday! But I knew it must be happening since I used to put stuff on my dishwasher to keep away from the pups as they couldn't reach it... well now not only can they reach it they can stick their head overtop of it almost! Looking back a month, its easier to see in photos the difference there has been in their appearance! And they are becoming quite the little youngsters and are continuing to learn good manners :)

(at 3 months old)

(At 4 months old)

Here is a vid of one of the attempts to teach Carlin to fetch... it was going well until he decided being chased was more fun!

Will post more soon!