We just started fostering dogs for Cares4Pets in Philadelphia, PA. We first met Irving (we renamed Brutus) a week ago to do a dog meet with our resident dog a pitbull named Cali who is a bit growly with new dogs until she gets used to them. It takes her a while but once she knows a dog, she is fine and will even snuggle with the dog.
He came here about 9am today. The first thing I did was take him for a long walk to Petsmart and got a training collar and a rope toy. He walked very well and even carried his new rope toy halfway home before he dropped it and then i took it the rest the way home. Then hubby took him for a walk with him. And he played ball with him.
Then Hubby took both dogs out for their first long walk together. HE even played with both of them with a ball. Of course, Cali acted out and did her barking/growling at Brutus but he just rolled with the punches. lol... he was great. Cali even played with him at times but still it takes alot more time for her not to growl at all. It seems she "forgets" to growl and then "remembers" to later on.
Then we brought them both in house and Cali went right for her crate.. I guess she wanted a break from the new dog :) So Brutus got to hang out by himself and investigate his new temporary surroundings. He loves the kids but does need to learn to settle around them.. they get him excited but he does listen to commands so that is very good :)
He is a bit jumpy but again will listen to sit and other commands and we will work with him on it.
Then we took him and cali again as a family - hubby, me and the four kids.... hubby let Cali and Brutus play with a ball together and they did well with Cali doing the usual "growling.. i am going to attack you" then the ok, i will ignore you game she does. He just went with the flow.. lol.. He didnt mind either way.
He loves sticks... a lot! He wont let go of them so we have to work on "leave it" with those. As my kids like to play with sticks too so he steals the sticks from them. They arent too happy about that! lol
We then saw a guy who we always talk to as he walks his Old American Bulldog (or it might be Old english bulldog) who said, "wow, he is a beautiful dog, you should keep him" LOL
Then I ended up taking Brutus for another individual walk as the baby needed a catnap in stroller and i met this lady who was walking her boston terrier which Brutus played with really well I might add... and she was saying how beautiful he was and what a great dog he was. She also said, that i should keep him. hehe. She looked like she wanted to take him home with her. She loves big dogs and especially american bulldogs. He did good with her, but did jump up on her a few times to give her a kiss twice... hehe. I am working on that :)
Then we let Cali and him interact in the house a bit with leashes on but Cali started being really bratty and i couldnt supervise close enough cause I was feeding the baby and hubby was cooking, so we crated him which btw he does great with.
Hubby discussed adopting him instead of fostering but as much as I would love to, I dont know if we can. One, I want to keep fostering and we cant if we adopt him. Two, he is a very big boy and I love big dogs the best however, my parents have a little shore trailer and we wouldnt be able to bring him as the place is small and he is so big. I dont know if i can afford a petsitter so we have to think about it. Plus I have heard there is a bit of interest in him, so it wouldnt be far to him, to not give him a fair shot at those interested. It would only be a week or maybe a week and one weekend but still... i am not a fan of kenneling and i cant afford a private petsitter.
If it were my house, it wouldnt matter... but my parents also have two dogs, though little, but four dogs with one being really big, would be too much.
Well, starting to ramble so thats all for now. I will update post as we go along (or at least try to!)
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