Adam is leaving this afternoon to go to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for training, and won't be back until late November (at the worst. We're hoping he'll be back earlier, like the first of October). He's usually the one who gets down and dirty with Gypsy when she wants to play, because he can take her teefies better than I can (she doesn't bite hard enough to break the skin, but she does sometimes leave bruises on my arms). He said that maybe I could look into fostering a dog while he's gone, so she'll have someone to play with (and help her terrorize the kitties lol)! I'm so excited! I'm going to contact the shelters and stuff in the area today or tomorrow to see if they have a need.

Of course, my requirements will be kind of strict, so I hope I'll be able to do it. I need a dog that is housebroken, because I won't be able to deal with that, although I don't mind teaching basic obedience. I need a dog that is ok with cats (meaning it can't want to eat them - playfulness is ok). I need a dog that is no bigger than 60-70 pounds (so it will fit in Gypsy's crate). I don't think I want a puppy (read: destruction and mayhem), but I want a dog that will be able to play with Gypsy, so a senior won't work either. Hmmm, what else... I think that's about it for now, so we'll see!! Should I contact rescue groups too?

Kirsten,

If I were you I would think real hard about getting another dog at this time. You seem to be having trouble dealing with Gypsy, having another dog is not going to help her.

What I would suggest is taking Gypsy to Obedience Class and working with her. Socializing at this point would be good for her.

Fort Leonard Wood is only 36 miles from my house, as a matter of fact I am going there tomorrow to do some shopping at the Commissary and BX.

Blessings To You, and the best of luck with Gypsy.

Joyce

No, I'm not having trouble with her now. We've been seeing a trainer privately and she's doing 100% better. She can now walk by a yard full of dogs going crazy at her without even so much as one raised hackle. Yesterday I even had to use my pepper spray on a dog that was, no questions asked, going to attack us. He came barrelling out from under his porch, every hair on his body standing, lips curled, teeth bared, snarling and growling at us and she never even flinched. I used the whole thing of pepper spray on him and he didn't get any closer than 5 feet. She did turn and growl at him once as we were walking away, with no raised fur, but when I told her NO, she turned right back around and continued trotting along.

The issue we were having difficulty with was her wanting to dominate everyone while on leash. It was not aggression, so I think we'll be ok. I spoke with the trainer about it, and she said we should be fine, especially after her behavior yesterday. Once she's been introduced to another dog, she's just fine with them. We took her last Wednesday to a friend's house. He has a white boxer, unneutered, that is the same age as Gypsy and they got along great. They played non stop from the time we got there at 6:30 until we left at 10:30. Not once did they get into any kind of arguement, and they even played tug with his toys.

I'm not worried about it now, but definately if she shows any unwanted behaviors, I won't take in that foster.

OH, I meant to ask you; what's the weather like there? I know it's hot, but what about humidity and stuff? I've never been out to the flatlands before. lol

Dear Kristen,

Please check your P.M.'s

Blessings,
Joyce

I have been fostering dogs for 11 years now and find it very rewarding. Any animal shelter would be glad to have a foster home and could do a dog interaction where you can bring your dog in to meet with the other dog you want to foster.

Joyce, I sent you one back.

One of the groups said they have a corgi/jrt mix that is kitty-safe and used to larger dogs, but I don't know if I'm ready for a dog with that much energy. My aunt has a min pin/jrt mix and I KNOW I don't want a dog like him. I won't even dogsit him! He's HORRIBLE, and impossible to train because you can't keep his attention long enough to teach him anything. He's constantly jumping all over you and running from one end of the house (or leash) to the other. He refuses to pee on pee-pee pads, and would rather shred them and pee on my aunt and cousins' beds instead. He's over a year old.

Does anyone have any experience with corgis? Aren't they a herding breed?

Kirsten,

Corgis are a hearding dog, and very smart, but I have a JRT, and he is six years old. All my dogs get along. However when I leave my home, I put the JRT in my bed room with the door closed, he has gone up to my 94 lb. male GSD and growled at him. He does not have a clue that he is a little dog. So I do not take any chances if I have to leave I put him up for safe keeping He is a great little dog, and I would not take a million for him.

Blessings To You,
Joyce

Kristen,
Brandi here. I own three Corgis. Two are from the same Breeder and the other is a rescue from the Corgi club I'm a member of. They are very smart dogs. They also believe they are big. The saying for a Corgi is, "it's a big dog, just in a small body." Yet this is never a bad issue w/ them. Corgis can be a little independant but it just depends on the dog. One of my Corgis never became independant till I began competeing in agility. The other, she always needs her Mommy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Two of my Corgis, that came from a Breeder, completely potty trained in 2 weeks and never pooped in the house.
You shouldn't have any problems on the Corgi side of the dog. JRT...well, we all know their energy level. But each dog is different, so check the dog out and go from there. Keep us informed. Good luck, your doing a wonderful thing.
Brandi

How great that you are thinking of opening your home to a foster dog. Rule #1 Thou shalt not keep all they fosters <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> One thing to rembemer is that these dogs are where they are becuase of owners that had no clue that puppies grow into dogs, or had no idea what the breed was like before they got it, or because of behavior problems that the dog had and they just could not deal withit. If you check around there are so many rescues and shelters that are begging for foster homes, but most of the dogs have issues. Sometimes you can luck out and find one that there is nothing major to deal with but that is a slim chance. Taking your dog to meet the foster would be a great idea. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I have found that with the ones I have had over the years the biggest problem was housebreaking. People don't give it a chance and then get dissgusted when they are cleaning up messes everyday, so if you do find one that is good with other dogs, and housebroken jump on it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />