tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post4981544550089004893..comments2024-03-16T12:45:12.251-04:00Comments on Raised By Wolves: The Necessity of NaughtyHeather Houlahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13891198124130533198noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-83493197290450290022019-12-13T16:25:22.524-05:002019-12-13T16:25:22.524-05:00Just about 6 years ago, I rescued a feral puppy. S...Just about 6 years ago, I rescued a feral puppy. She would only let her original dirtbag touch her; he dropped her at the humane society to be spayed since he had already gotten puppies out of this 6-12 month old mama. When I went to get her after surgery, no one could get near her because she was plastered to the back of her cage and growling fiercely at anyone who approached. One brave soul reached in, and carried her to my car. She came home to my pack of 6 huskies. One of my dogs, PolaBear, had been having strokes; she walked with difficulty and was incontinent, but still enjoying life. I quickly realized that my new Tulip was NOT feral: she walked well on a leash, and never had an accident in the house. She had some training...then was thrown into the back yard and left there for long enough to develop a LOT of fear of humans. Clearly she had the snot beaten out of her for being a puppy; she never touched anything. After a few days, she realized that when I woke up, I went to PolaBear's cushy bed piled with towels, which were always wet and soiled by morning. Tulip looked at Pola with horror, sure she was about to be beaten for such evil acts. Tulip watched me incredulously as I stroked PolaBear and told her what a good girl she was, as I cleaned up her mess. The look on Tulip's face clearly said: "WHAT??? You're not going to punish her for this?" And I explained to Tulip that no one is ever hit for any reason in our home. She could not believe it! After a few days of this, she very carefully made sure I was watching while she peed on the floor. I just said no very sternly and cleaned up. She looked at me with heartbreaking puzzlement, not believing she was not going to be beaten. In 6 years, she has never had another "accident" in the house. After a few months, she jumped onto a dining chair to see if she could share our dinner (she could; at least a bit, which she took very gently). She has taught me so much; I am the luckiest person I know, to have her friendship.Jane and The Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13776408048054492658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-30811475285889902152019-09-16T22:08:58.029-04:002019-09-16T22:08:58.029-04:00My Kaikiana was like that. I got him at bout 11 mo...My Kaikiana was like that. I got him at bout 11 months old; he didn't play with toys, know how to navigate stairs, or poop unless he was hidden behind a shrub. In the 13 years he lived with me, he never did get really comfortable with a lot of things, but he did manage to have a good life with me and and his big brother ES Huki.Jo Mercerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026976898361459784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-14204621147856321492017-03-31T14:09:41.546-04:002017-03-31T14:09:41.546-04:00Hi Heather, this is Rachel, the woman who brought ...Hi Heather, this is Rachel, the woman who brought the feral puppies to you. It is wonderful to see the puppies growing up. I feel better now because Dax(the puppy I kept) had all the same issues. He has made tons of progress, basic commands, runs around the house driving the cats crazy and he loves to play. He seems to have set backs with his fear, we are good for a week, then he reverts. Right now he is jumping on me when we go out back and I am working on that. He does fetch and he just learned drop it. I was looking for your card today to call you to see if Dax was on track with his development, considering the state they were in. He is incredibly smart but also hard headed. The first few weeks I wanted to give up, I am glad I didn't. I don't think he will ever be 100% "normal" but he is a totally different dog now. I saw the picture of Morty and knew it was one of the rescue puppies so I am very happy to have found your blog. I can't attach a photo but would love you to see my guy now. Thank you again!typicalwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406989250217781385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-24668255371301711562017-03-01T14:25:29.993-05:002017-03-01T14:25:29.993-05:00Well said. Very well said. I don't have much f...Well said. Very well said. I don't have much fostering experience (border collies and BC mixes through BRBCR), but did foster and approx. 2 year old female BC from a breeding operation. Yes, that kind - with 50 - 60 plus dogs. She wanted to be the invisible dog. Without knowing of a specific approach, I seem to have followed much of what you describe. The highlight of that period was when my other 2 dogs were excited about something and we're jumping around, and little Gael forgot to be afraid and she came and happily put her paws on my lap before shoving off. (at the 4 month mark). Such an accomplishment!gcv-borderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13847770627994387981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-57676781065999715832017-02-27T02:17:24.834-05:002017-02-27T02:17:24.834-05:00Errr ... it's a public post.
You don't ha...Errr ... it's a public post.<br /><br />You don't have to ask.<br /><br />But the BC forum folks are always mannerly and are always welcomed here.Heather Houlahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891198124130533198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-19298512378545723272017-02-20T16:41:20.957-05:002017-02-20T16:41:20.957-05:00Heather, Thank you so very, very much for this pos...Heather, Thank you so very, very much for this post. My fosters thank you too. Who am I kidding, fosters always become forever pack mates here. Please keep sharing.<br />Julie<br />Julhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17393501251032635028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-48623990376281421952017-01-27T06:10:56.798-05:002017-01-27T06:10:56.798-05:00permission to post a link on the Border Collie for...permission to post a link on the Border Collie forum?<br /><br />Donald McCaighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11890894628274998487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-20110543276791197002017-01-26T01:12:16.427-05:002017-01-26T01:12:16.427-05:00i'm sooo rooting for Morty to be a little shit...i'm sooo rooting for Morty to be a little shit. <br /><br />and damn. can you write! my heart is in a puddle on the floor. <3lynellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14723120818101558881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-58679749049022358772017-01-25T08:12:13.826-05:002017-01-25T08:12:13.826-05:00Dear Heather,
Last fall a feral, starving beardog ...Dear Heather,<br />Last fall a feral, starving beardog pup showed up and we took him. I'm thinking foster, Anne falls in love. After 30 years with sheepdogs, he is the first dog I've trained for manners.<br /><br />When he was confident enough he began to howl. Kind of pretty actually.<br /> Donald McCaighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11890894628274998487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-49027395811513948272017-01-04T14:03:12.080-05:002017-01-04T14:03:12.080-05:00I will never look at being "naughty" the...I will never look at being "naughty" the same way.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the word is bandied around so often where I work that the dogs who claim "Nobody backs baby into a corner" are often interpreted as such, instead of being the over-indulged, entitled, unsocialized and unhandled brats that they really are. However, heaven forbid one say anything about it while the owner titters on that "Oh, he's so spoilt."<br /><br />I'm afraid this will have to relegated to my own personal training adventures in order to truly apply.Viateciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08523551407472141202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-55185603848533221232017-01-03T19:33:04.988-05:002017-01-03T19:33:04.988-05:00Speaking for BW and Eva the Great She-Beast, WHAT ...Speaking for BW and Eva the Great She-Beast, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?<br /><br />They had a perfectly juicy groundhog right where they wanted him and you screwed it up.Heather Houlahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891198124130533198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-33964783032291173842017-01-03T17:22:53.440-05:002017-01-03T17:22:53.440-05:00To those who may be interested in the on-going sag...To those who may be interested in the on-going saga of Barry White, let me say this about that: Don couldn't believe that I had to beat Barry White with a branch the other day. What?!? STOP Heather, before you get in your car and race to the rescue, I'll explain. On a normal daily walk, Eva surprised a groundhog and proceeded to harry it by running in and out and barking. This is one instance where she is very hard to call off, so I grabbed a branch with lots of pliable, twiggy, leafy bits at the end and began to "beat" her with that end, which she noticed not at all. Thus occupied, I was suddenly aware of Barry White entering the fray from the other side. So, I waved the branch at him and he KEPT ON COMING! So I floofed it in his face for a minute until I was finally able to get both of the idiots to reconsider their actions. Not only did Barry White not seem the least bit impressed with that branch, he came over and trotted beside me wagging his tail and looking up at me as we resumed our walk. "Proud of me mommie?" How's that for losing fear of consequences?<br />Deb ScelzaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-1747301251374473682017-01-03T16:45:27.411-05:002017-01-03T16:45:27.411-05:00Thanks Heather for your time/work laying out anoth...Thanks Heather for your time/work laying out another lesson in dogdom. Your posts are always my favorite screen reading.Rod Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05950927633083685485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-2878489124289599632017-01-03T16:03:20.484-05:002017-01-03T16:03:20.484-05:00I learned quite a bit and enjoyed every word of it...I learned quite a bit and enjoyed every word of it. I will look at my fosters a little differently now.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09335065792867844905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810033429461791744.post-44156129510248994092017-01-03T14:50:49.541-05:002017-01-03T14:50:49.541-05:00Brilliant, hilarious and so helpful. Thanks!
Brilliant, hilarious and so helpful. Thanks!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07002343120038087255noreply@blogger.com