Areas That Need Improvement

Snuggle buddies

Henry & Bodie in the park

     Henry met Bodie a few days ago and it was something I had been anticipating because Bodie is one of Zico's best pals. They got along just fine and it was a great relief to know that there are dogs who will befriend Henry. I have noticed that when playing, if another dog is running away, Henry will nip the back of the other dog. So he has to learn boundaries. He did this with Bodie today and Bodie gave him one back. Henry kept his distance after that but started barking. (Kudos to Bodie for a well-timed, restrained correction.)
     Barking is another area that needs improvement. True to his breed, he barks loud and long when he sees another animal, whether it is another dog or a squirrel. Fortunately, he is nice and quiet indoors. But once he gets going I don't know how to snap him out of it. Usually I will hold him facing me and away from the other animal with his head under my arm or under my leg. This keeps him quiet until I let him go. A few days ago I was holding him in this position because he was barking at Nikki. So Nikki took the oppotunity to jump up and give me a kiss. I was glad that she was willing to be so close to Henry. I would love for the two of them to get along. (Attn Nikki's Mom: I have a plan to help them socialize if you are willing.)
     His behavior on the leash continues to improve. For whatever reason, he is more docile when he walks without Zico. And while the ideal situation is no pulling whatsoever, as long as he does not see another animal, his pulling seems at a normal, acceptable level, just like most other dogs. He and Zico are having more positive interactions and fewer negative ones. They always got along but Zico seems disinterested much of the time. Zico is giving Henry kisses more often, responding to Henry initiating play, and recently he is choosing to sleep at night on the couch next to Henry's crate instead of in the bed. The negative interactions occur when one of them has a toy and the other gets too close. Zico tends to growl and has snapped a few times (without making contact). They are learning each others' boundaries and Henry is accepting human authority better, so this occurs less often. We can definitively say that Henry is house-trained, crate-trained and knows 'sit'. He will even sit without a treat.
     "Fostering Henry" also has a facebook page. There are a lot more pictures of Henry on facebook and you will automatically get updates on when I write a blog if you 'like' Henry's facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fostering-Henry/212872712139666

Life Lessons

Here is a list of things that Henry has learned since being with us.
1. Foster Dad is his pack leader. (Henry has demonstrated submissive behavior when I insist on it.)
2. Sit (for treats)
3. Wait for pack leader to cross the street before crossing. (Credit to Zico, Henry just imitated him.)
4. Walk nicely with a harness.
5. Peeing is an outdoor only activity.
6. Respect people's space, don't rush out the door, or towards your food. Let the humans eat their food in peace.
7. The crate is not so bad. (Not great, but not so bad.)
He will need continued guidance on all of these, but we are very proud of his progress and he will be a wonderful addition to some lucky family.

     Henry went running at the Arboretum today. He looked like he could have gone at least twice as far without getting tired. (After the run, Zico lay down in the grass, a sure sign that he had enough exercise.) Henry is not daunted by brush, he runs right through it. And when he spots a squirrel, he is a handful, pulling the leash and baying loudly. Just as we entered the park we met a Viszla mix. Elvis was friendly with Henry! They sniffed each other, wagged tails and then Henry lost interest. Maybe the woods were calling him. But it was good to see that there are dogs out there who will befriend him.
     Henry definitely benefits from Zico's presence. When there is noise from the street or from the neighbors, Henry becomes agitated. I deal with this by ignoring Henry and giving affection to calm-and-relaxed Zico. Henry then calms down and he gets affection too. Only if Henry is highly agitated and barks and rushes the door, do I assert authority and make him back down. When we are on a walk, if Zico and I stop walking, Henry stops too, and waits for everyone to move before he moves. And Zico is a great role model for sitting, especially when treats are involved.

The Harness

     On the way to a pet store yesterday, we stopped off at a laundromat. Janelle dropped off the laundry and for as long as she was out of the car Henry pined for her, staring at the laundromat and doing his whispered whimper. He was very exited inside the store. Once he heard the birds squawking a few aisles away, he was on heightened alert. But he held still long enough to be fitted with a front-attaching harness, and as soon as it was on him it was clear that this would help with his pulling. Then we headed to the park for Henry's first 4-mile run with me in the snow. He seemed so happy to be running! Happy yet relaxed at the same time. Zico was off-leash as we ran and Janelle did not join us in the run. So at times Zico was with with us, other times he was out of site. The harness made Henry much easier to walk and run with. After the first mile, if there were no distractions, Henry settled in right behind me and kept pace, heeling perfectly. But if Zico was running ahead of us, or if he saw a human or dog, he would pull. At one point I saw a beaver and stopped to look at it. Henry and Z were busy staring at a nearby dog and never noticed the beaver. We passed several dogs. Henry seems eager to greet them but I kept him moving. None of them bared their teeth.
     After the run Henry received a squeaky toy. He had so much fun with that, shaking it around and chomping on it! He kept it in his mouth whenever he moved around the house. Maybe because Zico was dying to take it from him. Both dogs are slightly possessive with toys. Zico growls if he has a toy and Henry approaches. Henry growls if Z tries to steal a toy. (Both dogs allow me to take their toys and food with no protest.)
     On the morning walk today, Henry met one of Zico's favorite people: the crossing guard. As usual, Zico wagged himself in half when we stopped to say good morning to her. Henry did a great imitation and was very happy to meet the nice lady. Fortunately Zico did not howl, if Henry had imitated Zico's happy-howl the noise would be unbearable. At the park Zico played with a 4 month old spaniel named Sparky. When Henry approached, Sparky was terrified of him. Sparky bared his teeth and snapped and when Henry tried to play Sparky yowled, went belly-up and ran away. I held Henry facing away from Sparky so Sparky could sniff his behind, but as soon as I let him go Sparky ran away. Henry started barking as only a hound can, so I led him away. Poor Henry, his only canine playmate is Zico, but Z is barely interested in interacting with him anymore.
     Indoors, Henry's confidence is improving. He walks around the house more sure-footedly. Originally I thought his claws might be too long for the hardwood floors but he has adapted nicely. Except he peed once in the house with no warning prancy dance.

     Henry met a strange human inside the house for the first time yesterday. He wagged his tail, sniffed him and then ignored him. And that is the best I could have hoped for, he was very well mannered. And we were right about identifying the signs that Henry has to go out. I call it the prancy dance. One time we were fast enough, one time we were not.
     At the park this morning a dog named Lady, who we do not see often, was there. Zico, off-leash, ran up to play with her. Henry was held back by his leash. When Lady saw us approaching she ran toward Henry but after a quick sniff she showed her teeth. Very similar to what happened with Nikki. Henry's approach seems curious and playful, perhaps over-eager, but not hostile or aggressive in any way. When Henry ignored Lady for a moment and turned his back, she sniffed his behind and seemed OK with him. But when he turned to face her she showed her teeth again.
     Later, as we were leaving the park, both dogs leashed, we passed Monty, a huge black golden retriever mix whose owner says does not get along with males. (Although he does get along with Zico.) He and Henry sniffed each other and moved on.
     Zico has been trained to stay at the curb (on command) and not to enter a street before me. Henry seems to be learning this from Z. When we walk, Henry pulls on the leash, but when we are about to cross the street and I tell Zico, "Stay," Henry (sometimes) will stay too.
     After the walk and feeding, Zico goes into the bedroom to cuddle with Janelle (still dozing), while Heny (not allowed on the bed), curls up on a couch.

Day 1

     Henry arrived yesterday from Northeast Coonhound Rescue. He met Zico and me in the park and they played very nicely off-leash in a fenced in area. Then both dogs came back to my apartment. Indoors, Henry is unsure of his footing, but very curious. He is very timid, but affectionate. He likes toys, dislikes the crate. After peeing in the house once, we think we can recognize the signs that he needs to go outside.
     Last night Henry slept alone in a crate. He was in the crate so that (1), he wouldn't pee around the house or in our bed as we slept, (2) Zico can be territorial about the bed and (3) Zico sleeps in the bed and there were doubts that we could keep Henry off the bed with Z in the bed. He whimpered for the first five minutes. We ignored it and he settled in and passed the night quietly.
     This morning, Henry and Zico went to the park again. Henry is a bit frustrated that Z can run off-leash while he, Henry, cannot. One of Zico's regular playmates, Nikki, showed up at the park. She wanted nothing to do with Henry. Although she always plays nicely with Zico, she avoided Henry. When Henry tried to play she showed her teeth. At one point she was running away from him and he nipped her back. We separated the dogs and I heard Henry bark for the first time. I hope they learn to get along.
     I was planning to take the dogs running today but it is snowing so that probably won't happen. Right now he is sleeping, curled up in a sweet little ball on the doggie bed.