PAWTENTIAL PROFILE: Charlie

Name:  Charlie
Breed:  Cockapoo
Sex:  Male
Age: 4 years

Duration: 2 week Board & Train

Reason for B&T:  Barking/Jumping


What we are working on during his stay:

OWNERS REQUESTS:
* Barking - sometimes he wakes at night and begins barking uncontrollably
* Jumping - jumps on/scratches people when greeting
* Loose Leash Walking- could use some fine tuning
* Reactive to Other Dogs - especially when on leash
* Resource Guarding - he has bitten over this

Due to his potential reactive issues - Charlie did an overnight with us to be sure he was not going to be overwhelmed by the dogs here - so far he is doing beautifully.  He is settling in and is taking it all in stride!

Welcome Charlie!

Charlie has just arrived for his overnight to be sure he will be comfortable here before his family leaves him next week for a few weeks of Board & Train.

Welcome Cassie

This weekend Coco and Chiffy go home but we welcome Cassie, Ayla's daughter to stay for a week.  She is so like her mother - they even both do Down the same...

The dogs had to take a second sniff as she walked out of the dark...it was funny...

Micah joins the pack!

Tracy, my cousin and roommate, just added another 4 legs to our group.  Micah is actually my dog Ayla's grandson - he is part Newfoundland, part Basset Hound x Chocolate Lab.  He is a BIG boy - weighing in at 16.6lbs at just 9 weeks.

He is a sweet wee thing but we have already noticed two major issues if left unresolved...he has some food aggression and is highly separation anxious...Tracy has her work cut out for her with this one...sorry for the quality - it was late at night...

Our Newest Addition - PHOENIX

Welcome back!!  I hope your holiday season was all you wanted and more.  Sorry for the delay in updating...after everyone returned from their holidays and all of our Board & Trains went home - Jinx, Blizzard, Sophie and Ellie - I took a break and headed up to see some friends for the new year and visit my Step-mom in VA.  

It can be hard to get away at times and this was just the trip I needed.  I was looking forward to some well earned R&R.

But then, just as I was heading out - I got confirmation about some pups that I had been checking on for a while.  A momma dog had wandered onto a ladies property pregnant and had delivered a litter of 8 pups.  The lady took her and the pups inside, made her comfortable and began looking for a placement for them all.  

Mom looks like a Pointer mix to me and Dad is unknown, but there are 2 red merle, 2 blue merle and 2 with bobbed tails which means that Dad must have had some Aussie in there somewhere.

And you know how I am about Aussie mixes, so when she said she needed some help with the litter, I was delighted to help!

Like the J's - this little one has come to me to finish weaning at only 3 weeks old.  I picked up our newest member on my way through to VA and from Day 1 she has made an impact. The timing worked well as I had all this time off to dedicate to her and make sure she was off to a great start.

 She is a darling little thing and I really look forward to watching her grow!

Coco & Charley Update

COCO:  UPDATE  
Boy did I ever speak too soon about Coco.

This poor boy has probably the most severe case of separation anxiety I have EVER seen.  

I had to leave him for about 30 minutes yesterday and his owner said no crating so I left him in my bedroom. I never expected to come back to anything like this.  He was soaked from his muzzle to his feet with drool.  The floor was a pool of drool and footprints.  The inside of the door was dirty at least 4ft high.  He was out of his mind with panic. 

I immediately called his Mom and she said yes she knew (but didn't tell me).  Hmmmm.....

If I close a door between us the result is total chaos.  He tries to bolt through doors to avoid getting left behind and will do so dangerously.  He jumps and slams himself against the door, drooling profusely and crying.  We are in for a long month!

CHARLIE: UPDATE
Charley has fit right in.  She has been busy exploring and running out some of her energy.  

Her "brother" Brooks is here for a few days boarding but he is more interested in toys and she is more interested in the other dogs!  LOL

PAWTENTIAL PROFILE: COCO

Name:  Coco
Breed:  Mini Poodle
Sex:  Male
Age: 6 yrs

Duration: 4 week Board & Train


Reason for B&T:  General obedience work / social skills

Background:  Coco has been with his Mom since a pup.  He has traveled with her through several moves and has taken several obedience classes.  He hasn't had much socialization with people or dogs though outside of those classes.  He seems to be a generally very settled dog who just needs to sharpen up on some basic manners and social skills.  He doesn't seem bothered by too much at the farm so far.

What we are working on during his stay:

OWNERS REQUESTS:
* Basic Obedience Refresher- Sit, Down, Stay, Leave It
* Recall - owner says he has an unreliable recall and has not trusted him outside off leash
* Jumping - jumps on people and furniture
* Barking - alerts to every sight and sound, esp the door
* Dog Social Skills - doesn't really have any
* People Social Skills - has been known to nip
* Feeding - only eats people/table food

Sounds easy enough! 

PAWTENTIAL PROFILE: CHARLIE

Name:  Charlie
Breed:  Rat Terrier / Basenji mix?
Sex:  Female
Age: 12 months

Duration: 4 week Board & Train

Reason for B&T:  General obedience work, leadership issues




Background:  Charley is a feisty rescue who just needs a little polishing. She has begun to growl at her owner if she doesn't want to move or go to her bed, jumps like a little kangaroo, barks like crazy, annoys her Dachshund brother and is just generally a little wild and free.

What we are working on during her stay:

OWNERS REQUESTS:
* Basic Obedience - she will be completing Big Dog University 101 - Look, Leave It, Touch, Sit, Down, Stay, Wait 
* Loose Leash Walking - currently a very forward, zig zag type puller
* Recall - owner says she has an unreliable recall and has not trusted her outside off leash
* Jumping - when excited she jumps and scratches
* Barking - can be a little overzealous about "intruders"
* Dog Social Skills - she doesn't know when enough is enough and can get too rough with other dogs - esp her housemate Brooks, a Dachshund who has already had back issues

Introducing Charley:

Meet Mckenna - Our Newest Foster!

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a friend of mine (Peter) in Maryland that his friend [who I have never met] had just purchased an Irish Wolfhound pup for $1000 from a lady in NC but he had concerns.

(His friend knows nothing about dogs and when I heard he had bought a Wolfhound, I was really worried)

Below is my understanding of what happened:

Friend finds puppy on eBay. (I know, I know)

Lady says pups are 8 weeks old.

Wires $500 deposit via Western Union.

Makes arrangements to meet her a week and half later.

The lady met them in a parking lot of Petsmart.

She said he couldn't see the mother as she had already sold her.

Said this was the last pup and she was the runt.

She was accompanied by a large, intimidating man with tattoos that made Peter and friend uncomfortable to walk away from the sale and she said deposit was non refundable.

They take puppy and return to Maryland.

Peter comments puppy is very small and has a very small bark. They send me some really bad pictures and I said I couldn't really tell anything but that she looked like a  very small Wolfhound pup...maybe the lady got the age wrong.

Contacts lady - she tells them pups are now 8 weeks old - friend says but you said that 2 weeks ago?

Back and forth with me via texts - not happy, not convinced is Wolfhound.

Tries contacting "breeder" again - this time number is disconnected and email bounces.

After 2 1/2 weeks - Peter's friend says puppy is aggressive and unmanageable and he is going to have it put down!

Peter takes puppy and contacts me very unhappy and unsure what to do with her.

So yesterday we drive to meet them almost in Maryland and I pick her up. She should by this first account between 8-10 weeks old depending on which date you believe. She does look like a mini Wolfhound.

We stopped at Petsmart on the way home and weighed her - 13lbs.  I also noticed that her teeth are TINY...they are there but teeny squeeny incisors - I am thinking she is really young maybe? 

So now I have no idea what she is - obviously some type of schnauzer / terrier mix - Parsons Jack Russel maybe? 

Hmmmmmmm - strange but true....LOL...some Wolfhound!

Either way she is a sweetie and if you know of anyone wanting to adopt a truly adorable little girl - let me know!

Pawtential Profiles: Archie & Bella

Names:  Archie & Bella
Breed:  Lab x
Sex:  Male & Female
Age: 7 months

Duration: On trial week then possibly 4 week Board & Train

Reason for B&T:  Recall, Loose Leash Walking & General House Manners

Archie and Bella are with us until the 11th on a trial Boarding basis.  Like any young large pups, they are full of enthusiasm and manners like not door dashing and keeping all paws on the ground are a bit lost on them.  But that is what we are here for!

Initially a little shy around the Pawtential Pack - they have warmed up nicely and their favorite is Luka, a rescued Giant Schnauzer x and the newest additions - the now 4 month old Australian Shepherd x Border Collie pups.

Boarding at the Pawtential farm can be quite exciting with all the farm animals next door.  Archie especially is interested in the guinea fowl making a ruckus this morning while we were out on the porch.

Bella meantime was finding out that the glider seat was not such a stable bench after all...

And then it was a case of Monkey See, Monkey Do as Luka and Piper decided to give it a try...

Archie was not too sure about Piper who has a bit to learn about doggie communication...

In the end, everyone had a good play session but were more than happy to get in out of the wet and settle down with some breakfast and a good bone.

Bubbie Update

Bubbie has been with us a few days now and is progressing well.  Ariel has taken the lead with him and has been working hard with her small dogs to make him feel at home.  She is working to begin building his confidence and to start changing his thoughts towards new people and situations.

Pawtential Profile: Anjou [previously Diamond]

Late tonight, a lady came in asking if I knew where she could relinquish a dog as the shelters were closed.  I discovered she had taken in this dog from a friend who had gotten ill.  After taking the dog in, her living situation changed and she was now living with people who would not allow her to keep the dog.  It was storming and she said she didn't want to just leave her in a parking lot somewhere.


I called one of my friend that helps with foster/rescue situations and got her on her way.  The lady brought in the dog and what a sight she was.

  
Name: Diamond
Breed: Shih Tzu
Sex:  Female
Age: Approx 5-8 year old


She was matted to the skin and had hair loss because of it, especially on her tail and belly.

We took her and immediately went about shaving her down.  Now I am no groomer so it was a choppy job at best but at least we could relieve the discomfort of the matting.


On the top she didn't look that bad but once you got the trimmers under the coat - it was like lambs wool, very dense and connected.

She was a real trooper about the entire process.  We stopped after a few hours to give her a break and contemplated giving her a lion cut for a few seconds.

4 hours later, a much relieved, though now naked girl was seen.  She was amazingly tolerant of the entire process.  She was quick to lick and didn't struggle as we moved her one awkward position to another in an attempt to get the matts off with as little discomfort to her as possible.  


To christen her new look and the promise of a new life, Taylor renamed her Anjou.

She is an amazing dog who, though a little shy around larger dogs, doesn't appear to be fearful or reactive in any way to anything.  She will make someone a very nice companion.  

Pawtential Profile: Bubbie

Name:  Bubbie
Breed:  Chihuahua
Sex:  Male
Age: 18 months


Duration: 4 week Board & Train


Reason for B&T:  Aggression, shyness and general obedience work



Background:  Bubbie was adopted 3 months ago from a puppy mill/hoarding situation where 100 dogs were rescued.  He has had very little socialization and appears fearful of new people [esp men and children], new situations and larger dogs.  He has bitten his new owner several times to the blood, several other people have been nipped or bitten and in general he is a bit of a nervous wreck.  


What we are working on during his stay:
**Aggression cannot be fixed in such a short time so we are working on the foundation for a calm, more confident dog which will make it easier to help him relax in new situations.**


OWNERS REQUESTS:
* Basic Obedience - he will be completing an expedited Big Dog University 101 - Look, Leave It, Touch, Sit, Down, Stay, Wait 
* Loose Leash Walking - currently a very forward, lean sideways into the harness type puller
* Recall - owner says he has an unreliable recall and has not trusted him outside off leash
* Sharing Attention - if owner is holding another pet - he gets frantic and begins barking & jumping at her until the other pet leaves
* Housebreaking - having at least one accident in the house every day - sometimes several
* Paws Up for Pickup - owner having difficulty catching him to take him anywhere - teaching him to put his paws up on the leg to be picked up


Introducing Bubbie:

Welcome to Pawtential Unleashed

Living with a dog can be one of the single most fulfilling, but sometimes frustrating experiences of our lives.  We often have this idea of what owning a dog will be like. Sometimes this is based on childhood best friends, or previous dogs who were, in our eyes, perfect.  They were our Lassie - ever attentive, always by our side, never needed a leash, listened and complied promptly and though they may have had a quirky moment or two - in general, they were the envy of the neighborhood.

With these memories firmly in mind, we take on a wiggling bundle of puppy love or reach out to help a dog in need, secure in the knowledge that we have done this before and though it will be different, with enough love and a few basic ground rules, it'll be fine.  


Sadly, all too often our plan falls short somewhere and we end up with a dog that is heading to, or has reached, the out of control point.  They bark, they chew, they jump on people, they pull us down the road for walks and although we love them with all of our hearts, they just aren't good ole Lassie.

This is where we come in.  Pawtential Unleashed has been helping people and their pets for almost 20 years.  Whether you need help turning a leash pulling, leaping Lobo into a Lassie or simply want to share your Lassie with the world on a Therapy or Service dog level - we can help.


We teach 1-on-1 in your home, have group classes, host weekend workshops and do real world roadwork for the urban dog.  We look forward to helping you unleash your dog's true potential!