Tag: raising puppies

dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, hound dogs, Humane Society of Shenandoah County, oph, puppies, training

The Stress Factor in (Foster) Dogs

Cara Achterberg

I don’t know what happened to my puppies before they arrive here with us. They may have come from a place of neglect or overwhelm or been strays with their mamas. Most likely they didn’t have good nutrition or prenatal care.

I can’t control what happened before, but I can have a say in what happens from here, and do my best to make up for lost time.

So I’m very intentional about fostering puppies. Beyond plenty of good food, a solid deworming schedule, and vaccinations, I try to give them daily enrichment in the form of new toys, new puppy room set up, new obstacles, plenty of attention, and lots of new experiences (vacuum cleaner, radio, dropping loud things nearby, etc.).

Continue reading “The Stress Factor in (Foster) Dogs” →
Dogs with Issues, Flannery Oconnor, fostering, Hula Hoop, puppies, returned dogs, training

Returning an Adopted Dog (Flannery, Flannery, Flannery…)

Cara Achterberg

All four dogs like to lounge in my office after their early morning romp in the play yard. Having four that get along so nicely is refreshing. Between that fact and the three quiet, sweet, not-quite-so-messy puppies, fostering has never been so easy.

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Flannery finished her week shut-down and emerged a different dog. When she arrived she was snappy and tense, having proven to all that she will not do well in a home with young children. That wasn’t something I expected when she was adopted a few months ago by a family with five children.

Flannery is such a busy, fun, happy pup, so I was surprised to learn that Continue reading “Returning an Adopted Dog (Flannery, Flannery, Flannery…)” →