Wednesday

Bogie doing great!


Bogie is doing great!  He is getting comfortable which I knew wouldn’t take long.   My husband came home on Monday evening and Bogie greeted him with a tail wag and jumped up to my husband’s waist to be petted.  Normally I would have told him “off” right away but this was good so I let my husband indulge him. 

He continues to be just fine with all the normal noise (and chaos) in a house with two kids, two dogs and two parents trying to keep up with it all.  I thought maybe some of these new things might bother him…but I was wrong.  He just sits watches and listens to the laughing, rushing around, singing, etc. 
I would say he’s a medium energy dog..even the low end of medium.  He sleeps by my desk during the day and follows me around when I get up to get something to eat, go to the bathroom, etc.  The stairs are a non-event for him now.  I think once he gets to the weight he should be he’ll have more energy and will be true medium energy dog.  He’s posted as 32 pounds and he should be…but he’s currently about 23.  He’s got a gorgeous light and fluffy coat but underneath you can feel his ribs, spine and hips.  The boy needs a little more meat on his bones and I’m working to do that. 

 My male dog, Miles, has been bossy with Bogie.  Probably because Bogie is a little larger than Miles…and the largest foster dog we’ve had so far.  And, Miles can be an insecure guy at times.  So, when Bogie tries to play Miles comes around, snarls and takes the toys.  Bogie has respected this and has not challenged Miles at all.  To me, this shows that Bogie is a secure guy and not worried about Miles trying to one-up him.  I think if Miles weren’t such an inhospitable foster brother and if Holly (our female) weren’t the lazy senior she is, Bogie would be doing a lot more playing.    Still, he is doing some playing and I have a video of it posted within the link below.  I was having trouble uploading videos to the blog otherwise I would have placed the video right here. 

Bogie has been doing all his business in the yard and on our walks the last couple days.  I am giving him access to more of the house now and so far so good.  He is good in the yard and relaxed.  He does his business, sniffs around and comes back in.  He does like a little privacy and is doing his #2 in the bushes which Miles does also.  Miles rings a bell on the back door to be let outside and yesterday Bogie rang it!  I was so surprised and got up right away to let him out.  He’s a smart boy and has been learning by watching the other dogs.  Bogie also understands “sit” now.  On day one he didn’t get it…on day two his bottom didn’t fully hit the floor but now after a few more days he’s got it. 

I was curious to see how he would do outside of the kennel while we were gone.  So, I left for about 30 minutes yesterday and he did just fine.  No messes, no chewing, etc.  In fact, even when I am home he will chew the dog toys but has left the other things alone.  He is doing well in the crate when we’re gone.  I have noticed that if I’m patient, throw in a few treats and let him go in on his own he’s fine.  This all takes less than 1 minute.  If I become impatient and push him in he seems to get nervous and pants.  He doesn’t try to get out..just pants…and gets himself a little wet from the drool.  Yesterday I placed him in the crate while I worked in another part of the house for a couple hours.  I wanted to reconfirm that he’s okay in the crate during the day and he was fine and relaxed. 

I wanted to post a few videos of him here but am having problems.  So, here are some links to videos of him on you tube.  One is with my daughter petting him.   The other is of him playing fetch. 
I wish we could keep him.  In fact, I would have liked to keep them all.  But, then I’d be a hoarder instead of a foster.  I think I’ll stick with foster.