Welcome Callie: One week with Snyder

Snyder has been here a little over a week now so we have gotten to know him a little better. He's a happy guy and always has his tail wagging. He doesn't seem to need or want any chew toys or bones. I've offered them to him and he hasn't been interested. That could change, but that's what we're seeing right now.

He is good in the crate. He's on R&R right now (I'll explain below) and goes in his crate with a treat and stays in there without a fuss. This past weekend we were gone from about 9 until 4 or 5 each day and he was fine. He was in his crate the whole time with no problems and no messes. He's quiet enough in his crate that I think he'd be fine if a home had very close neighbors.

He is good with everyone in our family (me, husband and daughters 11 & 13 yrs old). My 11 year old was bored yesterday and made Synder a hat (I don't know why) and he was very good as she tried it on him. Good boy. He met my neighbors and was good meeting them as well. While I talked with my neighbor he rested at my feet.

He is affectionate and likes to be by his people. He has curled up with me while I've watched some TV. While I work during the day he finds a spot next to me and lays down and relaxes.

I trimmed his nails today and he was good. He wasn't wild about it but didn't fuss and let me finish. I didn't need anyone to help me. He tolerated my clipping.

He does pull on walks but I think it's getting better as he's getting more used to our street. He's on R&R so we don't go far. He will bark if someone on a bike passes but he's not out of control barking. It's probably something that can be worked with. Plus, I've only seen it a couple times, as he sees more bikes he might become used to them.

My male, Miles, is not really fond of other males, especially ones his size or larger. And, my female poodle, Missy will want to play with Snyder....but that's a no-no since he's on R&R. So, for everyone's best interest I keep them separated. I crate Synder while my dogs are out and then I put my guys in the mud room and then let Snyder hang out with me for a few hours at a time. My female, Holly, is a senior and the two of them have been out together but separated by a gate. They ignore each other.

I'd say Snyder has been good about doing his business outside. When in a new place some male dogs feel the need to mark. When I took Snyder upstairs with me today he did sniff and begin to mark in my bathroom (right room buddy...but not for you). That was his first time on the second floor of our house. That's been it in the "accident" department. In my experience that's not uncommon for males to do that in a new place. In my experience, they get it out of their system and they're done. It's hard for me to say if he's fully housebroken because I have him crated some of the day but when he's been out he's been good.

So, why is he on R&R? Because the poor fella was heart worm positive and has undergone heart worm treatment. He had the treatment last week and the next three weeks he must be on R&R while the dead heart worms are absorbed into his system. Then, after that, it's simple. Just like any other dog he should have a monthly heart worm pill. Most vets will recommend that all dogs be on heart worm preventative year round anyway. Snyder should stay on monthly heart worm pills for 24 months. After that he can stay on it monthly or you could skip the couple of months in the dead of winter. Heart worm preventative like Heartgard Plus is easy to administer (it's a chewable "treat") and inexpensive (less than $10/month). It's so easy and inexpensive it's a shame that a dog like Snyder is even heart worm positive to begin with. I recently fostered Lucy who also completed heart worm treatment and was then adopted. Wescott is another Fluffy Dog also currently on R&R for heart worm treatment. Fluffy Dog Rescue has successfully treated hundreds of dogs for heart worm over the years.

As I've gotten to know him a little better I'd say he's a medium energy dog. He will jump and be excited when he comes out of the crate and he will pull on a walk but in the house he's shown me that he's a pretty laid back guy. He's not looking for constant activity and he's just happy to be wherever his person is. I've only heard him bark after my dogs have started barking.

So, why does his listing say "foster home needed?" Because my male is not good with males and once Synder's R&R period is over we might want to find him another foster home. But, who knows, I might not be able to let him go. He's a great guy and even with having to do the "doggie shuffle" every day he's been an easy guy to have around.

He does "sit" very well now and we've worked a little bit on "leave it." Literally I've done 5 minutes of training a couple times a day and he's done very well.

Keep reading for more info.

Thanks for reading and thanks for thinking rescue!