Thinking of getting a dog? Introduction

I have a new series of posts I want to get started soon: 

Thinking of getting a dog?

Short Intro/How does this lady know what she's talking about?

1. My family has had dogs for a long, long time, way before I was born. German Shepherds, Flatcoated Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Small Mix Breed dogs and now even what we like to call a 北京路狗  (bad chinese for: Beijing Street dog - it's not the exact word for streetdog, I know that). 
2. I am also half way through my K-9 Security Specialist Certificate at George Brown College, which has taught me so much more about dogs and how to train them. It has also given me great connections for questions I may have. 
3. Sam and I have been foster parents for just over a year now. We are currently fostering our 8th dog and his story gave me the idea for this series of "Thinking of getting a dog?" 
4. On top of that, I myself am considering getting a dog in the near future to start Search and Rescue Training with said dog. This is why I am doing a lot of research on this whole topic in my free time. If there is one academic thing I am somewhat good at, it is researching topics that interest me. 

So I am planning on writing tips on this topic, however I come across them. They will probably be in quite a random order as especially foster dogs and their stories might impact my Tips. They will be numbered and if they relate to a previous Tip, on the top of the post it will say something along the lines of "See Tip ... posted on ... for similar Information".  - How professional, eh ?

I hope that with this series I can help whoever stumbled across my Blog with the decision whether or not you are ready for a dog, and where to find the perfect one for you! Keep in mind, I am planning on going through this whole thing in the near future, so we're all in the same boat.

When I come across a problem, rather than saying "nope, that's it, no dog for you missy!" I want to try to find solutions for it. Remember, those solutions might cost you money, so try to keep all that in mind when you read a possible answer to a problem - just because there is an answer, doesn't mean it will work for everybody.

I welcome comments and any tips you can give me. Correct me anytime I am wrong - these are my opinions from experience and possible research I may have done on the topic, this is not a professional opinion or representation of any kind.

Sophia


P.S.: My posts might contain occasional coarse language. This is a topic I get very emotional about and I like to express my feelings the way they come. I will not make this Blog vanilla just because you cannot deal with the bad f-word. Just keep that in mind.

Watson, Dog n.8 - Full story

"You know my methods, Watson."- Sherlock Holmes

"I have not lived for years with Sherlock Holmes for nothing" - Dr. John Watson

Enough geekery for today, just thought those two quotes were fitting to introduce y'all to our new Black Lab: Watson !
Watson is a:

• 9 year old
• 35kg heavy
• Black Labrador (even though I say he's more like a flatcoated Retriever because he has longer fur, that is not as oily and a longer nose than Black Labs, but anywho)

We picked this cutie up on November 4th, 2012 when my dad was here to visit. He will be with us for 1-2 weeks. From Watson's history, I only know that his family surrendered him because since the kids are off to college, there will be no one taking care of him any more. Why those people would get a dog 9 years ago in the first place f*cking beats me. Excuse my french, but people like that really piss me off - what, were they hoping he'd be gone by then ?! Stop ranting, Sophia...

How did we get him:

I called Megan to see how Black was doing and if we'd get him back. Turns out that he's probably better off at the Society anyways because he keeps chewing on his cast, so I asked her if she had anything else for me and she told me about Watson. I wanted to show my dad the humane society so we walked in there to see Pretty (who is still available for adoption if anyone in Toronto wants an awesome white Pit) and to see Black. And we also walked home with Watson the next day. 

The daily life:

Boy, this dog... He can be so amazing, he sleeps all day (he's an old man after all), and he knows sit, down, stay REALLY well. I was genuinely surprised. I wanted to see what else I could teach him, so I taught him "bark" with a clicker within about a half hour. He is a very easygoing dog, doesn't like being alone, but loves people. He is so soft, I love petting him. He's just been a bit smelly recently, probably because I convinced him to take his pills with a slice of cheese. For the first day we had to handfeed him (as we were instructed), but the second day he already ate off his plate, AND we got him to eat the healthy stuff too (before he would refuse to eat it). I was a proud foster parent ! Even annoyed the humane society people with an email telling them about our fast progress - basically just tooting my own horn...

The dog:

Watson is AMAZING. He listens to commands really well, and even though I believe he's in pain, he's just the best dog with the nicest soul. Now, he is quite an old man, and he has a bunch of cysts, growths and lumps all over his body. The humane society took samples and is getting them tested - we'll see how they turn out, fingers crossed to hope for the best. But for example his front elbows have growths on them that are really squishy and kind of open wounds that bleed when he licks them too much. I will not post a picture because believe me, it is not a pretty thing. To stop him from chewing and licking we put socks on him, which helped quite a bit. I cannot help but feel so sorry for Watson. He was surrendered because "no one will take care of him any more" but they didn't even talk about his medical issues - his elbows apparently were just covered in dipers to help with the bleeding. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE ?! I am seriously starting to lose ALL my faith in humanity - someone please restore it !!! 

When I think about what this dog is going through, I start crying. I feel so sorry for him. Imagine living with someone, loving someone for 9 dog years (that would be 63 for all you humans) and then they just give you away ! And they never pay attention to your open, bleeding, itching and hurting wounds either. Some people should not be allowed to have a dog AT ALL. He is the best dog, he has such a calm soul and after all he went through I cannot say I am surprised that he has separation anxiety and doesn't like being alone. Poor thing.
So far he's been having the time of his life though at our place. He jumped on the couch and I didn't have the heart to tell him to get off, and he even chewed on Black's old bone, something I didn't think he'd do because we were told his teeth were really soft and he couldn't properly chew. He kept surprising us within the first few days. That is why I will give him the second name of Chocolate Box because just like chocolate boxes, he is a surprise (for all you "young" people: Watch Forrest Gump and you'll understand this quote). For the third name I will call him Sedated because this dog is the calmest thing, so calm it's like he's sedated... When I was putting those socks on him, he just lay there ! Kind of with that facial expression of "whatever, as long as you're here and I'm not alone you can do anything you want to me". Watson Sedated Chocolate Box. What a nice name. 

I absolutely love this one and I really hope and pray that his tests come back somewhat all right. If this dog has to be put down it would absolutely break my heart, maybe he'll at least get a nice few weeks with a foster family in palliative care - I now know that I would never be able to do it. I don't think I am strong enough. Sorry for the emotional post, this dog is just really getting to me - maybe he reminds me of my family's old dogs that had to be put down because of cancer. I hope this one gets another few years with someone nice - he deserves them.

Update December 5th:
Finally the test results are in, Watson does not have cancer ! He does have some sort of Arthritis, which we got medication for. The vets want to operate on his elbows, take off the growths (whatever they are) and then put him up for adoption !! How awesome. I am so glad, this dog deserves it. Recently he's turned into a trash-raider and he's living with Sam's parents dog, Darcy. They two get along quite well, they're even starting to share the couch ! I am so relieved. Lucky guy, what a lucky guy, now his life can turn around and get a lot better. 

The end:
We brought Watson back on December 14th. He was then put into palliative foster care, from what I hear he is doing well, but it's sad to know he wont get adopted by anyone. On the other hand palliative care is just as good as being adopted as he will stay with this family until the end of his life (which can be months, possibly years). He should also be very happy as the new foster family has a small dog, considering how much he loved Darcy he should be having the time of his life.

And now for some closure:

Oh Watson. You completely broke my heart when I first saw you. Such bad condition, no spirit, so skinny... For the first week I was sure you would die in my care and I wasn't sure I would be able to handle it. Then I taught you "speak" - that uplifted your spirit a lot. Then Darcy came into the picture and you started looking 5 years younger already. You were awesome with her, you absolutely loved her and you were an awesome dog with everyone. So calm and forgiving. I know you hated the socks I put on you, but I hope you know it was for your own good. Good luck with your palliative foster family, I am sure the rest of your life, however long it may be, will be amazing.

I am not sure I have any more pictures - if I do they are on my camera and I will load them on here as soon as they are on my computer.