Rusty's Road Home

He is home.

2008-08-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Rusty made it to his forever home, and is now named Bennet.

Meanwhile...

2008-06-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

While we are waiting for him to go to his home, I can't resist a cute picture. He really is still becoming more and more affectionate each day. Here he is cuddling with Nate on the couch. He has this silly grin thing he does too.

I also got him to "sit" for the first time today. For the past several weeks when I tried it, he cringed when my arm would go up over him to lure him with a treat. Finally, I was able to lure him into a sit without him being frightened.

There is no place like home. There is no place like home! There is no place like home!!!

2008-06-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Rusty will be going to a home to begin his foster to adopt period this weekend. Cross your paws.

Are You Going To Finish That Rawhide?

2008-06-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Morning Cuddles

2008-06-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Rusty is fortunate he is with us during the summer, when we lay around in bed before getting up for the day. He had come to enjoy this time with us, where he gets all kinds of love. He used to just stay at the edge of the bed barking. Now, he jumps in to get all the loving he can. He is not a high maintenance dog, and will make someone very happy.

We are very pleased with his housebreaking. We have never had a dog be trained so easily and quickly.

Housebroken!

2008-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's official. We have not had one accident with Rusty, and he is now letting me know by ringing the bells on the backdoor or barking when he wants out! I was ready with a new bottle of pet stain remover and everything.

Rusty is really warming up to everyone in the house. He still isn't sure about approaching people, but when he does it or lets it happen he seems to be enjoying the attention now. Sometimes he stands back and barks, but what he really wants is to be petted. He loves romping in the backyard with Seamus and Chewy, and seems to get great comfort from the dogs.

Chatty Rusty

2008-06-09T19:27:00.001-07:00

Rusty has found his voice. He "talks" to us all the time with little barks, very Lassie like. ;) As you can see, he still loves Seamus, but also is appreciating the affection he gets from the people in the house. He no longer runs away from us, and comes up to us frequently for some love. He even jumped up on the couch (yes, bad foster mommy) to snuggle yesterday. He has really come a long way.

Give Me Some Lovin'!

2008-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Rusty really has responded well to being petted now. He frequently comes up to us to be petted and loved on. I was lying on the couch earlier reading, and my hand was hanging off the couch. Next thing I knew, Rusty was rubbing up against my hand, get a "self-pet." :)

He just came in from outside a while ago, and he is now laying down in the middle of the living room, in front of a fan!

He hasn't had a potty acident since he has been here, and appears to be housebroken, though I will give it a little longer before making that "official" declaration. :)

He is really attached to Seamus. He wants to be whereever he is, be petted when he is, or instead of him.

This Petting Thing

2008-06-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Rusty has finally decided petting is ok. In the past day he has been coming up to us several times to get petted, even Steve. This morning I would not have reconized him as he came rushing in the house with my dogs, and ran right up to me, and put his little front paws on the couch to get my attention. He wanted a pet. He even leaned into it a little bit, and seemed to enjoy it! He has been here a week today. He even went upstairs last night, on his own.

He is coughing from the kennel cough, but putting on weight and besides the cough acts fine.
UPDATE 6/23/08: Rusty have recovered completely from the kennel cough.

Joining the Crowd

2008-06-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Rusty has decided that joining the crowd is ok. The first few days he was here, he kept to himself in the crate. He is no venturing out and wanting to be around people. In fact, we moved his crate into our room last night (it was downstairs) because he protested being left alone downstairs for the first time. If I am in the kitchen now, he is starting to come in. Today we had several children in the kitchen, and he was coming in and out, in and out. That is progress from a few days ago, when he wouldn't come in the kitchen at all.

He also came up to me to be petted, a first. Usually when you walk toward him, he runs away, or he just never would go up to you on his own. You can tell he wants to come to people, but usually at the last minute chickens out and retreats. Poor, guy. Hopefully he will keep building his confidence.

Big Aussie, Little Aussie

2008-06-03T10:51:00.001-07:00

Who can resist taking pictures of such cuteness? Not me!

Rusty Finds a Place to Stay

2008-06-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

Rusty came to us from Williamson Country Regional Animal Shelter. It is a kill shelter. Poor guy had been passed over time and time again for adoption. It was probably because of his aloof demeanor. I am not sure what happened in poor Rusty's life, but he is not confident about much. Hopefully, we can convince him that being petted is a good thing, and that we don't intend to harm him. He takes cues from his foster brother's about when it is time to go outside or in. Right now we are just letting him stay in the safety of an open crate if he wants when he is in the house.

At first he was very hestitant to crose the threshold of the backdoor to come either in or outside. However, he started going "out" without a problem, and today, I just left the backdoor open, and he came in, and then went out, in and out, in and out. Progress.