Chocolate Lab Charlie

Charlie my new foster dog is a chocolate Labrador Retriever

Charlie is available for adoption from Labs4Rescue http://labs4rescue.com/ He is a young dog - under a year I believe, as he is as lanky as a teen, very playful, and still squats to pee instead of lifting his leg like an adult dog would.

From Charlie

Charlie was an owner-turn-in; I didn't get a reason why they could no longer keep him or the yellow male lab that was also turned in with him. So many people are now running into problems and cannot keep their pets.

While visiting our local animal shelter in Hammond, LA we saw quite a few dogs that were 'owner-turn-ins'. They are usually sad and stressed and miss their homes.

Well Charlie also acted very upset when I first got him on Thursday evening (Oct. 8, 2009). He barked and barked -- keeping me up most of the night. I walked him in the middle of the night and he peed and pooped. He drank a lot of water - his throat was dry from all that barking.

But this is how some dogs act trying to deal with the stress they feel from losing a home and their people. Some dogs withdraw and don't make a sound, hanging to the back of the kennel and just watching and waiting and some like Charlie wail out their miseries with anxious barks and whines. I wonder if the people that give up their dogs to shelters realize what the dogs goes through after the walk away.

FRIDAY

Friday I walked Charlie on a leash and started clicker training him to learn to pay attention to where I was and not pull on the leash. Because he was still upset and anxious he was only half interested in the hot dog slices and notat all in the dry dog food I was using as treats. But this too is common, with some dogs not eating much for a day or so when you first rescue them.

Charlie takes the treats nicely from my hand. By evening he was starting to look into my eyes to ask for the treats and I would blink my clicks with my eyes and treat him.

I let him explore my fenced in acre size yard. I tossed a ball and kicked a soccer ball around for him, but he didn't show a whole lot of interest in either of them. He did do some fast large circle runs and try to play with my two female dogs, which don't play with new dogs right away. They growled at him and he kept a bit of distance.

Friday night no barking, yea! He slept quietly in his crate all night.

SATURDAY

Rainy morning. I took Charlie for a short leash walk up and down the gravel road a bit and walked on heeling. He is doing better, learning to watch my movement more and stay to the left side of me. When he happens to be in the right spot on the left side I click and treat him. He was hungrier today and eat the dry dog food offered.

Also worked on SIT. He is a doing good and learning to sit and watch my eyes for my blink click, then treat.

I let him out a few more times during the day into my yard to run around. Whenever he would return to me I would click and treat him. If he would sit by me I would click and treat. I tested him by rubbing him all over and playing with his ears, tail, and toes. He doesn't mind this handling at all. No fear, no nerviness, no mouthiness - good he will probably be fine around children. I do recommend that dogs and young children should always be supervised when together. 

He chased some butterflies -- puppies do this, and he squats when he pees, so he may still be a puppy and will fill out more. He is pretty lean and lanky for a lab.

Charlie still barks when I place him in his crate and leave him, but he doesn't bark for as long and he doesn't sound as stressed as at first. His barking will lessen with time and as he learns that he will get out and get attention and playtime a few times per day. Labrador Retrievers are active dogs and need a good amount of playtime and exercise to keep them happy and healthy mentally and physically.

Charlie is up for adoption at Labs4Rescue.com

From Charlie

Labs4Rescue needs pet foster homes in Louisiana

Labs4Rescue Urgently Needs Foster Homes

Labs4Rescue http://labs4rescue.com/ is always in need for more people to foster labs until they are adopted. Please consider this lifesaving adventure.

Here are a few of the current labs in Louisiana you can consider fostering...
More Labs to Adopt


And here is a video made by a lady that also fostered some labs for Labs4Rescue...



Youtube Video: Foster Dogs 2008 - From: jenrosepes Views: 108 Posted: January 28, 2009

Labs4Rescue foster info

Labs4rescue is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing a new life for rescued or displaced Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Mixes.

Benny Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

Adopt a Blue Merle Catahoula Leopard Dog Puppy: Benny

From 2 Catahoula Pups

Cute, friendly, and full of play! Benny is a rescued puppy that was not in the best of health when first brought to the vets office. The vet rescued this puppy and his sister, Bree and is fostering them until they are adopted or new foster homes are found. Benny is a bit smaller and gentler than his bold sister.

Benny likes toys and tennis balls and of course food! Both of the young puppies love mealtime.

Here is their short youtube video clip: Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog Puppies up for adoption

From 2 Catahoula Pups

From 2 Catahoula Pups

Please check out their photo album here: Bree and Benny 2 Catahoula Pups

Benny is listed on petfinder here: Benny; male puppy: Adopt a Blue Merle Catahoula Leopard Dog

I have Benny and his sister, Bree at my house this weekend so I could have the time I needed to take some photos of them. It is not easy taking photos of active, playful puppies! It also gave these two some time to run around a large yard and meet with other dogs.

I also took them both for a walk through the woods with my three dogs this evening and then gave them a cool down bath.

Thank you for considering to adopt rather than buy!!!!!

P.S. Puppy do grow into dogs, so we are only looking for people that knows this and are willing and wanting to keep a dog for the life of the dog 10-18 years!

If you can not adopt, what about fostering one or both for a few weeks? These two are staying at a vet office and would do better in a home setting.