​FOSTER FEEDBACK

​11/30/16

 Nola is a very sweet, gentle dog.  When we let her in the house for the first time, she immediately went to the couch and got comfortable.  Of course reuniting with her companion dog that we’ve been fostering for 3 weeks now was a happy reunion.  Our neighbors on both sides have dogs, and when they are out, Nola is very interested in them, pacing the fence line and barking.  It doesn’t seem to be an aggressive bark, more just a ‘Here I am, who are you’ bark.  We haven’t tried to walk her on a leash as we have a fairly big back yard.  My daughter walked Nola before delivering her to us, and she said she  has a tendency to pull when she's attracted to something.  She is strong, there’s no doubt about it!!  I have two cats, a 21 yr old and a 6 yr old.  My younger cat ran off upon seeing her, but is gradually getting use to her knowing she means her no harm.  I was a little worried about my older cat because she fears nothing, but she is very frail and Nola initially did a lot of nuzzling trying to be as gentle as a Mastiff can be. My cat wasn’t impressed.  She mostly leaves the cat alone now and they have become couch potatoes together.  Nola knows how to sit and shake on command (at least with a treat in my hand).  I haven’t found a toy she’s interested in yet, but she does like to play with people.  There again, she’s a strong dog, so be prepared for a little jostling.  She is house trained and will go to the door when she wants out.  If you want her out other than the times she wants to go out, you’ll have to give her a little tug on her collar and say, “Let’s go!”  I haven’t worked on commands with her since her stay with us is only for a few days. I don’t think Nola was ever crated.  She seems very comfortable around the house.  If you want a guard dog, she is not your dog, although her size and deep bark can be very intimidating for those who don’t know her.  Today is the first day I left the dogs and the cats alone in the house together for a couple of hours.  When I walked up the deck and opened the door, I expected some barking, but she was busy lounging and only looked up to see who it was.  Nola loves to be brushed and when you finish brushing one side, she’ll turn around so you can do the other side.  She loves attention and will continually put her paw up on your lap for more attention.  Right now since the weather is so mild, she sleeps on a rug in the garage with her companion dog, but I wouldn’t hesitate to have her in the house overnight which will be the case when the snow/cold temps move in.  She has not had any accidents while in our care.   I don’t have young children, but my  9 yr. old grandson and family stopped in, and Nola was good with them.  Just more people to pet her.  Oh, one more thing that I find hilarious.  She often sits there with her tongue showing.  It’s a face only a mother could love.