Foster Home Feedback:

06/08/15

Emily went to the vet the other day and had her heartworm test which was negative. There also was a start on some allergy type bumps that the vet gave her some antibiotic for. Emily is a very good girl, walks nicely on leash and has all of her basic manners needed to move into a foster or permanent home. She can be reactive to chaotic or noisy dogs yet if she is told to leave it she is very good about redirecting. She has been with dogs of all sizes and shapes but needs a strong leader to keep her in line. If she feels the leadership is weak or compromised she will attempt to "take the reins". Overall she is a good well adjusted girl who does good with kids and even the cats as long as they are not running!

05/29/15

Emily has really made some strides in the right direction! She has been staying at a boarding and training facility in MSP and is working on her manners and confidence while meeting other dogs. She did great with a small dog in her previous foster home after a slow introduction. She is currently doing very well with her training and the trainer has offered to give the new foster and adopter support for the duration of her life should the need arise. We currently need a foster to bring her back to Fargo so she can continue to work on her socialization while in a home. Please email us if you think you can help!

4/2/15

Emily is a very affectionate girl. Her house manners are impeccable: She knows commands like "out" (if she's stalking you, or under your feet), "off" (of furniture, mostly), "go lay down". She is good at making eye contact for permission. Emily does get a bit too excited when a new person comes into the house - she does tend to jump on some people - but it is all from an affectionate place. Smart girl, understands what is expected of her in the house. She has started putting herself in her kennel in mornings before I leave for work.

Emily's main issues are when we are out of the house (she is very paranoid, constantly looking over her shoulder and not trusting of her human) and when she sees or encounters other dogs. She pulls towards them, rears up, whimpers, pants, and get very worked up. If the dogs aren't too close, she is easy to redirect. However, a couple times off-leash dogs have approached her and she has nipped at them. She has met a couple larger dogs through the fence and has been very snarky - she initiates the aggression. We worked one-on-one with a trainer (about 4 sessions) who says she is more anxious or uncomfortable around dogs, than truly aggressive. It is very obvious that she has not been socialized around other dogs, or positively socialized. She had a least one litter of puppies, so it is very possible that she was primarily used for breeding and her only interaction with a another dog was when she was bred.

While we are seeking to rehabilitate Emily, at this time she cannot live with other animals. She is not a dog you can take to the dog-park and you must always be cautious on walks. What she lacks in animal social skills, she makes up for with endless amounts of love. She ADORES people and we know the perfect family is out there somewhere!