Gus the Foster Doodle, aka The Big Lump of Sugar

[Frannie & Callie]

As you may have read in Nina's blog "Gus Has Been Sprung", Gus is 3(ish) labradoodle boy. Nina and her DD drove to Piedmont, AL to pick him up on Tuesday, and Nina got him vetted, let him have a slumber party with her pack and then got him groomed. Our normal foster drill has Callie at a neighbor's house while I bathe the new foster and try to get him settled in and then trying to keep them separated if the foster hadn’t been vetted yet, so getting a clean and vetted dog was an amazing luxury (thanks again Nina!). Nina and I met in a shopping center parking lot to do the transfer and Gus was a very good boy in the car. He would have greatly preferred to ride up front with me, but I have a strict no-dogs-in-the-front rule.

We got to my house and I left Gus in the car for a minute while I went in and got Callie. Because Gus is significantly larger than Callie, I wanted them to meet outside, just in case Callie got possessive of her home in the face of a larger dog. My intentions were good, but Callie really just didn't like Gus at first. She displayed behavior that I've never seen in her. She got right up in his face and BARKED her head off. Gus was totally unperturbed by this...he thought it was a game and tried to start playing with Callie. For about two hours Wednesday night, Callie barked at Gus. When they started to play, Gus kept trying to mount and hump her which did not help the situation. By the end of the evening we'd settled down to a state of ignoring and on Thursday morning, Callie was her normal, playful self, playing with Gus (but letting him know in no uncertain terms which behaviors would NOT be accepted). However, this blog is not about Callie...

It's about GUS. Gus is insanely, incredibly sweet. He is love starved and frantic in his desire to get and give love and affection. While he's not been taught manners before, he does seem to be housebroken (he was loose yesterday afternoon with no accidents and slept with us last night and woke me up one time when he needed to go out). He needs to be taught not to jump. He gets SO excited and is so happy to meet new people (especially men...he's a dood who loves dudes) that he jumps up and wants to rub faces. He means no harm by it but he's a big, strong, muscular dog who can inadvertently cause injury to someone if he's not properly trained. We've switched to a harness for leash walking, and that's going better than a standard collar. I'm going to get a gentle leader harness this afternoon and Deborah V (neighbor and ardent DRC supporter) is going to let me try her Major's (of blessed memory) facial gentle leader and see if one of these helps more than the standard harness. Gus also needs to learn not to "mouth". I find it kind of cute, but I know he shouldn't!

Please note...he's not bad in any way...he's just strong and untrained. It's somewhat like having a 3 month old puppy...who happens to weigh nearly 70 lbs!

We have already started to work on some positive, corrective training. The first "command" (not sure if it's an actual training command, but it's one that I have always used) that we have been working on is a broad one. It's "GENTLE". We started that one after the first treat, when my entire hand was pretty much in his mouth. He now takes treats with a very soft and gentle mouth. He's HIGHLY food motivated and wants to please his people, so this guy is going to be trainable. Concurrently, we're working on "DOWN".

These are all small, solvable issues. Gus has a heart of gold and lots of doodley personality and will make an amazing pet!!!

[Susan and Sasha]

Frannie and Nina...I love the idea of a children's book too!!
Great idea...
Actually...it' not only something that children would be interested in...but people of "all" ages...depending upon how you want to gear it.
Who knows...maybe first a childrens book...then a series...and then...a much needed book for adults...informing them about dog rescue...and including some really wonderful "real life" stories.
Okay...I know...I often get carried away...but...I think you know what I mean... lol.
Frannie...Gus sounds like such a Sweet Boy!
He sure is a Lucky Dood to be there with you and Callie...
Callie sounds like a really "special" girl herself!!
It takes a lot to share your home...your toys...your family...and especially your Mom with someone else!!
Callie Is One Incredible Girl...Soooo Loving!!
Actually...You Both Are...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Anna-- Have you gotten a copy of Donna J. Shepherd's Book "Poodle & Doodle". I think she is a member here. I bought the book at Dog Fest Here in Cincinnati! It's a children's book about a little Poodle whose Mom adopts a Labradoodle from the Pound. (Sounds a little like Guinness and Murphy).

[Phoebe's Mom]

I just finished writing (as in this very aftrnoon) an article about how we chose our Phoebe. My husband has told me time and again that a doodle book is in my head--now I just need to get it down on paper, it seems. Gus seems like an awesome companion. You have a heart of gold for fostering as you do. I really admire those of you who do such a wonderful job with rescue.

[Anna and Achilles]

I am a kindergarten teacher who would love to read a book about doodles to my class. Let me know. They hear all about Achilles all the time. I am sure they would welcome it. Every day when I leave for lunch one of the little boys says are you going home to let out your crazy doodle? The market is there.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really love the idea of a Doodle book for children. How about one of those personalized books where you can name the kids and Doodles in the story. Those books are expensive, but my grand kids LOVE them. This could definitely be a "moneymaker". I'm not kidding either....and there are lots of us who would help.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

And besides...Frannie and Nina...you have tons of free time on your hands...right?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

If you did those books, I would buy for everyone I know. I think it would have great lessons of patience and also be entertaining. Just a good message all around - and some comical relief as well :)

I am not kidding!!!!!!!!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

It could be a real money maker...some going to DRC!!! We have over 6,000 members on DK...I bet there would be a huge amount of sales just right here!!!!

[Frannie & Callie]

Hmmm...we'd better get started writing, Nina! I've actually been toying with a doodle children's book already, based on the "Night-Night Time in Doodletown" lullaby I sing to Callie (and any other doodle in residence). Thank goodness for DK where I can admit that I made up a doodley lullaby for Callie!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ah, heart of gold. well he came to the right spot where there are 2 more of those. And the book idea sounds so good too. Nina and Frannie, 2 of our doodle rescue heroines!!