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!!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I too, keep most my foster notes here and the DRC, Inc site. Hmm, Frannie, what do you think... Diaries of Doodle Rescues?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Cheryl (Frannie & Nina too) .... Funny that you mention this because I've been thinking that someone (other than me because I have no writing talent) should start a series of Children's Books that relate to Rescue (with Doodles as the characters of course). They could be all about the different adventures related to different rescues and about having fundraisers for the sick ones etc. I thought about this after seeing how interested my 6 y/o niece is in the whole rescue process. We need to catch them young and train them right so that the next generation will have a much greater appreciation of dogs and also be there willing to help those dogs that need help.

[Frannie & Callie]

Nancie - I can't speak for Nina, but I keep almost all of my foster notes and stories on here! There occasionally are details that I don't include because it's a one-time problem and I get concerned it will stick in a potential adopter's mind (like when Bixby had bloody diarrhea in my bedroom and then peed in my bed the first night he was with us - he never had another accident in the house. I generally think the first few days don't really count!). We wish you lived near us too!!!

[cheryl & oliver]

Frannie and Nina, my son is a literary agent in New York City and is always looking for a great book with a great story...(And he loves doodles)...If either of you would like to write a book, of your adventures and stories with these wonderful doods, do it, let me know and I will put you in touch with my son...Who knows, you guys could be the next Harry Potter wonders...In all seriousness, I would be more then happy to help with this. And agian thank you both for all you do for these amazing animals....

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh, Gus sounds like such a sweet boy with lots and lots of love to give. Frannie and Nina, you're at it again...the dynamic Doodle duo. You're beyond amazing!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Frannie...do you keep notes or a diary on each Foster you get? I think you could put together an amazing book along with Nina about Foster Doodles and it would be such a heart warming book to read with very happy endings and lots of photos! You both do an amazing job with these Doodles and I love to hear all about them. I just wish I were the kind of person that you two are and could take on a totally strange Doodle in my home. Maybe some day I will be brave enough to try it. I just wish I lived near you all so I could at least step in and help in person. Keep the updates coming!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

He sounds like such a loving boy, thanks for the updates!

[Paul & Michele]

It sounds like we will have some pretty interesting stories from you while fostering Gus. Will be looking forward to reading all the adventures and tell Callie to hang in there Molly wasn't all that happy when we got Bailee and she has adjusted well they play well together but Molly wastes no time telling her when she doesn't like something. It's funny to watch them play and wrestle around the yard. Can't wait to see some pictures....

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Gus sounds like a normal goofy doodle. I am sure he will be a wonderful addition to someone's family. Thanks Frannie and Nina!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Yup, I don't think Gus has ever met a stranger. Thanks Frannie for foster this sugar plum.