Harvey Foster Doodle - what a difference a week makes! (cross posted from DRC site)

[Frannie & Callie]

It SHOCKS me to realize that I've only been fostering this sweet boy for a week, because he has made SO much progress...progress that I didn't expect to see for several weeks.

Harvey now prances. Words fail me when I see him trotting alongside Callie and they both have their heads and tails raised high, gazing confidently about. He's letting down his guard enough to be a little goofy sometimes. He completely eviscerated a stuffed toy - he was so proud you would have thought that he brought down an elk! He is now lord of the sofa. He loves (LOVES) to sit on the sofa and snuggle up and be petted. I have taken to sitting dead center on the sofa so I can pet Callie and Harvey at the same time. I got the fastest kiss in the world, right on my nose (but it happened!). Harvey has also found his voice. He doesn't use it much (he seems to follow Callie's lead and is largely silent). I was happy to hear him though - I was starting to worry that he'd been de-barked.

While still a little hand-shy at first, Harvey is now shying away, then immediately moving closer for more pets. He made the rounds with the neighbors last night, and got lots of good loving from all of them!

We still have challenges - it's just a week, right? He doesn't like to get into the crate, but is nicely behaved once there. The house training is coming along (why isn't this called outside training?). I think the antibiotics have helped, but he may need another course. Sometimes I think he has an accident because I mis-read his signals, so we're both part of the learning process. The accidents have really cut down though - I even left Harvey out with Callie when I ran to the store last night. He was a free-range doodle for a good 2 hours with no mishaps. Yea Harvey!

Harvey got groomed yesterday. While he seemed a little traumatized by the experience (and to be fair, it could have been the dramamine I gave him so he wouldn't barf in my car), he rallied beautifully and didn't retreat into is "scared doodle" place.

Below are some pictures my neighbor took yesterday,

A week ago, no one guessed I'd be this cute!

Tags:

[Melissa & Porter]

Yay for the Couch King and YOU. Good work, foster mommy!

[Christine & Shelby]

Love this blog... what a lucky Doodle... and such a cutie!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What a beautiful Doodle. His new "forever family" is going to love him...once they know he is out there looking for them. I think Harvey is going to be a hard one for you to let go. Sounds like he and Callie have become good buddies! You are such a good and special person to do this for these Doodles.

[Kyoko]

How cute !!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

It's a miracle!! Keep it up! I went to the local humane society today and found a doodle there who needs sooo much training. I worked with him a bit, but he has a long way to go. They have a bunch of families interested in him, so fostering won't be needed (It's a no-kill shelter) but I hope to work with him a few times to improve him before he goes to a new home.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Wow! You work wonders on these doods Frannie, he looks awesome!

[Camilla and Darwin]

It sounds like he is doing great under your's and Callie's excellent care. He is absolutely adorable!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

This is one lucky doodle. Thank you for doing what someone in North Carolina failed to do for this sweet boy. Did you get any information about where the puppy mill was that surrendered him?

[Jennifer Linnell]

He looks amazing Frannie! Love seeing him so happy. Not the same little boy we picked up in Durham!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Frannie, is that a new collar I see on Harv? You are doing a great job with him.