Luna Foster Doodle

[Frannie & Callie]

Luna came into the DRC rescue program with her (suspected) sister Stella (and they are aptly named...these dogs will be someone's moon and stars!). I of course don't know what happened in their 2+ years beforehand, but some horrible person did a real number on these girls. I had both Stella and Luna for about a month and while Stella is more outgoing and less fearful than Luna, she still had some anxiety issues and was overly protective of Luna. Stella is now being fostered by Eric Nater (doodle dad of Cooper and Claire) and is loving her new foster siblings! I'll let Eric continue to tell Stella's story...I think he's half in love already! Both girls are HW+ (an ounce of prevention, people!), so they'll be fosters for quite a little while.

When I first met Luna, she wouldn't let anyone pet her, and shied away from all people, She also had a singular goal...escape! She managed to chew through two sets of harnesses, and while I had initially thought Stella was chewing through her harnesses too, I actually caught Luna chewing on Stella's! Now she's in a martingale collar and doing much better (although Callie frequently has to be harnessless and collarless in house, because Luna wants to bestow freedom on her too!), I hate to casually say that she displayed all of the "usual" issues a puppy mill breeding dog has, but she does...and then some! These girls were definitely out on their own at some point. While they had no issues with being inside a car, they had MAJOR issues with cars passing by. Additionally, Luna is scared of the dark. I never thought about a dog having a fear of darkness before, but Luna outside in the daylight and Luna outside in the light are two completely different animals!

Even with some continued fears, I'm incredibly proud of the progress Luna has made. A list of them is below.

learned how to play with toys

discovered a deep and abiding love for antlers 

learned how to walk on a leash (she pulls some when she gets scared, but we are EONS away from where we were!)

stands patiently while I prep her dinner and waits to be served (she's better than Callie with this!)

developed a deep and abiding love for cream cheese treats (she wouldn't initially take any kind of treat for my hand...then she would only take one if I brought it to her on her sofa perch...now she comes in the kitchen as soon as the fridge opens, or when I call her name)

she loves, loves, loves the sofa. and the bed. anywhere soft. 

she is a huge snuggler

she not only learned to poop while on a leash (she didn't poop for the first 3 days at my house and I was freaking out, because she is a known sock eater!!!) but she has learned to poop in the ivy by the zoomp leading down to the creek (aka where I don't have to pick it up).  Callie must have taught her that one, but I did train Callie to go there!!!

she now gives me wonderful eye contact. 

she is starting to warm up to my friend Robyn (neighbor and mom of Callie's BF, Louie). Luna used to go to the end of the sofa and cower, or come hide behind me when she was over, but now, she stays where she was and lets Robyn pet her.

Luna has learned to love the dog park. At first, I kept her on a 50' lead in there (I wasn't confident I'd get her back, even though it's a small area). Tethered or not, Luna initially just hid in the little wooded part. She didn't play, she didn't do her business, and she really didn't move. Now she tears around the lower area (away from the people...she's still very slow to trust people), and plays her furry tushie off! She is FAST, and looks so happy and gleeful when she runs (she's in very early stages of HW, and hasn't started the full treatment, so she can still play).

Belly rubs are now aces in Luna's book. (I'm encouraging her, and trying to pretend that her nipples don't gross me out)

All in all, she's a beautiful, sweet, loving doodle girl. She will be a great pet for the right family...and that family will need to have some patience and another dog. 

Below are some photos...she of course doesn't actually have glowing green eyes! (and it turns out that my red eye remover doesn't work on green!)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

You two did good! They both seem to be doing well. Love the pictures.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Frannie, Welcome back, it's so nice to see you and Callie again and Luna sounds like she is blooming wonderfully with your love and care. You are indeed a special person.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Fantastic job, Frannie!  Luna is one lucky doodle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Eric, thanks for posting pictures of Stella also.  What progress you have made.

[Sharon & Monty]

Frannie, I hope to grow up and be like you.   Thanks so much for your fostering care.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Frannie, You are an excellent doodle foster mom. I can hardly fathom the patience it takes to do this. I admire you and all the foster "parents" so much. Thank you again. I hope she finds the confidence to let the noises go by. 

[Frannie & Callie]

Oh Eric - Stella looks WONDERFUL!!! Thanks for posting some pictures of her.  You're right, patience is the #1 ingredient, really with any dog!! Stella will stop being scared of you while you stand soon. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments. It is so nice to once again be sharing my foster adventures with y'all! Today's adventure was getting Luna to pee. Every time we went outside this morning there was a noise that scared her...a leaf blower, a storm door that was creaking, a neighbor talking, etc. These are the days when I'm glad I have job flexibility and I spent the day making calls from home. Finally around 2pm Luna was relaxed enough to pee. This was a new behavior for her, but she knocked stuff off a table the other day and it scared the bejeezus out of her and we've had a bit of a backslide. Will just take some time. My take away was that she didn't pee in the house, so she's an excellent girl in my book!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Frannie, I love your blogs about your Foster dogs. It restores my faith in the goodness of people. Thank you, once again, for helping such a sweet dog in need. You make the world a better place.

Eric, The same goes for you! Thank you!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Stella is beautiful. Thank you Eric, for taking care of her and developing trust in her. 

[ERIC A. NATER]

Great job with Luna.  Patience is the most important thing with these Dogs.  Her Sister, Stella, is very similar to Luna, and is doing great.  She has adjusted quickly to my Dogs, and our schedule.  She still avoids me mostly when I am on my feet, but is so completely loving when I am sitting or lying down.  She is still too frightened to do much training other than recall, which she is doing great.  I am able to let her out with my Dogs in a non-fenced area, and watch Her, and she will stay with my Dogs, and come when she is called.  That was important to me the last two days with below zero wind chills!  She is so cute and loving, and it breaks my heart to see how frightened she is of unusual noises or situations.  Even though I have been unable to really start training, I can tell she is a very intelligent girl, and will learn quickly once she trusts more.  I also walk he semi off leash, letting her drag a 15 ft lead.  I live on a gated mountain road, with no traffic, so she get a lot of exercise.  I dread the day when we start the HW treatment because this Girl is non-stop playing inside and outside of the house.  Like Cassidi, my last Foster that was adopted Halloween, I don't know how I will let Stella go because I see her great potential, and she is so loving and attached to Cooper and Claire.  She is afraid of the Camera, but I got a couple of shots.  Keep in touch about Luna, and I will keep you updated on Stella.  Thanks for taking her while I was not feeling well.