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The Foster Dog is Here!
Oct. 4th, 2016 09:57 pmAs of this evening I have a dog in my home again. I was nervous about having a small dog; I don't have much personal experience with them. Now that Piper is here though, it just makes me so happy to have her here to pet and walk and play with.
Piper is a Yorkshire Terrier. That's also new to me, as the dogs I'm most familiar with have been large working breeds like my Akita. Piper also needs special care; she's diabetic and needs daily insulin and carefully controlled feeding. She's very underweight and part of the goal of fostering her is to get her medical issues stabilized and get her healthy and happy.
She was being fostered by someone with cats, and the cats were not pleased by the situation. Still, her time there was good for her; she's gained a pound since last week and seems to have much more energy and enthusiasm than when I last saw her. I will ensure the trend continues!
Piper was nervous and trembling on the ride home, but she seems to have settled in nicely. Danae and Nathan both like her and have been petting and playing with her. She's felt safe enough to engage in some clear play behavior and to present her tummy for scritches.
We've gone out for a couple of walks since I don't know how frequently she needs to pee. The diabetes makes her drink and urinate a lot. I'm not sure if she's up to a walk to the lake front and back, but we'll give it a try tomorrow! I have to pick her up to navigate the steps in the condo lobby; she's too small to make them on her own without sliding and slipping. I also, apparently, have to keep an eye on her around tall places; while walking near the post office, she jumped the three feet down to the sidewalk from the grass lot around the building. I wasn't expecting her to do that, and Yorkies can be fragile!
More pictures will be coming when the light is better! In fact, you may get tired of them by the time I'm done.
Piper is a Yorkshire Terrier. That's also new to me, as the dogs I'm most familiar with have been large working breeds like my Akita. Piper also needs special care; she's diabetic and needs daily insulin and carefully controlled feeding. She's very underweight and part of the goal of fostering her is to get her medical issues stabilized and get her healthy and happy.
She was being fostered by someone with cats, and the cats were not pleased by the situation. Still, her time there was good for her; she's gained a pound since last week and seems to have much more energy and enthusiasm than when I last saw her. I will ensure the trend continues!
Piper was nervous and trembling on the ride home, but she seems to have settled in nicely. Danae and Nathan both like her and have been petting and playing with her. She's felt safe enough to engage in some clear play behavior and to present her tummy for scritches.
We've gone out for a couple of walks since I don't know how frequently she needs to pee. The diabetes makes her drink and urinate a lot. I'm not sure if she's up to a walk to the lake front and back, but we'll give it a try tomorrow! I have to pick her up to navigate the steps in the condo lobby; she's too small to make them on her own without sliding and slipping. I also, apparently, have to keep an eye on her around tall places; while walking near the post office, she jumped the three feet down to the sidewalk from the grass lot around the building. I wasn't expecting her to do that, and Yorkies can be fragile!
More pictures will be coming when the light is better! In fact, you may get tired of them by the time I'm done.
