What a difference a week makes!  Though our little Harvey is still a little skittish. . .he's made huge strides!  When we are sitting down, he now comes to us to be picked up and when we reach for him. . .he doesn't even back up!  I feel like a new mom seeing my baby do something for the first time!  It's really quite exciting to see him coming out of his shell!  

Meanwhile, he and Maddie (our daughter's puggle) continue to be good buddies!  The only change now is that they have a morning ritual of crazy time, which includes about 5 minutes of chasing each other around the living room.  It's quite entertaining.  It puts a smile on my face watching Harvey become Harvey!  He also LOVES to play with toys!  I bought him an unstuffed duck with a squeaker in his head and OMG!! He LOVES this thing.  He plays with it everyday.  He flings it into the air, chases after it, flings it again.  I have video taped him doing it and if I can figure out how to post it, I will.

Potty training continues!  He's actually doing pretty good...only a couple of accidents, but we are diligently trying to get him in the routine of going to the door when he has to go.  In the meantime, I keep track of the time and take him out regularly.  I just take him into the grass, don't let him walk around too much (cause he really likes to go out and run around and play), but at "potty time", I keep the leash short, let him do his business and then immediately take him back inside and give him a treat.  Yes!  I believe in rewards!!  They work!! 

All in all, this is one amazingly sweet little guy!  I love that he's so little and easy to carry around! (He loves it too!)  Oh, and have I mentioned that he doesn't bark when someone comes to the door?  I, personally, like this attribute in a pet!

Harvey and his duck

Harvey being cute!

Is this not the cutest tiny hiney!!

Peek a boo

We're so thrilled to have a new foster!  I picked Harvey up last Wednesday and have been biding for his attention since.  He's a pretty timid little pooch when approached, but we have eagerly tried to make him feel safe every since we brought him home!  He's a funny little guy about it too!  Fact is. . .he LOVES to snuggle and to just lay on your lap, but it's a bit of an effort to get him on your lap.  He comes to you, but then he backs away, then he comes back. . .hops around like 'I really want to come up. . .I really want to come up'.  The last two days, I've just been holding my hand out, he's smells it, backs up, comes back, I reach for him, and he lets me pick him up.  We're making progress!!

I have to say that having another dog in the house has really been helpful with Harvey.  He and Maddie were immediate friends from the moment I brought him home.  He learned the potty routine right away and loves the treat they get when I bring them in.  He's really good on a leash and loves being outside. They love to play and race around and then nap together. . .It's very cute!  (FYI:  Harvey is pretty little, so I have to lift him up on to the couch)  I also keep their crates together.  That way, when we leave, and at bedtime, they're together.  It's really worked out well.

Like I tell everyone, there is nothing better than a rescue dog for a pet!!  They are so happy and grateful to be loved and love you back SO MUCH!!  

Look at Harvey's adorable smile!

At the pumpkin farm. . .I think I see a smile!

Harvey taking time to smell the mums

King of the Pumpkins!

Our Meet & Greet at the Doggie Bag!

What a great day for the Fluffy Dogs, foster parents and owners alike!!  It was a Meet & Greet at the Doggie Bag (a great store BTW) in downtown Oconomowoc this past Saturday.  I was amazed at the amount of people there, but more amazed at the recognition the puppies got!!  Everyone seemed to know each of the fosters as they came in!  As Jay and I walked in with our 'boys', people immediately came up to us and asked "Is that Estevan?"  "Is this Donnelly?"   It was a terrific opportunity for people who were interested in owning, to come in and visit with the dogs they had been admiring on http://rescue.fluffydog.net.  I am very hopeful for the outcome of this amazing event!!

One more thing about Saturday. . .I was so so so impressed with the how well behaved ALL of the dogs were during this whole thing.  This was potentially a very high stress situation for some of the dogs with all of the people and children coming up to them, petting them and the amount of noise. . .but they really rocked it!  They were all so amazingly good!!  I was a proud foster mom to say the least!!

Meanwhile, back on the home front, our fosters are doing great!  Estevan absolutely LOVES the snow!  I'm wishing I had a fenced in yard so he could just run, run, run!!!!!  He just loves it when Abby takes him out to play so he can run, jump and hop around on his very loooooooong leash!!  As for Donnie (Donnelly), he likes to run out, do his thing and get back in (and of course, get his treat)!  He's definitely not a fan of the cold and snow. . .which is why he now has a new sweater to wear outside!!

Estevan and Donnie at the Meet & Greet

Tuckered out . . .snoozing in the car on the way home!

They were great travelers in the car!!

Estevan taking his nap once we got home

Donnie taking his nap after we got home

Estevan and Abby playing in the snow!!

Estevan playing with favorite leopard out in the snow!

What a Month It's Been!

And by month I don't mean December or January, I mean the past 30+ days!  This foster mom has been sick with cold, flu, sinus, laryngitis and plugged ears!  But you know who's been by my side the whole time???  My little fluffy dogs Estevan and Donnie!  They literally laid in bed with me for 2 1/2 days while I had the flu.  The only time we got up was to go potty!  Even when everyone came home from work and school, they laid in bed with their sick mama!

AND then there was Donnie Boy (Donnelly).  Watching him for a week or two  has turned into. . .gosh, I'm not really sure.  But I have to say, Estevan LOVES having a brother!  Since the day he arrived they have been in-separable and yes, some time insufferable! :) They can't help but to play constantly!!!!!!  Every trip outside to go potty is an adventure. . .who can get outside first, who can get back in the door first, ect!!! lol.  But, once again, I have another little lover on my hands.  Donnie is a mama's boy for sure.  He follows me, sits with me, won't go up stairs without me. . .even though everyone's already up there!  He too proves my point that these sweet little fosters just want to be loved and taken care of by a forever family.  

Since my last post, we've enjoyed Christmas eve / day at our house, New Years eve, and birthdays, birthdays and more birthday parties at our house. . .nothing but a rotating door of company.  Estevan and Donnie were such good boys during all of it. . .well except for the occasional begging for food. . .but they are dogs after all and couldn't help themselves!  But other than that, we were pretty pleased.  I wasn't sure how they would handle all of the chaos and hoopla that ensued!

In closing I have to say that two dogs can sometimes be a handful, but if you have the patience and the room, having two dogs is pretty cool.  From my own experience with my (4) kitties, and what I've observed with Estevan and Donnie (and even the occasional visit from Maddie, our granddog), is that they love the companionship and friendship they have with each other.  Each night, when we're all settled in and snuggled up in the living room and watching tv, we each have a dog laying next to us and kitties laying behind us on the back of the couch and recliner.  It's really pretty special!

Donnie, Estevan and Maddie all trying to help Sam open her Christmas gifts!

Kathryn and Estevan

Estevan being Kat's reading pillow!

Grandma, this is a nice doggie!!

That's right, keep petting me up and down!

Donnie (Donnelly) playing Peek a Boo

A Little Game of Tug of War!

Estevan has been in heaven since Donnie Boy's (Donnelly) arrival!  They play together, nap together, eat together, go out to potty together, bide for my attention together, try to sit on my lap together. . .you get the picture!  Maybe they remember each other from Tail Waggin Doggie Day Care.  Either way, they've become fast friends!  (But I do wonder, does one of them think they are the alpha, because Donnie is older but Estevan is bigger. . .hmmmm????)

Anyway, they started their own game of tug of war with one of the chew toys yesterday.  I thought it was so cute and pretty funny to watch and listen to. . .so of course, I ran to get my camera hoping to capture the action!  Their expressions, while in the heat of their game, were priceless!  

Just cuz you're bigger. . . .Grrrr. . .

They're really tuggin' hard here!

Ahhh. . .I finally have it for myself!!

WooHoo. . .SNOW!!!!

I'm going to guess that because our little guy comes from Alabama, that this was his first day in snow!  He LOVED it so much!  He was running and jumping and rolling in it!  Digging his face into it and eating it!!  He couldn't get enough!  He just wanted Abby to keep kicking up the snow so he could keep playing!  It was so fun to watch the two of them playing!

Just Another Day, Until Today!

Life with Estevan continues to be pretty enjoyable and entertaining! He's really come into his own at this point and we've got a pretty good routine going!  He's getting along with the cats even though they don't really like him, but they tolerate him.  He only chases them in the morning, which is his CRAZY ~ WooHoo. . .It's another day time!!!!!  I'm super happy to say NO accidents in the house. . .Thank You Estevan! xo.  So pretty much his days consist of eat, sleep, play, go for walks, try to lick the dirty dishes in the dish washer, snuggle. . .all things dog!!

He recently enjoyed his first sleep over!  He LOVED it!!  More kids for him to play with and get petted by!  He was in heaven!  The kids couldn't get enough of him and in return he snuggled up with them and watched a movie...it was so cute!!  

Here is another great tid bit.  Last weekend we had to go to IL for a surprise party.  I knew we were going to be gone at least 6 hours (which is the longest we've ever left him) and wouldn't be able to take him.  So before we left, we took him outside, got him set up in the back hallway (where he stays during the day when I have to leave), put up the baby gate and gave him a brand new bone.  We left and came back approximately 6 1/2 hours later and no accidents, no incidents, no nothing!  He was a perfect angel!  I was so proud of him!  

But today was probably the second most exciting day so far for Estevan.  Today we brought home Donnelly, a/k/a Donnie, for a short term visit!  He's another Fluffy Dog rescue in need of a home, and like Estevan, he is as sweet as can be.  I think I must be the Roy Rogers of dogs. . .
"I've never met a dog that I didn't like."  Anyway, I brought Donnie home, brought Estevan outside to meet him, because I heard that you are suppose to tell your dog another dog is coming home and then let them meet outside, as to not invade on the first dog's space.  So we did that and they were all crazy with each other!  No aggression, no growling, just jumping and wrestling. . .and several hours later. . .it hasn't stopped! lol  They follow each other around, running and jumping and then the next thing you know, they're laying down by each other taking a cat nap!  

So here is my final thought for tonight. . .these rescue dogs are so amazing!  They are so full of love and so happy that you have brought them home!  I couldn't be happier that we decided to become a foster family!  They make you fall in love the first time they come up to you and lick your cheek.  

This is the barrel Estevan likes to sit on when he's outside

Just lookin' cute

Estevan's sleepover buddy

Lookin' for a little sugar!! 

I ruff you! xo

Donnie and Estevan

My Abby and Estevan

Come on. . . just a little closer

Yeah. . .like that!  So cute!

Sweet little Donnie (Donnelly). . .also available for adoption!!