Today I accidentally became a fosterer after one of GAL’s boys Donovan needed an emergency placement.
He is a quiet five-year-old black boy going gracefully grey who is pretty much scared of everything, except as it turns out, fireworks.
Byron was a little suprised to find another boy in the house but since Donovan shows no dominance and is happy to follow Byron everywhere they are getting on very well. Byron so far has enjoyed having back up each time he races into the back garden and the pair had a very loud exchange with the two thug Staffies who live round the corner from us as they passed the fence - usually Byron is on his own and gets shouted down.
Nell is completely disinterested in the new boy. She is number one and
that is all she cares about.
Tonight on our first walk as a foursome we also encountered close-up fireworks for the first time. Donovan and Nell were unfazed but poor Byron went into a tailspin of panic.
Thankfully he was on his gentle leader but he was frothing at the mouth as he pulled us all home and is currently in a corner of the livingroom hunched up on blankets, where he obviously feels safest.
Donovan is asleep on his bed panting away as he adapts to the central heating. Nell is upside down on her bed out cold.
Don’t think there’s much chance of getting the boys out again tonight!
Marie
Pix will come but still adapting to routine today. I was working and trying to get three of them leaded, coated and muzzled before going in the car was a new challenge, especially since Donovan, like most new dogs gets very excited at any suggesting of going out.
When I came downstairs this morning Donovan was curled up beside Byron on the same sofa.
Of course when I came in Byron got up and joined me on the other couch in a ‘I don’t know how he got up beside me’ kind of way.
I’m amazed by By’s tolerance, especially to a boy still waiting to be snipped. But there is nothing dominant about Donnie at all.
Tonight Byron is still badly rattled by the fireworks and tried to refuse to go out,we managed about three minutes of our walk before I had to cut it short to take him home, he was way too jumpy and stressed.
Then I went out with just Nell and Donovan. Donnie struggled to understand where his pal was and was keen to get home.
He is very easy on the lead though, a bit unsure but inclined to hip hug rather than bounce around.
A week on and Donnie is settling very well. He has, of course, decided that if Byron doesn’t want to go out in the dark he shouldn’t do it either, so I have two woosy black boys hiding indoors in the evening while Nellie and I go for a wee stroll.
Today Donnie went to have his bits off so he’s having a bad night, he’s clearly in some discomfort and whining away to himself.
I now know what its like to having a crying wean!! I keep having to remind myself he will be back to normal by tomorrow.
Nell & Byron appeared not to notice he disappeared all day today and are completely unimpressed by his whines now he is back.
I know Byron secretly enjoys having someone to lord it over. Tonight Byron was caught with his face shoved in Donnie’s dinner bowl and when I told him off and took the bowl away to give to Donnie, he just stepped back and let Byron back in.
Soft lad!
Looking forward to the pics!
