Adios Amigos

The Chihuahuas have left the Hotel for Dogs! I am going away for three weeks so they have gone to another foster carer who seems really nice. I am NOT going to have them back as they don't really fit into my life where I like to be able to do things on a moment's notice. This sounds very selfish I know and I am agonizing over my decision to give them up before adoption. I love them heaps but the decision is now made. Hopefully they will find a forever home soon as they have lots of love to give.
I intend having a break till after Christmas so the Hotel will be closed over the holiday period. But it will be open again next year! Best wishes to all. 
Marilyn - The Dog Diva

Chihuahuas Still Rule!

Con (Short for Consuelo - Good grief!)

Pepper -a real little senorita

I hadn't checked my last post on the chihuahuas since I wrote it in June. To my embarrassment I have discovered that I had them the wrong way around!  Con is the little tan male and Pepper is the black female. Poor dogs!!!


Well they are still with me sadly. We have not had any suitable applicants in the six weeks since they came to the Hotel for Dogs. They are pretty demanding - very full on for such tiny dogs. A dog trainer came and visited them last week. For the first 20 minutes, they were terrified of him but then they were fine. He gave me a couple of techniques for calming them when they get a fright when out walking etc.
They are improving. They will now sit on command, are fully toilet trained and walk well on a lead.The next thing is controlling the frenzied barking if someone comes to the door!!! They love kids but not other dogs.

I can't take them to Brisbane when I visit unfortunately as they would escape out of the yard where I stay. Misty, my grand dog, does not like them at all which is surprising as she loves everyone and everything. But the feeling is mutual so it's best they stay away. They have to go to another foster carer when I go away for a night or two.
Hopefully someone will want them soon - they are very special but do need someone who can devote quite a bit of time to them.

Love it when this happens!

Bye for now
Marilyn - The Dog Diva

Ole ! Ole! Here I Go Again!

Well Mickey has been replaced in the Hotel rather quickly. I now have two very small chihuahuas named Consuela and Pepper!! They are only about 18 months old and very full on for such little dogs.
Consuela - Connie for short - is the female black one and a real smoocher. Pepper is the tan male and still quite nervous which he hides with aggression whilst hiding behind the nearest suitable tree!

Neither have any social graces to speak of! They leap from couch to couch at home, rip up any stray bits of paper, bring in bits of twigs and bark to demolish, have no idea of what the words "Sit", "Stay" or "Come" mean and bark at every bird that dares fly into the garden. But they are very appealing!!!!  They sleep all night in their own bed in their own room which is VERY IMPORTANT in this hotel! They walk reasonably well on a leash, are not fussy eaters and are almost toilet trained.
They are not related and were not desexed when 4 Paws took them in. But they have had the operation now and are recovering well. They love small children but are  quite wary of other dogs.
Unfortunately they have learnt to escape from their pen when I go out. They simply go under it!!!  No other guest has worked that out. I will have to enact Plan B as they cannot be left unrestrained and unsupervised in some way.
Cheers
The Dog Diva

Connie

Pepper

Escape Artist

Mickey Checks Out

 Good News!

Mickey and his 2nd Favourite Toy

 Mickey has found a lovely new home. He was in residence at the Hotel for Dogs for about 4 weeks and life was certainly different whilst he was here. He did grow up quite a bit - not nearly so frightened on walks and he interacts well with other dogs now. He especially loved Cousin Misty (my grand-dog) with whom he spent a couple of weekends. He just wanted to play all day of course which Misty accepted with good grace most of the time.
He now lives with a lovely lady who has another little playmate for Mickey which is great.  She is going to rechristen him "Bear" which really suits him even if he is still only a cub!

I did enjoy having Mickey around and am missing him on Day 1 but I am very happy for him in his new home. A puppy requires a great investment of time which sadly many owners just can't give.
So I'll see what happens next!
 Cheers
The Dog Diva

Great when Mickey did this!

And this!

A Puppy Comes to Stay!!!

I had been  hoping I could limit the clientele at the Hotel for Dogs to adults only!  But no - a 15 week old pup is now in residence and things aren't quite the same any more.
This is Mickey -  probably a long haired Jack Russell and with the personality to match - FULL ON!
How could I say no to such a face?????





He had been sold to a 93 year old man and his 87 year old wife at a pet shop. Need I say any more?  They saw the old folk coming as they charged a fortune for him saying he was mainly Maltese. Maybe when he was even smaller he looked fluffier. The new owners loved him dearly but as grew up he became much harder to manage. Jack Russells need very firm handling right from the start.

Because of their circumstances, Mickey wasn't used to going outside on a lead, travelling in a car or socialising with other dogs. He is much happier on his walk now though still frightened of trucks, fast cars, bikes, scooters and wheelie bins!

Mickey is extremely busy most of the day but he does sleep in his pen all night and is toilet trained. He is happy with his dry food and loves a bone now and then.He is off to a Puppy Preschool session tomorrow so that he can socialise with other dogs as he really has no idea how to act around them He must have been taken from his litter very early.  Life is a bit more challenging at present!

You can view his profile on the 4 Paws Website  

 Living With Mickey

Milo Checks In and Checks Out!

On Easter Saturday another dog checked into the Hotel for Dogs. It was Milo - a 3 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was feeling a bit fragile. He had been with another carer for a day but as she had too many dogs, Milo came to me. I was dogsitting my grand dog Misty for a couple of weeks so I thought they would be good company for each other.

Milo

Milo had been surrendered because his owner could no longer care for him. For a couple of days he was a little wary of Misty as she is rather boisterous and wants to be best friends immediately. He was very protective of his eating space even though I fed them separately. But all was sorted out and they became best mates.

Milo and Misty

Milo gets on well with adults and children and enjoys the company of other dogs. He sleeps in the laundry without fuss, is very well toilet trained and is not a fussy eater. He loves a walk and travelling in the car. So all this meant I would probably not have him for long. Sure enough, he was adopted by a lovely lady this afternoon whose own Cavalier died a couple of months ago. A good result for all !
Misty goes home tomorrow so the Hotel will be vacant again but probably not for  long.

Cheers
Marilyn

Tigger is Adopted!!!!

Hello All

Tigger's last day with me - oh dear!!!

I haven't written for awhile mainly because I have still had little Tigger as my foster dog.
It had reached the 9 month mark. Finally a lovely couple from Brisbane fell in love with him - sight unseen except for his profile on the website. They were happy to deal with his medical requirements - eye drops twice a day and the necessity to visit an ophthalmologist every six months for a checkup.
But it was really hard to let him go as we had become very attached of course. He is such a good dog so I did agonise over whether to adopt him myself or not. But the new owners can provide more company during the day for him and don't flit around travelling as much I am doing at present.
Several of the dogs I've fostered have gone to forever homes recently. Little Missy and Brutis, Sarah Jane, Tilly and now Tigger. You can check them out on the Pets Recently Adopted  link on our website
I don't have another dog as yet as I have been away again but will get one soon no doubt. I am dogsitting my grand dog Misty for a couple of weeks so she will enjoy the company of another dog I'm sure.
I have just finished a rather lovely book titled "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. It has been around for about 5 years so you may have read it. It's told from the point of view of a dog named Enzo who is approaching the end of his satisfying life. He relates the story of his family who have had to undergo both difficult and happy times over the years. The story is not sentimental at all and I guarantee that you will look at your dog a little differently from now on if you read this book.
Just what is going on behind those great big eyes??????

I will let you know when the next guest arrives at the Hotel for Dogs.

Bye for now
Marilyn - the Dog Diva