Anxiety Tank

I have been very lazy lately.

Not!

My foster mom only wishes I were lazy. Yes, once in awhile I'll sleep deeply, and you can talk to me, and I won't wake up... but my foster family has a suspicious nickname for me. It's "Energizer Bunny." So I've been thinking about this and wondering... maybe I'm part rabbit? Could that be possible? The odd thing is I have bunny feet. Although shelties are born with extra toes called dew claws, I have even more!!!! If you look at my photo you can see them. If you pick me up I have these paws that look more like bunny paws than dog paws. I wonder if bunnies see butterflies circling. Maybe that's why the butterflies love me...

To help with my energy, and the butterflies, my foster family has started dressing me in this odd thing called a tank top. They said it's a homemade "anixety wrap." It's suppose to calm me down so I don't run in circles as much and it's suppose to help keep the butterflies away. Personally, I don't think this thing works. I think the reason I don't run around as much when I'm wearing it is because it's annoying. Also, while trying to chew the thing off I'm distracted from watching butterflies. Maybe if I give them sad eyes they will take it off of me.

Butterfly Snapping

My foster mom told me I am no longer on the adoption website. I saw her crying. I think she is upset because more and more I see these little rainbow-color flying insects. I think they must be little moths or tiny butterflies... and I just want to catch them. I never do. They always fly off. But I snap at them. Some days I see them more, and other days not so much.

My foster mother has tried to distract me from them. She'll clap, or give me a chewy, or other things. Sometimes this helps and I stop looking at them and snapping. Other times, they are so beautiful I cannot pull myself away. I cannot stop. She'll even hold onto my collar, but I want them too much...

She has been talking with veterinarians trying to figure this thing out. Why do the butterflies like me? What is so special about me? Well, I think all of you reading this know that everything is special about me. For one I'm a sheltie, and two, I'm the fastest and happiest dog in the world. And I have this thing called (OCD) Overly Cute Disorder. So I do these really cute things a lot.

I will write more about this when my foster mother learns more. So far there's no clear answers. Some veterinarians tell her that I have something called partial or temporal lobe seizures (whatever the heck that is?!), and others say it's a behavioral thing (duh! It's a behavioral thing because butterflies love me and I just want to catch them!!!).

How to Find Me in a Crowd

So... how do you find me in a crowd??? Easy!



Look for the happiest sheltie. Look for the one with extra prance in her step and the most wag in her tail... and that's me!

Southland Sheltie Rescue Inc. Annual Fall Potluck Picnic and Auction

Just recently I had one of the best days ever!!!

Early one warm and sunny day my foster mom packed Jazzy and I... along with blankets, a fold-out chair, two ex-pens, cameras, two boxes of donuts and various other things into the back seat of her truck and drove us to Memorial Park in Sierra Madre to attend the Southland Sheltie Rescue Inc. Annual Fall Potluck Picnic and Auction.

When we got there, we found a park filled with shelties. Jazzy and I were brought to a fenced area where we could run and play with other shelties. Whoever put that fence up must be the smartest and most clever person in the world because everyone had the best time ever in there.

Next, my foster mom went to go buy tickets for the auction. While she was gone a nice lady named Tonya watched us. I liked her shelties a lot. They were super fun to play with. My foster mother really liked her and her family as well. Besides the auction, there was also a Halloween Costume parade. I want to thank my foster mom for not putting me and Jazzy in costumes, or make us participate. Instead she got her video camera out and filmed the event. Here it is... this is the one time you are going to see a video on my blog that I'm not in!



In this video you can see my foster mom's previous foster dog Oliver and his beautiful mom. My foster mom will sometimes say I remind her of Oliver because we are both so cute and extremely loyal.

After the costume parade my foster mom visited a very special sheltie named Merlin. He's blind and deaf. She got to pet and hold him and thought he was the most wonderful dog (next to me, of course). He experiences everything by feel and loves to snuggle and be petted. I think this was nice for my foster mom because I'm so hyper and active that I don't have the patience to be held. I rather run around and wag my tail. She also got to meet Scooby and many other nice dogs from rescue. And she got to see another very special sheltie named Mollie Pumpkin. Molly Pumpkin was recently picked up at the shelter by one of our volunteers. She's a teeny tiny old shetie who had been living on the streets and trying to find food and safety. Now she has a warm home and loving family. I think she believes she has died and gone to heaven! Sometimes a little bit of heaven does land on earth...

My foster mother wants me to let everyone know that the people who volunteer and adopt through Southland Sheltie Rescue (and all the other rescues out there!) are all very kind and loving people who go out of their way to make a difference to help dogs and other animals like myself. She wants me to thank all of you who do this.... even if it's something small and tiny, like helping an unwanted dog have a safe and loving place to stay for a brief space of time, or giving one a forever home.... you help create these pockets of heaven here on earth. Something real and significant... I thank you for your warm and caring hearts.

Overly Cute Sheltie

My foster mom always tells people I have a lot of energy. You're probably wondering.... just how much energy can a little sheltie have? Well, here's a video showing this. My foster mother once had me run with her when she rode a bike. It was okay, but afterwards I still wasn't tired!

OCD

My foster mom has been doing a lot of research on the computer recently. She told me I may have something called OCD which means "Overly Cute Disorder." (Duh!!! Everyone knows I'm the most adorable dog in the world... in addition to being the fastest). Apparently the symptoms are that that I run around in circles a good part of the day (Hey, I'm happy and running in circles makes me feel good), I like to chase my tail often (I'm like Peter Pan. I'm never going to grow up!), and I do something my foster mother calls "air biting." She describes me as looking like a little "Pacman." I'm not sure exactly what that is, but she said it's a computer game she used to program on her first computer.

She's currently trying to find out information about this. She's very concerned I get the proper treatment and that my forever home will be able to help care for me as best as possible. I'm really not sure what this means. I guess this all just confirms I'm very special which is something I've suspected all along. I don't think there's anyone on this earth happier then me.

The Tastiest Water

Why settle for a boring bowl of water when there's extra tasty water in other places in the house? Here you can see me at my favorite watering hole. Now if only that annoying noise would go away.

Visiting Friends

One thing I've noticed is the world is a big place. Sometimes I get to ride in the car. I love to stand and look out the window. I see so many amazing things. Who are all these people? Where are all these cars going? Where does it end? I feel so small.

Yesterday I got to visit two shelties. My foster mother brought me with her. She told me these are shy dogs. One of them recently came into rescue, and my foster mom wanted to take some photos. Since she knows I'm very friendly, and excellent at getting other dogs to play, she thought I might be able to help her get some good photos.

There was a nice person there who gave me a large green bone-shaped treat to chew. She said, "This should keep you busy for a long time." But I think I surprised her because I finished it in about 7 minutes. She seemed a little shocked, and told my foster mom that her dogs can't even get through one of these things. At one point I was chewing so hard that part of it flew against a wall. I think this surprised her too.

One of the dogs was very small and she kept hiding in another room. I tried to get her to come out, but she kept running back in and hiding. The other dog just sat in the person's lap, and watched me. I walked over and looked in her face, and she looked in mine, but she didn't want to play. At one point I did finally get the little dog to run around. That was fun. We were only there for a short time, but I had a great time. Then I got to go back in the car and I fell asleep. Sometimes car rides make me sleepy.

Longer Days

The days are still warm, but I can sense a difference in them. My shadow appears longer when I'm walking across the grass, and the flowers in the yard are losing their scent. There's a woody smell.



How is it that everything which seemed so large when I first came here, now appears smaller. I guess I've grown. Time moves quickly. I still don't have a thick coat like the shelites I sometimes see. And I still have so much energy and love to run and play. I can't imagine ever outgrowing that. But I've overheard that dogs sometimes do. Someday I won't want to move so much and I will want to spend all day lying next to someone's feet or just sitting in their arms.

But, by then, will I fit in someone's arms? Will I grow forever? My foster mom carefully measures my food. I think she's trying to keep me from turning into a giant because I enjoy food so much. However, I've learned that when she's getting food out of the cupboard or fixing dinner, if I wait nearby I can sometimes get a crumb that falls to the floor.

The Big Crazy Food Dish

My foster mom brought this big crazy food dish in the house. She carried it in from the garage, and set it on the floor inside the house.

At first I had no idea what it was for, but then she set it down and started placing food on it. So, apparently it's a new food dish for me. Jazzy won't come near it. That's okay, when food is involved I prefer having it all to myself.

Sadly, my foster mom is not very bright. This dish has no side on it so the food falls off. Also, there's a little hole in the middle and once the food falls inside, it's impossible to reach. Even worse, when I try to get to the food sometimes I have to step on the side of the dish and it moves! Yikes!!!




The biggest challenge for me right now is how to get the food that's fallen in the middle. I know there HAS to be a way, and I know if I stare hard enough and look very closerly, I'll be able to figure it out.

De-Orbiting

Shelties sometimes have peculiar habits. Many of us spin, some pace, and I happen to orbit. When I'm excited I run around in circles. I run around the dining room table, I run around the yard, and I even run around other shelties. Once I was at the park playing with a fluffy Bichon standing next to a tree, and he kept watching me as I orbited around him. He kept whipping his head around so much to watch me that my foster mom was certain that he was going to get dizzy and fall over.

Since people sometimes comment on my orbiting, and my foster mom has concluded that I run around in circles too much, she has decided to put me on a "de-orbiting program." Here's the information that was given to my foster mom from someone (who wants to make my life miserable!) at Southland Sheltie Rescue.

"Circling/orbiting is a nervous behavior and the best way to get them to stop is to distract and redirect the behavior as soon as it starts every time and then reinforce the replacement behavior. Here's the trick. You cannot reward the dog with a treat, toy, or attention while they are orbiting."

"There are many ways to stop this behavior. Here’s two ideas:"

"When I'm training new dogs I will put them on a leash and teach them how to follow me around all day in the house and outside. They cannot orbit when they are on lead. They become more confident and are rewarded for everything they do in a relaxed and calm state. You can let Clover wear the leash and let it drag as she gets further along in her training. When she starts to orbit you can step on the leash to interrupt her. Do not reward her when she is panting, appeasement licking, or looking off into space."

"Squirt bottle – if the dog can be distracted by squirting water in the air, then when you have their attention, ask them to sit or come, then reward the sit or come response. Watch me, sit, and come are the commands/ behaviors you want to reinforce. Never touch, talk, or give toys & treats to a dog that is not paying attention to you."




Yesterday was my first day "deorbiting." I was on a leash while Jazzy had the freedom to do whatever she wanted. It's sooo unfair! My only consolation is I had nice things to chew. I had this yellow rope tied on my harness that was a gnawing challenge. Also, I was able to reach part of my harness and chew it off when my foster mother was distracted.

But really the best thing about deorbiting is I get to be next to my foster mother all day. Until I get my forever mom, she is my person, and being with my person is the very best thing in all the world.

Except maybe orbiting around my person. That might be the very very best!!!

Birthday Girl

I had my birthday. I am now a year old. My foster mother tells me I need to act like a big girl. She says I need to be better behaved. But this is difficult for me. You may have heard how some people are more immature then others. Well, I am an immature dog. I am very much like a little puppy. I still like to chase my tail, and I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I guess I will be a "late bloomer." Someday I will grow up, but my foster mom says that I may take longer, and any family who adopts me will need to be very patient with me.



This family I am currently with loves to celebrate birthdays. Jazzy and I had to endure wearing these ridiculous little dresses (Please can someone just save me from this humiliation! Ugh!), and then we each got treats. I got a Busy Bone. Yeeeeah!!!!

It takes Jazzy days to get through a Busy Bone, but I can chew through one in an hour.

Growing up worries me. What if I don't ever mature? What if I'm always playful like a puppy and getting into "too many things," and having people always exasperated with me? Will I always have endless amounts of energy? Will I always be 99% potty trained but never 100%? Will I always have too much excitement and curiousity? Does this mean no one will ever want me or love me?

Chewies

I'm back to tell you more about me.

Everything always seems to be about me. I am very special. It is always "Clover Clover Clover Clover... don't eat that shoe Clover, stay away from the mud Clover, get your face out of that bag of chips Clover...Clover Clover Clover" I think I'm some type of celebrity.

I hear my name all the time!

Because I am special, people often give me chewies. Although I like my Kong, and those tasty shoe things people wear on their feet, my favoite chewies are bull sticks, and something my foster mom calls dental treats. That sounds like it would be icky, like when my foster mom brushes my teeth, but it's not. Here you can see me getting treats. Unfortunately Jazzy thinks she should have one too, but really they are both suppose to be for me.

Sleepy Sheltie

This is probably hard to believe, but I do sleep sometimes. When I sleep it's very deeply and the world is faraway. I don't hear anything. People can walk by me, or even over me, and I'll just be dreaming. My foster mom can call my name, and I won't hear it. Maybe I just don't want to wake up because I'm chasing sheep or outrunning every dog in the dog park...

I love....

I love long walks
I love being held and carried when I get too tired to move
I love food
I love watching and being near people all the time
I love running
I love eating ice cubes when they fall on the floor
I love toys
I love other dogs and playing with them
I love the park
I love laying out on cool floors with my legs spread out
I love leaves
I love to sniff and snort when I smell something that might taste good
I love crumbs on the floor
I love a hand reaching to pet me even if I'm too excited and can't hold still
I love everything....

Miss Popularity

People are always coming over to meet me. I'm like some doggie diplomat. Sometimes I'm really excited and run in circles, but I think that makes them dizzy, and then they leave. Sometimes I'm relaxed, and I walk over and examine them. The big question in my mind is... do they have food? If they do, I really like them. My foster mom shows them how I can do tricks. I sit, lay down, and stay. She is always amazed at how quickly I learn things.

You'd think with me being so shockingly smart, beautiful, fearless, loyal, funny, and even the FASTEST dog in the world (not fat but FAST) someone would want me. But, as my foster mother tells me... "Clover, you are a special dog and you will need a special home."

Sometimes people come over to meet me and they think I'm too energetic, or they don't want me because I won't stop to let them hug me, or they are worried that I might be something called "destructive." I'm not sure what that means, but I think it has to do with me being too helpful. My foster mom assures them that I am a puppy and I will very likely lose some of this high energy as I get older.

She once asked the vet about this and he told her that 90% of dogs like me outgrow this by age two.
"But," she asked, "What if Clover is in that 10%?"
The vet replied, "Well, then there's always valium."

I'm not sure what that is, but if it tastes good I want it. My foster mother doesn't think it would be healthy for me, and she only thinks I should have healthy things (like that gold rubber toy she left me the other night...it must be here somewhere...), so she won't get it. That's okay, I like my kibble, and anything else that drops to the floor.

Pssssst! I Have a Secret....

Shhhhhhh! Listen... I have a very important secret that I've been hiding for some time now. This is something no one knows. Even Jazzy hasn't discovered it, my friends at the dog park don't have a clue, and not even my foster mom (who likes to think she knows everything but really doesn't) is aware of it. So... I'm going to tell you. Here it is... ... Wait!.. Make sure you are sitting down. Make sure you are comfortable and not going to fall over or anything... Okay, I, Four-Leaf-Clover, am the FASTEST dog in the world!!!!

Yes, folks, it's true. 

I can run faster than any dog in the world. The reason I know this is true is because when I run through the house I move so quickly I slide into cupboards and knock over the big plastic tree near the couch. My foster mother says I'm spastic, but that's not true. The reason I have such uncontainable speed is because I'm the FASTEST dog in the world!!! And, when I'm in the back yard running around in circles, and then I gain such incredible momentum I end up falling into the pool, it's not because I'm clumsy... no... I'm the FASTEST dog in the world!!! Honestly.

My New Toy

Until I find my family, I live in a house full of toys and soft places to sleep. Me and the other sheltie that lives here (Jazzy), live in a big place called a family room, and we have a yard we run in. There are gates up to keep us safe, so we don't run out the door, or get into things we aren't suppose to.

Last night when my foster mom was walking around the family room, taking things out, arranging our toys, making our blankets and pillows comfortable, and giving us our bedtime chewies, she appeared to be looking for something. I wasn't sure what it was, but she didn't find it. So she turned off the lights and left. Later that evening I happened to be sniffing in a corner and I found something new. I'm sure it was the thing my foster mom was looking for, and it was a new plastic toy for me! Yaaaaay!!! One thing I really like about my foster family is they are always giving me toys to chew. This one was chewy like my Kong. But it fit well in my mouth. It smelled great and tasted wonderful too!!!

Sadly, in the morning my foster mom took my toy away. I don't know why she did this, but I think it's because I'm not very good at sharing. She's always telling me things like, "Let Jazzy have that," or "Don't take that from Jazzy." I don't know why I have to share. Jazzy doesn't even like toys and I LOVE them. Here's a picture of my new toy, it's the one on the left. I don't know if I'll get it back, but at least I always  seem to get more new toys to play with.

When I'm not running around...

You can sometimes find me sprawled out on a soft crocheted blanket, a large comfy pillow or outside under a tree....

Special Things about Me

Everything about me is special....

But one thing I always hear my foster mother tell everyone is that I have A LOT of energy. I like to move, and sometimes find it hard to stop. I really love running in circles. It just feels right and I always feel so happy doing it. Everyone comments on how I have my tail high in the air, and a huge smile. "Hey," I'd like to say, "Life is great and I feel good!" Sometimes if my foster mom is nearby I'll run by and take little nips at her ankle, trying to get her to move or play. I also do this funny air-biting thing when I play. People laugh and say I look like a little "Pacman." I'm not sure what that is.

Another thing about me... I want to see everything everywhere, and I want to know what everyone is doing all the time. If anyone is doing laundry, I'm underneath waiting just in case something falls. If they walk away and I see something hanging out of the washer or dryer, I help out by taking it. If someone is cooking, I'm right nearby observing. If anyone goes outside to dig in the yard, I like to dig right next to them. If someone takes out the trash, I like to follow and watch. I guard them to make sure they are safe. Basically, I really love to help.

Another special thing.... I LOVE food. If you drop any, I'm right there, if you leave it on the table, I'll pull down the tablecloth and help you clean it up. Sometimes people leave the cupboard door open for me so I can climb in and get the cereal box. I've learned that it's not difficult to open these up. You just have to push in these flap things, and then bite at the plastic. It's pretty easy. The only thing I don't like is my mouth isn't long enough to reach to bottom no matter how hard I try, and sometimes the box gets stuck on my head. It's so embarrassing!

Adventures of a Foster Sheltie.....

Hi! I'm Clover. I'm an 11-month-old sheltie and my foster mom is helping me create this blog. I want to tell you more about me. I guess I should start at the beginning. At least, as much as I can remember....

There was warmth, cold, dim sounds, silence, and lots of movement. My mother licking my ears, someone biting my tail, being hungry and I couldn't find food. Little bits and pieces of memory, but mostly I remember how they disappeared. Someone would come, watch me, pick me up, look closely into my face and set me down. Later one of my brothers or sisters would be gone. One by one they disappeared and once they were gone I cried.

And I cried all day, and I howled, hoping somehow they'd hear me and return. I didn't like being alone. The people who owned my mother would say "Shhh!" but I just felt lonely. Often I was put in a crate... even though I had a blanket, and sometimes a chewie, I was very sad.

One day they put me in the back of a car and took me to my foster mother's home. They set me on a smooth tile floor and left me in sunlight.