Foster in the Spotlight - Paladin

Contributed by Paladin's foster mom





Paladin was an owner surrender due to hardship and was terrified at the shelter. He has obviously been a very loved dog. He is about 10 years old and a bit larger cairn at about 19.5 lbs. He has already lost over 2 lbs since joining the CP family. Unfortunately, he was shaved when pulled so his coat is slowly growing out. He is fully housebroken and will go to the door or sit at your feet and look at you if he needs to go out. Paladin got along wonderfully with the two resident Cairns almost immediately and followed their lead. Paladin joins the resident Cairns in greeting family and visitors. Paladin hasn't met a dog or person that he didn't like immediately. Oops, he barks at the mail carrier and his truck, but happily takes treats from them. Paladin also barks when he is excited. He used to bark while I made dinner, but quiets when I say no--he spins in circles with anticipation when he sees me with his dinner bowl. Mike gives the dogs a small treat at 7pm nightly. Paladin and friends come running when they hear the crinkle of the treat bag. The three sit nicely and wait their turn and take their treats gently.

He loves long walks and playing tug of war or fetch. He has more energy than my Cairns. Paladin is so excited to walk that he does pull on lead at the beginning of the walk, but he is getting better. The first time I took him to be weighed--at the PetSmart vet's scale--I bought him a little rubber football. He carried it everywhere, even on mile-long walks, and he slept with it for weeks. I wondered if he felt he had lost everything and that the ball was the only thing that was his. Recently, he has started joining us on the sofa to watch tv and is seeking ear and belly skritches. He makes the funniest noises when you scratch his ears. I tried to video it but I'm either too slow to get the camera or he stops when he sees it. I will keep trying.

Please don't let Paladin's age keep you from considering him. He still has a lot of energy and lots of love to offer you. Please keep your heart open to an older guy who would love to spend his forever at your home!

Paladin is being fostered in Illinois and you can learn more about him by clicking here.

IN THE FOSTER SPOTLIGHT!!

Written by BG's foster mom


Bubba Gump has been our foster since Labor Day weekend. He came from the midwest after being rescued from a commercial breeding facility. Foster Dad picked him up at the airport. He was very friendly but uncertain of his new surroundings. For his first 4 years, his life in a cage did not include a loving family, regular exercise, good food, fresh water, and housetraining. We quickly discovered that he was a "talker" and chortled whenever he was uncertain or surprised by something. We began to call him Snickers and he seems to like his new name.

It has been a long road for him to learn to trust people and acknowledge and follow the "rules of the house". He has had a few bumps in the road but after 4 months, we are proud to say that he is crate trained, housetrained and goes to the door if he needs an extra trip, walks nicely on the leash, obeys simple commands like sit, stop at curbs, no bark and look at me. He has a little bit of a stubborn streak and pouts in his expen when he doesn't get his way. He has learned the rules and enjoys his daily routines. He is very smart and watches everything that is going on. He has worked through some fears that were probably related to his years in the commercial breeding facility. He loves to be petted and enjoys sitting on our laps. He gets along very well with our female dogs and loves to play with them.

He does have a grade 3 asymptomatic heart murmur. The vet came and checked him 2 weeks ago, and said that you shouldn't worry about adopting him because he has no symptoms, it doesn't impact his activity
and there is nothing to treat at this time. He may need to take some medicine in his geriatric years.

Presently, he walks 1-2 miles twice a day and runs up and down stairs frequently. He does very well encountering most people on the walk but he isn't too sure about children. We have taken him to Petco to meet the animal trainer and she has spent a little time with him on two separate occasions. He will need some trips to pet friendly stores and obedience classes for socialization to help him to trust strangers more. He went to a puppy obedience class this week and did very well with the other dogs and people in the class. Every month brings new milestones for him.

For a little guy who spent his first 4 1/2 years in a cage, he has courageously spent the last 4 1/2 months learning how to live outside of one. You can see the determination in his eyes when he takes on a new task and watch him step outside his comfort zone when foster mom asks him to. He is less vocal with us then he was when he got here and it seems to us that as he becomes more secure in his new life he is a little less chatty. He knows his way around the house and picks his own toys, goes to his open expen and his bed when he wants to take a nap, drinks water when he is thirsty and gets his nylabone and chews it to occupy himself when he is not playing with his foster sisters. He still likes to chew on the occasional shoelace and is fascinated by foster Dad's gloves.

It is heartwarming to watch him take in his new world with curiosity and shyness as he becomes more comfortable with his life outside the cage.

We hope that you will consider Snickers as an addition to your furmily.

He will love you, be loyal to you, follow you around, keep you company and keep you active. Please click here to learn more about him or file an application for adoption. You can see him "in person" by watching his videos.

Thank you for taking the time to consider making Snickers part of your life. He is a wonderful, friendly dog and we appreciate your willingness to take him the rest of the way.