Stingers puppies have turned one month old!

Written by Stinger and her puppies' foster mom

Stinger's puppies are one month old. They are all developing very distinct personalities, and they're becoming more inquisitive and independent now, so they're wanting to spend more time with us outside the box exploring. And yep, we have puppy breath! They range in weight from Slush at the largest at 2#, 2.4 oz to little Swizzle at 1#, 9.2 oz. They all have teeth coming in, starting with their canines - I think Slush had 9 the last time I peeked, and Fizz's seem to come and go, just like a human baby's do with the gums swelling and receding. They've been snacking on puppy formula, and I've upped it to 3 times a day as Stinger seems to spend longer periods outside the box watching them - today I even added a bit of ground up puppy kibble and made a gruel - you should have heard all the smacking going on during that meal! I hope you enjoy them all!

Shirley Temple

Slush



Swizzle




Fizz

The four "furkids" playing together

A big THANK YOU to Blanket Auntie Carol for sending them all blankies - she even labeled which one was for which puppy and mom. I'll have to get Stinger's picture with hers at a later date - she couldn't sit still long enough for me to get a picture!

From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog (Entry 12)

Karen, one of CPCRN's foster mentors, has graciously allowed us access to her diary documenting the journey of Flopsy, also known as Rusty, from the puppy mill to her forever home. The diary will be broken up into short sections and posted. Check back for new entries in the series entitled "From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog". (Previous Journal Entries: Entry One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven)

9/8/07
We took Rusty to the vet, along with Kallie (Frappe), to have her ears checked. It turns out she has a yeast infection in her ears. Poor kid wasn’t showing any symptoms. I think these mill babies develop such a high pain tolerance, because they know they aren’t going to get any help in the mill.

After the vet visit, we took both Rusty and Kallie to Petsmart. Rusty was extremely nervous without her foster brother and sisters. She balked at everything. Kallie was no comfort to Rusty, because I had to carry her through the store, since she isn’t leash trained, yet.

I started to give Rusty a new supplement I ordered online for stress, a couple of days ago. Tonight, I noticed when we were in the backyard, Rusty wasn’t pacing as much. I’m not sure if I am imagining this, but I am so hopeful that it’s helping her.

9/16/07
This is a weekly update on Rusty. I began giving her a new supplement last week, “Stress-Free Calmplex.” I have begun to notice some subtle changes. One of them is that she is playing with McDuffy and Holly every morning and night. She’s so cute, she play bows, rolls over, they jump on her, she jumps on them. They go at it for quite a while, mainly until Rusty notices me watching them.

Something else she has been doing is coming into the kitchen when I am making their meals, with the other dogs. She started making this little noise to tell me I am taking way too long, getting her meal ready. When it’s time to eat, she races around, jumping up and down.

Rusty is still pacing in the backyard and is very difficult to catch out there. Inside the house, it’s getting easier to catch her though. She usually races over to where the dog beds are and will jump in one of them. She’s been so good getting her ear meds, too.

This evening, when I was laying in bed reading, Rusty started whining in her crate. I thought maybe she just wanted out of the crate, but she didn’t stop. I then decided she must be alerting me she needs to go outside. I let her out of the crate and took her outside and she went potty immediately! What a great little girl she is for alerting me!!

9/17/07
This evening, the weather was cool, so I took a couple of blankets out to the grass and picked up Rusty and laid on the blanket with her. I just stroked her back, because she doesn’t like to be “rumpled,” she likes a smooth stroke. She was laying on the blanket next to me. After about 5 minutes, I stopped stroking her and moved my arm. She had every opportunity to run away, but she chose to just lay there! Every once in a while, I would start to stroke her again. When I would stop, she would sniff my hand and my arm. After about 20 mins., she got up and ran away. However, she would start to meander back over towards the blanket, but she made sure she didn’t get too close.

9/18/07
I took the blankets outside again tonight and did the same thing with Rusty. She didn’t try to run away when I’d stop petting her. She did get spooked when McDuffy started barking.

To Be Continued ...

Hunter Update - Written By His Foster Mom

Hunter is free to be a real cairn terror!! He is baby heartworm free! The vet says he can run and play to his heart's content now and he and Cassie did exactly that ... 30 minutes of play until they both pooped out!

From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog (Entry 11)

Karen, one of CPCRN's foster mentors, has graciously allowed us access to her diary documenting the journey of Flopsy, also known as Rusty, from the puppy mill to her forever home. The diary will be broken up into short sections and posted. Check back for new entries in the series entitled "From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog". (Previous Journal Entries: Entry One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten)

8/19/07
Today I sat Rusty on the couch with me. She was on my lap and sat there stiffly at first, for about 10 minutes. Later, she relaxed and laid down with her head on my legs. I did not keep hold of her in case she wanted to get away, but she didn’t! She stayed on my lap for more than 30 minutes.

Then I took her off my lap and let her lay next to me. She stayed there! I think Rusty might become a couch potato!

8/30/07
Mom and Dad were here for a visit. Rusty was very nervous and just hid in her spot behind the table. She would pace the yard and it broke Mom’s heart to watch Rusty. She has never seen such a damaged soul before now. It’s funny how I have gotten used to her behaviors and don’t really think about the things she noticed. I was telling mom that I really think Rusty needs a fenced yard and she completely agrees, especially after meeting Rusty. She couldn’t imagine such a fearful fur kid having to live on the end of a leash and she could see how Rusty might bolt.

Rusty did really well with mom and dad’s dog, Baron. She didn’t play with him, but accepted him as a part of the pack.

All in all, I think Rusty did terrific with company. She didn’t let them pet her, but she did eventually “sneak” into the living room when we let everyone in and she thought no one was looking.

9/1/07

Rusty came up to me for a treat! Tonight at bedtime, we all made our way to the bedroom and treat time. Instead of running past me and jumping into her crate, Rusty stayed over with Starry and Holly. I extended my arm and she hesitantly came over, got the treat and then backed away. She did this 3 times and then I think it dawned on her what she was doing and she stayed away from me. I don’t care, because Rusty actually came up to me for a treat! It’s taken nearly 5 months for this to happen, but it happened!!!

9/2/07
This morning, I let all of the dogs come into the living room area with me. Rusty and Holly began playing with one another for about 15 minutes. Rusty was rolling over for Holly, play bowing, wagging her tail, just plain happiness on her face. She would steal a glance over in my direction to make sure I wasn’t watching, but foster mom is sneaky! In her happiness, Rusty grabbed one of the toys on the floor and figured out how to make it squeak. She liked it and squeaked the toy several more times. She then grabbed one of the bungee dogs and shook it and tossed it in the air. She is so adorable when she is playing! She has only played with a toy a handful of times in the 5 months she’s been here, but she’s doing it!

To Be Continued ...

From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog (Entry Nine)

Karen, one of CPCRN's foster mentors, has graciously allowed us access to her diary documenting the journey of Flopsy, also known as Rusty, from the puppy mill to her forever home. The diary will be broken up into short sections and posted. Check back for new entries in the series entitled "From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog". (Previous Journal Entries: Entry One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight)

6/6/07
At bedtime tonight, Rusty came into the room all by herself and jumped on the bed! This is a first for her. She let me take her off the bed and put her in her crate without any problems.

6/7/07
Rusty came back into the bedroom by herself, once again! Usually, I have to catch her in the other part of the house and carry her back to the bedroom.

6/9/07
Today, when I let the fur kids come into the living room, Rusty laid down on the dog bed in front of the fireplace. I crawled over to her on all fours and she didn’t run away from me! She even let me scratch her all over. I did this same ritual a few more times and she let me pet her each time.

A short while later, I was getting ready in the guest bathroom and Rusty came down the hallway and peeked inside to see what I was doing. She even came into the bathroom with me, and then rushed back out when I made a movement. Mostly, Rusty laid outside the bathroom and waited for me. It was quite cute.

Each day, Rusty is becoming a little more confident. We are still having problems catching her and she will not let us approach her. She continues to come back to the bedroom by herself. Tonight, when I turned around to give Holly a treat, the little munchkin jumped up on the bed with Starry!

6/28/07
For the past few days, I have been taking Rusty to the back bedroom with me, so I can work with her by herself. I just lay on the floor and give her treats, pets, treats, etc. I decided to use some Rescue Remedy today, before our session. Rusty was a touch calmer in the room and a little more relaxed in the other part of the house, too.

I have also started to sit by her food bowl when I feed her. I try to be as still as possible, so I don’t frighten or startle her. She was apprehensive the first time I did this, but is getting better.

This evening, I took the blanket out and laid on the grass. Rusty was initiating play with Holly. I even heard her mimic the play noise the others make, too cute!

I was giving the kids some of my tiny ice cubes, and of course, Rusty tried it and loved it.

As I was laying on the blanket, all of the kids were laying close to me. Rusty was actually laying within 4 feet of me! When she moved down towards my feet, I felt her touch my toes with her nose.

Rusty is such a wonderful little dog. She is really easy to take care of, as she potties the minute I let her outside. She loves those walks and car rides. I hope someone out there will discover this little diamond in the ruff!

To Be Continued ...

From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog (Entry 8)

Karen, one of CPCRN's foster mentors, has graciously allowed us access to her diary documenting the journey of Flopsy, also known as Rusty, from the puppy mill to her forever home. The diary will be broken up into short sections and posted. Check back for new entries in the series entitled "From A Pauper To A Princess - The Journey of a Puppy Mill Dog". (Previous Journal Entries: Entry One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven)

5/23/07
Tonight was the third night of play. This is so exciting! Something else Rusty has begun to do is come to the back part of the house when I take our dogs to the bedroom for bedtime. Usually, Rusty will stay in the kitchen area until they are crated, and then I would go out to the kitchen and pick her up and carry her back to the bedroom from the kitchen, but at least while I’m tending to the others, she gets curious enough to venture back there.

5/24/07
A nice birthday present for me this afternoon, when I looked outside the window, Rusty was laying on the grass, playing with a toy! Only MacKenzie was outside with her and she was actually watching Rusty. Rusty had a rubber toy MacKenzie had taken to the grass earlier. It was in her mouth, and she was tossing around her head a little. Then, Rusty turned over on her back with the toy still in her mouth and pawed at it with her front paws. This little one is simply amazing and I feel quite fortunate to be going through this process with her.

When Rusty stopped playing, she came trotting towards the house with what looked like a bounce in her step and a Cairn smile on her face. Tony and I both agreed that she looks so much more relaxed than she has ever looked before now.

5/28/07
Great things happened this evening when we went outside for final potty. Rusty had gotten one of the egg-shaped toys that our kids worship. She was rolling around in the grass with the ball in her mouth and would give it a little toss and grab it again. Spin in circles with the ball; just having a great time.

Holly and McDuffy started playing, so Rusty ran over to join them. The three of them rough and tumbled for quite some time. McDuffy ran over to the pool, jumped in, then jumped out and raced across the yard. Rusty was in hot pursuit after him! Her tail was high in the air and she had a huge smile on her face. McDuffy continued to zoom around the yard and Rusty zoomed after him. It was wonderful!! McDuffy would stop and roll and Rusty would play bow at him. Then McDuffy started to play with Rusty. This is a first, because he’s been laying back with her. It’s as if he could sense her apprehension. McDuffy and Rusty played rough and tumble together for a little while longer, and then it was over.

It was now time to go inside and go to bed. When we went back outside to get Rusty to come in (our daily routine), she seemed to go into one of her severe panic modes again. It was so strange, one minute she was as happy as a lark, the next minute, she was panic stricken. I’m wondering if it was a reaction to the over-stimulation and she didn’t know how to react when she came back down to earth.

To Be Continued ...