Today I picked up our first foster dog for the Border Collie Rescue of Northern California. He is a red and white neutered male long-haired border collie. He was rescued from the Merced County Animal Shelter and found as a stray roaming around Atwater, CA. While I was there I also checked on a female BC that’s going to be rescued this week. She is a sweet and shy petite black and white short-hair and was found starving by a truckdriver out in the country. So glad to be taking part in helping abandoned and stray dogs. 🙂
Paddy
We decided to name our foster dog, “Paddy”, as it’s almost St. Patty’s Day and he seems like and come to that name. I was afraid that Paddy would be wild, but he laid on a blanket in the back of my car during the ride home and definitely has manners. He seems to like riding in the car and eating treats. 🙂 When we got home I walked him around our place for a little while and let him check things out. I took him by a couple of cats and he was indifferent about them. At least he didn’t chase them! Then came meeting the rest of his adopted pack….. I let Doc, my un-neutered BC and most dominant one out first. They had already met a few days ago at the shelter. Doc wanted to be friends, but Paddy wants to half growl at him while wagging his tail…. so I let them sniff and hang out with each other for a little while and then put Doc in my car and let Dusty, my other BC (and the alpha male) and Guinness (our Boston terrier) out. They all immediately liked each other and got on well. So then Doc came back out and everybody (well, except for Paddy, as he was on a leash) was running around the yard. We took some walks together (all four dogs and I) and got adjusted. We went to see the cows and Paddy doesn’t seem to have much of a herding instinct and he didn’t care about the horses either. He is very quick catching a tennis ball though and would probably be good at agility. When I feel I can trust him out in the yard, I’ll let him off the leash and see how he does with frisbees. He’s really a very nice dog with manners and already seems to know simple commands. He’s apparently housebroken and obviously had an owner.
Paddy
After our two hour excursion outside, Paddy came in my house with the other dogs and got acquainted with his new abode. I took him out in the backyard and am trying to teach him how to use the dog door. He’s a border collie, so it probably won’t take him long to get that down. He has a new dog bed, but I notice him laying on the floor most of the time. I heard him bark when our neighbor came over this afternoon, so he’s bit of a guard dog. I’ll see how he is when my husband gets home. He really loves people and is very friendly and he seems to enjoy hanging out with other dogs. I don’t know yet how he is around children, but I’ll find out soon enough.
Paddy
Paddy is available for adoption through the Border Collie Rescue of Northern California. He will make a great member of your family. 🙂
