Final Iggy Pictures

We went on a picture spree and took many, many pictures of this dude...I tried to narrow it down to some of the cutest ones....of course they're all cute!
























Oh Mr Iggy, you have started a long line of foster pups! We are so glad that you are in your forever home! May you live well and long and be a happy spoiled guy!

Our next foster arrives this weekend...I'm guessing he is not going to be as easy as pigman was... we will show him unconditional love and allow him to be all that he can be regardless!

Miscellaneous Tink and Iggy Pics

Well Iggy's been gone for almost 2 weeks I guess and I decided it was time to update the blog with some last Iggy pics and some new Tinker pics. Iggy is doing very well at his forever home. Spoiled as he should be. I heard that he occasionally sleeps in bed with his new kid and even gets bone shaped pancakes once in a while!

Iggy would sleep under anything he could find!

Yup, another blanket

He's actually IN this bed. Tink created a whole in the bottom (which wasn't too big and I was planning on fixing...) Well Iggy made it larger and put most of his body INTO it!


You can just about see his head in the bottom right side of the picture....

Tink prefers to lay on TOP of soft, fluffy things

Soft and fluffy....

no, not begging....but when you're finished could I...?

And so it goes...

Iggy was adopted on Friday evening to a local family who will give him such an amazing home and wonderful life. He'll have a kid to play with and a fantastic Mom and Dad! Nick, Tink, and I brought him over after work, the paperwork was signed, and we quietly left. I had no idea of the depth of emotions I would experience over having Iggy leave our home. In the 5 weeks we had the privilege of caring for him, he became a part of this home. His fun loving, easy going personality was magnetic and all 3 of us enjoyed our time with him immensely.

We've had beautiful weather this weekend so Nick, Tink, and I have had the pleasure of some long walks and some nice naps. We've been trying to take advantage of a somewhat quieter house.

Tink has been very restless this evening. She's wandered and wandered and nested and nested...her restlessness became so urgent while she was on my lap that no sooner had I placed her down and she was howling. You read that correctly, HOWLING on the floor here in the middle room. It was the most sad and mournful howl I have ever heard. I have never heard her make a peep when she thinks people are around, much less howl with her entire body while I'm trying to comfort her. Was she in pain? Does she miss Iggy? She didn't make any signs that she really really liked his company while he was here. We just thought that she tolerated and somewhat enjoyed him. Who knows, but in any case it was a howl for the record books.

Despite the wide range of emotions felt throughout this house, we did the right thing fostering and then adopting Iggy out to the perfect family for him. When the right foster dog becomes available with NEBTR we will undoubtedly do it all over again....and again....as needed.

Someone who obviously doesn't understand many things in life or how we operate over here told me that it was "too hard" to foster early on after we got Iggy, implying that we shouldn't do it. I thought about that statement and I realized that just because something is challenging doesn't mean that it should be avoided. Just because something is difficult doesn't mean that it doesn't produce great happiness or joy. In fact, many of the greatest gifts or joys in life come at a coast or pain of some sort (let's start with childbirth....) God never promised life would be easy or pain free. He did, however, promise life and life abundantly as we follow His way. Is fosterings difficult? Yes! Is is painful? Yes! Is it wonderful and worthwhile? More than I could have imagined. God has called our family to be a part of His amazing plan and while I don't understand many parts of it, I want to be right in the center of where He is calling us to be. So if I am sad or feeling under the weather over the next week or so, just send a little grace and patience my way. I know that God will give me the strength to work through this process and come out stronger on the other side.

And for Iggy and his new forever family--may you have the joy of family and companionship in ways that you never dreamed possible. Iggy, you will always have a piece of my heart in the beautiful puzzle of your life.

Cabin Fever has hit...

.... at least I hope that's all it is. Tink, Iggy, and I are going crazy. Tinker has been bumping around this house like its her job! She goes so fast and has been bumping so hard! She finds her bed and keeps on going. I can't figure her out! I usually put her on the couch to cool down, but she's peed on it twice now (my grandmother would have a cow if she found out her love seat has been peed on!) and I'm not so inclined to help her out in that way (is that bad of me?)

Iggy and I did go for a nice long and brisk walk this evening which was great for both of us, but he is so insistent upon finding his version of gold in every nook and cranny....we played fetch a little bit with a kong but when he gets too mouthy/growly, I quit and he's left to figure it out on his own!

I've noticed that Tink sleeps even more lately. When she's not bumping like a banchee she is sleeping. Maybe that's ok...

Another thing I've noticed about Tink having Iggys around: she is self-centered like Iggy but in a very different way. I don't know how to adequately explain that thought...While Iggy isn't generally considerate of her, she isn't considerate of Iggy either. She gets pushy around food, like a spoiled little one...you notice so much more about one dog when you have two, especially after having one for so long. I wouldn't have considered her spoiled in a negative way until I started to see her interact with Iggs. I love this little one to pieces and wouldn't trade her for the world... It's just interesting to watch her as she and Iggs hang out together.

Any hoo! I am so excited that some warmer weather is on it's way. The 3 of us can take some long relaxing walks (ha! That's crazy to think about walking the 2 of them together!) while we wait for Nick to come home from internship stuff!

Are we ready for spring yet?!?!? YES!

A Kodak Moment...

..If i could have actually located my camera before Iggy jumped off the couch. Had I have snapped the picture you would have seen Tinker and Iggy snuggled on the couch together. Tink laying with her back again the back of the couch and Iggy laying with his head on hind quarters. Both of them snuggled under their respective blankets. There was peace from the relentless Iggy for 3 glorious minutes : ) And it was priceless. And now I'm annoyed that I still can't find my camera!

Iggy Update

So Iggy has been on a search and rescue mission for all the extraneous toys and bones that Tink has meticulously hidden around the apartment over the past 3 years we've lived here. His most recent discovery was Tink's long lost kong which was buried underneath our bed way in the middle. So Iggy bravely crawled under the bed to retrieve it! To date he has found a bully stick in the front closet, a bone under my dresser, the kong under the bed, and countless treats around Tink's crate. And as a result of these findings he continues to search every nook and cranny in the house REPEATEDLY!

Yesterday Nick and I finally gave the beefcake a bath and while he didn't like it by any stretch he did ok and endured it just fine. He is soooo soft and shiny now! I love the neem oil products for these dogs' coats! Beautiful!

Iggy is doing better with his growling and being possessive over high value treats and chews. He's learning that we're not going to take them and that we will play with him when he is nice and not when he is mean. Because he is so completely food motivated a behavior modification plan works very nicely for him. We've been working on "drop it" with high value items giving another high value item for dropping it and then giving the first item back to help establish a positive experience with dropping a valued item. I have to sneak the treats out of the container because if he even thinks I have one, he drops the bully stick or bone or whatever else and waits for a treat before the command is given!

Definitely improvement overall although he did bark and almost snap at Tink who got too close to him this evening while he was chewing on a bully....I will say in his defense he moved away from her and she sought him out. But still....so any suggestions on how to work with the growling at another dog around a highly valued item I would be happy to hear!

We've figured out the roles that Tink and Iggy have in this house--Tinker is the princess and Iggy is the court jester. He has that goofy but self-absorbed attitude and is generally a laid back guy! He won't move out of the way for Tink though...he lets her bump into him repeatedly and then get confused and bump into the walls trying get through and well it's not such a nice scene for the Little One...

Iggy has a strong chew drive which has been working out for Tink quite nicely. He chews the bullys and gets them all soft and white and then drops them for something else to do. She comes along and because they've been started and are soft, she will sit down and chew on the bully for 5 or so minutes in heaven! It's so cute! And Iggs is pretty good at leaving her alone with minimal reminders, but some supervision.

There's been a nice flow and routine to the house over the past week or so. We've had Iggy for 3 weeks and he is getting into a groove with us. Tink gets into bed in the middle of the night and for the past few mornings around 6 or so, we left Iggy out of his crate and he sleeps under the covers for the last hour or so of sleeping. It's amazing how much more he trusts and is comfortable in the house too... he was always a fairly trusting dog, but even so, it has deepened and really shown in his attitude with bones and with sleeping and hanging out...

I want the best home possible for this beefy guy. Nick and I feel a home that doesn't have young kids that has a dog or maybe not would be best for this guy. Also a home that people don't work crazy long work hours. He's such a social people dog, it wouldn't be fair for him to be alone for 10 plus hours.

So, if you're interested, fill out an application with NEBtRescue....

Really...?

So Nick went to move Iggy's crate from the bedroom into the middle room this morning and it felt about 15 pounds heavier than it should be...wouldn't you know, Tink was in there happy as can be on the soft blankets. Goofy girl!

Things continue to go very well with Mr. Iggy and Tink--the weather is ridiculously cold to walk, but playing in the apartment works quite well for Iggs. Tink on the other hand is sacked out on the couch.

This morning, to keep track of both dogs while we got ready, I flipped up the covers for Iggy to crawl under and put Tink on top of the down comforter which she contently slept on until we went outside. It was really cute and I wished I could have joined the 2 of them!

Oh Happy Day...

...Is what Iggy is singing. Tink gets a raw snack before bed each night and until last night Iggy was going for his last potty or already in his crate while Tink snacked away. Well last night, he was sitting there so nice and I couldn't help but give him just a taste of a raw medallion... needless to say his was in doggy heaven. Getting him outside was quite the task at that point. And Nick just laughs with the "you love to spoil these guys." Which is true. However, I do maintain that I spoil in a positive way and do my best to not create "brats."

Which brings me to this morning... I get up early on tuesdays. It's the one day I get out of bed before Nick. I took Iggy out to go potty and then brought him back to the bedroom. He seemed to instinctively know that if the covers get lifted just a little he could sneak up and into bed. Which of course he did! So he laid at Nick's feet on one side and Tink laid by his head on the other side! Ha! So much for the no Iggy in bed! But will 5 minutes in the morning hurt any one or thing? I didn't think so : )

Tink is doing so well with Iggy. He actually didn't attempt to hump her at all today. They walk pretty well together and Iggy is learning to let Tink bump against him and keep her steady without bumping into other things that could hurt her! We've actually been taking Iggy out first and then take Tink out with Iggy. It works well for both 'cause Iggs loves walks so he thinks he's hit the jackpot going on 2 and Tink hates this weather so she's pleased she's only going on one! As a result of having Iggy around, Tink, Nick and I have all been more active!

It is so cool to have 2 little bostons sitting side by side waiting for dinner, peacefully! I still feel like I am living in a dream having this foster. I am so amazed and priviledged to be a part of Iggy's bigger picture--to be one piece of his puzzle! Nick and I are so blessed to be a part of God's bigger plan. It amazes me how God cares for every part of his creation, including little Boston babies that need homes. Iggy is such a sweetie and even though he and Tink will never be best buds, they are certainly cute hanging out on the couch together!

As I finish typing, Tink is sleeping on the couch while Iggy has claimed the chair, under a blanket of course! More pictures soon!

Iggs & Tink

So Iggs, is turning out to be a pretty mellow guy. He's not food aggressive, although we watch the two of them very carefully around any food period. We have begun a little routine where Tink gets up and out first and starts eating breakfast. Then Iggy goes out to potty and starts to eat his breakfast. They still finish at the same time---He's a fast eater and certainly not picky!

Iggy chilling out. He wanted to get under the covers of our bed so badly this morning after breakfast and I just couldn't bring myself to let him yet. The bed is Tink's snuggle grounds after she eats and I don't want him having too much free reign yet.

Hence this picture. I wanted to snuggle with both of them for a sunday afternoon nap. Tink was in her bed so here we are. Iggy and I did move to the couch where he promptly snoozed under the covers with me!

Let's just say it's not the easiest thing getting this 2 to stay. Tink has made it quite clear that she's top dog. We've helped that along as well by feeding her first and letting her in the bed.

Syncronized camera avoidance!

They're pretty good on the whole together. Iggy occasionally likes to try and hump Tink but thats a firm no and quick time to find something else to do maneuver. The weather was in the 50's yesterday and the 4 of us went for a nice walk together. Iggy loves loves loves to walk and Tink enjoys it slightly more with another do so it worked well. Iggy isn't affected by the cold a whole lot either. Even on a cold and blustery saturday he walked without a coat. He has a fido fleece with the bottom cut...don't ask I need to sew it back together, but on the whole he does ok without.

Iggy chewing while getting some love!

Look at his tail!!! it's long and crooked and wags all the time!

Tinker could care less!

I learned this morning that he doesn't like his jowls played with...we'll desensitive him later, hopefully. I've been trying very hard to take things slowly with him. I have 3 of his 4 paws clipped. The 4th one hopefully tonight. We haven't bathed him yet either-again I'm trying not to do too much at once. I'm sure I overloaded Tink when we got her home initially. She took everything in stride (or in shock.) This guy would let me know and I don't want any outbursts. The more he is trusting us, the less little issues we're seeing.

He crates beautifully and sleeps in there the entire night. I feel badly having him crated at night since he's in it during the day too, but it's his routine and it's the safest for everyone. He hasn't seem depressed or anything since he's come to us. Lots of treats and rubs and praise I guess is easing his transition. I'm afraid to type this, but no accidents either. He's good about going to the door and Nick and I have been good about keeping an eye on him. He's currently sleeping on his bed under a blanket of course in here while I type.

This has gotten very long and disorganized and I apologize! But it's all out and we're pretty up to date! Time to get the day rolling with walks so I can get some paperwork done before I'm off to sing and play the day away!

Iggy Pics

We've learned a few things about Iggy already (ok, a lot more than that, but still)

1- he loves to chew!!! the dining room looks like a bone graveyard. He's taken all the bones out of the bin and dumped them all over!
2- he loves to eat!!! dinner, cookies, cherios, they're all good
3- He loves scratches and rubs, particularly butt rubs
4-if he can get a scratch while chewing on a bone he has scored big time!
5- He really likes Nick!

Side view

Front view- Eyes a little cloudy but he certainly sees well

What?!? No treats yet?

Chewing on a hood on his new bed.
He didn't come with a bed and didn't lay on Tink's in the dining room from the time he got here. From the moment we brought this one in, he knew it was for him and laid on it right away!

Iggy is here : )

So Christina and I picked up Iggy in Lancaster this morning. As my first time getting an owner surrender and a foster in general, I was pretty nervous and not sure what to expect. The owner called and let me know she was running late before she even left and pushed the time back an hour. We met at a Petsmart and Iggy greeted us with a few licks and a wiggly butt. The lady give us mixed signals crying and saying she was sad to see him go, but then sharing how she would honestly forget about him and shared that she didn't like the doggy things that he does. We got the feeling that the kids most likely didn't leave him alone or give him any peace. He hopped right into his crate in my car but proceeded to cry/whine for a good portion of the ride home--until he covered himself up with a blanket and took a nap!

Iggy's a pretty big boy probably right around 25 lbs--he makes Tink look very tiny at 15lbs! He's well mannered for the most part-- knows how to sit, comes when called (and when he doesn't I know he's found something good, like Tink's kong) and is very content to chew on a bone. He chewed on bones for the first 2 hrs he was here! He immediately found the toy box and took every bone out he could. He has yet to put them away!

He did show some aggression when Tink literally bumped into him, he continued to growl and become quite possessive of the bone. He did this twice and lost the bone both times and earned a time out both times. He has since then let me touch him while chewing and brought a bone over to chew in my lap. He responds well to verbal praises and cherios and I think it's only a matter of time before he realizes I'm not going to take everything away from him.

He's a smart boy who went right to the door after we came home and immediately pooped outside! He and Tink said brief hellos (she licked him!) but for the most part could care less that the other is around. He has since learned (in a few short hours) that if he wants to go outside, all he needs to do is do stand by the door.... hmm, we'll have to work on that one. I'm thinking of bell training.

Aside from his age of 9 he shouldn't be too much of a challenge to place. He's active but not outrageous, inquisitive but fairly polite. I think a family with an older kid or no kids at all would be lovely! Of course this is all day one, I am well sure that things can and probably will change a bit as he becomes more comfortable!

I'll post pics later. I'm currently trying to take a break, but Iggy has finished his nap and has decided that he wants to do something...not sure what apparently!

The Adventure Continues....

...I didn't want to post this until it was confirmed. And now it appears to be so! As of next Saturday Tinker will have a foster brudda, Iggy. He's a 9yr old owner surrender with no major issues, so we're told. I absolutely cannot wait to meet this little guy! I'm so excited and so nervous all at the same time. Nick is excited too. There are so many unknowns in the situation now, that I play the what-if game. I know that we'll do this whole foster process well, I just hope it goes smoothly and that Tink gets over her little self. I know that she enjoys other dogs around, but I also know she loves being the princess--which of course she will still be. She will maintain her sleeping in bed priviledges and snuggling with her mom, but of course she will have to share her treats (gasp!) and maybe even be a little more active!

Nick and I were joking last night. We were talking about how I was going to have to get up a little earlier in the mornings to help take care of both the dogs (since nick usually feeds Tink and then she comes back to bed with me). We laughed at the thought of having 2 snuggle bunny sleepy heads-- Imagine if Iggy is just as much of a sleepy morning dog as Tink is! There will be 3 of us all snuggled in bed!

Our main goal for Iggy is to love him and find him the perfect forever home just a quick as possible. Oh I just love this adventure we're on together! More to come for sure!

(Happy 3rd Gotcha Day Tink! PS: You're getting a temporary Brudda!)