Shark - Fostered 2/9/08 - 4/11/08

4/20/08 Update - Sharkie was transferred to Cares4Pets on 4/12, a rescue that deals with placing hard-to-adopt dogs. He will be living with several pit/pit mixes and the foster will evaluate his anxiety, play with his meds and see how many dogs he needs to be with in order to be comfortable with his people leaving. The new foster mom said that Sharkie is anxious but is starting to really bond with several of the dogs. He's playing hard, running fast, and in a much better environment for his issues. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Sharkie will find his perfect home!

3/25/08 Update: Sharkie remains excellent out and about with people and other dogs, both male and female, large and small. He attended his first meet & greet Easter weekend and was excited to meet everyone. At home, he is happy to relax and hang out, or take a leisurely walk around the block.

To help Sharkie work through his separation anxiety, we've recently upped his clomicalm dosage and made some changes to his daily routine. Other things we do to alleviate his anxiety include: yummy stuffed kongs, soothing music, chewies (either bone or pig's ear type things), calming herbs, DAP spray. During the week, he goes to doggie daycare, where he can be with other dogs and people and work off some energy. At night, we work on relaxation and deference protocols so that he learns that being alone is something he can handle. On the weekends, we'll be building up the time he spends alone, so that he gradually learns he'll be fine without humans around. He does much better when there's another dog present and even better still when there are several dogs present. The medication he's on (Clomicalm) takes 4-6 weeks to see a full response and Sharkie isn't quite there yet.

Sharkie will make a fabulous addition to a home where someone is mainly home, is willing to take the time to work on his self-confidence (easy and quick exercises provided), and will provide him with love and affection! He does need a home with other dogs and no cats. He is a fabulous companion who is eager to please!

3/16/08 Update: We're still working steadily on Shark's separation anxiety. He will do best in a multidog household where he can feel secure. When Lexi left for her forever home a week ago, Shark's progress backslid and he ended up breaking a pane of glass on a french door in his anxiety about being alone (see picture, above). He spent the rest of the week at his petsitter's, where he played happily with an intact bischon, a hyper border collie and a lovely springer spaniel. He was very comfortable with the dogs.

Except for this issue, he's really come a long way. Shark attended the Pet Expo in Reading, PA, with me and was wonderful. He was friendly with all sizes of humans, from babies to very tall men. He was good with the dogs he met as well. He was exhausted by the end of the day, and just plopped down and spread out for a snooze. If he doesn't know what to do in a situation, he sits or downs for you. He was very well behaved and had many admirerers!

This week, he's puzzled by his new foster sister's lack of interest in meeting him or having anything to do with him. He's been very patient with her, and routinely signals that he's not goingto harm her--he yawns, stretches, glances away often, and is very patient with her

3/2/2008 Update: Shark is making so much progress with his separation anxiety! He has been great when left alone for several days in a row now! yeah!!! And we've found that Shark walks well on a leash, rides well in a car and responds well to love and affection. He went for an outing of several hours with another rescuer and was a gentleman at the McDonald's drive through and in a smaller car. Every night, he snuggles on the couch and goes belly up for some relaxin, stretchin, and lovin! He's also starting to gain back the weight he lost at the kennels--his ribs are filling in and soon his backbone won't be prominent either. He has an automatic sit for treats now, which is very nice, and he can wait excitedly but without pushing for his foster to fix his meals.

Shark is low-key in the house, making it nice to hang out with him. He plays with the female dane but not constantly. He can leap coffee tables when he's having fun, though! He's become quite the good boy, just needed some time to relax and take a deep breath. He greets visitors excitedly but with 4 paws on the floor, happy to see everyone, male or female.

Shark should not be crated--it increases his anxiety when left alone. However, he eats in his crate with the door closed and gets bones in his crate. He's also really improving with resource guarding--this could have been a left over from the kennels and his anxiety as well. He no longer growls or even lifts his lips when Lexi takes a toy from him, although I haven't (and won't) attempt to share bones uncrated. He's good with treats and toys, though, which is very helpful. He just needs to know the dog and be comfortable where he is.

Shark took a visit to the vet's office and did so very well. They poked and prodded and shone lights in his bad eye, and he took it all with tail wagging, trying with kisses and good behavior to get them to stop. Turns out that Shark is blind in his left eye, most likely due to some type of trauma. It doesn't stop him or slow him down but he does growl a short warning if he's comfy and you reach across where he can't see. We're working on this with treats and fun, and that should soon be fixed. Shark also has a lick granuloma on his front paw and a fatty cyst on his tummy that he also licks--the vet expects these to disappear as he becomes less anxious. Otherwise, he's in good health and happy as a pup can be! Best of all, this big ole headed boy is a gem whose personality is starting to shine through!

2/24/08 Update: Shark has developed a bad case of separation anxiety. Most likely due to his stay in the kennels, he is now very anxious and upset when his foster leaves, and stress barks, drools excessively, and exhibits other signs of severe separation anxiety. His foster is working to fix this with prescriptions meds, protocols and other exercises to address his anxieties.

2/16/08 Update: Shark's been here a week now and is calmer and less desperate for attention. He's slowly learning that jumping up constantly will get him nowhere and 4 paws on the floor gets him the attention and love he not only craves but deserves. He is getting along nicely with his foster sister Lexi but didn't want to play until this morning. I believe he'll need time to know and trust the other dog in his life before he'll be carefree and playful but he played very well with her and enjoyed his quick workout.

He's also gotten a bit better about food--I can prepare kongs while they are in the same room and he won't growl at her (when he first got here, he growled at her when we had a bag of unopened kibble in close proximity). He's a little bit snarky with stuffies but I believe that will work itself out in time. He still needs to be fed separately and he is a MAJOR counter surfer. He can' get quite as high as the fridge but he's come close by grabbing a loaf of bread from the top of the microwave and a bag of treats from the top of the entertainment center. He will leave the room every once in a while totally surfing for food and then come back in. He has also put paws up to get into the sink. I believe he's already gained a few pounds, and is eating 2X the recommended food for an adult dane (he's still growing plus he's emaciated, at 20-25 lb underweight).

Shark will cease and desist in most cases with a stern No! command and a redirect to more positive activities. He's still low-key in the house. He is scheduled for a vet appointment on Tues to find out more about eye and lump. He will try to escape through the front door if given the chance.

2/11/08 Update: Shark's back in a foster home and settling in nicely. He's a sweet boy who just wants some good ole loving! He's super affectionate and ready to go anywhere with you. Shark will guard his food and his people from other dogs and should be fed separately. His foster home just keeps him out of the kitchen when it comes time to prepare food, feeds him in his crate, and all is well. Shark knows how to sit and down and is learning touch (nose to hand). He will be attending obedience classes for fun as well. He's a very exhuberent young boy who would make the perfect addition to a home with love to spare. Considering he's been in the kennel for 5 months, he really isn't completely wound up, except when it's food time! Within an hour of coming to his foster home, he was curled up snoring on the couch; by the next day, he was belly up lounging on the couch! He spends his time in the room with his foster, lazing about and enjoying the good life. Shark is housetrained as well.

Shark is, surprisingly, aptly named. He's got a big ole head and when he opens his mouth wide, he looks a little like Jaws! He also cruises the kitchen counters for food, reminding you of a circling shark! His foster mom didn't like the name at all but now finds it perfect for the Sharkster, Sharkmeister, Mr. Sharkie. He happily comes when called and his whole body wiggles with joy at being near his humans.

Shark has a cataract or a slipped lens in his left eye, so most likely can't see out of it. It doesn't stop him one bit and doesn't seem to bother him at all. He also has a lump along his belly. Both will be checked in the next week or so, but neither seem to hamper his style or bother him physically.

9/20/07 Update: Shark has managed to get to his healing tail no matter how hard anyone has tried to keep him away, or what type of contraption we rigged up to keep it out his way. He chewed his stitches out when his tail was first docked causing it to have be be docked once more. He managed to get to it once again and this time he did such damaged that we were forced to have his entire tail amputed. He is now starting his recovery from the amputation.

We have also found out that he is not good with cats at all, although he continues to do well with all the dogs and people he has been introduced to.

Since we have had Shark, a lot of his personality has decided to venture forth. After the initial Oh my God who are these crazy people, Shark quickly decided to settle into the puppyhood he was obviously not allowed to experience before he came to the rescue. Happy happy happy is not only what his attitude is but also his tail exudes the same charm. So much we regretebly had to amputate it after several attempts to save his tail. His new nick-name is stubby but that is no indication of just how fast he can still wiggle. He is a four month old puppy want-a-be in a 1.5 year old body. He has lots to make up for and no time to spare. So move over cats and small dogs I got something more important to do. woohoohoo its feeding time and play time and jump time and wiggle time and bark time and could someone PLEASE throw the ball already time? Shark obviously loves life and he isn't afraid to show it. He desperately needs training and there is never enough obedience that a quick jump in the arm for kisses can stop. Shark also loves all medium to big dogs. The smaller they are the more likely they are to get chased and his running is top speed. If you give Shark a chance to enter your life he will sink his teeth into your heart and never let go.

8/7/07 Update: Shark was recently neutered and also had a portion of his tail docked. He continues to do well in his foster home and is now ready to meet his forever family.

Shark came to us from a small rural shelter. He is currently being treated for a serious case of happy tail and he also needs to be neutered, but at this point he is way too thin to consider any surgery for him. We are hoping that in a few weeks with some TLC in his foster home he can be fully vetted.

He is doing great in his foster home with lots of other dogs and teenagers. He has no history with small children or cats. He is also in need of lots of training and his foster home is working on that. Shark will be available for adoption we hope in about a month. Shark came to MAGDRL in July 2007