{"id":2124,"date":"2012-11-03T19:16:19","date_gmt":"2012-11-04T00:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dancingcavy.com\/mysterisa\/?p=2124"},"modified":"2012-11-03T19:16:20","modified_gmt":"2012-11-04T00:16:20","slug":"moves-like-jagger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dancingcavy.com\/mysterisa\/2012\/11\/03\/moves-like-jagger\/","title":{"rendered":"Moves Like Jagger"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Whaddya mean I look like a cross between an Ewok and a Wookiee?”<\/p><\/div>\n

I never thought I would be able to do this. I tend to get very attached to my pets and quickly. However, after working with Callie, I thought maybe I could pull it off. After all, I was able to work with her without feeling like I needed to keep her. She never was mine and I knew that she was off to bigger and better things. I was just there to help her reach that goal. So I decided to foster a dog.<\/p>\n

There is a second reason why I decided to foster. I would like to add a second dog to the household but, given Risa’s issues, I didn’t want to commit to a permanent resident if Risa was never going to be okay with it. By fostering, it gives me a chance to determine whether or not Risa would be happy with a second dog in the house. More importantly, though, it gives a dog a chance at a new life. A home where he will stay forever.<\/p>\n

Jagger joined my household last Sunday. He’s been with me less than a week but I’m already seeing the wonderful dog he can be. He’s a 2 year old Boxer\/Australian shepherd mix and full of energy. I don’t think he’s a dog who needs a job, though. Just one who needs daily physical and mental exercise. As far as “issues” go, he’s a cake walk. He really has no self-control and is clearly used to doing whatever he wants. I don’t know how someone could live with a dog that mouths you and jumps all over you for two years! Fortunately, he’s a quick study. By simply standing in place and ignoring him while he jumps and mouths, he has learned it doesn’t work. I admit it is incredibly difficult to stand still and ignore a dog biting at your feet even if he does have a soft mouth! But I can’t argue with results. Even when he still does it, the intensity is less and I can see him thinking about NOT doing it more and more. He’s also learning to control himself at doorways and not race out of them like his tail’s on fire!<\/p>\n

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I’m a smiley happy boy who is goofy and fun. The best kind!<\/p><\/div>\n

I haven’t formally introduced him to Risa and I don’t really plan on doing so for a bit. With her issues, especially in the confined indoor spaces, I think it’s best to wait. I have also not taken him away from the house since he’s arrived. I really wanted to avoid making the mistakes I made with Risa with him even though he’s not staying. I want him to see me as a source of good things and gain his trust before I take him out into the world. I’m also pretty sure he has no leash walking skills so it will take time for me to work on that too. As much as I think he would benefit from the four mile walks I take with Risa, he’s not ready yet. <\/p>\n

I know, at some point, I may become a foster failure. But not yet. I already know he’s not staying. He is a wonderful little boy with a lot of potential. He is a lot of the things I like in a dog. Energetic, goofy, silly, fun, intelligent and a bit of a trouble-maker. But he’s not my dog. Someone else is looking for him and I just hope I can help make him a bit better of a canine citizen so someone can see the sweet little dog he is and fall in love. He’s also going to help make me a better trainer and teach me a bit more about myself. He’s already testing my patience. . .and I see that I still need some work there! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

I’m not ready to give him up yet because I see he needs more polishing around the edges before I think he’ll be ready for a home. But I know the right person is out there for him. I can’t wait for Jagger to meet them!<\/p>\n