return to top

update from Dogwood SR

Here's Sparks writeup on http://www.vadsr.org/index.htm

"Hi! My name is Sparks (a k a Sparky or Sparkles) I'm about 3 years old and a big healthy boy. Check out my photos; aren't I cute?

My foster Mom says that I'm just a big mush who loves to cuddle and have my belly (& all other parts) rubbed. I love to give big kisses and to play fetch with just about anything! I do love to play with (& eat) tennis balls, have a good appetite, but don't ever steal any food from my step-brother's bowl.

I do have a tendency to bark at startling noises, mostly in the kitchen (microwave, garbage disposal) and love to converse with the standard poodle that lives behind us frequently. I also like to play hide-and-seek in the bushes, when my Mom let's us play in her fenced-in yard.

I'm good with other dogs (love to play with my sheltie playmate) and kids, walk well on a leash and am housebroken. I'm not crate trained at this time, as I like to sleep w/ my Mom (or nearby) and my activities are not restricted.

Why don't you come and see me and I promise to steal your heart!"

I emailed his foster Mom and it appears Sparks still has the same quirks. The rescue director told me that his problems would be an easy fix, Ha! Looks like he is more of a challenge then they thought. His foster Mom even offered to bring him back to me. I wish I could, but I don't have the time or experience to fix his quirks. I hope they can make some progress with him so that he isn't brought back to rescue again by a family that can't handle him. If not for these few quirks, Sparks would be such an excellent dog.

See ya big guy

On Monday I transported Sparks to a new foster home for Dogwood Sheltie Rescue. While we made progress with him I felt that we were reaching the end of our ability to eliminate some of his issues. I was afraid of him going to yet another forever home only to be turned back in again. The director of Dogwood is an experienced dog behaviorist and believes that she can easily fix his problems. He is a good dog, friendly, playful, loveable, and gentle, but he's also somewhat dominate, rambunctious, and certain triggers cause him to be rather vocal.

On his last night with us I believe I discovered his one trigger that caused him to come back to us. The family who first adopted him said he barked all night, he never did that with us. Now I think I know why. I believe the entire time he was with us I had the A/C on. On his last night we had the A/C off so I opened a window. He immediately started barking. Once he wouldn't stop I closed the window, he stopped. I knew that when we let him out to pee after dark that he would run barking from one side of the yard to the other and go just into the woods. I thought he was just seeing shadows or shapes, but now I think he was barking at the night time chatter of the small insects and creatures. If I'd known that sooner, we may have been able to help his first adoptive family.

Sparks is going to a nice big home with a fenced yard and a Sheltie playmate. I hear they are playing together and getting along good so far. His foster mom said she is actually giving him a two week trial. If things work out she's going to adopt him. I hope she does so he doesn't get bounced around any more. So good luck Sparks, I hope you have found your forever home. Even with the stress he caused, it was harder to give him up this time than the last time.

bad news

It appears that Sparks barking was even more of a problem with his adoptive family. He was barking a lot more than he even did for us, they are bringing him back tomorrow. Another Sheltie rescue whos director is an experienced dog behaviorist has agreed to take and work with him, but we're going to try to work with him again first. Hopefully we can get him straightened out so that he isn't such a problem for any future adoptive families.