it's midnight -- I'm awake trying to get a foster dog to settle down

[radfringe]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=243&topic_id=2750#2776

suggestions?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. What is he doing?

on edit..is he loose? In a room? In a crate?

[Hans Delbrook]

2. I guess you already tried chasing her around for a while?

Sometimes laying down with them works. They get that - pack settling down, I should too instinct.

[radfringe]

5. we did 5 "business" breaks

between the time we got him home around 10pm till 11:30pm

he had some food, a water -- couple of biscuits

my big concern is how he is going to be in the crate tomorrow -- or rather later today when we are at work -- although if I don't get some sleep soon -- I won't be going to work

it's also touch and go with our two dogs -- some aggression is there, but when I took them all out to do their business they were fine and content to be wandering about the back yard

we'll have to wait and see -- I'm 90% sure that most of this is just nervousness -- it's his first day in a real home and it's all very confusing and discombobulating...

meanwhile -- he will be wearing a muzzle when not in his crate for a few days

[fortyfeetunder]

3. How's the little guy now?

My heart melts when I read these stories. I think I am allergic to most furry critters so I admire those who can keep them.

[radfringe]

4. at the moment

he's laying on the cold floor -- I tried to get him to lay on the futon, even dragged in a big fluffy dog pillow -- no go -- he wants the floor...

I snuck out of the room a few minutes ago for a bathroom break -- grabbed a couple of pillows and blankets -- if he ain't gonna sleep on the futon - then I will

[SW FL Dem]

6. Patience

I have fostered before and it takes a few days for a foster to settle in. Trust your instincts, you can see what makes a difference. Human contact can be a huge comfort, several times I have slept on the couch near the foster's crate/bed. Tomorrow find a health food store and get some Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a natural stress reliever. It's a homeopathic remedy made of flower essences. I have used it several times when my dogs are stressed (airline flights, fireworks, thunderstorms, hurricanes, etc.) I just put a few drops on a dog biscuit and they gobble them up. The dogs aren't drugged, the Rescue Remedy just takes the edge off.

[radfringe]

7. popped some serenum (sp?)

into him earlier... same sort of stuff you recommended

we give it to our airdale during thunderstorms, fireworks etc. works good

[SW FL Dem]

8. Hope it works and that you get some sleep

Two of my rescues got here after a long plane ride and were totally freaked out. Luckily, I don't work so I could stay up as late as necesary to get them to sleep. The good thing is that most fosters are so grateful for human attention that they adapt quickly.

[radfringe]

9. he seems to be sleeping soundly

so I'll quietly shut down the computer and see if I can get a couple of winks on the futon..

[radfringe]

10. managed to get 2 hours sleep

made the mistake of getting up to go to bathroom -- this woke IBU up and he had to go out to do "business"

this means our two dogs also had to go out and be fed -- yep the cats were up also looking for breakfast...

my eyelids are propped up with toothpicks