Rosie Posie has a new foster and is adjusting well and getting a little braver each day. She's very compatible with our resident dogs Shadow (07-061) & Molly (16-128). They "show her the ropes" and all the girls are comfortable with each other.  So funny how "monkey see, monkey do" works.  She enjoys her walks and does very well on leash. She's very happy to sleep on the big people bed and will leave another room to go back to bed by herself!!  Sooooo funny.  Rosie's slowly but surely losing weight to meet a safe goal her vet wants her at to be spayed.  She's 84# now so has lost about 15 pounds!  Meanwhile, she's come into heat so that will delay things a little, but everyone's dealing with it well. She tolerates her "panties" and seems to like the extra attention this entails getting them off and on to go out to potty. This will be her last heat EVER.  As soon as Rosie's cleared from her heat cycle, she'll be spayed. She enjoys having someone home all day with her. She wishes to thank her donors & sponsors for their generosity & concern.

More on Rosie’s new chapter in her life …

Our big girl has been making progress!  We are still drinking and on a regular basis (sounds small but this was a biggie in her case). Very happy about that for sure.  She is getting much better at the routine here and going in and out.  Never had an accident….just amazing.  She remains a good eater and we are working on her diet—in addition to kibble, green beans, squash, sweet potato, cooked chicken, etc. added to it.  Sometimes the canned moist dog food – all for variety.  It is good she does (for her meds) and makes it much easier for us and her. We have heard her bark once.  Wasn’t much of one though.  She does great with our two residents -- they are an absolute must for them.

Her rear right paw pad is healing, slowly.  These take such a long time.  It is just left open now.  Her pads are very dry and cracked, probably due in part to the thyroid issue and once she is on the meds longer, that should help some.  I do moisturize them, too.  On that subject, Miss Rose had another foot issue a couple evenings ago. She ended up tearing her left front dew claw off.  No idea where it happened but was right before bed.  Once she went back to bed (large dog bed on the floor with a big comforter over) there was blood all over.  These tears do tend to bleed a lot and yes, are very painful.  Being as she lost the entire nail, no surgery to remove it was required thankfully.  So another wrap/bandage on that leg!  Now let’s hope she will leave that one alone and we should be ok to take off in a couple of days.  The poor girl and her feet issues!!

She definitely enjoys outside now that it is so nice out and loves to roll and roll…such a pretty girl indeed and a joy to watch.  Rosie remains quite shy yet and as all of them, days which we are more outgoing and confident than others.  After this front leg medical issue heals we will be able to resume some walks.  We will put on a bootie or booties on the rear to protect that pad which is still healing.  I think she will enjoy those…something else to look at and smell.  Some challenges and that is ok, too. Not to mention shed a few more pounds!  More new things in her chapter.

Again, I would like to mention a big THANKS to our sponsors and the special family to donated our yellow chick to Rosie in memory of Annie.

So pretty

Yet another new bandage

Oh, feels so good to stretch out! Took wrap off!

More on Rosie’s new chapter …

Rosie is progressing fairly well. Not sure, but it seems she has lost some weight.  We will need to take her to the vet office again to just get a new weight on her one of these days. We have overcome a huge hurdle. She has been drinking water!  Things must have finally clicked over the past 2-3 weeks. Nonetheless, we're very pleased and excited about this! No need to be concerned about possible dehydration now. Breeder girls are much more delicate in their emotional make-up, as in her first beginning there was no socialization or help-nothing to show her the way.  Each day is a big learning experience; some things are ok and some remain scary.

We are still working on getting her right rear leg pad to heal up.  This obviously is a very tough area to keep clean, bandage and just plain heal. If she does lick it a little bit, it gets more open and raw.  Triple antibiotic is being applied 2-3 times a day.  Bandages are difficult as they just do not stay on and she is not as comfortable having something wrapped around it. Keeping it clean is important and she does not seem to mind warm lightly soapy water. So we have not been able to walk her other than in the back yard on the grass. We have now completed the course of antibiotics. We will keep working on it slowly. See below for more info on dog pads:

Top 10 Paw Care Tips For Dogs:

Your dog's feet sure are made for walking, but did you know they are also made for protecting? Pads provide extra cushioning to help protect bones and joints from shock, provide insulation against extreme weather, aid walking on rough ground and help protect tissue deep within the paw. With all that work to do, it's no wonder your pooch's paws often take a bit of a beating. Keep a spring in your pet's step with our top 10 paw care tips: Pamper With Pedicures: Your dog's nails should just about touch the ground when she walks. If her nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it's time for a pedicure. Ask your veterinarian or a groomer for advice about what types of nail trimmers are best for your dog and how to use them properly. Clean In Between: Foreign objects can become lodged in your dog's pads. Check regularly between toes for foxtails, pebbles, small bits of broken glass and other debris. These pesky items can usually be removed with a pair of tweezers. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: A dog's pads can become cracked and dry. Ask your veterinarian for a good pad moisturizer and use as directed. Avoid human hand moisturizer, as this can soften the pads and lead to injury. Deep Paw Massage: Similar to giving a human hand massage, a paw massage will relax your dog and promote better circulation. Start by rubbing between the pads on the bottom of the paw, and then rub between each toe. Your dog will be forever grateful for the extra TLC! Slow and Steady: If you're about to begin a new exercise program with your dog, start off slow. Paws may become sensitive, chaffed or cracked, particularly when starting your dog out on hikes and runs. Apply First Aid: It's not unusual for dogs to suffer cuts or other wounds from accidentally stepping on glass, debris or other objects. Wounds that are smaller than half an inch in diameter can be cleaned with an antibacterial wash and covered with a dog bootie. For deeper paw cuts, see the vet for treatment. Summertime Sores: Imagine stepping barefoot onto hot pavement. Ouch! It is important to remember your dog's paws feel heat extremes, too. To prevent burns and blisters, avoid walking your dog on hot pavement or sand. Signs include blisters, loose flaps of skin and red, ulcerated patches. For minor burns, apply antibacterial wash and cover the paw with a dog bootie. For serious burns, visit your vet immediately. Wintertime Blues: Winter is hard on everyone's skin, even your dog's! Bitter cold can cause chapping and cracking. Rock salt and chemical ice melts can cause sores, infection and blistering. Toxic chemicals can also be ingested by your dog when he licks his paws. After outdoor walks, wash your dog's paws in warm water to rinse away salt and chemicals. You may wish to apply Vaseline, a great salt barrier, to the foot pads before each walk-or make sure your dog wears doggie booties. Practice Prevention: To reduce the risk of injury, keep your home and yard clear of pointy bits and pieces. Be conscious to avoid hazards such as broken glass and other debris when walking your dog. And keep this simple tip in mind-if you wouldn't like to walk on it barefoot, neither will your dog!

I am keeping with the same daily routine as best I can.  Sometimes during the day when things are quiet at home, Miss Rosie will venture out of her crate and walk around and really begin to notice things….ceiling fan, flowers in a vase, art work….just everything around her.  Again wanting to try to keep the trust thing going and attempt to keep her calm and comfortable in her surroundings.  I believe Rosie is perhaps more apprehensive than some of the others who came into rescue with her.  Could be for various reasons, but that is just her.  She will most certainly enjoy someone who is home most of the time so that this comfort and trust can continue, at her pace.  We do have our days where we just are not as trusting as other days……unknown of course as to why.  Other days we are more bold and she wants to check things out.

When other dogs in the area are barking, or our other 2 dogs are barking along with the others in area, it is just fine and dandy with her.  If you are to walk outside to see her in yard with something new, the caution flag comes up! Slow going for her with anything new is a must.  Rosie is so very sweet and gentle. She continues to enjoy a good consistent diet.  Most of the time, if given a doggie treat, she still prefers to have it on the ground in front of her more than out of your hand.  Rosie needs her safe crate place, to which the door always remains open for her to venture in and out. 

She sometimes observes the cats (2 of the 3) and has no clue what they are or why they want to rub on her, but it is totally fine with her.  So cute to watch! She enjoys the carpet much more than the harder surface in the kitchen. She sleeps very well all night and really likes her big doggie bed for comfort as well.

Fostering these breeder dogs is so very rewarding.  Our small victories just make us so thankful we can be a small part to help them move on to a much better, happy life.  To see her look at me and wonder, remember, or try to come out of her shell she has had for all these years is a truly wonderful and heartwarming to experience.

We want to again thank our sponsors very much. Donations are so welcome to help RAGOM keep this rescue arm extended out far to aid and help these dogs with the best care we can provide!