Introducing Jefferson

Usually when you foster, you get an average dog.  A dog who is good, and maybe has a few problems but nothing that can't be overcome with a bit of basic training.  But every once in awhile, you get a great dog.  A dog who is so easy that you don't have to do a thing except give them love and affection while they wait for a home.

This is my newest foster dog Jefferson.  He's not just an average dog.  

"Who, me?"

 Unfortunately he's also not one of those "perfect" dogs that come along every so often.  Jefferson is full of energy.  He's rambunctious.  He's boisterous.  Rowdy.  Tumultuous.  Unruly.  Raucous.   There are many words to describe Jefferson.  Easy is not one of them.  

 Oh, he's a good dog.  He is loving and affectionate, and he gets along great with the other dogs and the cats.  He just has a lot of energy and a very short attention span.  And no self-control to speak of.  Jefferson is going to be a challenge.  

"But I'm a lot of fun!"

 Originally when Jefferson came to us with his brother Cooper, he was going to stay at another foster home, while I took Cooper.  I knew right away I got the easy end of the deal - for awhile.  Then Cooper got adopted.  And Jefferson decided he didn't want to get along with the other dogs in his foster home.  So I offered to take him.  For the past three weeks he's actually been living at a trainer's house, while she worked with him on his issues of mouthiness and jumping on people.  He's doing better, but he still has a lot of growing up to do.  Cooper had some of the same issues, so I did not expect him to be adopted so quickly.  I can only hope that another perfect family will come along that wants to work with Jefferson in spite of his issues.  And in the meantime, at least Ziggy has prepared me for the challenge of training Jefferson.  Now that I've fostered Ziggy for so long, Jefferson doesn't scare me at all.   

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