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glencorgi · 10-07-2006, 10:44 AM

Since I was asked.

This is the story of Forrest that went "home" just last night. A Sheltie breeder/dog trainer in MD had contacted a corgi rescue in TX about taking a 12 to 18 month old she had had surrendered to her for his protection. The mother of the owner worked in a vet's office and when someone came in with a litter of corgi puppies, she decided to take one. He was then given to her daughter and son-in-law. Now the daughter was a passive, let puppy do whatever (we should all know what kind of trouble that can be asking for with corgis). The son-in-law is in law enforcement and expected robot like obedience and cooperation out the corgi. Now, there had been no training involved in this equation either. S-I-L would get frustrated when corgi wouldn't come or do what it was told to the point he would grab the dog and literally throw him into whatever room or wherever he wanted the corgi to go. It was thought to be a battle of wills for dominance - I saw a confused corgi with no training, no reference for expectations of corgi and a corgi with no idea of how to do what was wanted of him. Throw in at this age, it is perfectly normal for corgis (even with solid training and structure) to test boundaries and see what they can get away with and poor little Forrest didn't have a chance in this home. The Sheltie person saw this and talked them into surrendering him to her. I'm not sure why she didn't look for rescue options closer to home than TX, but when they were making transport arrangements and the first drop off point was going to be in NC, I told them no need to send him to TX, I'd take him.

What I found in Forrest was a very sweet boy, confused on what was expected of him or how to please, but eager to learn and very wanting to please with some understandable trust issues. Working with him and showing him being picked up wasn't going to result in him getting thrown anywhere, coming when called wasn't going to end up with him in trouble helped relax him. He became more confident and trusting.

A couple of months ago I received word through a corgi friend, there was a trainer from a local facility who had taken on a young apprentice and decided a corgi was what she wanted to pursue her interest in dog sports with. The trainer and I discussed our available dogs and she agreed Forrest seemed like the best fit for the family given their dog history.

A couple of weeks ago when I did the rescue booth at the Responsible Dog Owners Day, Forrest came along. The trainer was there and her little apprentice Lisa was there to help her. Lisa got to meet Forrest and the two of them clicked immediately, a girl and her dog, love at first sight. Her mother came, talked with me a long time met Forrest too. Even Lisa's father stopped by and met him. Now, a further extenuating circumstance were some economic factors. While I had been on the watch for a free to a good home situation, I just hadn't had any come across that would have been good matches for everything we were looking for in a corgi for Lisa and her family. So as at the end of the RDOD day, Lisa didn't think she was going to be able to get Forrest, she was heartbroken, but I left her with the promise I would find her the perfect corgi for her.

What Lisa didn't know was behind the scenes Mary, the trainer; her Mom and I had been planning and plotting. Before committing, it was most important to make sure he was going to be the right dog for them and we wanted to keep it a surprise. Lisa celebrated her 13th birthday this past week and this was all going to be a surprise gift for her. So yesterday evening we pulled off the birthday surprise.

Mary, MDH and I went to Lisa's house bearing gifts. I left Forrest in the car in his crate and we treated her with presents before bringing him out. Now that she was going to be a "dog" person and a "corgi" person there were a few things she needed to get started. She got a new collar and leash, dog toys, and a dog mystery book from Mary. I gave her a some corgi socks, a corgi date book/planner, a pen with "The Dog" corgi on it, a box of poop bags and a corgi bookmark. Then we took her outside and got Forrest out of the crate - she was delighted and thrilled to see him and he her. From Forrest she got a birthday card with corgis on it signed with his paw print and a copy of [U=]Everything Corgi[/u].

Then it came time to sign the adoption contract. Lisa came out with an envelope filled with the money she'd gotten for her birthday. (She asked for money to help go to the adoption fee for Forrest.) Stipulations in her contract were, she is going to help me with training some of the fosters, she has to keep me updated on how they are both doing and I want a picture when they get their first ribbon.

Forrest came with the usual "baggage" I supply - enough food to get started and switch him over to what they are wanting to feed, all his paperwork and vet records, a couple of dog supply catalogs, a copy of [U=]Second Hand Dog[/u] (good reading for rescues and a fun training section), toys, treats and bandanas.

I'm asked sometimes how I know things are right for a rescue and a family. The best piece of advice I received on how to discern this is to go with my gut. As long as I have done that, I haven't gone wrong.

Putting all the pieces together, this young girl's dedication, time, work and effort she has put in helping the trainer over the summer. The trainer, who I have a great deal of respect for, believes in her. Watching this young girl ask questions, take direction and listen to advice given her - so eager to learn and do things right. The family support and encouragement she's receiving - those are some of the more tangibles. Then there are the intangibles. Having watched the Lisa and Forrest at the RDOD event being inseparable, taking part in contests and just enjoying each other.
The look on her face was priceless when I got him out of the crate and handed his leash to her, even more priceless was when she asked, "You mean he can stay?" and I said, "yes, he's staying." Her lying on the floor and him snuggling up to her. Mary had told me she had his picture on her refrigerator and every morning she would say a prayer in front of it that she could get her corgi.

Legend has it corgis are gifts of the fairies, there are many times I see the magic of the wee folk at work in how things just come together and then I know it is meant to be. As Lisa grows up and grows in dogs, I'm sure I am going to have more stories to tell of this pair.

Debbie

10-07-2006, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
glencorgi Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Piedmont Triad, NC Posts: 2,417 Images: 3	Since I was asked. This is the story of Forrest that went "home" just last night. A Sheltie breeder/dog trainer in MD had contacted a corgi rescue in TX about taking a 12 to 18 month old she had had surrendered to her for his protection. The mother of the owner worked in a vet's office and when someone came in with a litter of corgi puppies, she decided to take one. He was then given to her daughter and son-in-law. Now the daughter was a passive, let puppy do whatever (we should all know what kind of trouble that can be asking for with corgis). The son-in-law is in law enforcement and expected robot like obedience and cooperation out the corgi. Now, there had been no training involved in this equation either. S-I-L would get frustrated when corgi wouldn't come or do what it was told to the point he would grab the dog and literally throw him into whatever room or wherever he wanted the corgi to go. It was thought to be a battle of wills for dominance - I saw a confused corgi with no training, no reference for expectations of corgi and a corgi with no idea of how to do what was wanted of him. Throw in at this age, it is perfectly normal for corgis (even with solid training and structure) to test boundaries and see what they can get away with and poor little Forrest didn't have a chance in this home. The Sheltie person saw this and talked them into surrendering him to her. I'm not sure why she didn't look for rescue options closer to home than TX, but when they were making transport arrangements and the first drop off point was going to be in NC, I told them no need to send him to TX, I'd take him. What I found in Forrest was a very sweet boy, confused on what was expected of him or how to please, but eager to learn and very wanting to please with some understandable trust issues. Working with him and showing him being picked up wasn't going to result in him getting thrown anywhere, coming when called wasn't going to end up with him in trouble helped relax him. He became more confident and trusting. A couple of months ago I received word through a corgi friend, there was a trainer from a local facility who had taken on a young apprentice and decided a corgi was what she wanted to pursue her interest in dog sports with. The trainer and I discussed our available dogs and she agreed Forrest seemed like the best fit for the family given their dog history. A couple of weeks ago when I did the rescue booth at the Responsible Dog Owners Day, Forrest came along. The trainer was there and her little apprentice Lisa was there to help her. Lisa got to meet Forrest and the two of them clicked immediately, a girl and her dog, love at first sight. Her mother came, talked with me a long time met Forrest too. Even Lisa's father stopped by and met him. Now, a further extenuating circumstance were some economic factors. While I had been on the watch for a free to a good home situation, I just hadn't had any come across that would have been good matches for everything we were looking for in a corgi for Lisa and her family. So as at the end of the RDOD day, Lisa didn't think she was going to be able to get Forrest, she was heartbroken, but I left her with the promise I would find her the perfect corgi for her. What Lisa didn't know was behind the scenes Mary, the trainer; her Mom and I had been planning and plotting. Before committing, it was most important to make sure he was going to be the right dog for them and we wanted to keep it a surprise. Lisa celebrated her 13th birthday this past week and this was all going to be a surprise gift for her. So yesterday evening we pulled off the birthday surprise. Mary, MDH and I went to Lisa's house bearing gifts. I left Forrest in the car in his crate and we treated her with presents before bringing him out. Now that she was going to be a "dog" person and a "corgi" person there were a few things she needed to get started. She got a new collar and leash, dog toys, and a dog mystery book from Mary. I gave her a some corgi socks, a corgi date book/planner, a pen with "The Dog" corgi on it, a box of poop bags and a corgi bookmark. Then we took her outside and got Forrest out of the crate - she was delighted and thrilled to see him and he her. From Forrest she got a birthday card with corgis on it signed with his paw print and a copy of [U=]Everything Corgi[/u]. Then it came time to sign the adoption contract. Lisa came out with an envelope filled with the money she'd gotten for her birthday. (She asked for money to help go to the adoption fee for Forrest.) Stipulations in her contract were, she is going to help me with training some of the fosters, she has to keep me updated on how they are both doing and I want a picture when they get their first ribbon. Forrest came with the usual "baggage" I supply - enough food to get started and switch him over to what they are wanting to feed, all his paperwork and vet records, a couple of dog supply catalogs, a copy of [U=]Second Hand Dog[/u] (good reading for rescues and a fun training section), toys, treats and bandanas. I'm asked sometimes how I know things are right for a rescue and a family. The best piece of advice I received on how to discern this is to go with my gut. As long as I have done that, I haven't gone wrong. Putting all the pieces together, this young girl's dedication, time, work and effort she has put in helping the trainer over the summer. The trainer, who I have a great deal of respect for, believes in her. Watching this young girl ask questions, take direction and listen to advice given her - so eager to learn and do things right. The family support and encouragement she's receiving - those are some of the more tangibles. Then there are the intangibles. Having watched the Lisa and Forrest at the RDOD event being inseparable, taking part in contests and just enjoying each other. The look on her face was priceless when I got him out of the crate and handed his leash to her, even more priceless was when she asked, "You mean he can stay?" and I said, "yes, he's staying." Her lying on the floor and him snuggling up to her. Mary had told me she had his picture on her refrigerator and every morning she would say a prayer in front of it that she could get her corgi. Legend has it corgis are gifts of the fairies, there are many times I see the magic of the wee folk at work in how things just come together and then I know it is meant to be. As Lisa grows up and grows in dogs, I'm sure I am going to have more stories to tell of this pair. Debbie Last edited by glencorgi; 10-07-2006 at 10:48 AM.