The Foster Chronicles: Tulip, Week 3, Days 1-4

Day 1

Even before I start it, Tulip tries to herd the lawn mower, trembling madly and nipping at the wheels. No verbal corrections work. When I get the machine outside the fence and start to adjust the wheels, she yelps and yips and arfs and awwwws. In fact, I can’t believe it’s just her. It sounds like several dogs at once; I keep thinking my dogs have joined in the cacophony. It appears my foster dog is having an anxiety attack.

In the spare bedroom she goes. I open the windows, turn on the ceiling fan, and head out into the yard to mow. I hear her freaking out from inside, and on one swipe across the yard, I look up to find that Tulip is hanging halfway out the window.

I sprint to the sill and shove her back into the spare bedroom. Back in the house, I shut the windows.

When I leave a little later to wash my car, I close the blinds too. When I come home, I see that

Why can’t I learn my lesson about crating?

In the crate she goes when I head to the gym. By the time I get home, it’s after dark. My headlights sweep over the fence.

Guess who’s back.

Mini-poodle.

Day 2

I read online that one way to help introduce dominant dogs is walking them side-by-side. I enlist some friends to help me. Auntie Erika is the first to come over. Tulip is in the yard, Violet and Redford on the deck. I bring my dogs inside to get leashed up. Next thing I know, Tulip is staring in through the screen door. What is it with my foster dogs and parkour?

We walk up and down my street, Erika with Tulip, me with Redford and Violet. And there is excellent behavior. Mostly, we walk a couple feet apart, but a few times, one of the dogs interacts with Tulip briefly, and it is fine. Going to try this again several times over the next week. Fingers crossed.

Day 3

I babysit my oldest nephew (7) and littlest niece (2). Littlest Niece calls my foster dog Puwit.

Day 4

Tulip is in the yard, Violet and Redford on the deck. I step inside for a second and hear a thud. I peer through the kitchen window. Tulip has vaulted herself over the gate, and all three dogs are standing on the deck, alert, sniffing each other. Calm-assertive-eneryee-calm-assertive-eneryee-CALM-ASSERTIVE-ENERYEE, I say to myself… panicking.

I flap Redford into the yard. Violet is being naughty, circling the porch furniture in an effort to stay out of my grasp. Finally, I drag Tulip into the house and hyperventilate a little bit. OK, I think, that wasn’t so bad. Maybe it’s time to introduce them. I put Violet away and take Tulip and Redford into the yard. Same as last time: glee from Tulip; romping; nerves; in the end, bared teeth from Redford. Sigh.

Tulip goes to the vet to make sure she’s healthy enough to go through with the heartworm treatment and gets the thumbs-up. The treatment is scheduled for next week.

P.S. Please help if you can.

The Foster Chronicles: Tulip, Week 3, Days 5-7