Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

The start of summer means Junior Training Camps begin and this week is the first one. I’m helping our WHS Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Annie Ingersoll, in the mornings and am taking pictures of the kids working with their dogs. It’s such a wonderful program for both the kids and our shelter dogs. The trainers learn how to work with dogs to make them more adoptable and the dogs get a ton of attention, love, instruction, and socialization. Talk about a win-win week!

 

Here are this week’s trainers. More on camp this week later in the post.

 

 

There were sixteen dog adoptions during the past week! Here are the Blog Dogs who went home with their new families.

You’ll notice that Thelma is pictured again this week. While we thought we’d found the perfect home for her, with her dog brother, it turned out that Thelma wanted to be the only dog in the family. She likes to play with other dogs, but wants to go home and have her family, her toys and her food to herself. The adoptive family felt very sad, they loved her, but knew she would not be happy in their family. So back to WHS Thelma came. Then the NEXT day in walked another family who fell in love with our girl! So off Thelma went! Hoping this will be her perfect fit!

 

I’m new at WHS. I’m starting to get used to the way things work around here.

I met a lot of new dogs on Sunday, one was this sweetheart, Lucy. She had just arrived at the shelter and was very uneasy, not understanding her new surroundings. Lucy is an eight-month-old Lab mix. She would do best in a quieter home with patient people who will help to build up her confidence. Today she was feeling braver and less nervous and came to the front of her kennel to greet me. She will make someone a very special friend. Both Jolene and I fell for this shy, gentle girl.

I came from California but now I’m an Oregon dog waiting to go home with you!

Another newbie from California is Zuma. The first time I saw her, she was at the back of her kennel obviously overwhelmed by everything going on around her. Volunteer Acacia coaxed her outside and, once on the grass and away from noise, Zuma started to relax. She is such a striking little girl! Zuma is a one-year-old Chihuahua mix. She was still too nervous to eat my treats, but agreed to pose for some pictures. I have a feeling she’ll be adopted quickly.

Hi there! My name is Redding. How about you and I head out to your house?

Oh my goodness! Yep, I’ve fallen head over heals for another Pit Bull Terrier mix. This time it’s Redding, a sixty-pound, two-year-old bundle of love. This happy boy spent some time with Patrick on Sunday, smiling the whole time. Since Redding was found as a stray, we don’t know his history, but he is such a social, friendly guy. He’ll make a great hiking, running, walking partner for some lucky person.

Not wanting to miss out on meeting any potential adopter, I found Redding sleeping against his kennel door later in the afternoon.

Yes, I’m a big boy. Why do you ask?

This handsome eighty-eight pound Great Dane mix is named Axel. At nine months old, he is barely out of the puppy stage. Yep, that’s right, he is sort of a giant pup who has a lot to learn. Axel will need an experienced owner who will work with socializing and training him. But Axel has a good heart. He is eager to start life with a family of his own who have no young children. He has improved a great deal in his leash-walking skills since arriving at WHS. Here he is with Bruce on Sunday.

Do I look happy? That’s because I’m hoping to be adopted soon!

Spanky, a one-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, has been waiting for his forever home since arriving at WHS on June 6th. He actually came to us as a puppy and was adopted, but then was picked up as a stray in June. He is a very active young boy who loves play group. He is a rough-and-tumble player but tolerant of other dogs’ behavior. He’s looking for an active family so that he can go on adventures with them and have FUN! Here he was with Andrew on Sunday. What a grin!

I’m here. I’m still waiting patiently.

Our Rodeo is still hoping his new family will take him home soon. He never gets sad, just keeps on hoping. Rodeo has been at WHS since March 31st. He is a seven-year-old Shepherd mix who has become a favorite of many staff and volunteers, including Caroline. Maybe THIS week.

I’m pretty much the perfect family dog, so how about adopting me?

Meet Austin, another California transplant hoping for a family who wants the best dog ever! Austin is an affectionate, calm, five-year-old Mastiff mix. He is goofy and gentle and would be great for a family with kids as their first dog. The camp kids gave him a much-needed bath on Tuesday, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Austin has a genetic condition that gave him a misshaped mouth so that his tongue hangs out to one side. However, he likes to think of it as just part of his happy-go-lucky personality. Here he is with Caroline today.

This is my “You know you want me” look!

I don’t usually feature puppies, since they get adopted quickly. However, who could pass up this pose when I walked into the puppy room to see who was there? Naula was sitting totally quietly, just staring at me. She is a three-month-old Chihuahua mix and a sweetie.

 

 

Junior Trainers Camp ~ June 2014

Now let’s meet this week’s campers and their dogs.

 

Ashlyn and Penny. Penny will be going to her new home after camp is over!

 

Mary Jo and Nellie, a six-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix…

 

Katie and Carla, a six-year-old Boxer mix…

 

Savannah and Oreo, a one-year-old Siberian Husky mix…

 

Kate and Girly, a one-year-old Miniature Poodle mix…

 

Josh and Billy Jean, a nine-year-old Boxer mix…

 

Lynzy and Gigi, a two-year old Shih Tzu…

 

Sam and Tessie, a six-year-old Miniature Pinscher mix…

 

Savanna and Sophie, a two-year-old Shepherd mix…

 

Lara and Tatum, a six-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix…

 

Alex and Buddy, a four-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix…

 

Amy and Annie, a six-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix…

 

 

Some fun moments of camp this week helping shelter dogs become more adoptable.

 

Working on kennel presentation…

Bath time!

Working on their dog’s Dog Log that will go home with the adopters to help them get to know their new family member…

 

Making posters about their dogs for the hallway to encourage adoption…

 

Practicing polite walking on leash…

Socializing…

 

 

 

Making paw prints…

 

Training sessions…

 

“Spin”

 

 

“Watch me.”

“Leave it.”

“But I really want that treat, Ashlyn.”

 

What a great way to spend a week for both kids and shelter dogs!

I have a couple of updates, but I’m going to wait to post them next week.

Remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in meeting, try to make arrangements to get to the Willamette Humane Society soon. Some dogs are adopted more quickly than you might think.

You can reach me at adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com