Forever home update - Mar 1, 2010

Our little Daphne (or, as we now affectionately call her, Daphers, Dapharoo, or just Daph) has really settled in nicely to our home. As is the case with most pugs, her first love is food. Her second love is walks. We now live in Ottawa and even though it gets pretty cold here, Daphne will still insist on at least a short little walk each day. She is a smart little girl - she taught herself to swat her paw at the door stopper and use it as a bell to let us know that she has to go out!

She wins people (and dogs) over easily with her loving personality and overactive tongue (which we always say has a mind of it's own). Whenever we have company, she likes to welcome them by sitting on their lap on the couch and licking their ears. We use to try to stop her, but now we just let her welcome our guests in her own little 'Dapharoo' way.

We couldn't be happier to have Daphne in our lives. Her crooked little underbite smile makes us fall in love with her over and over again each and every day.

Robin, Brandon, Lily, Daphne

Forever home update - Nov 4-06

Forever home update - Oct 31-06

Although she has only been with us for a mere three days, Daphnee is settling into our home beautifully. She has proven to be a very well-adjusted pup. It seems that all she needs is lots of cuddles and treats and she's fine (isn't that true for all pugs?).

Lily has welcomed Daphnee with open paws and has kept her busy wrestling and playing tug-a-war. We are very happy with how Lily has embraced her new sister (they even cuddle together when we leave them alone - so cute!). Daphnee seems to be following Lily's routine and this has helped tremendously with housetraining. Lily has shown very little jealousy, but she is not shy about giving Daphnee a friendly little bump aside to remind people that she needs cuddles too.

We have aleady had many friends and family come to welcome Daphnee and everyone has fallen in love with her (ofcourse - how could they not?!). We have noticed that she can be a little shy at first, but eventually that disappears and she is giving everyone kisses!

Overall, we are delighted by the fact that Daphnee is such a great little companion, but mostly we feel incredibly lucky that she has come into our lives. We are truly blessed to have her and we are looking forward to many happy years together.
Robin, Brandon & Lily (Daphnee's new family)

Foster Update, Oct 21-06

Daphne had her vet examination with Dr. Usher and received the A-OK.
She is slightly over her weight class - 18 lbs - and does have a slight underbite which causes her canines to show from time to time. But that will not be any problem in the future. She is up to date on her vaccinations. She was micro-chipped and so I'll be reviewing applications for her adoption

Working with her on the walks has cut down her barking at strangers. She still does a warning bark to people in dark clothes or wearing hoods/hats. She will need to have obedience training to cover things like walking on the lead (she likes to tug on her leash while walking)

Daphne will be good in a home with other dogs and cats. She is very playful, yet submissive by nature when in a pack. Her house training has greatly improved but she may have a relapse in her new home. The adopter should be willing to continue working on her house training. She is okay with children we have met on our walks - gentle and friendly.

Daphnée - Foster Update, Oct. 8th

Daphne will be going for her vet checkup and micro chip on the 14th. After that we will begin reviewing applications for her adoption. A couple of behaviour issues have developed over the past week.
1 - She has ignored her house training and been eliminating in the apartment. I've been crating her during times I can't watch her. Also rewards and positive reinforcement when she eliminates outside.
2 - Barking at strangers on the sidewalk. She is generally sniffing the ground but if she sees someone standing on the street she will do a little defensive, warning bark. I'm getting her to heal beside my leg and walk without barking.

In the meantime, we went to a Toronto beach to enjoy the wonderful Thanksgiving weekend sun. The Beach Blanket Bingo day included Odin and Daphne doing Frankie and Annette.

Daphnée - Foster Update, Sept. 28th

Daphnée has settled in quite comfortably into her life with us. She is a smart little pug and responds well to new commands. We accomplished the fear of the stairs in a few hours with a pocketful of Salmon Rollover.

She is the submissive one in the pack which has meant no issues of domination or agression. She quickly established her position and I have now been able to leave her out of her crate when I am out. In the first couple of days, there were times when she eliminated in the house. It may have been due to a change in diet. However, a slight adjustment in or morning walk schedule along with Rollover and praise for eliminating outside has stopped any more messes (told you she was smart).

We plan to do more canine socializing this weekend. Then next week she will have her vet examination and micro chipping. She will be ready for adopting shortly after that.

Daphnée - Introduction, Sept 23rd

Daphnée is a sweet natured pug who will be 1 year old on October 31st. She has come to us from St. Jerome, Quebec thanks to the hard working volunteers of the Canadian Animal Rescue Transport group. She brought along her puppy obedience certificate that includes the comment "tres bien". She is up to date on her vaccinations and vet checkups.

Daphnée and I spent some quality time alone in the park before taking her home to meet "the boys". She was still in an anxious state but sitting on the grass and stroking her head for awhile calmed her down. While we walked along the streets, she tried to sniff every person that passed us - she was looking for a familiar scent - for her former family.

She did not want to go upstairs in the apartment building. She did not have a problem going downstairs. But she stops and tries to back away from the stair case going up. However she was fine with Dante, Dublin and Odin (and they were perfect gentlemen with her). After the ritual sniffing and circling she was quickly accepted and Dublin move over to get her room on the couch. We spent some time getting her use to her crate, and me leaving the room and the apartment.