Hello everyone, it's me Biscuit. Guess what, I'm doing my own update today. Foster mom says I've made significant progress since coming to her house and she is trusting me to use her computer today!! Wow, isn't that great news!! Don't worry she's not far away as she is watching me to make sure I do not try to chew on the computer or mouse. I think I can figure out this computer thing as I am a very smart boy.
I'm including a couple of photos of me so you can see that I am being a good boy. Please look closely at the photo of me sleeping on the couch. Did you notice that I am not attached to a leash, harness or gentle leader? Yes, that is because I have calmed down and can now be trusted to be loose in the house. How great is that!! I've stopped being a tornado in the house and am now pretty calm....well as calm as a 13 month old puppy can be. Yes, I'm still a big puppy so I'm not perfect....we are working on my counter surfing and my desire to take anything that I can find. Hey, I'm really talented as last night I climbed up on a dinning room chair and pulled a hanging thing off the wall....that did not make foster mom too happy but lucky for me no damage was done and now that is moved so I can not get to it. At least I don't climb on the bathroom counter to look out the window like some other dog here at my foster home....yes, Rocco, you are busted for that.
My other big news is that I no longer have to sleep in my crate at night. That's right, now I am sleeping in bed with my 4 foster brothers and sisters and mom. Foster mom says 5 big dogs in a queen size bed does not leave much room for her but I am so happy to be able to snuggle with her and the other dogs at night. I think she is happy that I don't have to be crated at night and I know I sure am. The only time I have to be in my crate is for meals and when she is gone from the house. I eat in the crate because Jimmie has some resource guarding issues and also because foster mom wants to make sure I understand that the crate is a good place. I do not have any resource guarding issues at all. I'm fine with sharing toys, treats and food with everyone. Foster mom says that is a very good thing. She does not trust me with free roam of the house when she is gone because she thinks we will play and get into trouble....doesn't want to come home to broken things or an injured dog in case we get out of control. It's ok, as I am good and just nap in the crate anyway.
I no longer have to use my crate for time outs. Now if I need a time out foster mom just makes me sit for 15 - 30 seconds away from what ever was getting me riled up....usually it's for barking at Jimmie cause I want her to play with me but she does not play with foster dogs....I keep trying but she's not giving in. I love to play with all the dogs. Raven and I wrestle really hard and I love to run with Rocco and play chase with Raven, Rocco and Snowy. Snowy 11-289 likes to wrestle with me too and I know I can not play as rough with her as I do with Raven 11-173 and Rocco.
Foster mom and I work at least 2 or 3 times a day on what she calls my "relaxation exercises". I like my alone time with her and really like the special treats she gives me when we do our work. I also do some relaxation exercises with a tennis ball and that is fun too. Foster mom says we are trying to teach me to relax and be calm....she thinks it has helped and that I can focus for more than one nano second now. She says she is very happy with my progress.
I think I surprised foster mom with how smart I am by showing her that I know how to ring the bell on the back door when I need to go outside to go potty. I have not had a single accident in the house so she says I am completely house broken. I am doing much better with not jumping on people and not mouthing people. She says I am not perfect yet and maybe I will never be, but I am so much better. I'd like to thank my friends Jen, Jim, Maggie and Jayden for helping me too. Foster mom says sometimes it takes a village to raise us pups so I have lots of helpers cause I needed a lot of work. They have helped me learn to calm down and bought me food, treats and toys. They like me a lot and are very good to me.
My last good news is that I will be at the RAGOM meet and greet on Saturday the 3rd of December in Coon Rapids. Please come and meet me. I'll be the handsome, red Golden Retriever with the long legs. Foster mom says we will stay as long as I behave....if not we will go home.
All for now, time to run and wrestle with the boys. Your new and improved friend Biscuit.

