Matlock is Adopted! (and we are 'retired')

Well, our days of volunteering every day have come to an end and the feeling is bittersweet. After months of back and forth on whether we'd adopt a second dog (and retire from fostering), we got one pup we just couldn't give up. Actually, a second pup we couldn't give up, because we were "Foster Family Failures (FFF)" with Beadie too just over a year ago. Matlock is a great fit for our family, and camping just proved that even more. We're looking forward to many more trips together - although we may need a bigger vehicle...

But today was odd and I felt a little lost as I wasn't taking a puppy on a day visit, or taking a puppy to Petsmart. I was out of the loop. ARF has helped me feel 'at home' in Calgary and I'm experiencing a really profound sense of loss in our 'retirement' - there were actually tears - no joke. I haven't felt this way since leaving Ottawa and the Children's Garden in Robert Leggett Park - a project I was heavily involved with, and very sad to leave. The difference with ARF is that I'm still in the same city, but have chosen to take on a different role within the organization.

I can't wrap my head around 'never' fostering again - I can't really stand to think that! I do hope to babysit the odd foster dog when ARF foster parents are out of town, or foster again when our schedules are lighter. For now, I'll have to find something else to do with my time!

Doggy Date

Matti and Beadie took first-timer "Tee-bo" to the dog park today. Without hesitation, all three of them were in the water and became fast friends. Teebo is a rescue dog from California, brought to Calgary through Little Mutts Rescue (a great option for people who want or need a small breed dog!) Matti has transformed in the last few weeks since we first started bringing him to the dog park (he used to run away from all the dogs). Now he owns the park and loves to hang out with the other dogs. His forever home should be prepared to keep taking Matlock to the dog park, and keep introducing him to new things as he is still timid around things that seem strange to him.

Matti walks twice a day, and usually one of those walks is off leash (at least part of it). He also gets at least one really big walk at one of the bigger dog parks each week, sometimes more often. A good dog is a well-exercised dog and a dog that isn't able to grow bored.

Stolen Pics:)

I have "borrowed" some pictures from a friend because I couldn't resist putting them up here because they're such great pictures of Matti enjoying life in the mountains!

Answer to Chad

I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your ARF dog. It took me a long time to get over the loss of the two dogs in my profile picture. Matti actually really reminds me of the blond terrier cross. I do think Matti would eventually be a good jogging partner, although you'd have to wait until he was full grown. He's much better on leash now (less walking in front of you at every step!) I do think Matti will be a really good family dog. He doesn't do a lot of mouthing and he's cuddly, but he gets very excited and does a lot of jumping up at the moment. He has only had very limited exposure to children (the odd time approaching kids when on leash or at the park). So he'll really benefit from continued training. He knows to sit and shake a paw (for a treat) at the moment. As with any dog or pup, I wouldn't leave him alone with young children, and would make sure the children were also being taught how to behave around a dog.

Matti also loves his foster sister, and would do well with another young dog.

Chillin' by the Campfire

Fun times around the campfire! Matti curled up with Beadie in the tent and we're happy to report that he slept through the night each night. In fact, both dogs were exhausted by 8:30 or 9:00 each night, and slept close to 12 hours in the tent while we chatted around the fire. Matti saw deer on the trip... and was a little freaked out by them!

Matti at approximately 3 months enjoyed his first real taste of the mountains with his pal, Beadie.

Camping buddies.

Beadie and Matti went on a camping trip this weekend. Beadie camped with us once before (when she was still a foster pup at 8 weeks old). This was Matti's first camping experience and we're pretty sure he loved every minute of it, especially playing near or in the water with B!