In addition to helping the foster dog in your care, fostering allows your home/ host dog to learn understanding and patience with your new house guest. As mentioned in an earlier post, our darling boy, Milo, cannot eat his food fast enough, nor does he ever have enough food to satisfy his appetite. He reminds me of the character the Tazmanian Devil from the Looney Toons I watched growing up. When meal time starts, it is a whirlwind of food chunks and slobber that I must clean up after every meal. Buddy on the other hand is a true gentleman. He takes his time eating, savoring every little morsel. He does not make a mess. Meal time is a leisurely activity for him. This idea of savoring meal time is not something my dog understands... at all. As Buddy naps mid-meal (top right) Milo stares in disbelief that any food is remaining (his meal had been finished half an hour earlier). Their first meal together, when Buddy wasn't looking, Milo lunged several times at his bowl, snatching a few pieces of kibble each time. Day two, (top right) Milo stalked the food and day three (bottom right) Milo stares at the food bowl from behind a wall. Day four, Milo still glances at the bowl of uneaten food, but doesn't attempt to bother it as much and isn't consumed at having a staring contest with it. Milo is starting to show more respect to Buddy. Everyday we are learning new things about Buddy, Milo and ourselves. |