Claudia is from the Stop the Madness group – Operation Sunday Labs ~
Adoption Pending :-)
3/19/15 - People have been asking how I'm doing. So, I thought I'd give you all an update. I'm doing great! I had to wait 11 years to get this new life, and I'm thoroughly appreciating and enjoying it. My vocabulary has grown. When I'm excited, I tend to get a little mouthy. So, I've learned to get a "toy" when greeting my foster parents. I'm also learning to take treats "nicely." We're working on "stay," but I'd much rather romp with a toy. In the morning, I stretch and roll on my back (before romping through the house). If you pet me while I'm rolling around, I purr like a cat. In fact, I make lots of different noises.
I go on two walks a day: one the morning after I eat, and one later in the afternoon. Sometimes, I gently nudge my foster mom to remind her what time it is. I walk very nicely on the leash. During the day, I chew on a nylabone, protect the house or sleep on a dog bed. [I've started to protect my home from some noises. So, my foster mom taught me "enough" when I bark at the front window. . and when I stop barking and come to her, I get treats! :-) ] In the evening, I love to cuddle with my humans. I just melt right into them and soak up all the love I can get.
I am naturally curious, which helps me overcome some of my fears. However, I'm not comfortable going to new places and probably never will be. So, I need a family who understands that and is willing to manage my environment so I feel safe.
Thanks for your interest.
Claudia
1/20/15 - Hi all. My foster dad is still working on that picture of me in my new collar. It has little sunbursts on it to match my personality. :-) In the morning, I love to romp through the house with a toy in my mouth. My foster mom claps her hands, and I romp back and forth, galloping like a little pony as long as she claps her hands.
Toys and dog beds are new to me, and I really like them. I'm seldom without a toy in my mouth. I have a tendency to guard my favorite ones from my canine foster brother, but my foster parents are teaching me to share them nicely. I'm also learning a lot of new words - like sit, back, stop, wait, chow, walk, treat, stay and come. 'Come' is my favorite - I come fast as a bullet when I hear that word. I also like 'sit' because it usually means I'm going to get a treat. I'm becoming confident enough sleep out of view of my foster mom for long periods of the day. Oh, and I no longer jump over the couch when they come home. In fact, I seldom even get on the couch when they are gone . . and never when they are home.
I now have a beautiful, shiny coat thanks to good dog food. It's even thicker which helps with this cold weather, although I still wear a doggy coat when temps are below 20 to keep my hip joints warm.
Yesterday, when I was at the Vet's, I took treats right out of the Vet Tech's hand and let her pet me. :-) That may not seem like much to you, but it's huge for me. :-) Usually, I like to observe people for awhile before deciding whether or not to interact with them.
Stay tuned for that picture.
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12/21/14: Hi all, Just thought I'd send out an update now that I've been with my foster home 5 weeks. Life is very good. I love living in the comfort of a warm home. I was spayed and had my eyelid tumors removed. My hair is growing back very nicely. On closer examination, it turns out I don't have any broken teeth; they are just worn down…perhaps from chewing on the chain the breeder used to tie me out.
While I was in for surgery, the Vet x-rayed my hips because I didn't have much muscle mass in my back legs. The x-ray showed my right hip has a lot of arthritis, but everything else looks great. So, they think I must have injured that hip at some point. However, you would never know by my actions that I have any arthritis. I don't favor that leg at all. In fact, last week I jumped over the back of the couch to greet my foster parents when they came home! I'm going on two walks/day for a total of over 2 miles each day, which is helping me to develop muscles. (I walk very nicely on the leash.) I'm also taking a joint supplement. Since I'm not showing any sign of discomfort, that's all I need for now. (At some point, I may need some acupuncture treatments.)
You've probably already noticed that I'm no longer crated when left alone; otherwise, how could I have jumped over the back of the couch?! :-0 I don't get into anything when I'm alone, even with the Christmas tree and all the decoration temptations. I am a very good girl.
When I'm happy (which is every waking hour) or get excited, I like to parade around with a stuffed toy. If I don't have a stuffed toy handy, sometimes I grab a slipper, or my foster mom's arm, or my canine foster brother's face. :-0 I'm learning that it's better to grab a toy. When I get really excited, I wrinkle my brow. ;-) I love to be petted, and I love attention from people I know. My foster mom says I give the sweetest little kisses. I also enjoy a gentle game of indoor fetch.
We're working on increasing my confidence and getting me more comfortable in new places and with new people. Guess what? Santa came early and brought me a beautiful new collar. Watch for a picture of me wearing it soon.
I'm looking for a forever family who will be patient with me, allow me to take things at my own speed and who will give me time to become comfortable with them to help me with the transition to their/my new home. My foster mom says I have a very entertaining personality and a lot of love to give to some lucky family. If you think you might be that family, please contact L.E.A.R.N. and tell them you'd like to meet me. Thanks. Have a great day! Claudia
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11/30/2014: Wow! I cannot believe how much my life has changed in just two weeks! I greet my foster mom and dad with kisses every morning and when they come home. I even smile, wrinkling my nose in the process.
I wasn't sure about my foster brother at first, but I've discovered he's a good guy. He shares all his toys and bones with me; although his food bowl is off limits. I've tried to get him to play by nuzzling his ear, but he's not interested. Speaking of food, now that I'm getting good quality food, my coat is starting to shine. :-)
Last night my foster mom and I played fetch with a stuffed animal. That was a lot of fun! I go on two walks/day, totaling about 2 miles, and no longer cling to my walker's side, except when we first venture into a new neighborhood. I'm now comfortable leaving sight of my foster parents and exploring their house. I'm always interested in new people, but it takes me awhile to feel comfortable with them. I'm really enjoying being a part of a family. I spend very little time in my crate now. I need a family who will be patient and allow me to take things at my own speed, praise me for being brave (I love to hear "good girl" and I love treats!) and not coddle me when I'm afraid. My foster mom says the family who adopts me will be a lucky family indeed, because I will pay them back tenfold in love. :-)
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11/23/14: Hi all,
I just wanted to share with you the amazing transformation Claudia has had. Cloudy (her former name) is almost history, and a wonderful, sweet, very loving Claudia has taken her place. Last week at this time, she was terrified, wouldn’t come out of her crate and growled when people came near (obviously from being overwhelmed and stressed). It took me over a half an hour before she would come out of my car and then more time before she’d come into our house.
Today, she eagerly comes out of her crate in the morning and seldom chooses to go back to her crate during the day. She solicits human contact, nudging our arm or walking between us and Cody; although she still flinches just a little bit when we reach to pet her. She’s pretty nervous when we’re moving around, not quite sure what to do with herself and expends a lot of energy in the process, and she’s still too nervous to stand still while drinking water and ends up leaving a trail of water around our kitchen. :-0
But she’s making huge progress. Very huge! She’s allowed both my husband and me to cup her pretty face. Friday, I even got a kiss, and yesterday, she rested her head on my shoulder while I gave her a gentle hug around her neck. She’s quite smart, already on her way to learning “come” “sit” and “back/wait.” She loves going on walks and is now brave enough not to walk behind us. Her tail wags almost all the time. She has never had an accident in the house.
Yesterday, she was brave enough to go down the stairs to our lower level. She was a little clumsy going up them but did so without coaxing. She’s a bit of a Velcro girl right now, but we’re working on getting her more comfortable with me out of her sight. Pretty amazing for an 11 year old girl who has until now spent her entire life outside.
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11/17/14 Hi, My foster family decided my former name, Cloudy, didn't do justice to my sweet personality. So, they are calling me Claudia and for now pronouncing it Clowdia to help with the transition. I'm an almost 11 year old, very petite, purebred Lab.
Until I was rescued, I spent my entire life living outside 24-7 on a breeder's property. I don't remember how many litters I've had, but after awhile, I got very tired of puppies biting, scratching and jumping on me. (See all the scratches on my pretty face.) So, the breeder chained me up on a hill. (My fur is a little discolored from the chain, but that will disappear when I get a new coat of fur.) There was a barrel and a depression in the ground near where I was chained that I probably used for a bed and shelter. (You can see my former home in one of the pictures along with a picture of me on the day I was surrendered.)
Leaving the only home I've ever known was a pretty frightening and overwhelming experience. Being around people and living indoors is new to me, but I'm getting braver every day. My foster mom says she can tell in my beautiful brown eyes that I'm trying very hard to trust people.
I went to the Vet on my first day here and did great while he examined me! When my foster mom told me what a good girl I was, I wagged my tail. :-) I really like it when she tells me I'm a good girl. Everyone I've met has been very nice, and they all tell me I have such a sweet face.
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Day 1: Even though it is very cold today, I really enjoyed going on a short walk. Yesterday, I was a little afraid to go too far from home, but today I was much braver. :-) I also decided the couch looked pretty comfortable…but I was very good about getting down when asked. I am very grateful for a warm, soft bed and am very content to sleep in my crate at night.
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Day 3: So far, I've had no accidents in the house. I'm learning "sit" and "come" and already understand a gentle "no." Today, I even wanted to play a little bit! :-) My foster mom was so delighted. I was also brave enough to lose sight of my foster mom several times and trot off to get a drink of water! :-) I was brave enough to stay out of my crate the entire day, only returning to it to sleep at night! I'm really enjoying my new life.
In the meantime, I need to have surgery to be spayed, have a small tumor on my eyelid removed and have a couple of broken teeth attended to. If you'd like to help pay for some of those expenses, please consider donating to LEARN and/or see LEARN's “How You Can Help” webpage for other ways you can help LEARN raise funds.
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If you're interested in meeting/adopting Claudia and are an approved adopter, please email LabMatch. If you're not an approved adopter, please fill out an adoption application and have a Home Visit done. www.labadoption.org/info/adoption – If you have already done these things the please email labmatch@labadoption.org and let them know you would like to be on her potential family list.
