It’s been so peaceful in our home since Pocket Petunia moved on to her true foster home, that there are moments when we almost forget that we have an extra dog in the house. In the first couple of weeks, when the Dude was destroying crates, chewing up our headboards, and being tossed in the car for an emergency vet visit because he was coughing up blood, we didn’t think such a peaceful day would ever come. But here it is.
Doodlebug is still bravely battling the worms that are trying to eat his heart and lungs. He accepted the first heartworm injection pretty well, and after a few lethargic days, he got back to his normal calm self. We’re doing our best to keep him totally calm, which is hard for a young guy who loves long leash walks more than anything in the world and gets very excited at the sight of other dogs. Leash walks are short when they happen at all, which is rare. We walk at night. Around the block only. Not every night.
To battle the boredom and anxiety that come from physical inactivity, we’ve introduced kongs (both regular frozen kongs and kong genius toys stuffed with kibble and yogurt), tug-a-jugs, and other food-dispensing toys to keep Snickerdoodle from going nuts. He eats all of his meals out of these toys — never bowls — and they help soothe his need to be active. When he’s feeling particularly itchy for an activity, he wiggles around on his back in the grass — a pastime that is as cute as it is funny, and seems to help him get his crazies out in a relatively low-key manner.
His destructive anxiety is all but gone. We haven’t done much crate training since the first death-to-crates spree he went on weeks back, mostly because his heartworm treatment has put everything else on hold, and because he has proven to be trustworthy when left alone with his foster brother Chick. He is also taking anti-anxiety meds as an extra precaution, but we hope to start tapering those down once he is through his heartworm treatment.
We’ve got seven more weeks to go, but we’re already getting ahead of ourselves and planning big celebratory hikes and camping trips to mark the end of Dude’s bedrest. It’s a ways to go, but we’re feeling confident — the Dude is a remarkable guy!
Love and a Six-Foot Leash 
wow … how brave he is … head high and keep it up … I wish you good luck on your further away with snickerdoodle 🙂
This one really tugs my heartstrings….he’s such a sweet guy! I also can’t wait for the HW monster to be out of his system entirely and he can go back to being a regular dog. Cheers to this sweet boy and to grass wiggles,too!
Ditto “ForPetsSake”. C’mon Snickerdoodle – keep up the good work and get to 100% healthy asap!!
I am so glad to get an update! He is so lucky to have you! Have they been destructive when left alone?
Whatever happens – I am certain the Dude is happy to have you all caring for him. Based on the pictures, he leads the dog life quite well. Thank you for helping him.
Good for the Dude! Chick is doing such a good job taking care of him.
Reblogged this on barefootandprimal and commented:
I love this dog. Glad he’s doing well 🙂
So inspiring.
It’s great that he’s doing so well! Keeping them calm through HR treatment is never easy, doubly so when it’s an excitable guy like Dude!
I just love your blog and all that you do for your fosters! Inspiring indeed!
So is the dude still actively available for adoption or do you/the rescue want to wait until the treatment is over before really trying to get him into a forever home?
I love Snickerdoodle. I want him sooo bad. If only! You are very very lucky to have him. 🙂
Awesome, I’m glad Dude-man is doing so well! I love the back-wiggle…it’s something Elka literally never does.
Aw, he IS remarkable! What a love muffin.
The Kong feedings are a great tip. My boxer Duke needs ACL surgery, and I’m dreading the rest he will require. He gets so excited for walks that he spins in circles and grabs his leash to frolic around.
Lovely, lovely pictures, as usual. I am hoping to take some time soon to study your photography tips.
The dude abides. I don’t know about you, but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ‘er easy for all us sinners.
duderino! so glad he’s doing well. 🙂
So glad to see he is doing well, just adore how well him and the Chickster get along. So did you have 3 pooches when you had Petunia (make you consider keeping Dude and fostering a 3rd?) 🙂
Be well soon pretty boy! You shall go on many many long leash walks in your life!!
Reblogged this on 360degreeonlinemusic and commented:
oh dis is feeling lyk a…cozy cozy sleey…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…..
It’s awesome that Snickerdoodle can keep himself busy with Kongs and other puzzle toys. We’re on a “foster-to-adopt” for a tiny little dog who’s also in recovery from heartworm treatment. She can’t for the life of her figure out how to get food out of our toys, so she gives up and naps on our feet instead. I guess that also works.
Awesome. I was just on Petfinder.com looking up pitbulls in my area. The closest to me are Snickerdoodle and Petunia.
I swear, if my living arrangements would allow me to have a dog, I would totally be Snickerdoodle’s forever home!!
Man, The Dude is going to LOVE camping trips after this steady regimen of lazing around!
Any recommendations on good food puzzles?
He is adorable – I hope the next 7 weeks fly by and he gets to be as active as he wants and enjoy all of the great plans you have for him!
He’s such a cutie! I’m glad he’s on the mend! You are wonderful foster parents!!
Gosh, Aleksandra, I guess I just fall in love with each one of your fosters, and the Dude is no exception! I think it’s partly the way you write about them. You have such a gift for describing what makes each dog uniquely lovable. My heart goes out to the Dude, and I hope he knows how much we are all rooting for his full recovery.
Good job Dude and getting better and keeping busy with Kong Dog Toys. In time you will be able to go for your nice long walks. Dude, you have the best parents anyone can ask for. They will do anything for you to get better and healthy.
Best luck on your recovery!!