Clean Run - July 2019 - 44

Watch the dog interact with
the caretaker. Ann Braue advises
to "hang back and watch at first.
Resist the urge to rush in and interact. Throw cookies on the floor
while you talk to the foster parents.
Sit on the ground. Don't make hard
eye contact. Go at the dog's pace.
Does he like cookies, treats, toys?
The more tools I have, the better
off I'll be."

Let the dog approach you.
Sara Brueske likes to leave toys on
the ground to see if the dog will
initiate play.

Elicit play. Ann Braue throws a ball
to see if the dog shows any interest in chasing. "If I put a toy on the
end of a leash and drag it across
the space, does the dog have prey
drive? That's much less intimidating
than a straight tug, which has you
looming and can be off-putting. If
the dog wants to chase the toy, then
I have something to work with."
Pamela O'Day (AKC Agility judge
and an agility coach since 1997, has
achieved over 100 AKC titles in
various sports, many with rescues)
likes to play tug and "see if the dog
calms himself or escalates out of
control. Do his eyes become as
wide as a whale's? Does he get high
on his own adrenaline? I want to
see controlled drive." She also looks
for biddability. "Everyone thinks the
maniac is a great agility dog, but I
want to know, do you forgive an accidental bump or nip, will you come
back to play? How stiff do you get?
What's the eye contact like? Sideeye stiff? Am I just your ball-launcher or Pez machine? Do you want to
be touched? I'll hold the paw for a
moment's restraint-are you going

The author teaching pool safety
to Chelsea, her first foster dog.

CoUrtEsy oF aUthor

taker not to feed or exercise the dog; if
it's a puppy four hours or more before
your arrival, longer if it's an adult. Bring a
ball, a tug, and a disc, whatever's important to you. Bring a leash, harness, or collar.You may want to do any, all, or more
of the activities previously suggested for
videos, so pack accordingly. Plan with
the caretaker for outings and adequate
time, so you're relaxed and fully present.
Some things you have to do in person,
and they are:

Diane Bauman's rescue Twist of Luca
MACH 4.

to go off in the corner and sulk, or are you going to forgive me? The dog must
value human contact and praise. Many rescues are starved for it."
*

Introduce your dog(s). Ann Braue advises you to introduce the dogs in an
open space neutral to both with another person and walk them together.
Christina Cornwell Curtis also suggests arranging to see how the dog reacts to
men or children.

Teach a few basic tricks. Most of the interviewees do what Pamela O'Day
calls "simple pet tricks." Diane Bauman says, "I always teach something simple he
doesn't already know.Touch the palm of your hand, put your paws up." It may be
the dog still needs to learn how to learn, which takes time. Ann Braue says, "I luretrain and give rewards for doing nothing." If the dog is shy at first, she doesn't rule
him out. "If he doesn't eat the cookie, that's okay. Click or say yes just for touching
my open hand-lightbulb! 'I put my nose in your hand, and you give me something?!'" She says, "This is what the sport is, building a relationship from the ground
up.There is no perfect dog." Nor, I'd add, any perfect purebred puppy. "The bond
and the 'click' between you takes time," says Braue. "Rough patches become part
of the story of your life together." O'Day says, I'm looking for the dog that wants
to learn, has a sparkle in his eye, and can't wait to do the next thing with you."

Examine the dog's body. Only in person can you see skin or eye conditions
and the like. Examine the feet and make sure the dew claws are intact.You aren't
looking for perfection, just a great match, and only you know your veterinary budget, your training skills, and your emotional landscape. Multi-time world, Canadian,
and US agility championship winner Susan Garrett believes that if you allow yourself to recognize that "energetic connection" with a dog, "it could give you all the
direction you need." Since he's going to do agility, however, he has to have sound
structure. Christina Cornwell Curtis suggests you check for slipped hocks, which
are common. Have the dog put weight on a back foot and touch the hock. "If the
tendon easily goes in like a rubber band, it's a slipped hock." She adds, "It's not fair
to ask the dog to do what we do if he has a high chance of injury." Find someone
you trust to do a good physical evaluation of the dog," Gail Storm says. "It's not
too much to ask to have the hips and elbows X-rayed before you sign those papers. It's the best $150 you'll ever spend, and it can be done without anesthesia."
When you get right down to it, she says, "A dog who isn't comfortable physically
isn't going to want to do what you want him to do."

Check the eyesight. Diane Bauman likes older dogs in part because you can check
their vision. "Everyone assumes all dogs have good vision but consider how many
people wear glasses! Take a tug toy and run with it, hide it, throw it suddenly,
watch how quickly his eyes track what you're doing."

Lift and hold test. Sara Brueske gently takes hold of the collar to see how comfortable the dog is. "Can I pet him? Can I pick up his paws? I want a get a general
Clean Run | July 19

Clean Run - July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - July 2019