FREEDOM DANE BHRR's Cobalt when to his new forever loving home today! He is now OFFICIALLY ADOPTED! Some photos below!

BHRR's Cobalt is moving to an ADOPTED status! HUGE congratulations to his wonderful new forever loving home and to him! Another FREEDOM Dane has been adopted!

Here is a photo and some observations from BHRR's Cobalt's temp foster mom when she had him during two weeks in March while I had to be out of the country!

BHRR’s Cobalt Observations:

• Very well behaved for his age but does have a few puppy moments- mouthing the leash and/or a hand, jumping.  All are easily corrected.
• Has not chewed or damaged anything at all while here either in or out of his crate.
• Has been out of his crate a lot during the day, with periods of a couple of hours here and there in while I am out.
• At night has been a mix of in and out of crate for first couple of days.
• Favourite  place to sleep while out of his crate was on the Kuranda bed (often flat on his back with his front legs in the air)
• Marked once in the house when he first came in other than that has been perfectly clean (very small mark, wouldn’t have even noticed but my dogs all sniffed and looked at me and told on him!!).
• Plays very well with BHRR’s Harley (often instigated by the “old man”, he will miss BHRR’s Cobalt….).  They’ve had a few minor disagreements but it went both ways on who was being disagreeable and were quickly settled (they seem to have a mutual respect….).
• BHRR’s Cobalt was very respectful with the girls but he and Fiona did have a good race down the hallway a couple of times.
• Walks well on leash outside, very friendly and not stressed at all about meeting new people and dogs outside- we have met up with other dogs that are on the leash and also been surprised by a couple of loose male dogs on the trails .  Also, bumped into a loose male dog on the street who came over barking.  BHRR’s Cobalt was perfect with one “it’s OK” from me.
• Been OK with kids on bikes.  Been OK as cars pass (a little interested in the movement but not too much) also fine at night with car headlights.  Not too prey driven, pricks ears and interested a bit in squirrels and cats but can be easily distracted.  Also passed two kids playing badminton in the street with no worry whatsoever.
• Still worries in the House if there are sudden noises or different people in and out especially at night when it is dark.  Is better if the House is well lit- I kept the lights on down the hallway day-time also since the narrower hallway without lights on seemed to stress him.  We did not push him too much- exposure to people was immediate family members and a couple of new comers in the house.  His worrying is much greater around men (including late teen boys).  This was only in the house; outside he was friendly with everyone we met. 
• All in all, he is a wonderful dog, very affectionate and loving and just needs tons of love and the right calm and passively ignroing reassurance to get him over his rough times.  He is well on his way…..but will still need some understanding.  When he does get worried and soft woofy around people he does seem a little scary especially to the unaccustomed who may misinterpret this as aggression rather than fear and worry.

BHRR's Cobalt – March 2012 at his temp foster home on a Kuranda Bed
*Photo courtesy of K. Starkie

UPDATE: May 10th, 2012: I can vouch that BHRR's Cobalt is good with older cats. He has not been tested with younger cats.

BHRR's Cobalt shall be returning to BHRR on Wednesday March 21st after his play time with his temp foster home! He has done so well and his temp foster home sent me an email stating that if they did not already have three dogs(including one that is a BHRR GD adoption already); they would have seriously adopted BHRR's Cobalt! WHAT sweet and lovely words!!!

They have found him to be an amazing dog and I agree! We continue to remain patient for that right matched home; one that is not going to set him up for failure and be patient and understanding of what he has gone through in his past as a PRU dog.

BHRR's Cobalt's temp foster mom took him to get  a new weight on him and he weighed 100 pounds on zee dot! WTG! 🙂

He may be a smaller male BUT he is all HUGE in sweetness and love! 🙂 Apparently, he was a BIG hit will all at the Vet Hospital; BUT; I am not surprised to hear that…. 😉

FREEDOM DANE's BHRR's Cobalt HAS his first outside of BHRR playdate on February 28th, 2012!

We drove to Hudson, Quebec and met up with none other than BHRR's Harley(blue collar in the video/taller GD) and his adoptive family to spend some time at this small yet nicely fenced in area for about 40 minutes! We then drove back to her house and he played some more with BHRR's Harley and their other two dogs – Princess… Fiona & Lilly!

IT was so worth the 2 hour drive one way! He rocked it at this park with BHRR's Harley, a JRT(named Jack that was adopted by his own family 3 days ago); a HuskyX, a lovely female Pittie(Nala) & a Golden!

I so wanted to drop in to the Global Pet Foods, I saw in the parking lot; yet; time was slipping away fast and I had to get home…BOO!

He travelled great in the car and we decided to walk the boyz first on the leash to integrate slowly and after the first few seconds of some 'worry' from BHRR's Cobalt; he was play bowing and just wanted to get it on! 🙂

ANY forever adoptive home is going to have to realise that if you are calm and quietly confident and reassure him in a non babying type manner plus positively correct him when he does get a bit puffed up as he is worried that he might get hurt; your home too; SHALL have these exact same experiences with him that we do!

His manners were amazing and so many commented on how well he was obedient and his distraction recall was BANG ON! WTG! BHRR's Cobalt!

He can still mouth at the leash and my hand when he gets excited and I just firmly correct him with a 'No, mouth Cobalt' and he settles down.

THIS boy is going to make a home not just a real treat of a dog; but the whole pie with ice cream on top! 😀

THANKS for the play date BHRR's Harley and his family!!!

AND FOR THOSE WANTING TO SEE HOW HIS PLAY DATE WAS: Here is a VIDEO (I took three) and I shall post this one for now!

I am digging this video thing! LOL

BHRR's Cobalt is NOW AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!

He has done most wonderfully with his rehab at BHRR.

Any new home MUST understand though that he has had a bad life of hell before he was seized as part of the 547 dogs from PRU in September.

He needs a firm yet gentle hand for guidance. He needs a leader who is fair, keeps up with his obedience and can instill trust and respect and understands that this trust plus respect works two ways. HE does not need corporal correction and we do not tolerate or approve homes that act in such a manner.

He can be vocal in his displeasure of anyone taking his collar to quickly by giving a worried soft sound; so; slow and calm is the way to handle him.

When you ask him to get off a dog bed etc;, he will also be vocal in sassing you back and he will also give a version of this soft gruff sound when he is content(almost purring).

He needs very careful correction – soft yet kindly firm for if you overdue it with him; you shall only terrify him and that will ruin him. He has no need of a strong tone or voice.

He is just a really softie inside who had tried to develop a strong exterior in his efforts to try and survive at PRU. Some of the older boyz here have figured him out pretty fast and want to try and push him and we will not allow that. Even BHRR's Freedom, another FREEDOM DOG will now try to body bump and almost bully him and that is not going to happen. Each dog will be shaped and guided to build up their self-esteem and self-confidence in appropriate manners and behavours; not by being bossy and a 'boob' to other dogs to make themselves feel higher or better.

He is a baby who nobody cared about until he was rescued back in September and  began his rehab journey at the ES. His story is WHY people should not give dogs away for free, WHY they should alter any dog before selling them; WHY homes should be screened and home visits should be done etc. OR surrender your dog to a r/q Rescue if you do not feel that you are able to keep your pet or cannot show due diligence in altering etc. before selling. He is a victim amongst thousands and thousands yearly that fall into the wrong hands. 🙁

From the moment he was seized in September, caring people have told him how much he means to them and since his arrival to BHRR; we have worked hard on his confusion, fear and sense of loss and belonging in a world that had been most unjust to him to date.

BHRR's Cobalt can be a bit particular about his friends – male in particular. He finds BHRR's Riley a bit too much in goofy and energetic movement plus antics.

He would do wonderful in a home with a like minded and personality fit other dog and it does not have to be a female; and he has loved all ladies to date here. Males from where he came from were competition around all those females in heat and some males; do worry him. He resides in complete harmony here; even with clown head BHRR's Goliath and our Sir Maestro; yet as mentioned BHRR's Riley is a wee bit too much for him and even BHRR's Benjamin causes him to look at him sideways as if to say 'are you for real?' LOL

So, any new home must understand that this about him. We do not want him ever feeling threatened by another dog. We do not want him stressing and worrying about things that he should not be.

We calmly reassure him, redirect and re-focus and passively ignore and our calm and comfortable/confident demeanor makes him realise that dogs like BHRR's Riley and BHRR's Benjamin are harmless, even if they are static, flighty goofy boyz!

BHRR's Cobalt is more of a 'serious' boy and that is tough to see in a way. He is so young and should be romping and running carefree yet he does not. He is a thinker, sometimes too much and needs plenty of exercise and a good strong stable social network of friends both human and canine that are great personality fits to keep him continuing on this excellent journey he has begun.

He has also discovered the joy of cuddling!!! 😉 Photos below are from January 1st, 2012 with Sean. 🙂

BHRR's Cobalt – January 1st, 2012

BHRR's Cobalt was neutered, had a hwt(negative), had other bw, nails, micorchipping plus teeth looked over on the 15th of December. His weight was 42.5 KGS(93.5 pounds).

We believe that once we re-open from our XMAS shutdown period, that BHRR's Cobalt shall be ready to be placed as "AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION". He is doing really so beautifully here! 🙂

In just 10 days, we did 8 spays/neuters…phewww! AND we have two more on zee agenda in the not too distance future. JS & Brick. 😀

Our Vet bills for the BHRR FREEDOM DOGS have been close to $5,000 and any assistance would be so appreciated.

BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' – Their Dream to Reality… To A Better Future' Cause

IF anyone wishes to donate to the BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' – Their Dream To Reality To A Better Future' Cause, you can donate direct to Kanata Animal Hospital:

(613) 836-2848 under the 'Birch Haven Rescue' account and they will take Visa, M/C or AMEX over the phone.

OR via PayPal – gwen@birchhaven.org

OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org

OR Cash in person at Kanata Animal Hospital 440 Hazeldean Road

Monies raised from our recent online auction will go to BHRR's Atlas, BHRR's Veteran, some in 'trust' for BHRR's Bloom and the rest to the BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' yet with several to vet, any additional sponsorship sent their way to assist; would be as always soooooo appreciated!

BHRR 'FREEDOM DOG' DREAM TO REALITY CAUSE ANGELS:

Anonymous
Sam
James
Maggie – For BHRR's Adele
Alice
Michelle/Martin

BHRR'S Cobalt(a name befitting a strong surviving beautiful blue boy). We believe he is between 12-15 months yet the more I get to know him, I put him closer to 12 months. He was given his rabies on September 16th and we have given him some Revolution and he was proactively dewormed again.

This FREEDOM DOG boy was not born in to the hell of PRU(Paws R Us); yet had to have been obtained from a 'free' ad posted by someone else or someone else that truly did not care where he ended up for he was rescued from the largest seizure to date in Canada and possibly North America. The word 'hell' cannot even adequately describe what these dogs were put through.

Dogs that when you open up a crate, cowered in the back of their pens, shivering, losing control of their bodily functions, fearful and terrified of receiving the pain they knew and had been taught would come their way. 🙁

Dogs living in the filth of their urine and feces, not vetted when they are injured or sick, poor ventilated areas, being asked to breed over and over again, never given a loving touch, yelled at and hit(shovels TERRIFY the FREEDOM DOGS here…we have to be careful when taking out shovels to clean the walk way or stairs) and hurt and never allowed to see daylight or have toys or treats and…and…and… 🙁  Dogs that were not named and others given only a tat number in the name of 'commercial breeding'. WHY is there even such a thing allowed????

There was one report made to the media that in the first few moments when the seizure happened, that no less than 42 rats were seen in the first few minutes the rescuers entered the one building.

BHRR's Cobalt was not there overly long for he had not yet been comptely broken in spirit, heart and soul like so many others. His health was not as bad with the many that had eye infections, respiratory problems, skin and ear issues and the list goes on.

THANK you again to Red Rover, MAPAQ, HSI Canada, the Volunteers, the supporters and those that donated to help save these animals. The saving of all of these hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of dogs from PRU's was the combined effort of so many likeminded folks! BHRR is just a very small part of something so much larger and incredible that has happened for these precious creatures by all these FANTABULOUS folks working together. 🙂

What is of some worry to all the r/q groups out there is we do not want the public forgetting about ALL the other dogs in their programs that are very much in need of loving forever homes themselves. THEY must not be forgotten about. Though, they have not come from the largest puppymill bust in Canada to date; many of them have equally very tragic stories and love to have a special home to call their very own too. 🙂

BHRR's Cobalt shall be neutered on the 15th, have bw done including a HWT and will have nails plus a microchip implanted. We will also check his teeth most thoroughly.

It is estimated that the Vet bills for the BHRR FREEDOM DOGS will be close to $5,000 and any assistance would be so appreciated.

He has been fully integrated with the dogs here and is fast becoming a real sweetly affectionate boy. He is more confident in asking for affection and is a very quiet boy.

He is now one mellow dude now that he has settled in. He was very high strung with pent up energy and becoming frustrated while at the ES. A bit of a gooberhead sometimes yet training, struture plus patience, love and consistency are really guiding him. He is a just a baby still…a big one!   Blues generally are the more laid back compared to the 'hyper Harles' in Great Danes. I own two blues myself and  also harles.

With the exercise/company of our multi-dog home and on 148 acres with almost 2.5 of it fenced; he has just blossomed and the muscle he is putting on as that weight has has made him one stunning dude! AND I think he knows it! 😉
Once he loses those twinkles, obtains some more training; he is going to be ready to be adopted and is going to just be the apple of some homes heart!! 🙂

The one thing that any  home MUST be aware of is that you have to be very careful about correcting him. DO not surprise him, smack him or hit him. WE do not support anything other than positive correction with our dogs. He has been clearly abused at PRU and we do not want him ever being fearful again. Do NOT sneak up behind him or just grab his collar. That will stress him out.

He will need continued patience, time, consistency, obedience and love under a firm guiding hand. A full round of obedience classes per our adoption contract will greatly assist in the bonding between home and him.

I feel that come early January, after our annual XMAS shutdown period; he shall be placed up for adoption.

BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' – Their Dream to Reality… To A Better Future' Cause

IF anyone wishes to donate to the BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' – Their Dream To Reality To A Better Future' Cause, you can donate direct to Kanata Animal Hospital:

(613) 836-2848 under the 'Birch Haven Rescue' account and they will take Visa, M/C or AMEX over the phone.

OR via PayPal – gwen@birchhaven.org

OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org

OR Cash in person at Kanata Animal Hospital 440 Hazeldean Road

Monies raised from our recent online auction will go to BHRR's Atlas, BHRR's Veteran, some in 'trust' for BHRR's Bloom and the rest to the BHRR 'FREEDOM DOGS' yet with several to vet, any additional sponsorship sent their way to assist; would be as always soooooo appreciated!

BHRR 'FREEDOM DOG' DREAM TO REALITY CAUSE ANGELS:

Anonymous
Sam
James
Maggie – For BHRR's Adele
Alice

BHRR's Cobalt – November 11th, 2011 – ~ 12-15 months of age