Coffee #2 Chocolate Labrador Retriever Female 5 Years Old ID #3370

September 14, 2023

Greetings!

We are in week 7 for Coffee.

Coffee continues to be a great walking buddy and I love watching her smell the flowers.

Such an AMAZING transition for her from a farm life to a home life.

Foster Mom and Dad had a Wedding over the last weekend, so foster Mom’s brother covered and we had a little visitor!!

Coffee is such a good girl with the little visitors!! So curious but mainly as an observer.

Coffee never knew toys or what to do with them, so we introduced them, and she needs time to catch on 😊

Coffee’s DNA lab results are back and she is 100% LAB 😊

We are working with a trainer on house training and anxiety.

Really not unusual for farm dogs, such a different environment for them to adjust.

Coffee is scheduled for her spay on October 2.

We look forward to future adventures.

August 31, 2023

We are in week 5 for Coffee. Where has the time gone!

Coffee continues to be a great walking buddy and enjoys her walks. She loves to take in all the sights and smells and always has time to smell the flowers.

Coffee continues to do well with house training. There are rare accidents and reinforcement and routine are key 🔑

I would not say Coffee is overly affectionate but she is attached to her person. Walking right by your side, laying by your feet, or on your hip 😊

Resident queen, Daisy, continues to tolerate (and at times enjoy) the companionship of Coffee.

Coffee was groomed a week ago and did very well. This was through a mobile groomer, who knew how to approach her and gain her trust.

Coffee has a soft and unique “speckled” coat. Out of curiosity on her breed status, I did send for DNA testing, so more information to come 😊

Coffee has a level of comfort in her foster home to roll for belly rubs.

Heart murmur update: when Coffee was at the Vet for her distemper booster, I asked for a physical assessment. The Vet did not hear a murmur and a second Vet confirmed. So, the plan is to move forward with the spay on October 2 and have a cardiopet done before the procedure. Basically, an EKG reviewed by a cardiac doc.

Coffee has done great meeting other dogs on walks, she has tail wagging and appropriate interest and introduction. She is cautious/hesitant with people; better with people she has seen previously, people who know scared dogs and have treats handy, or people who know scared dogs and are willing to get to their level for comfort.

We continue to work through stranger issues with exposure and appropriate interactions. If it ever seems overwhelming for Coffee, we move on our way.

I am happy Brookline could help Coffee because. But once you are in the trust zone…there is peace ❤️

August 17, 2023

We are in week 3 for Coffee and she is making great progress! It is an amazing learning experience for all of us — understanding, adapting, and adjusting 😊

Coffee continues to be a model dog for walking on leash. She is right by my side all the way! She has 2-3 good walks per day, depending on work schedules. This week she has added the option of a pee stop, that is a first from previous weeks. I love to see her stop and smell the flowers, although I am sure it is something else 😂

Coffee is doing very well with house training. She has infrequent accidents in the house. We are aware of her cues and connecting that to “wanna go potty”!!

Also reinforcing routines for potty in the morning and after meals. Cannot blame a girl that probably had to potty in her previous living quarters.

Coffee is more comfortable with her “people”, that seems to be me and the resident dog, queen Daisy. Daisy is a good soul and tolerates Coffee wanting to be close.

Coffee continues to have a bit of anxiety when I leave — barking, howling, panting, pacing. She does settle, just takes time. (Cam Camera)

Coffee has mastered the stairs and loves sleeping in bed!

Coffee has met lots of people and dogs on her walks. She is cautious, yet interested with the humans. All dog interactions have been appropriate — lots of sniffing and comfortable hanging out together.

Coffee is great with my cats — my two cats have accepted Coffee as a member of the house. The dominant cat, Honey, has even taken ownership of her crate.

No worries — Coffee has shown no interest in her crate since her arrival, so she does not mind Honey hanging out.

Coffee is eating fine. I use a stew-based can food (Hill Prescription). She just started eating dry kibble. She also just started hard treats, would previously only take chicken/cheese/jerky.

Coffee had a grade 2 heart murmur on her vet evaluation from the farm. She will have a cardiology consult/echo before a spay procedure soon.

August 3, 2023

Greetings!

We are one week in with Coffee and she is making such great progress!

Coffee continues to walk very well on leash with a harness. Most of the time, she is close by your side; so much so, you need to watch your walking lane 🚶‍♀️🦮 Working on keeping a good and safe separation.

She really loves walks and taking time to smell the flowers 🌺

Coffee is doing very well with house training, only one or two pee accidents over the past few days. We continue to work on a good routine for Coffee, and especially balancing with work schedules.

We have been testing leaving Coffee on the first floor and not gated, so she can see resident Daisy. Out for 2 hours tonight and checking often 😊

Came home to no accidents!

Coffee is still unsure with strangers but getting better, more interested in dogs (not surprising). So, we follow her comfort level.

We are all learning from each other.

July 29, 2023

Coffee is a 68 pound, 5 year old female chocolate Labrador Retriever. She will turn 6 in October.

Her previous living arrangements were a dairy farm where she resided in a horse stall and her main role was to have puppies. Her last litter only yielded one puppy, so her services were no longer needed and she was transferred to Brookline Lab Rescue on Wednesday July 26.

Her current living arrangements are inside a home with a fenced yard. Her new role is to live her remaining years enjoying all the things dogs choose to enjoy. This will come with some adjustment, as she was quite used to her previous arrangements but we will take things slow and go at her pace for the transition to typical dog life.

During her vetting and vaccinations, it was assessed that Coffee has a heart murmur. There may be nothing further needed for the murmur but she will be evaluated by a cardiologist. Coffee will also be spayed after her heart murmur is thoroughly evaluated.

Coffee is residing with foster mom and dad, a canine foster sibling (Daisy), and 2 feline foster siblings (Honey and Biscuit). Coffee has been appropriate and respectful in all interactions. She walks well on leash with a harness. Minimal pulling and more often walks into you and often checks your location. House training is in progress.

Coffee is slowly gaining confidence and trust. She is cautious and startled  at times but is acclimating well on her own terms. We look forward to supporting, encouraging, and assisting Coffee to typical dog life.