Raising the flag pole. Really, it's comfy like this.
A rock or a turtle? Not going to get to close to find out.
I'm a happy dog at the forest preserve, can you tell?
Pointing birds is so rewarding
in the fieldand yes, even in water.

Dear Santa

I got to meet this big hairy guy in a funny red suit, that humans call Santa. I was told you tell him every thing you want and he will bring it to you, if, you're good. Well, I'm good and I don't know if it's suppose to be a secret, but I asked Santa for a forever family that will love me and play with me and let me love them back with lots of couch sharing and wet kisses. I sure hope Santa can pull this off. Paws crossed.

A Beautiful and Amazing Talent

It's been a long haul to recovery and it's still on going, but Lani has come a long way since starting treatment. Lani was diagnosed with Lyme disease two years ago but the Michigan vet who did the testing never followed up with the positive result. We retested this Spring and he was still positive for Lyme disease and also for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This explained much of Lani's quirky behavior the past two years and while he struggled in foster care.

Post treatment (eight weeks on doxycycline), Lani is a happier more loving, settled dog. His health is great and his behavior is much improved. His natural instinct to hunt and point has also returned and rewarded by his first Hunt test pass.We, at IBR are so proud of him.

Until you participate in a hunt test or field trial or hunt on your own, you really can't appreciate what these dogs have in their blood. Their natural instinct is un-canning. Down right beautiful.

I've seen my own dogs point squirrels :o) and the beauty in their statuesque pose. I marvel that they get "to the point" with no formal training. But to see a dog, fulfill to the fullest, his/her heritage is breathtaking. Honest.

I never gave it much thought before. To me, a hunting dog was a hunting dog, no big deal. I never saw a dog do what he/she was suppose to do in the field. Watching it on TV, which I haven't done, wouldn't be the same. It didn't mean anything to me. Now, I have a real appreciation for their talents and respect what they do. Until you can experience it or see it happening in front of you, you'll never really know.

I love my non-hunting dogs and it doesn't matter to me that they don't hunt. They are complete in my heart for who they are. I love them no less. But I have a new respect those that have the talent to hunt.

Here is a slideshow pictures of Casey, Trudy, Lani and Buckwheat and the judges out in the field.

Gotta Love the Dog Parks

I had a BLAST!!! A pack (10 total) of us went to the dog park Sunday and man was it fun. We ran for 2-1/2 hours nonstop. It felt great to run the open fields and through the woods.
To cool off we did find a mud pond of sorts. Don't you think it highlights our whites? Needless to say, the humans weren't to thrilled with us. Especially since we still had to get back in the vehicles like this.
I was voted the best mud coverage from the rest of the gang!

Sharing Space

Sharing a bed with Buckwheat.
Here Lani is enjoying relaxing with Ladybird.

I'd like to share my space with you. Give IBR an application and we're one step closer.

Tug-a-War with a friend and Love time

Lani and Pomegranate have become good friends while sharing a room at the inn. Today he's ejoying a good game of tug-a-war with Pomegranate (Pom Pom)


Enjoying a friendly petting isn't bad either. Lucy and Weets join in.

Lani---great progress

Lani---who has shown that he can be a fence jumper in low fence situations---has proved that he minds invisible fencing very well.
His foster mom trained him to an Electronic Collar---and when they took a trip to Indiana
to a home with a large property that had invisible fencing, Lani showed that he could handle it. He didn't challenge the invisible fence AT ALL!!
This cute boy has come a long way---now he just has to find his special forever home!

Nothing but Cheap Thrills for this guy.

Lani doesn't need expensive gifts to make him happy. Just the simplist of things will do. He's easy maintenance when it comes to toys!





Here he is showing off his great Pointer stance.

Lani snoozing Up-Close & Personal!

March update

Lani is an extremely loving, playful bundle of joy. He would love a home with an invisble fence yard with trees and birds to watch. Enjoy some new pictures:


Lani will in short be transferred to camp Spakowski to brush up on his crate training. Stay tuned for more updates!

Update

Lani is doing great in foster care. He is now trained on the Invisible Fence and knows to stay in the yard. He really picked up the concept fast. I found out he loves tennis balls. He likes to run after it if you bounce or roll it on the floor. He comes back and with a little couching (and pulling) he'll give it back. And in typical pointer fashion a nap is in order after playing. The recent trips to the dog park have been very good for him. Just after the second trip there we noticed he was coming back and checking in more and seemed much more at ease and confident running around. Check out the Pointers Go Wild video if you haven't seen it yet.

Pointers Go Wild

Photobucket Album

Lani and Pete

Lani playing with his foster home brother Pete. This is not dog fighting. Just look at their tails go! Pete also came through Illinois Bird Dog Rescue.

staying warm in front of the stove

Hey everyone just wanted to give you all an update. I've arrived in my new foster home. I am learning how to sit and be a good boy at my new home. I jumped over the fence at my last foster home and ran away. I was just going hunting and I would have come back! This new home is maximum security. They have an invisible fence and I have to wear a harness so I can't slip out of my collar. I'm learning how this "Invisible" fence works and looking forward to being able to run around the yard on my own. They have a pointer named Pete. I think Pete is a little jealous of the attention I get sometimes. He likes to play and wrestle around with me. Life is looking up for me as you can see in the picture. I'm loving it!

Dear Santa...

Lani boy is still a great houseguest at Camp West. I caught him writing a letter to Santa.

Dear Santa,

I have had a hard year, not much is familiar in the last few months, but I am really being a good boy.

1. This year on the top of my list is to find a family of my own. A nice, family that loves me and likes to laugh when I wag my tail fast.

a. My perfect family would have great food healthy food, so I can eat and gain some weight. I have been hungry a lot this year, until my Auntie Lisa got me into foster care. I eat every bit that is in my bowl and I always sniff around under the kitchen table for more. I eat twice a day and I get treats when I come inside.

b. I would love a bed with blankets. I can sleep in a crate all night long without a peep. Or I have been allowed to sleep on the couch at night and I donʼt bother anyone until morning. I am a polite boy who doesnʼt go potty in the house. I wait by the door and stare at my family with my tail wagging so they know I am ready to do my business outside.

c. I would love a fenced in yard so I can run around and not get lost. One time I found an easy way out of the yard, and took my chance and jumped a little fence. It was fun to run around in a bunch of yards, but I got lost and a little nervous until my foster family found me. I donʼt want to do that again. So an invisible fence or a 6ft fence would be perfect for me.

d. If you happen to have some toys in your big bag that would be fun, my foster sister loves this squeaky duck, I am not sure what the big deal is, but she doesnʼt like me to play with it. I would be fun to play with my own. If there are kids in the house, that is a bonus! I have a 5, 9 and 12 year old to play with here and they seem fun, a little noisy but I do appreciate good old fashion game of chase or hide and seek. I sniff them out every time. Plus they are messy and leave lots of things to eat.

Anyway, on your journey around the world can you find the best family for me? Make a list and check it twice and ask them to get me home for Christmas? I just had a check up at the doctor and I weigh 49 lbs and I am healthy, happy boy. I am ready to go home!

Love, Kisses and Wags,

Lani

Cute boy Lani!

Report from his Foster Home!

Lani is a happy boy and has found himself in Northern Illinois foster care before the storm hit. He is joyful, curious dog who loves to play. He leaps over my pointer while playing! I have a female pointer who is not an alpha dog, but is to Lani. He is house broken and is crated at night. He does better in a plastic crate than a wire crate. I think the plastic crates give them a sense that they are living in a den.

He ate great at dinner and breakfast. He is a bit underweight and could stand to gain a few pounds. We are not sure how old he is although he is familiar with an in-house routine. He is neutered, and micro-chipped. I have three kids (ages 5,9,12) and Lani is doing great with them.
He is very food motivated, therefore he needs a bit of obedience training since he is a counter surfer and has take a slice of pizza off the table. He would need a safe and secure 6 foot fence or electric fence since he climbed the gate of my 4ft fence.
He loves to be around people and is interested in what you are doing by following you or laying with his head in your lap. Currently he is lying on my couch snuggled up with a stuffed toy, glad to be in a warm house on this chilly day. Please let me know if you like to know more about Lani by filling out an application or contacting Illinois Bird Dog Rescue and I would be happy to tell you more about him.

Alison West

IBR foster mom

Hi-My name is Lani!

Lani was able to go to his new foster home this weekend. His foster mom reports that he's very affectionate and was a big hit at the vet office.

On the road...

Lani is a happy pointer boy that is going into foster care in Illinois---after his temp foster mom Sue was able to pull him from an Ohio shelter and keep him safe.
He's got a wonderful temperament and likes other dogs and of course people as well.