Happy Valentine's Day - Love Shrek
11/07 - Update on Shrek....He's Found His Forever Home!That's right, our favorite dog Shrek has found his adoptive home. It seems that many people's predictions and hopes were right on. After giving it a lot of though, Eric decided that he could not live without Shrek and decided to adopt him! So Shrek and Eric are now living happily ever after. What a nice ending to a wonderful story!
by Randi Bildner
It is more than appropriate to post an update about Shrek (the irresistible little Blue Heeler) on Valentine's Day.
On Tuesday, February 13 I received a call from Training Partner and foster mom, Twilla Caudron, saying that Shrek asked her to phone me. Caudron was happy to oblige explaining Shrek's lack of thumbs impair his phoning abilities.
It turns out that Shrek has much to celebrate this year. The lucky young man actually has two Valentines: foster mom, Caudron and Database Administrator, Eric Palmer. The exciting news is that shortly, one of these two will become Shrek's permanent owner.
Both Caudron and Palmer have decided that it is in Shrek's best interest that he spend the rest of his life with one of them.
Now, the only question is who?
Before we get involved in the details about where Shrek may or may not be moving to, it was important to him that an update about his comings and goings be provided. He also asked that a few things mentioned in his previous article be revised.
First of all, Shrek would like to make it clear that he was NOT turned down for the Champion Chihuahua guarding position that he had been "interviewing” for. It was though a mutual decision that he bow out of the running and do something more suitable to his personality.
Although he’s still refusing to go into full details about his first interview with senior citizen, Art, he did offer this tidbit. While he feels that Art is nice enough, he believes that Art may be better suited for a companion who does not have such a strong personality, in other words, one who is "less dog."
Shrek would also like to share some information that mom, Caudron, learned while working with him. It appears that the young man have gotten a bum rap for some of his past escapades. It seems that some of his actions that had gotten him into trouble at the Best Friends Sanctuary are in actuality instinctual behaviors to heelers.
Caudron has learned that experts on the breed even have an excuse for "some" of Shrek's "nips." The heeler professionals adamantly state, "don't ever say bite." Not that this is much consolation to the recipient but, it may be that some of Shrek's "bites" could have been "nips'' that heelers instinctively use during their herding techniques.
Caudron has enjoyed every moment she has spent with Shrek and beams when she tells of his accomplishments.
Now that he satisfactorily trained Tommy, Caudron's female Papillion, (mistakenly reported by me as Shrek's foster brother)
I would like to extend my deepest apologies to Tommy. Shrek has been working on his a new job: teaching recent addition, Romel -- a Rottweiler, the ins and outs of dogdom -- specifically how to play appropriately. Caudron, who fosters animals for Rottie Aid of Denver, took Romel home when his owner passed on.
Caudron reports on Shrek's continued progress since coming to live with her. His achievements include: retrieving, sit, down, leave it, along with one of Caudron's favorites - becoming her personal foot-warmer, stating “It was easiest thing I ever taught him.” Shrek sleeps with Caudron, who says he keeps her so toasty he is saving her a fortune in utility bills! Shrek allows his foster mom to carry him upside down and handle him in any way. Caudron also taught Shrek to sit up and make a really a cute face. The two enjoy practicing his retrieving. When Caudron throws a bone Shrek will wait and stay, shaking with excitement until given the command to retrieve.
Caudron says that Shrek has her bosses totally charmed and can be very calm; recently discovering that it is very cool to be a lap dog. Shrek makes himself very small and enjoys a good cuddle. On the other end of the spectrum are what Caudron calls, "the crazy dog attacks." This is when, "out of the blue," Shrek rips around as fast as he can, filled with pure joy, barely making it around the corners without careening into them.
Caudron speaks of Shrek's intelligence. “He tries to understand English and gets very worried when he does not understand something. He focuses very hard; you can actually see him worry. He puts his ears back until he gets it.” Caudron continues, “Shrek just loves to learn. It is almost a telepathic experience to watch him reach out, trying to focus.”
A recent activity Shrek has taken a liking to is watching television. He is avidly following the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Every once in a while he goes behind the TV to see how all of those dogs are getting in and out of his television set.
Another fun activity for Shrek is sitting in the car. Caudron says if she leaves the car door open Shrek sits there all day, completely happy, whether or not they are going anywhere.
Palmer is still thinking about having Shrek move back to Kanab to live with him so they could return to the former routine the two enjoyed together, but worries that Shrek may be bored by simply going to work with him. Caudron feels that this would not be the case. Explaining that heelers are very content sitting around and waiting. This comes from the herding instinct where much of the time is spent just watching the animals in their care. Palmer admits that he hasn't been hiking as much since Shrek left.
Caudron says every once in a while Shrek asks her to call his buddy Palmer, just so he can say "Hi." She decided that if Palmer decides he wants to keep Shrek, it would be okay with her. Explaining that she would miss him terribly, but, “It’s all about the dog.”
Caudron feels that her niche is to take in foster dogs and then release them to fabulous homes, “where they will have lives that are so incredible you can cry.”
She still remembers Palmer's sad face when she left the Best Friends Sanctuary with Shrek. She said that it looked as if Palmer was surprised, not realizing that someone might adopt or foster his buddy. Caudron feels that Shrek would be very happy with Palmer. While she would be very sad to see this lively addition to her home leave, she says, it is all about the animals and wants to do what is best for Shrek. Shrek loves Eric. Caudron stresses that the most important thing is to have this dog in a good happy place
The fact that Shrek never "heeled" either Caudron or Palmer is another sign that Shrek belongs with one of them.
Caudron laughingly states that Palmer was recently horrified when he found out that she has been bathing his buddy in a lilac bath and using lilac cream rinse on his hair.
The most important thing is that Shrek is one very loved boy. Whether his future will bring additional lilac baths or creek hikes, only time will tell.
Stay tuned for future updates, we can only wonder what next Valentine's Day will bring for this special, little blue heeler.
Photos taken by Twilla Caudron, who stated, "You can’t send just one photo when it comes to Shrek."