New foster, just picked her up today

[MiniMe]

This is Layla. The shelter guestimated her age as 1 year, but there is no way. This girl is 7-8 months at most. She was a stray, and is a bit raw. The only command she knows is "sit". She gets along great with my 2 males and my friend's female. She just needs a little love and patience. Here are some pics from when she was at the shelter.

[dropkickpa]

1. She's pretty well muscled for 7-8 months, not gawky/lanky

like I'd expect of a 7-8 month old. Teeth are a REALLY good indicator of age up to one year(molars, puppy teeth, etc). Labs also tend to be "puppies" mentally for up to 3 years. She's a very pretty girl!

[MiniMe]

2. She is only 40lbs

So the pics are a little deceptive. I've been fostering labs for 5 years, after I lost my lab of 15 years. She is lankier than she looks in those pictures. But you can tell by the puppy skin and her utter clumsiness. I have fostered a lot of 6-12 month olds, and I have a pretty good idea of ages. My youngest dog is about 20 months old. They are having a blast.

[dropkickpa]

3. Oh wow, she looks bigger than that in the pix

Aww, so she still has that velvetly puppy coat? i love puppy fur, sooo soft! Clumsiness is not always a good indicator LOL, Agatha is a total klutz at 16 months (she scraped half the skin off her nose last week turning her head into a brick wall and regularly does a face plant going up steps :eyes: ). Puppy playtime is always so much fun to watch, I'm jealous!!!

[MiniMe]

4. She has a big old head, and it isn't in proportion to her body

sshhhhh, I think they are finally getting tired. Maybe I can go to bed soon. She hates the crate, barks and cries. But she has to go into the crate while I'm sleeping. She isn't housetrained and I don't want her loose to get herself in trouble. And yes, she has that soft puppy fur, and that extra loose puppy skin. Both of my males are in love with her.

[MiniMe]

8. Just to let you know, the adopter took her to the vet and he agreed with

the age as about 8 months. She also had those sparkling white teeth.

[MiniMe]

5. Well, that was quick. She has been adopted already.

What a sweetie she was. But I felt like a bed & breakfast with this one. LOL.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Wow. Is it difficult to part with them? i know it is great when they find a forever home...

But there must be times when you get so attached that it is hard to let them go.

she seemed like a real cutie.

[MiniMe]

7. Sometimes it is. My dogs certainly miss her

She was in my house less than 24 hours, so I didn't really get a chance to get very attached. And while she was here, the "boys" (my dogs) took her over and kept her busy, so I didn't get much of a chance to get to know her. She is very sweet, and the adopter loves her. But she is a work in process. She is young and has a ton of puppy energy. It was never a problem here because of the boys, and she needed a lot of obedience work.

There have been some that I cried when they left, and there are some that I haven't been able to wait for the door to hit them in the butt on their way out. I think she would have driven me crazy if it wasn't for the boys, but I like her a lot. I try to look at fostering as a stop on their way to their forever home. When I started fostering, I had just lost my 15 year old dog, and I just wasn't ready for any committments. So the first few were easy to adopt out. Both of my boys are former fosters of mine, so they haven't all left. But my house if full now except for fosters.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. You are doing a wonderful thing for these pups..

I always wondered about those families that socialize the dogs that go on to work as guide dogs for the blind. They keep them for a year..and then have to give them back to the school for training..That must be so hard. You cannot help but get attached after having a pup in your house for a year..

[demnan]

10. You did a good thing

She is a lovely young dog and will make some family very happy. Hope your boys aren't too broken hearted from losing her.

[MiniMe]

12. Her new family is just thrilled with her

They are working with the training and some of her issues, but she is definitely worth it. And, she is a puppy, so everything is new.

The boys seem to be getting over it. My oldest is used to this, it's old hat to him. The youngest is getting over it, it's just taking him a little longer. I'm just glad that she found a good home.

[yy4me]

11. She looks just like my daughters Yellow Lab. A beautiful dog

with the greatest disposition in the world. You will have a friend for life with her, Congratulations!