Thank you
@Ocean5,
@The Albatross,
@Changeling,
@barefoot,
@Saelben for your kind words and very helpful tips.
Quick Question and an update below:
They called him Dakota. He doesn't respond to the name at all - so I am wondering is it still early enough to change his name? He is part Malamute and part Husky. I was thinking a one syllable name so that it gets through his anxiety?
Update
He's home!!
And I have so flunked fostering. I flunked it yesterday before I even got him home but if I had any doubt, helping him navigate getting into the car was the topper as they say.
I arrived about a half hour early to the rescue and sat outside to wait until 2pm. A few minutes after I arrived I got a text from the rescue woman saying 'is that you parked out front' lol! She opened her door as we were texting and we had a good laugh about it.
I think what broke my heart the most was when I went to put his collar on him, he flinched and crouched to the floor and peed.
Neither the rescue woman nor I made any sounds when he peed and flinched - she went and got paper towels and I waited quietly beside him and then made some sounds to get him to look at me. He made eye contact briefly with me - then he let me put his collar on while he remained standing. When he let me put his collar on I praised him and treated him.
The ride home was so cool - I couldn't believe he was coming home with me. And then I started thinking I need to get a restraining device for him like a car seat for kids so that in the event of a collision, he would be safe inside.
On getting home the first challenge was so obvious that I didn't even think about it - he doesn't know how to walk on hardwood or tile floors.
Our first few steps through the door, he slipped and I immediately expressed concern and said something like, 'awwww sweetie' - and he peed again. I think I scared him with my loud verbal response. Lesson learned. It was so automatic but I will stop that as quickly as possible.
I ignored his pee and walked him immediately outside to his pee area and said 'good boy' - and then walked him around his new yard. He was curious and I noticed as I walked around with him he was looking towards me a lot more. I kept him on his leash so that his introduction was controlled and measured. As he settles I will give him more freedom off the leash in the yard. But for now I will have all of his yard time on the leash.
Inside, I showed him his new crate area with his bed and blankets and a towel I got from rescue with smells from the rescue people and his kong, his water bowl. He slept almost right away.
I called my neighbour who came over immediately and I went to walmart and grabbed some runner rugs for him - I have them down all over now so he can walk without sliding - when he hits an area of uncovered hardwood or tile, he lifts his feet up like he's wearing doggie boots.
My neighbour said he went to the front door and sat for a few minutes while I was gone. When I came home she said he jumped up when he heard the car drive in and ran to the front door.
He's had a few pees outside already now - one after dinner and one a few minutes ago.
Right now he's asleep on one of his new rugs - a few inches from my toes. He's dreaming and twitching and making dream barks - I hope he's dreaming good things.