1/24/05 - Sorry I'm way over due with my update on Yoshi! He continues 
to do very well. His skin condition continues and we are trying different 
meds and shampoos to help him. He doesn't seem too uncomfortable, just an 
itchy little guy. He remains at about 74 pounds now, the Dr. thinks he's 
at the perfect weight. He has been less than happy with this whole snow 
situation but on the bright side, he loves to eat it! He is currently 
trying to eat it ALL, and that's a lot! He's been a pretty good boy. Never 
an accident in the house. He rarely takes what doesn't belong to him. He 
has learned a new trick, lay down. It is soo cute, he lays down, rolls 
over on his side and puts his paw up. This is in addition to sit, shake, 
other hand and stay. He's come a very long way with his vocabulary. If he 
leaves a toy outside I can tell him to go get it and he will. He knows go 
to bed, new toy, take a drink, get the buggy and are you hungry (his 
favorite). He still doesn't like a bath but takes it like a man. His new 
thing is climbing up on my lap (his front half) while I'm on the computer 
and watching the curser. It's so cute, I think he thinks it's a bug! He 
just LOVES squeaky toys.

7/13/04 - It's been a long time since an update on Butch, who's name is now Yoshi. "Yoshi" is a 
Japanese word meaning goodness and luck. He is responding to his name just great. He also responds
 to Yoshimoto, Yoshison, Yosh Yosh and King Yoshi. I took him to the vet this past Saturday to be 
checked for his skin condition and he is back on antibiotics. He really isn't doing that bad but I want 
him to be 100%. The vet also gave me a medicated spray for him and he got his 1st shot in my care 
and he made it clear he didn't like that. He hasn't gained any more weight, he actually went down to 

68.8, but wow can that boy eat. He has a great appetite. He'll eat a bowl of dry with nothing on it in 

44 seconds flat. He'll eat anything, fruit, vegetables it doesn't matter. I caught him in the tub 

about 2 weeks ago eating a bar of soap!!! I wrapped his meds in cheese and left them on the 

counter, when I came back they were gone - helped himself to his meds. I took an english muffin out
 of the freezer to defrost (hid it behind the toaster) - got in the shower - came out, it was gone (my 

last one by the way). He walks around the house flinging his toys in the air with reckless abandon 

(I was calling him destructo last night). He loves his Kong Ball filled with treats and peanut 

butter and loves squeaky toys. He doesn't get squeaky toys too often because he destroys them in 2 

minutes (and I'm not rich). He's not much of a lap dog or a kisser but he wants to be in the same 

room with you whether he's napping or playing. Sometimes I hug him against his will, but he stands 

there and takes it like a man. Anyway, all is well with the little guy. He continues to amuse 

everyday.

6/10/04 - Well Butch continues to do just great. He had his Dr's appt. on Saturday and he was such a great boy. He just let everyone poke & prod him without flinching. The Dr. even did a skin scrape (with a
razor!) and he just watched. The nurse even commented to the Dr. about how brave he was. So, the Dr. put him on an antibiotic and a pill for itching for the skin irritation around his neck (it's in-between his toes too). He also gave him medicated shampoo and he has to have a bath every 3 days! :-0 SOOO, he had his first bath on Saturday. What a sight. I got him in the bathroom and shut the door. I tried to get him in the tub and he got away and squished himself in the corner. I had to get him under the armpits and wrestle him into the tub (he didn't growl or anything - not a peep). Once he was in there he was a perfect gentleman as usual. Tuesdays bath was about the same story. The Dr. said not to let him gain too much more weight. He's 69.2 lbs. now. Thanks to foster mom Janet he is apparently up to almost perfect weight. I guess he should probably get up to 75. I can still see his ribs and vertebrae a bit. His teeth and ears look perfect and other than the rash he seems to be in great health. They think the sty on his eye should go away with the skin irritation. The Dr. wants to see him again on the 19th.
He really is a great boy. You can take his food or toys away from him and he doesn't growl at all.
All I have to do is say "go to bed" and he gets right in his crate. He shakes hands like a pro whether you have a treat for him or not. His new thing is "get the buggy" - this is moth hunting for the layman. If you tell him to get the buggy he'll search whether there is one or not. SO CUTE! I know he's getting comfortable now because his bold side is coming out. This morning while I was in the shower he swiped a pack of tennis balls off of the dining table and was working on getting them open when I caught him :-).

6/4/04 - Butch is doing great! He is such a good boy. I took him to PetSmart Tuesday and he was excellent in the store. He's great in the car. He walks nice on a leash. He met my mothers Lab, my neighbors Lab and other dogs during his walks and showed no sign of aggression (but he tries to box them all). His appetite is good. He's been walking 4+ miles a day & loves it. He's been to the state park
several times and loves to watch everyone (and have a hot dog on the grill ;-) He has a Dr's appt.
Saturday morning for a check up so we'll see how much that boy weighs. This mom has to work on
getting some weight on him. Will ask the vet what's the best way to do that. He also continues to
have some skin irritation on his neck so we keep the collar off in the house. The bugs bite him too
much (because he's so sweet!) and he has some kind of bump on his eyelid - all ?s for the Dr. We'll
need to work on some behavioral issues as well. Haven't tried to give him a bath yet but he hates
rain & puddles and when I run the bath water - so we'll see how that goes. When he's not out on
the town, he loves to play with his toys and stand on the sofa to look out of the window (and wag
his little nub at people going by). He's such a little love bug and has the cutest monkey face. He
does the best boxer wiggles, folds himself right in half!

5/29/04 - Well it has been quite an afternoon.  Butch, our first foster, left a few minutes ago with Renee' his forever mom to his new home.  I will miss him dearly!  I'm sure the cats are celebrating but it will be a tough night for me.  Thanks for the opportunity!

5/24/04 - Butch is pending adoption.

5/12/04 - Hi All! Butch continues to do well. He is grasping the idea of fetching. For a while I've had to retrieve and throw. The past two days he has begun to understand when I tell him to bring it back. Sometimes he's not quite sure but in time he'll get it! He has been very good when you tell him to drop it. Whatever he has in his mouth he will release. It may take repeating the command a few times but as with anything Practice Makes Perfect. He is no longer jumping on the counters. He does a bit of sniffing but responds when he is told NO. He is so interested in people food. I'm thinking maybe that was all he was fed. He loves people he has been very friendly to all that he meets. He still has a few hot spots with the dermatitis. We continue to spray the medication on those areas. Not sure what is causing the hot spots. The Vet indicated allergies but not specific as to what he might be allergic to. Since there is improvement I'm not concerned. I haven't yet tried to clip his nails. Maybe later in the week I'll give that a try. Will keep you posted.

5/9/04 - Well Butch is feeling better and putting on a pound or two.  He still needs 20 more to go!  He is now getting to the point where he is testing, so I know he is feeling good.  He tries to pretend, at times, that he doesn't hear you.  But he is learning that he isn't fooling anyone.  He is a dear sweet boy.  He'll need a home with room to run.  He has a huge stride and loves to run full throttle!  He has not had any accidents in the house.  He loves to play with toys - love to destroy ones that have squeakers!!  He is now playing with knotted dog rope toys.  He throws his head so hard they fly out of his mouth at times.  He is a pleasure to have although my cats don't think so!  He doesn't threaten the cats.  He is just inquisitive  and wants a friend.  The horses enjoy seeing him and he loves to visit  them also. He does have a bad barn habit - if you don't watch him carefully he'll eat the horse poop!  YUCK!!!  But then most of you don't have to worry because you don't have horses.

5/6/04 - Butch had his first run off the leash today.  I have to say, I was a bit nervous but I felt he would be fine and he was.  He enjoyed running full throttle, it was a joy.  He is responding to his name better, you can tell he wants to please!  He does sit on command.  He is still trying to make friends with the resident cats but they still aren't too sure about him!  His hair is starting to grow back and he isn't  scratching as much as he was.  He is a wonderful boy. He is quite content to lay around.  He likes to ruff house a bit but seems to be aware of who will allow it.  He loves to play with his stuffed toys.  Actually tear them apart but that's ok, he hasn't damaged anything else just his toys!

5/3/04 - Butch has decided to let me write today because he is exhausted from the adventures of Sunday.  He met the horses and became fast friends with them.  They enjoyed seeing him this morning at feeding time.  He is settling in nicely. 
He loves to be brushed and massaged.  He has been an angel taking his meds.  We have not had any problems crating him either.  We toss a couple of treats in the crate and he follows.  He enjoyed walking around the property yesterday and basking in the sun.  I think the stress of all that  has happened to him caught up with him last night.  He laid down on his bed and was out like a light!  My mom stopped over a few minutes ago and he ran up to her as if she was a long lost friend.  You couldn't ask for a sweeter guy!

5/2/04 - WOW - it sure has taken this woman a long time to find these forms on the computer! Luckily there is a teenager in the house to help with this difficult computer stuff.
I arrived at the Haynes household 5/1/04 at 9pm. It was a very long ride today but I must say I've been a gentleman. I'm on quite a few meds. My ears are infected, I have this stuff coming out my nose whenever I sneeze but my people are being nice and cleaning me up when this happens. They gave me a fun stuffed purple elephant to play with. We had a ball. So much fun in fact we had to retire it today and now I have a duck. The resident cats seem a bit put out that I'm here. I don't want to harm them I'm just trying to introduce myself. They like it when I'm in my kennel. I'm sure we'll become friends. These people keep talking about introducing me to the horses. I have no idea what they are talking about but I'll let you know once I find out what its all about. There are so many new sounds here to become acquainted with. Geese on the pond. Peepers at night. It's been quite peaceful. They tell me I have a few manner issues to work on. I'm so interested in what is on the kitchen counters but they tell me I shouldn't putting my paws up there. I get so excited when I'm outside on my leash that a pull a little bit, it's nothing serious really it's just the excitement of the big outdoors!!! I will keep you posted on my activities. Regards, Butch