My name is Tebow!

September 8, 2012
Tebow's foster mom here. Just wanted to give an update on this wonderful, handsome boy! We've really been working on interaction the past month and I'm happy to say that Tebow has shown remarkable improvement. His reactive barking at people is almost gone as he is getting used to being around new people in new places. He spent the weekend not long ago with his friend, Dwyn, and did amazingly well with Dwyn's mom and uncle. He went into the crate, started chewing an elk antler and looked at me as if to say, `I'm going to be fine here! You can go…' He even crawled on the sofa to snuggle with a new-to-him human! He is such a loverboy.

We also met all the great folks and dogs from MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue at the annual picnic Labor Day weekend, and once again, Tebow did outstanding – exceeding my expectations! He played nicely with the many, MANY dogs at the picnic and showed curiosity with people. He offered nice sniffs and licks and approached people willingly. We're still working on the bending over issues (he doesn't like strangers bending over him). But with lots of positive reinforcement, I'm sure he'll overcome that, too. By the end of the day, as Tebow curled on my lap, people were walking up and petting him, and he loved it.

We'll continue to work the interaction with trips downtown, to the pet store, flyball practice, etc. The more he is around people, the better he gets. He's slowly learning that people are ok!
As for his athletic prowess, he still continues to amaze me. He's been learning flyball for a month and already has a lovely box turn. He's even doing run backs to different people and letting them hold him. He is so smart and learns so fast! I smile so much with all the progress he's made.


July 23, 2012
Wow, do I love water! This week, we visited another dog friend who has a pool called a pond. I got to play with my foster brother and sister and my new dog friend, Ted. Playing with other dogs is really fun and I love to run with the pack. Its been really hot so we haven't done a lot of playing outside, but I did get to do more disc work. SO FUN! My timing is getting better and am starting to catch the disc in the air. Wow, can I leap! Doing leg weaves has also been fun, and I almost have the 'go around' command mastered. Its so fun to learn these tricks! My foster mom thinks I will be a great disc dog- I think so too. We're also still doing simple runbacks in flyball, though I hear from my foster brother that I will meet the box this week. Don't know what that means, but if there's a ball involved, I'm in!
People are still an enigma to me, but I am more willing to walk up and sniff them. This week, friends at my foster mom's work came to visit, and I did really good. I even gave one of the ladies a kiss in the face. I even let the lady at the doggie store pet me from behind the counter. That standing up stuff, though, is still scary to me. If people are sitting down, I'm pretty ok with that. Just need to get used to things bigger than me on two legs.

Hoping to play with my buddy, Dwyn, this week. He's close to my age and we just play play play! Crossing my paws I get to play more sports, too, especially the disc. There might even be video, which is great because I got another bath and brush this weekend after playing in the pond. I'm growing to like the bath and brush- and looking nice and fluffy.


July 8, 2012
Tebow's foster mom, here, and I'm happy to give an update on this wonderful boy while he takes a break from blogging.

Tebow has had an amazing few weeks. He's reached a turning point in his fear of people, and has shown remarkable improvement. He went to work with me last week, and as long as he approached people who were sitting down, he let them pet him – more so if they moved slowly with the correct instruction. We're using positive distraction methods so he associates being petted with something good, like a treat or a toy. It has been extremely successful. He is still sensitive to motion around his face as well as various body motions such as bending over him, but he is far more willing to let people pet him. He even shows happy curiosity to go up to people, which is a huge improvement!

Tebow also had another trip to the big pool, otherwise known as Lake Michigan. He has a clear love of the water, and even swam out to the sand bar with me and the other dogs. Tebow even managed to fetch a frisbee out of the water and bring it to me. He does very well with other dogs, and will pattern after them. He draws his courage and confidence from them in new situations. If the other dogs are fine around people, he will also be more willing to engage with strangers. Still, contact is on his terms, and trying to force interaction will not work. He will require a patient, experienced dog handler who is willing to work through these issues.

The interaction work continued as Tebow had a sleepover with another MBCR foster home who has 4 border collies. He did AMAZING with the other dogs and had a BLAST playing with another young border collie. He also let both people interact with him, and even snuggled on the sofa. I am SO proud of his progress!

On the home front, he's wonderful in the house and if he's not playing with his foster sister, he'll play by himself or simply take a nap. He willingly goes into his crate and has a lovely sit/wait before he can exit.

There will be more interaction fun this week as we head to flyball practice once again (which he is enjoying). Stayed tuned for more updates!


June 26, 2012
What a fun week! I got to run flyball for the first time and did a run back over all four jumps! It was hot and there were a lot of new people, but my foster mom said I did pretty darn good. It was scary when another person took my lead and walked me away from my foster mom, but by the end of practice, I was pretty used to it and ran over the jumps with gusto! I'm even practicing something called box turns (though I'm really playing tag with my foster sister and using the sofa as goal. Don't tell my foster mom).

This weekend, I got a crash course in disc, and WOW, do I LOVE it!!!! I can already go through legs, do a leg vault, and have a wonderful sit/wait command already. Did I say this was really fun? Add this to the agility tunnel I went through and that makes me a triple threat!

But, for all the fun I'm having, new people are still pretty scary for me. Quick movements make me nervous sometimes, so my foster mom is doing motion drills with me. I'm trying real hard though, and hope my forever family will be patient with me, and maybe take me to a doggie class too.

Back to the fun stuff! My coat is getting shiny and my fur is getting longer and darker. I'm even getting the floofies around my ears. It makes me look cute, so I'm told. Tonight, we're going for a long walk and maybe get an introduction to a real flyball box. I promise not to use it as goal.


June 19, 2012
It was another busy week for me! Going for rides in the Jeep always mean some new adventure, so car trips are no big deal for me. And if they end somewhere fun, even better. I went to work with my foster mom and had so much fun! My foster sister and I played a lot. And when my foster mom had to leave for a meeting, I was quiet and didn't bark once. Guess that makes me a very good boy! Of course, chewing on elk antlers DID make it better.

Probably the best part of the week was getting to sleep at night with my foster mom. She knows I love to snuggle, and was worried that thunderstorms might bother me. Boy, did I fool her! Storms are no big deal... and I got to sleep on the bed with the other dogs too. I could get used to this.

Today, we got baths and brush downs outside. It made me a little nervous, but I endured the chilly water just so I could get a nice towel rub down – and then zoomies in the yard! That cold water makes me silly! Now my coat is nice and fluffy and I smell good. I even got in the doggie pool with the other dogs. It's not quite the same as the really big pool called Lake Michigan, but my foster mom says we'll be heading to the beach next weekend. I can't wait to chase the waves!


June 11, 2012
What a fun weekend I had camping at a flyball tournament! Not only did I get to sleep in a tent for the first time, I also got to meet some new people and dogs. I'm still a little shy around new people, but am getting much better than I was. I even went up to some of the new people I met and offered kisses. My foster mom says I'm a drive-by kisser. My foster brother also said to not worry about being shy. He, too, was shy around new people when he was young, and now he just loves them!

But the best part of the weekend was getting to sleep all snuggled up next to my foster mom in the tent! It wasn't even scary. There were some dark shadows and strange voices every now and then at night, and I did real good about not barking a lot. All I needed was a little reassuring pet behind the ears and everything was ok again. There was even some time to play disc, though I did more chasing of my foster brother and sister than anything. I am really fast, too!

Tonight, we visited the nice people who give me treats and lots of attention. Oh, and some sort of booster shot thingy. I'm ok with that and was super relaxed this time. It didn't even bother me. The vet staff is really nice to me and I don't mind being examined. As long as there's a treat, I'm happy!


June 3, 2012
Hi! My name is Tebow and I'm 6 months old. My foster mom named me that because she thinks I'm a great athlete. I love to play with toys whether it's with the other dogs who live with me, or by myself. Tossing a tennis ball in the air and chasing it is my favorite thing to do! But if you throw it, I will bring it back so we can do it over and over again. I've become pretty fast as I try to keep up with my canine friends, and I'm learning good manners from them too. They're even teaching me how to play Frisbee. My dog buddies have also helped me learn about eye contact with my foster mom. Did you know if I look at her and put my butt on the floor, I get a treat???? I even do this before leaving my crate! She used to say sit but now I just do it without being told. And if you're patient, I'll even lay down. She thinks I'm really smart and I learn really fast. I haven't had any potty accidents either. I'm such a good boy!

We went to this really big pool, I think they call it Lake Michigan, and I learned how to swim! It was so fun chasing the little waves on the beach and frolicking in the water. My foster mom also says I `settle' in the house just fine. I do like to be near her, and love being petted. Sometimes I just fall asleep next to her. Oh, I should tell you about the cat who lives with us too. I'm pretty fascinated by her, and try to get her to play. I don't know if I should play with her or chase her. She's 19 so I think I'm just a little too much for her. She corrected me a few times for being too puppy. Of course, my foster mom says, `leave it', and I go do something else.

This week, I go visit the vet to be neutered. I hope the vet is as nice as the one I saw recently. He gave me treats, which really helped me not be so shy around him. He said I am a very healthy boy but should probably gain a few more pounds. So I've been getting a little extra food – and I'm ok with that!

Next weekend, we're going camping with a bunch of other people and dogs. It might be kinda scary at first, but I adjust pretty fast. As long as there's a ball around, and some nice people to pet me, I will have a fun time. And, I get to sleep in a tent!
Tebow is being fostered in Michigan.