One more thing- Kristyn came home and surprised me for my birthday! She loved Sally and was so happy to see her little "brother" as well! Great to have you here Kristyn! Have fun back in Boston! Next time we'll get pics of You!

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
Rita Rudner



OK- so I fail at blogging! I will have to write more often.

Sally is sweet, still very shy and dainty. We love her! She does not know commands, so I figured it is time to try to teach her. I showed her how to give her paw today. Success!! Next- maybe how to sit on command.

We have had her now about 6 weeks. She is much better and getting to know us. She is still sheepish. I would love to know what has happened to her in her life that makes her so afraid. She walks well and we now see her tail wag often! That was not the case before! She has been here long enough to prove she is not pregnant so I will be getting the rest of her vaccines as soon as possible.

Clouseau and Sally are both a little jealous, which is fine. When we give attention to Clouseau, it seems to make Sally relax and she comes over, tail wagging. It wags in a circle! Clouseau is feeling his age lately, whining a bit, particularly at night. Weather may aggrevate his arthritis. Maybe we should bring his cage up from the basement so he doesn't take the steps so often. The cage seems to be of comfort. Go figure. It hadn't been up in years.

Sally, on the other hand, finds a comfort zone in each room. Under the piano, next to the table in the kitchen, etc. Always where her back can be up against something and she can see who is coming toward her.

More soon.

February 6, 2009

“I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.” Will Rogers

________________________________________________

This is for you, Kristyn. I am finally blogging!

The dogs have been doing well. They both like attention. Now, if I pay attention to one, the other comes to me. And this is no easy task with Sally, who will lie down by me all day, yet run away often when approached. She still is not totally trusting- only a little. But he dogs will lie down together to be near us at night in the corner by the couch. Sally even let Clouseau put his head on her back. (See picture) And once, he gave her a "kiss."

I take long walks with them daily with my friend, Pat. Today we really wore them out and went farther than ever. It was a warm day, high 30's! A heat wave! Looking forward to spring- but it's a long way off!

Friday, January 30

"Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."-Ann Landers.

Yesterday was our anniversary and the two dogs behaved well while we went to dinner. I must admit I blocked off the kitchen for Sally, not knowing how she'd react, but all was fine.

We are now taking long walks- so far once a day. My friend Pat has walked with us. Sally is a great walker- no pulling or stopping. She walks right along side.

She still follows me everywhere, yet remains a little standoffish as well. Close but not too close!

Wednesday, January 28

Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. ...Dave Barry

Well, it is mostly true. But it doesn't yet apply to this dog, who must never have had the thrill of "rides in the car". The mere words to this effect send Clouseau's heart racing, and look out if there is an open door to any vehicle!

Instead, we have the Pat and Sally Comedy Show, Act II. Today's sketch involves Pat attempting to lift her 70 pound dog into the back seat of a small two door sedan. The front paws are placed up into the car- no reaction- dead weight. Next, the hind end is lifted onto the floor of the car, where Sally simply stays put, not even moving for a comfortable position. I carefully get the door closed without catching her tail. She rides to the vet sitting on the floor in a very compact space, happy as can be.

In Act I (Monday), we followed a similar routine, except Sally kept turning around and jumping back out of the car in the PetSmart lot, much to the amusement of other dog-owners. Then we got home and I discovered she does not know how to climb steps- at least when there are a dozen or so from the garage downstairs to the main floor. Something else to teach her another day. So off we went out the garage, around the house and into the front door, where she handled two steps nicely.

More tests today , more normal results- hooray! And she and Clouseau were well-behaved at home while I went to my own appointment. My extended family spent this afternoon trying to rename the dog- no changes yet.

Meanwhile, the two dogs are currently sitting quietly as I work in the office.

Tuesday, January 27

Good news! Adoption agency called tonight and said they called the former breeder/owner of Sally. Breeder says Sally never had any seizures. She was supposedly let go because the breeder was downsizing. She had one litter, a couple of years ago. I know former owners may not tell the truth, but there is no incentive to lie, since the dog is adopted and we the owners have no intention of giving her up! So it is quite possible that severe stress and hitting her head caused the incident last week. And ultimately brought her to us!!

Monday, January 26

Here are my two sweethearts!

I now have a shadow who follows me everywhere. Lies close by. Still a little sheepish.

She still mostly ignores Clouseau. Sometimes a sniff or two outside. He gets a little jealous, which is expected.

She hasn't barked or whined, and I can't tell when she needs to go out. So I just take her. She ate twice but is generally not interested in food. Or dental chews, which I tried because her teeth are a mess. I will just brush them for now until we get them cleaned.

Today I took her to the vet for shots. She could only get one because they cannot be sure a female is not pregnant. We have to wait a few weeks. Then we can get her spayed as well.

I will take her to my own vet on Wednesday to have her checked. The seizure could be nothing or serious. Let's just pray her health is OK. No sign to me that she isn't fine.

Still wondering about names. May just stick with Sally.

Sunday, January 25

This is our shy little girl. She sat almost all day in a spot she picked out in the kitchen- on a rug by the door. She ate only a little -what a change from a lab!

She is checking us out, obviously not enough love ever given to her before.

Here is all we know. Sally was brought to PetSmart for grooming by a woman who had come from New York for her. Sally had papers and is four years old. When the woman brought her in she was covered in feces. When the groomer turned on the water, Sally went nuts and thrashed around, hitting her head at least twice on a table. She passed out. Woman did not want her if there was something wrong with her (possible seizure) and would not pay for any tests. Almost Home Foundation was there and saw her; offered to take Sally. Woman signed her over. Foundation had blood tests done which were normal.

Her coat is now nice and soft. She is believed to have had at least one litter and to have come from some sort of breeder or puppy mill. She has a microchip and originally came from Denver breeder.

She spent Tuesday to Saturday in foster care, was at adoption show on Saturday. She bonded with the woman who had her in foster home. She was scared and shook a little when we saw her.

As of Sunday afternoon, she decided to follow me around, having spent day with me. Megan worked a double shift and was only here in morning. Dan ran errands today for us, so she mostly saw me. last night, I had to get a leash to walk her to my room. (She was staying in one place on the tile in the kitchen where the woman who fostered her had been.) But as of Sunday night, she follows me and sleeps on floor beside me.

She tolerates Clouseau. He wants to play; she doesn't and I don't think she knows how.

Saturday, January 24

We are adopting this beautiful girl. She is a Bernese mountain dog, possibly has seizures.

We found her at Almost Home Foundation, which had an adoption show today at the PetSmart. My sister, Lynn, has this breed and loves it. We have all along been considering a lab, since we have had the best dog ever (an English lab, Clouseau) for 10 years now. But we fell for her.

Her name is Sally, but she doesn't seem to know it. Megan likes Rigby. We will see.