She got her last evening so we did the introductions with our two dogs outside (in the dark). Scooby was happy and had her tail wagging during both greetings. My male dog (Miles) was a little out of sorts yesterday and wasn't as friendly as usual but that didn't bother her at all. During dinner last night she begged a little and then Miles gave her a little warning (as if to say...hey that's not allowed here) and she stopped and laid down a few feet from the table. Tonight, she laid down under the table...no begging. She ate her own dinner nicely last night. She was excited but very polite.
We watched some TV last night after dinner (for all you Amazing Race fans out there...we were surprised but glad when the Beekman boys won) and Scooby couldn't figure out where to sit. She started out next to my youngest daughter who was doing some drawing on the floor. Then, she switched to my husband's lap and finally into my lap.
As it got time for bed she came upstairs with us and I put her in the crate. She whimpered a little. Again, Miles gave a little warning (he is a bossy guy) and she was quiet all night. By 9:30 the dogs and I were asleep.
I got up at 6:30 in the morning and thought Scooby would like a good walk. She hadn't gone potty yet since she'd arrived. I let her out several times the first night and walked her...but nothing...no accidents in the house either. I took her and Miles for a long walk. I'll tell you she is awesome on the leash! Maybe she's been through some obedience because she is very good about walking beside you and not pulling. That's really unlike most of the dogs I've fostered (including my own...ahem...Miles). Finally, at the end of our 30 minute walk she went potty. She squatted for what seemed like a long time.
The dogs came in, had their breakfast. Again, all good. She had a little energy after the walk and followed me around the house in the morning. She is a happy girl and as she would follow me there was a bounce in her step. As I went upstairs to take a shower it was as if she was saying....Yeah, we're going upstairs now...let's go. Then, as a I went downstairs, she bounced along...Yeah, now we're going downstairs..isn't this great! She is a young and happy girl so while my two dogs were taking a morning snooze it was nice to have some company.
I put her in the crate when I drove the girls to school. Again, a little whimper at first and then quiet. I work from my home office so she followed me into my office (a corner in the basement really) and rested on the blanket next to my desk. She would occasionally get up and get a bone to chew on or go check out things upstairs but would come back to resting. By about 2:30 she hadn't gone potty again yet despite several times out in the yard. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take her and Miles for another walk. Plus, I could tell the two of them wanted to play so a trip to the tennis courts might get them in the mood. Again, she was wonderful on the leash. Only an occasional tug to smell a tree or when she saw a squirrel. I let them both go in the tennis courts and Miles was ready to run. But, he's a loud guy when he plays and barks alot and I'm not sure Scooby knew what all the barking was about. So, they each ended up running around by themselves a little. It was 3pm by the time we got back home and she still hadn't gone potty since about 7am. I let her out in the yard again just to give her another opportunity and she went! Boy, she can really hold it! She doesn't have to because I let them all out quite frequently during the day...but she does.
I decided to take Scooby with me to pick up the girls from school. She got into the car nicely and sat nicely in the passenger seat for the 5 minute ride. Once we got there there were lots of children passing by the car and Scooby was fine with all of it. No excitement, no nervousness, no barking, just a curious look at all the passerby's.
Okay...that's a lot of info...but here's a little more. She is a short but long bodied girl. Her hair is very soft and I don't get a load of hair in my lap when I pet her. Her coloring is awesome. She is black, grey and white with some grey "polka-dots" scattered here and there. She's cute now...but boy she'll be a looker when her hair is longer. She's got a bit of an underbite like a Shitzhu. She is sweet and has been very good with my two girls. My older daughter mentioned that Scooby was steering clear of her today and sure enough I saw a little of it too. But, Paige knelt down, held out her hand and called Scooby to her and she came right over for a nice petting. Scooby's been sharing kisses and belly rubs with my other daughter. When the girls are running around singing and dancing Scooby gets a little shy. She's probably not had that much activity around before. But, she's been just shy and will come by me, not mean. Scooby has been very good with my two dogs. Miles can be a bossy, barky guy and she's been fine with all of it. My female, Holly, is probably 12.5 years old and not interested in playing and Scooby has respected that too. Speaking of barking we've heard Scooby bark only a few times. Paige is wearing big fluffy boots today and I don't think Scooby likes them. She barked a few times while we were eating and I think she saw Paige's boots moving around under the table.
I think Scooby is a smart girl who probably found herself in a family who didn't have enough time for her. She is really the kind of dog I would pick for my own family (she's actually a lot like my Holly in her younger years). She's not too big, not too small, happy but not annoying, playful but knows when it's time to rest. You get the idea. I think she would make a great addition for anyone who is interested in a smart, young, happy girl.
So, that's really a lot. I'll add more in the coming days as I get to know her more. Here are some pictures from today. The first is smiling Scooby..the second is sleeping Scooby.
