New Toys!

I had to stop and pick up a new bag of food for the dogs yesterday, so I figured that while I was there I should pick up some new toys too, since all of their current toys are tattered remnants of the stuffed creatures they once were.

Tippy checked it out, but wasn't all that interested.

Owen really liked the stuffed bone.

Ruthie also loved the stuffed bone (I gave them each their own to avoid fighting).

I just love how Owen jumped into this shot.

 (Hardy is the one growling in this video.  He did NOT want to share his new toy.)

And I can say that after 12 hours (approximately 3 of which were spent playing with the new toys), 1 out of 3 is still in good condition.  One stuffed bone is now stuffing free and missing the squeaker and one noisemaker is missing the squeaker.  Oh well.  I bought extras, so we should be good at least through the week.  :-)

A Gorgeous Weekend to be Outside

Normally my weekends are spent doing all the chores that I don't have time for during the week.  So that means for a couple hours each day, the dogs are in the "dog room."  Well, Saturday was just so nice out, that I decided they could spend the day out there instead!  I had the door open all day (I think for the first time this year), so they could just run back and forth as they pleased.  I was doing things inside and outside, so they were constantly switching too.

I attempted (yes, attempted and failed) to start a fire in my fire pit waaaaay in the back of my yard.  Owen did not like that I went so far away, even though I was still within eye sight.  Poor guy barked for a little bit, but eventually calmed down and found a comfy place to lay where he could still see me.  Then I decided to mow the lawn, and that had the dogs running around to wherever I was, and had me just cracking up.  If I was mowing in the front yard, they would run in the house and watch me from the window.  As soon as they heard me come around the back, they'd run outside and watch me from the yard.  No escapees yet this year!  I don't know if any of you remember, but last year Tippy would crawl under the fence every time I mowed (only when I mowed, even though I never fixed the gap so he could have done it whenever he wanted).  The fence is moved now, since we're setting up for the new fence install, so maybe he just couldn't find an escape point.  Or maybe he just wasn't interested this time.  Who knows.

Ruthie is not dead...she's sunbathing!

All three of my foster pack tuckered out from a full day of sunshine.

 I also want to do an added note on Owen's reactivity.  He is doing so much better lately.  He's letting me scratch around his neck and face (previously a no-no), and even let me let me scratch his belly while he was standing (typically only an event that he allows while he's laying on his back).  He does still get upset if he's trying to play and I push him away, but it's only been some low-key growling.  No snapping or barking or even teeth baring.  MAJOR improvements from this lovey pup.

A Lovely Day!

It's about time we get some gorgeous weather, right?  4.5 months into the year is far too long to wait.  But boy was this weekend enjoyable!  I finally turned off the furnace and let the doors stay open, and the dogs just loved it!

As you can see in the video above, I decreased the dogs' outdoor space.  Because we're finally putting up a permanent fence!  You can see some of the layout in the background.  I'll be placing the material order this afternoon, and hopefully within the next month or two we'll have a whole new backyard!

A week ago Saturday was the doggy meet & greet.  My pups did pretty well.  Fortunately I had 2 helpers, so I wasn't overloaded with dogs.  Ruthie seemed to be very popular, especially with the kids.  They thought it was hilarious when she would just bounce up and down over and over again.  All three dogs were surprisingly good with all the people and dogs around, and they even let various people handle them.  I was most impressed by Owen and Tippy in this regard.  I warned everyone who wanted to touch Owen that he has been reactive in the past, but afterwards I felt like an idiot because he didn't display any of that at all!  He loved on everybody!  Tippy found one girl who was absolutely in love with him and just kept picking him up, and he didn't seem to mind it at all.  Also surprising to me, considering he can be an old grump sometimes.  Unfortunately, we didn't get a single application after the meet & greet.  I couldn't believe it!  So all of my babies are still available, and all are wonderful dogs who will make a great family member for anyone!

I created a foster dog email address that I have listed at the top of the home screen (savvysfosterdogs@gmail.com).  Feel free to email me if you have any questions about any of my pups!  I'm also thinking of posting here on the days we go to the dog park, so if anyone wants to come out and meet them they can.  Shoot me an email if that sounds like something you'd like to do!

Enjoy this nice weather, dog lovers!

Bread Crumbs

I'm in the habit of giving the dogs the ends of my bread loaves.  They absolutely love it.  You can see from the video that Owen is very good at catching his crumbs in mid-air.   Everyone else needs a little work.