Introducing Rosie!

Rosie arrived last night, and I'm already in love.  She's almost all black with a little white patch on her neck.  She has a long body (longer than I was expecting), with short legs and big paws.  And she has a very cute face. 

Rosie found a comfy spot on the couch.

I had numerous people tell me she would be shy at first and would be wary of new people, but I didn't have that experience at all.  As soon as I brought her in the house and set her down, she came right over to me to get her head scratched.  I had put the other dogs in their crates so Rosie could explore a bit on her own, and I think she really enjoyed that.  She went all over the living room and kitchen, sniffing everything.  I let Ellie out first, as I thought she'd be the least frightening to a new dog...I was right.  I think Ellie was more scared than Rosie!  Once they were used to each other, I let Hardy out.  Rosie loved him.  I think she thought he might be a play toy because she just chased him around in circles.  Lastly I let Rocky out, and the two of them sniffed each other and then went their separate ways.  So no issues with other dogs!

I'm going to start a Definitive Guide to Rosie post, but I'm not going to fill it out until this weekend.  By then she should be comfortable enough that I will see her true personality, and really have a feel for what she can and cannot do.

Side view.  She looks like she has a short body in this pic...I assure you, it is long.

I will say that she has so far been very good with going potty outside.  She obviously doesn't yet know to go to the back door when she needs to go out (she's only been here a couple hours!), but every time one of the other dogs wants to go out, she goes out and does her business.  And she has not even attempted to go in the house yet.  So that's a very good sign.

She wasn't quite ready to sleep in her crate last night, so I put her up in my bed.  She was very good.  She found a comfy spot right next to my head (which is usually Hardy's spot, but she managed to slowly inch closer until he got fed up and left) and laid there all night.  I did manage to get her in her crate this morning without too much difficulty.  I tossed a treat in, and then led her over and gently pushed her toward the door.  I'm not even sure I needed that gentle push, she pretty much just walked right in.  Once inside though, she wasn't particularly happy.  I could hear her barking until I pulled the car out of the garage.  I think with a little work (and treats always help), she'll be crate trained in no time!