A Proper Lady

Hi everyone, I’m back in the forever home game and with a brand new name. You can call me Lady! I’ve really been enjoying my new foster home and foster siblings. They have welcomed me in with open paws! During the day I gladly go in my crate and lounge around with my foster siblings to keep me company. I always get so excited when my foster parents come back from work too. I know it means all the love, a walk and best of all…FOOD! It’s the best part of any day and I always mind my manners like a proper Lady would. I’m happy to listen and wait until I’m allowed to eat and nothing will distract me from the directions I’m given.

It might be getting chillier but I love a good walk anyway! The walking part is okay but I’m really in it for all the wonderful smells along the way. I keep up well and always stay by the side of the people and pups I’m walking along with. I could probably walk forever if the humans could keep up!

In the evenings, I like to be around the humans and my siblings and just hang out. I crawl onto a bed and relax with the foster family. It’s nice just to be with everyone. Periodically I like to get up and visit with my foster parents. I simply walk up and they give me all the loves until I just can’t take anymore. Whenever I have had enough, I happily lay back down on my bed and relax some more. I really like the bed by the Christmas tree the most and I look so good by it too!

I’ll be back here soon with some more life updates and adventures!

The Giver

Dottie here! First week down in my new foster home and my foster mom thinks I am a super-star. I spend time in the crate while she is at work and I am very well mannered while she is out. When she comes home she either takes me for a walk or she watches TV with me. Whatever she wants to do, I'm just happy about being by her side. My favorite thing to do is go find squeaky toys around the house and bring them to her. Kind of like an offering. A thank you, if you will, for giving me love and treats!

I was a little rusty on my commands when I came here, but she made sure I remembered them. She didn't like it when I ran towards my bowl to eat that scrumptious food. She even picked it back up and kept it away from me until I politely backed away and wouldn't go near it when it hit the floor. Can you believe that? A girl is just trying to eat here. I learned what she wanted very quickly though. Now when the bowl is on the floor, I either sit or stand and just stare at her with my puppy-dog eyes, tail wagging, waiting for her to give me the OK. When she leaves for work, she tells me "crate" and I know exactly where to go. Funny how a treat will spark a dogs memory...

While I love my new foster family, I know I will love my forever family even more. It ALMOST seems impossible, since I'm the sweetest, cutest girl around, but I think I can bring out a little more love for whoever adopts me! Until next time, indulge your eyes on my adorable face!

Little Miss Thing

Hey everyone! Dottie here again. You haven't heard from me in a while, but that's because I've been a busy bee! I recently switched homes on Friday since my previous owner no longer felt she could care for a younger, more active dog. I heard she is getting one twice my age to better fit her living style. I'm not too worried though. My new foster mom thinks I won't be up for adoption long.

I just turned 5 (don't let that grey face fool you) and I LOVE to chase tennis balls. I'm one of those rare greyhounds who will catch the ball midair. I've been on two 3 mile walks in the past few days and I was a champ! I walk well and I'm polite to everyone I meet. My foster mom also has these things called stairs all over her house. And they're wood! At first I wasn't sure how to handle them, but after a couple hours, I figured out how to go up and down them even better than the other resident greyhound. I sleep outside my crate at night and have had no issues. You'll hear from me soon (if nobody's scooped my cute self up by then), so for now you can enjoy pictures of me (and my almost-twin foster sister) at the neighborhood dog park :) 

Dirty Yella Dogs

I have nothing against them. My mentor is one,after all. Fawn, red, red fawn, filling the available fosters section of the website. Then there's me. Easy to stand out in this crowd. Can you say, "slick & shiney"? Not so much in our actual neighborhood. Fonz is odd man out here.  OK, since this is his forever home. 6 years and counting. Next door lives a black boy and girl, each about half my size. Across the street is Cocoa, a mixed Rottie girl about as big as all 3 of us combined. Nice enough, but that booming bark can rattle your bones. No wonder folks passing by tend to keep right on moving. With our deep chests, we can almost match her voice; but we are greyhounds, you know, so seldom have much to say.

BTW:  Good news! Fonzy's feet are much improved and he's back with me on the stairs  and doggie door. All of us are happy that Mom can quit playing doorman and dog walker. Her most of all. 

Freedom!

As promised, here's what I've learned and learned to love about doggie doors.  When I first arrived after meals Mom P would open the back door, walk out, and call Cousin Fonz and me out, then watch us run downstairs to "hurry" and take care of business in the yard. After a few days, instead of waiting and watching on the upper landing, she started closing the door and going back inside to stare and poke at what she calls the "computer", which is just inside.

Imagine my surprise when my Cuz limped back up those dozen or so stairs and disappeared into the house. Upon further investigation, I discovered his scent and nose prints on a see-through panel. When I pushed, it moved enough to see inside. A time or two, Mom P called and lifted the panel enough for me to put my head in. Didn't take long to realize it would lift enough for me to slide through. Yippee!

Now that I've conquered that, its pretty much my favorite personal toy. Poor Fonzy currently has very sore paws and is going outside on a leash so he can stay on grass and doesn't have to walk on the hard concrete steps going in and out. I do hope he can join me again soon. This thing is more fun than squeaky toys!

I can only go as far as the fence, but it was very handy the day he and the humans were gone most of the day for his doctor visit. I entertained myself nicely and got into no mischief while on my own. As long as you have a secure fence, I highly recommend them! Mom P says I'm as bad as a cat, whatever that means: unable to decide whether to be inside or outside. I say, "Why settle for one or the other?"

Thinking Old

Hi Guys,

Dorothy here, but you can call me Dotty. Mom P says that fits me because of my cute grey speckled snout. Technically, I'm in foster care with a distant cousin named PJ Fonzy. How distant? Would you believe he was 7 1/2 years old, a senior citizen already, when I was born. A sweet old guy, but the operative word is OLD.  Our human is no spring chicken, either; so I'm trying to slow my pace to fit in. At almost 4, I've left puppy hood behind me, but all things are relative.

So, I'm trying to dial back my energy level to fit in with my elderly companions. It could work. Mom P says Fonzy came here, as a foster, when he was about my age to be a companion to an old mixed GSD  who was about his current age of 11 1/2.  History could repeat. We'll see if I stick. Meantime, If you think I'd be a better fit with you, feel free to apply for me permanently.

Forever trumps foster, ya know.  Looks like I can adapt as required. As you can see from my pix, I'm a true beauty. Don't forget that adorable freckled nose! If I'm still available next week, I may tell you about my adventures with doggie doors. They are SO cool.

Sweet As Pie!

Dorothy’s inmate trainer says it’s been an amazing 10 weeks with this sweet girl.  He says that he knows that Dorothy is destined for a life of happiness and relaxation.   Dorothy’s the kind of girl you can’t help but love… well behaved, sweet as pie,  and with  just a bit of stubborn that can tickle your funny bone at times.  He says he’s going to miss her after graduation, but knows she’s got her training down pat and ready to meet her forever humans! 

Swap Week Shake-up!

This week has been a bit of a shake-up for Miss Darling Dorothy - swap week! She spent the past week away from her original trainer. Each session has a swap week in order to test the hounds for separation anxiety and to see their reactions to getting commands from new people. Upon first meeting Dorothy, her swap week trainer noticed how happy she was and how eager she was to do any of her commands just for a treat. When she awoke the next day, it was obvious that she missed her primary trainer, but after a day she got used to her swap week trainer and was back to being happy and peppy! 

Dorothy is such a loving dog and is sure to bond like glue to the hearts of her forever family. If you give her the chance to find that warm place in your heart, you'll never want her to leave your side!

Graduation Is Coming!

Graduation is coming!  Graduation is coming!  Graduation is COMING!  I’m sooo excited! Now I really don’t know what this graduation thing is, but my inmate trainer says it’s the day I’ll meet my forever family.  I wonder if they’ll have me some treats and some toys and a bed and treats… 

So while I’ve been here I’ve been eating a lot of treats.  My inmate trainer says it’s a reward for a job well done, but I think it’s just proof that I have him trained well.  Okay so, I’ll be a little honest right now… I don’t really like the wait command.   I’ll do it, but it’s a complete and total waste of my time.  I mean HELLO there are other things to do that are waaaay more fun!  I’m cool with all those other command things.  I’ve even learned a couple of new ones called “bounce” and “up”.  Now see that’s what I’m talking about a little action!  With “bounce” I pick up my front paws and BAM I get a treat!  With “up” I spring up and put my paws on your chest to say hello and let you see how cute I am!  So much fun! 

Well, I need to run... (HAHAHAH) Gotta go see if my inmate trainer has any more treats! 

Bounce!

Hi everyone, it's Dorothy! I can hardly believe it's a new year and I've got less than a month before joining my forever family. The older I get, the faster the time goes by. But don't let the gray hair on my snout full you, cuz I still got enough energy to keep up with a five month old pup! At least for a little while. A very short while.  I started to learn some new fun commands, like catch and bounce. Since I like catching toys in mid-air, it was easy to learn how to catch treats too. And I've learned to quickly jump up and down on my front paws only, which is bounce. I guess that's why my trainers taught me bounce,  cuz I can't wait to bounce into my forever families lives, and then catch all of their love!  Until then, your darling Dorothy signing out.

Fast Learner

It has been a great six weeks with sweet Dorothy.  She is such a very loving girl.  She loves her treats and toys and is a super fast learner.  It has taken her no time to master all of her commands.  She really perks up when it's training time, because she knows there are yummy treats to follow.

Dorothy is an amazing greyhound and whoever is lucky enough to adopt her, you are in for a real treat.  Her trainers hope you love and cherish her as much as they do.  Until next week.  #DorothyoneoftheGoldenGirls.

Marvelous Miss Dorothy

This week was the first time Dorothy's secondary trainer took her through show-and-tell and she did very good! She's improved quite a bit with walking by their side, even though she still wants to constantly go, so she's learning to obey whoever is holding the leash.

She continues to be highly toy and treat motivated, yet enjoys her affection and relaxing, especially after tiring herself out playing. Her trainer continues to be impressed with how quickly she learns, yet is even quicker to please. He truly enjoys the play times and seeing her puppy energy and enthusiasm, yet he equally enjoys the relaxing time when she's just lying on the dog bed near him. So if you're looking for a well-rounded girl who naturally fills all the roles of a family pet, Miss Dorothy is the one for you!

Sweet Disposition

This week Dorothy scored even better on her commands, almost all 9 or 10, and the few lower or still in the six to eight range. So she's improving very well. The things that she's working on most are her energy level and slowing her down, particularly walking by her trainers side and eating slowly. After just three to four days of training, she has responded very well and made noticeable improvements. She also continues to do well with the toys, being quick to give for any of her trainers. Dorothy continues to impress all of her trainers with her quickness to learn, eagerness to please, but even more so with her happy and affectionate personality and disposition. All of these attributes combine to make all of them grow more attached to Dorothy, just like they're sure her forever family will!

Affection to the Max

This week Dorothy had her first graded show and tell, where the senior trainers grade how well the dogs do the 13 basic commands. For most of them she scored 8 out of 10, and only a few were lower, which is normal at this point in the training session. Her trainer is confident that she will continue to improve at an acceptable rate.

She continues to play well with her toys and with all of the trainers on her team. Lots of energy and excitement, yet quick to give them so she can chase the toys again. She also had her first social visit with one of the other dogs, a male, in the training room. She got along perfectly with him, showing no signs of aggression, even as they shared treats for doing commands. The more time her trainer spends with Dorothy, the more he sees how loving, affectionate, and eager to please she is. She is truly a darling girl and he is sure that she will be an even bigger darling with her forever family.

Darling Dorothy

Miss Dorothy has come a long way in the last week. She's learned almost all of her basic commands, and she's improved the most with her toy possession. She now gives the toy very quickly and willingly. She's equally motivated by both affection and treats, but has the most excitement for toys. She's also walking on her leash much better, only slightly pulling. She's definitely a quick learner, and anxious to please. She's quickly become obedient and affectionate to both her primary and secondary trainers. If you're looking for a loving, attentive, and perfectly energetic addition to your family, darling Dorothy is the girl for you!

Outgoing Tail Wagger

The first four days with Dorothy (named for one of the Golden Girls) has gone very well.  She has adjusted to her new surroundings very quickly and has shown just how friendly and outgoing she is.  When someone just walks past her kennel, most of the time her tail is wagging, and she's looking up expectantly with those big brown eyes for affection.

Dorothy's trainer is very confident she will learn all her basic commands, and most importantly, she will settle in quickly and be a loving member of her forever family. Don't pass her up.  She won't be available long.