Meet Winry (fka "Sassy")

So, if you couldn't have guessed, we failed with "Sassy." The dog is just too perfect and exactly what I wanted when I originally wished for a greyhound. Not that Ferguson is NOT; he is wonderful all in his own ways, but Winry is what I had envisioned for months. The name alone will take some getting used to for all of us, but the dog just has no Sass in her, and "Sassy" is just so common. Winry is the name we had originally picked out, as you may know if you've been following my blog for some time.

Not only is she not a bit snarky, she is only two years old and quite sane, mellow, and easy-going. She sleeps a lot, is self assured enough to happily be left alone pretty much anywhere, and is cute as a button. Clever little thing too; understood the "down" thing within two tries of waiting for dinner. She's cute, because you can see her little brain kogs working away when she thinks. Anyway, she loves stuffy toys, has been quite good with my parent's Westie, and pretty much has no real flaws. Walking on a leash is the only thing, but I am SO spoiled with Ferguson, world's greatest dog on leash. She knows to not pull though and is getting much better with distractions.

Without further adieu, I present to you my new hound (and the last for quite a while), Winry!

And, Ferguson will now have a pal always.

Newton's new family, and LD Weihl Sassy.

Newton found his forever home yesterday!!!! Things have been going very well in his new home. He is an only dog (though I thought he'd be more than okay with this, the leader-type he is) and has been doing well with their two cats. I was very pleased to hear that he is settling in well and his family seems to really enjoy him! I'm very happy and proud of him!!!

The same day Newton went home, "Sassy" came home with me as a replacement foster. Sassy came right off the track last weekend and was adopted the same day. However, her family had a very skittish 6 month old kitten, and while Sassy initially tested cat-workable, they didn't utilize the muzzle, leash, or squirt bottle in their introduction, leaving the cat more than petrified beyond what the family wanted to work with. So, she came back and will be staying with me for a while...or forever.

I have to admit, I think I am falling in love. This dog has been practically perfect since she walked in the door. She's not snarky, knows how to instantly pee when let outside, is quiet and okay with being alone, is responsive already to being called and listens well, rides wonderfully in the car, seems to be hitting it off with Ferguson, walks pretty well on the leash, and is excessively, almost unbearably, cute. She is meeting my criteria as if she has an innate check-list...we might be in danger of failing here. At x-mas when we visit my parents, we'll work on the small animal thing with Niles, the excessively mellow Westie, and WILL make use of squirt bottles, muzzles, and leashes. This is mainly because Eric definitely would like to adopt a cat one day, and while we can certainly adopt a cat that is very dog-friendly, knowing for sure that she will tolerate it would make the decision even easier. Additionally, knowing I can trust her at work with smaller dogs and my parent's dog is also fairly important.

So, we will see how things go and continue to progress. I'm so afraid to get my heart set on her, but I feel like it's starting to be a losing battle. But: I think I may know exactly what (or who) I want for x-mas.

Got a pal? Life is good.

^How they look most of the time.

This week has been so exceptionally crazy with work (seven days in a row with no breaks), that I've not even had an opportunity to detail more of Ferguson's progress in alone training since foster brother Newton arrived.

As I expected, as long as there is another pup, Ferg has been a-ok. What has also helped is that my schedule, as much as it sucked this week, was more more regular for him and there is a more rigid routine to follow. That means that while he was left more, it has been more clear to him what to expect, which I do think was a fairly significant contributing factor to his issues.

With the other pup around, even if they don't regularly interact (I mean, come on, they're greyhounds), I find myself enjoying Ferguson more. This is simply because he is the pup that I adore ALL the time and doesn't turn into a sack of pathetic mush at the thought of me leaving (which was at least once a day and would stress me out as hard as I tried to be completely neutral about it). He is steady, mellow, playful, easy-going and confident; everything I wanted in a hound, he demonstrates now (with the exception of being small, but this is something not able to be overcome). And so, I think the second dog around may be a permanent thing.

Additionally, I've brought Ferguson back down to 20mg of Fluoxetine, and perhaps by New Years, will wean him off completely, seeing as his anxiety is not really existent anymore (though, he still dislikes being confined to a crate when we are left, so the pups stay loose in the bedroom with muzzles).

As for Newton, while he is doing well, I think I might have mentioned that we will not be failing this go-around of fostering. He will make someone a greyt dog, but is probably not the perfect match for us in what I look for in my own personal preference of a hound. Newton has some alphaish tendencies in him that don't come out in snarky ways, but I find a bit annoying: must be first to do EVERYTHING even when I make him wait, is not much of a crowd follower/naturally obedient, and thinks it is up to him to keep tabs on everything and be in everyone's business. This especially drives me nuts in the car. He rides okay, but I was waiting in the car with the pups one evening and he simply could NOT settle. He felt like we were sitting ducks and needed to keep tabs on ALL that was going around us and was getting frustrated at the number of windows to look out of. This was in contrast to Ferguson, who was laying with his paws crossed and head down; I love how Ferguson has 100% trust in me that I am in control of the situation and has nothing to worry about. While Newton might possibly learn this over time, it is simply not natural for him. In any case, Newton is otherwise a pretty typical hound who is not lacking confidence/basic manners, so I'm sure he will make someone very happy. It is my hope that Newton gets adopted at the next adoption event in December :). Once he is, we'll probably get another foster, and then another, unless that special someone comes along...;).

Anything to make Ferguson happy <3

Newton

Well, he kind of fell into my lap, but say hello to my GEGR foster, Superior Newton.



The best way I could describe him would be "Humble."

To avoid being redundant, Newton has his own blog that I will proceed to update until he is adopted (hopefully in early December). Feel free to visit here.

He is a cutie, and will make someone a greyt hound.