Another missed opportunity

Well darned. Minnie's third home visit was Thursday and this time she lost out to sleek, black Game. It's kind of hard to compete when the other dog stretches out on the floor next to the adopter and lays his head in her lap. No hard feelings. I've always had the sense that the foster dogs discuss the home on the way to the applicant's house and have decided who is going to stay before we even get there! Anyway, congrats to Game who is now living with Taylor and Keith Vroman.

Today's bright sunny weather has had Minnie going in and out the back door a lot. Problem is, she gets out there and finds out it's cold and windy and then wants back in. When not doing the revolving door trick, she's been chewing on a bone. Oh, and she snagged a skein of yarn out of my knitting bag and pretty much unwound the whole thing. Oh well.

She sure is social. We've had a couple of people come by to pick up foster food and such today. Minnie's greeted each one at the door like an old friend. The trick is convincing her that she's not leaving with this visitors. I suspect she thinks we're boring!

Which Way to the Sleigh?

Minnie's hoping she'll get to help pull Santa's sleigh and she's sure the antlers will trick everyone at the North Pole into thinking she's a reindeer. All she needs is a red nose and maybe Rudolph will let her have his spot. Ha!

It's been a bit busy here this week as we are baby sitting a year-old greyhound pup, Flex. Minnie's not too sure what to make of him. Doesn't help that Flex has no boundaries and thinks that if he wants something, like a toy Minnie is playing with, he should be able to take it away from her. There's been a bit of growling, but they've worked it out. Crates and muzzles when they're outside are wonderful tools.

Mini went with me yesterday to Textile Fabrics to look for some sewing notions. She was quite the hit of the store. She let everyone pet her and soaked up the attention. The ladies at Textile Fabrics love it when I bring in greyhounds, especially the fosters.

Always the Bride's Maid...

Minnie went on her second home visit on Saturday, along with Bearclaw and Game. Once again, she missed her chance for a home by Christmas. She did do well, though and demonstrated her willingness to fit in by pooping on lead for the first time! It was a breakthrough. She also charmed the shoppers on Sunday at the Books a Million Meet and Greet at Rivergate. She's got all the right moves, it's just a matter of finding the right home.

This week is devoted to teaching her to wait before charging through open doors...always an important skill. Next up is learn to walk easily on lead. She gets so excited when she's out that she forgets herself and tries to come in first. Walking her with a Gentle Leader has helped a lot. Meanwhile, she continues to crate beautifully and her house-breaking has been right on the money since the first week she was here. She's respectful of Buster, GPAN's official cat tester. Less so of Earl, who's inclined to run. But once he hisses at her, she backs off. Our cats are very experienced with foster dogs.

A good week

Mini's had a good week. Played with lots of stuffies...carries them around and runs from room to room. On Wednesday, when it was sunny, she stayed outside a lot wandering around in the yard. She likes to look out the space between the two side of the gate. It's a tiny gap, so she can only use one eye. Seems like she's waiting for something. Maybe Ray to come home. There's always a large celebration when he comes back.

She has a funny habit...when it's dark out and the lights are on inside, she watches her reflection in the den window. She just stands there, turning her head slightly from side to side. Maybe it's the first time she's seen herself. Since most racing kennels don't have low glass windows, I doutb she's ever seen any kind of reflection.

My cat, Buster, GPAN's official cat tester, and Minnie, have been doing well. Minnie will sometimes follow him sniffing, then Buster turns around and hisses and Minnie jumps back. Sometimes he sits under the diningroom chairs and taunts her. She's getting smarter because she stays away from him. Don't expect to see the two of them curled up next to each other any time soon.

Minnie has another home visit this weekend. The competition's stiff — Game and Bearclaw. We've been talking about it. I told her that if it's not the right home for her, let one of the guys have it. The right spot is out there for her.

Busy Days

Minnie had a successful first home visit this weekend. No, she didn't get adopted, Hope did. But this was Minnie's first and she did well by all reports. She's a happy, happy girl and that can be overwhelming for some people, but the homevisit team, Liz Trapp and Roberta Meyer, say she behaved and got along with the adopters' cat and small dog. The latter is always a plus since most of our adopters have other pets.

Rumor has it she may have another homevisit this weekend, so hopefully, the practice will help her make an even better showing. She says home for the holidays has a nice ring to it, especially if there are soft beds and lots of treats.

This week, she started rooing when our Shadow and Kelly crank up. She has a funny roo...it's like she's chewing the sound. Lots of volume, tho. I don't know what it is about rooing but our hounds seem to enjoy it...their tails wag the entire time. She likes to go outside a lot, in fact, will go out every time another hound goes out and takes the opportunity to do her business.

She's done very well on that score, making only one mistake, and that was because it was raining and she tried to hold it until it stopped. Funny girl. She's gotten better about that, tho.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Good thing Minnie didn't race in the Northwest. She'd be the only hound in the kennel that refused to go outside. You see, Minnie doesn't like the rain. She doesn't even like the damp. And she's not crazy about the cold.

For the past several days, we've been working on that. Oh, she lets us know when she needs to to out. No worries there. But once she realizes it's not sunny, you have to nudge her off the porch. Then she runs down the steps and tries to turn around and come back up them. More nudging. More encouragement. I stand on the porch like an idiot yelling, "Outside. Outside." That's our trigger word.

Finally, she goes out into the yard about 10 feet. Does a quick squat and back up the steps and inside. Really, it's not such a bad thing. She doesn't get too wet, she doesn't play in the mud and you don't have to wonder if she got lost in the backyard!

With today's forecast, we'll see if her attitude is any better about snow!

Minnie and Shadow

Minnie (on the right) made the move to our house on Friday and she's settled in well. She's even managed to butter up my Shadow so he'd let her lay near him. Of course, the funny thing is that there were 3 other unoccupied beds in the room, but she had to be on this one. No worries. She convinced him it was just for a little while.

Ray took her to the 100 Oaks M&G on Saturday and she did quite well. She even talked to some potential adopters from Jackson. Unfortunately, they have to convince their landlord to change his "no dogs bigger than 30 pounds" rule first.