Have You Never Been Mellow?

Sorry about any inadvertent earworming the title of this post may have caused.  DeeDee, one of our favorite, most sparkling personalities, gets plenty of time to mellow out with her Bullmastiff foster sib Juliet and her lab sib Isaac.

In these photos, DeeDee sought out the company of these sleeping dogs to lie down with them.  Knowing their foster mom, she did *not* get up with fleas, no matter what the proverbial wisdom might claim.  DeeDee spent the last month or so recovering from palate surgery and she is doing just fine.  Here's a note we got about her recently:

"DeeDee continues to be her sweet, adorable self. In the weeks following her surgery she has become more playful, and frequently engages my husband and sons in her favorite game. It involves nibbling gently on their fingers, rolling on her back, waving her paws in the air, darting off, and then charging in for a repeat performance. She also enjoys playing a combination tug and fetch game. Her stuffies now cringe when they see her coming.

She seems to get a little saliva in her airway after assaulting her stuffies or chewing on a bone, but is able to clear it after a minute or so by coughing."

These retired breeders really pull out all the plugs in terms of charm and joie de vivre when they get to be part of a family.  From livestock to life of the party, that's what we say!  OK, we don't say that, we just made that up, but still, it's a pretty fair assessment of the shift in attitude many of our older girls experience once they are released from the workaday life of having and feeding puppies. 

And at the end of the day, once the performance has ended, there's nothing wrong with a little c*tnapping in and amongst the bullmastiffs. 

Mellow is as mellow does, sighs

The Frog Princess

De Soja Delights!

DeSoja is doing really well in her foster home.  Though she was unable to undergo spay surgery because she went into her heat cycle, she is continuing to learn about life in a family atmosphere.  Here is an update from her foster mom:

"Throughout the month we had many visitors in our midst and some extended time with family and friends at the beach house. DeSoja was definitely a little rattled by the necessary adjustments and revolving door of new faces. She is still a very tense and anxious little girl and I do my best to show her the patience, love and trust she so desperately needs. I notice she has come to seek out assurance and comfort with Onyx and Belle before anything else and that is a wonder and a joy to watch her interact more with them. They are both very accepting of her to the pack and seem to instinctively know she needs support.

They are very good therapists. She plays with them in a rather awkward way, and initiates their interaction occasionally. Onyx is such a pleaser; I think he knows it is a good thing and I praise him alot for giving little Soja the boost she needs. Belle just really likes to be in the middle of everything. George only seems to notice if she leaves a little kibble in her bowl and then he is right on it. Soja is pretty persistent about letting him know it is still hers, though, but not in a snarky way. She just pushes herself between him and the food dish.

She has come a long way in nearly two months, but I do worry about her “worries”. I so want her to be a happy and secure little frog. But maybe she is feeling a little more confidence in her life here because she actually showed some insistent barking and a rather uncompromising stance to a neighbor’s dog who visited the beach house last weekend. I had to put her behind a gate with Onyx and Belle to calm her down. I’m going to try to get her out away from home, just with me, now and then, to build her confidence and to see how she does especially when we encounter other dogs.

Her physical health is improving and after consult with the vet this week, we have agreed she is ready to be spayed. The surgery is scheduled for next Friday, 9.9.11 and my nerves are already on edge about it. I am a little concerned she could come into heat any time before then, though. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. My vet offered to pick her up on Thursday and take her into the clinic so I wouldn’t have to drive her in on Friday, but I declined. I know she lived in a cage so much of her puppy mill life that I want to avoid having to crate her if at all possible.

She is a delicate little soul, so timid and afraid of anything new to her. She still doesn’t want eye contact and doesn’t like to be held, but will stand for it a little bit more if I insist. She isn’t very treat driven so it makes reinforcement that it is good to be loved in that way a little difficult.

I am thrilled each time she comes to me for a little lickie on my hand. Sometimes when I am in the kitchen she tentatively comes up and steals a little lick on my leg, too.

I am beginning to think about what the future looks like for Soja…but one day at a time for this fragile mill girl."

One day at a time, one cookie at a time, one walk along the sandy shore at a time.  De Soja will be nestled in her adoptive family's arms before you know it, wagers

The Frog Princess

Kobee

Kobee has been in foster care almost a year.  He is well-loved by his foster family, but they would like to continue to open their arms to other needy fosters, so they are looking for a forever family that will love Kobee as much as they do.  Here's a note from Kobee's foster mom:

"Kobee is definitely a blessing.  This little guy came to us after being abandoned and not well cared for, but you'd never know anyone was ever mean to him, because from the first minute my daughters and I picked him up he showed us that all he wanted was a family to love him.  

"He shows his love in so many ways.  First when he sees you in the morning or when you come home from being out, he marches, yes marches, excitedly and happily to your feet for you to give him a hug and belly rub.  If it wasn't for his diligent patrolling of the back yard throughout the day in evening, who knows how many squirrels, crows, and frogs would have taken over and run us out of our own house. We thank him for that!

Kobee is a friend to all.  Not only does he love me, my husband, and our children but he has a Great Dane brother, Great Dane sister, Pitbull brother, American Bulldog sister, his cat, and his bird, and any other foster that comes to stay.

"Kobee came to us a young sprightly little guy full of life and love to give.  Kobee also came with a special need; he is totally incontinent.  He is on meds that he takes easily when stuffed in a piece of cheese to keep him "regular." Kobee wears a diaper with a very stylish diaper cover on to help keep it in place since he has no tail to help.  He knows his routine and stands proudly while getting dressed, he even lifts each leg to put in the hole!

If he's outside sunning or monitoring the backyard, he runs free of his diaper.  Incontinence is simply managed and doesn't take away one ounce of Kobee's big heart.  Though this condition may seem like it could be a lot to take on or hard work, it isn't in the least. 

"This little guy just wants love, plain and simple."

Well, that makes him 100% normal and just like any other Frenchie in the love department, in the expert assessment of

The Frog Princess