What to do about Moo

Moolatte is hanging at the shelter while we are out of town for a few days. He was with us for 1 week and it is hard to tell if I am making any progress at all. It seems like every morning when I get up he is his old timid self again and running around away from me except in the kitchen. Once I pet him some in the kitchen, he seems to get better, but not great. I have gotten him to come lay by me and let me pet him and even give him a belly rub, but it is slow progress for 1 week. When I went to drop him off, he came in the office and saw Mallory and he wagged his tail and went right over to see her.

With Lori's allergies, it probably makes sense to get a different dog, but the choices of a short hair dog are pretty limited right now. I am still undecided as to whether to pick Moolatte up at the shelter on Monday or not.

When does this dog go

The dog hasn't gone in the house, but he hardly goes outside and he doesn't go to the bathroom when we take walks. It is a mystery.

Petco

I took Moolatte to the Petco Lakeline adoption day this past Saturday. He was very apprehensive and wouldn't go up and greet anyone but he would back up to me and I would pet him and tell them to come over to pet him. I got a lot of questions about what kind of dog he is. A lot of people commented on how pretty he is and how interesting his markings are. By the end of the 3 hours, he was ready to go home. He did let me pet him a bunch and spent time backed up to me, so that actually helped our relationship. At home, he took more petting. He is least timid in the kitchen and will come in and sit for petting and I had Ben come over and pet him with me. When I would stop petting, he would put his head under my hand for more. He even sniffed over at Ben's hand for a little petting. I left Moolatte at the shelter last night as I was having my friend over for candle lighting and she seems to be allergic to him. She and I were rubbing his belly and petting on him on Sat. evening and she started to get itchy eyes and a tight throat. It was time to leave for a bit and I left him at the shelter Sun. night and cleaned the place so she could come back for candle lighting. I brought him home this afternoon, but am not sure if it will work out because of the allergy thing. I figure that Ben and I will be here at least a few days since Ben had his wisdom teeth out this morning, so Moolatte can hang out here and then if we leave town, he can go to the shelter and if I am to hang out with my friend this week, it won't be here.

Housetrained

Moolatte is definitely house trained. He hasn't gone to the bathroom in the house at all and I leave him out of the crate at night. He started eating Thurs. night though I haven't seen him poop. I hope he isn't constipated. He is eating fine with some leftover rice/ground beef in his food. He doesn't seem to like to go out for walks. He is okay getting the leash on but doesn't want to go out the front door. I don't think he likes riding in the car and I took him to the shelter yesterday to pickup our stuff for adoption day. I think he is hesitating to go out front because he doesn't want to get in the car. Today we go to Petco for an adoption day, even if I have to carry him out to the car.

So, he is a burier

Moo hasn't eaten much here. Hasn't touched his food in his dish and wasn't interested in the hot dog pieces we offered him yesterday. He did eat a couple of little dog biscuits, but before that, he was doing something with them. I saw him doing it a few times more today and figured it out. I had tossed the dog biscuit on a comforter folded up on the floor for him to lay on and he went over and touched his nose to the cookie and then started pushing the covers with his nose. I couldn't figure out the scooping motion before and then it dawned on me that is how KD used to bury stuff. Sure enough, if I threw the top layer of comforter over it, he was happy. He just did it with a chew stick and then he layed down and pulled the cover layer back a bit to chew on it. Too funny, I have to take a video to post.

Was that Baxter I saw at the shelter tonight

I was picking up Moo this afternoon and I could swear I saw Baxter in the meet and greet pen. I forgot to ask Andrew on my way back out. Guess I will find out on Friday.

I have a thing for the shy ones

Picked up Moolatte this afternoon. One of the reasons I chose him was that he is so timid and especially shy around men. I have gotten him to be comfortable putting a leash on him at the shelter, so I thought that was a good enough start. He is extremely unsure of himself, but seems to be "hanging out with me" wherever I go at home and he is well mannered on the leash other than walking back and forth in front of you so that he could end up on either side. Well, I guess he isn't well mannered, but he doesn't pull, so that is nice. Quick pics from cellphone camera attached.

Next visitor - Moolatte

Well, I talked with Monica last night and discussed CeCe, Karma, and Moolatte and we decided on Moo. I told her I couldn't get by last night and that I would try to get by today to get Moolatte and see how things go. The car is cleaned out and I need to put up the pet barrier before I go to get him. Pictures later.

Well, he's gone

Ryan went home today while I was leading an adoption day. He is officially adopted. Desiree, hope I didn't teach him any bad habits you can't unteach. Also hope he has a good first night and takes to his crate.

Now it is time to consider who to bring home next. I have 3 candidates in mind, will have to mull it over and perhaps tomorrow night bring someone home.

Somedays it isn't a great day to have a dog's life

The cold front came through yesterday afternoon/evening and then the rain came. It was cold and rainy and sleety and Ryan needed to go out to potty. Somedays "it's a dogs life" means it is nice to be able to lay around and just get petting, etc. But not being able to just use the restroom on an evening like last night make that saying mean the opposite. I didn't envy him running out to the back of the yard in the rain/sleet to hike his leg on a rock.

Last week

Well, it appears to be Ryan's last week with us. He should be going home this coming Sunday or Monday. I will miss the little guy but Ben is already looking forward to a new dog as Ryan sticks with me preferentially at home and Ben can't get much attention from him.

Cold weather

Man it was cold out this morning. I never dig grab a coat for Ryan but if this weather is going to stay,I am going to have to run up to the shelter. I could use an XPen from there anyway. I have been trying to keep Ryan from joining me in bed by blocking him out. I put up some little fences but they were too low and he just jumped up. I doubled up the fence last night but there was a small gap at the head of the bed and he exploited it. I was sleeping and he got up and I blocked it with my dresser door after I put him down. The door swings and he was able to get back up later while I was asleep.

Tonight, I plan on blocking that opening better. I wonder if it is cold on the dog bed on the floor and it is warmer snuggling with me or if he just wants to be in bed with me because I am there. I know crating him would stop him from getting in bed, but then he whines incessantly. I just want him to lay down on his bed and leave me to mine and me not having to get up and put him back down over and over.





Wait at the door is going somewhat better. He doesn't stay there the first time. He will sit and wait while the door swings open and I can step toward the door and out, but sometimes it takes a few times for him to stay after the door is opened and I have to pull him back and start again.