Only Child for a Day

Maggie and Pumpkin went to the spa today to get their summer hair cuts (my camera is charging so I don't have new pics of them yet--they are adorable as usual!)... which left Gamer alone with me all day. I would like to say she missed her sisters, but let's be honest, Gamer is and always will be an only child (in her mind at least)... I don't think she's really accepted the fact that the other two are here to stay ;).

So, before work, I took her to a huge dog park, where she got to run ALL by herself for almost 20 minutes! The other dogs were hanging out, playing as only well-socialized dogs can, in the small dog area separated by a fence (even though they were all huge dogs), which was just fine with me. But the people incorrectly assumed that I brought my dog to the dog park to socialize, so they all came walking over to join Gamer and me... apologizing for being in the "wrong" side of the park and leaving my dog all alone. I could hear Gamer's sigh of disappointment from the other end of the park...we didn't stay long after that. As nice as the people were to come and join us, 6 large dogs intruding on Gamer's intense squirrel hunting does not make her a happy camper.  Although, I have to say, she didn't embarrass me with her growling or snapping at all with the other dogs! I was so proud of her--only a couple sly teeth-baring moves that only I caught (not the other owners!).

This is Gamer's signature hunting move that started 6 years ago on Peabody campus (which is overrun by Vanderbilt's unnaturally brave--and gigantic-- squirrels)... She stalks the squirrel while standing completely still, then charges it as fast as she can. She inevitably misses the target...and then continues to jog past the spot where the squirrel was to save her pride and act like she was heading that way for a totally different reason.

So we came home, and to be fair, I gave her a bath...I just can't quite justify sending her to the dog spa when she is pretty much balding with light fuzzy fur here and there ;) Plus we have all kinds of special medicated shampoo to use with her. 

Here are her thoughts on bath time and her day full of quality time with Mom. 

While we're giving Gamer her day in the spotlight--here's one of my favorite videos of her with our foster dog, Olivia. Olivia wanted to be her friend SOOO badly, and Gamer is trying so hard not to growl at her here (but completely not understanding that in dog language, Olivia just wants to get past her)

Haha--that's our girl! :) 

And again, as a disclaimer, she really is the sweetest thing... and truly the love of our lives---I just don't think she knows she's a dog, and therefore sees no reason to act like one or associate with them ;)

My afternoon...

I have had three rescues at the doggie daycare across the street for the past couple of weeks, so they have all taken turns hanging out at Camp Childress to get away from the kennel for a little while during the day...

My precious Beagle rescue left this morning to go to her new home in CT, and I cried--she was so sweet...a little crazy with a very persistent howl--but I adored her. Taylor told me she'd be the hardest dog I have ever had to place (this was after he saw her climbing on the back of his recliner and knocking over/shattering a ceramic dish, all within about 2 minutes), but he doesn't know Beagles like I do! There are lots of Beagle people out there that find these little troublemakers endearing, and as predicted, she had no trouble finding a home :)

Here's Olivia...

Next, there is Millie...a 5-6 month old Black Labbie girl who is just as CUTE as she can be! She has lots of puppy energy and was given up by her family because she kept chewing things and trying to get into their pool while the kids were swimming (imagine a LAB wanting to chew and swim!!? haha). Anyway, she's a total doll, and will find a home in a second once I post her on Petfinder-she's just waiting for one more round of puppy shots.

And finally, I have Max. I found Max listed on a "Free to Good Home" ad (due to a divorce)--which is SO dangerous. People search "Free" ads all the time for scientific research, dog fighting bait, and even just to re-sell the dog for a profit. Max is a 6-7 year old Black Labbie boy who has been posted on Petfinder for over 2 weeks without one single inquiry--he has three strikes against him already, being an older large black dog. Black dogs are 4 times more likely to be euthanized because they are so often overlooked at shelters--and they are just as hard to place through rescue. On top of this, Max has been so traumatized by his family giving him up, that he is somewhat fear aggressive and wants to fight other dogs if they come too close (this makes his visits to our house lots of fun ;)). He's coming along, and I'm not giving up on him. He's a total sweetheart, but just very insecure right now. I had to bring him here the first few days just to get him to eat, but now he's eating fine and even wagging his tail at everyone he meets!

So this brings me to my afternoon.... after a somewhat busy morning with work and a nice lunch out with Taylor, I decided to pick Max up and bring him over to my house for the afternoon. He has been wonderful today--not ONE growl at my dogs--even when Gamer gave him her signature snarl and snap. As I was marveling at how well the afternoon was going and settling in at my computer to do some work, I noticed Max wandering on the other side of my desk...and then in slow motion, I saw him turn around and realize the modem cable was wrapped around his foot. He then went into a complete panic and took off running backwards, taking the modem/laptop/docking station/stack of post-its/pen holder with him (while I was in the process of typing a work email, of course). This catastrophe caused a massive crashing sound that scared the poor guy even more, so he took off out of the office, and my three socially awkward girls took off in terror after him--and a train of four dogs proceeded to bolt into my bedroom and hide! Now, it may have made sense to be angry at this point, but I just laughed ...and got my camera. If dog rescue weren't chaotic, then everyone would be doing it, right? I can't complain--I bring this on myself..haha. AND I'm now typing this post, so there was clearly no permanent computer damage (although I did have to shove the wire back into the modem harder than usual, and I heard a slight cracking noise...:)).

And now I'm off to take Max back to his hotel and rush back to shower and put myself together for one of Taylor's work dinners...