Monthly Archives: November 2010

Week One in Review

November 4, 2010 By in Lollie Tags: , , , , , 3 Comments

In honor of Lollie’s first full week at Casa Fosterfamily, I am posting some progress notes and discoveries made during our first seven days.

Day 1:

  • Lollie is discovered to be housebroken and also very quiet. Wet, sloppy kisses abound.
  • Lollie doesn’t seem to know what a toy is, and cowers when one is raised to throw.
  • No interest in kibble, but peanut butter is a friend.

Day 2:

  • Lollie does not know how to walk on leash. Straight lines are not on her agenda.
  • Kong toys are too complex to capture Lollie’s attention, and dinner is left untouched in the bowl. As is breakfast.
  • Camera is perceived as enemy to be wary of, much to foster mom’s disappointment.

Day 3:

  • Whereas Lollie does not know how to walk on leash, she is an excellent running partner. Strange, but true.  
  • Lollie calmly and gently greets two dogs while out in neighborhood.
  • Lollie is a perfect gentlelady in the presence of houseguests. No jumping, play-biting or barking, only sitting sweetly for attention (of which she receives plenty).
  • After some reservation, both breakfast and dinner are consumed in their entirety.

Day 4:

  • First attempts at true leash training. Lollie is initially stubborn, but eventually starts to understand that pulling gets you nowhere. Very fast learner.
  • Lollie discovers that stuffed animals are fun for squeaking and chewing.

Day 5:

  • Leash training continues, progress is made.
  • Lollie discovers her love for cauliflower and other things vegetable and fruit.
  • Lollie meets some neighborhood kids by chance, sits calmly and gently to be petted.

Day 6:

  • Lollie learns to trot happily into her crate for breakfast and dinner, utters no protest.
  • Work begins on sitting to put on leash or for permission to go outside. Seems calmer in the house.

Day 7:

  • Cars are so scary that it’s nearly debilitating. Lollie goes into pancake mode if one drives by close and fast. Once on a quiet trail, good side-by-side running resumes.
  • Good crazy-fit before bed, including upside down antics on the bed with four legs flailing in the air.
  • Lollie holds still for the camera long enough to show off her beautiful, soulful eyes:

Lollie Wonderdog, Media Magnet

November 4, 2010 By in Lollie Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments
Lollie has made her first media appearance. Check out this beautiful article about Lolita in yesterday’s Washington Examiner! Way to go, little girl!

Washington Examiner article

must love veggies.

November 3, 2010 By in Lollie Tags: , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Date: dinnertime. Location: my parlour. Feeling: like dabbling in vegetarianism.

As it turns out, I am a veggieholic. Feed me a carrot, I will gobble it down. A big hunk of cauliflower? No match for me. A crispy kale flake? I will jump for joy. I’m making my foster mom wonder if they need to start that compost pile after all . . .

 

creature of habit

November 2, 2010 By in Lollie Tags: , , , , , , 5 Comments

Recently I read that dogs love nothing more than getting into a rut. There is a calm and secure feeling in knowing when we get up, when the people come home, when we eat dinner, and when we chase squirrels. Rut, rut, rut. There is no danger, and no insecurity.

Last night we celebrated a big milestone. When Lolita and I came home from the evening walk and went to her room, she voluntarily entered her crate and sat down, calmly waiting for me to place her dinner bowl in the corner so she could dine on her evening snack.

happy snacker

Before this point it had always taken a gentle nudge to get her in there, and sometimes some serious antics. Try to picture a grown woman jumping around on a bed holding, and pretending to chew on, a squeaky toy. She leaps through the air and theatrically tosses the toy to the back of the crate, desperately hoping that Wonderdog #2 will be fooled by her charade and bound into the crate after the orange stuffed toy. All the while, she is talking animatedly to Wonderdog #2 in the high-pitched, excited voice generally reserved for cartoon characters and over-enthusiastic parents. More often than not, the woman is wearing rainbow-striped leg warmers and a sweater with holes in it and wondering if perhaps a red cape would help the situation, or at the very least, look good with her outfit. And more often than not, Wonderdog #2 is sitting calmly on a pillow at the head of the bed, wondering what in the world this woman is doing.

In any case, last night we donned our rainbow leggings and celebrated the fact that a routine is emerging, and it’s plain to see that it makes Lola feel relaxed, happy, and secure.

Lolita, Queen of Routine