Dogster

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I'm Working SO Hard, Really!

I was adopted today!

I wasn't really sure what was going on. My shelter mom of 9 mos came in early, gave me a bath - made me smell like apple blossoms ech!, then BLEW AIR at me. I was combed and brushed and had my red with white polka dots hanky around my neck. Then around 1pm she took out to meet these two ladies. They seemed OK enough, but I wanted to stay safe my my shelter mom - but she went into another room and left me with these ladies! It wasn't too bad, they talked to me, pet me, scratched me, and said I was 'so adorable'. My shelter mom came back and we showed off what we learned in obedience class. Then the ladies said there was someone they wanted me to meet. A couple of minute later, another doggie came. He had curly hair, about my size, but a little chubby. He was very cool, very easy going - I like that in a doggie friend. My shelter mom told the ladies all about me, how I got there, how I got to be such a good boy. I went back to my crate. After a bit, my shelter mom gave me kisses and told me to be a good boy in my new home, that I'd love the yard and doggie door and new dogie friend. The lady even had stairs so I could sleep in her bed.
It all sounded great, but when my shelter mom put me in the ladies' car then walked away without me I worried a little.

Corky was adopted today. His new home will be about 2 1/2 hours away. It couldn't have been a better match for him. The two young women that came to meet him made me feel quite confident that they would love him and understood his special needs, patient, calm. House, fenced in yard, privacy fence, doggie door - might take him a bit. He should be at his new home settling in by now. I'm confident with his new calm doggie friend. I'm hoping he's forgotten about me and is exploring and learning and relaxing. The woman will have the next 4 days off so they will have a good amount of time to get to know each other. I'm excited and a little sad. His eyes got so big when I left him in their car. Broke my heart a bit. I didn't cry then, but I am now. I hope it's a great match. I will have done my job.

We met our goal!

Corky walked outside on a leash! How did we get here! Well, what worked with Mindy was carrying her outside with the leash already attached. In order to get Corky ready for that, when I petted him, I would put a hand on each side of his body. Then I picked him up and put him down. A few days of that and then I put him in my lap, but let him walk out when he wanted. Then I would hold him there a few seconds. I was also practicing with the leash, letting him sniff it, wear it while I petted and brushed him. Until I was able to pick him up and carry him around. I took into our lobby to see how he'd react to being on a leash (they use slip leads at the shelter). Well, as soon as he felt the tension of the lead on his neck he freaked. So, we started over with a harness. That worked great. I practiced with him indoors for a few days before, finally, we were outside walking. At first I basically just followed him around. But now I can get him to stop and come with me in a different direction.
Now we will be working on being exposed to new places and people, being in the carrier, grooming, being handled, etc. Stuff he's already doing well.
He needs his luscious fur buzzed off due to the matting. We have 90-100 degree weather and he can't enjoy the outdoors after being in a little room in the shelter.
Well, he's out of the room and in the hall now, graduated!
I think he'll be ready to go up for adoption in a few weeks!

Getting a haircut

Finally! I've been waiting for this day. Corky has SO much hair hanging in his eyes, he can't see well and walked into things, reacted to any kind of movement. Since I've been able to pet him now, I risked life and limb to give him a hair trim. First, left the scissors on the floor for him to sniff and explore. Later I brought them into his crate sitting on the floor by him while I petted him. Then I did it! And you can just make out his little brown eyes. The rest is too close to his eyes and he was starting to fuss. I didn't want to push my luck and ruin months of progress, so I left it at that. Nice to know, though, that I can handle his face, move his head around by his chin, without getting even so much as a growl, just a little fussing. Cool huh?
Next I am going to introduce the brush and work on cutting out more mats.