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I am not a princess! Now get me my food bowl!

Reflecting

Last week was my "gotcha' day", that's the day that momma adopted me for those of you who don't know. I've now lived with my momma for 4 whole years, which is a really long time for a dog. Momma has been reflecting lately on our time together and how I've changed in that time so I thought I'd share some of her reflections.

When I first came here from the track, I was really scared of everything. So scared in fact that I didn't want to go outside at all, not even to potty. Eventually I started to go out JUST to pee (and I would hold it as long as I could beforehand to minimize trips) and then we'd come right back in. It took about a week before I would even consider doing our "poop walk" - it's the same walk we still do twice a day in addition to our long walk or hike. Going to a pet store to visit with other people and dogs wasn't a consideration, and getting into the car meant we were most likely going somewhere scary so I would shake the entire time.

These days I really enjoy my walks. Sometimes on nice days when there are lots of kids playing in the park we walk by I get a little scared, but momma encourages me and I keep going. Even though I don't really act like I like my brother much, having him around helps so this past year I've become even less scared. I go to meet and greets at pet stores with my mom's sometime and I will lay on a dog bed or sit for treats after I've gotten to sniff my greyhound pals. Getting into the car is totally fun now as momma will usually put the windows down a little bit. I LOVE to smell the air coming in the car window and often I will close my eyes and stick my nose up, or I'll stand up and put my whole head out of the window so the wind makes my gums flap. Momma always gets a kick out of that. Thunderstorms are even less scary now - momma puts a bed in the bathroom for me and I"ll settle down there and even eat a kong. And last weekend we were at the vet's office and I actually went up to the vet for pets (it was good for me to figure out that vets are like other people too and will just pet you and pet you if you put your head right up to them).

It's hard for anyone who visits us to believe that I used to be so scared, especially when I ferociously bark at new guests (well, I only bark a little until I realize mom has treats out that she'll give me if I settle on a dog bed). I even stayed in the room the other day when momma's friend brought her really rambunctious 2 year old over!

Oh, I almost forgot one of the most important things - momma was so surprised when about 2 years ago I started roaching. Now I do it all the time, including most days on the couch with her. I LOVE roaching because it cools me off and a lot of times my momma will rub my belly while I do it, which is one of my most most favoritest things to have done.

Momma and I have a good relationship too after all this time. I love to put my head in her lap for pets and sometimes if I really missed her that day I'll even stay there after she stops petting, or I'll sleep in bed with her if she invites me. I do get really excited when she comes home too so I get my favorite toy and I run laps back and forth in the condo, whipping my toy around in my mouth. When Zuri comes out of his crate, we do it all over again, then I play with my toy a bit and do lots of playbowing. Some days, when I'm extra excited, I playbow to my mom and spin in circles.

Obviously those are just some of the ways we have fun, there are too many things to type just now, but that gives you an idea of what things are like for us these days. I hope you enjoyed hearing about this stuff, I know momma will be glad I shared it.

-Neyla

I'm #1

Yesterday was the annual Greyhound Welfare picnic. My mom loves it and looks forward to it each year, but for me it's pretty scary. There are SO many people although it helps that most of the scary people have cool greyhounds with them, and there are NO scary other kinds of dogs allowed. We also get to eat lots of treats while we're there and sometimes hamburger or hot dog, although this year mom forgot (BUT I got to lick her ice cream bowl).

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I won the award for Most Obedient AGAIN. I got a new toy and everything. I am telling you, this training stuff is cool. All I had to do was a few tricks to get these strangers to give me a new toy. And mom was really proud of me because she knew I was scared and did it anyway. I was really tired when we got back though and could hardly even play with my buddy Hennie who came by with her parents. Oh, her parents had a baby and even when she cried I could hardly be scared because I was so sleepy. So I guess it wasn't so bad afterall.

I have a brother

Well, mama says I have several brothers, she calls them blood brothers or littermates, but I haven't seen them in a really long time. This kind of brother is one you're not related to, but who lives with you forever and who she says I have to be nice to. Well humph, I don't see why I have to act any differently just because he's called a brother instead of a foster.

Although if anyone had to stay, he's a pretty good one. When I growl at him, he gets away right away, and he doesn't do ANYTHING if I steal his rawhides or toys or make him get off of MY dog bed.

And I guess he can actually be sort of fun sometimes. Sometimes I wish he would just lay down and nap like greyhounds are supposed to, but when we're at the dog park, I do like to run around and tease him with my frisbee toy.

Well, so far I guess he's not so bad. We'll see if we're really going to keep him afterall...