Josie Update

Remember Josie? Adopted as a puppy, she was relinquished to the Champaign County Humane Society in April. Her owners had her for two years and told CCHS she could not be housebroken or trained. We found Josie to be a delightful little dog. I posted a bit of a rant about people giving dogs a bad rap by not telling the truth when they relinquish their pets. Here’s a note we received from Josie’s new family in May, soon after she was adopted:

Hello Harriett and Tom,

I should have gotten this Email out to you much quicker, however, time has just been speeding by the past few weeks!  No question Josie IS home and here to stay for good!

As I sit here typing to you Josie is on my lap with her curled tail over my left arm and her head on my right leg.  What a sight we must be, but how I love it and how we love her.

Our first night of bringing her home must have been very different and I am sure unsettling for her.  That night she did soil her crate both ways.  We looked upon that as adjusting to our times and routines.   She is such a good dog when meeting other animals!  Both our parents love her and Tom and I adore her.  When someone is sitting down, there is Josie up on our lap or by our side in the chair.  She remains reserved about meeting people at first giving a soft growl, however, once she is use to someone she becomes a friendly tail wagger wanting attention. 

When I am crocheting she is curled up in the chair with me and has even gotten use to having yarn tickle her ears once in a while....as well as learning it isn't to chew on.  What a character she is.  She loves to get out and run, wow can that little dog run!  She has made fast friends with the two Basset Hounds,cat and children next door as well as with dogs at Tom's parents.  We hope to have her meet both our brothers dogs soon and see how they all get along.

She has taken quite well to being walked on a leash, though she pulls sometimes she is really picking it up quickly.  She is very good around doors and not running out.  She has only had one accident in the house the first week here and though we are not sure when it occurred she has had no more since then.  We are still keeping her limited to 3 or 4 rooms until we know for sure she is on a routine schedule and will not have any more accidents.  We continue to crate her at night.

Our only major issue with Josie is while she knows her name and reacts whenever it is used, she does not want to come at all, she often runs up, teases and runs quickly away.  This has caused some issues and is something we need to work on getting resolved.  We want to look into some obedience classes (any recommendations would be very welcome) and continue working with her on it.   She sits beautifully, shakes hands (um paws), will "give you five" with a paw and we are working on "sitting pretty" and staying. 

She is eating well and our Vet at Meadows Animal Clinic says she is all clear of the worms she had. For the 1st time she is caught up on all her vaccinations and is a very healthy little girl.  The staff there just love her and were so happy to see we had adopted another dog after loosing our 13 year old Black Lab in January of this year. 

Josie is a happy little dog and we are very happy to be her owners now.  I have included a few photos of her, though not the best as I am not much of a photographer I think you will enjoy them.  She enjoys the "puff" dog bed here too!  Josie is indeed home....and very loved. 

With Appreciation and Thanks,
Tom and Mary Beth

We received another update last week:

She continues to learn tricks and to settle in. She now has the run of the back yard as we have it all secure. Tom and I still enjoy walking her and she does excellent on a leash.  Since that first week no issues at all with going in the house or her night crate.

She is standing here whinnying at me with a toy in her mouth wanting to play which I am attempting to explain I will do in a few more lines!   It is the only time she is fussy with me, she hates it when I am on the computer!  Our compromise is that I let her lay on my lap while I type and she seems happy and I can use the computer in silence!

Each evening she still enjoys sleeping on one of our laps, however, come time for that last walk before bedtime and there is NO holding her back!