"I'm Just Say'in . . ."

We leave Journey's crate door open when not in use and he sometimes goes in for a nap. Here he is after waking up one day. He looked to us like he'd been telling stories to the neighbors across the fence.

Caught this picture of him this morning with his moose tucked under his arm. He really likes playing with stuffed toys, especially if they make noise.

Fine-tuning our walking etiquette

Journey has always been a pretty good walker on leash but we had some "fine-tuning" to do that we've been working on lately. When newly off the track, he found the outside world so fascinating that he would sometimes pull at the end of his lead, zig-zag from side to side and want to take off and chase those vexing squirrels. He is a different dog on walks now. He LOVES to go for a walk and for the first few minutes sometimes has to be reminded not to pull. The "distance penalty" technique works well with him and he soon remembers to stay at pace with me. We've taught him that we don't pee on mail boxes or flowers, but that bushes and fire hydrants are ok. I'm amazed at how quickly he learned this and was able to translate this skill from street to street in our neighborhood. He is also really catching on to staying to my left side and not crossing in front of me.

He's started doing a really cute thing in the mornings recently. When I am getting his breakfast ready, he makes a "joy-circuit" around the kitchen, into the dining room, through the foyer, through the family room and back to the kitchen. It's a happy, skippy little jaunt! He picks up a little speed when on the carpet in the family room and then slows it right down again when he reaches the wood floor in the kitchen. We imagine him saying to himself, "Woo-hoo, my grubs on the way"!!!

Over the weekend my brother's 12 year-old lab mix was a guest at our house. Journey was great with her and did a bit of showing off in the back yard zooming around at speed to show what he's made of . . .

Just Relaxing

Scamp's Journey loves to relax on the bed. We have no problem getting comfortable on this bed. Such a sweet boy, with perfect manners.

Scamp's Journey and his foster sister

Scamp's Journey is getting along fine with his foster sister. They are both in the kitchen watching all the baking that is going on for the holiday. Scamp's Journey is so good about sitting on the bed while in the kitchen and not begging. Sometime's he is even better than his foster sister. At least he looks like he's napping!

Journey's First Chanukkah

Scamp's Journey has his first Chanukkah with his foster family. We had a party and he was so sweet, always wagging his tail and ready to meet new folks. He would be a great addition to any family, and he especially loves company.

Journey Having a ball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3OVUeeEes

We are the new foster family who is looking after Journey. He is wonderful entertainment for our own Greyhound who we have had for over a year now. They play well together and keep each other company. Here is a video of Journey having a ball in the back yard. He is a active fellow who just wants to have fun and is looking for his forever home.

Passing the Torch, Part Two

Well, I hosed up the movie attachments to the last post, uploading one twice and leaving one out completely (sigh). Here is the missing one. Journey's greatest challenge at our house was the uncarpeted stairs up to the bedrooms. He found them slippery and scary! For weeks we covered them with painting tarps and then eventually weaned him off those. He did triumph in the end, although he never seemed to take them for granted. Each morning he would make a few "avoidance" trots around the upstairs foyer before turning to face the stairs. He reminded me of the little engine that could - I imagined him chanting, "I think I can, I think I can" to himself as he descended. For those of you who have read the book, "Room", by Emma Donoghue, Journey is one scave* little chap. We are better for having been his foster family.

*This book is narrated by a five-year-old boy who lives with his mom under extremely adverse conditions. They make up "word sandwiches". "Scave" is an adjective to describe being very brave when you actually feel scared.