Sunday, April 29, 2012

Another Great Escape !!!

Day 2 of owning our  " wild child  " -  Lila proceeded to run right thru my legs when I was leading her back in the house after her morning constitution - sound familiar??   I remember when Duds pulled the same escape route on his 2nd day here......which actually helped me in my retrieval plan :)

I knew she would head to our next door neighbor's backyard - thank you again Marco - & she did.  Knowing it was fenced all around - I ran across their front yard & was waiting for her to exit by another neighbor's  driveway.  She took one look @ me & weaved  the opposite direction :(    I " flew " thru the air to grab her collar & landed on the ground ......in my PJ's & slippers no less !!  Luckily, I didn't see any body looking 2 me & the bus had just picked up the kids for school @ the corner.....whew.

                                             I think Fest was sorry I caught her !!

I had been told she was micro-chipped BUT registered to no one & I had not had time to get an ID tag made......so had she gotten away from me - who knows how we would have found her.
Needless to say, she is now registered & tagged so IF she feels the urge to mosey @ the block - hopefully she would greet somebody dog friendly & be returned safely  :)

Later that morning - I took her down to the tennis courts & secured the gate w/ her leash & figured if she would not come back to me - I could call home & have lunch delivered!!  Luckily , she stayed @ my side while we did laps around our lil gated play area & was happy to have her leash put back on :)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Welcome to A B C

  On our drive home, she was very content to sit in the back seat w/ me & hang her head outside the window.  She turned to look @ me often as if to say - wow - this is all right!! Several times she laid down next to me & put her head on my lap - gad I love this dog :)   At a stop light in Buffalo Grove we were parked next to a big truck & there was an older gentleman smoking looking @ her......well......good thing I had her leash b/c she wanted to join him VERY badly!  It was the first time I saw her tail go a zillion miles per hour.  Sooo,  I deduced - her former owner was an elderly gent who smoked & drove a truck. ( To this day if a pick up truck passes us on our walks - she gets excited.)  Once we arrived @ 1128...I immediately took her for a walk around the block - this also gave time for Ky to let Fest out & get ready for work. She was EVERYWHERE in the beginning - kinda looked like I was walking a drunken canine!!  I lovingly (?) gave corrections & encouragement & she heeled nicely the last half of our trek :)





After Ky went to work - I kept her outside til Bru got home...SURPRISE.....& he was!!!   She was very UP, but being married to me & watching ALOT of Dog Whisperer, he knew to walk right past her & let her regain her composure....which she did :)

We brought her inside & she immediately pursued Payton ( Gracie's cousin ) & he took one look, blew up like a blow fish & flew over the gate...she of course flew after him!!  Quite the prey drive for a dog that I was told was good w/ cats - perhaps she didn't her own post :(   Then she turned her energy to Festus - who was still not a happy camper after the car ride.  BUT, he was raised w/ a Shepherd & then a Mastiff - he knew the drill & told her off loudly & repeatedly!  I only had to flip her on her back 2x for getting too " spirited " in a game Fest did NOT know he was playing.  Now he is more interested in her & then gets mad when she wants to pursue HIS game.........


                        Here is our new girl by the end of her first day in the house :)


When Trevor came home from work that night - she greeted him @ the door by plastering him to the wall while she gave him kisses.  The look on his face was one of absolute horror & I wished I had had a video camera b/c it would have been a smash on you tube!!!  Once she & he calmed down - they met for the first time - the right way :)


 Our first night together reminded me of when I brought Kyle home for the first time  - sleeping was NOT an option.  I decided to spend quality time w/ our lil lady & observe her closely.   Turns out I didn't get to do that b/c she took a census of me on the couch, Festus who was in his crate & Cheddars who was in her cage in the kitchen every half hour!!!   Rounds were made & she circled around the kitchen &  would return to the living room.  Luckily for us - she would lay down to " clean " herself once in a while or chew Bella's old bone LOUDLY.  I don't think she had many toys b/c she emptied the basket in no time & didn't care if it was a cat or dog toy - it was in her mouth!!  I  finally was about to get some shut eye......when......my husband turned on the kitchen light to start the coffee maker @ 5:15am.............seriously?????


Our new & improved sleeping arrangements - she actually went in by herself before lights out.
I kinda think it reminds her of her ole abode - aka dog house - but MUCH nicer :))


                          BTW, the definition of ABC is  Annie's Boot Camp :))

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Meet Lila

I'd like to introduce you all to - Lila - our newest family member.  She is a 3y/o dark sable German Shepherd .  I found her on line Wed. morning, fell in love w/ her face & began the task of adopting  /rescuing  her.




              Here she is after our hour ride home - she LOVED the tennis ball :)



I sent the rescue place an e-mail, filled out their application, set up my references & hoped to hear back in a weeks time.  Imagine my surprise when I rec'd an email asking me to come meet her the same day???   I was thrilled !!!   I responded w/ an over whelming YES & plotted my trip on MapQuest.


Kyle had just enough time to play w/ her before he had to get to work Thursday :)



Thursday morning rolled around & I rec'd a phone call saying I had been approved - whew, that was a fast week!!!   Ky, Festus & I made the hour long trek to a northern suburb & finally  reached our destination.  She had been in their office awaiting our arrival & was looking out the window @ us.   The kennel lady asked that Fest stay outside the fenced off area until we saw her reaction.  Well, she was VERY interested & pulled the gal to the gate.  Fest was not impressed in the least & tried to ignore her the best he could ( his double tail was between his lil legs ).    I had brought Bella's old choke chain & leather leash & pronounced her a Bang as soon as I slipped it over her head :)



                                                Taking in her new back yard....



Her back history will pull @ her heart strings - she was purchased by an older couple in Indiana & was tied & placed in a dog house in their back yard .  That is where she spent most of  her childhood (?) & was later surrendered  to an animal shelter this past February.  A representative of my local rescue spotted her & decided she was just to sweet to possibly be put to death & brought her to Illinois.    While in Indiana.....she was spayed, vaccinated & micro chipped before they made the trip to Illinois.  I also read that she had been adopted out once BUT was returned - still trying to get the whole story there.