December 29th 2o13 ~ Day 51

I have been a terrible foster momma, I have not kept this blog up with the holidays and everything I just haven't had the time. So settle in, because this is going to be a LONG update.

Moo has really started coming out of her shell the past week or so. She is still nervous around strangers and loud cars freeze her up, but I'm starting to see her personality rather than nervous dog who doesn't know what to do.

She is incredibly food driven-but then again, show me a greyhound who isn't! She has also started walking on a leash like a PRO, no more harness for her. She doesn't balk or freak out like she had been, she follows quietly and allows you to guide her. It's like the switch flipped because one day we were practically dragging her behind us and the very next day she figured it out and it was like the skittish, non-leash-walking Moo never exisited before.

Thanksgiving was fun, we were going to travel out of town and take the dogs with, but at the last minute our out of state family got sick, and then I got sick, and then I said "screw it" I don't want to make that drive with the three dogs, one of which is not comfortable in the car....let's just stay here and try to track down a turkey. The dogs got their Thanksgiving plate, nobody liked the cranberry sauce, but the green beans were a huge hit, so were the pumpkin cookies I made them [next entry I will share the recipe because I am really weird about additives and preservatives and giving them to my animals...]

Moo still does not chase the chickens, but she does chase any bird, squirrel or cat that enters our yard, so I'm not sure if that means she has a high prey drive or not...but what I do know, is that she can be trained to live in harmony with small animals, once she understands that they are part of the pack.

Moo also received a handmade pair of pajamas and a jacket, I have plans for a few more clothing articles for her, once I get some time to hit the sewing machine and produce!

She has also learned to share her crate; not that this is something we make a habit of doing because I firmly believe that as high stress as Moo is, she really needs her own safe place to go and be alone when she is stressed out, but our little italian greyhound has started sleeping where ever Moo sleeps. In the crate, in the blankets, on the rug, on the floor etc.

We have also figured out why Moo wasn't the best racing dog ever...she LOVES the mud...I imagine she would have done wonders on a wet track. I've never seen a dog so excited to run through the mud and puddles before in my life. It's literally the only time she does zoomies; but, with the never ending rain we've been having here in NC the past month, my poor yard is a nightmare [I'm not sure grass will ever grow there again!] and my floors are perpetually covered in little dirty paw prints, I'm just going to start telling guests that it's a pattern in our hardwood because I can't sweep and mop fast enough to keep the floors clean!

Moo also has a weird skin thing going on. I've treated her with flea treatment and a low dose steroid to rule out a flea allergy, and the next step is an anti-biotic treatment, but her symptoms stopped after the flea treatment so hopefully that was the problem...she did get a bath and have to wear her muzzle while I put antibiotic ointment on her butt wounds though and she was not a happy camper [she was chewing]

She also took a few trips this week, we went to the Petsmart to get a pedicure where she had the best time sniffing all of the dog food bags and treats and stuffed animals and fish tanks, she didn't care as much for the actual pedicure, but she did great. Not an issue at all.

And to top it all off, we took our very first trip to the beach this morning. This is something that I'm used to doing a few times a week because we are so close, but with her failure to walk on a leash, the fact that people can drive their trucks on the beach this time of year and her general skittish behavior, I didn't want to risk a trifecta of freakouts with her by myself...but she did great! We chased the seagulls, sniffed all of the jellyfish, and managed to take a bunch of selfies!

It has been a GREAT time having Moo with us. I am so tempted to keep her for myself but I can not, that was not part of the deal. She just has SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE. Won't you please consider her for yourself?

November 15, 2o13 ~ Day 6

Moo is making exceptional progress! Tomorrow is our 1 week home anniversary!

She is still very scared of loud vehicles and she is terrible on the leash [but we're making progress every day] Her fear of vehicles and walking on the leash are both something that I'm confident that she will get over with a firm hand and lots of love and patience.

Moo wants to learn, she wants to please you but it is going to take time.

Her prey drive is still low, she doesn't bother with the chickens at all; in fact, she is still terrified of them! I think that she would live fine side by side with small animals in her forever home.

Today we have been busy, my husband and I did some leash training. I know that it was not what Moo wanted to do, but she seems to have bonded better with my husband and will look to him for instruction. He was able to get her moving and up and down the road. It did take a firm hand and lots of treats, but we took our other dogs out too thinking that it would help her figure out what is expected of her while on the leash.

We were able to make 4 or 5 circuits down the road in front of our house. The trash truck came and so did a loud utility truck and while she was still nervous, she did not buck or try to bolt. We are moving forward with immersion therapy for her to help get her used to loud noises with lots of love and hugs and treats.

I will be looking into a thunder coat for her, and would highly suggest that her forever parents do the same. The thunder jacket will help keep her calm in stressful situations.

She is a fantastic dog, and every day she reveals more and more of her personality. 

She is also incredibly smart, she has mastered the dog door already. Going out is no problem, but coming back in she has not quite figured out. She likes to lay in the grass and soak up the sun. I catch her sleeping in the grass at least 3 times a day.

I'm very grateful for the chance to love on this very special greyhound.

November 11, 2o13 ~ Day 3

Today was a busy day for me. I had lots of fun with my foster sisters too! 

We started off the day by having an "all dogs on deck" bark-a-thon .

And after that, I stayed and practiced giving the "evil eye" to the neighbors poodles...all of those curly haired dogs, I swear!

I'm settling in nicely to my foster home though, my ears are up more than they're down.

And then I decided that I wasn't going to be scared of the yard....and I went on to sniff my foster sister, Abby.

Abby joined me and showed me how to perfect my alert stance.

After that, I tried to start a barking war my my other foster sister, Sticks....I WON!

I'm getting much better at stairs already! I was so excited from being outside that I jumped up all three in one leap!

And since I've already had my dinner [and some treats] I'm going to go relax and do what we retired greyhounds do best; sleep!

Meet Moo [Most Devious]

Hey there potential adopters!

My name is Most Devious, but my foster humans have started calling me Moo...they say it's because from the second I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night I follow them around hoping that they drop some treats my way.

I am just over 3 years old. My birthday is June 15th, I was born in 2o1o. I don't know that I've ever had a party on my birthday, but I'm pretty sure that a vanilla ice cream cone would be the perfect way to celebrate!

I am currently living with my foster family. There are so many things to explore, but right now I'm very skittish. My foster humans say that this is ok, and that when I am settled into a real home-life routine that I'll come around. I don't want to be fearful of things, but I haven't had the smoothest start to retired life. Loud cars scare me and stairs are still very intimidating to me, although I am already doing so much better. I can go up and down the porch steps with just a little encouragement. My foster mom says that this is ok too, that in a few weeks I'll be going up and down them like a champion.

There are lots of animals at my foster home. I share the house with 2 other little dogs, and we are all getting along very well! I am a little aggressive about my bed, I have made a couple of warning growls at the little dogs for trying to sleep there. I'm not trying to be mean, but my future family needs to know that I like to have a little space of my own, that it only for me to use for when I'm feeling overwhelmed or nervous.

In the backyard of my foster home, there are lots of other animals....ducks and chickens, I'm sure they're very nice but right now I am very scared of them. So much so that I don't even want to go outside when they're around. My foster mom has been letting me out in the side yard so that those crazy birds can't get near me.

My foster dad says that he doesn't think that I have much of a prey drive. I'm not very interested in chasing things, but that may change once I get more comfortable in this home.

I am a happy girl, and I like to have my ears scratched. I don't mind if you pet my ears or tail or even scratch under my chin. I have lots of personality too! I just need a chance to learn how to be a dog!

My foster humans took me to Lowe's today to buy straw for the chickens....I wasn't so sure about this and was pretty nervous having to cross the street. There were lots of cars and noise and I didn't really want to go, but once I did all of these other humans came to talk to my foster parents and to give me lots of pets and scratches! After that, I was a happy girl. I even walked through an automatic door twice! Piece to cake! 

Follow my blog here and watch my progress while I learn to live with a family. I'm bound to have lots of adventures, and my foster mom says that she'll be sure to update regularly with LOTS of pictures.

[View Most Devious Pedigree here: Pedigree of Most Devious (Moo)]

All I want is a place and some humans to call my own.