He should be able to go everywhere

I know this going to sounds nuts but I wish there were public places I could take my dog to hang out with me. There. I said it. I now sound officially like a crazy cat lady but with a dog. (Why is it that no one ever talks about "the crazy dog lady down the street"? It's always "the crazy cat lady"? Sorry, I digress.)

Giles is really good. I mean, really, really good. He doesn't jump on people. He doesn't bark. He doesn't smell crotches and his favorite thing is to just lay at my feet. He likes people but if I tell him "no" he stays away from whatever I told him to stay away from. He would be a good dog to be able to go into public places.

I wish Giles could go to the movies with me. He would curl up at my feet and sleep the whole thing. He MIGHT get on the seats if I would allow him but if he did, he'd stretch out and sleep. I'd like to take him to bookstores. He would just curl up at my feet and sleep, again. I'd like to take him to a coffeehouse. Oh, I know the rules about food/animals and such, but I'd like to have him go. I'd have him on a leash, of course. I wouldn't allow him to just roam free. I'd make sure he wouldn't need to go to the bathroom but if he did I would take him to do so, and clean up after him, just like I do now when I walk him. If he was disruptive, I'd leave.

I realize if there were open pet laws then everyone with a dog, even those that would NOT be well behaved, would be allowed to take their dogs in public places. That would suck. Most people's dogs are NOT nice, I've learned.

I dunno. He's a sweet dog, and I'd like to be able to just hang out at my fav bookstore and read, with him snuggled up with me.

I'm excited about this summer because he can sit at my feet at any place with a patio. I spend most of my weekends in a really quaint, eclectic neighborhood with lots of outdoor patios that welcome dogs so we will be able to hang out together. Until then, we enjoy our home!

A Girl and her Grey

Day 1- He's here!

So, Giles is home. The adoption process is somewhat akin to adopting a baby, from what I'm told by those who've adopted a baby. So it's hearsay but still an arduous process whether dog or baby. But he's here.

We drove to pick him up, about a 22 minute car ride, according to the OnStar directions downloaded to the car. Of course this has been the mildest winter on RECORD until the night Gile's comes home and it's snowing,sleeting, icy, and the Weather Channel has us under a wind advisory along with a winter storm warning. So of course we're going for a 22 minute drive on the Interstate to pick up my 5 year old Greyhound. What else would one do in such weather?

He's been in foster care since April, minus 2 weeks he spent at another 'forever home' as we call it in the dog adoption game. Apparently their forever was 2 weeks in length since Giles killed their cat (but  that's a story for another post!). The foster people are really nice- obviously since they foster Greyhounds- and since we had met them- and Giles- before, we weren't surprised at his size or anything. They spent an hour going over all the paperwork with us, and rules, and the like. Then it was time to go!

We took him out the front door, on a leash, to get into a car. Two of those three things were new. First, he has always ridden in trucks or SUVs so my Chevy Cruze was an experience. Also, he had never used the front door at the foster home so that was interesting because of all the news smells and sights! Oh and he was on a leash with new people and his familiar humans stayed inside while we got him squared away. And did I mention is was snowing? Also something new, since he came from a track in the south... So many more than 2 new things!

But whew, we survived.

Mister drove the car and I sat in the back with Giles. He stood on my thighs most of the ride. Panting in my face. He weighs 69 pounds, of solid muscles, so standing on my thighs made an impression, which is still black and blue. He did fine on the drive, but was scared, which is completely understandable!

Upon arrival he walked really well to the apartment and just went inside. I talked nice to him the whole time and showed him around. He immediately flopped on the big pillow you see.

I sat on the floor and pet him for a few hours and we watched TV, then took a walk.

I attempted to convince and coax him into his crate for sleepy time but he was having none of it. He whined and cried so I let him out and he spent the first night, and all subsequent nights, on the pillow, on the floor, next me, beside the bed.

And that's the first day with my dog, Giles.

Licks and pants,
A girl and her grey