petfinder Archive

GQ Doggie

Chad, the fit and burly owner of my gym has not stopped ribbing me about Willie’s size — a running joke that I have sacrificed or somehow compromised my masculinity by choosing a small dog.   And since it’s actually Chad’s job to challenge me, it seems natural that our conversations during my training sessions sometimes
Category: Dog

New Routine

    The sun is coming up, and though I’m am early riser, it is not my habit to leave the house at this hour – especially when it’s 27 degrees.  Still, here I am lacing up my shoes to go for another brisk, 30-minute pre-breakfast walk with my new dog.  That brown-eyed, ten-pound creature
Category: Dog

First Day Home

I don’t know quite what I expected from this first day with our new dog, but I certainly hadn’t expected it to feel quite this… peaceful.   This pup is calm and gentle and friendly; he leash-walked like a pro, he cooperated during his first sink bath, and he hasn’t made a peep yet – not
Category: Dog

“Gotcha” Day

Today’s the day Richard and I finally get to meet our new pup and bring him home.
Category: Dog

Things to Buy…

        Here’s a partial shopping list I brought with us to PetSmart the night before “Gotcha Day” – the day we were to pick up our new dog: • Crate with padded liner • Warming pad • Leash and harness (Tony says Voyager or Four Paws) • Fish oil (add to food?)
Category: Dog

Foster Mom

I spoke at length with Keri, our (almost) new pup’s foster mom and adoption coordinator in Louisiana.  Keri had lots of advice for me and had answers to all my questions.  I scrambled to take notes and keep up with her. “Now barking and whining is all about attention and it’s best to deal with
Category: Dog

Anticipation

After nearly two weeks on the road – some of it work, some of it pleasure – this morning Richard and I are departing Savannah and heading for home. Bubbles began his journey home today, too; I check my watch and imagine that by now Rescue Road Trips has picked up from Keri, his “foster
Category: Dog

Frog Dog

Finally inside PetSmart for the first time ever, I take in the vastness of the store; aisle upon aisle of food and collars and bowls and toys; the “end caps” display grooming supplies, training videos, travel crates and other pet essentials.   The sales floor is loaded with sales associates in blue polo shirts – seemingly
Category: Dog

PetSmart

“PetSmart is like Home Depot for pets,” my friend Hannah says as she pulls into a parking spot outside the giant store.  I have never before set foot inside a PetSmart, and my heart rate quickens as I see people walking in and out of the store with their dogs on leashes.  Even better, today
Category: Dog

Size Matters

I don’t have a clear idea of Bubbles’ size – a sense of just how large or small he actually is, how much room he will take up in my lap or on the seat beside me.  I’ve visited Bubbles’ web page a dozen times to study his three photos, but while they give me
Category: Dog