Not Just Another Pretty Face

While Lizzy is about as beautiful a little terrier as you can find, a lot more than looks needs to be considered when shopping around for a dog. I always am a bit concerned when I have such a gorgeous, young, female foster dog because it brings out in a lot of applicants who are so focused on looks that they gloss over the realities of living with a high energy dog.

My plan for the morning - newspaper and coffee on the deck listening to the birds. Lizzy's plan - standing on my newspaper, drinking my coffee and barking at the birds

Don't get me wrong - Lizzy is a very nice little dog. While her constant movement can annoy other dogs, she is pretty respectful for a dog her age. But think of a stereotype of a terrier and you pretty much have a description of Lizzy. She is very smart and with a double dose of energy and wants her brain engaged at all times when she is awake. That means if you aren't watching and making sure she has lots of appropriate play options she will make up her own fun - carrying your shoes out into the yard to throw around, chewing on a pillow after she wrestles with it a bit, barking loudly and 

frenetically at the birds coming to the bird feeder. 

Lizzy wants to experience everything. Here she is sniffing a pot of seedlings before stepping in and munching on cilantro seedlings. 

She is also what we terrier lovers like to call a drivey dog. To many this intense need to move, move, move and hunt, hunt, hunt is a negative. To someone who loves to participate in dog sports with their dogs it is a sought after trait. And to successfully live with a drivey dog means their family spends a lot of time making sure that dog gets a ton of exercise and lots of brain engaging toys and activities. It's time consuming and necessary. For a terrier lover this time is a blast but for your average family it is a chore.

Octopus wrestling

Lizzy is not the cute house dog who peacefully naps while you are at work and then comes to snuggle with you on the couch when you get home. She is not the dog who can be left in the back yard unattended either. Lizzy is pure athlete in a beautiful long legged, lean, teenage puppy body who is confident and doesn't mind speaking her mind. She is a dream dog for terrier lovers. She is a nightmare dog for people just looking for a cute spotted dog with adorable floppy ears to keep them company while they watch TV. 

Wanting to go outside again and play with the flirt pole toy after she played so hard she made herself vomit after drinking water.

Pausing for a short moment on the couch to see if I was done with my email yet.

Personally, being one of those slightly masochistic terrier lovers I think she is wonderful and she keeps me both laughing and swearing on a regular basis.