Gorky's Adopted!

I'm super excited to announce that foster boy Gorky has found a new home! Our field trip to Seattle was to visit his new mom and see how the Gorkster handled city life.

Gorky was picked up as a stray in a rural farming community in Central CA. Here's a street view of the area he was found as a stray.

After that Gorky adjusted to suburban life while with us in foster care but now he's going to be a city boy, living in a highrise apartment and walking downtown. Lots of change but he's a very resilient boy who tends to go with the flow after a little adjustment time. His new mom loves to hike so he will get to spend some times on the trails as well, which he will love.

Congratulations to Gorky and his new mom. We can't wait to hear updates about how he's doing. He'll be with us for a few more days and then will head to his new home. Stay tuned for our next foster dog, the first new foster of 2015, to be introduced soon.

Field Trip

Gorky had an adventure in the city on Sunday and did great! While he was definitely a little nervous by all the new sights and sounds, he's a resilient little guy and before long his tail was up and his butt was wagging. Thanks to my fully loaded treat bag he decided this city stuff wasn't so bad.

Looking towards Seattle Center from the edge of downtown

We didn't overwhelm him too much. Just a little walk with lots of sniffing (and peeing on) street trees. A streetcar drove by, as well as a bicycle, a skateboard and a bus and he took it all in stride - watching them carefully and then regularly checking in with me to make sure this was all safe.

Checking out all the street trees

The only thing he found really scary was riding in an elevator, but who can blame him! I mean how weird is a room that moves?!

Making sure nothing tries to sneak up behind him

On our way back to the car we stopped so he could admire the landscaping and we could avoid a Shiba Inu that was walking past. While Gorky isn't really reactive to other dogs when he's on leash, he does get hyper-alert and intense so we kept more of a distance to help him learn another dog on a leash isn't a big deal. That will be important for his continued acclimation to leash walking - no face to face or up close greetings while he learns to relax. Then he can slowly work up to closer distances to the other leashed dogs. Unleashed, he is totally relaxed around other dogs but on a leash he's still working on feeling safe.

It was a great experience for him though. It's always good to expose dogs to a variety of environments, just making sure the exposure level isn't overwhelming and the overall experience is a positive one for the dog.

Couch Time

The couch is a favorite spot for the dogs to nap, no matter how many soft, cushy dog beds are lying about.So when we put a new, small sectional downstairs I should have known the dogs would quickly take it over.

Chima, Sal and Frodo, hanging out

The lower floor of our home is the rec room. Our television and computers are down there, books, games, and a whole walk-in closet full of dog stuff. We spend a lot of time in this comfortable, cozy room.

Gorky joins the mix and they all take a nap together

Recently we replaced the couch down there with a small sectional and I love reading or working on my laptop on the chaise section of the couch. Unfortunately the dogs have decided this is also THEIR favorite section and typically by the time I want to sit there it's covered in a mound of terriers.

Sleepy Gorky

The only way I get to sit on the chaise - with dogs lounging on my lap

I actually think I'm going to purchase a small ottoman for the other end of the couch so I still get to put my feet up when the dogs are hogging the chaise end. Of course, I could be the mean guy and kick them off, but who could really disturb such cuteness?

The Art of Thievery

Chima has long been known as the expert toy thief in our house. She does it without growling or intimidation, Instead she just moves closer and closer, waiting for the perfect moment to steal without confrontation. Well Chima had better watch out because there's another expert thief in town.

Last night after Chima and I got home from Nose Work class she was rolling around on the floor, happily playing with a bone. Slowly and with great strategy Gorky made his move. First nosing one end of the bone. Then slowing moving his paw down the bone to the end closest to Chima and then scooting the bone carefully towards him. Chima watched the whole thing and while she was a little too still for my liking during the bone coup, Gorky managed to get the bone without a single snark from Chima.

Chima, enjoying her bone

Of course once he had it he decided it wasn't nearly as interesting as Chima was making it seem and he let her have it and went off to look for something more interesting, like a Nylabone or squeakie toy.

Gorky, starting to make his move

Moving his paw down the bone carefully - the most dangerous part since his paw is close to her mouth

Starting to get some distance between Chima and the bone. Watch out Gorky, Chima is awfully still. Not a good sign.

Short Boys Get More Toys

Gorky is short. I mean, really, really short. It doesn't slow him down any though and his bowed little legs can run like the wind.

He's long known that if he tucks his head he can run right underneath Chima but recently he learned a new skill - scooting under the couch. Why is this such a great skill? Well, it's twofold.

First, he can hide under there when he's wrestling with Chima. This gives him a break from the action but also allows for a strategic position where he can poke his head out and chew on her legs. It frustrates her to no end since only her head fits under there.

Coming out from under the couch after successfully chewing on Chima's legs and finding Frodo's favorite ball.

But secondly, and the reason he developed the "under the couch scoot" skill in the first place, is the toys. Anyone who has dogs knows that a couch holds some magnetic force that sucks dog toys beneath it. Once under there they tend to be forgotten for ages. Well Gorky discovered this treasure trove and when I don't see him, typically he is under the couch, chewing on a choice nlyabone or squeaky ball that he has found under there.

So while he can't climb a gate or jump up on a dining room table to steal treats like the other dogs in the house, he can hoard toys they lose under the couch which in his opinion is a talent worth having.

Gorky's First Puzzle

Because my dogs (and foster dogs) eat a mix of wet and dry, I don't pull out the food puzzles that often but I really should. Puzzles are a great way to put a dog's brain to work in a very positive way. For shy dogs as long as you start easy it is a great confidence booster since it is self rewarding to them and the person can be at a distance so they can turn off the anxiety for a bit and just enjoy themselves.

Gorky isn't a shy guy but he likes to keep busy and he really seemed to love the experience. His breakfast was served in "The Green". This is the large version but they make a smaller version that is better for small dogs. I just bought all my food puzzles before they came out with the smaller sizes, unfortunately.

Because I have about 10 plus different food puzzles, Gorky will have a lot more to try out in the future.

Bitey Face

Gorky and Chima love to play bitey face any time and any place. Unfortunately sometimes they like to play when the rest of us are wanting to relax. The other night they just couldn't stop. They were having way too much fun.

Later Gorky made the mistake of trying to clean Chima's ears for her (which Salinas loves and lets him do all the time. She took great offense and all the happy times of their game was immediately over. Fortunately Gorky immediately stopped and all was forgiven. He'll know next time not to mix the two up when he wants to clean some ears.

Couch time and Gorky is being careful to steer clear of Chima's ears.