Pupdate: Hartley

We got a great update on little Hartley, adopted earlier in this year. She's doing wonderfully and loving her life with her new family. Enjoy these photos...

She absolutely loves to play fetch

And she's learned to pick her own blackberries - even learned to just pick ripe ones!

Kicking back on the couch

A cute, goofy face

Musical Dogs: An Update

There's been a few changes in the last 24 hours. Ends up that one of the California New Rattitude Foster parents has been looking for a Rat Terrier and is thinking that Cricket might be the one. So Cricket is going to stay in California and be fostered there instead of going to Oregon.

Then Hopper, who was going to be our foster boy is instead going to be fostered in Oregon. And just to make things a little more confusing, the transport got postponed a week so Skipper, Hopper and Seven won't be arriving until the night of the 25th.

Not having a foster dog (other than Sal) will be nice for our house since we will be dog sitting a very special dog for the next two weeks while her parents are on a vacation. Remember Hartley? I thought you did!

Hartley relaxing in her new home

When she was adopted her family was very conscientious and let us know about a special vacation they had planned that was happening in the near future. Because they seemed like such a perfect spot for Hartley we let them know that we'd be glad to have her visit for two weeks while they were out of town.

Another cute photo of Hartley in her new home

With Hopper going to Oregon that means we won't be so overloaded with dogs while Hartley is visiting. So it all worked out!

Adopted!

Hartley's adopted! Toady she joined her new family of a mom, dad, and a kitty sister. We are sure that Hartley will love not having to share her humans with other dogs and since she likes cats, she'll enjoy Bella the cat too.

We won't have to miss her for long though - her parents have had a big trip planned so Hartley will be back in two weeks for a two week stay so we'll get some more snuggle time with the sweet gal.

Snuggling...

Look who has relaxed around the other dogs!! When Hartley first arrived she was a bit growly with the other dogs, especially Chima. However, now after a few weeks she has relaxed and is doing great with them.

Chima came over and plopped herself down next to (and almost on top of) Hartley

HOWEVER: If I had not been so hypervigilant about watching their interactions together and had not regularly given all the dogs breaks from each other, I would not be posting this. If I hadn't been so careful initially there would have been regular snarking and fights. Those fights would reinforce for Hartley that other dogs are scary and need to be kept at a distance.

At first Hartley wasn't too sure about the arrangement but after making sure I was still close she laid back down and relaxed

Instead her experience has been that they aren't that bad. They like to run and play and she likes to run and play so she might as well join them. She's still a little growly when playing, but I've discovered that she is talkative when she plays so that kind of growling is okay.

Hartley (front) and Salinas: As long as Hartley is closest to me, she is okay with the other dogs snuggling up to her. 

So often people mess up the chances of their dogs getting along because they just dump them together and then expect them to be best of friends. It takes time to build a relationship - for humans and dogs alike - so we need to do our job as caretakers and make sure the journey to that relationship is a pleasant one.

Nubba-dubba-doo!

Hartley has the cutest little nub - so cute that I had to do a post all about it.

She has one of those especially short nubs and when she wags it her whole rear end wiggles. How cute is that?

Welcoming Hartley to the Pack

While there was the threat of rain today, so far it's been pretty dry so I took advantage of that and started working at introducing Hartley to the rest of the crew. She met Frodo last night and they were completely fine together but I know sometimes it can be a bit intimidating for new kids to meet "Thelma and Louise" aka Chima and Sal.

Hartley giving Sal a sniffdown

We started out meeting Salinas and that went pretty well. She's great with introductions as long as the dog doesn't try to hump her or spend too much time with their nose in her butt. Hartley did a bit of lip curling but we kept everyone moving and I weaved in and out between the two of them so there was never enough time for either to get offended at anything. Then it was back inside for a break.

Chima, Salinas and Frodo

About an hour later I let Hartley and Salinas out and then brought out Chima on a leash with a treat pouch at my waste to keep everyone's attention on me. Chima did really well and after a few minutes I let her off leash and then played a recall game with her to keep her calm and also to keep her from obsessing about Hartley. By playing this way she would get a short chance to sniff at Hartley but I would call her to me before there was time for Hartley to get worried and curl her lip. Chima would tear back to me, get reinforced for being such a good girl with a bit of jerky and then off she'd go back to her investigations.

Hartley

Salinas

We spent about 15-20 minutes this way and then everyone went back inside for some separated nap times so we could end things on a positive note before anyone had a chance to get overwhelmed and snippy.

Hartley is still a bit nervous but it's just her first day and she's had to meet 4 dogs AND have a bath so I can't blame her. 

I'm proud of them all. This was their first time meeting and we were able to get all the dogs out at the same time. Hartley stayed calm and was even able to relax enough to continue her tour of the back yard. In a few more days she should be all settled in and one of the pack.

Hartley's definitely a pretty girl

Introducing Hartley!

Ellsworth is heading to his new home this weekend so it's time to introduce our new foster dog. Please welcome Hartley to the New Rattitude Family!

Hartley

Hartley was found running with another stray near Kings Canyon National Park on a very busy highway. Tourists called the sheriff who quickly drove over to the location but one of the dogs, a shepherd breed, had already been hit by a car and killed. Hartley was still there though and was rescued by the sheriff.  When the owner wasn't found, New Rattitude was contacted about her.

Hartley is about 2-3 years of age and the guess on her weight is 17 pounds. She is a sweet, good natured mothering little dog and loves cats. In fact she was caring for a young kitten in her temporary foster home - cleaning and snuggling him. She is great with other dogs and sounds like an all around gem. We can't wait to meet this long legged beauty!

Getting a sniff from house dog Gracie at her temporary foster home

Hartley was named for the American Modernist painter and poet, Marsden Hartley. The landscape was his favorite painting subject and he was inspired by Cezanne along with the writings of Blake and Emerson.

Marsden Hartley

Painting, Number 5, 1914-1915

Landscape New Mexico, 1916-1920

Fisherman's Last Supper, 1940-1941