Saphyre and the Kong

We began giving Saphyre a Kong filled with food because she has to spend so much time quietly occupied in her crate. She is very intelligent and grows bored easily -- and then begins licking her paws repeatedly. So the Kong seemed like a great fit for her.
She was very quick to empty it of dry food, and didn't like peanut butter. But she found a light coating of split pea soup absolutely enchanting -- and it made things sticky enough to keep it a puzzle for awhile. She now LOVES the Kong!
We do have to keep the Kong confined to the crate, though. She gets way too active with it in an open room -- too active for a dog on heart worm treatment. She'll be great fun for a family once she can be be active. And we figure keeping the Kong as a crate only treat will help her time spent quiet pass a little better.

Such a good girl

For all of her antics, eagerness, and strength, Saphyre continues to be so genuinely driven to please she is a total joy. She is very well crate trained, and takes no urging to go in at all when asked to. She is quiet while in the crate and content; she will lick her paw repetedly if bored so needs her toys. She sits on command, although she has yet to learn to hold the sit. She has been sleeping out of her crate in our bedroom curled up on the rug beside the bed at night, so content and happy just to be near us, it is hard to believe she is the same circus dog when she first gets outside. But a simple "No" achieves such a contrite face -- if there is not a cat involved, it is easy to see what a loyal and good dog she truly is.

Be sure and check our video of her meeting Isaac this afternoon when he got home from school. It's all the way down at the bottom of the page.

Saphyre will be availbale for adoption at CCHS in another couple of weeks when she completes her heartworm treatment.

Saphyre the Circus Dog

So I took Saphyre out for her QUIET walk this afternoon. She opened my front door and drug me down the steps. She made about three laps around me jumping as high as my head, twisting corkscrews in midair, running to leap again, before I could get ahold of her. Someone needs to explain 'quiet' to Saphyre.

Saphyre doing well

We had Saphyre back at CCHS this afternoon for a check up. She is doing well, and we will just continue balancing giving her attention with keeping her quiet. It was very easy to see that Saphyre loves Heather! She is always friendly and affectionate, but when Heather walked in the room her joy knew no bounds.

Saphyre has arrived

Our new foster came home with us on Saturday when we returned Winston. Saphyre is a big girl -- and strong. She is being treated for heartworms right now, so she will be with us for about a month. And during that time she is to remain quiet, which is quite a task for this young happy dog. She is immediately ready to play and be petted by anyone, just your typical, happy, playful, tongue swinging dog!

Winston has a family

Good news this morning! We took Winston back to the Humane Society on Saturday -- and he has already been adopted. Yay for Winston and his new family. He is such a sweet boy; I know that he will be such a good addition to a family -- and will keep them laughing at his silly antics.

Thursday

We have all come down with sickness this week, so Winston's outings have shortened somewhat. But Isaac took him down to the ball diamond to play this morning -- you have to see his goofball antics in the video below! This is definitely a favorite past time of Winston's. Goofball craziness. He should be a comedian.

Monday

Winston has been playing with his kong and chew toys all morning, and is now all tuckered out dozing off to sleep at my feet. I couldn't resist and reached down to tickle his belly with one finger as his eyes dropped shut. And he stretches and rolls over farther on his back for a full belly rub -- and closes his eyes. Such a sweetie pie.

Saturday

Took Winston in for his check up today, and it looks like he will be staying with us another week. We are glad to have him, but know that the sooner he can find his Forever Family the better for him. But one more week to get a bit healthier is better for everyone.
Our family space is two adjoining rooms with a large open doorway between. Yesterday, Winston enjoyed laying on the cover layed for him in both rooms, wherever I was sitting. Today, Winston just lays at my feet -- forget the cover. Forever Family -- whoever you are -- you are one lucky family to have this devoted dog.

Be sure to check out the videos of Winston at the bottom of the page.

Thursday

It is hard to choose just one photo of Winston to put up for today. He has grown so at ease and playful. We call him Goofy, with his silly antics, twisting and jumping chasing his kong toy, or playing with his rope.
It is hard to show in a photo just how affectionate, Winston is, so I have posted a video at the bottom of the page. You can see how he loves -- and a bit of how silly he is.
Winston will be due to return to Champaign County Humane Society on Saturday. At the beginning of the week, I really doubted that one week would be sufficient for him to become confident enough to go up for adoption. But Winston will be very ready to meet his new family -- whoever they are -- and go home.