RattieFest 2013 Fun!

Rattiefest was fun... And while sometime Sissy was a little nervous, for the most part she had fun, got lots of attention and lots of cuddles... I carried her around a bit in a front backpack which she really enjoyed... Now she is hard asleep....Busy day for her for sure!

We took her the 'bobbing for hotdogs' game which she was a natural! 

Lots of fun things to sniff in the dog park!

quick butt sniffs to say hi

always good smells in the grass!

ahh..airplane ears!

 Lots of adopters came and it was good to see them all.. I didn't manage to get pictures of everyone (Sharkey and Mina :( ), but everyone looked great and looked like they were having so much fun!

Aela (Sidney) sure has grown up!  She was adopted in January.  Inquisitive and active, I hear she has new found love of tennis shoes!  Hopefully that won't last long!

 Jake (Sammy) was in his element - he was busy checking on and playing with all the other dogs... From the look of him now, it's hard to believe he was this scared, sick and dirty dog that I first fostered..Now it's been nearly a year with his new people and he is doing great!

 Skittles... He is just a darling... He also won the Biggest Loser NW Rattie Edition which is super for him!  He also did great with all the people and dogs around... He's learning things are not so scary and he doesn't have to bark at everything thanks to the work him and his mom do!!

Solo (Shorty) came too - he sure has grown up from when he was adopted in December!  He looks great and filled out.. He loves his people and really settled in fast with them.  He also had a blast in the dog corral and even let me throw his frisbee a few times for him!

A busy and fun event - it was good weather and I know a lot of dogs that are sleeping well tonight!  (and people too!)  Lots of money was raised for the transportation fund and the medical fund for our PNW dogs which is super and lots of people won great amazing things at the raffle too (myself included!).  For me and Cassie, it was great to see so many people that we don't normally get to see, living far away over Eastern Washington. 

See ya next year!

Shorty Update

Shorty, now Solo, is growing up!  Shorty was with me just for about 2 weeks in December and got himself a new family just in time for Christmas...

He's doing great... Top Dog in obedience class, part of the Greenwood Rat Pack, he has quickly become part of their family.  He is even getting the cat to love him (like anyone could resist him!).  I'm so happy for him and wish him a great life that he so richly deserves!

Beautiful Boy!

I'm sure he didn't do it.. just pointing it out...

Lookin' Good...

Skittles - looking all seasonal and handsome... and those ears are kind of up - or out... for him at least!

Shorty (on the left) part of the Greenwood rat pack and NR alums... 

Shorty feeling handsome in his harness...

Up and Away...

Look at this... A sorta up ear... She's laying down, but still... those ears must feel better!  I'm pretty sure she will always have dropped ears, but this was a new sight last night and she did it a few times in her sleep.... plus once it lifted while she was playing too... it's just the left ear going up....for now....

She also is starting to cozy up to my daughter Cassie - took a nap with her and played with her and being a little more trusting...   And tonight when I got home... it was all little jumps, wiggles and spins, she was so happy to see me.  I think she enjoys cleaned up ears!    

We having practiced sit and she's a pro at it so we will be moving on to new things.  I've also been playing with some different toys with her... She liked to chew on things... so I'm going to work on finding her a toy that she really likes.  She watches Sasha play fetch but doesn't really know what do to but I think she would really like it and she does enjoy the occasional taste test of a tennis ball which is a plus for fetching I think.

updates!

My last three fosters are doing great as they settle in with their new family.  Skittles visited family with his mom and did great in the new surroundings...  Shorty (Solo) is getting acquainted with his family and new routine and gets to go walking and visiting Mingus and they are good friends.  Jake (Sammy) got spoiled at Christmas with lots of toys and clothes and the presents aren't stopping there... I hear he's got another present coming for the new year!  A fur Sister for Jake!

Skittles or as I think he should be named - Skittleclaus!

Here is Shorty now Solo with NR alum Mingus - bffs?

Dapper Jake (formally Sammy) looking as handsome as ever!

I wish for all my former foster dogs the bestest holidays and 2013 and onward.   How different their lives are now they have their families and are safe, sound. and loved.. Best present a New Rattitude foster mom could have! 

An Early Christmas for Shorty!

Wonderful news... Shorty has been adopted!   So now I know why he came to me with the name Shorty... it's cause his stay with me was short!  

He's going to be living it up with a great family on the westside and will have two human brothers that he will have so much fun playing with and even a cat to hang out with too!   He has a great life ahead of him (and I hear some obedience school too )... His stay with us was brief, but we are happy to be part of his journey to finally finding his family! 

My next little rescue is a little 10 lb tri-color rattie we have named Silver - she will be here on Saturday!

Show Me Those Pearly Whites!

So Shorty is all back to normal after his cookie dough adventure and onto new adventures...

Look how happy he is!!!  Okay, that was really just Cassie messing with him, but look at those cute little teeth! 

He's also starting to sit for me... So it took a bit for him to get it, but I'm hoping now that he's figure out sit - he will be a sitting champ in the next day or two and we can start teaching him new things!

supervising while I make a blog post... he's kind of stalkery don't you think?

 We've also found that he likes to have his crate covered... I have him in a wire crate and he sleeps better with it covered and doesn't even mind if you get up during the night and stays sleeping even... He doesn't even try to pull in the blanket or mess with it anyway.  I think he likes it dark and cozy. 

Shorty and Cookie dough

This is Shorty eating some yummy frozen pumpkin..... Pumpkin I actually grew this summer, so YUMM!.

Why is Shorty eating pumpkin?  Huh... He helped himself to some cookie dough last night (ahem... Cassie) that was set down in the living room and it hasn't agreed with him.. He let me know a few times last night that he needed to go out... He's never cried in his crate so when he did at 4 in the morning for a potty break and again at 6, I knew he was having some issues.. Poor thing... but some time, trips outside and pumpkiny goodness should put him straight again.  And keeping goodies up high and out the way too!  Cause he is fast into getting into food he shouldn't! :)

Feeling better, Shorty grabbed the prized purple toy he stole from Sasha and settled down for some gnaws and chews... He really uses his paws to grab onto things - like a monkey almost!  They can really grab onto toys, sticks, your leg...   It's cute but keeping his nails short is a must! 

Shorty Shines

Cute little Shorty - he's really learning to trust us and finally staying still enough to get some cute pictures!  He also is letting me rub his belly on a regular basis with no worries.  He loves to play and is learning the joy of defuzzing tennis balls (way better for him and less messier than the paper towel roll he found a few days ago) and also likes those no stuffing toys.  Not a huge fan of the squeakers but doesn't dislike them either...   He is showing himself to be trustworthy in the house and potties outside with the doggie door and doesn't even come begging for treats (though he gets them anyway!) He wishes Sasha would play with him and tries maybe once a day but so far, no go.  They do hang out together and sniff things in the backyard though....

  Here Shorty is saying hello to our cat Sasha... She prefers to say hi and leave me alone sideways!

 Snuggles with Cassie!  He loves to give kisses!

Shorty Sweetness

How can you just not love this little face?  Shorty is quickly becoming comfortable in the house... We found that he is a great jumper and can easily jump the baby gate into my daughter's room where our cat spends more of her time... however, he doesn't bother her and just mainly wants to check things out.. oh and he can't jump back out and cries to be let out...

He is also using the doggie door on his own... I didn't housetrain him at all - he kind of figured it out on his own and or came with some housetraining... I do take him out on regular breaks but he goes in and out a few times as needed... Wonderful!

He is kind of crazy with the leash walking... Does some spins and is worried that you are not with him... treats are a must when walking to keep him focused... He worries about cars (part of our walks are on a busy street) but he is getting used to the noise and activity and gets better and better!

I love this picture of me and Shorty playing with a toy!

Saturday Shopping

Shorty had himself a busy Saturday!   We ran him all over town.... First, he did great in the car and crate... quiet as a peep.  He met a couple of other dogs that Cassie is watching and while a little nervous about their enthusiastic greetings - did great...

Took him to our indie pet store... Pet Pantry and he did great there too... checking it out, no marking, accepted a few treats from the owner...such a gentleman... I got him an antler to keep him busy while we went on with the car rides...  We too, decided to up it the exposure a bit and took him to a bigger petstore... First... He didn't like the cart!  But  once we got down, he was a happy little dog, accepted some pets from strangers and was just as behaved...

Our last stop?  Christmas tree shopping!  Again, I was a little nervous, didn't want him to try to mark any of the trees, but he didn't even try...too busy enjoying all the pine smells and exploring... When we got our tree home, he did taste test it, but I think it was not to his liking as he hasn't been back for another taste...

I did find out what Shorty doesn't like... BATHS!  (Cassie bathed him last week when I wasn't here).  He is so scared of them... Whines, shrieks and squirms...My dog Sasha even came in to watch the fuss.  I lathered him up really well and he calmed, but then the rinsing off part came and there we went again... Poor little guy... However, he loved the drying off part and now he is so soft and smells so good... I think it was worth it but I'm sure he has a different opinion!

Nom Nom Nom

Shorty got himself a bully stick last night and was in HEAVEN!  He gnawed away and when he just had a nub left, took it out the doggie door... I went to spy on him cause I was so excited that he used the doggie door by himself.. Did he go potty?  No - but he went into my now defunct garden and buried his used up stick.  He came back in the house, all so proud of himself! 

Lemme Sleep!

Shorty is very playful... though he can be mellow too - so he kind of alternates between being busy and being sleepy... As we get his scheduled more into my schedule of things, I'm sure we will see some evening out...  Loves to play and knows had to play by himself too.  He's doing great with my dog Sasha and learning the do's and don't of Sasha's rules with little fuss.  He uses the doggie door too with no issues and will go out on his own but needs scheduled potty breaks so we can get him reliably housetrained.  Does great in the crate too and sleeps in there at night without a peep.  Quiet too when I get home so I'm able to greet my dog and get their dinner ready which is really nice.... He is a puppy, a little undisplined but very sweet and affectionate... We are working on sit with him and I'm sure the lightbulb is about to go on any second now, cause he loves getting treats!

 What is that staring at me?   I'm not sure I should sleep....

 but I'm soooo tired....  but you are still looking at me.....

Can't care anymore... MUST SLEEP!