‘Post-puppies’ Sara

After being the best and most fabulous mom to 4 beautiful baby schnauzers, Sara came back to Bob and Dianne’s to relax and learn yet more about the good life… one that is not in a puppy mill!

To all who have followed her progress, it has been amazing… from a terrified little dog who would flee if anything moved or a leaf blew by to a happy little dog. She is 98% house-trained… She has not had one accident here, following our regular schedule. However, we do not leave any of our dogs unsupervised in the house, so that is the 98% measure. Supervision and her own place. If we have to leave for an extended period, a pee-pad in the doggie room lets her do her job in a specific place.

Sara has developed her own personality… deciding what she likes and what she doesn’t. She has no trouble weaseling in on her fur-fosters for attention and petting. And she loves when I talk ‘silly talk’ to them all…tail and butt wagging away.

On her list of favorite things – bed-time at night. You should see her jump on our thick mattress bed. Then its cuddle and nibble time… nibble fingers, push her way right up to mom or dad, and snuggle up…
Food is also a good thing…. she is doing excellently on her chicken-rice dog food, BUT she knows all about begging for people food. A quick study from her fosters! Also big on her list is this big hunk of a pointer named Mort who lives outside. Man he is handsome, and so much more fun than the foster schnauzers here… they are quite tiresome actually, and are only good for pushing past when she wants attention or a treat! She does like to follow them outside and brother-Ben has shown her where the stripy-gophers live in the wood stack next to the garage… what excitement.

This might be TMI (too much information?) but unless mom and dad keep the bathroom door shut, that is the second most favorite visiting place for attention… do you think she knows she has a ‘captive audience?’

On the list of dislikes, is being picked up… probably because she was always grabbed by a leg or scruff, or around the chest to be hauled out of cages. We are working on that, and she is learning that sometimes a lift is a good thing. She is also at the ‘challenge’ phase of puppyhood where if they do not want to go to the dog room or outside if it is raining, they refuse. Sara either runs a path to the bedroom or crouches in a hunch, like she may have been abused in the puppy mill. We are working her through that with a leash and to have her come when called or come along when its time to do something she doesn’t want to.

Those two things will be part of her ‘continuing education’ here and at her forever home….

Here are pictures of Sweet Sara – enjoying the bed (she’s the small one in back) and being outside with the crew.