When Jenny arrived she came with a monogrammed blanket and an assortment of stuffed toys. Jenny loves her stuffed toys and inherited another bunch of stuffed toys when she got here. Jenny always greets you with a nice toy in her mouth and she expects to get paid in cookies. She was always polite and well behaved, a real lady. Well a real lady until she might have to go squirley over something.
For a while after her arrival she would ask permission to get on each piece of furniture that she thought might be comfy - the couch, my reading chair, the loveseat. On her first night I had bought a new dog bed for her and put it in the corner of the bedroom. When it was time to go to bed I showed it to her. She looked at it. I got into the bed and then she gave me that "May I?" look and jumped up on the bed, settled herself into the middle on the bottom and that's been the routine ever since. In the morning she waits until she's told or invited to get off the bed.
It was a very different experience getting an adult, already trained dog. A good experience, but I had to figure out what she knew. She acted like she had been trained and seemed to know all the typical obedience commands. Well, the few that were familiar to me anyway. Actually she knew more than me.
When I had talked to the woman at the rescue organization she told me how she used one of her dogs as a therapy dog and that it was a rewarding thing to do. It made me think that maybe Jenny could do that too. She was already pretty well trained and had a great temperament. So, I started to research what I needed to do. Besides, we were so lucky to get her we should share our good fortune with the world.
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Mini
When Jenny came to live with us Mini was nearing the fourth month of treatment for her non-functional kidneys.
Kidney failure was not something I was familiar with. It was always a bad sign when Mini refused food. Mini loved food and would eat everything in sight, keeping our floor completely crumb free! It was unbelievable that she would become so finicky an eater. I would fix her some food and offer it to her and she would turn away. Every brand of ready made special kidney diet food available was offered to her and she would sometimes try it for one day then refuse. Then there were the recipes and then there were the crazy things I'd just try for the heck of it. She really liked creme of wheat with maple syrup for awhile. Then there was the cheerios faze. Anything that she could get down and keep down was great.
Every day she would cheerfully go to the vets for subcutaneous fluids and as long as her little tail was wagging I thought she could keep on wagging. We very much lived in the moment.
By the time Jenny arrived, Mini's health was quickly declining and sadly she was starting to suffer too much. Her life was too short, only 9 years and in spite of all that was wrong with her - she was completely deaf, had hip dysplasia, a bad spaying that caused severe infections when she was a puppy and finally kidney disease - she was the happiest and most beautiful dog we ever had. Just two weeks after getting Jenny, I held Mini as she wagged her tail for the last time. Now we would have Jenny who we had a late start with, so I guess it all evens out somehow.
Jenny is my light at the end of the tunnel. She seemed to be Jintsy's light too. Jintsy, our nearly 16 year old beagle, immediately became more attached to Jenny. It seemed that she thought our other springer Missy had finally returned. Jintsy was sure that Missy, our springer, was her mother and that she too was a springer spaniel. Beagles are silly.
Kidney failure was not something I was familiar with. It was always a bad sign when Mini refused food. Mini loved food and would eat everything in sight, keeping our floor completely crumb free! It was unbelievable that she would become so finicky an eater. I would fix her some food and offer it to her and she would turn away. Every brand of ready made special kidney diet food available was offered to her and she would sometimes try it for one day then refuse. Then there were the recipes and then there were the crazy things I'd just try for the heck of it. She really liked creme of wheat with maple syrup for awhile. Then there was the cheerios faze. Anything that she could get down and keep down was great.
Every day she would cheerfully go to the vets for subcutaneous fluids and as long as her little tail was wagging I thought she could keep on wagging. We very much lived in the moment.
By the time Jenny arrived, Mini's health was quickly declining and sadly she was starting to suffer too much. Her life was too short, only 9 years and in spite of all that was wrong with her - she was completely deaf, had hip dysplasia, a bad spaying that caused severe infections when she was a puppy and finally kidney disease - she was the happiest and most beautiful dog we ever had. Just two weeks after getting Jenny, I held Mini as she wagged her tail for the last time. Now we would have Jenny who we had a late start with, so I guess it all evens out somehow.
Jenny is my light at the end of the tunnel. She seemed to be Jintsy's light too. Jintsy, our nearly 16 year old beagle, immediately became more attached to Jenny. It seemed that she thought our other springer Missy had finally returned. Jintsy was sure that Missy, our springer, was her mother and that she too was a springer spaniel. Beagles are silly.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Welcoming Jenny
Jenny was well received by all. Since she was quite overweight, I regulated her food to the amount she should get if she were her ideal weight and started walking her twice a day around the neighborhood. The pounds started melting away!
One of the first people I wanted her to meet was Karen who owns a wonderful springer named Duke. The most unbelievable thing happened - she told me that she had actually seen Jenny too and was considering adopting her! See? Jenny was going to be in my life no matter what! Of course Jenny and Duke are fiancee's (they don't know they're neutered.). I'll add a picture of them soon.
Jenny likes everyone she meets and had such a great temperament that I started thinking about getting her involved in some kind of therapy dog work. She continued talking about everything and to everyone she met. She especially loved children.
Some time ago I had considered training Mini to be a therapy dog, even though I didn't know what that might involve, but she was a dog with many problems herself. Sweet as she was, she would never be a therapy dog.
Jenny, however, seemed like a perfect candidate.
One of the first people I wanted her to meet was Karen who owns a wonderful springer named Duke. The most unbelievable thing happened - she told me that she had actually seen Jenny too and was considering adopting her! See? Jenny was going to be in my life no matter what! Of course Jenny and Duke are fiancee's (they don't know they're neutered.). I'll add a picture of them soon.
Jenny likes everyone she meets and had such a great temperament that I started thinking about getting her involved in some kind of therapy dog work. She continued talking about everything and to everyone she met. She especially loved children.
Some time ago I had considered training Mini to be a therapy dog, even though I didn't know what that might involve, but she was a dog with many problems herself. Sweet as she was, she would never be a therapy dog.
Jenny, however, seemed like a perfect candidate.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Home at Last
Finally we were approved and told that now we could contact foster parents and arrange for meetings and adoption. We could adopt more than one springer if we wanted!
Jenny's foster dad was contacted immediately and we talked for awhile then made plans for me to pick her up. He was concerned that I'd be alone, that maybe my husband would not want Jenny after meeting her but I assured him that that wasn't an option. We wanted Jenny no matter what. He forewarned me that Jenny was overweight. He wasn't the first person to say that about Jenny. In fact, there seemed to be some confusion about how she got that heavy. No problem, we'd work on that when we get her home.
Our first meeting was sweet. When I entered the house she was staying at, her foster dad said something like "this is Jenny" and Jenny came up to me slowly and stood up and gave me a kiss - so she knew she was mine right away. Now, she didn't have any trouble reaching my face for that kiss and although she was definitely too heavy, she was the sweetest girl. She also had no trouble jumping into the car for the ride home, so she had some energy and springer strength. It looked like she was just not getting any exercise and maybe way too much food from the table. Luckily her records came with her and that really seemed to be the case. Jenny waited patiently while I signed all the papers, promising to love, honor and obey Jenny forever. As we left the foster dad said - "Oh, she makes some noises."
She made some noises all the way home. Sort of talkative, not actually whiney and not barking, just commenting on everything.
When Jenny came into the house she was greeted by Jintsy, the elder, who proceeded to tell her about a couple of things in her beagle voice and then Jenny was accepted. Mini, who was deaf, had to be woken, but also accepted Jenny immediately.
Jenny's foster dad was contacted immediately and we talked for awhile then made plans for me to pick her up. He was concerned that I'd be alone, that maybe my husband would not want Jenny after meeting her but I assured him that that wasn't an option. We wanted Jenny no matter what. He forewarned me that Jenny was overweight. He wasn't the first person to say that about Jenny. In fact, there seemed to be some confusion about how she got that heavy. No problem, we'd work on that when we get her home.
Our first meeting was sweet. When I entered the house she was staying at, her foster dad said something like "this is Jenny" and Jenny came up to me slowly and stood up and gave me a kiss - so she knew she was mine right away. Now, she didn't have any trouble reaching my face for that kiss and although she was definitely too heavy, she was the sweetest girl. She also had no trouble jumping into the car for the ride home, so she had some energy and springer strength. It looked like she was just not getting any exercise and maybe way too much food from the table. Luckily her records came with her and that really seemed to be the case. Jenny waited patiently while I signed all the papers, promising to love, honor and obey Jenny forever. As we left the foster dad said - "Oh, she makes some noises."
She made some noises all the way home. Sort of talkative, not actually whiney and not barking, just commenting on everything.
When Jenny came into the house she was greeted by Jintsy, the elder, who proceeded to tell her about a couple of things in her beagle voice and then Jenny was accepted. Mini, who was deaf, had to be woken, but also accepted Jenny immediately.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Approval Angst
That bookmark for the springer spaniel rescue site had been there for years and I was a regular visitor. It didn't occur to me that I could fill out the application, get approved and then just wait until I saw the springer of my dreams. So when Jenny popped up it was disturbing to find out she might actually go to someone else.
The process involves forms, interviews, feedback from your vet and sometimes a home visit. The telephone interview was actually enjoyable and the person that called was very friendly. We talked about dogs until the cows came home! She told me that since we were in a remote area, I could just send in photos of our home and yard where the dog would be hanging out. We went back and forth several times trying to get the vet's form sent in and finally everything was all together. The results then went on to someone in Springer HQ for approval.
In the meantime, Jenny was moved to another foster home, farther away.
The process involves forms, interviews, feedback from your vet and sometimes a home visit. The telephone interview was actually enjoyable and the person that called was very friendly. We talked about dogs until the cows came home! She told me that since we were in a remote area, I could just send in photos of our home and yard where the dog would be hanging out. We went back and forth several times trying to get the vet's form sent in and finally everything was all together. The results then went on to someone in Springer HQ for approval.
In the meantime, Jenny was moved to another foster home, farther away.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Jenny's Story
Honestly I don't know Jenny's whole story. We met online, so at least she's a high tech dog.
One night I was web surfing, looking for papillon breeders. Our English Cocker, Mini, was deathly ill with kidney failure and our little beagle, Jintsy, who was creeping up to the age of 15 was going to have a tough time with separation anxiety for the second time in her life. It was time to add to our pack.
Some wild compunction within made me go to the English Springer Spaniel rescue site and there was Jenny, it was love at first sight - my new BFF - and I just had to have her. The story that was posted with her pictures was that her owners had to give her up because they couldn't take care of her any more due to their own health issues. Although this made me sad, I was also happy that we could give her a home and we needed her as much as she needed us.
We had had two other springers, Max and Missy, and totally loved them both. This would be the first time we adopted an adult dog. It's odd that we never did that before and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about adopting an adult dog.
Before even telling my husband about Jenny I contacted the foster parent and filled out the application forms. Shortly after telling my husband, I found out that the process wasn't going to be nearly as fast as I wanted and there was no guarantee that we would get Jenny. We both had our hearts set on getting Jenny.
One night I was web surfing, looking for papillon breeders. Our English Cocker, Mini, was deathly ill with kidney failure and our little beagle, Jintsy, who was creeping up to the age of 15 was going to have a tough time with separation anxiety for the second time in her life. It was time to add to our pack.
Some wild compunction within made me go to the English Springer Spaniel rescue site and there was Jenny, it was love at first sight - my new BFF - and I just had to have her. The story that was posted with her pictures was that her owners had to give her up because they couldn't take care of her any more due to their own health issues. Although this made me sad, I was also happy that we could give her a home and we needed her as much as she needed us.
We had had two other springers, Max and Missy, and totally loved them both. This would be the first time we adopted an adult dog. It's odd that we never did that before and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about adopting an adult dog.
Before even telling my husband about Jenny I contacted the foster parent and filled out the application forms. Shortly after telling my husband, I found out that the process wasn't going to be nearly as fast as I wanted and there was no guarantee that we would get Jenny. We both had our hearts set on getting Jenny.
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