YIPPEE!! Buddy finally got some good news today!! I know we just did an update, but I just had to share!

Buddy's hips look GOOD! No surgery for this guy! In fact, our vet couldn't believe somebody would even suggest that he needed surgery! Although he may not have perfect, certifiable hips, she said that his hips and knees look good on X-ray and that his awkward gait may be from not enough muscle mass in his hind quarters. If you remember correctly, Buddy came from a farm originally where he was kept in a small outdoor run with little time for play and building up muscle. So, we are going to be starting Buddy on some supplements to increase the health of his joints and elasticity of his tendons and continuing to help him lose some pounds with long walks and plenty of playtime! There are, of course, no guarantees (with any dog) of what the future might hold, but for now, he is perfect just the way he is!

Buddy's practicing his smile for this weekend's PetCo event! Come on out and meet the boy of your dreams!

Happy Bud

Buddy arrived at his regular foster home on Friday night. He rode well in the back seat, standing up and looking out the windows the whole time, even though it was dark. I don't think he's been in the car very often, so every trip is new, and he loves to see new things.

He met the cats without a problem, at least from his side. My youngest doesn't like dogs, and hisses at them, from on top of the furniture. Everyone is settled down now. Buddy was nervous for the first two days, pacing around inside, not wanting to lay down. Today, he's relaxed and has decided he really likes laying down next to my bed, after he's taken all his toys into the bedroom with him, just to keep them safe.

He loves the stuffed woobies. My stash has been depleted over the last year, I keep sending them with my foster dogs to their forever homes. Buddy and I went to Petco yesterday morning, to let him pick out a few for himself. It was so cute to watch him sniff them all, then grab one and start walking down the aisle again. He did so well. He loved being petted by people, especially kids. He met my next door neighbor's grandchildren, and couldn't get enough petting from them. He hasn't jumped up at all, and he's learned that he gets petted when he comes up and sits next to you.

He hasn't had any accidents, and goes potty everytime we go outside. He has to go out on a cable, and he's adjusted to that really well. He knows "come", "sit" and "no". I think he's one of the smartest dogs I've ever been around. I have separate water for the cats, that I try (not always successfully) to keep the dogs out of. The first night, Buddy went towards it, and I said, "No" and showed him his water. He has never tried to drink the cat water again, even when he drained his own bowl. He started to lift his leg once, and I said no, he hasn't done that again either. I'm really impressed at how easily he adapts.

I've been crating him overnight, and when I'm gone. He goes into the crate easily, when I throw a treat in first. He paws a little bit, but settles down within a few minutes. I'm going to let him sleep in the bedroom tonight, instead of the crate, and see how he does.

He pulls a little bit on a leash, so we're going to start working with the Gentle Leader. He's competely up to date with all his vet work, so he's ready to go to his forever home. He'd love to have a fenced yard to run around in, and another dog to play with would be great. He'd love to have his own kids, but someone to give him all the attention he missed out on for the first part of his life is what he really needs.

If you think Buddy would be a perfect addition to your family, please e-mail placement at placementragom [dot] org to let them know that you're interested.