Physically, Buddy is all healed. Emotionally, he's doing better than I could have ever expected. With the help of other foster dogs Hooper, Brooks, Clem, Jack, Rusty and Clint, Buddy has learned to live peacefully with other dogs. What is truly amazing is that he is finally allowing strangers to come up to him - without trying to eat them.

Right now he is sharing his house with Clint (06-295) and Rusty (06-212). It's really fun to watch them head out into the yard together. First they all strike a similar pose as they powder their noses. Then, together, they track down cool smells. They're not the best hunters, though. Watching them hunt is like watching the Three Stooges. The other day all three surrounded a chipmunk hole trying to figure out how to get at the little squeaker. I sat on the steps laughing as the chipmunk watched them from another entrance to his tunnel about 10' away! Well, at least it keeps them out of trouble.

Buddy's attitude has improved so much that he sleeps and eats comfortably right next to the other dogs. Clint can still be a little fussy at times, but he's new and still learning to get along in a pack. The great thing is that Buddy's response is only enough to say "stuff it!" as he passes by. He no longer engages in macho-man stare-downs and growling matches.

Buddy's interaction with strangers is also improving in leaps and bounds. My new live-in attendant has a lot of visitors and Buddy has previously just tolerated them. Lately he's beginning to enjoy having them here.

He stays at my side off-leash as I go around the yard on pooh patrol. It's remarkable to think that a few months ago he would charge almost anything that came into his yard. If he gets distracted now it's only momentarily and can be called back with just a voice command. I remember when others said he'd never really be able to change! Way to go, Buddy!

He makes a great foot warmer during this hot weather when the air conditioner is running full tilt. He spends most of his time sleeping under my desk and lets me slide my feet under him where it's toasty warm.

The only sad news is that yesterday morning he was busy chewing on a bone for over an hour before I realized that it was everyone's favorite water bowl he was chewing on! I think he just needed reassurance that Clint wasn't taking over his spot as cutest dog in the pack. One bowl in 8 months isn't too bad, I guess.

Buddy smiles while Chili is brushed.The pack eats together.

Dust off your resumes! Lincoln Buddy is now ready to start interviewing candidates for his forever home. He is really becoming a wonderful little sweetie. He gets along great with the two resident cats, even helping the younger cat hunt for mice that sneak in from outside. Buddy says he would really like a quiet home with older people or, at least, without a baby or little grunions (big kids are probably okay). His rule is: you pull my body parts, I eat yours! He lives with two older, quiet cats and gets along great with them. Visitors are usually welcome, just make sure they wait to hug Buddy until he says it's okay!

LB enjoys being groomed. He doesn't even mind having his ears cleaned. He's still a bit twitchy when I trim his paws, but he tolerates it as long as fur is all I trim! His scratched eyeball is still bothering him. He's very cooperative when I squish the medicine in his eye. He's going back to the vet this week. Where's his muzzle?

LB didn't like me calling him "double wide" so he has decided to go on a diet. He is also finally getting some much-needed exercise from some wonderful friends who come over to walk him. They all report that he is easy to walk on a leash, but does like to walk at a brisk pace. LB loves the warmer weather and sure likes getting out of the stuffy house.

Buddy is responding well to commands now. When outside he can finally be called off when alerting to a stranger or another animal. His prey drive is still strong, but can usually be headed off if I distract him before his radar locks on to his target. He used to be like a heat-seeking missile.

Inside the house, Buddy removes his ninja outfit to reveal the sweetest dog. He's gentle with the cats, no longer goes after food on the counters, and sits politely by the kitchen door when I'm pretending I can cook. A "marrow bone" from the butcher is the only toy he wants. Expensive plush and squeaky toys bore him. Nothing better than a cheap date! In his months here he has never had a potty accident nor gotten sick in the house. He does not dumpster dive in the house, but does occasionally enjoy a tender treat from the litter box. He's very generous and is willing to share the cats' food with them. Most of his extra tonnage comes from the kitty meals he enjoys daily. The kitties are now fed in a separate room and Mr. Mouth has to be kept out until they've finished. He used to eat right next to Brooks (06-036) and never demonstrated any "resource guarding."

Hooper (06-129) will be joining Lincoln Buddy this week. He sounds like he'll be able to help Little Buddy continue his positive growth. Let's hope he survives the introductions!

Lincoln Buddy is a wonderful, sensitive little guy who will thrive in a quiet, loving home. I know that as time goes by he will continue to mellow into a huggable little moosh.

...and what's yours is mine!LB's favorite toys!When do I get a treat, Daddy?Mister, are you okay?

Little Buddy is finally getting a chance to enjoy life. He's more relaxed, eats slower and has fully accepted Brooks as a house partner. LB has calmed down beautifully and is now actually playing with Brooks. It's so cute; this little dog chasing after Moose, the big Golden! Big Moose grabs a stick or Frisbee, runs right at Buddy and then, once Buddy starts to chase him, runs around and around the yard. Brooks repeatedly lets Buddy get real close and then hits the throttle and zooms away! It's so wonderful to see them play and hear Buddy barking at Moose while he runs!

Buddy's eye was scratched in his play time with Sky two weeks ago. Buddy's vet gave us some goo to squirt into his bad eye four times each day. Buddy really enjoys that!

LB still sprouts his horns and fangs around certain dogs, but he is beginning to obey loud commands. It is still hard for him to disengage. He's getting much better when meeting people, but has been marked as "unavailable" until he can be trusted around people and other pets. I'm trying to get him to stop sharpening his teeth late at night. It is really quite annoying.

Snoozin' buddies

You may have noticed that Mr. L. Buddy is "not available." That's only because he has some "aggression issues" to deal with before he gets adopted. He had a wonderful family all picked out and then he went to the vet's the next day. After trying to eat some poor unsuspecting woman who stuck out her hand to pet him, he then screamed at a big boxer (no, a dog) and made the poor thing wet himself. After going two rounds with Buddy while the vet drew blood (with a syringe, not his fist!), I decided to get Buddy a straight jacket and some help.

Buddy and I had a frank discussion that evening and we both agreed the best thing was to consult RAGOM's wonderful animal behavioral consultant. She has recommended some work for the two of us to do together. Specifically, Buddy is to be introduced gradually to dogs and people out in public, away from his comfortable and safe surroundings at home. I hope he will eventually be able to meet a stranger without trying to eat him. As for me, Linda's got me trying to figure out those weird inkblots.

Since I don't have a vehicle (I borrow a friend's once a week to run errands) so we could frequently go out where there are strangers to hunt (oops, I mean visit), we're going to have to invite the strangers over here. Hopefully, we can arrange a bunch of play dates for Buddy so he can leave behind the nightmares of his days as a stray.

Sweet dreams, Lincoln Buddy!Please, no more photos.Buddy & Kula in backyard

Buddy has sure settled in well: he's relaxed around the cats and no longer reacts to them. In fact, he sleeps on the bed every night right next to both of them! He has even developed a real liking to their food.

Buddy will eat anything (!) and is just now slowing down when he eats. Poor thing probably still doesn't trust that there will be a next meal. On a positive note, he does no "counter surfing." Occasionally I let him join me in the kitchen while I do dishes or when it's time for a treat. He just needs to learn that he can't eat the cat's food - we're working on that now.

This little sweetheart is so gentle and quiet around me (and the cats now!). He is finally learning to play with other dogs, not eat them. He does much better with stronger, more assertive dogs who can stand their ground. I don't think he likes woosie little fraidy-cats! Maybe I just need to explain to him that his name is spelled B-u-d-d-y, not B-u-l-l-y!!

Bully (oops, Buddy) is truly settling in and relaxing here in his foster home. For the first time he is showing some protectivness of his turf. Anytime he hears a sound near or around his house, he blasts a warning. It's his fearsome "big dog" bark, meant to scare others away. This is no little-doggy yap; it's a full barrel-chested "woof." He sticks out his chest and marches from room to room looking for the intruder. As he walks into each room he comes up with a woof that should be coming out of a 90-lb Doberman. It's hard to believe that's coming out of his little body! The only other time he barks is when one of those "TV-dogs" makes a sound. He just can't quite figure out the relationship between the sound and the TV! Wanna come over and have some fun with him?

He has really bonded strongly with me over these three weeks. He follows me everywhere in the house in true Golden fashion. I bought him an expensive bed for the office floor, but he'd rather sleep curled around my feet. At first, he slept right on top of me, but now he has relaxed and chosen a spot on the other side of "our" new king-sized bed. He enjoys the fenced backyard and can entertain himself nicely until he gets cold (he's kinda woosie that way!). You should see him respond, though, when I go out and play with him. All I have to do is pretend to chase him and he just lights up. He'll tear around the yard for five long minutes , running straight at me and then veering off at the last moment. He needs someone who can play with him to bring out his best quality. Old fat guys like me get worn out pretty quickly! Every once in a while he actually picks up the frisbee after I throw it to him. We'll have to worry about "retrieving" it in a year or two.

One last note: I'm open to others' guesses, but I think he's a mix of Golden, German Shepard and either a Beagle or Bassett Hound. He's sorta like a canine platypus. His face is Golden, his fur and coloring on his body tends to be Shepard and his mannerisms (stubbornness and sniffing!) and voice seem to be that of a Beagle/Bassett hound. That must have been one wild party his mother went to!

Saw LB today.....he was out in his run so I took Nala out first. When I got back there was old LB just barking and wagging his tail when he saw me (I think he smiled). So off to the arena for some play time and lotza scritching, scratching, belly rubbing and just plain loving. We ran around inside for awhile and then took him out. There was a little patch of grass outside and LB nibbled on it, what little he could get, and I thought how different it must be to not be able to feel the grass, run in it and eat it when you feel like it :( So I let him take his time and then he did his business and we went back in for some quiet time. I always feel sad when I have to leave him :( But as our other troops find Forever Golden Homes, LB will be able to go to a foster home to get ready for his forever home. He doesn't need or probably even want another dog in the family, and for sure no small kids. He just wants to hang out with you and be loved....like we all do.

I'll be gone for a couple days but one of the other volunteers will see him and Nala this weekend. Unlike Nala, LB seemed excited about the prospect of meeting someone new and having a visitor. Since LB and Nala don't care much for each other, I always take them out separately. The girls at Sam & Danni's are very friendly and will show you where to go.

Keep watching for updates on this Gentleman, even if they aren't exciting, I know you will want to know when he gets his own Foster Home.

LB's ad hoc Foster Mom