Peanut had quite the adventure on Thursday - we went to PetSmart! The first set of automatic doors scared her but her foster sister and I got her through them fairly easily. A couple walked through the second set of doors just as we were coming in and even though she was scared she let them pet her. When they walked out she looked at the second set of doors and into the store and started to back away. But again, with encouragement, she powered through her fear. We took a break to regroup off to the side of the doors once we were inside. The big towering shelves were pretty intimidating and I don't think she liked the floor very much. I think she realized that it must be a pretty cool place based on the energy she was sensing from her foster sister, so she stuck close to her as we made our way to the toy aisle. She took comfort from me when her foster sister left her to check something out. She smelled each of the toys I showed her and checked some out on her own. She took in all the sights and sounds and did extraordinarily well. She was too nervous to take the treat at the check out stand, but she wasn't too nervous to go through the automatic doors again so she could get back in the car.

Peanut did pretty much exactly what I anticipated. She was scared but followed her foster sister's lead. But she also now knows that she can trust me, so she took guidance from me as well. This was a HUGE step for her and it was kind of a test to see how far she has come. She passed with flying colors!!

Peanut ate a dog biscuit when we went through the drive thru at the bank! Up until now she's only eaten my relative's homemade dog treats when we're at their house or at home. She now takes treats from my hand so learning commands like sit might not be far away.

Peanut definitely has a lower activity level. I have figured out that half a mile is pretty much the limit for walking her. She enjoys being in the backyard at my relative's house and will trot around quite a bit but then she prefers to lie down in the shade and watch her foster sister do her thing. She enjoys playing with the "Fuzz Cuzz" balls we got at PetSmart, but is very meticulous with them. She gently bites down on it, pauses when she hears the squeek, then gently bites down again (the complete opposite of her foster sister who seemingly tries to see how many squeeks she can produce in each minute). However, she absolutely goes to town on her Nylabone. Before giving Peanut a new rope toy I always cut the lose strings off because she will eat whatever she can chew off. Once she chews the rope apart I throw it away, or if there's a toy attached, I cut it all off so she and her foster sister can still enjoy the toy part. She enjoys chewing so it's important to have toys that allow her to do that.

I'm so proud of Peanut's accomplishments over the last few months. All she needed was space to become comfortable in her new surroundings and patience to allow her to trust when she was ready to do so. She has been an absolute joy to have in my home.

All is very well in Peanut-land!

Peanut with her new toys

Waking up to Peanut

Peanut did AWESOME at her debut at the Animal Fair in Yankton, SD, last weekend! It was awe inspiring to see her receiving so much attention from everyone and soliciting for more! She was so relaxed there that she completely zonked out to the point of snoring at the beginning of the event. She loved all the attention from the ladies in the booth next to us, too!

Peanut has met several new people this last week and has approached all of them on her own. I always have the person squat or sit on the ground and let her come to them. I also teach them that with shy or scared dogs you should pet under the chin, not on the top of their head, and speak in a calm, quiet voice. Each time the person took a break from petting her, she would move in for more. But if they crowd her, are too noisy, move around too much, or reach over her head too soon she stays where she is. Everyone that she has met in the last four weeks just loves her.

New environments are still tricky sometimes. We went to the homes of three people last week and she only went inside after she watched her foster sister go through the door; my encouragement wasn't quite enough. Having another dog around her is absolutely essential. She needs to have a dog show her it's ok to go through this door, and this is where we eat, and this person is totally cool and she should let them pet her, etc.  

Early last week Peanut offered me her belly! I don't think she knows how monumental that is, but I sure do! After 4 weeks with me she is just like any other dog in their own home environment. She knows when it's time to eat, she drinks water whenever she wants, hangs out on the deck, naps on my bed/dog bed/couch/floor, plays with toys, chews on her nylabone, etc. Sometimes she follows me around and licks my hand so I'll pet her. She hops up on the couch and lays next to me when I'm reading. She watches me leave for work from the patio door and gets really excited when I come back home. She knows when I ask, "Wanna go outside girls?" that it's time to get her leash on and go outside for a bathroom break. And she hasn't had any accidents for over a week. She's a really great dog and a joy to have in my home.

If you are interested in Peanut and would like to find out more about her, please contact your adoption advisor. Remember, you must have a dog similar in size (similar age, and activity level would be best for Peanut as well), a physical fence (4 foot is just fine), and no children under age 10.

All is very well in Peanut-land!

Debut at Animal Fair in Yankton SD

Sound asleep at Animal Fair

Enjoying the outdoors

Loving the attention

Peanut's spay surgery was on Thursday. She did well through the surgery but had a pretty rough recovery for a few days. I'm happy to report she seems to be back to her normal self again!

Peanut has a slight fear of thunderstorms. She shakes and trembles but that's it. I honestly think it's the lightning she's scared of, not the thunder.

I'm still trying to gauge Peanut's reaction to my cat. She is very interested in him and follows him too quickly for the cat's liking (in other words, the cat thinks she's chasing him so he runs).

Peanut now sleeps with me on my bed... and takes up as much room as she pleases I assure you! And she snores - it's so cute!

In one of this week's pictures, it looks like my resident dog, the black Lab, is tickling Peanut and making Peanut laugh! You can almost hear Peaut saying, "Stop that! It tickles!" Even though that isn't what's happening, I thought it was cute enough to share. (I had just brought Peanut home from the Vet and my Lab was actually checking her over to make sure she was ok; Peanut was panting.)

I've expanded Peanut's new world by giving her access to my small enclosed deck. She is now confident enough in her safety and enjoys chillaxin' with or without her foster sister out there. Another big baby step! Awesome!

All is well again in Peanut-land! : )

Finally resting comfortably

Checking out the scenery

Hi Foster Mom!

Not feeling so well

Post surgery

Post op check by foster sister