Hello Tammy fans!

Where do I begin on the pure adorableness that Tammy brings to my home? Lately I see her coming out of her shell exponentially and just doing the cutest things. It’s all the nuances that are so sweet.

Tammy celebrated her 7th Birthday on 8/24 with her pals. It was FMs birthday too and I think in dog years we might be pretty close in age! She had a blast having treats, hanging with her friends and watching the squirrels and bunnies.

Mealtime was one of her first challenges when I got her 3months ago. She went from not eating at first, to cautiously eating only if I was beside her and rubbing her back, to enticing her first with a couple of bites from my hand first. Now, I put the food down, she gets up on her feet, walks to the bowl and eats. I can move about and she just keeps on eating and get this: she ate al fresco (outside) yesterday with NO hesitation. Oh my goodness. She also is becoming very treat motivated (for training!). She ALWAYS sits very nicely while she waits for her treat.

Speaking of food, I haven’t updated you on her weight. We finally weighed her again since her first weigh in 3 months ago at 72 lbs. Now she is a petite 58 lbs! Wow, 14 pound sounds like a lot for a little gal to lose, but I think a lot of it was baby weight and her hanging tummy. Now she is toned up, eating right and getting exercise. She is at a good weight for her and is just darling.

Tammy continues to love her luvin’. She seems to be very comfortable going to any human, male or female who will love and adore her. She is also becoming very curious and will take a look around a new area and check things out. One of her favorite pastimes is hanging out in the yard with her gal pal Libby watching for bunnies and squirrels. She does like to chase them in the yard, but she will not do it if we are out and about as she doesn’t want to be far from her pack.

Tammy continues to do well on the leash and does not pull. She loves going for car rides, rides quietly and takes her half of the seat out of the middle so she is usually laying underneath FB Murphy as he stands over her. We have had a number of thunderstorms and she does not react. Last night, as usual she just slept (and sometimes snores) right through it. Yay on no storm-anxiety!

Tammy will be at our Goldzilla event on September 18th! Come and meet her and our other special fosters too!

Below are pictures of Tammy doing her favorites things: Hanging out with her people and pals, going for walks, watching for bunnies and squirrels, rolling in the grass, practicing her retrieving skills and cooling off in the water.

Hello Tammy fans!

Where do I begin on how sweet and loving this girl is. She has come so far in the 2+ months I have had her. I am so proud of her!

I took Tammy and my resident dog to Nebraska with me for the whole week due to family urgency. In spite of all the unfamiliarity and change in routine she has been an angel. We're staying at my mom's assisted living apartment and the staff couldn't be more enamored with her. Somebody wanted to snatch her up right then and there. They have been spending time on their own in the apartment when I go see my mom and the staff says they never hear a peep or often they come in the apt. and the dogs don't even look up. They are getting a lot of great attention, we play ball every day and go swimming in the nearby lake. Tammy has been so adaptable and easy! Always happy to see me as I come in and out, but just goes right with the flow. Nobody can believe that she hasn't been snatched up yet. Lucky me, just longer that I get to have her!

Tammy continues to "train" to be a retriever. See new pics. She is so cute when she goes and gets the ball she runs super fast back to me with it with her happy dog face on. She is so proud of herself.

Her recall is still excellent, walks great on leash without a gentle leader. Her fur is filling in so nicely and now she has super blond curly feathers on her hind legs and her tail. Very unique color combination with her red and blond and she is soft and gorgeous.

I love Tammy so much I only want to find her the perfect home she so deserves. If you would like to meet this almost perfect companion dog contact your placement coordinator.

Hello Tammy fans and welcome again to the Adventures of Tammy. Tammy continues to do so well and grows each day. She is just the sweetest girl and just wants to be your best friend. It is so cute when I come home from work and she is so happy to see me. When she gets excited she whacks her wagging tail against the cabinets so hard and a couple of times she has made the tip bleed. I guess there is an official name for that called “Happy Tail”. To prevent her from hurting herself now I reach down and scoot her bottom away from the cabinets. She is just so happy she can’t help herself.

Tammy follows me everywhere. She isn’t exactly a velcro dog, but she follows me just enough to be in eye shot. If I get up and to get a glass of water, she will follow me to the kitchen and then follow me right back out to the living room. She is usually very good about just lying down by your feet and hanging out. She will ask for attention, sometimes panting frantically. That is especially triggered when my resident dog is moving in for his attention. I get her to calm down before I will give her the attention she wants. She is learning good manners and learning to share the attention with other dogs. I think coming from the puppy mill she really had to fend for herself, so her natural instinct is to guard anything she regards as valuable. Since I’ve had her, she has stopped guarding her dish and space, but will guard a treat/toy which is pretty common and my resident dog does the same but it is easily managed and it never escalates. I will continue to work with her to stop guarding for all the attention. She does this usually by trying to stand or push in between me and the other dog or by pawing or mouthing me. As soon as she does that, I stop, put my hands out of reach and look away until she backs off. She will get petted as soon as she is sitting or lying nicely. She is improving every day.

Tammy is getting very good on leash, learning to walk in a straight line instead of in front of you, doesn’t pull at all and really enjoys her walks. She is getting very curious and she really perks up when she sees a bunny. She will chase it if given the chance. She doesn’t pull or jump away as we pass other people and dogs around the neighborhood.

I’ve been working with Tammy to fetch the ball and it is so cute. She will retrieve it if I only throw it a few feet. Anything further is just too far away to go from me. When she does retrieve it she will bring it back when I call her and very softly releases the ball when I put my hand on it and say ‘give it’. She’s usually good for about 5 tosses and then likes to take a break. She continues to like the water a lot, but is not too sure about swimming in it. So far, she just plops right down and lays in it to cool off. She will follow me a little further out if it’s not over her head.

Just a recap of Tammy’s needs:

1. Another confident dog in the house for leadership
2. A fenced in yard
3. No small kids under 8 or so.
4. Your love and attention

If Tammy’s needs are met she really is an easy and low maintenance dog. She very much wants to please you and do the right things. She is still finding her way since leaving the puppy mill and as long as you are consistent with her, love and guide her she will be your perfect companion.

If you think Tammy would fit in your home, please contact your placement director.

Tammy meeting her old flame Fabio for the first time since they busted out of the Puppy Mill.

Tammy continues to do well. She is just soaking up the love and getting comfortable with her new world. She gets braver and braver every day, but like typical puppy mill dog she has her good days and her bad days. It's a lot of 2 steps forward, one step back. But in any case she is going in the right direction!

Tammy is consistently eating well but still is a little nervous at first. She has to think about it for a minute before she will dive in. I think she is waiting to be sure it's safe to eat the food. She does like it when FM sits next to her and pats her back while she eats as it seems to assure her it's all ok. I'm slowly weaning her from that and it's going well. I haven't heard her growl at Murphy if he gets near her space or dishes in quite a while so I think that's a sign that she is getting more comfortable and knows she no longer has to guard her resources.

We go for daily walks and she is still seems a little stressed so we keep them short. She does the best when we go for walks with my friends and their pack so the more the merrier and she is learning. She doesn't pull on the leash and just follows along. She is great about doing all her business on walks too!

Tammy gets along with every dog she meets, but at the end of the day, she likes her people the best. If she has a choice to be with me or my resident dog, Murphy, FM trumps most of the time. She likes to follow me around and it's so cute in the morning she is all about following me back to the bedroom as I get ready for work. She likes to 'help' me pick out my outfit. :)

If you are looking for a little love bug to soak up your love and attention Tammy could be your gal. Contact your placement person if you are interested in meeting her!

Tammy will be at Rally for the Rescues on Saturday from 11-1. See RAGOM's home page for info.

Tammy getting a Reiki massage from fellow volunteer Nancy

Tammy relaxing outside with the pack