What a difference a year makes- here she is the day I adopted her, looking timid and terrified with a horrible open sore all down her back and smelling like cat pee:
Compare and contrast with this picture from a moment ago, in this relaxed and dignified pose:
I’d say she has settled in nicely and is bit calmer. It’s been raining all day, so we couldn’t go to the park, but I’m cooking her a hamburger for dinner to celebrate.
Best decision I have ever made.
baldheadeddork
Congrats John! (And Lily too!)
R-Jud
Awww, that’s so sweet. We give the cats treats on their adoption day as well. You did a good thing, Mr. Cole.
demo woman
…..and how is Mr. Tunch celebrating this fine day?
Congrats John.
ruemara
I feel kinda bad. I can’t remember when I got any of my cats. They just always seemed to have been here. But Happy LIly Day and may you guys have a long happy life together.
ChristianPinko
Happy coincidence — I’m wearing my “pet overlords” BJ Lily t-shirt today.
Elisabeth
You are a good man, -Charlie Brown- John Cole.
Congrats to you and Lily.
cmorenc
Cooking a hamburger…especially FOR Lilly?
WHY…my Italian Greyhound “Florence” only gets *some* of the ribeye steaks I cook for myself. And *some* of the pork chops. And *some* of the chicken. And *some* of the grilled salmon. And *some* of my sausage or bacon or eggs if I have those for breakfast.
Dang John, you cook that dog her own burger, and you might spoil that dog rotten.
Kristine
Happy Lilyversary!
I read the old post. Interesting to see all the commenters who thought you were making a mistake. Also neat to see the naming evolve, and see the point where you first fixed on “Lily.”
You did do a good thing.
Svensker
Awwwwwww. You are just a big ol’ softy, Mr. Cole.
South of I-10
Awww, cutie pie! Put some cheese on that burger from me!
schrodinger's cat
Lily can has a cheezburger!!!
licensed to kill time
Good gawd your photo titles kill me.
A Very Merry Lily Day to you. She is one lucky pup.
robertdsc
The phrase “kitty prison” in the original post still cracks me up.
As always, Lily is a doll. Spoil her rotten!
Bad Horse's Filly
Happy Lily day. Any day with a dog as your companion in it is a better day than without. xoxo Lily.
Michael D.
Pssssst, cooking the hamburger for her is not the best decision you’ve ever made. But whatever. Once a year can’t hurt, right?
That’s one dog who is FAR, FAR better off than she was a year ago. In fact, it’s really inspired me. Don’t ask me why I’ve done this, but every dog I’ve had has been from a (reputable) breeder. Partly because of your Lily experience (and I mean this) I will never again do that.
Adoption from now on. It’s such an OBVIOUS decision to make.
Athenae
Happy anniversary! It’s great you and Lily found each other and that your Overlord Tunch permitted the addition.
A.
Mr Furious
Congratulations John. Enjoy the day, and stay the hell out of Tunch’s way… I’m sure he’s extra ornery this afternoon.
Violet
Love the photo title. That’s one happy dog. You did such a good thing. Lily looks like a completely different dog. Being with you has done wonders for her. You are both very lucky. Happy adoption day!
Betsy
Awwwww. I heart happy families.
Catherine D.
My dog critters get scrambled egg for special occasions, the cat critters get bits of chicken, and the horse critters get giant carrots. A good tradition!
jeffreyw
And a happy Lilly Day for all. Mrs J has just strolled through all the pet wannabes on my “shelter inmates” set, and informs me that 66 of them have been adopted out.
tim
Nice couter on ol’ Lils there.
Annie
Lily is just beautiful. She and Tunch are awesome, and so are you, Mr. Cole.
p.a.
Happy Lily day! And thank the FSM for the intertubes, where others can share in these kinds of heartwarming stories.
Chat Noir
Happy Lily Day, John. Love all the Tunch and Lily updates. With all the horribleness in the world, it’s nice to know there are folks like you who change the life of an animal for the better.
Virtual hugs and kisses to Tunch and Lily.
LiberalTarian
I remember when you wondered if she would ever recover from the cat-astrophe of the environment you got her from.
As Greg Brown sang:
As the branch is bent so shall it grow
That might be true but even so
A strong wind of real love
Will straighten us right back up
And we might find a place our heart is welcome
cay
It’s hard to be optimistic, but when I read a post like this it’s impossible not to smile and hope things will get better. Lily is one lucky pooch!
SIA
Dog bless you, Lily and Tunch.
bloomingpol
I just can’t get over how much she looks like my Foxy, who is part Shiba Inu and part who knows what. Foxy is a LOT bigger then Lily, 50 pounds, chunky in the body, but the color, head and tail are carbon copies.
In celebration, I ordered a Tunch grilling apron FEED version for my husband’s 70th birthday this month. Yes, we have two adopted dogs and one adopted cat, who is a mouse torturer cum laude, preferably in the bathroom. I can tell you stories of gore in the bathtub due to Sophie, that sweet looking creature.
QuaintIrene
A couple of days ago (I think) you had a post on the lines of ‘No good news.”
This, I would say, is very good news indeed!
Happy Lily day! Wish I could send her a meat bouquet.
And John, this is one good deed that’s going on your permanent record.
Oh and her pose is priceless. “Anybody passing who wants to rub my belly? Feel free!”
New Yorker
So the NWS has a tornado warning out for parts of northern West Virginia, including Morgantown. I forget where you live exactly, John, but I was under the impression that you’re in the Morgantown area. If so, stay safe.
licensed to kill time
@ruemara:
I’m the same because mine are usually volunteers who find me, somehow. However, I once had a female that got pregnant three times before I was able to pin her down long enough to get her to the vet to be spayed. (Don’t flame on me, she was an escape artist!)
I kept 5 of the kittens out of the 3 litters she had, and found good homes for the others. I sat down once and wrote out a family tree, though the space for father was obviously left blank. That’s the only time I remembered dates.
One litter was born on a Thanksgiving, which I remember quite vividly because mama kitty decided to go into labor in the middle of the night, under the bed covers by my feet.
This was all a long time ago and in another country where spaying was less available. But I have to say, there is nothing like watching a litter of kittens being born and growing up. They stagger about and pounce on each other and do the Halloween Hop and just slay me. It’s something that people don’t get to see much anymore, though it was quite common when I was a kid.
Whew! Kitty memories, you jogged them! even though it’s Lily Day.
LT
@Elisabeth:
Weirdest thing ever. I read the post, and was going to write the first thing that came to my mind: “You’re a good man Charlie (Cole) Brown.”
Weird. But right on.
P.S. A momma Western gray fox has had kits…under the tiny office on the side of my house from where I now write. I’ve got closeup shots and video of three kits as big as kittens roughhousing right under my window, just a few feet away, as well as the very protective momma, which is probably not much bigger than Tunch. Am I lucky or what?
Kristine
I celebrated Lily’s anniversary by purchasing a Lily water bottle from the BJ store. I’ve been meaning to get a metal water bottle for ages. Nice to be able to donate to a good cause in the process.
Betsy
@bloomingpol:
Thoughtful of her to keep it in the bathtub. My cat usually aims for the rug whenever she’s going to do something involving bodily fluids (hers or others’).
Elizabelle
Happy Lily Day.
And the second best decision you ever made: starting a blog for us sniveling vicious jackels to gather around.
Or whatever the tag line is. It’s a favorite.
I cannot tell that great a difference in either photo.
She’s a cute dog, no matter what her condition.
The Truffle
I had a pet named Lily, too, once. Only my Lily was a pooty. A brown tabby pooty, in fact.
R-Jud
@ruemara:
I only remember ours because they fall on other holidays– Valentine’s Day and All Saints’ Day/my birthday (1 November, in case you’re planning to get me a card this year).
licensed to kill time
@LT:
Yes, you are! I hope you post the video.
Elizabelle
A refuge for a mass of snarling vitriolic vicious jackals.
Who love Lily. And give Tunch his space. Wide load space.
M. Bouffant
You’ve warmed the heart of an old wretch.
One quibble: Is there a noticeable difference between “cat pee” & other?
Dead Ernest
Wonderful for her, wonderful for you.
Blessing on you both and best wishes for many, many more.
…and thanks too John, this endearing story makes my day.
Joe Lisboa
Best decision I have ever made.
Well that, and leaving the sinking ship U.S.S. G.O.P. with your dignity still intact. I keed, I keed. Congrats to you and yours, J.C. and thanks for the blog. One of these days I am gonna up and start one of these badboys myself, thanks to your inspiration. Keep keeping it real.
bemused
That’s what love will do for a scared, lonely wee doggie.
I just googled photos of catmint & I had to take a closer, 2nd look at a photo that came up in 1st bunch. I thought it was Tunch relaxing by a gorgeous bunch of catmint. This kitty is named B-Puss from New Zealand, white with slightly orange tail & ears, blue eyes from the site mooseyscountrygarden. She/he even poses like Tunch.
Platonicspoof
@LT:
Easy and free to set up an account with Flikr for pics.
And a virtual belly scritch for the pup.
Johnny Gentle (famous crooner)
We are all Lily now.
(and happy adoptiversary to you both)
Violet
This is an open thread, right? Did anyone catch this latest C&L post? Apparently Glenn Beck is now promoting the work of Nazi sympathizers:
C&L notes:
They’re calling on him to apologize. If he won’t, then for Fox to fire him.
debg
Happy accession day, Lily!
demo woman
It wasn’t that long ago that John bought furniture for his new abode and decided to keep it uncovered. That lasted a day or two.
JenJen
Bonne fête à toi, John and Lily!!
Joy
Hurray for Happy Lily Day! You have done a fantastic job with her and saved a life as well. Good on ya!
Skepticat
This day makes my day. Best wishes to the terrific trio.
LT
I’m not actually sure if we can post YouTube videos here, but I’ll give it a try. It ain’t the greatest, but it’s something. This is looking down from the window right in front of me:
Ehhh – nope.
LT
Here’s a try at a Flickr pic (thanks, Platonicspoof):
Well, I’m in edit mode – it didn’t work. Here’s a link:
Edit mode again. No pics or videos here, huh? http://www.flickr.com/photos/70696223@N00/4672446809/sizes/l/
And the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDN9O1JYYdk
Jane2
Happy Lily Day! Looks like Tunch has trained both of you well.
Dead Ernest
@LT: Delightful! – both the picture and the video.
Thanks LT.
Yutsano
@LT: Oh. My. Gravy. Wifey is gonna be squeeing all night over that. They are very adorable.
Oh and obligatory PUPPEH!!
sweetgreensnowpea
it must be love…
mandarama
Happy anniversary, Lily! You guys hit the lottery with each other.
And reading about your experience that summer made me start seriously looking at a dog too, and Murphy the golden retriever joined us the next month. One of the best decisions we’ve ever made, too!
Joseph Nobles
In honor of Lily Day, NASA scientists say they keep finding evidence that Saturn’s moon Titan harbors life.
http://bit.ly/ai5WU5
Platonicspoof
@LT:
Pic has a really good look at the face. I haven’t tried the video yet.
Saw an urban coyote (or hybrid) just down the road a couple days ago.
John Cole, do you have a public Flikr page for Lily and Tuna Breath?
Or do you just dole them out one or two at a time to be cruel?
Jay C
Feliz Lily-dia!
Like most inveterate BJ’ers I remember quite clearly your posts re the acquisition of what was most definitely a pitiable creature. Since turned into what is equally obviously a happy happy little dog – all of said process lovingly recorded via the Miracle Of The Intertubes!
Congrats. Many more….
Mary G
Happy birthday to your companionship!
Yutsano
@Joseph Nobles: Cue the inevitable right-wing freakout in 3…2…1…
In all seriousness, this makes me haz a happy, because now we will A) no longer be alone in the universe, regardless of whether we can talk to them or not, and B) make the sterilization programs even more important.
LT
@Yutsano: Oh My Gravy indeed. I’m never sure if people understand the ecstasy of such a thing. So glad to find the understanding here at The Juice.
MikeJ
@Platonicspoof:
I saw a werewolf drinking a piña coloda at Trader Vic’s…
Wait. That wasn’t it. I saw a coyote in the park a couple weeks ago, which was pretty cool. And then an idiot with a 75 pond dog off leash came by. I’d much rather have coyotes around than all the “he’s so friendly, he’d never hurt anybody” domestic dogs that people refuse to keep control of.
donnah
My favorite “Lily Thread” was the shampoo one. It was so serious that we all thought John had finally lost his mind. But it turned out to be hilarious.
My shelter dog Wendy would like to send her best regards to Lily as a dog who came from a sad place to a happy one. It’s a special person who saves the life of a four legged animal.
happy Lily Day!
Yutsano
@LT: Anything cute and fuzzy, we are usually all over like a horny teenager on a Megan Fox picture. Birds, for some bizarre reason, not so much. Sometimes the occasional turtle/tortoise. You’re very lucky that they’re so close, and you must not be making too much noise because Momma Fox hasn’t moved them yet.
asiangrrlMN
Happy adoptaversy, Lily, girl. You look so much more relaxed and happy now! Cole, you did a wonderful thing (and I love the mouse-over on the second pic) in adopting Lily.
@cmorenc: Ha! I was thinking something fsimilar. I always give my boys their portion of whatever I’m eating, and recently, I have started buying salmon just for them!
@LT: OH MY GOD! CUTEST FOXES EVAH! And, no we cannot embed any vids or pics on this site–only link ’em. But, squeeeeeee! They are ADORABLE! Please keep us updated on them.
@Yutsano: I read your comment without reading your name first, and I wondered what hubby/wife team read the blog–and then I saw your name and cracked up because squee I did! You know me too well.
Platonicspoof
@MikeJ:
That attitude is why we have strict leash laws for the werewolves here.
asiangrrlMN
@LT: Your pic is now the desktop background on my laptop. And, I used to have Alan Rickman as Snape, so you know how much I dug the fox baby!
@Yutsano: Mmmmm, brownies. Talk to you later, hon.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: I think I’m going to be smiling about that for pretty much the rest of the day. Now off to finish off the laundry (boo) and go bake some brownies, which should be interesting as I don’t have an 8 by 8 pan. So they’re going in two pie plates and getting cut into wedges. Good times.
PaminBB
Happy Anniversary, Lilly and John. May there be many more.
LT
@Yutsano: No, the thing is, we make noise like crazy. And we have two cats that seem to live in another world from the foxes. And last year we had baby skunks under the same place. Just as cute, only a little more odiferous. (That’s not a word, is it?)
asaingrrlMN: I’ll keep you updated. It’s been pretty hairy. Lots of yelping from a baby for four hours or so straight one night, all the way to right under my living room sofa, after a big fight under the house. It sounds like they all have hammers sometimes. I was afraid a huge coon or something had gotten the babies, but two days later they showed back up. (Although I’ve only seen two babies since.) Oy. I want to grab them all and make them my children.
LT
@asiangrrlMN: Oh hell, how cool. My foxes rule!
Edit: After Lily, of course.
CaseyL
Happy Liliversary to the entire Cole household!
I can’t remember the specific religion (Ba’hai?) but one of the non-Yaweh faiths states it’s just as much of a blessing to make an animal happy as a human.
Thanks for sharing your critters’ antics, John. Your obvious love for them and joy in their personalities is a necessary balm in these very dire times.
demo woman
I had no idea that some colleges were opening up their doors to family pets.
phoebes-in-santa fe
Congrats and long happiness to you, Lily, and Punch.
I just adopted a darling 8 month old black and white male cat the other day from the Humane Society, to replace my wonderful black cat, Emily, who died during surgery to extract a bad tooth. She was 14 and leaves her litter mate and another female cat – a tabby – I adopted two years ago from another local shelter.
So far all three cats have been getting along…
QuaintIrene
Good God, yes. It’s practically radioactive.
QuaintIrene
@LT: They’re adorable. Just don’t try to domesticate one, no matter how tempting. ;-)
New Yorker
@Violet:
Let’s see if there’s any outrage expressed over this over at Commentary or The Weekly Standard.
Remember kids, if you criticize Israel for killing unarmed people on a boat in international waters, you’re Hitler, but if you promote a book written by someone who, er, supported Hitler, you’re a Real American!
It’s called neocon logic.
MattR
Ellie says “Happy Lily-versary!”
asiangrrlMN
@LT: They are so cute. Looking at them brightens me right up!
Bill
John, I think Lily and you are such a sweet and happy conjunction.
Dog is My Co-Pilot
All the best to you and Lily. Rescue dogs rule!
SiubhanDuinne
One way or another, Lily found ya, Lily gotcha gotcha gotcha gotcha . . . .
Happy Gotcha Day to everyone (yes of course including Tunch)
PTirebiter
After seeing this post, my wife just threw another patty on the grill for our mutts. In honor of Lily’s big day, Caitlin & Jordy will be splitting a burger here in Texas. They’re thoughtful that way. Congrats to all there in the Cole home.
Poopyman
Happy Lily Day at the Cole house!
Has it really been a whole year that has shot by already? Seems like just a little while ago we were subjected to the “Should I? Shouldn’t I? I better not. I think I might” routine.
As if there was ever a doubt. All’s well that ends well.
Cat Lady
Yay for finding each other! It’s the universe at work, and I don’t mean the invisible hand of the market. From my go-to guy for every worthy occasion, Joseph Campbell:
Who rescued whom? Hmmm?
I love your shitty blog, John Cole.
+4
Anne Laurie
Happy anniversary, Mr. Cole (Lily could care less, as long as she’s with you.)
Spent the afternoon with 50 or so papillons and a couple dozen of the people who love them. Our three rescue dogs enjoyed the “playday”, but I think they enjoyed coming home to their own safe space even more. Especially the latest supposed-to-be-a-temporary-foster girl, Gloria, who woke up from a sound sleep in the back seat & started yarping even before we hit the offramp behind our house..
Yutsano
@Anne Laurie:
Heh. Your token resistance is adorable. You’re giving in and she’s staying put. You will gladly shell out for the extra kibble. It is inevitable. It is your destiny.
FoxinSocks
Congrats and many happy years to come!
On an odd note, I’ve now had two dreams this week featuring Lily. In the first one, I was at John’s house and Lily was just following me around. In the second dream, I had a Lily of my own, like she had been cloned.
Litlebritdifrnt
I just got down off the step ladder to put a food bowl on the garage roof, cause that is where there kittens are residing now. I am doomed.
suzanne
Happy doggieversary to the Coles. :)
I wasn’t commenting back when you finally decided to get over yourself and just bring the damn dog home already, though I was certainly reading. But, had I commented, I would have reminded you of these words from Ms. Monroe: “Have you ever noticed that, ‘What the hell?’ is always the right answer?”
Clearly, she was right. :)
Litlebritdifrnt
@LT:
I have three kittens right now (yes I know I have to get Tilly fixed, thanks for the advice) and they are living in the upstairs bedroom. Sometimes when they are playing around they sound like a herd of baby elephants up there, I swear. Right now they are all on the garage roof, looking at me as if to say “get me down” when they got themselves up there in the first place.
Skepticat
Do we remember when JC blacked out all Lily’s naughty bits before posting her photo? He’s come a long way, baby. And to think it cost him only a shoulder …
pika
I can’t believe it’s been a year, John–what wonderful mutuality you’ve all wrought together. Truly a balm for the hellnews of the past weeks. Lily’s belly says we may all get through indeed. Congratulations on an ongoing job already well done.
debit
Happy Lily Day! I’d resigned myself to never having another dog; losing the last one just hurt too much. But reading your Lily stories unlocked something inside me, so when I met Chloe the decision to take her home was a foregone conclusion.
Thanks, Cole. You’re a good guy.
John O
Congratulations, John. Ya did great, and she’s beautiful, and so are your descriptions of your life with the pets.
Anne Laurie
@Yutsano:
Oh, it’s not the kibble… or even that I never intended to live with such a challenging dog, a spayed bitch who still lifts her leg to ‘mark over’ the two boys’ p-mails. But “ideally” Gloria would be in a much more active home, doing agility or flyball or even herding. There’s one lady who’s moved from border collies to papillons who was very taken with Gloria at today’s playday… even though Mz Gee is probably staying here, I’m hoping we can work out the logistics to introduce her to Cheryl’s BCs (and their dedicated agility setup).
Our household is only about 75% perfect for Gloria, but that’s a higher percentage than a lot of dogs ever get, and ten thousand times better than the alternative (which was an offer to have her euthanized ‘at no cost’.)
TuiMel
Happy Lilyday to you, John Cole, and happy Tunchday, too.
From me & my jumbo JRT.
debit
@Anne Laurie: Question for you, ma’am, if you don’t mind. Chloe is getting, er, Tunchier, despite a semi restricted diet. She gets walks every day, but I’d like to burn off some of her fat and excess energy with play but she doesn’t Play, that is. She has no interest in balls, in fetch, in frisbees, in any toy at all. She is playful; I don’t know where she learned it, but her nighttime routine is to jump on my bed, hide her head under the pillow, flip it over, “smile” at me, then wriggle in an excited and expectant manner and then hide her head again until I roll her around. But that’s it.
Any ideas?
(And bless you for taking on Gloria. She sounds like a handful.)
Beeb
Happy anniversary of both of you — and many, many more.
poorboy
I love to see our rescued cats sleeping in a position similar to Lily’s. Safe and sound.
beabea
Happy Lily Day to John, Lily, and Tunch!
And thanks John, for running this blog. Love the writing and the commentariat, and the pet pics and stories. Those always brighten my day, especially now as my state (LA) endures yet another disaster.
JCT
Happy Lily Day from me and my mostly rescued brood.
Shadow the faux beagle rescue (looks like a black and white version of Lily) sits like that all the time. We try to explain that it is not ladylike, but to no avail.
Anne Laurie
I’m blanking — have you mentioned Chloe’s breed/size/age before? It’s true, different dogs have different interests (just like people) and it can be frustrating to figure out what motivates your particular companion. One book I really like is Treats, Play, Love, because Patricia Gail Burnham starts from teaching (helping) your dog to learn to play, to find a motivation that will encourage her to want to use her mind (& body). Two simple games she describes that Chloe might enjoy are Hide & Seek and Find the Biscuit, which are pretty self-explanatory, but Burnham spells out the steps for developing a common “play vocabulary” better than I can…
debit
@Anne Laurie: Oh, thanks for the book rec. I’ll check it out. Chloe is my 9 year old JRT/something rescue. The shelter thought the “something” was Sheltie but I’m thinking Spaniel of some type. Here she is destroying rawhide chews.
Steeplejack
Happy anniversary, Cole, to you and Lily! She is a beautiful paragon of Canis detritus, the All-American trash hound. Many happy returns of the day.
(The classical trash hound captured by Albert Bierstadt: “Mariposa Indian Encampment, Yosemite Valley, California.”)
Lesley
Happy adoptiversary, Lily and John.
Speaking of Lily, we need more pix. Of Tunch, too.
trollhattan
Quite the lady, casually displaying her girlie bits :-P
Buckets of congrats to senor Cole and the lovely Lily. I knew she was truly happy when you posted the first pic of her with tail up and curly instead of tucked underneath. Here’s to many, many more fine years together.
(Cripes, has it really been a year?!?)
Brachiator
A whole year? Wow.
Yeah, I remember those early pictures, and your early struggles, as well.
I am so happy for both of you. And the Tunchinator as well.
asiangrrlMN
@debit: Chloe is so cute! And, I don’t think she’s fat at all. Then again, I think Tunchie is just perfect, too, so YMMV.
@Steeplejack: That’s a great painting. It’s very evocative.
Cole, it’s so cool that not only did you give a scared, abused (at the very least, neglected) dog a home, but you spurred members of your commentariat to do the same. I hope Lily enjoyed her burger. And, obligatory, Tuuuuuuuuuunch!
Mary
@MikeJ:
Well, you can take comfort in the fact that a dog allowed off leash in coyote country is probably not long for this world.
Libby
A belated happy anniversary to you both. You’ve done an amazing job with that pup. She’s a lucky dog to have ended up with you.
Jenn
@debit:
One thing I use is
http://www.busybuddytoys.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/toys/busybuddy/tugajugtoys/description
and
http://www.busybuddytoys.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/toys/busybuddy/chuckwagtoys/description
(my dog loves the Chuckle, but that seems too big for Chloe)
Anyway, I’ll give her meals in these (partic the tugajug) — keeps her occupied & moving, and spreads the meal out a bit more.
Regarding play — what kind of access to space do you and Chloe have? Do you have a dog park nearby where you can let her off-leash? If so, I find that the the wander-smell-catch-up-with-me-wander-smell routine works pretty well, particularly when I change directions a lot (plus it’s great training for having them come, even when there are oh-so-enticing distractions).
debit
@Jenn: The Busy Body looks like the dog version of what we use for the cats, something to keep them occupied and make them work for their food. The problem with Chloe, however, is that she can go a day (or more) without eating if all she’s given is dry food. She will eventually give in and eat it, but it’s been a struggle. At first I thought she had tooth issues (she’d had a few pulled) but her dental exam was fine and she will gnaw on rawhides with no problem. Then I thought it was the food, but no, no matter what brand she’s offered, she turns her nose up at it all; dry, softened with warm water, mixed with wet food, doesn’t matter. Also refuses dry biscuits. Jerky treats and rawhide types are they only kind she’ll eat. Needless to say, she’d love people food, but she doesn’t get it.
Her outside behavior depends on where we are. Our backyard isn’t fenced, so she goes out on a tie, unless I’m with her. She isn’t interested in exploring, just hangs with me until she’s bored and then goes to wait at the door and asks to be let back in. She loves going for walks in the park, and I’d thought about signing up for the local dog park, however, Chloe has issues with other dogs. Small ones she’ll mostly ignore, unless they get too close. Then she’ll either run away, or failing that, try to drive them away. Larger dogs seem to bring out immediate aggression; she attempts to charge for them growling and hackles raised. We’re working on getting her attention back on me when that happens, with some moderate improvement. But she’s not at the point where I’d feel comfortable letting her loose in a dog park and honestly, I don’t know if she’d enjoy it.
So in a nutshell, she’s highly food motivated, but only for certain types, likes being outside, but only if we’re going new places, doesn’t do well with other dogs.
snarkypsice
This just made me tear up. You’re a lovely man.
Daize
Thank you for taking us on the journey of learning the wonderful Lily. Cheers to you and Miss L on your anniversary! And kisses to the Tunchmeister.