Hello there!

I got to see my little ewok today at the Sterling Petsmart adoption event. She looked as cute as ever and I was happy to see her walk towards me and give me a good sniff. She is starting to get more comfortable at adoption events and volunteers were actually able to sneak in head scratches and pets. What a brave little pup Belinda has become!

Of course, adoption events can get a little boring... so she is really hoping that someone will adopt her soon!

Belinda is Back!

Belinda was adopted by a lovely family right after Thanksgiving and stayed with them for a month. She got a lot of great social time in and know loves calm children. She got along well with the families other dog, a tiny yorkie, but they just didn't seem to bond and it was apparent that little Belinda needed a different type of dog. A dog that she could follow and who LOVES to play and run in the yard as much as she does.

So with heavy hearts, her family returned her to me. She was happy to see our pack of pups and greeted them with playful tail wags. She was our happy little ewok once more. Unfortunately for us, we won't be able to keep Belinda as our foster this time around. So she will be going to stay with another foster family and their pack of doggies ranging from a big puppy to lots of adorable littles.

I received reports that Belinda is already fitting right in! She is walking on the leash beautifully and being the spunky girl we know and love!

And now, her new foster will take over telling you all about her!

Walking with her pack

Belinda had her first successful walk around the neighborhood with our pack this evening. She had been getting to the end of the driveway and stopping when I tried to take her with one dog, but she followed along like a champ with all of her buddies to reassure her tonight. 

Here's my shy shepherd Lucia helping Belinda feel comfortable. They shy ladies have to stick together!

Here's my shaky video. It's tough to walk bouncy puppies and record at the same time, but you can see that Belinda was a happy pumpkin. We still have some work to do on the leash, but this was a huge step! I'm super proud of my little ewok!

Bed Head

Belinda woke up with a case of bed head after her afternoon nap. Sill girl...

Home again...

I was away for the past five days at a conference so Miss Belinda got to hang out with my boyfriend and her puppy pals while I was wandering New Orleans. I received reports that she was a good girl while I was gone. When I got home from the airport she was snuggling in one of the many freshly washed dog beds (the boyfriend was busy!).

She is continuing to get more comfortable with us and reached a real milestone tonight. She followed me into the den without any other pups and stuck by me while she watched me prepare my lesson plans for the next day. She laid down in the bed next to my desk and spent some time with the people tonight. Big big step!

Playtime with Apollo!

Belinda loves playing with her favorite buddy Apollo! After they were done playing they spent the afternoon cuddling on the couch together. They may be having a small love affair...

Couch Cuddles!

Belinda has been laying on the couch with us for a bit now, but tonight was the first time that she curled up right beside my boyfriend. Her fluffy little body was touching his leg! This is a huge step for our little one!

Goofy Girl

Belinda has become quite a goofy girl! She is playing tug with her favorite foster brother Apollo and running around with her tail wagging at full speed. She follows our pups everywhere and lines right up for them treats. She even licks our fingers to say thank you.

She is so funny! I just can't stop laughing with her antics.

Toys are fun!

I left the room and caught Belinda playing with her first toy! She is getting comfortable and learning how to play. It is so nice to see her enjoying life.

Call me Winda

I've been teasing all week that Belinda looks like a fluffy, adorable, little ewok. So the nerd in me looked up the names of the ewoks in Star Wars and it just so happens that there is a mysterious girl ewok named Winda. I was so tickled by this that my new pet name for Belinda is my little Winda. Just one more way that she makes me smile.

Finger Kisses

Belinda is really starting to settle in with us. She has started to approach us and give us gentle finger licks when we say hello to her. What a big step for such a shy little pumpkin!

Backyard Fun

Little Belinda got to go outside without her training lead this afternoon. She is having a lot of fun and hops around the yard like a happy bunny rabbit!

Discovering the Couch

This morning Belinda surprised me and put her paws on the edge of the couch.

A few minutes later little Belinda jumped up onto the couch and started to snuggle in the fleece blankets next to me. She has such a sweet face.

Part of the Pack

Little Belinda has quickly become part of the pack! She loves her foster siblings and follows them everywhere. Here they are waiting for their evening treats...

Progress!

Belinda has really impressed me! She hasn't had one accident and has been going outside and doing her potty business with our dogs like a good girl. She is not very comfortable on the leash yet so I have been keeping a 30 foot training lead attached to her while we are outside. This will help her slowly get used to the lead and let me shorten the length gradually. She has become very good about letting me attach the leash and no longer tries to get away or hide. She just stands quietly and then happily goes to the door with the other pups. She probably doesn't need the lead since we have a fenced yard and she just follows our pack of pups everywhere they go and then runs right inside with them when it's time to come in, but I like to keep the lead on my shy pups for the first week just to be safe.

Belinda is learning all about life in a home. She has experienced the tv, the dishwasher, the garbage disposal, and all of the noisy things scattered about. She was very brave about all of the noises and never ran away or hid. She just looked at me and the pups, then back at the thing causing the ruckus. She seems to understand that if we aren't scared, then she shouldn't be either. She is starting to trust already, which is great!

She is eating well and we have found some more treats that she really likes, including her new favorite, turkey wellness bites. She is starting to follow me around the house and is taking her naps a little closer to me each time. I cannot wait to see her come out of her shell a little more each day!

Meeting Belinda

I got to the Fair Lakes Petsmart very early today to wait for my new foster Belinda to arrive from the LDCRF ranch. They told me that she was a very shy little one who needed a lot of socialization, so I wanted to be the first one to open the van door and sweep her away to a quiet corner where we could get acquainted. When I peeked in the van, her beautiful brown eyes where looking out at me. She was very scared, but away we went. I cautiously picked up her leash and she looked at me apprehensively, but sweetly. She didn't have an once of aggression, but she was definitely nervous about this new and scary place. After about thirty minutes she ventured out of the crate and under the adoption table. She surveyed the store from her hiding place and smelled my fingers. I could even sneak in a quick pet under the chin here and there. She wanted affection, but she just wasn't sure yet...

At the end of the adoption event, I opened up her crate and she ran right back in. I gently loaded her into my car and away we went to meet my boyfriend and my pack of pups - a bossy terrier, a shy shepherd, and a goofy pit bull. I opened the crate and coaxed Belinda outside. She was very curious about the dogs watching her from the other side of the baby gate. First, she meet Mamah, our terrier, who instantly loved her and kissed her on the nose. Then, Lucia, our shepherd, came over to sniff and gave her approval. Finally, Apollo, our pit bull, gently approached and laid down next to her. And there it was, Belinda was accepted and part of the pack. She also met our kitties and was a very good girl!

Belinda explored the den a little and then settled in to take a well deserved nap. She also enjoyed a yummy dinner and ventured outside on her extra long training lead. She happily follows the other dogs wherever they go, but we still make her nervous so we are giving her lots of space to get comfortable. Belinda would not take treats at the event, but we finally found a treat in our cabinet that she can't resist... gourmet turkey liver biscuits! This little lady has good taste! 

Belinda is going to take some time to settle in and get comfortable, but I know that with a little extra patience and love she will come out of her shell soon. She wants love, she just needs the confidence and trust to accept it.