The Wedding Has Been Called Off

They were preparing to say "I Do", when Humphrey decided he preferred to have a girlfriend on the side, as opposed to a live-in.  As many men in Southern California, Humphrey is really into his house and his toys and having good romps with playful friends.  But the notion of sharing his space permanently (especially with a woman who wears pants) made him a little uncomfortable.  And grumpy.

On Saturday we decided to end the home trial in the interest of safety, and Humphrey will continue his life as a swinging single.  I think it is bittersweet for him.  He is happy to have his space back, but bored again.

The experience made me a bit nervous.  Lucy's well-being is my number one priority, so I am hoping she will find a family where she can be an Only Dog, and around-town companion to her people.

Live and Learn, as they say.  Onward!


To see Lucy's BIO, click here
To see VIDEOS of Lucy, click here

Lucy On Home Trial

At an adoption event two weeks ago, we met a couple that was looking for a "playmate" for their high-energy dog, Humphrey. He is an English Bulldog / Boxer mix, and an absolute tank. His temperament is some exponential form of gregarious. He pestered his people so much for attention and play, they figured Humphrey probably needed a sibling.

Humphrey is choosy about who he likes, so we met after a training class for a quick sniff-test. Neither seemed threatened by the other, so we made plans for a longer meet up.  

Their first official date was a walk in the neighborhood. They were happy to see each other again, and they walked together fairly well. Lucy thought he was a nice guy, and Humphrey clearly enjoyed having the company.  We also played on the front lawn to allow them some roll-around time in a controlled environment.
  

The second date was a walk, and a venture into the back yard, i.e. Humphrey's turf. Here they were allowed to play off leash, and it was like WWF. Humphrey has an insatiable appetite for play, and is a strong dude, so I was worried Lucy would be overwhelmed.  But she held her own, and them some.
  

We toured the house all together before leaving, and Humphrey did not show any signs of territorialism at all.   I thought he might be smitten.

By the third date they were so familiar and happy to see each other, they went straight to the backyard to play. They absolutely wear each other out. They collapsed in the grass from exhaustion, and Lucy picked up one of  Humphrey's (many) bones to chew on while resting. Humphrey didn't quite know what to make of it, and ultimately decided she could have it. He is either the consummate gentleman, or he gets the sense she is not a woman to be messed with.

Today I took Lucy for her first day of Home Trial. We rightly did our due diligence to see if they are safe and happy playmates, and now we take 1-2 weeks in order to see if they are equally compatible roommates.   Humphrey's parents will also evaluate whether they can handle life with TWO big dogs in the house!  Humphrey's mom and I laid on the floor with them and rubbed their bellies, to show them they could also enjoy quiet time together. They each extended a paw so they could touch pawpads while laying down. It was a very good sign. Of course neither of us had a camera handy.

Sorting out the pecking order? *

FINALLY the batteries ran out.  *

I know that Lucy is in a loving home right now, and that Humphrey is an enthusiast host. But I still need to eat a pint of Rocky Road and cry my eyes out right now. Missing her already.

*thanks for the pics, Deanna.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here
To see VIDEOS of Lucy, click here

House Privileges!

Lucy has become a timeshare dog.  

I was walking Lucy in town several weeks ago, and met a woman named Angela who stopped to pet her and love on her.  She said that she recently lost her dog, and she wasn't ready for another, but she loves them so much.  

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Angela emailed me out of the blue and asked me how Lucy is doing, and said she can't bear the fact that Lucy has to live in a garage.  So she invited Lucy to a sleepover "to make her life a little better".  One sleepover turned into many, and Lucy has become a staple at Angela's house.  

Angela has been wonderful in providing a way for Lucy to gain "house experience", and lounge with her humans, as she loves to do.  Lucy is getting massively spoiled at Aunt Angela's house.

The first thing Lucy did when she went in the house was get into crouch position and walk cautiously into all the rooms to sniff.  Once she checked out the whole house (including vacuum cleaner), she straightened up, and wagged her tail.  Then drank out of the toilet.

Lucy has been great at learning her house manners, and feels tremendously comfortable with the busy life of a fitness trainer (including getting up early and going to client workouts with Angela)!  She even eats a raw egg on her breakfast for good health.   Apparently she can be a bit of a bed-hog though.

I hope she gets adopted soon, because she is NOT going to want to go back to the garage life!
We love you, Aunt Angela, and can't thank you enough.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here
To see VIDEOS of Lucy, click here

LucyTube (videos)

I am starting to take some video of Lucy (though it's challenging because it's usually just the two of us, and I am not tremendously coordinated).   My apologies for the quality of filming here, but it should give you some sense of her beyond still photos.

I will update this YouTube channel regularly, so check back with this link for new videos!

Lucy's YouTube Channel
AdoptLucyGoose

Help! We're Moving! Please Adopt!

Hi Everyone -

We are moving in April, and my ability to foster Lucy ends then!  Timing is getting tight, and I am more anxious than ever to get Lucy placed in a loving home.

Please let me know if you are interested and would like to meet her - she is SO WONDERFUL and I simply cannot believe she is not yet someone's pet.  It's entirely my fault - I have not done enough to get her exposed and networked.  I am just not experienced with the rescue world.

If you could help me by posting this blog address on Facebook or by emailing a friend, I would be tremendously grateful.   Thank you!

Lori

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Social Walker

Going for walks serves the practical potty purpose, of course, but more importantly for her, walks serve to get her out of garage isolation.  Lucy is a social dog, so she thrives on interaction with people and pets.  In her world, garage time is lounging time, and leash time is LOVE time.  She enjoys meeting and greeting, and often lays down as if to say "I'm not going anywhere until I get to say hello".

This girl played with Lucy for about 30 minutes while her mom drank coffee at Coffee Bean.  She told us all about how she wants to be an actress.  Lucy listened intently.

In addition to the love we get from people, we have the sniff-and-play dance with most dogs we come across (we walk in an area that is popular among dog owners).  She has become so non-reactive that even when the occasional dog barks at her or gets snippy, she ignores it and moves on.  She's so chill.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Playground Patrol

Lucy is becoming a staple at the playground.  I think her maternal instincts (still quite strong) make her a natural at overseeing kids in motion.   Thankfully, she has more stamina than I do.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Doggles

I spoke with my father today, who lives in Ohio, and he said they were having a snowstorm.  At the time I happened to be out walking Lucy at the beach, enjoying 73 and sunny.  I felt guilty.  For about twelve seconds.  Then my mind went straight back to gratitude.

Speaking of gratitude, Lucy Goose appreciates a gorgeous day as much as I do.  I'm sure she had her fill of living on the streets in inclement weather, and is fairly happy to be enjoying the outdoors as opposed to surviving them.

Exhibit A

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Jedi Master and Apprentice

We have a lot of Light Sabers at our house.  Even though Star Wars movies are a thing of the past, and mark MY generation, somehow the Marketing Machine has seen to it that my son's generation knows every character.
He recently realized that, if he considers himself a Jedi Master, he is without Apprentice. Oh no!
Enter Lucy.
She is his new Jedi Apprentice from the Planet Dogu, having risen from the devastation of previous attacks from the Empire and its evil Sith lords.   She is a strong warrior, dedicated to defending the Republic and the Force.  We expect with proper training from Jedi Oliver, she will one day be on the Senate, representing Dogu in negotiations for Peace and Stability in the Galaxy.

"Help me Obiwan.  You're my only hope."

Even Jedis need a snack break.  

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Interested...Now what?

windy day.

Since I don't work for a rescue, you might be wondering what the next steps are if you are interested in exploring Lucy as a your potential pet.

First of all, choosing a dog is a big deal!  I understand!   I want the 'match' to be right, for your sake, and also for hers.  In fact, I'm hoping for a downright love fest.

So here's the process:

Meet Up: If you are intrigued, then let's see if there is chemistry!  I am happy to arrange a meet and greet - just contact me to arrange.  Either you can come to me, or I can come to you.  If you are outside LA and within driving distance, I don't mind road-tripping.  It would be a great excuse to!  Lucy Goose is a great copilot.

Home Check:  Nothing to freak out about - I just want to make sure she will be in a safe place.  I honestly don't care how much space you have, or how fancy you are.  I care about whether she is secure in your house (e.g. away from traffic danger, not vulnerable with other animals, etc) and what her access to potty and walks will be.

Home Trial:  Take her for a test drive if it helps you get comfortable with the decision.  Live together for a week or two, give yourselves a chance to settle in together, and keep me posted on how it's going.  I can provide everything you need for this trial, so you don't have to buy dog supplies.

Adoption:  If the love fest has happened, then we will make it official, and I will turn over all of her records, get ownership transferred, etc.  In lieu of an adoption fee, I will ask that you make a donation to one of the rescue organizations that has provided me some guidance on this unexpected journey.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

A Valentine's Reunion Playdate

Valentines Day is about love, right?  So what better way to spend it than with a loved one.

Charlie's mom takes her to a cage-free daycare called Yellow Brick Road, so I brought Lucy there today so that they could hang out together for the afternoon.  This was the first time that Lucy had seen her daughter, Charlie, since Charlie's adoption in December.  It was a fabulous reunion with (appropriately) lots of kisses.

This was Lucy's second time at a cage-free doggie playcare, and she does very well.  They require (for obvious reasons) an evaluation appointment to make sure the dogs they permit in do not have aggressive tendencies.  We did Lucy's eval in January and she was perfectly fine.  She is a social dog, so she enjoys the open play, and YBR has separate play areas for big dogs and small dogs to keep things safe.  This is important because Lucy (like many bigger dogs) can be heavy handed with very small dogs.

If you are looking for playcare in the Southbay, it's a neat place with a loving staff.

http://yellowbrickroaddoggie.com/

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

The Hunter

I've mentioned before that I suspect Lucy may have some Pointer in her; there's just something about the way she hunts  nose-to-ground, and her body language when she's at attention (her markings hint at the same).
When we walk the greenbelt mulch path, there are a few trees that are difficult to get her away from, because she knows there are creatures nesting in them (and not just birds).  She is especially tuned in if we are on a late night walk before bed.   Her prey drive in action.  This is what gives me some reservation about her compatibility with cats!

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Lucy Goes to Work

Lucy continues to prove herself as a go-anywhere dog.  I started to bring her to the office with me when longer meetings are planned - we drop my son at school, then head down the 405.  When we go in the car I always put down the back seat, and she will lay back there on occasion, but more often than not, she will take her place in the front passenger seat.  She's so much like a person, I find myself merging into the carpool lane.  A lot.  Not sure LAPD would see the humor in that if I ever got pulled over.  

Once at work, she knows the drill.  She milks my colleagues for affection, finds the patch of sun in the front room, or lays on the patio for fresh air.  If she is feeling especially inspired, she will join me in meeting facilitation.  Good girl, Goose.

sometimes it's nice to have an extra set of ears in a discussion

relaxing with full vent power

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Oceanside Walks

Lucy Goose and I have been spending more time down at The Strand.  She is a people person, so she likes being where the action is, where she can see everyone going about their day, and take in the occasional sunset.

She has terrific etiquette - she doesn't growl or bark at other dogs (there are plenty who do that to her but she ignores it).  She doesn't mess on the pavement - she always seeks out a grass or dirt spot if she has to go.  She lets people pet her and is always polite.  She's just an all-around great companion.

She enjoys going onto the pier - there are so many different smells there.  We sit and listen to the crashing waves. I think mostly she is grateful that she can walk by the trash cans and not have to forage for a meal.   Life is good.

This is turning into a sport I like to call "Pigeon Break".  We watch the flock of pigeons, until she can't stand it anymore, and then she does a little hop to make them scatter.

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Chilly Nights

The nights are chillier now, and when Kay told me she got a jacket for Charlie, I thought maybe I should look into something cozy for Lucy to sleep in.  The garage is far warmer than outside, but still has a chill.  So I grabbed a fleece that I never wear because it's too small, and we tried it on.

She appears to be a North Face kind of girl.

I tried it on her and she jumped straight into the "cuddle chair" and curled up.  

So I cut the sleeves to proper length and these are her new jammies.  She snuggles into her cozy crate of fleece and blankets and sleeps like a dog-log.  When I wake her up for breakfast, it takes her a while (and several stretches) to snap out of her slumber, so I think the new jammies are a win.   

Good Night Snuggy Bug

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

The Goose Goes Solo

With Charlie adopted, Lucy Goose is on her own, and I'm trying to keep her involved and feeling the love.  She didn't eat well for the first three days, but now she's adjusting to flying solo.  Since I can't bring her into my house (my dog is not accepting of another), she is by herself in my garage and I am very anxious to see her alone-time end soon.

We are on a break from school, so I've been bringing her to the park with my son for full-afternoon adventures.  She LOVES it.  She's a real "people-person", and she enjoys being where she can see the action.

She got into the slide today - wanted to do it over and over.  This video makes me laugh every time (my poor son doesn't fare well because he forgets to let go of the leash).

To see Lucy's BIO, click here

Charlie Gets Adopted!

hugs from my charlie bear at the adoption event

There is perhaps no better way for me to have ended 2012 than to have one of The Girls adopted.
I took Charlie to a Saturday adoption event sponsored by Bullies and Buddies in December, and a wonderful woman named Kay seemed drawn to her, and she to Kay.  I think it was love at first cuddle/face lick/whatever.   Kay is a terrific woman who had previously owned (and recently lost) two pit mixes.  She could not have found a better dog to fill the void.

Kay treats Charlie as she deserves, like a true companion.  Charlie sleeps in her bed under the covers (I forgot to tell Kay she snores!), runs errands with her, goes for coffee, and enjoys TV time together.  Kay works during the day, so we got Charlie accepted at a very nice cage-free doggie daycare called Yellow Brick Road, which is close to Kay's office, so Charlie can get her puppy-energy out and continue to improve her social skills.

resting while shopping with her new mom

Good luck to you, Charlie Bear!  Aunt Lori will be thinking about you.
And THANK YOU, Kay, for giving a tossed-away dog a loving home.