3-day weekend

Zoe and I enjoyed having Foster mom home for a 3-day weekend. We didn't go out much during the day because of the heat, but we still got our walks in early in the morning and late in the evening.

On Saturday we went to Animall for an adoption event. I met some new doggies and people and enjoyed all the attention, but I was pooped afterwards and rode most of the way home with my head resting on the back seat. Foster mom was sad she didn't have her camera!

She took some pics of Zoe and I today as well as another video of us playing. I was pretty frisky!

Here we are during a brief break from wrestling.

Animall: Saturday, May 28th

I'll be at the Animall event tomorrow from 10am to 12pm. Come by and see me! One of the Rockstar puppies will be there, too, along with other BFPA doggies looking for forever homes.

Svelte Rusty

Foster mom took me back to the building with the scale last night and she was so excited to find out that my weight is down to 42 pounds. Boot camps must be paying off!

She took the pictures below after we returned from the weigh-in. I really like her car - the back cab is so comfy, and when she rolls the windows down I get to experience a supreme breeze! I definitely love car rides - she can barely get the cab door opened before I jump in. Foster mom still restrains me with a leash tied to the backseat head rest, but I think she's realizing that isn't really necessary. I'm a faithful boy and want to be by my human as much as I can!

Tight Squeeze

As mentioned earlier, Foster mom inherited a small dog bed from a friend. I guess the key is that the main cushion was missing - otherwise I could never have fit in/on this bed. Having said that, I do love this cozy little nest. It's perfect for curling up for a long dog nap.

Hangin' in the yard

Foster mom tried to get some pics of me in Winston's yard on Sunday, but I didn't make it easy. I just couldn't stay still. She particularly enjoyed watching me stand up by the back of the fence because she said her old dog Bailey used to do that in the very same yard.

There's a large tree on one side of the yard that seemed to host the most birds and squirrels. That was the one and only place I really sat still. I stared up into the branches, eagerly trying to figure out how I might get to the little critters.

I also enjoyed trailing through the back of the yard where the trees and bushes are dense. There was so much to smell! I'd really love a forever home with a yard like this, but if you don't have one I could still be your best friend!

Foster mom likes my faux underbite in this last picture. She's so silly.

Sharing Winston's bed

Umm...without Winston. If you can read upside down/sideways, you can see that the bed Zoe and I are lounging on is clearly Winston's, but we managed to hog it all on our own. Not to worry, Winston was happily perched on the ottoman across the room.

I love it here at Winston's house. He has a HUGE fenced backyard to romp in. Zoe and I could spend hours taking in all the smells and sounds. Zoe is more into marking her territory (even though she's a girl), where I love to explore in search of squirrels and birds.

Mom said we only get to stay until Monday morning. We're here to keep Winston company until his family comes back home from a trip.

I will be sad to leave. I hope Winston will invite us over to play in his yard again soon. I don't know why he wouldn't - we all get along famously!

Boot camp

I'm not sure what boot camp is, but I heard Foster mom use that word in the same sentence as my name the other day so I wonder if that is where we go when we spend time together outside? If so, then I think boot camp is awesome!

We take long walks and practice things that I'm getting really good at - things like heel, sit, wait and leave it. Leave it is hard sometimes, but I must be doing well because Foster mom only gives me the tiny chewy delicious morsels when she's happy with my behavior, and I usually manage to bag several of those per boot camp session.

My favorite boot camps are when Foster mom takes me out for races. We'll walk for a while and then she'll suddenly break into a sprint and we see who can run the fastest. I'm pretty sure Foster mom doesn't like to run, but sometimes she beats me! But I know if we were going for distance she'd be toast!

Here I am post boot camp, tongue lolling. Don't you want to take me to boot camp with you?

My tail

Foster mom tried to get a picture of just my tail for this post, but I wasn't in the mood. What self-respecting dog would want his tuchus photographed close up? And you can see my tail in my other pics anyway.

People always ask Foster mom what happened to my tail and I wonder why. My tail has always been very short (hence my breed name, Australian stumpy tail cattle dog). I like it because it's kind of unique and Foster mom loves it.

She even nicknamed it "The nubbin."

The nubbin is very indicative of my mood. If I'm happy and playful it wags. If I'm alert and curious it lifts up high off of my rear and sometimes puffs out a bit.

If you'll adopt me I promise to wag my nubbin for you all the time!

Exciting Saturday

Foster mom took me to an adoption event on Saturday and I had so much fun! It was a bit of stimulation overload, but I enjoyed it. I met tons of people and dogs (big and small) and loved all the attention I was given by visitors. One of my fans, Julie, was happy to hold on to my leash while Foster mom took a couple of pics of me in my "adoption getup."

I heard Foster mom answer LOTS of questions about me, so I think I was popular (wink). I particularly enjoyed meeting Karma - she was super-friendly and I think she'd make a great playmate.

Thanks to all who came out to see me!

Wanna hang out?

I'm a pretty cool guy. I love to relax, wrestle, RUN, explore, stretch, sniff, hug, show off, flirt and love. Look into my warm amber eyes...

I will you to adopt me!

Audition

Foster mom took me to a wonderful house last night. I'm pretty sure I heard "best friend" in Foster mom's explanation but I can't be sure. There were fabulous tiny people there that I loved hanging out with. Foster mom said the boy was "Felton" and the girl was "Sydney." I loved Sydney's blonde hair.

Felton is five (twice my age) and Sydney is three (barely older than I am). I was fascinated by both of them. They rubbed me and chased me and played with me. I love these small humans!

Apparently Foster mom wanted me to meet these people so that if I haven't found my forever home by the time she goes on vacation this summer I can stay with them. After meeting me they agreed. I hate to brag, but I AM an excellent boy!

You wanna meet me?

Come to the Brier Creek Petsmart this Saturday, May 14th, from 10am-12pm. I'd love to meet you! I'll be there along with other BFPA dogs looking for forever homes. 

I'm adaptable

Unlike Foster mom, I don't have a problem with vertigo. Want me upside-down? No problem.

I can also be deceivingly small. I had no problem wriggling into this tiny dog bed that Foster mom received from her friend Kathy. Yesiree, my tuchus does shrink on demand.

Sharing my crate

BFPA provided Foster mom with a pretty big crate for me, so I really don't mind sharing it with my foster sister, Zoe. Foster mom bought me this nifty crate pad that is CUSHY! 

Don't let our calm composure fool you - Zoe and I are all about PLAY TIME!

Slimming down

When I first came home with Foster mom I was five to seven pounds overweight. I tipped the scale at 46.6 pounds, and I did not display any of the characteristics used to describe a dog's ideal body weight (Ribs palpable without excess fat covering; waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above; abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side). 

Foster mom said I should weigh no more than 42 pounds - I was 37 pounds on November 18, 2010. That means I gained almost ten pounds in five months! 

The good news is that in the two weeks I've been with Foster mom, we've been very active and it's paying off.  We went to a building today with a big scale and Foster mom was so happy when she exclaimed, "He's already down to 44 pounds!"

Foster mom says my ideal weight is likely no more than 40 pounds.  I'm sure she'll check my weight every two weeks or so to be sure I stay healthy and don't lose too much weight. I don't mind - I liked the people at the scale building. They all told me how pretty I am!

So, I hope to soon be down to 41-42 pounds. Foster mom is getting more exercise, too, so fostering me is turning out well for both of us!

My first bath

Foster mom and I went to Petco's self-service dog wash tonight and she said she was very impressed by my willingness to be washed in a 4-foot-high bath. I also gathered that I was a big hit with the staff! They all fawned over me and made me feel very special.

I was calm and cool and even let Foster mom use the dryer on me. It wasn't my favorite thing, but I could take it again.

We left for Petco at 6:50 pm and made it back home by 7:30 with my fur smelling fantastic. I pouted a little, but I got over it quickly.