Dr. Strangelove — Round Two
I got to have another field trip with Doctor Strangelove yesterday, and this dog has completely overtaken my heart. She is so sweet, gentle, and loving. She walks like a dream on the leash, unless there's a squirrel or deer. She doesn't have the same reaction to dogs or humans, just wildlife. She couldn't be bothered with treats, ropes, or balls either. The only things with any merit were cuddling, squirrels, and squeaky toys.
She sat calmly with me and my friend while we played Go at Cherokee Park. Many people and dogs passed by without a second glance, even one off-leash who ran right up to us. The only hiccup was a family whose dog had an incredible squeaky ball, chomping away nearby. Doctor Strangelove wanted that ball so badly that the owners thought she was reacting to their dog and got a bit of a heart attack at first.
We even snuck in some training — she practiced sit before reaching for a squeaky toy and picked it up in a snap. She's also house trained!
Throughout the day she had a coughing fit every now and again. That night, they became more frequent. I looked up how to help and turned the bathroom into a sauna, gave her a small amount of raw honey, found my humidifier, and put on some soothing classical music. Then we cozied up on a large cushion on the floor. She sprawled right on top of me and tucked her face into my shoulder. We stayed like that for most of the night, waking with coughing fits and massaging her neck until morning came. She's now being treated for kennel cough!
The day was good. The night was rough, but bonding. Returning her absolutely broke my heart. If anyone fosters or adopts this girl, I would love to know she has a good home. She's so incredible!
Notes from our sleepover last night! Meet Dr. Strangelove, the perfect lap dog and an all-around sweetheart. Whoever gets this girl will have loyalty and love in abundance. Thanks a bunch to Stephanie for recommending her!
She loves to sniff around everywhere, and is very easy to redirect — hardly distracted at all when passing people. We walked around the park for a while and she had the best time. She loves long walks.
Now, she wasn't a fan of ropes or bones, but a squeaky toy? Mandatory. She absolutely goes crazy for one. It was the best distraction during our car ride, though I'll admit it was also very distracting for me — so pros and cons there!
Speaking of the car ride, it did stress her out, so make sure to give her lots of love before and after!
She seemed house trained and never once used the restroom inside. She was a little nervous to eat at first, but a quick 30 seconds in the microwave made the wet food irresistible — she absolutely devoured it. So if she's being picky, warming it up slightly is a great go-to.
At the end of the day, she slept on my stomach, cuddled with me while I read to her, and seemed to be a huge fan of Red Rising as well. We both enjoyed the experience immensely — 10/10!