Fluffy Fostering at Grade Lodge: Yet Another Birthday Party at Grade Lodge

Chance has survived another first here in Wisconsin!

There wasn't enough happening here at Grade Lodge. You know, what with two other dogs to play with. And then there's that crazy little Pony Girl who keeps galloping around the house - thundering up and down the stairs. Throw in a passle of cats but oh, no Fluffy Fans....

Chance managed to survive his first all 7 & 8 year old girl sleepover (as did the rest of us). I wish I could post the pictures of the girls lovin' on our fluffy boy. Hugs, kisses, belly rubs...you name it these girls cuddled with him.

As not to overwhelm him (and have extra teeth in the kitchen), we blocked the dogs upstairs until all the girls arrived and had eaten their pizza and cake. The big doggies roamed the upstairs hall and the stairs - the little puppy doggie hung out with Scott in the bedroom (don't tell Drew but she was on the BED) watching Airwolf or Battlestar Gallactica or something.

After things settled down we turned the hounds loose.

Chancey got lots of lovin' from the Mamas too! One Mama wanted to take him home but the Papa at that house has some pretty serious doggie allergies and even our (I think) hypoallergenic fluffy friend would probably send him wheezing and puffing to the ER. One Mama especially loved Chancey's Banyan tree.

Um...girl....girl?...you can scratch my ears any-time...girl?...girl...Hellooo?

Please ma'am...when do we eat birf-day cake?

Something we did notice that we hadn't seen before is that Chancey was trained with some sort of tricks. We were making dinner the other night and Scott was moving a piece of meat from the counter to the stove and Chancey sat up and begged (or sat pretty or ?). I'm not sure what it was called when it was taught to him because we tried everything we knew and couldn't get him to duplicate it. If we see it again, we'll try and keep the camera handy.

As far as the "getting alongness" with smallish puppy-type doggies goes, Chance and Emma seem to be getting along a little better but there isn't a time when there is not a gate between them. I'm not quite ready to explain to Drew why his puppy has chew marks on her floppy ears or her nubby tail.

Thursday morning while I was shuttling dogs in and out, Chance actually made physical contact with Emma. She was standing on the gate, leaning over to sniff. He ran in from outside, ran up to her "booped" her nose with his and ran off. It was a run by "booping".

I was pretty excited by the fact that he's actually trying to get to know her without actually tasting her. I'm sure if we had Emma another week a couple of things would happen: a. Chance and Emma might be able to be in a room together without mesh to separate and 2. I would lose my mind and move into the office. Though I suppose Drew would come home and want his dog back too - whatever....

One of the little girls this morning was lovin' on puppy she said, "Mrs. Grade, I really want this doggie. She's soooo sweet."

I told her that it would probably make Drew and Stephanie cry if she took her home. I did tell her to come back and love on our doggies....anytime.

We do of course still have growling but it is usually quieted by a soft "heeeey, come on, Chancey" and then the growl turns into a whine. It would be interesting to know what occurred in his little life & why he does what he does. And what the code word is to make him "sit pretty" again. That was soo cool!

As I type, Chancey is blocked into the computer room and Connor's room only. The non-fluffy doggies have the run of the house. He was just standing in Connor's doorway and Emma was on the other side of the gate barking at him. Connor said that Chancey was just standing there wagging his tail and whining at her. Hooray! There's hope. But don't get your hopes up adoptive families. It's one step forward and two steps back. Sigh....

A couple more pictures before I go take a nap - last night's slumber party with ten eight year olds has left me needing a nap.

Take us to The Pig. We want steak...and pork...and chicken...and bologna! (Puppies...sheesh!)

Mocha says: Ok..dang...that's not working...let me think a minute. Te'a, you try the other ear back and Emma you look more pitiful...no....that's not quite right..