Rosie #9 Silver Labrador Retriever Female 6 Years Old ID #2743

September 8, 2020

It’s been another quiet 2 weeks around here since I’ve been on some restrictions for my last heat cycle. I’m kind of getting sick of wearing these fancy pants, but FM said that I should soon be finished wearing them. I much prefer my only accessory to be a bandana.

I continue to enjoy my daily walks on the SRT, there are still so many great smells out there. Also, great news…the dog park at my foster parents’ apartment was finally fixed on Friday after that weird flood ruined everything. My foster sister and I were playing there all weekend since it was so nice outside. I love chasing tennis balls, especially the squeaky ones!

Speaking of the weekend, I went to visit my FM’s friend to give her a baby gift and am officially a car riding expert. I jumped in all by myself, sat down for the entire ride looking out the window calmly, and then waited for FM to unclip my seatbelt and put on my leash before I jumped out to greet our friends.

They have a nice fenced in yard that I explored a bit, but mostly stayed by FM and her friend because I still prefer people over anything I’ll encounter in a yard. We sat out there all afternoon and I had a great time, just getting pets, smelling the air and enjoying the sunshine. I could have stayed there all day!

I just got a bath and my foster parents were in awe of how much fur I have now! The first few baths that I had, they didn’t have to use much shampoo and I only took a few minutes to dry. My foster parents have said from day one that I’m a beauty inside and out, but now I have this beautiful silver coat and they say that I look like a show dog.

August 23, 2020

It has been pretty calm here for the past week.

I finally got to go see the heart doctor to make sure that I was in tip top shape for adoption. FM told me that I was ready to get fixed as well, but then I went into heat, so I guess that will have to wait. FM and FD have light colored carpets, so now I’m wearing some “fancy pants” to help keep the place clean. I really don’t mind them, except when FM and FD first put them on and pull my tail through the little hole…I don’t like that at all, so I try to sit down to make it stop. Once they are on though, they aren’t so bad and I get lots of praise from FM and FD, so it all works out for me.

One other consequence of being in heat is a new rule that FM and FD are strict about: no boys allowed. I don’t really understand why I can’t say hi to everyone like I usually do on morning walks, but FM said that we need to make sure that we are extra socially distanced from the boys for the next few weeks. I don’t really mind as long as I have my human companions and foster sister to keep me company.

Other than that, things have been pretty normal. I’ve been going on my daily walks on the trail, playing with some new toys, and doing yoga with FM. It was pretty challenging at first, but I’m starting to get the hang of it. Sometimes FM gets in the way of my downward dog, but that’s ok.

Once I am over my final heat, FM tells me that I’ll be ready for a new home and my new family will need to get me spayed, whatever that means.  I very much enjoy living the life I have now as a full-time pet, so I don’t really have time to have puppies anymore. Being a pet is a full-time job, you never know when someone is going to need some love and I am here for pets 24/7. My foster parents are amazed at how much I’ve settled and grown in confidence since I arrived in June. They said that they are not looking forward to saying goodbye, but are excited for me to get the furever home that I very much deserve.

August 9, 2020

Rosie here! I’m back again with another pup date! It has been awhile since I last wrote and boy is there a lot to tell you all.

First up, I had an at-home spa day. FM and FD gave me a bath, cleaned my ears, and brushed my teeth. I was not a fan of the teeth brushing, but FD thinks it is just because I don’t like the taste of the toothpaste. I was still a good girl through the whole experience (even if I moved my head around trying to avoid the toothbrush in my mouth- that stuff has a gross texture, yuck!). I hopped into the bathtub on my own and sat nice and still during the ear cleaning, so FM gave me some treats and pets afterwards saying how I was such a good, clean girl.

Then it was my foster sister’s turn for a nail trim and a groomer comes to the apartment to trim her nails, so I was able to get a pedicure too. FM said she was too worried about my dark nails to do it herself, so we should leave it to the professionals! It is nice to have short nails- the groomer lady said she had a lot to trim, and I should be more comfortable now. She also told my foster parents how I was pretty scared of getting my nails trimmed and the nail Dremel sound made me want to hide under her. She took her time and gave me lots of extra love, and now I look like a million bucks!

Then last week, we had a crazy storm come through. We live near a river and all that rain made the river rise, which hasn’t happened since my foster parents have lived here. It was very loud and we lost power, but none of that bothered me. All that water came up to our garage, which broke our elevator. Now that bothered me. I was going to have to face the big bad stairs if I wanted to go outside and go potty. FD carried me down and up every time I had to go out, but I wasn’t much of a fan of being carried either. So, one morning I just decided that I would walk down the stairs on my own and then, once I had done that, I just walked right back up them. FM and FD were so happy with me, and we’ve been practicing the stairs ever since. Those stairs aren’t quite so big and bad anymore!

Now I’m writing this pup date from my foster-grandparents’ house. It was my foster grand-dad’s birthda

y this weekend, so we did a cookout outside. FM and FD brought a really long leash along so I could do a bit of exploring since there are lots of furry creatures around that I’m interested in learning more about. I made friends with a deer and spent plenty of time getting pets from everyone around. I also met my first baby (away from the farm) and I was very gentle, although the baby was pretty boring so I really didn’t pay much attention to her.

Well that is all for now, everyone is waking up and I got to go get make my rounds- more people equal more love and I’m here for it!

July 27, 2020

Hi friends, Rosie here again! It has been quite a week for me. I went to my first socially distanced cookout and got to see some old puppy friends who moved away! They had the biggest yard I’ve ever been in and I zoomed like I was a puppy again. I am still very interested in everything that is happening and did not lay down the entire time we were at the cookout. Thankfully, I got plenty of nap time the next day.

FD was afraid I was getting cold at night, since my fur is still growing back from my pregnancy, so he put a blanket over my crate and now I have a puppy cave. I feel very secure there and sleep so well, but I prefer to spend most of my time on my bed in FD’s office while he works. FM recently let me up on the couch with her (well really, she picked me up, because I like to stay grounded). It was an interesting experience and I got some quality snuggles, but I still was a little unsure of the whole experience.

FM says that in a couple weeks, I will be ready to start looking for my furrever home, which sounds exciting to me. I am a sweet, loving girl who has become so brave since leaving the farm. I still need some reassurance sometimes about new things and I don’t like the big concrete box with stairs in it. But I love meeting new humans and new puppy friends. Even though I’m 6, I’m still a little unaware of my body, so while I have a sweet disposition, I might be a bulldozer hazard for very young children. I am very easy going and have definitely settled into feeling safe enough to lay down and nap while FM and FD are doing other things. I walk really well on my leash, only getting excited when I see a squirrel. Even then though, I am not much of a puller and am easily refocused. I am still learning commands, but I am very treat and attention motivated, so I am always interested in doing more training.

July 20, 2020

Hi everyone,

Rosie’s FM here!

I asked Rosie if I could take over this week and she agreed- she’s currently napping on her bed. Sweet Rosie has been with us for a month now and we are astounded at the progress she’s made and continues to make each day. Last month we welcomed a sweet but very shy and timid lab into our home. She was afraid of doors/doorways, did not know how to play with other dogs, and didn’t understand how great it can be living and being a pet.

Fast forward a month and Rosie is learning basic commands, playing with our resident pup. She is acclimating to life inside with baths in the bathtub, vacuums, and sleeping in her comfy dog bed in lieu of always laying on the floor (which was her preference for a while).

We live right off of the Schuylkill River Trail and took her on her first walk there this weekend. She did great for her first time! She was a little scared of the bikes zooming by and wanted to chase a squirrel, but she continues to increase her confidence in new situations and even meeting new people. She met our favorite runner who always stops and pets/gives treats to our resident lab and Rosie was excited to meet him and gladly accepted a treat from him.

We are starting to think about what kind of home would be best for her and we think she could do well in a myriad of situations. She’s been so flexible with coming to live with us, getting used to our 1-year old resident pup, meeting neighbors and playing in the dog park with new friends that there really isn’t anything Rosie can’t acclimate to (other than refusing to go up our concrete steps, ha-ha). The only criteria that my husband and I have said is essential is that Rosie needs a life of companionship. Rosie wants to be where her humans are. Her perfect day is snuggled up beside her people, getting pets and love all day.

July 11, 2020

Wow it has been another fun-filled week! It was FM’s birthday, so we went for a car ride to the Poconos (whatever those are).  I’m getting better at riding in the car, although I still sit facing backwards sometimes and fall asleep sitting up. I don’t get how my foster sister just lays down and falls asleep. There are so many exciting things to see and smell!

At the Poconos I discovered porches and fenced in yards, and I loved it! I think that I’d like to have one of my own someday. I only tried to nose out the gate once because the smells there were fantastic, but the rest of the time I was playing with my foster sister and hanging out with all the humans. I’m starting to really like playing with tennis balls and I’ve been playing with my foster sister more often.

This week I also went for my first real hike to a waterfall. It was so much fun, but my sister was splashing in the water and I wasn’t a fan of that. I prefer to stay on land where it’s dry. The hike was fun though, I got to smell so many new and interesting things! My nose was to the ground sniffing away. I didn’t want to miss a thing!

I am still very curious about what FD and FM are doing at all times, and like to check in on them to see if they need me for any help or snuggles. FM says that she can always count on me for accepting/wanting pets and I’m the perfect break during her work day. I am getting even better at playing with other dogs, but I also enjoy my quiet alone time in the office with FD. I am starting to relax more and more, and enjoy the quiet afternoons while FD types away on his computer and I can lay on my comfy bed.

July 1, 2020

I had the best weekend ever! I went for some car rides this weekend and while I was pretty scared at first, I was excited to get out at a place with lots of sand and salty water. I did ok in the car overall, but we were in there for a long time. I sat on my foster sister’s head for part of the ride, so that made me feel safer.

When we got to the beach, there were a bunch of other dogs there, and everyone was so friendly. I wasn’t very interested in them though, I mostly wanted FD’s sandwich. The only bad part about the beach was all the waves, they scared me a little, so I only got my paws wet. FM apologies that she didn’t take any pictures or videos at the beach to post, but we were just having too much fun and she didn’t want to miss my first time splashing around.

Other than that, I’m still adjusting to life as a house pet. I am starting to use this “bed” and it’s actually way nicer than sleeping on the floor like I have been for the last few weeks when I help FD work.

I still get very excited when FD/FM come to get me out of the crate. FD tells me I need some “chill” in those moments, but I’m still learning what that means. I have definitely become a master of “sit” though, so I think I’m doing pretty good overall. Here are some more pics of me having a blast!

June 23, 2020

I’m starting to get used to the routine around here and less anxious every day. I like spending the day helping dad with work in his office and occasionally I’ll remind him by putting my head on his lap or tapping him with my paw that I’d like some attention. I’m starting to calm down and relax more often. I used to pace around the apartment nonstop checking in to see if anyone needs me, but I’m starting to enjoy naps.

I’ve also started learning basic commands and am on my way to being a “sit” master!

This weekend I was outside a lot, making new friends of the human and dog variety, and I loved it. I loved all the pets and love I got from my neighbors, who tell me how great I am. I still don’t like the ominous steps and my FM and FD keep trying to get me to climb them. I smile and let my FD carry me up and I’ll eat a treat as long as my feet stay firmly planted on the bottom step. After several minutes of treats and coaxing, we end up using the elevator, which is where I want to go anyway.

This weekend my FM introduced me to the dreaded vacuum which I did not like- it’s too noisy, but FM says that between my foster sister and I, some cleaning needed to be done. I just hid in the office with FD and everything was ok.

I also got a bath. It was pretty scary, as are most new things for me. The entire time I stared up at FD who reassured me that everything was alright and that I was going to feel so much better. He was right. I didn’t like the sound of the water or getting wet, but I liked the massage and drying off. I am so soft and smell amazing! After my bath, FM put on my new collar and bandana from my Brookline family. FM keeps telling me how pretty I am and how my new accessories really go well with my fur color.

June 19, 2020

So, life has been crazy lately. I had some puppies a couple months ago and took really good care of them, just said goodbye to all of them, and then these nice ladies showed up and took me on a long ride. To be honest the whole ordeal was pretty terrifying. Then I met this guy who is supposed to be my foster dad who took me into my new home, he got on the floor, and gave me some pets. Oh, how I love some pets! We had the day to ourselves and he gave me a ton of attention and love, which I asked for more of by politely tapping him with my front paw so he keeps it up. In my opinion, he can pet me all day but he insists that he has to “work” to do, whatever that means…

The next day I met my foster mom and sister who were traveling for the weekend. They are pretty nice too, and the more people who can love on me the better! I love being near them all day long. It’s been too long since I’ve had pets, I sneak in a little kiss if they are on my level, tap them with my paw to let them know it’s time for more, or do a tippy tappy dance while wiggling my whole body.

My new foster parents live in an apartment and there is SOOO much to see, hear and smell. I am making new friends slowly and all the other humans here are really nice. The dogs are ok too. The only things that I’m not crazy about are these things called “stairs”, what the heck. I don’t get it. You need to move both your front and back legs at different times, it’s pretty confusing and it scares me when I get up a couple of steps. FM and FD say that I’m getting it, but I prefer to go to the lift thingy. I’m even getting used to doors as long as FM and FD go first to make sure that it’s safe!

They have some pretty weird rules around here about where I’m supposed to go to the bathroom and when I can spend time with my new foster sister. I’m alright with it as long as they pet me (preferably at the same time, all day long) and give me treats after I pee outside. I’m a sucker for a good treat and some praise! When I can hang out with my foster sister, she’s been trying to teach me how to play with these things called balls and bones, but I don’t really get it. Why would you chase a ball around the house, or chew on a bone for fun? I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts about this whole play thing.