Just three weeks into Hope's stay and she's like a new dog! Hope is right there "in the mix" when Dave or I come home from work. She's not afraid to muscle her way past P & K for some "welcome home" attention. Hope craves affection and is very demanding in getting what she needs. She's definitely got the "head under hand" bump down...and she won't take no for an answer. She doesn't jump or lick though, just leans against you if she can.
Hope is slowly gaining weight, but still has 15 or so pounds to go. She appears to be a "daintier" Pyr with smaller paws and frame. I would guess she'll get up to 80 pounds at the most. Hope's fur was pretty short and dry after being rescued and cleaned up. However, it's already starting to grow back in and regain some of that classic Pyr softness. She still kinda looks like a "jarhead" though, due to the hair on her head being pretty short!! She has just the slightest champagne coloring on her ears and a few other spots...but she's mostly glowing white!
She's learning "sit" "down" and "shake", but sometimes get nervous and just does all three in rapid succession (knowing there's a treat at the end). We continue to walk her with Patrick and Kira. She still pulls a little and likes to smell EVERYTHING...but will walk at your side and behave, especially after a few blocks.
She LOVES the dog park. She runs around, plays with other dogs and enjoys the wide open spaces. She doesn't seem interested in the "water hazards" as of yet...not sure if that will change. She's also pretty good in the car...she lays or sits quietly and doesn't cause any "ruckus!"
Hope has also had the opportunity to meet some other family dogs and cats/kittens with absolutely NO problems! She allowed the kittens to walk all over her...they were especially in love with her tail! She simply sniffed them and let them explore!!
I'm torn between Hope needing a forever home with other dogs...or without. She tries to play with Kira and Patrick...but they sometimes shun her for reasons I can't figure out. She's still young enough that she's got some "puppy" in her and it breaks my heart that our dogs won't "be nice" and play! Although it did take Patrick and Kira a good 5-6 weeks to start playing together! Hope needs lots and lots of love and attention and I've found it's very hard to give "equal time" to all three dogs. So perhaps a home with only one other dog (after all we all only have two hands at the most!!) I haven't had her around small children yet so I'm not sure how she'd act, but I'd be surprised if she was anything but loving and gentle with them!
We are cleaning up an ear infection and treating a "cyst" on her leg with antibiotics. Other than those two things Hope appears to be in good health. There's been no GI problems.
I'm going to be very, very sad when Hope leaves our home for a forever family but I know it's important for her and for all the other Pyrs out there that will need a foster home someday. My HOPE for Hope is that she finds a family who can shower her with love and affection and spend lots of time walking and playing with her. She's just so sweet and deserves a forever home.
