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| Update 1: Here are some new pictures of Argos, who is thriving along with her brother and sister in their new home and yard. The chow mix that no one thought would make a good family dog spent the better part of Thanksgiving playing with a two year old who was fascinated with that fluffy tail, and never objected when it was pulled on.
She's still my little sidekick at work, and the two of us are frequently able to talk a customer out of a shock collar and into a positive reinforcement class. People never cease to be amazed that no one would adopt such a beautiful, sweet dog. She loves our other pets, and she and her beagle sister have already made a track around their new backyard tree, with her basset brother watching from the side, waiting for an opportunity to join in, since he is just too slow to keep up with the girls. When it's time to rest, she can almost always be found on her back, hoping for a belly rub. Even though she weighs over 60 pounds now, she's still a lap dog and will hop on the couch for a cuddle whenever there's a free moment.
Update 2: Just a quick update on Roxie/Diogi, now with a permanent name for her permanent home: Argos. We thought she deserved something a bit more dignified, and Argos is my all time favorite dog in literature. We've spent the last seven weeks watching this sweet girl progress from a worn out, confused, reserved dog and into a healthy, happy, playful puppy who really loves life. It's shocking that she's been here for such a short time, since it's so odd to remember our family without her. Deviod of the "typical chow" problems with dogs of the same sex, she gets along fabulously with both her brother and sister, and has even helped my very submissive basset to gain some confidence because he so frequently is allowed to win at tug-o-war with a bigger, older dog. She's gained thirteen pounds, and still has a few more to go, but is looking really great. She's a big cuddlebear too, who loves nothing more than to hop up on the couch or bed, where she lies happily on her back for as long as you are willing to rub her belly. As a trainer at Petsmart, I frequently take one of the kids to work with me to show off. When I do, customers always assume they're available for adoption, so I knew when I fostered her I'd be able to find her a home quickly if I took her to work with me a few times. We all know how that turned out, but I take her pretty frequently for several reasons. People are always shocked to find out that I've only had her for a short time; her behavior leads them to believe she's always been with me. She's great at showing customers that positive reinforcement and patience are far more effective than force. And as I expected, customers frequently ask what they need to do to adopt her, and I am able to explain that although she has a home, there are plenty of dogs just like her at NAMC or any other shelter or rescue organization if they just look. She's also a great ambassador for the breeds and mixes we're frequently taught to be afraid of. At the adoptathon, I talked to several families about taking her home, and everyone seemed to balk at the idea of a chow as a family dog. When customers are able to witness not only how polite and well behaved she is, but also how sweet and friendly to dogs, adults and children, they begin to change their opinion, little by little. I always thought she was beautiful, now everyone else does too. People constantly go bonkers over her coat, her fancy tail and her goofy ear. We're all moving to Louisiana soon, and once I've gotten her where she needs to be I think she'll make a great therapy dog. After all, she's already made our lives better. xoxoxo, Amanda |