Meet Bulldozer

[Zoey]

Dozer...Our First Few Days

After losing Princess so tragically I didn't want another dog yet. The kids didn't at first either but then in talking to people they would find out someone a mile down had puppies or 'so and so' had a dog that needed a home. We inquired about each but nothing developed. There was a reason for it I told myself... it wasn't time yet.

Then last Monday morning my neice calls from Kalamazoo. She told us about someone up by Grand Rapids that had to move for their job and had a kid loving dog to rehome. She knew it was a long drive but it sounded like this might be the dog for us.

So I made the call. Got links to some pics of him and called to ask a few more questions.

Day One

Wednesday morning we printed a map, packed up the car, and headed for Michigan.

What we knew

• He was a 2 1/2 yr intact, male lab with boundless energy that loved kids and loved to play.
• He had always lived outdoors in a kennel so he 'probably' wasn't house broken.

Outdoor dogs have never been my thing...they just don't feel like pets and we talked about that with the kids. We would try it inside. If that wasn't agreeable with him we would let him to continue resideing outside. We would let it be Dozer's call.

He was excited to meet us and ran around to play while we got to know each other. It was funny to hear him snorting like a piggie when he got excited and make little whiny sounds followed by excited barks to talk to us.

He chased a frisbee around, caught a few, sniffed us like crazy and eventually got in the car.

We headed back out for another looooooong drive.

It was somewhere about 20 miles from the stateline that we stopped at a gas station so hubby and kids could grab a drink. I offered to walk the dog while they were in the station.

Surprise #1- For the most part I've always had female dogs. I had a male dog years ago but got him as a very young puppy. Zoey is gentle and that's why she worked as a Therapy dog when my daughter was learning to walk again after her surgeries. Dozer is, as I've put it, ALL DOG. Before I realized what was happening a very strong 68 lb lab was draggin me across the BP parking lot.

We regained our composure.

It looked like we were doing good. He got excited and wound my legs up in the leash.

We got untangled. He decided he wanted to meet a man in a pickup truck and we went flying across the parking lot again.

Wow. This was going to be interesting. :)

Hubby came out and rescued me. While he and the kids got in the car I went in to get a drink and snack and 'compose' myself a moment.

To my surprise as I walked out the store a very happy to see his new mommy dozer started barking at me and wagging his tail. He rememered who I was and greeted me with doggie kisses when I opened the door. 'Awwww what a sweet dog!'

Finally we are home.

A call ahead to let the kids know Zoey needed to go hang out in one of their rooms with the door shut had already been made. This boy wasn't accustomed to being a house and we didn't want his first experience in his new home to be with the 'school marm' Border Collie looking up at him and giving him lip.

We played in the yard for a while but he wanted to stick close to us on the porch. When my son opened the door Dozer made his way inside...electively.

Five minutes into his sniffing the doorway between the living room and dining room got sprayed. A quick 'No' and 'let's go outside' followed by one more a few hours later. For the rest of the evening each time he was taken out he did his business and heard how wonderful he was for doing it.

He laid down in the living room with the kids. ^^ See how he crosses his front legs?? The kids think he's 'proper'. :)

Then came bedtime.

We didn't have a crate yet. Zoey hasn't used one in years. Princess's was too small for Dozer. The wimpy little nylon tie out we have in case of emergencies wasn't going to work, he could snap that with one pull. Everyone else had to get up in the morning so they went to bed. That left me and Dozer.

He had fallen asleep on the living floor so that gave me an opportunity to quietly sneak upstairs and get my pj's on [or so I thought].

As I was getting changed I heard the sound of dishes clanging together...loudly and ran down the stairs to see what was going on. Dozer is tall enough that if he stands at the kitchen counter he can reach (paw) all the way to the back of the cupboards. He had cleared all the counters in the matter of a minute. Bozer likes the kitchen. Lesson Two--"NO! counters Dozer"

While I'm picking up dishes Dozer has disappeared. I find him in the downstairs bathroom. Dozer is tall enough that if he stands at the bathrooom counter he can see in the mirrror. Dozer likes to look in the mirror. Bathrooms are fun. Good boy for not taking the toothbrushes and soap off the counter!!!

One more trip out for Dozer to do his business in the 'appropriate spot' and then off to mom and dads room where he was sure to stay out of trouble.

68 pounds of lab running across the room and jumping....right onto your stomach. 'Dozer Off'

Three or four more times then Dozer discovers the closet and it looks like the perfect place to curl up for the night.

Day Two Coming Soon.