 A nice shot of Mom's huge dog-friendly backyard. |
We spent nearly 3 weeks in Arizona for Christmas. It was about a week longer than planned but I got the flu. Sapphire had so much fun! She would truly be happiest in a big household with lots of people and other dogs. I think even kids. (I'm working on it Sapphy girl give me a little time!!) She had 5 (sometimes 6) other dogs to play with and 6 people with someone constantly home. She did great on the drive over. We didn't hit holiday traffic like we did for Thanksgiving so we were there in 5 hours. She was delighted to see everyone and settled right in. None of the dogs will chase her anymore so she barks at them. The only time she ever barks. Otherwise she is very very quiet. Eventually she can't contain herself anymore and will run by herself around and around the yard. |
There was one little sad incident one day when Mom was scolding one of the other dogs. Mom had a magazine in her hand and hit it against her palm to get the other dog's attention but Sapph jumped, cowered, and ran off. Mom felt so bad! She tried to get Sapphy so she could pet her and reassure her but Sapphire was just too busy trying to get out of the way. This can be pretty typical of sighthounds. It looks like they were abused, but they are just so sensitive! It makes it hard to discipline them at first. She let Mom near her after a few minutes and after a couple hours looked like she had forgotton it all. But I know Mom just felt terrible.
We had a near riot in PetSmart one day. So many people stopped to pet her and ask me questions that we blocked the aisle. At one point a little boy ran up and just grabbed her neck in a big bear hug. It startled me. She hasn't been around kids so I would have liked to monitor it closer but she was happy. He kept calling her a reindeer and saying she just needed antlers. He was kind of right actually...she does look a little reindeerish.
| She has gained weight. At the vet visit she had gained nearly 10 pounds and wearing it really well. I found a really good high-calorie food so she doesn't need to eat more food and get gassy. Her dandruff is nearly gone and her coat looks so glossy and pretty. Everyone commented on how she is just radiating health now. She was been especially busy in her pack-ratting. We can't keep any slippers around, Sapphy has them all on her bed. She has a special fondness for Mom's Wiley Coyote slippers. Carries them around a lot. Anything with a little texture. Terry cloth slippers, fuzzy slippers, my fleece slippers, a velvet throw pillow, and she even pulled one of those feather "tiaras" that we wore for New Years out of someone's purse so she could carry it around. I came more prepared this time with some of Sapphy's toys. I tend to buy a toy or two every time we go to PetSmart and we go every week so that should tell you how many she is accumulating. They are mostly stuffed animal-type toys. Other dogs would have them all torn apart, but Sapph just carries them around or if she is feeling especially playful she tosses them in the air and pounces on them. One funny thing she did one day; she went into Gretchen's room and brought out a ziploc baggy that contained that yarn Sapphy was so fond of over Thanksgiving. She couldn't have felt the texture and I'm not even sure she could smell it, but by golly she found it. Quite a coincidence. She also found Gretchen's good cashmere sweater and dragged it out. That got taken away pretty quick. |
 the feather duster too! What kind of prey drive does she have? |
 She just crawled up there to be with him! |
She loves the family. On one of the last days there, I watched her run in my Mom's room at a full gallop and without stopping, leap on the bed nearly squashing Mom and just shower her with nuzzle rubs and kisses. Then she plopped down and squirmed to just get as close as possible. She had the hugest grin on her face and again, I had the pleasure of seeing unadulterated joy. It is wonderful to witness that.
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