Brand New World

My name is Miss Boo, at least that what Dad calls me in the morning when he takes me out of my crate to put on my harness and go outside.  I love to sleep late, and so I don’t usually get to visit with Mom in the morning.  She goes to this place called, “work”.  I have been in New York for about two months now, and have lived in two homes.  I have visited my first, foster home, once, and gotten to play with my doggie pals there.  Mommy said we are going to have play dates.

I have gotten to know my forever home quite well.  There are at least 5 different textures of rugs on the floor, and it helped me learn the rooms better.  Gerry told me that they were leftover from when he lived here, so he didn’t slip on the floor.  I even have a few of his antlers and bones that I love to chew on.

From the first day I got here, Mommy taught me about the 6 stairs we have to go down from the front door.  She’s so smart, telling me to “step, step”  for each one.  When we come inside, I sit for a treat and then Mom drys my paws one by one.  After the first two, I get told to “walk towards her” and I get another treat while she dries the back two.  I learned “sit” in only a day or two.  I’m also good at “down” and “crawl”, but still have trouble with “off” when a new person comes over.  I just get too excited!  Dad’s voice lets me know when to quit though! Speaking of Dad….I love to snug with him!

I really do have good manners.  I don’t beg for food, in fact when Mom and Dad eat, I usually go into my crate and lay down for a while.  Sometimes I find treats in my bowl when I do this.  Scrambled eggs are yummy, and so is a bit on bacon fat on my kibble!  Mom gave me a pizza bone the other night, and it was yummy too!  I think my favorite though, was when she made chicken soup and saved me some broth and white meat that didn’t have any onion cooked with it.  I think I even had some smashed carrots in there!  This is my dinosaur which I love to chew on as well.  Mommy makes sure they don’t have fluff in them, as I love nothing more than to tear them apart when they do.  I don’t try to get into shoes, or other human things.  Gerry was right, this IS a good home to live in.

I hadn’t forgotten, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to smell that doogie scent on a blanket or pillow…and it brought tears of joy to my eyes when I recently picked up a couch blanket to fold, and smelled Boo’s doggie scent.  Non-dog lovers will say, “Ewwww, gross!”, but they have NO idea how comforting it is.

I know that Boo isn’t a Tripawd; If I were capable, I would start a web page for owners of dogs that were born blind, as online there is mostly information for elderly dogs that have GONE blind after being sighted.  I have questions, that I am answering for myself, and I’m really proud of my husband and myself.  We’re figuring things out as we go along.  I’ve also never had a “pit bull” (American Staffordshire Terrier) as a pet…and I have more questions than answers, but I do know this….I love her!

Adopting Boo has made me an extra vigilant observer.  I don’t know much of what she has been taught, or not taught, and so, with this Extra energy youngster I have learned a few things so far:

1. I think she has been blind and alone (on and off) for much of her life, as her behavior in playing by herself involves spinning and “looking” for others.  She will look to me to play tug of war games, and growl a dominant, “It’s mine'” sort of growl at times.
2. She is SO awake for the first hour of being taken out and eating, but then will fall into a lap, or go back to her crate to crash for a while.
3. She is VERY adaptable, considering she has been in my house for a week and a half, and then had to “learn” my parent’s home for the holidays, and she GOT IT!  She used textures, and my, “Step,” directions for the two stairs that they have in their ranch style house.  Here at her permanent home she has to navigate outside, two steps, turn right, and then complete four more steps (which she likes to take in 2 steps!) to get to the ground.
4. I was happily impressed that she adapted so quickly, as well as being a happy traveler in the mini van.  We put her liner and a bed in the back, behind the driver’s seat so I could watch her throughout the trip.  She had a KONG with a bit of peanut butter to get her interested, and then she curled up and slept for the rest of the way!

She is NOT Gerry-like in many to any ways, and I’m glad for that.  He knew I needed anew challenge and character to love and care for.  He chose well.