Welcome

Ossi's first night home, pooped out from all the excitement and playing








Welcome to Ossi's Dog Blog!
Updated when we're not outside playing in the yard to let you all know how things are in Ossi's world and also to share how wonderful adopted dogs are.

We adopted Ossi last weekend (11-19-05) at an adoption event for Homeward Bound Rescue in the Twin Cities. After seeing his stubby little legs and big "smile" the website, we just had to check him out. The event, at a pet store in Maplewood, was chaotic--to say the least! There were dogs and cats everywhere and meowing and barking and people milling around and peeing on the the floor (the dogs...not the milling people) we spotted Ossi right away and I said, "Here's my driver's license, we're taking him for a walk." They handed the leash over and we got to test drive the 2004 model Corgi/Yellow
Lab cross.

There were other people there to see Ossi that day, but because I'm not so patient (and maybe not so polite when there's something I really want) we were the first to see him and we knew right away he was the dog for us. He was the right size (about 30 lbs...big enough not to be a "silly" dog but small enough for me to walk him, not vice versa ), he was a great walker, only barked once when he saw a group of doggie friends he wanted to play with and didn't chase any of the ducks at the pond. Oh...and he was lovable. Soooo lovable. And, this is probably one of the best things about adopting a shelter dog, he was already potty trained, already crate trained and had a little (from what we can tell) sit-stay-come training.

So, we set about buttoning up our really big, fenced in back yard and making sure there were no places Ossi could wiggle out of. Then I had a grand idea...put in a small, fenced in area within the yard for the dog to do his business in, which we then began referring to as the Puppy Pee Pee Palace. It's about three feet wide by 15 feet long, fenced on three sides (open "door") and I even found sod in the end of November in Minnesota, nothing short of a miracle. Then I put in what's called the Pee Post...I'd link to it but it doesn't seem to work, so save your $12. It's supposedly soaked with "pheremones" that encourage your dog to pee in the area. Upon opening the box, it did, indeed, smell like urine. I guess it only smells that way to humans though because ever since his arrival, Ossi has done nothing but ignore it and proceeded to pee in every other spot in the yard. You know what they say about the best laid plans...

Ossi's first day home, Thanksgiving, has truly been a day to give thanks for how great we have it. He is the perfect addition to our little family. He slept all night in his crate, never cried once. Loves to run around the backyard and chases the squirrels away from the bird feeders so there's more food for the chickadees, bluejays, cardinals and whatever else is out there. Good boy!

Here are a few photos of his first night (pooped out from the long car ride home and getting used to his new surroundings) and enjoying his first full day in his new home. Welcome home Ossi and we hope further updates will encourage people to adopt a shelter dog.

PS He's neutered too. As Bob Barker always says at the end of each "Price is Right", "Remember to spay and neuter your pets."

Ossi enjoying his
Kong...just about
the best dog toy
ever invented!