In September 2018 we took our beach vacation. Charlotte goes to doggy daycare while we are gone and she LOVES it. In the weeks after we got home these events transpired:
- Charlotte seemed sullen and just kinda down. Lots of sleeping. She was newly 2 and acting like she's 12.
- Destructive behavior (new): One morning we went to church. Per usual, Charlotte was out of her crate as she had earned that privilege months before. We came home and she ate 2 pairs of my shoes, June's XBox headphones, and 2 of Jim's expensive music headphones. HUNDREDS of dollars in damages. DOG!!
(Solution posed: Take Charlotte to daycare every so often so she can play... ok)
Then:
- Jim started dropping hints and commenting on posts containing puppies for sale.
Hand to heart, I can't do a puppy. Charlotte nearly killed me. Adding Charlotte to the family was by far harder than adding ANY of my own children. #nopuppies
Finally, in December we had a legit conversation: "Our dog needs a dog." The way Jim and I function is that he will mention a topic in passing several times. Afterward, I will run with it, research, plan, act and make it happen. This has occurred with every house, car, and dog purchase. Now was no different. Jim and I agreed that a second dog would be good for us and I launched into go-mode.
I did a PetFinder search first and found this darling hound. This would be my Sadie.
I put in my application. It was approved and a plan was in motion to visit this sweet pup. 20 minutes after this phone conversation, she called back: "This dog was just paid for and is now claimed. I'm so sorry." Ugh.
So I thought, "Susie, it's all in who you know..." and I know someone in the dog-foster business!
"Hey Jen, we are wanting to add a second dog. If you come across an adult dog who screams 'CONRAD' let me know.... orrr a phenomenal litter of puppies, but I really don't want a puppy." Jen responded by saying that she doesn't often foster adult dogs and I really would be better off with a puppy, but that she would keep her eyes open.
Well, crap. I don't want a puppy, but I'm pretty sure Charlotte is as good as she is because we molded her since puppyhood (even if it almost left my children motherless #deathbypuppyhood).
THE NEXT DAY I get this message:
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| Sissy at her first home with her cat friend |
Jen got "Sissy" a few days later. Slowly, we got updates.
She was an outdoor dog who was surrendered to a kill shelter when her one owner passed away, and the other was allergic. She went from the kill shelter to a NC/SC foster, to transport, to Jen's house. Poor thing had quite the process. During her time at Jen's we got to visit her a few times and decided that it seemed like she would be a good fit. She was scared and would need lots of love and patience, but all big signs pointed to good thing. Sissy's name turned to Sadie and we anticipated her arrival here. First, she had 2 weeks of recovery from an awful case of kennel cough and worms. Nurse Jen took perfect care of her and when she was all better, we planned to bring her here. We chose to foster-to-adopt, which gave us the chance to see how she would do with the kids, Charlotte, etc before committing.
On Jan 3rd, Sadie came home for the first time.
Sadie acclimated to us so well that first day. We were prepared to go very slowly with her. The amount of people and fact that she was an outdoor dog made the transition to us so very new for Sadie. However, she acclimated so quickly. When we got her Annie and I were home. An hour later, June came home. Hour after that, the middle 3 and then later, Jim. Sadie greeted everyone awesomely and wasn't scared or skittish.
This was her meeting Jim for the first time at our home:
This one got me right in the feels. I swear Sadie felt a kinship to her owner who passed away.
So, we had her for about 2 weeks before we signed the paperwork to adopt her. Within the first week we got her official Conrad-collar.
We found that she walks very well on a leash (Annie can walk her!). She's a bossy girl and will steal any of Charlotte's bones. That said, Charlotte has established herself as alpha.
Sadie has learned sit, touch, leave it, stay, and lay down. She's not aggressive in the least and is just as tolerant of the kids as Charlotte is.
She struggles with pooping in the dining room and wanering upstairs, but those are easily managed and will be trained out of her. Overall, she is just such a gentle soul with super soft fur. We love her and she's here to stay. My next challenge is to train her and get her on the path to become a therapy dog. I would really love to do that and think she would be perfect. We shall see... <3 p="">
Jan 16th we signed the paperwork and Sadie became ours for keeps. For years I was overwhelmed with life and felt like kids and a house was all I could take care of. I felt like that for a LONG time. However, these animals truly add such a great dynamic to the house. I'm glad we left led to add puppers. And I'm so happy with how everything transpired with Sadie.
If I can step back a bit, and talk just about myself: after 3 losses this Summer/Fall, being able to anticipate something, plan, hope, and see it come to fruition was so good. We want more Conrad babies, but we have tried for well over a year now and it's possible that it's not in the cards. Or maybe it is. God knows and time will tell. However, regardless, adding Sadie has been healing for me personally. I can pour love into this dog (and my children of course, but the grandeur of something new is fun and good), which will be especially good as these 3 due dates creep up this Spring. Anway...
Welcome home, Sadie. We are so glad you are here.
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