I've created a snuggling monster.

I know you were sitting here all comfy on the couch, but you looked like you needed a dog.

Please let me stay. Puuullllleeeasssee??

It's so comfy, my tongue has forgotten how to work.

Seriously. I'll love you...for like...ever.

And in THIS corner, we have SCOOTER. Let's have a clean fight!

(Sorry for the grainyness--this was taken with a camera phone.)

Louie is very concerned about the puppy in the computer.

Louie is very concerned about this Corgi puppy we found on youtube. No, it's not behind the couch. Or between the sofa cushions. Maybe if I crawl in mom's lap, she'll make it all better.

Pizza=Yum

Scooter was a dream before Louie showed up. Now, they constantly teach each other new ways to get into mischief. This week, they've discovered counter surfing. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, this refers to a dog's desire to search out any available food on the kitchen counter. 

My last dog was a pro--he could sniff out food from many rooms away. However, the new house has high, slippery granite countertops. Scooter and Louie, until fairly recently, have been rather blissfully unaware of the treats that sometimes perch just out of their reach.

Yesterday, a foster mom (who shall remain nameless) cooked a delicious pizza topped with artichokes, mushrooms, and cheese. She left said pizza on the countertop to cool. An unknown amount of time later, she returned to the kitchen to find the counter--empty! Foster mom works nights and sometimes does silly things like putting metal in the microwave, so she wondered for a minute if she'd put the leftovers into the refrigerator. No...no, she definitely didn't do that. 

After a minute, Scooter slinked back into the kitchen and did her trademark, submissive, I've-been-naughty roll over onto her back. The telltale remnants of pizza were blobbed on the lower cabinets, and Scooter spent the rest of the evening licking up invisible crumbs from that corner of the kitchen. It should go without saying that Louie also participated in this mischief-making. However, he clearly doesn't have the conscience with which Scooter is possessed and would be perfectly happy to steal pizza any day.

This morning, I washed some lettuce and left it out to dry. I don't function on a high level in the mornings, but I'm pretty sure that, when I returned from getting dressed, approximately half of my lettuce was missing. Scooter, conveniently, was resting on the floor immediately below the spot where the lettuce was originally located. 

Seriously, guys. Pizza, I understand. But lettuce??

A new adventure

Louie and Scooter met horses yesterday for the first time. Scooter was veeeryy brave and sniffed one of the horses very respectfully. Her little legs shook, but I was very proud of her. 

Louie stared at the animals and then threw up his breakfast. He never would get closer than 3 feet away. Embarrassing.

Needless to say, everyone's pooped after our big exciting weekend. I wish we all got to nap the day away, but somebody has to put food in the bowls.

Yikes! Have we fallen off the face of the earth??

No! We've been busy (and lazy) and taking lots of pictures (but not posting them) and video (but with the camera turned the wrong way because I'm a poor excuse for a videographer). Meanwhile, we've gotten to know Scooter really well since late-October, so on that note, here are the things I can tell you for sure about this pup.

1. She is the most laid-back dog ever. She's definitely not the wired, go-go-go Australian Shepherd. If it weren't for the fact that she sometimes gets right under your feet, I'd say she'd be great with an older person.

2. Early to bed; late to rise. Scooter puts herself to bed around 8:30 each night. She can usually be found sleeping in a dark, quiet corner of the office. Unless we've taken him on a long run, the young whippersnapper makes it hard to get any peace. The office is the perfect refuge for Miss Sleepyhead.

3. Scooter also answers to "Scoot," "Scooterrooney", "Scooter Poot" (don't ask), and "Scootey".

4. Scooter is great with kids. We've experimented on one particular 5-year-old several times. Scoot doesn't jump or really even "herd." The 5-year-old thinks she's great because Scooter is really easy to boss around. I think Scoot would be a primo addition to a family with children (no babies--she's a big enough baby for any family).

5. Hates the rain. Absolutely, positively. Scooter would prefer not to be home without any humans when that happens, but as long as she's not locked up in the kennel, all is well. That's right--shutting the dogs in the office maintains peace and a clean home while we're gone, but locking Scooter in her kennel when it's raining means possible destruction of the crate. Oh well...

6. Scooter wasn't too sure about other dogs at first, but she's been great with Louie, her foster brother. I have to say, he's a ginormous (oh yeah, that's a real word) pest, and she will let him know when he crosses the line. However, I have to say, she's remarkably tolerant of him. She's also spent some time with a friend's VERY rowdy dogs,  one of whom is quite a bit bigger than Scoot. She's not a rough-houser with strange dogs, and in fact, actively tries not to interact with them. She's a little bit of a loner and would prefer to play ball one-on-one with a two-legged type. Scoot and Louie usually have at least one good wrestle a day, though.

7. Scooter was meant to be a bed/couch dog. I have never been one to let my dogs on the furniture. They're furry and they shed. And they have dirty paws. Nevertheless, someone else in the house has other ideas, and I have to say, Scoot has really taken a shine to both the couch and the bed. She is an uber-snuggler. Some nights, she'll come over and lean on my leg while staring up at me longingly. It's hard not to give in once in awhile. Of course, Louie can't be left out, and that usually results in me looking for another place to sit.

8. Scooter loves the car. That's "love" with an L-U-V, too. Loves to go for car rides, is perfectly patient on long trips, stays in the back-back without trying to climb in the front like her little foster brother. In fact, she had a romp around the yard the other day. While I chased after her, she was nabbed by a neighbor when she jumped in his car. She got quite the scolding, but it's hard not to laugh at a dog who will give up freedom for the chance to go for a ride.

9. Scooter loves people more than anything on the face of the earth. Well...and petting. People and petting. Maybe she only likes people because they have hands and can pet. I don't know. She doesn't say. So while Scoot would get along well in a house with another dog or cats or kids or couples, as long as you're at least one single human being (and most of us are), she'll be happy.

(FYI--this is why I usually have to find a new place to sit.)

You must start off every morning with a good wrestle.