Hello Claire

This is Claire. She's our new dog and we love her. The humane society said she's part Basenji, an African hunting breed. Dave said he thinks the other part is Holstein.

John and I credit our decision to get a dog to watching one too many episodes of The Dog Whisperer, with which we are obsessed.

We thought about a Newfoundland, but when I found out they sling slobber onto your ceiling when they shake their heads I had second thoughts. Plus their turds are the size of firewood. We decided I would go the Humane Society to see if there might be any matches for our family there.

There were four "green tag" dogs. Green tags are put on the cages of dogs who are ready to go home with most any family that same day. Yellow tags are given to dogs who are "challenging," as in "the jaws of that 80 lb. Pit Bull will challenge your arm to stay attached to your body."

I didn't notice Claire at first. When I finally saw her she wasn't barking or excited like the other dogs. In fact, she just rested her head on her paws and stared up at me with a sad and slightly annoyed look on her face. I thought to myself, "that is so how I would feel if I had to be here." Ashleigh, the volunteer who was helping me let me take Claire to one of the "get to know you" rooms they have. Even then she wasn't effusive and she wouldn't look at me. She just leaned against my leg and occassionally licked my hand. I told Ashleigh that I was definitely interested in taking Claire home (btw, her name at the H.S. was Kiki. I couldn't bring myself to call her that so we renamed her). John needed to meet her too and couldn't until the next day, so Ashleigh took Claire back to her cage.

When John and I returned Ashleigh saw me and said she was glad I came back because Claire was very sad for the rest of the day after I left (I know it's a line, but it totally worked on me). This time when they brought her to the room she was much happier to see me and warmed up to John right away. He liked her and we decided to adopt her, but it was too late to process our request that night so she had to go back to her cage. She got inside without a fuss but then turned around to give me a look so confused and deeply disappointed I felt like spending the night in the cage just so she would know we weren't abandoning her.

But it turned out we needed the extra night to get ready for her. I rushed around the next morning and got supplies and a couple of toys. I picked her up as soon as the Humane Society opened. They made me sit in the lobby so they could bring her out to me. She was the happiest I'd seen her when she came through the door. You never know how things are going to go once a dog is on the "outside", but she was fine. She climbed up in the passenger side of the Jeep and just sat there as we drove. Didn't try to stick her head out the window or get in my face, just sat there looking at me or at the passing scenery.

Her bio at the H.S. said her family had to leave her when they moved. Surely they were heartbroken. She's so great! She's sweet. She doesn't bark. She stays off the furniture. She's housetrained. She walks on a leash well. She loves the neighbors. When it is time for bed she just lays down on the floor on my side (John is trying to make her switch to his) and stays there until we get up, no noise, nothing. John took her to the vet today (she has a bad cough and an infected eye). He said everyone talked about how well behaved she was.

Claire has had a few visitors. John's mom came by to see her and we took her up to play by the lake near her house and she loved that. I wish I'd had my camera, but I didn't. Will remember next time. Dave came by Friday night. Laying on our extremely dirty floor with her made Claire a big fan. Dave also helped get her used to the crate we keep her in when she has to be alone. He models his technique below.




How did we ever get along without this dog?