After losing my black lab about a month ago, we talked about getting a new (to us) dog. I never did get used to having to clean stuff off the floor in the kitchen. After 17 years of self cleaning kitchen floors due to the dogs, I couldn't break the habit.
So I contacted a rescue org and started looking at dogs like Newfoundlands and Great Danes. We got approved to adopt (after a home visit, etc.) and on Sunday went to visit a fost home to check out two dogs they had there.
They were dog sitting a Bloodhound for a week while his foster mom was traveling. He looks neat in his photos, but REALLY isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. As in, so sharp you couldn't cut through melted butter with that knife. He doesn't even know his name. He's had it for several years. We saw him baying, climbing the door, and flinging his drool. Neat dog, but we can't have a fence and he has zero self control.
The main dog we went to visit was an Irish Wolfhound mix. Really nice dog who did really well on the visit so we brought him home with us. He's about 5 years old and about 30-32" at the shoulder. Nice sized and very graceful. He did great on the drive.
Me (after smelling something foul in the car): "Ewww...Markus!!"
Kid #2: "That was me."
Me: "My god, what did you eat?!?!"
So we didn't even get him home and he was getting blamed. He did great at home the first night. Then yesterday while we were at work & school, he knocked down the kiddy gate into the room with the girl scout cookies and helped himself. He did show great self control as he stopped at 1 sleeve of shortbread cookies. I don't have that much self restraint with girl scout cookies! He also got into some candy and ate the last piece of banana bread (which was left because the kid overcooked it). So he was rather busy yesterday. We will see what he does today.
After dinner, we went and peed on every mailbox in the neighborhood and one garbage can. He was pretty much ready to crash out. So we'll see how he continues as his personality starts to come out.
