Meeting the Grandparents

So my little dog met her grandparents this weekend. On Sunday morning, I volunteered at an adoption show held by the Lab Rescue from 10:30-12:30. My lab's name was Sunny and he was a big bruiser of a puppy - 16 months - who must have weighed at least 100 pounds. He was quiet and calm as long as someone was petting or feeding him but all the excitement of the other dogs made him very bouncy and he was definitely jerking me quite around a bit. I just made like I was riding a bucking bronco and held on for dear life! Next time I'll know to bring gloves.

Sunny has a hip issue - in his ball-and-socket joint, the socket part of the pelvis is flat instead of being curved around the head of his femur. Doesn't seem to cause him any pain or mobility problems now but may in the future. Also some of the hair had been rubbed off of his nose because he was caged and he was trying to scoot out under the cage door and he had a weird lump on his tail. So he wasn't as popular as most of the other labs who were there. But he was so funny because he kept flopping down with the huge water bowl in between his massive paws and drinking while he was lying down, as if he was too exhausted and just couldn't handle standing up to drink. Pretty cute.

So we were there for two hours and Sunny met lots of potential adopters but didn't go home with anyone. Oh well, I'm sure there's a home out there for him.

After the show, I hightailed it home and picked up the baby dog. We headed up to Boyds and went around to the backyard. I figured introductions would be easier outside. Semaj was out on the deck sunbathing. My little dog scampered up the stairs and nosed him. Granny Lynn and Big Poppa came out, then Anyhc, who No Name liked, and Telmah, who was bouncing around like a fool and scared No Name so she gave him a little warning growl. I bopped her on the nose and she hung her head and wagged beseechingly at me.

Her grandparents began a heated debate that lasted all evening about what her name should be. Dad was lobbying pretty hard for Snickers while Mom went back and forth between Mardi (for Mardi Gras)and Trixiebelle. Approximately 208,476 other suggestions were also offered.

Little No Name is afraid of tall people with deep voices, i.e. men, so she kept shying away from her Grandpappy, but she'll come around. Her grandmother fed her people food and her furaunt and furuncle immediately began to teach her the fun and fascinating art of eating and then regurgitating empty birdseed hulls. Later on in the evening, she took a nap on the couch with her furuncle right next to her. And one point the behemoth Telmah tried to shift position, nearly flattening her with his big head, and she gave him another little warning growl, but quieted down when I shushed her.

Anyhc was an entirely different story. No Name kept following Anyhc around, batting at her with her paws and nudging her with her nose, trying to initiate play, but Anyhc just stood there looking around helplessly. Guess she thinks she should be the one to say when the Games begin.

No Name has also just discovered crickets and spent quite a while racing around the backyard in pursuit of the elusive little hoppers. Never caught one, though. Good thing Granny Lynn was nice enough to give her some dinner along with her furuncle and furaunt.

Dad grilled some chicken and Mom made some pasta and beans and we had dinner out on the deck, which was wonderful. After dinner we watched a bit of tennis and Granny Lynn petted and cooed over her new granddog. Finally little No Name and I said good night and headed home, full and happy.