Last Post for Walker

This morning, all the hounds were excited to see what Santa brought them.  The dogs each got new personalized collars and a big supply of bully sticks.  But Walker, the foster hound, got something special for Christmas.  He got his forever home!

Walker was our first foster hound. We brought him with us in late September. Back then, I wrote about him and about wanting to be a successful foster family - meaning that we weren't going to adopt him but that we were going to take care of him until his special forever family found him.

Walker has lived with us for three months now and none of us can imagine him living anywhere but here.

Walker has his own personalized collar.

Walker also got a new Squirm the Worm. 
We call him Squirm 2, since Maggie appropriated Squirm 1.
We're hoping Squirm 2 gets to keep his eyes for a while longer.  :)

So, this is the last post for Walker, the foster hound.



Walker's First Christmas in his Forever Home

Thank you, SEGA, for helping us find our big, red brindle boy!

Progress

While I'm waiting for the dryer to finish, I'm sitting at the kitchen table watching television.  Truly walks up to me and bumps my leg asking to be petted.  Without really looking down, I reach out and pet his head.

Something isn't right.  Truly's not this tall.  What's going on?  I look down and it's not Truly.  IT's WALKER! 

I grabbed my phone/camera to take an evidentiary photo: 

This slightly out of focus shot, taken with my left hand, shows Walker making progress without any prompts.  Maybe a little holiday magic?  :)

Miscellany

We had new pine straw placed in the back yard.  Walker and his foster siblings think the new straw is a gift to them.  By now, each and every straw has received a thorough sniffing.

Walker in front and Maggie in back.  This is one of the few moments they were not sniffing the straw.

Walker always wants to be where the people are.  If I'm in the kitchen, he's never far away. 

 I've seen him run, so I know he's a greyhound.  However, he has a habit of "pointing" like this:

He's not mid-step.  This is just how he stands from time to time.

Walker chose not to come in the house when I called him this afternoon, so . . . now he's waiting for me to open the door for him.  He has the sweetest face!

This is our Christmas tree.  Notice there are no ornaments.  Since we're not sure if Walker will want to investigate, we'll wait to adorn the tree until we're on holiday break - or we could just leave it like this and call it "Greyhound-friendly."  :)

I know some greyhounds have difficulty learning how to climb stairs.  Walker's first foster Mom taught him well.  Here he is following Maggie up our stairs with no problem at all.  He never climbs slowly.  He always powers all the way up.

O.K. Who Did That?

While cooking dinner, I realize I dropped a paper towel on the floor.  I'm busy so I think, "I need to pick it up before one of the dogs gets it."  Then the oven timer starts beeping.  I forget about the paper towel.

I finish preparing the meal and I call the family in to eat. 

This is what I see on the dining room floor:

That's the now-shredded paper towel on the left and Squirm the Worm on the right.

This is what I see in the dining room door:


That's half of Walker's face at the top and half of Maggie's face at the bottom.

Neither is forthcoming with the facts.

 

Truly comes in to survey the scene.   He says, "It wasn't me, Mom."  I believe him.  Now for the other two . . .

Special Day for Walker



Happy Second Birthday to You!

Happy Second Birthday to You!

Happy Second Birthday, Little Walker,

Happy Birthday to You!



He doesn't want to wear a birthday hat to celebrate - - - - so I drew one.

This is as close to birthday silliness as Walker wants to be this year. I bet he enjoys his special birthday dinner, though.   :)

More Adventures with Walker and Squirm the Worm

Here's Walker, perched on the edge of his favorite bed with his favorite toy, Squirm the Worm.

As I watched him, he seemed particularly fidgety. He looks like he's put Squirm behind him - sort of like he's protecting it.

I walked over to investigate. As I came around the coffee table, this is what I saw:

It's Maggie. I shouldn't have been surprised. Squirm is Walker's favorite toy. Squirm is also Maggie's favorite toy. Walker wasn't fidgeting. He was on sentry duty.

I walked out of the room to see what would happen.

This is what I found when I came back:



Now Maggie has Squirm.

Behind me, and between whines and sighs, I swear I can hear Walker softly calling Squirm's name.

Have You Ever Seen A Sunbathing Dog?



If not, now you can say you have. 

Walker does this often.  He finds the only sunny spot in our tiny yard, plops himself down, and turns his little red face directly toward the sun. 

He just loves it!