Grapehound

Today we had an especially fun outing.  Luna, Mike and I traveled to a local winery to promote greyhound adoption at their wine tasting event.  It was a perfect day with cool weather, some sun, and a nice breeze.  At the event were a few vendors, a band, and plenty of greyhounds.  Luna had a great time sniffing her new buddies and working the crowd.  At one point, we visited some friends who were sitting on the winery's patio.  As we chatted, Luna eagerly went up to every person on the patio as they sampled their wine and cheese.  Everyone was amazed at how comfortable she was to give out leans (a.k.a. greyhound hugs).

Who could resist this face?

Two cuties just begging to be pet.

Mike visits with the other hounds.

Luna isn't the only one who gives hugs freely.

Only child syndrome.  Luna won't share her blanket.

Luna groovin' to the music.

Uh oh. Mike is falling for this handsome dude.

I'm sure we got a few people thinking about adopting a greyhound.  I made sure to advertise that Luna's sister, Balisi, is currently available for adoption.  Events like this one are so much fun.  It is nice to talk to fellow greyhound enthusiasts, pet some cute dogs, and talk with the public about how much I love greyhounds.  Our next big event will be the greyhound picnic in May.  Stay tuned for more adorable pictures!

Star Sister

Luna's half sister has arrived in the Garden State and is looking for her forever home.  We're not ready to add a second dog to our home (bummer), but I'm helping to promote sis so she can find her new home faster.  I was pleased to find out that she is being fostered by the same woman who fostered Luna.  How lucky is that?

Luna's half sister is named Balisi and looks almost exactly like Luna.  The foster says she is very similar to Luna in her behavior.  While I hope Balisi gets adopted soon, I would love to see her at the annual greyhound picnic in a few weeks.  I wonder if the dogs will know they're related?

Can you tell who's who in these pictures?

Balisi has only been a Jersey girl for a short time, but she has already made her way on TV.  This weekend she will be promoting greyhound adoption on News 12 NJ.  Luna and I will definitely watch and hopefully others will too.  If you're interested in seeing more about Balisi, check out her page at http://www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=4483889. 

(Spoiler Alert! The answer to the question above: Luna on left, Balisi on right)

April Showers

We finally got our April showers this weekend.  The ground really needs it, but Luna could do without the cold, wet grass.  Since it has been so dry for so long, I had forgotten how much Luna dislikes being wet.  She has been fine in the underwater treadmill I think because the water is warm and she really does not have a choice about being in the tank.

Last night, Mike and I suited Luna up with her rain jacket and harness and pushed her out the door for her last bathroom time.  To say she was unhappy with the rain would be an understatement.  She huddled under the small roof above the front door begging someone to let her back in.  I called her away from the door, but she was not going to budge.  I finally had to pull her away.  Once she realized that we were not going back inside until she went to the bathroom, she was very quick about her business.  On the way back to the front door she pulled as hard as possible causing me to almost trip into a puddle.

This morning, it was still wet, but not raining.  Again, Luna was not pleased with the weather and insisted that she did not need to go to the bathroom.  Liar.  While I am glad the weather is giving us our much needed rain, I am ready for some dryer weather so every bathroom trip does not have to be a terrible ordeal.

Looney Luna Nicknames

One of my co-workers told me that her friend recently had a baby girl which they named Luna.  She asked what my opinion was on the name.  Obviously, since I named my dog Luna I like the name.  However, I pointed out that as pretty as Luna is for a name, it does come with a number of tough nicknames.  Any child named Luna is going to have to put up with a lot.  Here are some of Luna's nicknames:

• Looney Luna
• Looney Toons
• Looney Bin
• Looney Ballooney
• Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter character)

Are you noticing a pattern?

Luna has also earned herself a few other nicknames based on her actions and personality.  Some of the ones listed below you may have already heard us say in previous videos.

• Alligator (or Gator)
• She can be a bit snappy when taking a treat.
• Sassy
• Since her accident she has become quite vocal about her wants.
• Girly girl (or Baby girl)
• For when she's decked out in pink.
• Lulu
• Mouse
• Because she is small, black and has long whiskers.  I normally call her that when she is in the underwater treadmill because she looks so pathetic.
• Grandpuppy
• My dad's name for her.

Who would have thought that the name Luna would open up so many doors for nicknames.  It's a good thing she seems to enjoy them all.

Spring Day and Good Behavior

It was another perfect day and Luna insisted that we get outside for some fresh air.  We decided to have breakfast at a little outdoor cafe just a short walk from our house.  Luna enjoyed the sights, smells and a few nibbles on our breakfast.

I love how her eyes stand out.

Afterwards, Mike and I had to run a quick errand and we thought we'd give Luna the opportunity to prove she could be trusted out of the crate.  She has been improving over the last few months about not freaking out when we leave.  She is also very happy to go into her crate because she knows she's going to get a big treat.  In fact, many times when I pick up my purse and walk into the kitchen she will immediately head for the crate.  We were gone for less than one hour and when we returned we were pleased to see her calmly resting on her pillow in the living room.  Nothing was disturbed.

Later in the afternoon, I took Luna to our local dog park for another little run.  We have been visiting the park when no one is around so she can have a few minutes of running with no other dogs around.  She is not quite ready to be in an area where someone could accidentally hit her.  We were having our normal laid back trot around when suddenly everyone showed up with their dog.  I was nervous at first, but the other dogs seemed to get the message right away that Luna was not going to run and play.  They left her alone while they played.  She enjoyed greeting the new dogs and visiting the owners for pets.

I am pleased that Luna is doing so well with new situations.  I can see that she is relaxing and understands our routines.  She is so much more comfortable about visiting the dog park, staying home alone, and quietly waiting for us to finish our meals.  What a good girl.

Here Comes the Sun!

Spring has sprung and Luna is loving it.  We have taken a few trips to the nearby dog park, had a few leisurely walks around the lake, and lounged in the afternoon sunshine.  Luna is so funny when she first steps out the door.  She is always so excited and when she feels the cool breeze hit her face she suddenly gets a case of the zoomies.  This is a little tricky for me being on the other end of her leash, but we manage.  It is just nice to see her happily spinning, bouncing, and tugging on the end of the leash as if to say, "Hurry up!  Let's go!"

Sunbathing beauty.

"Ahhhh."

It does get a bit chilly at night so we can't put away all the blankets just yet.  The other night Luna must have been a cold because I found her snuggled with her blanket.  I guess just her nose was cold since she didn't bother to cover anything else.

Was the movie too scary for her?

Four Months Ago...

Four months ago today was Luna's accident.  She has improved so much that it is hard for me to believe that it has only been four months.  I am so proud of her and her recovery.  This blog has really helped me see the value of all those small achievements.  When you're in the middle of a crisis, it is hard to see all the pieces that make up forward movement.

Last week, Luna did her hour of obedience training followed by a half hour of physical therapy.  She was totally wiped out for the car ride home.  Every week her stamina has improved to the point where she is walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes with 12 inches of water.  She still has a slight delay in her back left leg, but all the other legs are looking good.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Luna is starting to get the hang of "play".  It is obvious when she is in play mode that she is not completely focused on her feet placement.  She becomes unsteady and folds over her left front leg a bit.  This is something that may improve over time.  It is good that she practices moving her body in play mode so she becomes more comfortable with how to handle her body and exercise those neurons.

Again, I am just amazed with how far Luna has come in such a short amount of time.  I am so thankful to still have her in my life and to see her enjoying every day with us.  I am also thankful for the wonderful doctors, vet techs, and physical therapists that have helped us come so far.  Most of all, I am thankful for everyone who has supported Mike, Luna and I through this experience.  This was certainly a team effort and Luna had a great team rooting for her every step of the way.