Sweet Boy

Sweet senior boy, Bender has found himself back with SEGA through no fault of his own. This sweet boy is looking for a warm, soft spot to lay down on and a loving forever family who will love and appreciate how sweet this adorable boy is.

Sure is quiet out there

I've been remiss in my duties where this blog is concerned. Really, not a lot has been going on. We're just hanging out, waiting on Binder's forever family to show up.

We went to the SEGC Luau on Saturday and had a good time. Binder was a sweetheart and a mooch with everyone and every dog he met. We'd been to Taste of Douglasville earlier, so I had almost no appetite for the Hawaiian-style meal that was served. I got a little salad, and a chicken breast. The salad was great. But I got the chicken as a treat for the dogs and they loved every bit of it.

When it comes to traveling we are ill-equipped for two dogs and here we were taking three. We just didn't want anyone to miss out. Brian took Grayson in his car, and I took the two Brindles in mine. Binder is such a great car rider, despite the fact that he had to put up with Sara in the hatchback of my Integra, anxiously standing the entire way down and back, stepping on Binder here and there throughout the ride. Binder just hopped in, laid down and chilled out. Now that's my kind of dog.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

Not a darn thing!

Yes, folks, believe it or not this is our favorite chow-loving Greyhound, Binder, waiting ever-so-patiently to be called for dinner. He's got the drill down now: lay down outside the kitchen and stay while I prepare everyone's food. Stay, even if I put it on the floor so close you can smell it and you are soooooo hungry. Don't move until I say "Good stay. Okay!" And then go to your dish, not anyone else's.

What a good boy.

I began insisting on this routine at feeding times because a certain sassy Greyhound repeatedly made a pest of herself while I was trying to get her food. Seems like a lot of my rules start that way. But Binder loves food so much he'd be just like Sara was if I let him. Maybe it's a brindle thing.

Crazy Rabbit

I'd just motioned for the hounds to walk out onto the deck this morning when we all spotted Mr. Rabbit, his cottony little behind scampering around the far corner of the yard. On the sudden appearance of three Greyhounds, he panicked and began zig zagging to and fro across the yard in a desperate attempt to find his way out. Oh, no! Anyone who's watched Greyhounds at a lure coursing event knows how they react to anything zipping across a field - even plastic bags. I tried not to panic myself while I wondered how I was going to restrain some 200 lbs. of dogs from careening down the deck stairs in hot pursuit.

When I turn the dogs out, I always position myself in front them and walk down the steps first because of situations just like this. Twice before I started doing this a certain little brindle girl (who fancies herself a huntress) only bothered with the first couple of steps before taking flight toward the ground and the object of her obsession. In addition, the steps are steep and I don't want anyone crashing down them - better to hit me first. I may change my mind about that, however, if an 80-lb. male misses a step and plows into me. But I digress...

Binder, Grayson and Sara were on high alert, and during the couple of minutes it took Mr. Rabbit to find an escape route I grew increasingly doubtful of his chances. He was really testing the dogs' patience. Their ears were standing straight up and they panted as they watched him zip to and fro, here and there. I kept telling them, "No, we are not chasing bunnies today. No, sorry, uh-uh. No bunny for you three. Mr. Rabbit definitely does not want to play with you guys." Although Sara wasn't listening quite as well as Binder and Grayson (she tried to dodge around me), I was amazed that I did not have to physically restrain them. Good dogs.

Since this morning Binder keeps checking the windows that overlook the back yard, just in case Mr. Rabbit didn't learn his lesson the first time. Buddy, I don't think he's gonna come scampering into this yard again any time soon.

Binder's Kind of Visitor

Boyfriend Brian brought 12-year-old Brandon for a visit today. Binder's tail was doing the helicopter when he saw Brandon get out of the car.

Binder Boy Wants to Play

It's been a little crazy around here. Sara got hurt on Sunday (she'll be fine) but it's kind of thrown everything off. We're back to regular walks, at least with Binder and Grayson. But for a few days there no one was having any fun.

Went out to Petsmart for supplies on Tuesday and took Binder with me so he could at least have a little bit of an outing. He was such a charmer that he received one biscuit after another as we were waiting in the checkout line.

Too Good to Be True?

Binder's a good-looking dog and a very smart boy. He's playful, but not too rowdy. Affectionate, but not needy. He gets along great with every dog he's met, and is friendly and outgoing with humans, too. He walks well on a leash, hasn't had a single accident in the house and has never tried to get on the furniture.

If you've read all of the posts here to date you might get the impression Binder's a little too perfect, that maybe he's lacking in the idiosyncrasies that provide personality. Welllllllllll...almost.

For Binder, life is all about food. Where he might find it, when he might get it, why he didn't get more. He inhales his food in less than 30 seconds, then looks up at me with big, pleading brown eyes like surely I shorted him. He's learned not to go near the other dog's dishes while they're eating, but can't help looking longingly in their direction while they finish their kibble at a more reasonable pace. Even though I never leave food out on the counter I have evidence he's checked - just in case - on more than one occasion. When I'm loading dirty dishes into the dishwasher he sneaks into the kitchen if I have my back turned and slurps up whatever is clinging to the various utensils in the silverware basket (today it was the remnants of yogurt treats - yum!) until I shoo him away. When I open the pantry door he appears out of nowhere. When we walk through the garage he sniffs the spare bag of dog food longingly through the packaging. I could easily picture him as the "I Has a Sweet Potato" dog.

So no, Binder's not perfect, but he is a great dog and a very lovable boy, and I am really enjoying his company. Anyway, his obsession with food has a definite upside - it makes teaching him new things a breeze because so far there's nothing he won't try if a treat's involved.