ADOPTED

Lola is a sweetie who comes to us from the San Antonio area.  Poor thing was in desperate need of a bath and quite matted, especially behind her legs.  After being bathed and groomed she is a silky red beauty.   Lola was very good during her grooming and pedicure, even though some pulling on her hair was unavoidable because of the mats.  Lola enjoys the attention and massage of a normal brushing.

Lola has been a lovely addition to my home-she doesn't jump up, doesn't bother anything, and early signs say she is housebroken.  Lola has not attempted to get on the furniture (even though my dog does).  She loves to hang out, be pet, and have her belly rubbed.  

Lola is a firm, but patient, teacher with my pushy, hyper 1½ year-old golden mix who loves to play.  Lola is playful but appropriately demands respect of her boundaries.  Their play times are increasing as my girl learns proper etiquette. They nap together and do a wonderful job of taking alternate treats (with their noses a few inches apart).  Lola is extremely gentle when taking a treat.

I was out of town when Lola joined GRR, so she spent a few days with another foster mom who, as it happens, had a pool.  Lola loved to swim.  So much, in fact, that she wouldn't come out.  She'd just go back and forth and back and forth.  Mom would get worried and go in and get her out.  So, if Lola is to have a pool in her yard, she will need training to come out.  Her first mom and I both agree that Lola is a joy.

Just to prove that she is not completely perfect, Lola did bolt out the door once to chase a cat.  She didn't catch it and wasn't hard to retrieve.  Lola's first foster mom also told me that Lola pulls on a leash, so I'll start working on that soon.

Lovely Lady Lola has not interacted with children yet.  Her calm manner and gentle interactions with me indicate she'll probably be quite good with children.  I am enjoying getting to know this lady.

update 09/03/02:

Lola is such a love and so easy to have around.  She loves her morning pet and belly rub, followed by a rousing time playing in the back yard with my playful girl.  Lola is so cute; she'll roll over tuck her front legs up close to her chest to get her pets.   While Lola thoroughly enjoys being pet, she is not demanding about it.

Lola eats both breakfast and dinner with enthusiasm.  She is left loose in the house throughout the day because she doesn't bother anything.  Lola is baby gated at night-not because I am worried about her behavior, but because my crated dog will sleep better if Lola is close.  Lola is definitely not a dedicated counter surfer, but she will check out intriguing smells (such as wet dog food) coming her way from the counter.  Early signs have born out and Lola is housebroken.

Lola adores her tennis ball--not to retrieve, just to carry around and have with her.  It is kind of fun to catch, too.  She is in heaven when given a plush toy, but must be monitored with it as she will be too rough and try to tear it up.  Lola is learning how to play properly with plush toys and responds immediately to a gentle correction.  As I type this, Lola is napping with a plush toy by her nose.

Time has taught me that Lola does not bolt when I go out the door or gate.  She does bark at cats, so if one were right outside the door/gate Lola might chase it, as she did her first day here. In general, Lola is a bit of a barker when outside.

Lola has settled into a 1.5-mile walk each evening.  She is so happy when the leash comes out and will sit nicely to have it put on.  Lola will pull if I attach the leash to her regular collar, so I am using a training collar.  With it, our walks are very pleasant.

Lola is just great--mature and calm, but with energy to go on walks and play with my pup.  Lola loves to snuggle up and be pet, but is not demanding of it.   Lola is a wonderful companion.

A Day with Lola—Update for web Saturday, April 12, 2003

I thought I’d provide more information about Lola by telling you about a typical day with her.
Lola sleeps the night through and is eager to greet me after I get up in the morning. She is confined to the kitchen at night to keep my crated pup company. Lola runs and grabs a toy or two (just to have with her) and then I snuggle her for five to fifteen minutes. Lola loves to snuggle close and have her tummy rubbed. Lola goes outside and does her business then is ready to come back in. Lola amazes me with her patience as she tolerates the morning antics of my high-energy golden mix, who taunts her with toys, tries to take off Lola’s collar, and engages Lola in short rounds of chase (outside) and wrestling.
Lola loves mealtime. She devours her breakfast, then eagerly takes her morning medication, which is accompanied by a little bit of peanut butter. Lola was diagnosed with degenerative hip disease caused by untreated hip dysplasia. It is much like having arthritis. She gets glucosamine, chondroitin, and Rimadyl for her hips. The glucosamine and chondroitin help reverse, or at least slow, the degeneration in her hips. The Rimadyl is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. I had no clue that Lola was in pain. She became more playful after being put on the Rimadyl, indicating pain was slowing her down a bit. Lola also gets Benadryl to keep her skin allergies under control.
We may go on a morning walk. We typically walk a mile and a half, give or take a little. I occasionally walk her two miles without any concern for her ability to make it. Lola is still going strong at the end of a walk—short or long. Consistent, moderate exercise is GREAT for Lola in general and her hips in particular. Activities to avoid with Lola include taking her for a run, traversing flights of stairs, and urging high-impact exercise. Lola would love to swim and it would be great for her. Lola can play with other dogs unmonitored; she knows her limits.
Lola accompanies me as I go about my daily activities—going from room to room with me and staying close. I have to remember to be careful in the kitchen; Lola lies down very close and I’ve almost stepped on her a few times. She has free reign of the house whenever I am gone. Lola is very good, and I have left for up to eight or nine hours. She will occasionally bark if she sees something out the window that stirs her up. Or, if my dog starts barking Lola will join in with her very loud bark.
Throughout the day I might find Lola in a strange position, such as wrapped around a piece of furniture or lying very still with her head under the bed or sofa. I’ve learned this means one of her toys is out of her reach under the furniture and she is keeping careful watch on it until I can pull it out for her. She’s very good about this—doesn’t bark or try to dig it out.
We may go on an afternoon walk. Lola loves it when children are outside and pet her. She thinks kids are just great. Lola is very gentle with them and seemed quite content when she once had a toddler crawling all over her. If we see a cat, Lola will want to chase it. I don’t know how she would react living with a cat. We’ve been working hard on her leash manners over the last couple of weeks and she is getting much better. However, Lola still has room for improvement. Lola may bark some if other dogs bark at her. She gets along well with other dogs. When Lola is approached respectfully, she and the other dog will greet and sniff and then each go on their own way. When a puppy comes flying at her with no manners what so ever Lola sees it as her duty to instruct them. She does not snap and isn’t aggressive, but does tell them off. I frequently get the comment “What a beautiful dog” when I am walking Lola.
Dinner disappears as soon as Lola gets it, followed by her evening medication: glucosamine and chondroitin and Benadryl gobbled down with the aid of a little peanut butter.
Lola hangs out evenings and loves to be pet and snuggled. My sister refers to Lola as “pure sweetness” and said I must be sure to tell people how snuggly Lola is. I agree.

Lola is a character at bedtime. When she comes back in from her final trip outside she heads to the den and lies down and gives me one of two looks. There is the “I’ll sleep here tonight, it would be fine, just go about your business” look. And then she has perfected the “I really need to be pet before going to bed because I haven’t be pet in forever” look. I almost fell for it the other night but stopped when I remembered my sister had been petting her for the previous two hours. After her funny attempts to delay bed time (which take up a whole minute or two) she comes to the kitchen for her final dose of Benadryl then heads into her crate to sleep. I don’t shut the crate door, but do baby gate her into the Kitchen. Once I go to bed she may quietly fuss for a minute or so, then she settles down and goes to sleep.
In the eight months I’ve had her, Lola has cried at night once and woken me up. There was a Thunderstorm coming in. I brought her into my room and she settled right down and slept the rest of the night. Lola would love to sleep in someone’s bedroom and is quite good through the night, but has to stay in the Kitchen with my restless pup.
After a good night’s sleep, another day with super companion Lola begins…
Although Lola is not perfect, she is perfectly wonderful. So, why am I willing to give her up? The answer is, because I can’t help another dog if I don’t let her go. Her ideal home would provide regular walks and soak up lots of her companionship. Lola is about nine years old, give or take a year. I decided her birthday was Valentine’s day, because she is such a love, so she is now listed as being nine.
 

Update 2/14/04:

Happy Birthday to Lola!  She is now a ten year old!
 

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