My name is Muireann!

August 19, 2013
Three weeks in, Muireann’s getting ready to search for her fur-ever home! She will need to be spayed before being adopted but that’s scheduled for right after Labor Day. Yesterday, my sister stopped by unplanned and announced her arrival by ringing the doorbell. Since Tymar and Bridjett started barking, Muireann did as well, but with her hackles raised a bit. Once she witnessed the other dogs greeting my sister most warmly, Muireann’s wariness disappeared and she joined in for some love and attention.

Muireann is visibly more relaxed – most noises don’t startle her anymore; she’s not too keen about motorcycles but she doesn’t freak out – just stares at the window towards the street as if to say “hey…keep it down out there!”

Over the weekend she got to make a trip and run some errands. First was to the pet bakery about twenty minutes away. It was a little busy which was great. I think the smells overwhelmed her senses for a few minutes, but after that she started going from person to person to make friends. I kept her on a short leash so she couldn’t jump on anyone, but she got most of the people there to scratch her head and she sat nicely for them on command and got some free treats. She even laid down for a belly rub once. Everything went very well.

Next was off to the woodworking store. Dogs used to be welcome in almost all hardware stores; there are still a few that keep up that tradition. This is one of those places. There were a lot of new smells for her; a lot of it was oil and cast iron, but all the different kinds of wood as well. So it was more new things for her. If she was timid she didn’t show it. Her curiosity won out as she looked everything over. Waiting to check out she got some more pats on the head and made more new friends. One gentleman came up behind her and put his hand on the back of her neck to scratch her. It startled her but all she did was turn to see where it was coming from and she was satisfied.

She travels well in the car. She just hops in and lies down on the seat or on the floor and pretty much stays there and is quiet for the duration.

August 13, 2013
Miss Muireann's been with us just about two weeks now and she's a total bundle of en-er-geeeeeeee!!! She's met the neighbors on both sides and loves them all – barks like crazy at their dogs and they bark back. Twilight bark, anyone?!

Over the weekend, we had friends in from out of town. Friday, the two of them arrived around 10:30 am and spent the entire day and evening with us – adding Jennifer's mom for most of that time. Our tiny house was crowded!

When Brian and Jennifer arrived, I had him take off his sunglasses because Muireann seemed to have an issue with them. After letting Bridjett and Tymar greet them without the new girl horning in on them, I let Muireann say hello and that's exactly what she did. Woofs and tail wagging and body wiggling and kisses and more tail wagging – not a single hint of a supposedly nippy/bitey dog we were told she is.

With all the activity going on in the tiny house, Bridjett and Muireann kept going from person to person for loving, while Tymar pretty much stayed out of the bouncy girls' way. A couple hours into their visit, the girls settled down on laps or at feet for just ... snuggling and snoozing away.

Outside for fun in the yard ... back inside for more loving and snuggly time ... back outside for some zoomies ... into the spare bedroom where I was at the sewing machine ... back to the living room to the other humans ... not a single issue all day and evening. Not once did Muireann behave in any way that would indicate she's anything other than a two-year-old BC with a LOT of energy to spare and even more love to give, and want in return!

Saturday, the human factor went to the Renaissance Faire – and because Tymar is ... Tymar ... all our foster dogs are crated while unsupervised. So, poor Muireann was crated for hours and hours while we were away. Our two were OK, if doing the pee-pee dance by the time we got home. Muireann, on the other hand, was ALLLL wound up and raring to go. No mess in the crate, though! GOOD GIRL, MUIREANN!!!

This is when we saw what the previous owners were probably seeing – zoomies and more zoomies and back to grab at a hand and woofs and more woofs and more zoomies and “no I'm not settling down, I was locked UP forever!” And more zoomies and “LOVE ME” and “HEY, WHERE WERE YOU?!” She would not settle down – can't say that I blame her – she's YOUNG and so full of life and energy.

This girlie is going to need an active home – people to play with her and maybe another dog who likes to play rough – yard zoomies, wrestling, tugging, all that fun doggy stuff! She's got quite a vertical leap on her – if we can get her to really start focusing, we're going to see how she like Frisbees. Either disc or agility would be great for this one! She's showing some prey drive, too. We have critters galore in our yard and all around us. Yes, they MUST be located – every single one of them!

August 4, 2013
Less than a week and Muireann and Bridjett are playing like pros! Zoomies in the yard OH MY!! And playing ROUGH is the name of the game! She's going to need a BESTEST BUDDY who wants to get down and dirty while playing. Human OR dog – both would be better! WOOF!

She's getting used to her crate – sometimes doesn't like being PUT into it but she'll go lie down in it on her own several times a day.

She's learning that loud noises aren't necessarily bad things – Joe working in the basement or pounding grommets into new Ren Faire outfits are OK.

Muireann met the neighbors on both sides of us and seems to like them very well. We've noticed that she will reach for your hand with her mouth but not actually make contact. She did that with Joe when we first met her. She's done it with two of our neighbors, as well as with Joe and me. We’re certain this is just a form of greeting as she has shown NO other signs of the nipping/biting the previous owners reported.

We think she's got great potential for – ANYTHING.

She's discovered the squeaky toys in the house and has set to destroying them. The look on Bridjett's face is precious – "but MOM, those are MINE!" But Bri knows that whatever is destroyed by a foster will be replaced after said foster is adopted – AND her BEST toys are out of reach LOL.

Muireann is being fostered in Wisconsin.