The Saga of TempDog

This is Hayden. Also known as Bodie. Also known as who-knows-what someone once called him, or what his new parents will call him tomorrow when they come to pick him up.

Hayden came to us on May 23rd. He was quiet and nervous. We ate on the deck that night and he was worried about being close to us. He skulked away and slept in the grass. He refused to play with Rio, though she tried hard to get him to run around with her.

Hayden sat on command, he gave us his paw. All he ever wanted was to roll over so we could rub his tummy. He would come when we clapped our hands, and when we put him in his crate that evening, he went in like a champion and settled down.

This is Hayden with his first toy — possibly his first toy ever.

The first few days we had him, he wouldn’t play with any toys (or eat any treats). Finally, he watched Rio playing with one of hers and figured out that the rope we kept giving him was his to do with what he wanted. He loves Rawhide bones, which he takes into his kennel so he can gnaw on them in peace.

A few days after we first got him, we got an email from a nice couple who had spotted him on PetFinder and couldn’t get him out of their minds. They had waited patiently for him to be transported form his rural shelter to our foster home in DC. Was he still available for adoption? Could they come to meet him?

When I heard that the adoption was going through, I started to cry. At the time, Hayden was on the couch, snoozing on Sailor Boy’s lap while SB and I watched Slings and Arrows. (Thanks for the rec, Tiff! We’re loving it!). The dog was in heaven, relaxing with people who took care of him, getting his belly rubbed.

I only hope that his new daddy lets him snuggle while watching TV, too.

Oh, and Rio fell in love with him. Night after night, she sneaks out of our bed, goes downstairs, and snuggles up to his kennel. They play together all the time in teh backyard, chasing and wrestling and drooling all over one another. They also like to cuddle. Here they are, cuddling nose to nose so I can give them double-barrelled belly rubs:

Good luck, TempDog! We’ll miss you!