Emma's First Visit to (Doggie) Disneyland

"Mmm... just smell that rotting seaweed and dead fish ocean smell!!"

For my dog Brogan and me, Sunday afternoon at Fort Funston in San Francisco is a sacred tradition which dates back ten years to life with my first Rottweiler, the unequalled Duncan the Wonder Pup. As soon as they are vaccinated, all my dogs, foster and 'forever' alike, get to experience the pure doggie bliss that is the beach, cliffs and dunes of Fort Funston. On any given weekend, sun or (more likely) thick fog, the parking lot across from Lake Merced is crammed with people either bringing their dogs to the happiest place on earth (dog version) or coming to hang glide.

I wasn't sure how Emma would do off leash. She's made huge strides in coming when I call and is generally not a dog who likes to escape. Like Brogan, she knows how to stick close to her meal ticket! But it's always a bit scary to pop a dog off leash for the first time. Rest assured, Fort Funston, with trails far away from the main road is a safe place to try as long as your dog ISN'T a runner.

Happy dogs at the beach :-)

As soon as I unclipped her leash, Emma looked up at me, shrugged her tiny shoulders and strutted down the path right next to my feet like she owned the place! She showed no fear of the dozens of other dogs along the path and scampered around exploring without ever getting more than twenty feet away from me. This dog continues to be such a marvel... by far the easiest foster I've ever had. Even my beloved pit bull Jodhi (who started out life with me as a foster), took a bit of wrangling on her first Fort Funston visit.

Emma especially loved hiking the dunes and chasing seagulls. Who knew such a little dog would be such an intrepid hiker? She even fell into Jodhi's old trailblazing role, taking the lead ahead of me while Brogan happily pants away in the anchor position.

Girl cooties from me are bad enough, but now

Brogan has to endure chihuahua girl cooties. Berk!

Emma Takes Lake Tahoe by Storm

For 4th of July weekend, Miss Emma made her first trek to Incline Village on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.  Brogan's 'time share' parents live there year round and we were all volunteers at the 25th Annual I-CAN Run/Walk which took place the morning of the Fourth.  I decided to shamelessly plug Emma's orphan status by making poor Brogan wear sandwich boards on his backpack.  We definitely got a lot of attention and Emma got a lot of pets and handling by dozens of people.  It was hard to believe this was the dog it took me two hours to approach only three weeks ago.  Even the week prior on the train trip she'd acted terrified of children and here she was soaking up the adoration from all ages like a trooper.  I think she may be officially used to me dragging her into oddball situations!  

Brogan hangs with three pretty girls after the race.

There's really no such thing as too much adoration from humans.

Brogan was a sport about wearing "Adopt my Little Sister!" signs on his backpack (not to mention carrying around my stuff all morning).

...And finally, after we all had a nice post-race nap we hit a local hiking trail for Emma's first hiking experience.  No surprise, she was a natural (though unlike Brogan she had to stay leashed as a precaution from becoming a tasty coyote snack!).

Emma Demonstrates Proper Relaxation Techniques

Emma shows off how to relax but remain vigilant over your toys at the same time.  

Emma and Birdie (CARE foster pretty pittie girl) demonstrate the only proper activity for a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Emma is my first experience with a chihuahua (with the exception of certain unfortunate and painful nipping incidents in my younger days) and she isn't at all what I expected.  Most of the day she is mellow and quiet, happily snoozing away in Brogan's bed in my home office or burrowed under the comforter in the bedroom.  A couple of times a day she turns into wacky speed demon and has figure eight chase sessions with Brogan around the back yard.  In the turns she is nearly laying on her side... how she doesn't fall is a mystery of chi physics!  

She is also learning to play with toys, which are a new concept for her.  About a week ago she discovered toys had value to Brogan, so started collecting them in her bed (formerly HIS bed) but didn't actually play with them.  Yesterday the little lightbulb went off in her head and she started playing tug of war with Brogan and a tiny stuffed octopus.  Yay!  Despite his 80 lb bulk, Brogan grew up with a 5 lb poodle who LOVED tug of war and it is still one of his favorite games.  Needless to say, he is in Rottie heaven.

Yes, there's a dog in there... a common view of Emma during the day (as a lump in the bed).

Emma Rides the Rails

Emma chatting up her fellow train riding pooches on the way up the hill...

...and here's our doggie train carriage pulling out of Santa Cruz!

Emma came to me hand shy (evidence of being hit in the past) and not too trusting of new situations and people.  Solution?  Get her out and about meeting nice people and experiencing all sorts of adventures.  Since I take my own dog, Brogan, everywhere, bringing Emma along is a breeze.  Her second week with us, I signed us all up for a train ride from Santa Cruz boardwalk up into the redwoods on an old open car train.  The trip was organized by Santa Cruz dog social group Woofers and Walkers and included about sixty people and over seventy dogs!  Most dogs were LARGE,  but as Emma thinks she is GIANT, this posed no problem.  We sat next to a handsome pitbull boy who proved quite smitten with our girl, but after an initial telling off (Emma to pit) everyone settled in for the ride.  By the trip back down the hill she was (safely) hanging over the side, happily gazing down at her adoring public from the height of the train carriage.  Brogan, more accustomed to such adventures, had a nice nap on the way back down.  Thanks to Whitney Wilde, organizer extraordinaire of Woofers and Walkers for arranging for such a great day!

And finally after a hard day riding the rails, Brogan and Emma demonstrate the proper use of doggie seat belts as we get ready to head back over the hill to San Jose.  Good dogs!

Introducing Rescue Dog Emma, the Wonder Chi

Emma was found with her chi buddy Butter and Emma's six babies in a foreclosed house's garage.  She did a great job with her pups at her first foster mom Sue's house, then it was time for her leave the mom life behind and come live with me and my kind and gentle Rottie boy, Brogan.  I am fostering her through CARE (www.carepets.org) and am completely enjoying having Emma around until we can find her forever home.  Could it be you?  Contact me for more information at emily_horch@yahoo.com.