We adopted a dog today

[MyMission]

85. Congratulations! I have a similar story.

My beloved older cat died about a month after the 2017 eclipse. My friend had a kitten I was supposed to get for Christmas 2018, but it was sickly and it died Christmas Eve Eve. I was sad and went to the humane society, no kittens so I looked at the dogs and found my 4 year old beagle/dachshund mix. He'd been surrendered 4 days earlier, and they held him for 3 days. I got there at the right time too! But mine was "on sale" as they were running a holiday special, reduced adoption fee.

He'd been with a family with an autistic child who he started growling at. I suspect the kid pulled his ears because sometimes he squealed when we stroke them, anticipating a yank. But other than that he is as sweet as can be, rolls on his back for belly rubs, follows me around too.

Beware, a few times I've had him off leash in my yard ahnd he either caught a scent or saw something and went chasing and baying after it. He's trained me to keep him leashed til we are in the house or car!

As for bedtime, mine was crate trained but I give him treats in his crate at bedtime so he really looks forward to getting in his crate. I got several toys, a squirrel that has it's paws sewn together and tail tacked where I can put a chew stick or piece of jerkey, a Santa dog with scarf I can stick a treat through, so he reminds me it's bedtime. I keep water bowl in his crate overnight and he definitely drinks from it, after he has his snack.

And I don't give him food at the table; any scraps I might save and put in his food bowl. Don't want him to expect food whenever I eat. I limit his treats until bedtime, except for one after supper.

How is yours doing at bedtime? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!