Something Barked On Christmas Morning...

...underneath the Christmas tree. I saw it moving and what a surprise, a shiny black nose, and two beady eyes....

I loved that song growing up. And we're living it out this year! We got a doggie for Christmas!

Jefe is our newest family member, an Australian Shepherd and who-knows-what-else mix, four years old, and a darling. He was rescued by the Animal Aid, Inc. organization here in Oregon.

He'd been reportedly abused by his first owners and his second owners didn't treat his fleas even though he has a flea allergy, and he lost all his hair, had worms, had dropped body weight, and was generally in trouble.

Animal Aid rescued him, treated his skin infections, worms, and such, and offered him up for adoption. We were the lucky family to request him first.

He's an absolutely charming fellow. He gazes deeply into your eyes for long moments of intent eye contact. His foster mom said she felt like he was "reading" her when he did this. He straps your legs like a cat and gets all orgasmic when you scratch the base of his tail, just like a cat. It's pretty cute.

He's very smart and understands everything you say. He lives for his twice daily walks and for romping outside with stick and ball throwing, which we do at least once a day.

He is really calm for having Australian Shepherd in him. He's great with DD and she's head over heels in love with him. When Jefe and DH came in from their walk this evening she ran up to him saying, "Doggie, doggie, I missed you so much!" and hugging him. Daddy was chopped liver.

He's still underweight, has a senstive digestion, and his skin is still flaking, so I'm feeding him a lot of special food. I've got some veterinarian canned dog food, Duck & Potatoes, for his tummy that I mix up with rice and give him three times a day. I'm also giving him brewer's yeast, fish oil, and Vitamin E for his itching, flaky skin. And for Christmas we had a duck. I made a bone broth from the carcass and have been feeding him the broth with his regular chow twice a day. I'm feeding him every once and a while a few bones from the broth, too.

Hopefully all this will help him put on some weight and resolve the remaining problems with his skin.

He's everything you'd want in a dog; calm, loving, eager to please, doesn't lick you, as smart as you can stare, and barks when people are out and around our house. The only drawback is that he insists on sneaking up onto the couches to sleep when we're not looking, the little rascal. His coat gets oily (even so, his skin flakes) and I don't want my couches getting all doggy. We have blankets over the couches right now until we train him not to. Anyone know how to train a dog to stay off the couch?

But we couldn't be happier with our newest family member.