Sophie 14-077

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Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 4/19/2014  Physical fence required Older children only  Required Yes
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Sophie is a 6-year-old, spayed Yellow Lab. She is a pretty, sweet, petite girl with soulful eyes. Weighing 64 lbs, Sophie is up to date on her vaccinations and is currently taking HW preventatives. She is also housebroken.

She was vetted today (4/24/14) and her fecal test was negative. We screened her urine to test for a possible bladder infection, but there was no bacteria. The vet was concerned with the dilution of her urine, but this could be a result of large amounts of water she has been consuming (normal for a foster dog in a new environment). So we will retest in a few weeks to verify that she does not have any kidney issues.

Sophie was rescued by the Humane Society as part of the Pine River, MN, seizure last summer. She spent the first few years of her life being breed and living in outdoor kennels where she had very little human interaction. Thankfully, she was adopted by a loving family last fall and received much needed medical and dental care. Her life immediately began to change for the better. Sadly, her family recently made the difficult decision to surrender her to RAGOM, as they were working long hours and did not feel like they were giving Sophie the attention and routine that she needs to continue to thrive.

Here is a link to a YouTube video that was produced by the Humane Society about the Pine River event. It is a good overview of the life that Sophie (and hundreds of other dogs) have left behind. Be prepared - it may cause a few tears . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9He_zWyiNU&sns=em

And more about Sophie:

She is a very calm, quiet, gentle girl. She is initially shy (with people, not dogs), but warms up pretty quickly and approaches for reassurance and treats. Once comfortable, she will lay at your feet and nudge you for attention and roll over for belly rubs. Unlike a lot of retired breeding dogs that were not socialized, she does not avoid being in the middle of the action. She will follow us around the house and lay in whatever space is convenient, although she is very happy to have a comfy dog bed in each room.

Sophie seems to be fine with most outside noises (garbage trucks, construction, trucks, planes, etc.), but does "startle" and step off from unexpected movement or sounds inside. Her reactions are not extreme, and she quickly recovers. She was in her crate yesterday while I vacuumed the rooms around her for the first time, and she just watched me. Being in a house is still relatively new to this cutie. One of her funny adaptations is taking the stairs 3 at a time . . . no idea why . . . but that's her deal.

Introducing her to my resident dog was a non-event. They sniffed appropriately, took a few treats standing side by side and that was it. She appears to like having another dog around, and will follow her into the yard and explore outside with her. They also like to lay touching each other when they are taking a nap. They share water bowls and I have reintroduced Nylabones with no guarding of any kind. Sophie will just pick up her bone and walk a few feet away before she lays down and chews.

Sophie is still in her rehabilitation and desensitization stage . . . her primary focus is on basic survival (food, water, potty) and learning that ALL good things come from HUMANS. She is learning to trust and with that security comes daily triumphs [allowing me to pet her while she is eating (Day 4)]. She is very food motivated - and checks the food bowls in the mud room a few times per day to see if anything has magically appeared. She is housebroken, but doesn't have a clear "ask" yet to go outside. Usually, she just paces and looks at me. Keeping her on a consistent schedule is helpful as well.

She does love to walk and, after only 2 days, is fine with wearing a Gentle Leader. She will not come yet to have her leash put on, but she does not shy away when I approach. Sophie is so happy when she is out walking - curious about her environment and very confident. She is getting better at tandem walking with my resident girl. She needs to continue to build her stamina, but we are going a little farther every day.

Sophie likes to go in the car. She will sit/lay on the backseat while you are moving, and has shared the backseat with my resident dog as well. I did attempt to leave her in the car while I did errands the other day, and she jumped in the front and knocked over the water bottle and helped herself to a few treats. Nothing major - just a reminder that she is still learning the rules.

She doesn't mind being in her crate, although she does get nervous crossing the threshold of the crate. She lays in her open crate when I am in the kitchen (closest soft spot) and stays in the closed crate when I am out of the house. She also sleeps in a soft crate in the master bedroom at night (mostly because she is so quiet and I worry that she may have an accident if I do not hear her moving around in the night).

Sophie will need to be crated initially in her new home. Her prior family and her temporary foster both reported some separation anxiety and/or inappropriate behavior (usually involving foraging for food) when she had free roam and the humans were away. She will do best in a home where she is not left alone consistently for long stretches of time.

I had her professionally bathed right away, and the groomer said she did great and seemed to enjoy the bath and was fine having her nails trimmed. She did not like the power blow dryers, so she needed to air dry. Sophie did okay at the vet, was anxious, but stood stoically on the table for all of the poking and prodding. She gave me big, sad cow eyes while she was being examined, probably hoping I was going to rescue her.

Sophie does not know any commands. We are starting to work on the basics, but she needs to feel safe and secure first. She is smart and has adapted to the routine in our household pretty easily, so once she can focus, I think she will learn quickly. Her adoptive family will need to be ready to do obedience training with her and to give her the patience and time she needs to reach her full potential.

This young dog is going to make such a great addition to a caring, gentle family. She wakes up happy and smiling every morning . . . and eager to see what each new day will bring. She loves to be outside and is enjoying the freedom to explore and run in the fenced yard. Sophie is smart and once she is secure in her new home and clearly understands expectations, she is going to be eager to please! So far she is ignoring the toys in the house, but there was a brief twinkle in her eye when I tossed a tennis ball a few days ago.

Sophie is a bit camera shy, so check back for updated photos.

If you'd like to learn more about Sophie or think she could be that "another dog" that you have been looking for, please contact your Placement Coordinator.

At a Glance #14-077

Mixed Breed Born: January 2008
Female 52 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
 4/19/2014  Physical fence required Older children only  Required Yes
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Sophie is a 6-year-old, spayed Yellow Lab. She is a pretty, sweet, petite girl with soulful eyes. Weighing 64 lbs, Sophie is up to date on her vaccinations and is currently taking HW preventatives. She is also housebroken.

She was vetted today (4/24/14) and her fecal test was negative. We screened her urine to test for a possible bladder infection, but there was no bacteria. The vet was concerned with the dilution of her urine, but this could be a result of large amounts of water she has been consuming (normal for a foster dog in a new environment). So we will retest in a few weeks to verify that she does not have any kidney issues.

Sophie was rescued by the Humane Society as part of the Pine River, MN, seizure last summer. She spent the first few years of her life being breed and living in outdoor kennels where she had very little human interaction. Thankfully, she was adopted by a loving family last fall and received much needed medical and dental care. Her life immediately began to change for the better. Sadly, her family recently made the difficult decision to surrender her to RAGOM, as they were working long hours and did not feel like they were giving Sophie the attention and routine that she needs to continue to thrive.

Here is a link to a YouTube video that was produced by the Humane Society about the Pine River event. It is a good overview of the life that Sophie (and hundreds of other dogs) have left behind. Be prepared - it may cause a few tears . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9He_zWyiNU&sns=em

And more about Sophie:

She is a very calm, quiet, gentle girl. She is initially shy (with people, not dogs), but warms up pretty quickly and approaches for reassurance and treats. Once comfortable, she will lay at your feet and nudge you for attention and roll over for belly rubs. Unlike a lot of retired breeding dogs that were not socialized, she does not avoid being in the middle of the action. She will follow us around the house and lay in whatever space is convenient, although she is very happy to have a comfy dog bed in each room.

Sophie seems to be fine with most outside noises (garbage trucks, construction, trucks, planes, etc.), but does "startle" and step off from unexpected movement or sounds inside. Her reactions are not extreme, and she quickly recovers. She was in her crate yesterday while I vacuumed the rooms around her for the first time, and she just watched me. Being in a house is still relatively new to this cutie. One of her funny adaptations is taking the stairs 3 at a time . . . no idea why . . . but that's her deal.

Introducing her to my resident dog was a non-event. They sniffed appropriately, took a few treats standing side by side and that was it. She appears to like having another dog around, and will follow her into the yard and explore outside with her. They also like to lay touching each other when they are taking a nap. They share water bowls and I have reintroduced Nylabones with no guarding of any kind. Sophie will just pick up her bone and walk a few feet away before she lays down and chews.

Sophie is still in her rehabilitation and desensitization stage . . . her primary focus is on basic survival (food, water, potty) and learning that ALL good things come from HUMANS. She is learning to trust and with that security comes daily triumphs [allowing me to pet her while she is eating (Day 4)]. She is very food motivated - and checks the food bowls in the mud room a few times per day to see if anything has magically appeared. She is housebroken, but doesn't have a clear "ask" yet to go outside. Usually, she just paces and looks at me. Keeping her on a consistent schedule is helpful as well.

She does love to walk and, after only 2 days, is fine with wearing a Gentle Leader. She will not come yet to have her leash put on, but she does not shy away when I approach. Sophie is so happy when she is out walking - curious about her environment and very confident. She is getting better at tandem walking with my resident girl. She needs to continue to build her stamina, but we are going a little farther every day.

Sophie likes to go in the car. She will sit/lay on the backseat while you are moving, and has shared the backseat with my resident dog as well. I did attempt to leave her in the car while I did errands the other day, and she jumped in the front and knocked over the water bottle and helped herself to a few treats. Nothing major - just a reminder that she is still learning the rules.

She doesn't mind being in her crate, although she does get nervous crossing the threshold of the crate. She lays in her open crate when I am in the kitchen (closest soft spot) and stays in the closed crate when I am out of the house. She also sleeps in a soft crate in the master bedroom at night (mostly because she is so quiet and I worry that she may have an accident if I do not hear her moving around in the night).

Sophie will need to be crated initially in her new home. Her prior family and her temporary foster both reported some separation anxiety and/or inappropriate behavior (usually involving foraging for food) when she had free roam and the humans were away. She will do best in a home where she is not left alone consistently for long stretches of time.

I had her professionally bathed right away, and the groomer said she did great and seemed to enjoy the bath and was fine having her nails trimmed. She did not like the power blow dryers, so she needed to air dry. Sophie did okay at the vet, was anxious, but stood stoically on the table for all of the poking and prodding. She gave me big, sad cow eyes while she was being examined, probably hoping I was going to rescue her.

Sophie does not know any commands. We are starting to work on the basics, but she needs to feel safe and secure first. She is smart and has adapted to the routine in our household pretty easily, so once she can focus, I think she will learn quickly. Her adoptive family will need to be ready to do obedience training with her and to give her the patience and time she needs to reach her full potential.

This young dog is going to make such a great addition to a caring, gentle family. She wakes up happy and smiling every morning . . . and eager to see what each new day will bring. She loves to be outside and is enjoying the freedom to explore and run in the fenced yard. Sophie is smart and once she is secure in her new home and clearly understands expectations, she is going to be eager to please! So far she is ignoring the toys in the house, but there was a brief twinkle in her eye when I tossed a tennis ball a few days ago.

Sophie is a bit camera shy, so check back for updated photos.

If you'd like to learn more about Sophie or think she could be that "another dog" that you have been looking for, please contact your Placement Coordinator.

Updates

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Sophie was adopted on September 24th by Kathy, Linda, and Jackson (her knew Black Lab mix brother). She will also have 3 cats in her new home - sorry, kitties, I can't remember all of your names.

My sweet, silent, cunning Yellow Lab has finally found her perfect home. She has come so far in the months she has been with RAGOM and I know that this family will continue to nurture her strengths and help her with her insecurities.

Attached is a photo of Sophie with one of her new Moms and her new pal, Jackson. And a recent photo of Sophie just hanging with the crowd.

Extreme thank you to Kathy and Linda for taking the time to see Sophie wag her tail and for giving her a chance at an amazing next act.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

We added another foster dog to our pack last week (Cass 14-145) and Sophie has been very pleased to have another dog to play with. She really does love every dog she meets and seems to be happiest when there are lots of dogs surrounding her. Sometimes she stands off to the side and just watches others play, but as you can see here, when she does engage, she plays rough.

Walks and meals are still the happiest parts of her day. Although she has taken to doing a little morning dance when everyone is let out of their kennels and heads downstairs to go outside. Her tail wags and she does some spins to say good morning. Anytime this girl wags her tail and smiles is a good time to celebrate.

Sophie likes to greet new people and the only time she pulls on our walks is when she wants to say hello to a passing dog friend. She is very eager and social in her own way. Always seems like she recognizes a gentle dog person and is quick to approach these folks and let them pet her right away.

She really loves bone time (although with a puppy around, this is more like "keep away" time) and will lay and happily chew on one or more bones or Nylabones a few times per day. This is so good for her teeth and gums as we are trying to protect the teeth she has left. Speaking of teeth, it is kind of cute because all of the dogs get raw veggies and fruit for snacks. But poor Soph has a harder time with theses snacks. So she has learned to take her snack (especially cucumbers or carrots) to a corner so she can finish before the puppy tries to help her.

Sophie is an easy girl to have around, but with lots of storms and visitors over the past week, it was a good reminder that she still needs time and patience to reach her full potential. Once something stresses her out (usually a thunderstorm, sometimes a loud correction of another dog), it may take a few hours or up to a day for her to "get back to normal." During this time, she just finds a quiet place (corner of family room or bedroom or one of the crates in the house) and "freezes" there. She won't eat or drink or go outside. And then when she does decide it is safe to move around . . . you need to watch her because she might have an accident before you can convince her that it is safe to go back outside.

She does best with a fairly regular routine. And only short periods of time away from her people. Sophie can be in the crate - she doesn't mind it - but she gets upset being left behind. I had to be away from home for a whole day last week, so I had someone come and stay at the house. Sophie did fine, but really did not relax completely until I returned later in the day. And then I was greeted with tail wags and all sorts of doggie love. Sophie has had a few accidents in her crate which seem to be stress-related. She has also worked hard on a few occasions to free herself from her crate.

I would suggest - that in her new home - she would do best if she could be left out of the crate, but in a contained area where she would be safe and could not get into any food or treats, and where there would be a hard surface in case she had an accident. Sophie is housebroken, but with her many litters of puppies, her ole bladder is not what it used to be. And she seems to have a harder time managing when she is stressed.

We are working with the vet to see if a mild anti-anxiety medicine might be helpful in Sophie's overall adjustment to her new life of love and trust and indoor living.

Sophie just wants a human companion that she can trust and count on. If you are, maybe, a retired person or persons that have the time and the patience to make a new friend, Sophie is ready to meet you. She is just looking for a quiet home (bursts of people and noise and children and excitement are all fine) where she can train you to walk her and feed her and rub her belly a few times per day.

Some more photos of pretty, laid-back Sophie to enjoy.

Friday, May 23, 2014

We are thrilled to report that Sophie is a very chill road-tripper. I was very pleasantly surprised with her calm and her adaptability on our trip to WI last weekend. Shortly after the car pulled out of the driveway, Sophie curled into a ball on the backseat and hung out calmly until we stopped for a break after a few hours. After a potty stop and a biscuit, she hopped back into the car, jockeyed for position with the resident dog and curled back up.

Change can be stressful for dogs - especially ones that have not had much human contact while they are being used for breeding. However, it was wonderful to see Sophie arrive at my friends' home and immediately explore their backyard and greet humans and dogs with tail wagging.

Sophie quickly adjusted to the new routine and was fine in a borrowed crate while the humans were out and about.

She loved having a younger dog around (the resident here doesn't really play with her) - and they easily shared toys and balls and after they got to know one another, they had some good romping and wrestling in the backyard.

Sophie continues to explore the world of balls, thinking there is some fun there and enjoying batting them around. She is especially prone to paying attention when there are other dogs around that are interested in playing with the balls.

Stuffed toys seem to only be of interest to her if another dog is playing with one - OR - in most cases as a way to taunt and tease another dog into chasing her or playing with her. Including two photos here - she created this pile of toys at my friends' home, playing keep away from the resident dog there.

Sophie is pleased with the warmer (and non-thundering) weather and loves to be outside and to go for walks. She is content to hang out if there are humans around, but does not generally stay outside on her own for very long. She is mostly used to the Gentle Leader and is learning "stop" and "wait" for managing intersections and busy sidewalks. She loved the lakeside walks we took on the weekend.

If you are thinking about whether this special girl might be a fit for your home, here are a few summary items about Sophie:

  • She likes activity and is always ready for the next adventure.
  • Sophie will play with another dog - and LOVES the activity - but will also lay happily in a dog pile in the sunshine.
  • Sophie does not like to be alone - she likes her people close and will seek them out and follow them around for reassurance and petting. She would do best in a home where she is only crated for 2 - 3 hours at a stretch.
  • She does not really bark - not at dogs or people walking by or squirrels, although I did hear her bark last weekend when she was crated and inside the house and heard my voice outside the house after I had returned from an errand.
  • Sophie sleeps on a dog bed on the floor in the bedroom and stays there all night (although she would like to share a human bed if given the chance). She does snore a bit and resettles herself frequently. She wakes up happy every morning, eager to begin her new day.

Sophie will need some training and lots of love and patience, but she is absolutely ready for her next big adventures and ready for her forever home.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Sweet Sophie has had a relatively quiet week. We are focusing a lot on routine and helping her to understand expectations. She continues to grow in confidence in our home and every day there is positive progress with her actions and reactions.

We had a houseful of people last Thursday evening for a dinner party. Sophie was unsure at first (it got pretty loud with everyone laughing and standing around the kitchen island talking) . . . and she stayed close to my legs when it got rowdy. But she went to the door (following resident dog) when people arrived and was interested to see who was here. She greeted a few people that took the time to approach her - funny how they just know dog people when they meet them. For me, the part that is so positive is that a houseful of loud people did not cause her to run and hide somewhere. She wanted to be right in the middle of things.

She attended her second Meet and Greet the day before Mother's Day and did a nice job meeting new people. Sophie likes all the dogs she meets, so that is never an issue, but she continues to be shy with the two-legged variety. She did warm up to a few patient volunteers and even accepted some yummy treats from one woman who stopped in to meet our dogs.

Mealtime and walks are still the anchors for Sophie's day. She has gotten very bossy (kind of funny coming from this quiet girl) and is running a campaign to have mealtimes and walk times moved up by more than an hour every day. You have to applaud her tenacity - she knows what she wants!

Sophie is greatly improved in the area of eating. Initially, this was a very stressful time for her. She is eating a few feet from the other dog, and is really relaxed while she is eating. I can pet her and touch her dish and step over (or around) her and make noises in the kitchen (like unloading the dishwasher). I have included a picture of her new "relaxed" dining pose.

The recent thunderstorms have been tough on little Soph. Poor girl just has NO time for those crazy noises. She likes to find herself a "safe" spot (in a corner in the basement TV room or curled up at the back of one of her crates). There is no destructive behavior - she just cowers and does not want to move. The worst part is that she doesn't want to move for a few hours AFTER the storm has passed, so coaxing her back outside to do her business can be a challenge.

Sophie continues to learn about toys and will bat the tennis ball about in the backyard, especially if there is another dog playing with a ball. That is why it will be so good for her to have another dog to give her a positive role model. We introduced bones back into the house and Sophie is getting in some good healthy chewing on the Nylabones. She has had some teeth removed (not unusual for retired breeding dogs to have issues with their teeth), so it is important to keep her gums healthy.

Car rides are a joy with Sophie. She rides nicely in the backseat (alone or with a doggie friend). She does not try to "bolt" out of the car when you arrive and open the door, but that is something we are always prepared for in case something startles her. It is more likely that she needs some reassurance to get out of the car. The other day, she kept asking to go outside, and I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that she wasn't taking care of her business. Instead, she was running to the garage door - I think this bossy minx was telling me she wanted to "go" somewhere or "do" something. Maybe she was bored with me!!!!

We are talking a road trip this weekend and will be staying with friends in Wisconsin. We will see how she does on a long car ride and whether her new confidence extends to a new environment. Of course, she will be meeting new dog friends, so the human element will be secondary if she can find another pup to chase and wrestle with her.

Including another photo of this cute girl - laying in the dappled morning sunshine. She always manages to find the spot on the floor where the sun can kiss her.

If you have had experience with a dog that has not been socialized - and you are thinking that is too much for you - I encourage you to meet Sophie. While she is timid in new situations and takes some time to meet new people, she is a strong, curious, affectionate girl who does not shy away from being close and getting excited when "things happen."

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Sophie has had a very busy few days.

Her sweet infatuation with Master Tovel (14-104) has turned into a full-fledged WWF bout. Those two will run and chase and wrestle and chew on one another until they both fall down exhausted. It is really wonderful to see her so engaged and so playful. Her head is up and her tail is wagging and she gives as good as she gets . . . It would be very nice for Sophie to be in a new home where there is another dog that would like to tussle with her once in a while.

Last Friday evening, we had a family visit one of our other foster dogs. It was a great opportunity to see Sophie interact with the three adults and two young children. I asked everyone to just ignore her when they came into the yard and just let her come to them. She hung back for a little while as introductions were being made, but soon she was standing in the middle of the group and approaching the adults to be petted along with the other dogs. She was a little unsure about the whooping and running from the young boy, but she watched from a safe distance. And later, when he was sitting inside the house, she approached him for attention.

Sophie was interested in being in the middle of things the entire evening. When we came inside and sat down, she was laying first at my feet, then on the floor cuddled with the mom. And when the daughter sat down on the floor, Soph went to her and laid next to her for pets as well.

I am really excited by Sophie's socialization. I would continue to describe her as shy and unsure of new humans. But she is not completely afraid and doesn't remove herself from the area. Sometimes she leans into a friendly human or one of her dog friends for reassurance. But that is why it will be so good for her to have another confident dog in her new home.

Well, the weekend fun continued. On Saturday, Sophie attended a Meet and Greet. And again, I was impressed with how well she did in meeting new pups and peeps. Of course, she loved each new dog she met and was ready to play with anyone that was ready to go . . . People are a bit harder for her. She does best when people get down to her level and reach under her chin for pets. Sophie just doesn't feel safe/secure when new people reach over her head and/or tower over her. She did make some people friends and once she felt comfortable - she returned (and demanded) for additional attention. There was one young girl - quiet and confident and gentle. She came over to pet Sophie and then sat down on the floor. And Soph immediately plopped down in her lap.

Sophie continues to love our walks and is no longer fussing about the Gentle Leader. She is also walking like an old pro in tandem with the other dogs. She is very schedule-oriented and starts reminding me about an hour before walk time that she is read to go.

She is a wonderful houseguest and is more and more independent all of the time. She will go out into the yard alone and will even venture into other rooms of the house without a dog or a person. Sophie loves to be busy with walks or car rides or playtime, but is also content to just hang out. She especially loves laying outside in the sunshine (but likes to have the door open).

Sophie is also starting to play with the stuffies in the house and with the tennis balls outside. She isn't completely sure what to do with the ball and she doesn't retrieve yet, but she will chase one and bat it around and then pick it up and prance around with it in her mouth. I think her interest in the stuffed toys is primarily to get the other dogs to chase her and play tug, but she does seek them out and instigate play. So fun to see.

One last update - I talked with Sophie's temporary foster this weekend and learned that she was fine with the cats in her foster home. AND that she lived with at least one cat (not sure the number) in her adoptive home as well. So, if you were holding back on meeting this precious girl because you have a home with cats . . . let your Placement Adviser know that you are ready to fall in love with this sweet, spunky girl.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Our dear Sophie is still a bit camera shy, so we apologize for not having a fabulous new look book for you. Some sunshine would help the process as well . . . but a few random snapshots to add to her gallery.

This little dog is an absolute doll. She is sweet and quiet and easy to have around. Sure - she is shy with new people, and needs to think a little bit about new experiences. But she is amazingly social for a retired breeding dog. Likes to be close to her humans and uses her "Golden" paw to reach out and remind you that she is waiting to be petted.

Sophie doesn't mind the rain and has been quite frustrated over the past few days with our delayed (and shortened) walks. This pup does like to keep to a schedule!! She wasn't thrilled about the thunder. Paced a bit at first, and then found a safe spot and rode out the storm. No destructive behavior - just clearly uncomfortable.

Ok, I am sure she would be very embarrassed if she knew I was sharing this with all of you, but Sophie has a boyfriend. Yep, she is goofily infatuated with our new guest. Tovel (14-104) came to stay with us on the weekend. And Sophie was SO happy. You will see a few photos of them napping side by side and another of the whole pack (including resident, big sister Golden). They are so cute together. Similar in size, but such different temperaments and coloring.

Sophie hasn't exactly "played" with Tovel yet. But she has excitedly danced about and chased him, like she is going to figure out how to play any minute. She does NOT like it when Tovel barks. He has a very big bark for a little guy, and Soph immediately retreats (not sure if it is actually his bark or my correction that she is reacting to).

She is really easy-going with the other dogs and clearly likes to have them around. She does not have a lot of natural (or learned) respect for dogs' personal space. So at some point, she may need some help understanding dog communication if she meets a dog that does not want her stepping over them or laying on their head or having her drink out of the water bowl at the same time.

So far, I haven't really heard Sophie make any noise. She does snore a bit, but getting her to shift her head position a bit usually solves this. And she has this tiny little throaty cry that she makes when she thinks it is time to go for a walk. No barking yet, which is lovely, since there are lots of dogs in our city neighborhood. She will run along the fence and greet them, but does not bark or answer the barks from other dogs that bark at her.

Sophie is going to her first meet and greet this weekend. Am sure it will be a bit stressful. But don't let that pretty face fool you, this babe is smart and strong and will figure it out!!