Spirit arrived from China on February 23rd with 2 other Golden Retrievers.

She was tired and hungry after her long flight and ride up from Chicago. The next morning, she had a nice breakfast, followed by an hour-long play/wresting session with my resident dog. She is very playful and loves to romp in the snow. 

She had ringworm and coccidia at her initial vet check, but we've cleared those up with medication. She has been brought up to date on all of her vaccinations and has been microchipped. She only weighed 41.5 lbs at her check-up, and her ribs are visible through her fur. We are loading her up on high-quality food, fish oil, peanut butter, and all sorts of extra treats. She loves cheese!

She has been getting 2 training sessions of 10 to 15 minutes per day and is already proficient at "sit," "down," and "shake." We're working on "stay," but that's going to take a while when she knows that Foster Dad has treats in his pocket. This is pretty remarkable for a dog that doesn't speak English, but it shows how intelligent she is.

She also has a wonderful, inquisitive nature and enjoys sniffing things and checking out everything new. She can be a little naughty at times, and we are working on curbing her tendency to counter-surf and chew paper.

She hasn't really figured out what toys are for, and would rather sleep under my chair or coffee table than the nice, comfy dog bed 3 feet away. She does, however, love to hop up on the couch to snuggle with me and her foster brother.

With the bitter cold snap we went through, I picked up some boots for her. She resisted the first day, but now readily sits and offers her paws so I can get them on her. I get the sense that she actually understands they help her and let her spend more time playing outside without her paws freezing. Again, she's a clever girl. We haven't tried walking on a leash yet because of the cold.

Spirit's information from China said she was 2 1/2, but the vet we saw seemed to think she is closer to 12-14 months old. She would be best in a home with a fenced-in yard and kids 10 years or older. She may physically be an adult, but she still has quite a few puppy behaviors and can get mouthy at times. As playful as she is, I would worry about her nipping at small children or knocking them over in excitement.

She has not been tested with cats yet. Her adoptive family will have to be committed to continuing to feed her a high-quality food, provide basic obedience training, and help her reach her potential to be a fantastic pet.

If your family has older children and a fenced-in yard, Spirit would love to meet you!