Hopscotch 07-484 [1]

Sponsored by: Melissa H

Please welcome Hopscotch into the RAGOM family!  Hopscotch (Hoppy) is an 8 year old, retired puppymill mom.  She retired from a mill in Iowa last week.  One of the RAGOM Iowa Angels picked her up (along with a whole bunch of hitch-hiking fleas).  That Iowa Angel gave Hoppy and her fleas a special flea bath – the fleas enjoyed it so much they all learned to do back floats!  Then she gave Hoppy two more baths in an attempt to lessen the special “mill perfume” Hoppy was wearing.  After all these wet procedures, Hoppy was spayed.  I am guessing those were the first baths of Hoppy’s life.

Hoppy has been busy learning all kinds of new things.  She learned that she can go up stairs – that only took about an hour and a half.  She hasn’t yet mastered the going down, but I like to walk dogs around the outside of the house in the rain.  Down will come.  How long will she be able to resist following the RedGold Herd as they thunder up and down the stairs?  Especially with me sitting on the stairs with treats

As a mill dog, Hoppy is learning where it is acceptable to go potty and where it is not.  She has only found two inappropriate potty spots so far.  Those two were my fault not hers.  One I was on a phone call I could not cut short, the other I missed reading her body language correctly.  I have the very strong impression that in the mill where Hoppy lived, the potty spot was cement, because Hoppy keeps heading for the back corner inside the garage.  I am glad she takes redirection well.  Hoppy has had absolutely no accidents over night.  That tells me she is used to not going potty where she sleeps.  She is currently spending her nights in my guest bathroom.  She has her choice of sleeping on the tile floor, on a cushy rug, or on a dog bed inside an open crate.  I have seen her using all three.  Before she headed into her guest room the first night, she found Red’s favorite toy and commandeered it to keep her company over night.  Red, being the gentleman that he is, has graciously consented to allow Hoppy to share his favorite toy while she is looking for her new forever home.  (Red already found all 8 squeaky’s that were originally in it and removed them from the toy.)  I will be getting Hoppy a toy or two of her own.

More information about this lovely lady in a day or two.