Love dog alert

Could Octavia, a.k.a "Tavi" be any more adorable? I think not. 

Look at her breaking all boundaries at our house by sharing the dog bed with BOTH DOGS! She cuddled up with Hanna last night and we were so impressed Hanna allowed her to do it, we had to take a couple photos. 


Then as I walk to the living room this morning, there she is with Max! She loves her foster brother and sister. I think she needs at least one other dog in her household to play her silly games and to cuddle next too. 


We had a friend over for dinner last night and he swears she's grown in the week since he saw her last and we think she has too. She gets plenty of outside time and exercise to get her little legs back in shape. 


She is going to be an amazing addition to a family. 


We have another swimming lesson tomorrow afternoon and we're excited that first foster, Ms. Suzy, is going to come watch! Tavi will be thrilled to see her! We'll take pics and more video to post. 


Enjoy your Friday and weekend! Don't forget to come to the adoption event on Sunday at The Dog Shop in Georgetown. We're not sure if Tavi will be there or not, but if you're interested in seeing her sweet face, we'll make a point to come by. 

Will it actually snow in February?

From 70 degree weather to snow today...could it be? Octavia and the pups enjoyed lots of outside time yesterday, it was so beautiful. Chance was off so the little one got to spend all day  playing and wearing herself out. For a 4 month old puppy, it doesn't take much to wear her out. Some wrestling with her squeaky toy or a little outside time and she's ready for a nap. And when I say nap, I mean, full on snore fest! 


She's eating well, still 3 times a day, and goes to the door when its time to go out and do her business. She sits for her food, sits for her treats, basically sits whenever there's something to eat. She's real smart. 


I don't have any new pics, but I'm hoping with the little bit of snow we will get today, I can get some this afternoon or tonight. 


Tavi is one special pup. She gets around so well, loves other dogs and people, submissive, not at all aggressive, and would make a wonderful addition to any home. She may walk and run (gallop more like it) a little funny, but it doesn't take away from her absolutely adorable face and sweet personality. As most labs, she can be vocal when she yawns or stretches or lays down. Always something to say. 


She needs to be near your neck when she sleeps...not sure why, but I have been woken up several times with her entire nose in my neck. Plus she snores so can't help but wake up. This morning she was spooning with me. She's the biggest lover dog, and we keep telling her that she will get bigger and can't be a lap dog like she is now. She's looks at us funny. I don't think she believes it. 


Stay warm today and I do hope to see some snow!


Another swimming lesson this Saturday at 3pm! I'll make sure to update her blog after with more pics and videos. 

Sleepy, happy girl

Seems the only photos I've taken lately are of her sleeping. We had a very busy weekend. Between swimming on Saturday, the adoption event yesterday, and Superbowl last night, she is exhausted. 

There were so many Octavia fans at the adoption event yesterday and everyone commented on how well she was walking and getting around. She has a little more pep in her step even in the week we've had her. She can do an entire lap around our building and keep up with her foster siblings, Hanna and Max. She's starting to come when she's called...we use a real fun "Tavi" and she's comes a galloping. 

She is really one of the sweetest little babies I have ever seen. All our neighbors just adore her and Chance and I can't get enough of her. I think Max and Hanna are a little jealous, so we're making sure we spread the love. 

Funny story. We have a 12 year old rescue, Hanna, who is a little cranky in her old age, and Tavi can not get enough of her! The one dog that doesn't want anything to do with her, she is all over. Every time she comes in from outside, she runs immediately to find and kiss Hanna. It's the funniest thing...She's saying, "You WILL love me".  

She's been a delight and we love having her, but know she's ready to find her forever home. She needs and wants a lot of human interaction, and another dog would be a bonus to keep her company. She spends about 4 hours in her crate daily, other than that she's roaming the house looking for someone to love her, playing with her toys, outside playing in the bushes or sleeping. 

I am jealous of the family that adopts her, they will be the luckiest people ever! 

Water baby...

We have a natural born swimmer on our hands folks! We just returned from our first swim lesson at Old Towne Pet Resort in Springfield, and we are exhausted. From the minute we walked in to the second we walked out, she received more attention and love from all the staff and other pet customers as well. She is one special girl. 

Here we are with Amanda, our friend in the pool, getting ready to get in. She was a little hesitant at first, but once she got the hang of it, she swam her little heart out! 

Check her out! 

I'm not a great camera person as you can see, but look at how great she swims! Amanda said she has lots of dogs that suffer from hip dysplasia and arthritis that she sees on a weekly basis and it gives the dogs such good mobility. Well our little Tavi is no exception. 


She's had a great week. Met lots of new dogs in the neighborhood, has gone with us to friends homes for dinner and just been delightful. She has been waking up the last couple nights every couple hours needing to go outside, still can't figure out what her belly issues are about. I'm sure its the move to a new home, as nothing else has changed food wise. I'm sure its an adjustment period. 


Can't wait for our next swim lesson or maybe her new family will have a pool, because she will be one great little swimmer. Might not be able to go on long walks or hikes, but I'm sure she will love a beach or lake trip!


Well, we're all off to take a nap, foster mom included! See you all at the adoption event tomorrow from 12-2pm at the Falls Church Petsmart on Arlington Blvd. 

Settling In to new digs...

Octavia (we're calling her Tavi for short) is settling in just fine in her new foster home. She arrived Tuesday afternoon and we loved her immediately. She loves kissing on our pup Max and keeps barking at the cats, but they just ignore her. She wants so badly to play with them, but they just don't seem to care. 

She is happy to greet all our neighbors and their dogs, but gets a little shy if there's too much excitement around. To entertain herself she throws her new squeaky toy in the air and chases it or tries to catch it. Definitely an entertainer!

Thanks to her first foster, Ms. Suzy who saw her through her surgery and recovery, she is potty trained and sits when she is fed her breakfast, lunch and dinner, and has no problem going in her crate. She goes to the door or whines when she needs to go out. We LOVE Ms. Suzy for teaching her all her manners.  

Last night was bath time, and I think I got just as wet as she did! She is not a fan of the bath, but settled down once scrubbing and massage started. She had so much fun getting dried off that she decided to play with the towel a little more. 

We did carry on the tradition of her sleeping in the bed with us. I take her in with me about 11pm and when Chance gets home from work about 3am, she gets to go out for a potty break and comes right back to bed with us. She is a true snuggle bunny. She can in fact go the entire night with not having to go out, but she feels left out if Chance doesn't come get her. Oh, and she snores! 

We have a swimming lesson on Saturday morning at Old Towne Pet Resort, and lots of photos will be taken. Make sure you come back Saturday afternoon to see how she did on her first hydrotherapy session. We feel swimming will help her gain some more movement and strength in her little legs for a full, happy recovery!

Octavia is on the Move!

The Brown household is sad to say that Octavia has moved to a new (wonderful) foster. Things were getting a little too crazy for Octavia and her recovery. Living with a 60 pound puppy for the last six weeks has been fun but for the good of her recovery, she has moved to Virginia with Jennifer and Chance and their pups for a calmer recuperation.

Octavia had her stitches removed yesterday as well as a follow up radiograph. The radiograph showed that her right leg is doing well and her left leg has only shifted slightly. At this point there is no additional surgery planned and she will have radiographs again in a month to make sure she is healing as she should be. Right now a calm environment where she doesn't run, jump or wrestle is what the doctor ordered. Try telling that to a four month old puppy who is feeling no pain!

This puppy is going to make some family very happy. While she may not be able to go on long runs, she will have a normal doggy life but just be a little less active. For a lab that's a good thing! Admittedly she has been a little spoiled. She does spend time during the day in the crate but at night she sleeps in the bed. Last night foster mom woke up to two paws on either side of her face and a nose in her cheek. A few hours later Octavia was curled up with the resident pup. It they weren't two different colors you wouldn't have known where one ended and the other began. She is a very loving pup.

I think her transition to Jennifer and Chance's home will be uneventful as she was playing in the tall grass as if it were water and never looked back as her foster mom left. You gotta love those puppies!

Look At Me Now!!! Woof

So how good do I look? Seriously - surgery - check, pins out - check, bandages off - check, physical therapy - yep. Life is good. Since my legs, and especially my wrists, were immobile for awhile I have to limber up again but I am doing great. In fact, my fosters are having a hard time keeping me down! I want to play, run, jump, wrestle with the other dogs, etc. I am having a blast. I have to be careful though because my bones are still healing and I still have my stitches but they come out on Monday. This great weather isn't helping as what puppy doesn't want to run around in circles outside? But its okay. I have to be patient and heal for the next few weeks and then I will be back to all of my puppy ways. Now my legs don't necessarily look pretty (but beauty is in the eye of the beholder right? My fosters say I'm gorgeous) but at least things are growing as they should be now. I think my surgeon must also be a plastic surgeon because my incisions are barely even visible. While it looks like my elbows are swollen, that is actually just my own special style now. Believe me - I can work it.
Take a look at my videos and remember a week ago I was in surgery getting my pins out. Just a few days ago I got my bandages off. Not bad, huh? When you watch these videos, put on Beyonce's "I'm a Survivor." That's my theme song baby!

http://youtu.be/4d-r1fiQU3Q

http://youtu.be/e-u3BS6tmaE