Well, Steve has a couple friends that had this miniature pinscher and they were looking for a new home for her. (they also have 2 boxers and felt they had too many dogs at this point - I think boxers will do that to you! LOL!) So steve thought it would be a good idea for Grace. I had already been saying IF we got a dog, it had to be small (we don't have a fenced yard and I wanted an indoor dog and we have a small house!), I didn't want a puppy (I didn't want the hyperness or all that training and chewing and stuff to go thru) and it had to be a LOW maintenance dog. Well - this seems to be it. She's already trained - we take her out every few hours to do her business and no accidents in the house (YAY). She doesn't bark (much - she's done it a couple times but she's getting used to the sounds in the house - she didn't really even bark on her walks). She's not terribly hyper. And she won't be high maintenance w/ grooming or very particular diets (though I guess they can be prone to overeating if you aren't careful).
She's pretty cute - looks just like a mini dobie (though I found out they are actually related to terriers and not dobermans at all! interesting!). Follows me everywhere. Lays in my lap when I'm still. Very inquisitive. Though I hve found I don't clean my floors as well as I should - she eats whatever she finds down there! It's like having a toddler again! lol! And it's funny b/c she doesn't really do tricks - like sit, lie down or anything - unless you have treats for her. And you can't SAY treats b/c she knows the word. If you say it - she comes right to you, and sits down and looks so pitiful as she's hoping for a goodie. I was on the phone w/ my sister a minute ago and I think they said it on the radio or something b/c all of a sudden she turned around from what she was doing and looked at me and sat down begging and even lifted her one leg after I didn't give her a treat right away! It was so funny! (I didn't give her a treat though - b/c I'm SO going to break that habit! Treats are okay b/c I'm not going to be worried about saying a WORD and her begging. geez!)
Sleeping last night was hard bc it was new to her. Apparently before - they just told her to "go to your room" and she'd go to her crate or lie down on her bed and go to sleep when they did. But it didn't work for us. She paced and whined for over an hour after we went to bed. (and apparently sometimes she'd sleep w/ their teen daughter and we SO aren't having that - no sleeping in OUR bed!) But she finally settled down somewhere. OH - and after Tony went to bed (he was the last of the kids to go) she spent an HOUR staring at his room, being tense and growling and low barking from time to time. SOMETHING had her upset and it happened when Tony went to bed! It was so weird! We'll see if it happens again tonight.
Ah - the joys of having a new doggie.
