We rescued Cali from the Labs For Rescue foundation. She's a 7-month old black Lab-German Shephard mix (they think...). She came to us already crate trained, house broken and sitting on command. She has floppy ears and a long nose, two features that set her apart from pure labs we see. We like to say she has the best of both gene pools: happy like a lab and smart like a German Shepard. She loves to play fetch with the tennis ball and she LOVES the dog park. She is very social around kids and other dogs, sometimes her enthusiasm gets the best of her and we need to remind her of her size.
Every instinct in that dogs body is on alert when Oski and Rosie walk by. She wants so desperately to chase them. But she doesn't. She already understands "leave it" when the kitties come around. Often a stare down ensues between cat (usually Oski) and dog. Rosie for the most part hides under beds and comes out for meals when Cali is in her crate.
Cali likes to go for runs with Alexa but when she gets tired, she simply sits down. The first time this happened Alexa had to carry that 50-pound dog home in 90-degree heat. Now Alexa goes out with treats in her pocket just in case Cali needs a little encouraging. If Cali has a best friend, I would say right now that would be Sofie. Sofie started back at middle school this week and it's been a bit of an uphill climb. The school is huge and the schedule is packed with eight classes and a homeroom period. To complicate things, kids are not allowed to carry backpacks at school (they keep them in their lockers) and Sofie's locker happens to be on the third floor. I have to say, Sofie loves her teachers and smaller classes (15-18 kids) but there is no time for socializing; outside of the 20 minute lunch period, she has 4 minutes between classes to navigate the labyrinth and manage her materials. It is an absolutely exhausting day mentally, emotionally and physically. But still, the first thing Sofie does when she comes home from school is head to the yard with Cali for a game of keep away. It is so funny to watch Sof run around the yard with Cali's stuffed squirrel and that dog chases her down and LOVES that girl. I know, dogs don't have emotions. But this dog is special and she has brought a little spark to a girl's life just when she needed it most.
In the next town there is a really nice dog kennel (complete with in ground pool for "free swim") and "doggie day care." (OMG!- I AM a dog person!!) We left Cali there for the day on Sunday so we could explore the beaches of Rhode Island. She had a great time and we enjoyed the change of scenery. We had heard the beaches "up north" were a lot like California beaches and true, there were waves and wide white sandy beaches (vs. calm waters and rocky beaches in CT) but the wind was enough to blow your towel across the Atlantic! Apparently the coast was experiencing some residual effects from the hurricane that brushed by last week. So we look forward to going back to Misquamicut Beach another time when the weather is cooperating. Plus I heard that dogs are allowed on the beaches between November to April. Cali and I definitely have some beach days in our future!
Cali gets a belly rub from her buddy.
Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island
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