Please enjoy the story of the mighty Thorin by guest blogger, Hilary.

Life was pretty good in 2015. I had a house, a secure job, people that I loved, and my pets. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for homeless pets and such was the case in the early part of 2015. I decided I wanted to give Izzy the experience of raising a puppy – a dog she could grow up with. Since we already had rescued two, adult chihuahuas, I thought adopting a third as a puppy would be ideal. I began my search and came across an ad for a litter of chihuahua puppies in Mississippi (see below). These puppies were with a veterinarian, so I called and spoke with her. I remember her specifically telling me that they were chihuahuas and would be “ten pounds full grown”. I filled out the paperwork, paid my fees and anxiously awaited when he would be transported North.

Click here to continue with more pictures.

By, Guest Blogger Zach

This is a special blog for me as it’s both my first and very near to my heart.

Hello all, I’m Zach.  If you don’t know me, I’m Mia’s assistant trainer.  If you’ve been following Phoenix’s story you’ve probably seen pictures of the balding, (yes, balding not bald, deal with it), gentleman with Phoenix; that’s me.

I have to admit that I have failed Phoenix.  Although she wasn’t fostering in my home I have spent everyday with her and to put it simply: she is my foster fail.  For those unfamiliar with the term “foster failure” it means that the person who was fostering a dog fell in love with her and decided to keep her.  So yes, I have failed Phoenix.  It’s my greatest failure and a badge I will wear with pride.

I approached training Phoenix with the mindset of every other board and train: I would do my best to help them understand our basic and more advanced commands.  It’s no secret that working with the same dog day in and day out you start to develop real affection and saying goodbye is always a little hard, but I do so gladly knowing they return happier and more confident to a family who loves them.  This answers the first of two questions Mia has asked me since deciding to adopt Phoenix: “What makes this one different?”  She had no one who was eagerly awaiting her return; there was no one else, all she knew of love is what she found in Mia’s house.

The other question is: “What changed?”  Why didn’t I want her immediately?  I went in knowing she was leaving and thinking I didn’t have the room for her.  There was already had a family who was interested in her so I tried not to get too attached.  This was my first failure.  I didn’t just read about how she was opening up and showing her true personality and confidence.  I lived it with her; her first smile, the first time she willingly came out of her crate when called, the first time she engaged in play. These were not just awesome moments for her, they were awesome moments for me, too.

I let myself get attached even though I knew there was a family that eagerly awaiting news of her progress with hopes of adoption so I put the thoughts out of my mind and did my best to be professional.  I went back and forth in my head and accepted that she would have that loving family.  We just needed to see how she reacted around younger kids who were playing and just being kids.  She didn’t bite or lunge, but she was clearly agitated and didn’t want to be around them.  Ultimately, Mia and I decided that at this time she wasn’t ready to be in a family with younger children.  It was tough to tell her prospective family this news, as you can imagine and I’m glad Mia played the bad guy.

I allowed myself to acknowledge the hurt this family felt; I’m truly sorry Phoenix wasn’t ready yet.  This is the “what” that changed, she no longer had someone who was immediately ready to take her.  I had already fallen in love with Phoenix so I asked Mia what she thought of me as her forever family.  I explained all my doubts and my hopes, I wanted Mia’s honest opinion. I was thrilled when she said that a single guy in his early thirties would be a good match.  There was no hesitation this time and Mia and I put everything into motion to ready her for my adoption.  

Today I signed her paperwork.

I’m happy to continue this amazing journey with Phoenix.  I’m excited by my new, added responsibility and can’t wait to introduce Phoenix to her forever home.  I want to thank Char Wills for giving me this chance, Mia Semuta for showing her tremendous heart and taking on Phoenix’s foster, my pack for always welcoming new dogs with open paws and everyone who took the time out of their day to care about an unknown dog who was dealt a bad hand.

Thank you for following along on this blog as she completed the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

See One.  Do One.  Teach One.

That’s how we roll in the pack.  Dogs learn best from one another so we make it a paramount goal to surround our students with well-mannered, balanced dogs.  To put it even more succinctly: Monkey See, Monkey Do.

Today was Phoenix’s turn to step up into the mentor role.  She assisted in a temperament test- Congratulations, Jake!  We will see you in class, buddy!  When Baby Blake arrived for a two-day stay she was welcoming and helpful and finally she attended a graduation practice this evening as both a prospective graduate and a distraction.  She continues to amaze all who see her progress.  Although “stay” continues to be her kryptonite I am certain she will conquer it!

Please hold her and her medical team in your loving thoughts and prayers tomorrow as she is being spayed; this is the last step in her adoption journey.  I will keep her with me until she has recovered and, paws crossed, graduates before she will go home to her new family. 

Yep, she’s got one.  The paperwork will all be signed tomorrow and Phoenix’s new family is free to make the grand announcement.  There will be a 50-pound, velvety soft hole in my heart when she’s gone but I know she’s leaving me with a bright future and heading to an amazing life.

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

Rub-a-dub-dub; muddy dogs in the tub.

Phoenix and her pal, Willow, had a playdate with the country brothers today.  It was a muddy mess and they had the time of their lives!  Afterward we took them to Pet Valu for a bath because…mud.  Also, she’s being spayed on Thursday so the fewer germs, the better.

She was just brilliant today.  She has a strong command of all the basic commands and tomorrow she will join a couple of packmates in a practice-run of the graduation test.  All signs point to a smashing success. 

Her resource guarding really seems to have disappeared.  She has been taking her meals next to Pony and Gigi for about a week now, she shares a water bowl with no problems, she also shares toys as well as surrenders them when asked.  Her aversion to squeaky toys seems to be gone although my own has reached a tipping point.  Many thanks to Pony for desensitizing her to them but they are put away again.

Teeth cleaning is still a battle but wow, she loves to be brushed!  Loves it more than she loved the bath but she doesn’t care about having her ears cleaned.  The next hurdle I want to attempt is nail trimming.  Now taking bets on how that’s going to go…

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

Indeed it was rainy and quite miserable here in South Central PA today but Miss Phoenix was anything but depressed!  She still enjoyed a walk in the rain with Trainer Zach followed by working on the “down” command.  As with everything else we’ve thrown at her she nailed it.

We had quite a weekend!  I hope you enjoyed following her on my Instagram, (@mia21972).  Sunday morning’s class was well-attended, she didn’t love that large of a crowd but she did a fantastic job minding her manners and her handler.  Only two weeks in and she is on track for graduation on December 22!

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I had originally committed to a two-week board and train with her.  I’m going to keep her here at my house a little longer as she is scheduled for her spay surgery on Thursday.  It is the least disruptive to allow her to convalesce here in the home she has come to know and is comfortable in.  It’s going to make it that much harder on me but for her, it’ll be worth it.

Tomorrow I am going to begin testing her house privileges.  Please send good vibes our way!

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

Leaps. And. Bounds.

That’s how she is improving every day.  When I picked her up 12 days ago there was a large sign on her cage, “NO SQUEAKY TOYS.”  We tested that theory the day after and discovered that, yep, she hated them.  They sent her right over the edge.  The other night on our shopping trip she didn’t seem to care as much. 

Today, not a care in the world!  (Please follow my Instagram to enjoy the videos, mia21972.)  She was spectacular this morning as she helped another student pass his temperament test and then absolutely joyful at an afternoon playdate with nine of her packmates. 

It almost feels as if she knows I’m not going to place her in a home with kids, as if that weight is off of her shoulders.  She’s been spunky and self-assured all day; greeting people gently and making new friends. 

I think I might take the weekend off from blogging unless something really spectacular happens but I’m sure I’ll update pics on insta.

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

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