Merci: Meet Bear. Seriously, this is Bear the chihuahua mix. She - yes, she! (You have probably already guessed that Bear the female chihuahua was named by a guy.) She stayed with us June 1 - 5.
Percy: She was so quiet we hardly knew she was here at first, but the next day (Saturday) Jan and her friend Miss Teresa took Bear to visit her human at the nursing home, and Bear came back with
ATTITUDE and a voice.
Merci: When she was suddenly taken from her home and left here, she thought she was abandoned. When Miss Teresa returned the next day and Bear spent time with her human, Bear changed from fearful to happy and hopeful. Also, Bossy.
Percy: Jan says if Bear were her dog, she'd rename Bear "Hope". She looks like a Hope, doesn't she!
Merci: She loved to go outside and patrol the dog pen. She'd walk back and forth, stand up for a better look in the neighbor's yard, resume patrol, sit in the shade where she had a panoramic view, resume patrol, say it was time to go in, take a leap onto the first step and bounce up the rest.
Marcus: She did not like being crated. Jan gave her the larger crate so she wouldn't feel cramped and she hated it. I'm the bigger dog. I should have had the larger crate. But no, the mini bear got it!
Percy: Jan let her have it so you wouldn't argue over her being in
your crate. When Cricket was here last year (
Cricket Goes Home) , you didn't stop complaining about having to move out of your crate so she could have the smaller one.
Merci: She had picked out a corner behind the desk Friday and Jan had blocked it with a gate so she could relax in private. Then Jan blocked it with a gate.to keep her out with us, either in the crate or loose in the house, but not hiding in a corner.
Marcus: But after Bear returned Saturday, she figured out how to get back to "her" corner. While Jan sat here at the computer, Bear accessed the bottom desk shelf from the open side and pushed things out the front for a private entrance.
Percy: As hyper and noisy as Marcus is, he was a
very good boy for the duration. Jan would let Bear out of the crate and when Bear went back in on her own, Jan would lock it and let Marcus out of his. Jan claims playing musical crates and outside patrol is w-o-r-k!
Merci: She also claims Bear and Marcus took about five years off her life when they accidentally met one day at the kitchen door. Jan heard terrified screams, turned around in time to see Bear turn and run with Marcus right behind her. Jan caught up to them on the enclosed porch. Bear was on her back ... Actually, Marcus should tell what happened.
Marcus: Bear hasn't been around other dogs and obviously didn't know proper canine etiquette because she was just plain
RUDE! I was following Jan into the kitchen when Bear, who was supposed to be sleeping in her corner, suddenly tried to pass me. Being the polite guy I am, I started to say hello - the canine way by sniffing her butt. She started screaming, "He's trying to kill me!" and the chubby little mini bear took off running, screeching like I really was killing her.
Percy: Jan caught up to them and nearly laughed. Bear was on her back with all four feet pumping like she was riding a bicycle, screeching like Marcus actually was killing her. Marcus was standing over her trying to ... er, be polite.
Marcus: Yes, I was being polite trying to sniff her butt but as I said she was
RUDE! Aside from her shrieking in my ears, she was kicking me on the nose with those pumping feet!
Merci: Jan took Marcus back to his crate and gave him a treat to let him know he wasn't in trouble. Then she turned to go check on Bear, just as Bear came sauntering through the doorway as if nothing had happened. Yep, Bear definitely had attitude.
Percy: That Tuesday Bear's owner went home and so did Bear.
Marcus: She wasn't a bad house guest, but she needs someone to explain the facts of canine etiquette - never kick a gentleman in the nose for saying hello!.
