Super Cooper

We have been so blessed to have been the owners of some wonderful pets! We have just adopted Cooper from the local no-kill shelter. He was adopted out by them in June and returned to them (via microchip) after being found half-starved and tied to the back fence of the local Humane Society. (kill shelter) He had just been sent back 2 hours before we got there. Funny how things work. We had not discussed about "when" we would be getting a new dog after losing Gator in August, but we were driving by our preferred shelter when kind of all of a sudden we are turning in. We went through and looked at all the puppies and dogs. Ray is set against a kitten but I hope to change that. : ) They were all big dogs and puppies and we were looking for one under 20 pounds. As we were leaving the girl says, we DO have one who just came in and led us out back. There was Cooper! 1.5 years old, tuxedo black, skinny as a rail, but the long feather tail was still wagging. He was a little shy at first but then Ray started walking him around the parking lot and they just fell in step. Then he jumped up beside my chair so I could pat him. How silky smooth his coat was and what a great smile! We were sold! It's only been a little over a week but Cooper is perfect so far! At first we were concerned that he may have an eating disorder or some other reason for the previous adopters to return him but as soon as we got him home we gave him half a bag of Kibbles left over from Gator. He sucked it down like a vacuum! And it didn't come back up! So no eating disorder! Whoot! The shelter was not sure if he was house broken. Yeesh! And for a day he did his outside duty in the house. We kept showing him the dog door and putting him outside. The 2nd night I remembered the "paper training" technique and closed the bedroom door laying newspaper down. He had been sleeping in the bed with us since our nap on day one. He got up at 6am and peed on the paper. Ray got up and brought him outside again. That was the last time he went in the house! He learned the dog door. He also knows a lot of commands like sit, get the ball, give it to me, NO. We have left him alone and the first time he chewed up the tissue box we left on the bed. The second time he had my sneaker on the bed, but it was not chewed. He takes a flying leap into my lap from 6 feet when he is fetching the toy and returning it! He's very tall and gangly but just 14 lbs when we got him. He's fattened up some but I think he is supposed to be a dog that is sort of Whippet shaped. He's supposed to be a Papillion/ Jack Russell. Yeah sure and Gator was a Weenie/poodle. chuckle chuckle. Anyway as we come up on the sad Anniversary of Mom and Dad Abels I think Cooper is already helping with that. I am dying to see what else he knows how to do! Got him some squeeky toys and he likes to play. He play bites and licks your face a lot. We are looking forward to seeing what he does with a tennis ball or Frisbee! Ray already calls him a bedhog because he sidles right over to his side and pushes him off the bed! lol Looks like Ray is sleeping on his bedside table he's so close to the edge. When he tries to move Cooper, he flips over on his back and thinks Ray wants to play. It will be a fun learning experience! I haven't been able to get a good "personality" picture but here are a few to give you an idea until you meet him. He has 4 white stockings and a blaze down his nose! He loves to chase the squirrels, lays behind or under my chair or under the table near Rat's feet! Ray gave him a bath and he just sat there calmly in the tub. Opposite of Gator who did not like baths and would try to get away the whole time! Anyway Mom! Here's the new grand dog! Love you all!