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Nicolae has now been adopted! (February 2006)UPDATE (17 February, 2006)
They called about 15 minutes away, so I got all of Nicolae's things ready, then took him outside for a walk. They pulled up as I was walking back toward my house and Mary Ann got out of the car and sat on the ground. Nicolae walked right up to her! I couldn't believe it! My heart was just racing! I gave her a treat to give him and he took it from her. She also petted his head. This was warming my heart more than I can even express!
We went from my house to Dog Lovers and Nicolae did wonderfully! They bought him a nice coat and Wellness food and treats. Their son is great. Nicolae also went right up to him and Nicolae also went right up to his new dad! I was so thrilled!
They are going to be so wonderful for Nicolae! I am sad but at the same time, I am so happy that I could burst! Nicolae will always have a piece of my heart with him. He knows it too.
UPDATE (18, February 2006)
Mary Ann just called me to give me an update (they are in SC right now) and I am so thrilled at how well Nicolae is doing! I do miss him, but he is doing so well that I am so happy! Mary Ann told me that last night they put him up on the bed and he stayed up there for a while and then got down. Mary Ann put a few treats in the crate they bought for him so that he knew it was OK to go in there if he wanted to. He did go in (of course - there were threats) and stayed in there for a little while, but not long, then came out and was just walking around checking things out in the hotel room. Mary Ann had gone into the little vanity area and the next thing she knew, Chase came in very excited and said, "Nicolae jumped back on the bed!" He of course has been doing that here (only on my bed) for quite some time, but it did take a long time before he did it.
This means so much to me that he seems to be progressing with them just wonderfully! I was praying he would, because I really didn't know how much he may 'back slide'. Sounds like everything is going just wonderfully! So, he ended up sleeping with them on the bed all last night! He has done great when he goes out on a leash, wagging his tail and everything! I am so very happy that this wonderful family came along for precious Nicolae!
UPDATE (19 February, 2006)
Mary Ann called me earlier today to let me know that all was well and would be home later that night. When they stop and he goes for a walk, he wags his tail and does his business. They think he is just the greatest dog (he is!) and she told me that her son said that "they had to feed him only healthy treats! No table scraps because he wants him to live a long and healthy life!" Smart kid - he was listening to me! Mary Ann told me that she already can't bear to think of not having him.
UPDATE (19 February, 2006)
From Mary Ann:
Hi there! We're finally home! Just a short note to send you some pics! He's fine - I think he's a little apprehensive about the house and what has become of him. Tomorrow will be a great day though - he's going to get a complete introduction to his surroundings! His crate is set up in our kitchen but I have made a spot on a recliner for him right now and when I find some quilts from when Chase was a baby, I'm using them. This will be Nicolae's own chair!
UPDATE (20 February, 2006)
Last night I watched TV for a while with him next to me in 'his chair'. It's cute he puts his head on the arm of the chair and looks at me and rests his head on the arm. Of course I have to pet him because he is so irresistable. I brought the crate upstairs into our bedroom last night. He jumped on the bed instead and that's where he stayed all night. Rich had fallen asleep on the couch early and came up during the night, saw Nicolae comfortably in the middle of his side and went back to the couch!
I have to carry him from room to room. Did you have a hallway in your home? We have a hallway that connects the rooms and he doesn't seem to want to walk through it. I have to say, he was doing better in the hotel rooms. He shakes a lot now that we're home. I hate to see him nervous - it breaks my heart. I just keep talking to him and petting him. He's on his chair right now and is better when he's on the chair or of course, in the crate. The crate and his food and water are in the kitchen. We've gone out in to the yard and he wags his tail and sniffs around. I was hesitant to tell you he was nervous because I don't want you to worry or feel bad but you should know these things for future dogs. We just got up a little while ago so maybe as the day goes on and he realizes he's safe he'll adjust. I think he realizes this isn't just a hotel room! I'll let you know how he is later - right now though he's fine laying on his chair.
UPDATE
Rich's mom came over and met Nicolae. It went well. Chase and I took him for a walk around the block. He was very happy and trotting along. He kept stopping and looking back as if to memorize where we had come from. It's actually a circle so when we got home he knew our driveway and started walking up it. Got to the backyard, to the back door and went right in the door! First time through the door!
I gave him a bath earlier which yes he didn't care for. The bath itself wasn't bad but the blow dryer definately wasn't his thing.
Nicolae slept with Rich and I last night. I brought him out before work and just a little while ago. Just now out there he was happy as could be. He was jumping on me and giving me kisses! He's so delightful when he's happy. We're leaving right now and I'm giving him the run of a few rooms to be by himself. Nana will be here in a few hours to let him out and then back after her choir practice to stay until one of us gets home. He's settling in and not shaking as much - only at certain times when he's uncertain.
UPDATE (2 March, 2006)
Nicolae is doing about the same with some baby steps forward. We went on an adventure yesterday. I brought him to the vet - everyone loved him. The receptionist that got the Chinese Crested from the humane society a few weeks ago said he was beautiful and why wasn't hers as pretty and have such beautiful hair! Then we headed to Nana's house. He walked in the door and seemed to like it there or at least feel a bit comfortable there. I worked on her computer for a couple of hours and he laid in the living room looking into the room where I was.
UPDATE (17 March, 2006)
There is not a more precious, beautiful soul than our wonderful boy, Nicolae. When you said in the petfinder ad that the family who adopted him would be lucky - you were not making an understatement! We love him to death! I can't tell you in words how much. He is a one of a kind, gorgeous dog that I am so happy to have the honor to know!
I did bring him to the vet a second time. He was hopping when he pooped and rubbing his butt on the ground. He had blocked anal glands and the vet took care of it and he is fine.
That's all for now!
UPDATE (26 April, 2006)
He's slowly warming up to Rich. When in the living room, Rich lays on the couch, I sit on the floor and Nic comes in. He likes the living room and wags his tail and goes over to Rich and sniffs. Then I get on my hands and knees and move from side to side and he chase's me side to side and jumps around all happy as can be. I sit in the corner of our sectional - with him in the very corner and Rich laying down on the other long side of him. Nic sniffs his head and licks his hands, head, ears, etc. It's so funny. I'm glad because Rich has been feeling bad that he scares Nic.
Chase makes a lot of loud noises and Nic is less trusting of him. That needs to be worked on but Chase is used to bouncing balls and being kind of reckless (not in a harmful way) but if he's on the computer he beats his foot and that type of thing and it scares Nic. I'm continuously telling him to stop doing things.
We went for a walk today - Nic, Chase and I and things were fine. I've been bringing him to the ball park too. He enjoys some of it but is scared of the sound of the back stop being hit by the ball. We also have the luck of being ball magnets so I think I'll cut back on bringing him. Dogs aren't suppose to be there either, although in the past I have seen many. I just have a hard time leaving him at home!
That's all for now. Overall I would say Nic's having a better life as time goes on. Still baby steps but it's progress. I can't get over how pretty, adorable and kind he is. He sure likes to lick!
UPDATE (15 May, 2006)
Rich went on a couple of walks with us and once in a while I would slip the leash to him and he would be in control of Nic. However, Nic has still cowered away from him when he was standing outside or in the house - except for certain situations - mainly the kitchen. Rich has been fairly depressed that Nic is so scared of him. Today was Rich's day off. He was home alone with Nic. He carried Nic out to our driveway and put him down. Then - they went for a walk! Nic wagged his tail at the beginning, then pranced along as usual but the wagging stopped. He pranced along looking interestingly at everything and though he gave Rich a few 'uh-oh' looks, it went well! The tail wagging will come with time!
Nic is my shadow. He follows me everywhere I go - every room, I get up he gets up, etc. Well, I was in the kitchen, Chase was in the TV room and Rich in the living room. Nic was in the kitchen with me but he left and actually jumped on the couch with Rich near his feet. He's done this before but only when I'm in the room with him. The living room is the one room in the house that he acts like he does outside for some reason. It's also the only room with a rug.
He still basically eats only outside and when I'm there, but the one water bowl he will drink out of in the house is the cat's! The cat also goes and drinks Nic's. I think it's a competition thing!
UPDATE (22 September, 2006)
All-in-all Nicolae is doing about the same. He's my shadow and follows me from room to room. I don't mind of course but I feel bad for him sometimes because sometimes, when I'm doing chores, I can go from place-to-place within a minute and poor Nic is going in circles! Yes, I even have company in the bathroom!
I can't give him enough kisses and I think he's really thinking that enough is enough sometimes! He gives plenty back though and I avoid putting any kind of lotions on my arms and legs in case they should be poisonous to him.
Rich, Chase, and I went to Montauk, LI for three nights and left Nic with Nana. While with Nana I tried to say hello over the phone but he didn't hear and was just afraid of the phone. He had his own twin bed there and liked to sit on her living room couch and look out of the picture window. This was only when Nana was in the other room though because he avoided whatever room she was in! While this was going on I was having strong separation anxiety and couldn't wait to get to Nana's to pick him up. I went in Nana's front door and called for him and he came slowly and cautiously and then when he realized it was me there were many kisses and jumps. Then Rich came in the house and it slowed down and when Chase came in it stopped. He is still scared of Chase. Chase has never done anything to hurt him of course but he has large movements and horses around sometimes and Nic gets scared. Chase will do this without realizing but then stops but it's too late. He's trying hard to harness his nutty kid stuff.
After we got back from Nana's, Nic was relieved to say the least. Nic and I were in the Living room, which is where Rich plants himself on the couch to watch TV. Nic loves that room. I went and sat on the corner of the couch, which is a big L shape. Nic jumped up on top of me. He has never done that - next to me but not on top. Then he jumped off the couch, on it, etc. I went and sat on the floor and played with him and it was unbelievable how excited he was. He has always been more animated in the living room but it was different.
He is just such a gorgeous, wonderful, sweet dog. I love him so much. I don't know if he loves me as much as he counts on me to be his protector in this world. I guess I wouldn't get all the kisses if he didn't feel something! As I type this he is at my feet under the computer desk.
UPDATE (25 February, 2008)
Nic is doing fine. He still comes with me to work a lot. He is also still afraid of Chase though now when chase has food he is starting to go over to him for the food. Chase gave up for a while but is trying again to get Nic to like him. I think a lot of it is that when we first got Nic, Chase would type on the keyboard on the computer with two fingers and hard - I think Nic thought he was hitting the computer and hurting it. Chase has a computer in his room now and has for a while now. Bouncing a ball or whatever else he might do out of impulse does scare Nic, then I tell him to stop. Now that chase is getting older it's probably better now. He goes up to Nic a lot now and pets him and says good things to him. He'll be 15 in May and will be out and about more and not home as much in the coming years so if Nic doesn't start feeling more comfortable with Chase - Chase won't be around as much. Nic doesn't have any problem going to the kitchen table at dinner time when Chase is there and licking ours knees to get food !
Which brings me to his new obsession - food. Twice, during the fall and then for a Christmas get-together Rich and I were shocked at how he behaved (yet delighted) We had family over for get-togethers and both times Nicky actually jumped up on our guests with his paws while they were sitting down around our L-shaped couch, Of course, they were all munching on snacks, cheese, crackers, etc. We couldn't believe it ! This is Nicky who used to hide ! No one seemed to mind and he even was giving strangers (to him) kisses. It was so nice to see him acting like a dog!
At work he stares, standing in front of me, wagging his tail, waiting for me to give him treats. I've started giving him his bits of dog food for treats most of the time. Oh , it's so funny that if I ignore him and do my work he comes around to the back of my desk and nudges me with his nose to pay attention to him and give him a snack - if I don't respond, he nudges me harder. It's hilarious !
He's basically always with his mom except when dad might be in the living room munching, then he'll bravely go in to see if he can sweet-talk dad in to a low-fat Cheese-It or two. If I go for quick store trips or to pick up a prescription, I'll bring him with me. He loves to come with me where ever.
He is the most wonderful dog to have and I'm am so lucky - he is still the sweetest soul of a dog there can be!