Star

Ok, so, remember Gretta from a few posts ago? Our new dog, and how I wasn't sure it was gonna work out? Well, it didn't.  After 3 days, she was bored with us, and we were all bored with her.  Including Carter.  She was just a little TOO docile.  So we went back to the Humane Society and traded up.  We all fell in love with Star.

All of us, that is, except Carter.  She's a little bigger, and much more active than Gretta.  Naturally, Carter was intimidated.  We did our best to help him along.  Mostly, he just avoided the back yard.  We decided not to give up, but to just give it time.  After a while, Carter would watch me play in the yard with Star, and slowly venture outside to watch us.  I could see that he wanted to play, but was a little afraid, and didn't know how.  Star was still feeling him out, too.  With Carter, you don't push things.  It has to be HIS idea on HIS timetable.  So we waited.  We've had Star for about 3 weeks now, and last Friday, something clicked for both Carter and Star, and they bonded.  REALLY bonded.  Star is so smart.  She watches him and reacts to his body language.  She doesn't jump on him or lick his face unless he bends down to ask for it.  She doesn't chase him.  But she does let him chase her.  It's truly amazing to watch them.  Best buds.  Here's a few pics I caught the other day of them in the dog house.  Yes, IN the dog house.

 

I think we needed Gretta to help Carter get over that initial fear of animals all together, and now we need Star, who can really engage with Carter and care for him.  I think a little divine intervention happened here.  I'm SO happy that my little boy has a friend.  It's his first one, really.  He's out there every waking moment he has.  And when I see that smile and hear that giggle, I can't help but wipe away a tear.