Harry-the first 24

So I've officially been a foster (dog) mom for 24 hours. I picked up Harry yesterday and in the first 3 minutes of being in the house, he peed on my bed. Sigh. He did well last night, but he's got some habits that need to be broken. He's a "counter-surfer" and has a hard time staying out of your face when you're eating. He definitely doesn't get "stay" yet.

I didn't sleep that well last night. I worried that Harry would be restless in his crate. He was fine though, and was laying calmly in his crate when I let him out this morning. Of course, once he was out, he was bonkers and jumping, so happy to be released! But he calmed quickly. I fed him breakfast, and what a dainty eater! Nothing like Colby or Gonzo. He would take a few bites, then a few laps of water, then a few more bites. It probably took him 2 minutes to finish. I think Colby can do it in under 30 seconds, and Gonzo was no slouch either. Cocoa and I tried to take Harry for a walk, but it was SO cold, and we weren't dressed for it. So later we bundled up and took him for a showshoe at Stoney Pond. He was cute in the snow. At one point a cross-country skier passed us, and Harry showed us his houndish nature. He was ready to CHASE! He was able to follow her scent for quite a while, and when the path hit a Y, he knew just which way she had gone. Pretty impressive. By the end of our excursion, he was wiped out. He slept the whole way home in the car!

I'm having conflicting feelings about having a dog in the house again, or this dog in particular. He reminds me in some ways of Gonzo, but I am also so much more aware of Gonzo's absence, so aware that his is NOT Gonzie, and I miss him more than ever. I miss him more now than when I was dog-less. Watching Harry in the snow today, I couldn't help thinking of Gonz, wishing it was him. I have been thinking about when I first met Gonzo, what I felt about him, how I compared him to Colby (and he didn't hold a candle to Colbs at the time, though eventually he became my number one). I keep having little bouts of sadness and tears. I don't know if I'm ready for another dog. And I know Harry is a foster, so he's not actually my dog. Still though, I wonder if I will compare every dog to Gonzo (and if they'll all fall short). I was so convinced Gonzo's spirit would find it's way back to me, and that it would be through Harry. But now I just think I'm not enough over his death to accept a new dog for just who he is. And I know that's OK, but it's painful to still be having these feelings, and still miss him so sorely.

Well, Harry is hungry (he is sitting very patiently in his crate. I'm glad he likes the crate so much!) and so am I. I'll keep you posted on Harry Huckleberry Hound..