This little guy is a 12 to 15 month old, 16.4 lb, Chinese Crested who was rescued by PMR on Saturday at the Awareness Day event in Pennsylvania. Chinese Crested come in two varieties.  Oscar is considered a hairy hairless. 

Oscar has been in foster for three weeks and is doing very well. He went to the vet on 9/26/05 and was neutered and brought UTD on his shots. He also had a baby tooth removed that was crowding his second teeth. His eye infection has cleared up and he is learning all about being a puppy. This little angel loves life and all it has to offer!

Oscar is just a loveable, playful little guy. He tears through the house at a gallop, runs through the garden with glee, and runs by the fence to rile up the neighbors dogs, then leaps onto the deck to watch the action. He is exuberant about life and his freedom and is curious about everything. If there is mischief afoot, Oscar is usually the ring leader.

On Saturday his fur sister Sweetie had her halter and leash on preparing to go out, when I turned my back, Oscar grabbed Sweetie's leash and cheerfully went running through the house to take her on a little jog. She wasn't real happy but went along until foster dad stepped in to rescue her. Oscar is just a little helper!

He is still wearing belly bands and has not gotten the hang of potty training yet. I think his two fur siblings who have problems with potty training may be confusing him. He will sometimes pee when he is very excited and does not seem to know he is doing it.

Oscar is a cuddler and although he is allowed on the furniture, he will not get on the sofa unless he is picked up. He will curl up with me and stay for hours while I read or watch TV. He loves to be petted and fussed over. We are still working on the word "down" and he is trying to listen - but sometimes he is just too excited and too happy to stay down.

Oscar needs lots of love and attention and would do best in a home with a stay at home parent and one or two other fur siblings to play with. He is very smart and although as a mill dog, it is possible he may not ever catch on to potty training, I think it is very possible he would if someone has the time and patience and is willing to love him regardless.

Pat & Jim and the Spoiled Royals in Columbus
Forgotten 4 Paws - Tucker, Orphaned - Sweetie
PMR - Prince Charming, PMR - Mason
PMR Foster Mom - Oscar

    

sweet disposition. 

 

Oscar has been free for three days now and the change in him is nothing short of miraculous!  He was a good little trooper on the way back from Intercourse, PA to Columbus, Oh.  It's a bit over 400 miles and he got car sick at 133 miles, so we pulled off the road for a little bit and let him walk around and once he seemed okay, we continued home with no mishaps.  Sunday afternoon and evening, we just let him do pretty much anything he wanted to get acclimated to his new foster home.  He went in every room, found the laundry room and carefully removed each piece of laundry from the basket, made himself a nice little pile and proceeded to roll in it. Then he was off to the living room where he taught us how to baby proof that room and remove everything he could reach by standing on his back legs.  The kitchen & dining room were quickly Oscar proofed in short order.  We line our waste baskets with plastic bags from the grocery and he loves to pull on the handles so now they get tucked inside the waste basket.  He is just playful, playful, playful.  Saturday and all day Sunday, he did not make a peep - we were wondering if he could bark.

 

We took him outside (we had to carry him down the steps since he did not know how to go up or down) and he explored all over the yard (hasn't made it into the gazebo yet) and he checked out everything - trees, flowers, shrubs, bugs, fountains, benches - he is so curious about all he sees, hears and smells. The other Spoiled Royals pretty much ignored him on Sunday - they were busy reasserting who was going to be second in command after mom.  Tucker (quiet, gentle Tucker) won!

 

Bedtime the first night was a real trip.  I made him a bed at the foot of our bed on the floor but when we came in, Tucker decided to claim it, so I brought another bed in, put one of Carol's snuggle blankies in it and tried to get Oscar to lay down. (It was like putting the energizer bunny to bed.)  Oscar spends a lot of time on standing on his back legs with his paws on whatever is handy - he needs to see everything.  So of course I got in bed and Oscar put his paws on our bed - well - Miss Sweetie, Prince Charming and Mason the Wonder dog took exception to Sir Oscar thinking he was joining them - bark - bark - growl - snip - snap - you get the picture.. . . . So I got up, put Oscar in his bed, sat down with him and tried lullabies to get him to sleep - maybe if I could carry a tune it would have worked. Two hours later, I still could not get him & the others to settle down.  Foster dad was losing his sense of humor so I decided to try crating him.  He slept in the crate Saturday at the hotel - maybe that's what he wants - ha! This precious little guy who had not made a sound in two days whimpered and cried.  So I moved the crate in our bedroom - he still cried.  I moved the crate out again, took him out - got another bed and laid it down beside me on the floor in our room. Finally, he laid down and slept like the little angel he is. Monday night was much better - he now knows he can sleep in his bed beside me and he is a happy camper.

 

I have been working at home for several hours in the morning and going in later and Jim has been going in a little early so he can come home earlier so we can crate Oscar during the day when we are at work.  He is not destructive at all, but he is so curious and he can reach all kinds of things. We aren't sure yet how safe he would be without someone to keep an eye on him.  He has not had an accident in his crate since Saturday and is getting the hang of going outside.  He still has accidents but in three days Oscar is miles ahead of a couple of Maltese's we all know and love who shall remain nameless.

 

We are working on the word "down" right now.  This one may take a little while. Oh - some of you at awareness day may remember when I gave him his first piece of pup corn and he let it sit in the crate . . . . I think Jeanie sent a photo of it also.  Well, let me just say that you don't want to get between Oscar and his pup corn now.  He loves it.  He also loves carrots.  He lets me put his eye meds in with just a little fuss and he takes his amoxicillin pretty well now too.  He needs a home where they understand his high energy and need to look, touch, listen and explore.  He has a lot of puppy in him and needs supervision to keep him safe.  He is very gentle and loving - he has the sweetest disposition, but would not be good in a home with very small (physically) children as I think he might tumble a toddler over in his exuberance. Of course, he may calm down a bit with a little more time. Temperament wise, he would be great with anyone - he is the most forgiving and loving little guy!