• Sage

  • Available for Adoption

  • 6/16/19: 

    Sage found some "on-line reviews" regarding adopting a mature dog: 
     
    Easier training

    "Puppies are harder to train because their attention is all over the place. Senior dogs are calmer and can focus better, therefore, they are easier to train. Senior dogs are smart and if you adopt one, they will walk into your home with some knowledge of house manners and commands. Younger dogs have to be taught from scratch."

    Laid-back company

    "Senior dogs tend to be calmer. They care more about being with you, than out running after squirrels. Senior dogs care about what you are saying to them and will listen. Younger dogs care about where the ball is and who is going to throw it next."

    "Many shelter senior dogs are healthy and well-mannered companions. They are experienced in many ways and can be great for first-time dog owners. Senior dogs are not frisky like young dogs. Most of them are content taking a short relaxing walk or just quality downtime on the couch."

    Gratitude and devotion

    "Senior dogs bring bucket(s) full of love and a special kind of joy. When you adopt a senior dog, you give an extraordinary gift, and in return, you'll be loved unconditionally. A benefit of adopting a senior dog is that they want a family to love and a comfy spot to sleep. They don't ask for much and give lots of love in return." 

    Sage is really good at this last point...and she can still catch treats mid-air like a champ!!

    5/27/19:
    Sage continues to do well. She's so sweet and easy-going. Her tail is always wagging - all you have to do is make eye contact with her. If we're busy in the house, she'll follow us from room to room, waiting patiently until the next event. If we're too boring, she carefully selects a couple of her squeaky toys which occupy her until it's time for the real highlights of her day - dinner or walk time. When we're not able to be home, she's very comfortable in her crate - knowing she gets a treat for going in - she usually runs me down to get there before me! Sometimes we have to wake her up when we get home as she snoozes pretty hard in there!

    I'm attaching a close-up...won't someone look deep into those big brown eyes and get hypnotized by her sweetness and decide to make room in their family for her?

    Some random comments this past week:
    - We had our furnace and a/c replaced and the installer told us he couldn't believe how well-behaved our dogs were
    - I took all 3 for a walk be myself on Saturday and someone shouted out that my dogs must be extremely well-behaved for me to be able to walk all 3 by myself (they are!) because she can't manage just 1.

    So...just to show she's really adaptable...she has great manners...she's a good walker. Even though she's a little bit older, she has plenty of pep in her step and would make a lovely companion!

    5/15/19: Update from Sage's Foster....
    Sage is still young enough to counter-surf. Stole 3 treats a few morning ago as I was trying to get everyone settled before I left for work. I've got to stop underestimating her! She also "killed" her favorite toy a few nights ago. Jim said she was in an extremely playful mood and was bouncing around like crazy. Next thing I know, she was proudly displaying her handy-work.
     
    5/8/19:
    Update from Sage's Foster..
    Well...it was an exciting weekend for Sage after she bolted after a bunny Friday night and we lost her for about 45 minutes.  With the dark evening upon us and with her being slightly hard of hearing, I knew we had a bit of a battle.  Luckily, a kind neighbor took her in and we recovered her after searching nearby yards.  SO not like her though.  We were just commenting the other day about how polite and patient she is waiting to get hooked up to a leash or even coming in the door with us.  She always waits for us to enter or exit first - she has very good manners.  It probably didn't help that her foster brothers ran their fool heads off after the bunny who has been making herself at home in our yard.  I'd like someone to tell this crazy bunny there are so many safer places for her and her soon-to-be babies.  It's a battle we have every spring, though.  With the gorgeous weather this weekend, we took many walks, about 10 miles total.  She loves them all.  I sometimes expect her to poop out, but she always has such a big smile on her face when she's walking and she gets so excited when the walking leashes come out.  I think it's her favorite part of the day!  After mealtime, that is...the girl likes to eat!
     
    Here's an updated picture of Sage and how she spent most of the day Saturday.  Following the sunbeam and recovering from her adventures.
     
    5/1/19:
    Sage continues to do well in her foster home.  She's game for anything we throw at her!  This past weekend, we wanted to get up north to open up the cottage.  She did great on the ride up and back and adapted well to being in a new environment.  No problems stepping into the cold lake water and she absolutely loved the long walks we went on.  Her sniffer was working in overdrive!  She has a new favorite toy from Barkbox...it's some sort of puppet-like thing filled with a substance that makes a crinkly sound when picked up.  Actually, not sure it's her favorite because she really likes to give it a good death shake.  Sometimes she shakes so hard she practically loses her balance!  Then she carries it around and around and gets close enough to you but turns away at the last second if you reach out to grab it.  She's just a silly pup under those white eyebrows! 
     
    4/22/19 
    Sage had another good week.  Stella (the English Pointer) needed a place to crash for a few days, so she joined the pack on Wednesday.  After the first introduction and Sage setting the tone with a little growl, everyone did well together.  
     
    With the beautiful weather this weekend, they spent lots of time sun-bathing on the patio.  In order to banish any remaining sickness from my house, I washed all the dog beds and decided all the dogs needed washing too.  So, all four took turns in the tub.  Sage took the last turn and while she didn't seem too thrilled about the whole thing, she was a trooper.  She stood still and didn't fuss at all while she got soaped and rinsed.  We followed it all up with a nice walk and now I have nice smelling pups in the house!  At least for a few days before they find something to roll in!
     
    Stella went home on Sunday but my niece arrived with her 10-month-old Pointer mix, Sophie.  Again, Sage sets the tone.  She likes her space.  But, once that little incident is over, everyone is totally fine.  It's her way, I guess.  The Easter Bunny brought them all giant, frosted-looking cookies which they all sat nicely for and retreated to their own corner to eat.  Sage finished first...her chompers must be working well because those cookies were super hard! 
     
    She's doing really well in the yard.  We're giving her a little more opportunity to roam and drag the lead.  She's been really good at sticking around.  We discovered she's really good at finding (and eating) stray poop.  Great reason to keep it all picked up!  And if you don't know exactly where it is, she'll show you!  Just walk around with the scooper and let her take the lead! :)  Probably not a talent you want to publicize, but someone may want fair warning! 
     
    4/15/19:
     
    Sage was wondering if there was any money in the rescue budget to have her eyebrows dyed.  She feels her grey face is going to make potential adopters think she's old and she wants to look as young as she feels!  We discovered she can move really fast when there's a bunny in the yard and no amount of rain or snow will deter her from wanting to be outdoors.  She makes a great indoor companion who is happy to hang out wherever you are but she really looks forward to our walks after dinner.  Her teeth chatter when she's excited and that's the signal we get when she thinks it's time to go...she follows us around or sits and stares until we cave in and grab the leashes.  While she continues to get along well with her foster brothers, she needs a little time to warm up to other dogs.  She doesn't like them getting up close and in her face...perhaps still a little sensitive from her dental work or before when she might have had some discomfort OR perhaps she just needs some personal space.  It's nothing she doesn't get over but we've learned she will give a warning if a dog is too excitable and rude upon first meetings.  We've had zero accidents in the house...she does well at night sleeping on her dog bed...she's very comfortable in her crate when we're gone...not a peep out of her although she does expect a treat for going in.  We do have to speak up if we want her to hear us - she probably can't hear those low tones anymore, but she does respond when we get louder, so there is definitely hearing there, just not as sharp as it used to be.  She has plenty of energy left for an older gal...and she loves belly rubs...and dinner time!  You can see from the picture, she's not nearly as lazy as her foster brothers!
     
     
    4/8/19:
    She had a good week.  No issues...trying to leave her out of the crate overnight and for short periods of time if we leave to run an errand.  So far, so good.  We took her with us on Saturday when the boys went hunting.  I stayed far back and just walked with her in the field.  She didn't love it.  I think she enjoyed being outside, but the terrain was a little muddy and full of puddles so she didn't seem comfortable.  I took her back to the truck early where she enjoyed hanging out and eating a few treats.  By the time the boys came back all muddy and tired, she was snoozing away all cozy and comfy!
     
    She is a total shadow...follows you around all over the house.  Still loving going on walks every day.  She does little bunny hops when the leash comes out.  She loves dinner time and all kinds of treats.  We haven't had any dog issues with food or treats or chews.  I separate slightly during meal time and stay close to oversee the activity - no growls or grumbles - everyone sticks to their bowl.  She has found one of the stuffed toys that seems to be her favorite.  She'll get in a mood where she carries it around and gives it a few shakes - likes to come close to you with it and then play keep-away. 
     
    She's been great meeting new people.  She's not a barker.  She's doing well with the yard and boundaries...mostly dragging a long lead but she doesn't go far.

     

    3/30/19:

    13 year old Sage made her way to WGSPR on Saturday. She was saved off Craigslist in the Twin Cities about 2 weeks ago. She received a much needed dental and proper vetting. We are still getting to know her and her new foster mom says she loves to be outside and go for walks. THANK YOU to Great Plains Pointer Rescue for your partnership to save Sage! More to come on Sage....