Foster Home

Donna and Marv adopted Reneé - the female rescued when she failed to exhibit enough drive to warrant being trained for scent work. She was my first experience with a VOCAL Mal, she barked and growdeled all the time, at anything. Noises upset her terribly. The worst was popping open a can of soda, she would go ballistic, running around the house and barking for 5 minutes minimum before settling down. She disliked the boys and would sit and bark at them for as long as they could take it. She was the first Mali to ever "tell me off" once when I corrected her for playing too rough with Rio. Crating was never a good experience and she totally annihilated every toy in the house. Yet she could snuggle with the best of them and thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the couch with me. She was a tough bird but with a heart of gold. She was improving with time and when she left me she had gotten over most of the noises that set her off, but still reacted terribly to soda cans and microwaves and fax machines.

Donna and Marv had just lost an older Mal they had rescued in California years earlier - she was very special to them. They convinced me that they could work with Reneé to get her over her noise sensitivity and it was the perfect home for her - 2 retired adults with tons of love to give and no other dogs. I met them in Davenport Iowa after he drove from Idaho and she flew to meet him along the way from CA. I remember her leaving with her chewies and her special collar I had made for her because she always had to carry a piece of it in her mouth. She was sitting on the front seat of this huge motor home and looking for the world like she absolutely belonged there. Life was not all roses, but Louise Clemens lives very close to them and she fell in love with Reneé and worked with Donna and Marv.

They travel extensively and I have received many pictures of Renee sitting outside restaurants with them, enjoying dinner and friends. Pictures of her "playing" at the dog park and enjoying her toys and HER Yukon. This is the first I've heard that she had gotten over the soda can/bark reactions. She is spoiled beyond belief - but it sounds like she is definitely keeping up her end of the bargain.

Reneés New Owners

Lin, you can not imagine how often I think of you and what you did to make it possible to have this sweetheart, that is absolutely the love of our life. I keep planning on writing you, but all the great strides with Renee and the cute things she does just keep growing and the letter in my mind gets longer and longer. We have been in and out so much, so it seems like we get home and I barely catch up before we're off again. She does LOVE traveling!

It is hard to know where to start. I will start in July, when I opened a Coke can and she did not make a noise. I was shocked and told Marv. He opened one, and nothing happened. Of course, we went on and on about how good she was. We had just accepted her behavior as normal, until someone else opened a can and didn't know what to do when she got upset. It happened all of a sudden with microwave, grinding coffee beans or anything. I guess that she felt secure and didn't need to do it anymore. Who knows?? She also quit clacking at people about the same time. Of course, we definitely socialized her, because she goes EVERYWHERE with us. She did these things totally on her own. When she did these things, we always assured her that everything was alright, and I guess she finally believed us. We really had accepted that she would always do these things because of her background, so it was a nice surprise.

The end of July, we had to take our motorhome in to Oregon for some warranty work. We had to leave it, so we went over to the coast to Astoria, Oregon. It is a beautiful town where the Columbia River goes into the Pacific Ocean. We had made reservations at a hotel, not having any idea how Renee would do. We decided to try, and if it didn't work, we would have to leave and go back to stay in our motorhome at the service center. You would not believe this girl! She walked through the lobby with that head and tail straight up (carrying her leash, of course) with everyone admiring her and looking like the queen arriving. Everytime we walked down a hall, everyone went crazy over her and she loved it! In the room, she was a doll! She sat and watched the ships go from the river into the ocean. She loved it. She was a perfect doll and didn't even bark in the room, which we were concerned about when people walked by the door. There were walking paths along the river and she loved it. We were thrilled at her hotel behavior.

In August, we had a family reunion in CA. We again stayed at the Sheraton Suites with connecting rooms to my brother and family. They just loved her and wanted her coming to their room. When our whole family was together and laughing at all the cute things she was doing, she just loved it and kept doing more. Of course, she has more toys that a lot of children. She loves her squeak toys. She does the cutest things and everybody definitely gives her the attention! They were all playing with her and laughing at her. She was always the center of attention! Of course, that just keeps her going - - - she loves it!

She also loves going out on the boat. I will forward pictures of that. She did that this summer, too.

In September, we went to a RV Rally put on by Monaco Coaches. They have a lot of things going on, that I won't go into the details, except to say that Renee was definitely the hit of the whole rally. We took her with us to lunch and ate outside, took turns going to seminars indoors, so that we didn't leave her for long periods in the motorhome. She was in the pet parade with that proud air about her, while everyone admired and loved her. I walked her around the area, while Marv was in the seminars. One morning Renee and I were walking our normal area in the rally, and we were stopped by two people that admired her, asked what breed she was and her name. They proceeded to tell me that they were doing the pictures for the new Monaco Motorhome brochures and asked if they could take pictures of Renee and I. They said that she was so cute and would be perfect. They found a spot and called us. We met them and the photographers took pictures of us walking with some props around. Then I had to sign releases for them to use the pictures. It was fun for us! I will let you know if they actually use the pictures. It will be May or June of 2006. She was so popular, that people would stop me at dinner, when she was not with me, and ask me what kind of dog she was and all about her. She was definitely the hit! As usual! People were always petting her and wanting to know about her energy level and if she was always that calm. I always told them that they are incredible dogs, extremely intelligent and that they need lots of love and attention. I let them know that they are high energy, but can settle down when they need to. I didn't want to give anyone the idea that they were not high energy, and have more dogs wind up in rescue. Of course, I told everyone that she was a rescue dog and they were amazed. I definitely put in a good word for rescue. I don't think people are aware of what great dogs are available.

We had to go to Salt Lake City, Utah in Sept. for a surgery Marv had to have on his eye. She stayed at a beautiful Hilton with marble lobby and glass elevator. She was so cute! She walked across there, carrying her leash, like she owned the place. She does not bark at anyone, lets them pet her if they want to, and walks proudly to her room. She is definitely socialized!

We were in CA in Oct. for Dr. appts. and to visit my sister and some friends. We eat at outdoor places when possible, because she can sit there with us. She enjoys it and everyone else goes crazy over her.

Monday, we leave for Salt Lake City again, for Marv's Dr. appt. and we will stay in a hotel again. She is so perfect! The first time, we had no idea if she would think throw pillows were her toys, or if she would understand how she would have to wait to be taken outdoors to go potty or so many things. She just adapts to wherever we take her. She is so intelligent!

Well Lin, I hope I haven't put you to sleep! I actually could go on and on about that girl! She is such a constant joy to us. We sit and laugh at her constantly or are cuddling with that little "Love Bug". Last week, I had some things I had to do and Marv had a project he was doing at home. I called him and he was not home. I called his cell and he said that he opened the door from the house into the garage and Renee went out jumped through the window of the Yukon to go for a ride. He was out driving around in the neighborhood to give Renee a ride. I'm glad we don't spoil our girl! <G>

.............I cannot even imagine life without her! Believe me, I could go on and on, but I tried to just touch on a few things - - - aren't you glad!   Donna