Rico's River: 10/6 - River Appreciation Day

Hi there! Long time, no talk! Sorry we haven't talked in a while. I took the week off to chill and relax with my foster family, but I am back in action and here to talk about my day today!

Today, my foster family took me to the Calvert Marine Museum for the River Appreciation Day! Most people are mistaken in thinking that it was Patuxent River Appreciation Day, but I think we all know what it really was. *wink wink* Nevertheless, I feel appreciated so good job, everyone.

I met so many people today. There was so much love to go around. I received tons of pats, scritches, and ear rubs. Today was the absolute BEST DAY EVER.

Foster Mom took me back home and gave me even more loving. I just didn't want her to stop and made sure I nuzzled her to encourage her to keep going. (Humans need positive reinforcement when they do something you like. I have found humans love it when you nuzzle them. They're so cute.)

Tag says: "Ask me about adopting a greyhound." I am such a hard worker. "All for the dogs!" these people say.

"Keep up the pats, lady." See? A quick nuzzle and the human realizes I want her to continue the action. So trainable, this one.

Rico's River: 9/30 - Can't Keep a Good Dog Down

I didn't meet my forever family this weekend. Full disclosure, I am a little bummed, but some of my friends found their families and I am happy for them!

So now, I get to bless you all with more blog posts for the next couple weeks. *wink wink*

This weekend, I'm staying with one of Foster Mom's friends. Foster Mom has a weekend-long event out of town, but I'm told she's picking me up this evening. I'm excited to spend more time with her, my furry foster sisters, Foster Dad, and my human foster brothers. There's never an insufficient amount of cuddles to go around.

Now... if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go drown myself in some vanilla ice cream and help Foster Mom finish that prison show that she's been trying to catch up on. Foster Mom says it helps, so we'll see. Catch up with all of you wonderful peeps in the next couple of days!

Foster Bro gives the best hugs and cuddles.

Rico's River: 9/28 - If You a Fly Gal, Get Your Nails Done

Big day tomorrow! Foster Mom says it's time to make my debut to a few families. I thought I'd be a little nervous, but I have never slept better in ages! (Notice how I slept in past my usual blog posting time.) I'm so ready! (Again, don't sweat it if you aren't getting to meet me tomorrow, I have plenty of friends for you to meet in the future. Everyone gets their time.)

Today, Foster Mom is going to make sure I am bathed and smelling good as well as trimming my nails to make sure I am good to go for a couple weeks. That way, if you're the lucky human that brings me into your family, all you have to worry about are the cuddles and the foods. So considerate, yeah?

Other than that, I'll be snackin' and nappin' all throughout the day. The human boy didn't have school today, so I'll be rotating snuggles between him and Foster Mom. Can't leave here with anyone feeling left out can I? #rude

So.... I guess this might end up being one of my last posts. *paws crossed* If you don't hear from me, thanks so much for following my journey into retirement. I still can't believe I've lived my whole life and no one told me about peanut butter, but that's beside the point.

To my readers, I hope I've brought a smile to your face every morning with my blog posts and if you're reading this and you're a part of my future family, I hope I bring a smile to your face every day for as long as my four paws meander this earth.

Occasionally, I dabble in snuggling with other pups.

Thanks for supporting me and my journey into retirement! -River

Rico's River: 9/27 - Operation: Get Adopted

Alright team listen up, time is kibble and I don't have any time to waste! Foster Mom says I am meeting some families soon so there is NO room for error. I have formatted a tight schedule for optimal adoption success. This should be followed to a 'T,' people! (jk, It's negotiable.)

Wake up at 4:30am, realize it's only Foster Dad going to work, go back to sleep.

Wake up for real this time at 6am because Foster Mom is up and if she's up, that means breakfast! But first, I gotta pee!

At 8:30, she's out the door and it's in my kennel I go... bah, humbug.

8:50 and she's back! Time to play, get some cuddles, and maybe a snackie snack.

At approximately 9:30am, I will be honing my napping skills. I'm supposed to be sleeping for about 18 hours a day, so my endurance needs to be at its prime.

Lunchtime is also known as Peanut Butter Minus Jelly Time. I get a couple of tablespoons to help me increase and maintain my girlish figure.

I go right back to sleep, no time for playing. Hold all my calls, I'm unavailable until at least 3:30pm.

At 5:30, I eat dinner - 2 cups, no more, no less. Capisce?

Promptly after dinner, I go outside for the "peeps" and the "poops." I come right back in and it's time for cuddles. Foster Momma cuddles me extra to make up for all that lost time while I was out on the racetrack. So considerate, that lady. I appreciate her. She's a dime a dozen.

At about 9pm, it's time to go night night. Early, you say? I may only be 4 years old, but I'm an old soul. Also... I don't make the rules. It's Foster Mom and Dad that are the buzzkills in this household. File all your grievances with them... I would... IF I HAD THUMBS.

Friday is going to be all about ME, says Foster Momma! She's going to make sure I'm smelling great with another bath and make sure my nails are trimmed just one more time before I go off to my forever home. *paws crossed* (Don't worry if you're not meeting me sooner than you might have wanted, you'll have your chance to meet some lucky pup, if not me. Pinky "paw"mise. You see that? See what I did there?)

Foster Mom says I'm ready for a family. I love to cuddle, haven't had any accidents in the house, I'm a good cleaner (but only if it's chicken dropped on the floor), I give the best hugs, I'm responsive to my name, I sleep through the night, and I love to please.

 Foster Mom sits in the floor and I just dive right into some snuggles. I could stay enveloped in a cuddle forever. Cuddles are the BEST invention ever.

That's me on the left snoozing next to my foster sister, Sunshine. Yes, THE Sunshine.

Rico's River: 9/26 - Werkin' on my Twerkin'

Every morning, Foster Mom feeds me breakfast in my kennel. I personally prefer to eat outside of the kennel like everyone else, but she mentioned something about it being "the rules." I guess I'm supposed to learn that good things come from the kennel? Pfffft... I guess.

 Anyway, she always tells me to "kennel up" and I know that means it's time to get inside to eat. But am I just going to waltz right in there like she's the boss? No way, Jose! Instead, I like to play bow and give her a helicopter tail. I think humans call it "twerking," but that sounds dumb, so that can't be right.

 I tell you what though, this house pet business is tiresome. I play, I eat, I go outside, I sleep, I play, I snack, I sleep.... Foster Mom has made sure that I have plenty of cushy beds to lounge around in, which brings me to my next request.

 If you're the lucky human who takes me home, I would really appreciate lounging on a couch with you, but if dogs on the furniture isn't your thing, can you find me a really soft, plushy bed to lay on? OOOOH, or both! Both is good too.

 Now, I'm not talking you just touch it and you're all like "yeah, this one's good I guess." Nay I say! Take it off the shelf, take it for a test spin! I want to MELT into that thing like I'm becoming one with the bed. Bounce around on it, leave no cushion unturned! And once you find the perfect one, be sure to put it back on the shelf and get a duplicate that doesn't have your rear end rubbed all over it. ;) 'Preciatecha!
 P.S. Might as well grab a jumbo bag of Pupperonis while you're in the pet store.

Anyway, I am off to grab my post-breakfast peanut butter and another nap. Gotta catch up on some beauty rest before we get to meet one another! Can't be seen in public with bags under my eyes. Please enjoy some pics and a video Foster Mom took of me earlier. Heads up on the video, turn your volume down, my foster sister was singing the song of her people. (Apparently her people are deaf and need her to sing EXTRA loud. *eyeroll*)

Helicopter Tail before breakfast.

(Audio in video is a little loud, I recommend turning your volume down before pressing play.)

Literal sleeping beauty. My face looks like something straight out of some kawaii anime movie.

This bed is alright, but like I said - I want to MELT into the bed that's going to be mine forever. MELT, I SAID!

Rico's River: 9/25 - If You Wanna Be My Mother

Okay, so I've been a "house pet" for a few days now and I'm starting to discover things that I REALLY enjoy. Don't worry, I've compiled a list of everything that I like so far. This list will most likely expand so the things that I love include, but are not limited to:

1. Hugs, LOTS of 'em
2. Kisses on my noggin
3. Ear massages as I fall asleep
4. More noggin smooches
5. Tell me how pretty I am
6. Tell me how much of a good girl I am
7. Pupperonis
8. Squawky Toys
9. Back scratches
10. Neck massages
11. You guessed it! More kisses!
12. The smell of eggs cooking
13. That little bit of chicken the human boy dropped at dinner last night. (He tried to pick it up, but I was too swift!)
14. Trash talking the stray cat
15. and holy heck - PEANUT BUTTER

Additionally, I have composed a song to the tune of "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, *ahem*:

I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want,

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want,

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna,

I really, really, really wanna peanut buttaaah!

If you wanna be my mother,

You have got to kiss,

Kiss me on my noggin,

THAT'S the way it iiiiiiis!

Obviously, it's a work in progress, but that's all I have for now.

Reference for my future family to know how I like to be hugged.

(Foster Mom took me to her friend Abi's for a play date.)

"Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?"

Foster Mom bribed us with a Pupperoni to take an adorable picture. Once again, I'm in the middle because I'm amazing and deserve to be center of attention.

Rico's River: 9/24 - Foster Mom's Cooking

Turns out Foster Mom appreciates cooking shows. There's this one show with a really funny man on it. He just yells about how awful everyone's cooking is. It makes Foster Mom laugh.

I like it when she laughs, so I've been brushing up on my burns.... like the water she is capable of burning.

She tried making an omelette this morning. It didn't turn out the way she wanted to, so I knew this was my chance.

"That looks like an 'omelet-down' if you ask me."

"I've seen clean-ups on aisle 7 look better than this atrocity."

"Did you get that out of a recipe book? You need a refund."

"I bet that tiny human in the living room with the special 'leave it' toys can flip a proper omelette."

"Kibble actually sounds a lot better than looking at this abomination for a single second more."

I actually did look for two slices of bread to put on either side of her head, but I can't open the pantry, nor do I have enough height to put them on either side of her head.

So? How'd I do? I think I could come out of retirement to be quite the food critic! Watch out Mr. Ramsay!

Rico's River: 9/23 - Humans are Weird

Foster Mom likes coffee out on the deck. Me? Well, I like to stick my snout into the neighbor lady's business. Why do humans do yard work? It's just gonna to grow again. Seems like a perfectly wasted opportunity to take a nap if you ask me.

Speaking of plants, did you know humans tend to not appreciate when you try to eat their plants? It's nature! It's everywhere. Can't they just go get more? Humans are weird. They're so lucky to have us dogs around to keep them on their toes.

Another weird thing humans care about... they have this tiny human in the house that has his own toys! What? Why's he so special? I want to play with them, but Foster Mom starts in with that "leave it" business again. What gives, lady?! I mean, I'd let him play with my toys if he wanted.

Foster Mom took a couple photos of me and my foster sisters. She definitely captured my good side. 

 That's me in the middle. Center of attention - AS IT SHOULD BE.

In a past life, I was clearly a makeup artist. Look at my eyeliner! (It's not actual eyeliner, I was just born gorgeous.) I'm so pretty...and slightly self-indulgent. Whatevs. (Note to self: Get a wig, preferably blonde, so I can flip my hair all sassy-like next time.)

Rico's River: 9/22 - Retired Racer, Professional Cuddler

Hi there! I am formerly known as Rico's River, but now people just call me River. I keep insisting on Riv-Dawg, but my creative prowess has thus far gone unappreciated...ANYway...

I am a southern belle from Alabama. I am 4 years old. I have a small scar behind my right shoulder that I have dubbed a beauty mark - like just now. I just made that up. It reminds me of my glory days out on the track.

I arrived to the rescue group late last night/early this morning. I was so exhausted from such a long journey to Maryland. These people gave me a soft bed, food, plenty of water, and one heck of a spa treatment! I had a bath, ears cleaned, and nails trimmed.

Foster Mom brought me home and showed me around the house and the yard. I saw a cat! I'm still supposed to chase those, right? By the way, what does "leave it" mean, because I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to chase that fur ball.

Foster Mom introduced me to her own greyhounds. They are nice and I'm told they'll help me get a hang of this house pet business. One of them showed me what toys are and MY GOODNESS I LOVE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN THAT SQUEAKS OR SQUAWKS NOW.

 "Hello Chicken, I am River. CAN. YOU. HEAR. ME?"

"You're sure I can just squeeze it as many times as I want whenever I want? This is a thing?"

"This chicken is alright by me!"

In addition to my charm and good looks, I am a huge fan of cuddling and loves. Had a long day, need a hug? I'm your girl. Sick of adulting and need a cuddle? I'm your girl. Want to spend the night in on a Friday night and eat pizza while binging Netflix until 3 in the morning? Bring it on! I'm ready for everything!

Foster Mom says I have a good chance of finding a home soon. Maybe I'll get to go home with you! I can't wait until I can find a home and lay on the couch with my person and judge cats all day. IT'S GONNA BE GREAT!