Gypsy Rose Schnauzer - from Mill Survivor to Loved Companion

Gypsy Rose Schnauzer was the first of the Missouri 11 to find a forever home.  The Missouri 11 was a group of schnauzer siblings that were rescued by SRC prior to the large snowstorm that crippled the mid-west last January.  You can read more about their rescue in back issues of our newsletter at http://www.schnauzerrescuecincinnati.org/

Gypsy’s Mom, Linda Pelley, shares her thoughts on her first 6 months with us.

I can't believe it's been 6 months since I opened my home and my heart to Gypsy Rose Schnauzer. She is so beautiful, sweet and smart and I love her so much. She filled the whole in my heart left by the sudden death of my sweet boy, Murphy who died just before Christmas.

Murphy was a Silky Terrier and he had been rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri in 2005. He was in bad shape emotionally and physically and was older than we originally thought. As we know, patience and love can work wonders on these poor dogs and in the short 4 years I had him he bloomed.

When I found Gypsy I knew what I could be in for since she came from a puppy mill in Missouri. Gypsy is my third schnauzer, my 5th dog since 1976. My first dog was a mini schnauzer, my second was a German Shepherd/collie mix, and number 3 was another schnauzer and finally Murphy and Gypsy. (Muffin, Molly, Mac & Murphy, I didn't plan that M theme).

Gypsy is totally different from Murphy. She is out going, friendly and loves everybody. It didn't take her long to win over the neighbors who think she is the cutest dog ever. She made herself right at home the first day. She gets along great with my two cats, Cali and Pattycake. Just recently she and Cali have started sleeping together on the dog bed.

Gypsy is very smart and picks up on things quickly. She goes straight to the kitchen after her potty walk to wait for her treat. I did not teach her that. She sits on command and automatically sits when I put her leash on. If I hide a treat in my pocket she will sniff it and take it out.

She definitely knows about riding in the car. She was nervous at first. I let her ride in the back of the hatchback the first few times then moved her up to the passenger seat next to me. She is harnessed in and loves to go for a ride, especially to Skyline Chili because she gets a hot dog at the window. She knows when I am ready to go somewhere and will sit at the door looking pitiful, hoping I will take her.

Our biggest issue has been house-breaking. I didn't think she would EVER get the idea to go outside. She has ADD outside. She will walk around for an hour or more, even half squat and any little thing will distract her and it starts all over again. I am happy to report that she is 98% trained now! She still has accidents in the house but I think most of that is getting back at me for not taking her with me every time I walk out the door. She does use a pee pad most of the time for those mishaps. Just the other day she went to the door and barked to go out. Major breakthrough.

She has a lot of toys but really doesn't play with them. She LOVES chews. I had her groomed about a month ago and she enjoyed that, except for the hair dryer. She likes baths and loves being brushed. She will roll over on her back so I can brush underneath. The only thing I can't get her to do is go up and down the inside steps. She's never been to the second floor. I've tried treats and coaxing her but she looks up that flight of steps and turns away. She only goes to the basement by using the outside steps. She loves the basement, room to explore and there's an old mattress she lays on with her chewies.

One of cutest things she does is when we are outside she will sit in the yard next to my neighbors porch and "woo woo" hoping she comes out to talk to her or pet her. I hope all the others rescued with her have found forever homes. The pictures are her and Cali on the dog bed. Her by the door looking pitiful so I will take her with me and her first swim with my daughter-in-law.