That's more of a testimonial than Greta had anticipated, and her eyebrows tick up in surprise. They could've done without 'dire need,' perhaps -- she doesn't want to seem desperate, does she? Or does it not matter? But when she risks a sheepish glance over at Elise, the girl doesn't seem at all put off. Well, the idea is for them to not keep the dogs forever. Greta has no doubt they'll want to see them into good homes, but perhaps they won't make the whole process more trying than it needs to be.
Sadie, as if sensing that she's no longer the sole focus of Greta's attention, worms her way a bit more into her lap. She's too big to be a proper lap dog, but she manages to get her head and shoulders there. It's a ridiculous picture, the dog twisted into an ungainly pose, fluffy limbs splayed, and Greta can't help chuckling. "I'm growing rather fond of this one," she admits as she gently ruffles the fur on Sadie's chest. Maybe that's premature, or unfair to the other dogs. Or maybe it's serendipitous that this one seems to have chosen her.
"She seems to like you," Elise says. It's certainly a more encouraging response than 'a bit hasty, don't you think?' and Greta relaxes a little. "We've only had her here for a couple of months, but she doesn't have any health problems. Her coat will take some work -- that's one of the big things. She'll need to be brushed at least once a week, and you might end up wanting to take her to a groomer, just to keep all this fluff under control."
"What are the other big things?" Greta asks, as Sadie squirms into a more comfortable position and heaves a contented sigh.
"She's smart." Elise smiles wryly. "So you'll want to give her things to do. A lot of herding breeds, even if they're just part herding breed... if you don't give them a job, they'll come up with something on their own, and it might not be good. Sadie's pretty laid back, but if she gets bored, she'll just, like, let herself out of her pen. We had to add an extra lock."
"... Huh," Greta says, a little surprised, but not put off. The doorknobs in her apartment are all round, so she has a hard time imagining a dog being able to work them, intelligence aside. If she has to add a latch up out of a dog's reach, that wouldn't be too terrible an expense. "Well, I'm sure I could come up with something. Teach her tricks, if she's that clever."
"It doesn't have to be complicated," Elise adds. "I mean, 'fetch' can be a job." She smiles, then gets to her feet. "I've got some water bowls to refill, so I'll let you get acquainted. But if you have any other questions, just come find me, okay?"
Greta nods, and once the girl's left, turns back to Demelza. "I think I really like this one," she admits. "Is that--is it too quick?"
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Sadie, as if sensing that she's no longer the sole focus of Greta's attention, worms her way a bit more into her lap. She's too big to be a proper lap dog, but she manages to get her head and shoulders there. It's a ridiculous picture, the dog twisted into an ungainly pose, fluffy limbs splayed, and Greta can't help chuckling. "I'm growing rather fond of this one," she admits as she gently ruffles the fur on Sadie's chest. Maybe that's premature, or unfair to the other dogs. Or maybe it's serendipitous that this one seems to have chosen her.
"She seems to like you," Elise says. It's certainly a more encouraging response than 'a bit hasty, don't you think?' and Greta relaxes a little. "We've only had her here for a couple of months, but she doesn't have any health problems. Her coat will take some work -- that's one of the big things. She'll need to be brushed at least once a week, and you might end up wanting to take her to a groomer, just to keep all this fluff under control."
"What are the other big things?" Greta asks, as Sadie squirms into a more comfortable position and heaves a contented sigh.
"She's smart." Elise smiles wryly. "So you'll want to give her things to do. A lot of herding breeds, even if they're just part herding breed... if you don't give them a job, they'll come up with something on their own, and it might not be good. Sadie's pretty laid back, but if she gets bored, she'll just, like, let herself out of her pen. We had to add an extra lock."
"... Huh," Greta says, a little surprised, but not put off. The doorknobs in her apartment are all round, so she has a hard time imagining a dog being able to work them, intelligence aside. If she has to add a latch up out of a dog's reach, that wouldn't be too terrible an expense. "Well, I'm sure I could come up with something. Teach her tricks, if she's that clever."
"It doesn't have to be complicated," Elise adds. "I mean, 'fetch' can be a job." She smiles, then gets to her feet. "I've got some water bowls to refill, so I'll let you get acquainted. But if you have any other questions, just come find me, okay?"
Greta nods, and once the girl's left, turns back to Demelza. "I think I really like this one," she admits. "Is that--is it too quick?"