Matty & Dylan

Hi guys!

I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how great Mattie and Dylan are doing. They have been with Jamie and I for a year and a half but it feels like they have always been here.

After some initial adjustment problems (Matt's bladder control problems and Dyaln's shredding problems) everything has settled down just fine. We bought a crate and began crate training them in order to save the house. It has worked miracles. Mattie loves her "house." She goes and sleeps inside whenever she gets tired. Dylan doesn't like it as much as Mattie but he doesn't seem to mind it. the crate is large enough for the both of them so they never get lonely. Mattie likes to sleep against the wall of the crate on her back with her feet straight in the air. Actually she likes to sleep like that everywhere! Mattie has discovered the joys of blankets. She is like Linus the Peanuts charcter. She is constantly dragging blankets all over the house. Matt and Dylan both love to curl up and sleep in the arm chairs.

Dylan's new thing is carrying his food dish. Whenever he is hungry he grabs his dish and brings it into the living room to beg for food. After he eats, he comes back in the living room and does 10 foot snout pushes where he wipes his chin on the carpet.

Luckily he licks his lips first! Mattie loves everyone and is always glad to make new friends. Dylan, however, has developed a protective streak. He hates strangers and will sit in front of them and growl and bark at them if they move. Once Dylan becomes acquainted with you he is fine. It's kind of comforting when I'm home alone at night.

Mattie and Dylan's favorite activity is going bye bye truck. They know those words and they know "wanta go to Grandma's?" My mother is one of their all time favorite people.

As time goes by, they are also getting smarter. Mattie knows sit, down, paw, other paw, dead dog, truck, grandma, outside, breakfast, and supper. She still hasn't mastered 'come' yet. Dylan is better about coming and knows the rest of the words too (except for dead dog). Matt and Dylan also know some hand signals. Mattie likes to sit on the window sill and watch the happenings outside.

Matt and Dylan are the best of friends and have been the best of companions. Thank you for rescuing them for Jamie and I.

All the best.

— Sara Burton, Jamie Couchman, Mattie and Dylan