Hi everyone:
This is going to be my last entry in my blog. I was adopted today and I now have many things to do which will keep me occupied. I am writing this from my new home in Philadelphia. (You didn’t know dogs could use laptops, did you?) Anyway, it has been a very busy day. I noticed that last night, Eleanor was packing a bag and madly writing notes on various pieces of paper. This morning, Soleil, Price and I headed off in the car. I love the car and I was excited to be going on a trip! We arrived at Assunpink, a place I have been to one time before. Soleil had some sort of competition to run in.
Soon, another car drives up and two people get out. Eleanor shakes their hands and, then this guy, Bob, is walking me around on leash. And then I meet their GSP. He is big! But I liked him, because he kept his distance. So many dogs are pushy and forward, which I don’t really like. But I was nervous and I thought maybe it would be safer back in Eleanor’s car. But the nice men gave me water. I watched Cooper chase a Frisbee and then I was in the back of something called an SUV, in a nice comfy crate.
Now I am in my new home. And, surprise, there are two dogs in addition to Cooper and also three of those fuzzy things called cats, which I find basically dull. I am nervous, but deep down inside I know that I am going to like it here. These guys treat a lady right: food in my crate, a dog door, playtime in a park and a lovely yard. Will Bob mind if I eat his flowers? J
Good bye and thank you to all my friends in new Jersey. I am sure I will see you from time to time. But for now, I have to focus on settling into my new permanent life.
Note from Eleanor: Thanks to everyone for helping make Kelly’s long journey from neglected puppy mill dog to treasured house pet, a reality. She is a special girl and she has been adopted by special people. Good girl, Kelly. Thanks, Sandy, for co-fostering, and thanks Bob and Seamus for making her part of your lives.
Much love from Kelly and Eleanor
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
My Latest Update
I am back living with my co-foster Mom, Eleanor. Today, she presented me with a list of exercises we are going to do to help me learn better. I don’t quite get this. I think I am learning a lot! I know I am making tremendous progress, because everyone tells me so. I am very good about taking my paws off the counter if I am told to and I even resist the urge to put them on the counter to begin with…most of the time. I understand that funny sound humans make when I have transgressed (like my new vocabulary word?) and I stop doing whatever naughty thing I was doing – grabbing a shoe or nibbling on a dog bed, for example. I walk very nicely on leash. I get into my crate when asked, especially when it is meal time or when it is bedtime and I know I am getting a cookie. I use the dog door. If I have to “do my business,” no one has to tell me and I run right outside. I never, ever mess in the house.
But Eleanor says that I need to learn skills like paying attention and sitting. (I hate to sit!) Eleanor had a long chat with the obedience trainer she works with every Monday. I go and watch and I must say that Ozma (the barky Sheltie) and Soleil (a GSP my age who is my best friend) really have to watch her. Eleanor says they are “competition dogs.” I am not sure what that means, but it is really hard for me to understand how they manage to pay such close attention. I mean there is so much to see and watch and I have to watch my back with so much going on!
1) Stand still with Kelly (that’s me!) on leash. Let her wander around. Do NOT say anything. Be patient. Click or praise when she looks up at the human of her own accord. Give the treat, even if she then looks away. Reward any eye contact. Use small pieces of high value treats like steak, chicken, cheese, etc. Do this exercise frequently in a variety of places, not just at home.
2) 2) Stand still as above and say Kelly’s name. When she responds, click or praise and give her the treat. Kelly is responding well to her name at home or in the back yard, but needs to understand it in busier situations. Do this, only once she starts offering more eye contact in new places.
3) 3) Teach Kelly to “touch.” She can touch a hand or a target. Start by putting a lid or tile on the floor. When she noses it, click or praise and give her a treat. Once she is nosing it on her own, add in a command, like “touch.” Same process for a hand – just hold a hand out and when she noses it, reward. Eventually, put it on command.
4) 4) Sit down on the floor. Put legs out in front, slightly bent. Put a treat under legs. When Kelly goes under to get it, then click or praise and give the treat. The ultimate goal is to have her crawl under the legs to a treat on the other side. Once she is comfortable doing this, she can start to be told “down” and praised. This may take time. “Sit” can be added in, if she start to crawl out and achieves a sit or near sit position.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Update, 4/12/09 - What a weekend!
I got to visit the Jersey shore for the holiday weekend. Both Otis and Thelma’s grandparents have houses there – they are lucky! For the first two nights I stayed with aunt Lori and her mom. There was nice fenced in yard with lots of stones and a lagoon with ducks. All those stones sure are different from the grass and they definitely do not taste as good.
Thelma and Otis were not with me and I was ok. I did good alone. I sure do like their company, but aunt Lori kept me busy. Our first walk was to a bay beach and I ran right into the water. I wasn’t scared a bit. This was a fun spot that we walked to a lot during our time together. Aunt Lori was fun and set some of her own rules in grandma’s house – here I could go on the bed – well just one time, but this never happened before. Aunt Lori found out I’m one cozy girl. I just snuggled right up against her and snoozed away. Vacation time is great. Even though it was a new house, when aunt Lori and grandma Pat went to Otis and Thelma’s, I was fine to stay home alone in my crate. This was a different crate, so I protested a bit at first, but after that went on in without trouble. I’m learning that a crate is a safe place and I hardly ever complain about it.
I was very comfortable with aunt Lori in this new place. Since I knew her from before, I stuck to her like glue. They say in my new home, my family should split up my responsibilities so I don’t get too attached to just one person. I should learn to share my love!
On Easter I got to visit where Thelma and Otis stay. It was fun to be with them again and we got to go to the beach! WOW there is so much sand and water. I just ran right to the surf, I liked to walk on the jettys and even pick up shells. It was so warm and sunny today, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
Then we came back to Otis and Thelma’s other house – it’s good to be back to a familiar place. I’m exhausted. Here it’s a bit stricter – no bed or couch for me. I forgot, but my foster mom and dad are quick to remind me. There are lots of comfy beds on the floor so I don’t mind that much.
I had a hearty dinner and tonight we are all going to bed early – good thing since my foster mom Sandy will have me up for a walk bright and early!
In two days, I’m going back to my first foster mom and all her dogs for another visit. It’s been really fun here and they say if I don’t get my own place soon, I’ll get to come back and visit and maybe even go to the beach again. I’m having the time of my life, but I’m ready to find my own family and get into a routine with them. It’s time to start to real life.
Thelma and Otis were not with me and I was ok. I did good alone. I sure do like their company, but aunt Lori kept me busy. Our first walk was to a bay beach and I ran right into the water. I wasn’t scared a bit. This was a fun spot that we walked to a lot during our time together. Aunt Lori was fun and set some of her own rules in grandma’s house – here I could go on the bed – well just one time, but this never happened before. Aunt Lori found out I’m one cozy girl. I just snuggled right up against her and snoozed away. Vacation time is great. Even though it was a new house, when aunt Lori and grandma Pat went to Otis and Thelma’s, I was fine to stay home alone in my crate. This was a different crate, so I protested a bit at first, but after that went on in without trouble. I’m learning that a crate is a safe place and I hardly ever complain about it.
I was very comfortable with aunt Lori in this new place. Since I knew her from before, I stuck to her like glue. They say in my new home, my family should split up my responsibilities so I don’t get too attached to just one person. I should learn to share my love!
On Easter I got to visit where Thelma and Otis stay. It was fun to be with them again and we got to go to the beach! WOW there is so much sand and water. I just ran right to the surf, I liked to walk on the jettys and even pick up shells. It was so warm and sunny today, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
Then we came back to Otis and Thelma’s other house – it’s good to be back to a familiar place. I’m exhausted. Here it’s a bit stricter – no bed or couch for me. I forgot, but my foster mom and dad are quick to remind me. There are lots of comfy beds on the floor so I don’t mind that much.
I had a hearty dinner and tonight we are all going to bed early – good thing since my foster mom Sandy will have me up for a walk bright and early!
In two days, I’m going back to my first foster mom and all her dogs for another visit. It’s been really fun here and they say if I don’t get my own place soon, I’ll get to come back and visit and maybe even go to the beach again. I’m having the time of my life, but I’m ready to find my own family and get into a routine with them. It’s time to start to real life.
Monday, April 6, 2009
My Update from 04/06/09 - Recapping my Days with the Aunts
It’s a rainy Monday and my step-foster parents are back from their vacation. I told you about my arrival in my new foster home in my last “blog.” (By the way, I don’t mind the rain one bit, but I hate getting wiped off with the towel) I had SOO much fun with aunt Sue and aunt Lori. Aunt Sue is so lively! She talks loud and laughs a lot, and she kept saying she wanted to take me home to meet her parents and all the other GSPs in the neighborhood. I wish I could have gone to the shore, but turns out, I had kennel cough. The nice vet they took me too gave me antibiotics and I am feeling much better now. They said it was just a mild case.
Since Thelma and Otis had already been around me for days, and they have their shots, I still got to hang out with them. This was the first day Otis and I really got to know each other. We ran after the ball, wrestled in the grass – I love my doggie friends. I learn a lot from them too and they help me be more confident
On Thursday, we had a dinner party and though, I was scared at first, I let each person pet me as the night went on. After company left, we watched some TV and I curled up on my new bed while aunt Sue pet me. She wanted to take me to bed with her, but aunt Lori said no. It would have been my first time sleeping with a person and I think I would have liked it, but I know they are trying to teach me to stay independent. And any way, I don’t mind being in my crate. I feel safe and comfortable there. (I still try and jump on the big people bed when no one is looking! One day I know they will say yes.)
Luckily my aunts slept a little later than Sandy – so I didn’t have to get up until 7 am. We went for walks; we lounged on the deck – there are so many noises I hear. Sometimes a train honks in the distance; sometimes a plane goes by in the sky; or our neighbor Lili the miniature poodle barks. I stop and listen to each noise and barked right back at Lili. When aunt Lori told me to quiet down I did. I pretty much understand when I am doing something I am not supposed if someone firmly says no.
Aunt Sue did lots of cooking and I liked to curl up in my bed and watch her. She even made us cookies! They were delicious and Otis was happy because I tend to leave crumbs on the floor when I chew my treats. Aunt Lori moves the bed to whatever room we are in and I know it’s mine. I heard them saying how sweet and good I was. I do like to run and play, but inside, I am pretty much a mush. I have this lounging thing down to a science.
When I walk now, my tail isn’t always tucked and I try to hold my head high. All my human friends marvel about how well I have adapted to house living, especially because I always know to do my “duty” outside. I still have some worries that I don’t tell any one about, but I am sure they can see it on my face. (Maybe that’s why everyone I meet falls in love with me.) It’s hard to believe how good I have it now and sometimes I am scared it will all go away! I know I can’t stay here forever, but my entire extended foster family PROMISED me I would go to a place just as good or even better, with people that will love me forever and treat me the way I deserve!
Since Thelma and Otis had already been around me for days, and they have their shots, I still got to hang out with them. This was the first day Otis and I really got to know each other. We ran after the ball, wrestled in the grass – I love my doggie friends. I learn a lot from them too and they help me be more confident
On Thursday, we had a dinner party and though, I was scared at first, I let each person pet me as the night went on. After company left, we watched some TV and I curled up on my new bed while aunt Sue pet me. She wanted to take me to bed with her, but aunt Lori said no. It would have been my first time sleeping with a person and I think I would have liked it, but I know they are trying to teach me to stay independent. And any way, I don’t mind being in my crate. I feel safe and comfortable there. (I still try and jump on the big people bed when no one is looking! One day I know they will say yes.)
Luckily my aunts slept a little later than Sandy – so I didn’t have to get up until 7 am. We went for walks; we lounged on the deck – there are so many noises I hear. Sometimes a train honks in the distance; sometimes a plane goes by in the sky; or our neighbor Lili the miniature poodle barks. I stop and listen to each noise and barked right back at Lili. When aunt Lori told me to quiet down I did. I pretty much understand when I am doing something I am not supposed if someone firmly says no.
Aunt Sue did lots of cooking and I liked to curl up in my bed and watch her. She even made us cookies! They were delicious and Otis was happy because I tend to leave crumbs on the floor when I chew my treats. Aunt Lori moves the bed to whatever room we are in and I know it’s mine. I heard them saying how sweet and good I was. I do like to run and play, but inside, I am pretty much a mush. I have this lounging thing down to a science.
When I walk now, my tail isn’t always tucked and I try to hold my head high. All my human friends marvel about how well I have adapted to house living, especially because I always know to do my “duty” outside. I still have some worries that I don’t tell any one about, but I am sure they can see it on my face. (Maybe that’s why everyone I meet falls in love with me.) It’s hard to believe how good I have it now and sometimes I am scared it will all go away! I know I can’t stay here forever, but my entire extended foster family PROMISED me I would go to a place just as good or even better, with people that will love me forever and treat me the way I deserve!
Update 03/29/09 Arrrival at my Step-Foster Parents
Well I sure do like this place New Jersey! My foster mom took really good care of me and I met some great friends; some looked like me, but two of them were short and much furrier than I am – we love to wrestle! Since my foster mommy Eleanor is going on vacation, I got to go to another house with more people and even more doggie friends! Otis looks like me but Thelma is all brown. She scared me at first because she has this weird plastic thing on her head. My foster-step mommy Sandy told me that Thelma had an operation and the cone stops her from scratching her wound.
I also have a foster dad Sean and a foster aunt Lori at this house! I am SO lucky. We all went for a walk right away. Then we got home and us girls had movie time. I was soooo sleepy but I refused to lie down on the bed – even though it was new and so inviting! I just wasn’t ready yet, so I just stood up and fell asleep until Sandy put me in the crate for a proper snoozer. After the movie she took me for a really long walk!
We got home and all went in the back yard – it’s really nice and I just exploded with joy! We played ball and I wore myself out. Step foster mom Sandy and aunt Lori were laughing at me because I was so cute! I was showing off a little because I am REALLY fast. Good thing they had the long line on me while I was out there. Sometimes I have to fight my instincts to just keep running.
At night, I slept in the coziest, warm corner in my crate and they even put some music on for me. I don’t think I woke up even once the whole night. In fact, I could have slept in but mommy Sandy woke me up at 5 am!!! We went for a 3-mile walk. The walk was a little scary because it was dark and very windy today. I kept hearing things and looking behind me to make sure everything was ok.
When I got home everyone else was up. I saw Aunt Lori, but she looks frightening in the morning so I ran away. Soon we became friends again. In fact, I am home with her today. We took two walks and she had to pull a poop off my butt-it was stuck there and I kept trying to sit on it. Then we got back and there were some big workmen there with lots of loud tools. I was very curious, but I hesitated to fully investigate. One of the men gave me some yummy cheese. I am not ready to hang out with him or anything, but I think that meeting new people is getting easier for me.
Next we all lounged outside. Thelma was on the grass rolling around and Otis was soaking up the sun. I sat on the deck with Aunt Lori and finally noticed the birds at the feeder. I sat right next to her and asked her to pet me. I let her rub my head and my back and even my belly! She is teaching me that not all humans are bad. I am starting to believe her. I am teaching her that not all foster dogs are bad either. One time, a foster named Johnny tried to bite her. She is starting to believe me too.
Pretty soon mom and dad will be home from work and I get to walk more and play more. Later this week, I heard that ANOTHER aunt is coming to play with me because my step-foster parents are also going on vacation. I heard that she makes delicious cookies and might even take me to the beach. I have never seen the ocean!!
With all this activity, I will be ready for a permanent home sooner than anyone thought! They will have to be a nice and patient as all my foster peeps, and I love having other doggies around. I am learning the word off, but am proud to say I have a mind of my own.
I also have a foster dad Sean and a foster aunt Lori at this house! I am SO lucky. We all went for a walk right away. Then we got home and us girls had movie time. I was soooo sleepy but I refused to lie down on the bed – even though it was new and so inviting! I just wasn’t ready yet, so I just stood up and fell asleep until Sandy put me in the crate for a proper snoozer. After the movie she took me for a really long walk!
We got home and all went in the back yard – it’s really nice and I just exploded with joy! We played ball and I wore myself out. Step foster mom Sandy and aunt Lori were laughing at me because I was so cute! I was showing off a little because I am REALLY fast. Good thing they had the long line on me while I was out there. Sometimes I have to fight my instincts to just keep running.
At night, I slept in the coziest, warm corner in my crate and they even put some music on for me. I don’t think I woke up even once the whole night. In fact, I could have slept in but mommy Sandy woke me up at 5 am!!! We went for a 3-mile walk. The walk was a little scary because it was dark and very windy today. I kept hearing things and looking behind me to make sure everything was ok.
When I got home everyone else was up. I saw Aunt Lori, but she looks frightening in the morning so I ran away. Soon we became friends again. In fact, I am home with her today. We took two walks and she had to pull a poop off my butt-it was stuck there and I kept trying to sit on it. Then we got back and there were some big workmen there with lots of loud tools. I was very curious, but I hesitated to fully investigate. One of the men gave me some yummy cheese. I am not ready to hang out with him or anything, but I think that meeting new people is getting easier for me.
Next we all lounged outside. Thelma was on the grass rolling around and Otis was soaking up the sun. I sat on the deck with Aunt Lori and finally noticed the birds at the feeder. I sat right next to her and asked her to pet me. I let her rub my head and my back and even my belly! She is teaching me that not all humans are bad. I am starting to believe her. I am teaching her that not all foster dogs are bad either. One time, a foster named Johnny tried to bite her. She is starting to believe me too.
Pretty soon mom and dad will be home from work and I get to walk more and play more. Later this week, I heard that ANOTHER aunt is coming to play with me because my step-foster parents are also going on vacation. I heard that she makes delicious cookies and might even take me to the beach. I have never seen the ocean!!
With all this activity, I will be ready for a permanent home sooner than anyone thought! They will have to be a nice and patient as all my foster peeps, and I love having other doggies around. I am learning the word off, but am proud to say I have a mind of my own.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A Good Week
Kelly’s first week with me was busy. I learned a lot about her.
She continues to love, love, love the house! And she is turning into a typical rambunctious young Shorthair. Last night, I she put her paws up on the counter and cleaned out the cat’s food dish! She met the cat face to face (on leash) and was not bad: curious, but not aggressive. But my cat is really old and slow moving. I am not sure what she would do if my cat ran and jumped like most cats do.
I scolded her this morning jumping up at me as I was eating. I guess I was too stern, because she ducked behind my kitchen table and I had to explain to her that I was not going to chase her down or anything. She is stubborn! She absolutely wants to put her paws all over everything and is VERY persistent. If I want her back in her crate in the dog room and she does not wish to go, I usually have to put her bodily back in. At other times, she walks in herself!
She is doing well walking in strange places, especially if accompanied by one of my dogs. She is, of course, uncertain at times, but at other times, she looks much more relaxed.
Kelly is, however, terrified of other dogs, especially in close quarters. She loves my pack, but I take her to the place where I train and she will growl and snap at other dogs if they are looking at her. No daycare or dog parks for Miss Kelly…somewhere along the line, she may have been jumped.
I will learn more about the length of time it takes her to make friends with dogs other than mine, when she goes to stay with another Eastern rescue volunteer, who has two dogs, while I am away on a short vacation.
Eleanor
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Kelly..a work in progress
Kelly is so very different from what I expected when I agreed to foster a puppy mill dog. First, she arrived in absolutely perfect weight. She is a tiny, trim 40 lb. liver and white patched and ticked girl, with lighter eyes, measuring a scant 21” at the withers. In time, with proper diet and exercise, she will get her girlish figure back. Second, she is pretty good with people, not shying away from them, approaching them cautiously but willingly. Several friends have been kind enough to walk her a bit for me and she will take treats from people. Third, she rides well in the car!
On Saturday, March 14, five minutes after she arrived in NJ, Kelly was tucked into a crate behind the driver’s seat and speeding on her way with me to a field trial, where my youngest GSP was entered. After some initial crying, she fell asleep for the rest of the almost 2-hour trip and when we arrived, I got her out to see what she would think of the world. To my surprise, although she was nervous and unsure, she allowed herself to be petted and was fascinated by everything. She quickly adopted the car as home and my two dogs as her friends.
When we arrived home that evening, I walked her in to my house on leash. I have a small house, three GSPs and two Shelties and one elderly, blind cat, so house privileges must be limited for any visiting dog. However, I wanted to see what she thought of a house, to get an idea of what we needed to work on. Honestly, had I not known she was from a puppy mill, I would have thought she was just an ill mannered, un-socialized pet dog, because she loved the house right from the get-go. Tail wagging, hard wood floors no problem, stairs no problem, paws on everything so she could get a closer look.
I put her in my kennel run and unpacked the car, then I fed the dogs, then took her on a more thorough tour (on leash) of the dog yard and my tiny abode. She accepted my furry, barking Shelties with no problem and backed right off when my 9-year old Sheltie made it clear she was being a pest. Over the past few days, I have deliberately turned on the ceiling fans, run water, flushed toilets, opened refrigerator and cupboard doors, had the TV on, run the vacuum and she doesn’t care. She shoves her head right into cupboards and looks out windows. She loves going up and down my stairs and took just one try to master the open-backed cellar stairs, which many dogs find scary! And if a door is ajar, she just pushes it open to go see what might be there!
I finally allowed her to be loose in my entire house today, Tuesday, for the first time, because my cat was asleep upstairs in a guest room and I could shut her in for a few hours. After some initial running around, with my youngest GSP egging her on, she climbed into my leather chair and dozed. She does need constant reminders about not putting paws on the counter, and she thinks scatter rugs are best if nibbled at, but she settles down quickly. Her house breaking has been immaculate. She is clean in her crate and does all her business promptly outside either on or off leash. I do supervise her every step indoors and out, because six dogs makes quite a crowd! Interestingly, when she was upstairs today and one of dogs downstairs started barking at something, she ran right to a window, put her paws up and looked outside to see what was going on.
I also just introduced her today to my big fenced yard. It is mud/dirt season here, so play time is restricted to my gravel dog yard, unless I am out with the dog and walk them up to the part of my yard which is less muddy. While she is perfectly confident in my dog yard and back-yard, and will wander around and run after my loud pack, she eventually always wants to run back into the house! She is not cringing when she goes to the door, rather wagging her tail and asking to be let back in. Once in there, she will grab toys, drink water, then find a bed to lie on.. She has the makings of a couch potato!
She has been for walks on both a busy side street and in my cul-de-sac. I have to exercise my oldest GSP and so Kelly tags along. She is generally unsure, but not bothered by cars, nor nervous about funny looking objects, just generally overwhelmed. So we trot along and she just follows my dog. Her leash walking is not bad. I have also taken her to a couple of training buildings, which she handled pretty well. Mirrors and the banging of agility equipment did not bother her. But, I am discovering she can be crate aggressive and can overreact to certain dogs. I figure she has never seen an Aussie or Mini-Poodle and the shapes are new to her!
She eats well, spends the night quietly in a crate at the foot of my stairs, seeming to know it is nighttime. But she hates to be alone downstairs in the dog room while me and my dogs are upstairs and cries up a storm. This will be something we work on, bit by bit. She enjoys pieces of cheese and dried salmon treats, so we have started a bit of clicker training. She has started to jump on me in a happy, not needy way. I allow some jumping, and I pet her and hug her, but I do not allow her to sit in my lap. She is actually perfectly happy to curl up in a chair or dog bed.
That is Kelly. Right now she is alone in the dog room and telling me she is very unhappy that neither I nor any of my dogs are down there. I hear the water bowl being spilled. She can be demanding, too…a typical girl Shorthair!
~Eleanor S. Campbell, Eastern GSP Rescue Volunteer
On Saturday, March 14, five minutes after she arrived in NJ, Kelly was tucked into a crate behind the driver’s seat and speeding on her way with me to a field trial, where my youngest GSP was entered. After some initial crying, she fell asleep for the rest of the almost 2-hour trip and when we arrived, I got her out to see what she would think of the world. To my surprise, although she was nervous and unsure, she allowed herself to be petted and was fascinated by everything. She quickly adopted the car as home and my two dogs as her friends.
When we arrived home that evening, I walked her in to my house on leash. I have a small house, three GSPs and two Shelties and one elderly, blind cat, so house privileges must be limited for any visiting dog. However, I wanted to see what she thought of a house, to get an idea of what we needed to work on. Honestly, had I not known she was from a puppy mill, I would have thought she was just an ill mannered, un-socialized pet dog, because she loved the house right from the get-go. Tail wagging, hard wood floors no problem, stairs no problem, paws on everything so she could get a closer look.
I put her in my kennel run and unpacked the car, then I fed the dogs, then took her on a more thorough tour (on leash) of the dog yard and my tiny abode. She accepted my furry, barking Shelties with no problem and backed right off when my 9-year old Sheltie made it clear she was being a pest. Over the past few days, I have deliberately turned on the ceiling fans, run water, flushed toilets, opened refrigerator and cupboard doors, had the TV on, run the vacuum and she doesn’t care. She shoves her head right into cupboards and looks out windows. She loves going up and down my stairs and took just one try to master the open-backed cellar stairs, which many dogs find scary! And if a door is ajar, she just pushes it open to go see what might be there!
I finally allowed her to be loose in my entire house today, Tuesday, for the first time, because my cat was asleep upstairs in a guest room and I could shut her in for a few hours. After some initial running around, with my youngest GSP egging her on, she climbed into my leather chair and dozed. She does need constant reminders about not putting paws on the counter, and she thinks scatter rugs are best if nibbled at, but she settles down quickly. Her house breaking has been immaculate. She is clean in her crate and does all her business promptly outside either on or off leash. I do supervise her every step indoors and out, because six dogs makes quite a crowd! Interestingly, when she was upstairs today and one of dogs downstairs started barking at something, she ran right to a window, put her paws up and looked outside to see what was going on.
I also just introduced her today to my big fenced yard. It is mud/dirt season here, so play time is restricted to my gravel dog yard, unless I am out with the dog and walk them up to the part of my yard which is less muddy. While she is perfectly confident in my dog yard and back-yard, and will wander around and run after my loud pack, she eventually always wants to run back into the house! She is not cringing when she goes to the door, rather wagging her tail and asking to be let back in. Once in there, she will grab toys, drink water, then find a bed to lie on.. She has the makings of a couch potato!
She has been for walks on both a busy side street and in my cul-de-sac. I have to exercise my oldest GSP and so Kelly tags along. She is generally unsure, but not bothered by cars, nor nervous about funny looking objects, just generally overwhelmed. So we trot along and she just follows my dog. Her leash walking is not bad. I have also taken her to a couple of training buildings, which she handled pretty well. Mirrors and the banging of agility equipment did not bother her. But, I am discovering she can be crate aggressive and can overreact to certain dogs. I figure she has never seen an Aussie or Mini-Poodle and the shapes are new to her!
She eats well, spends the night quietly in a crate at the foot of my stairs, seeming to know it is nighttime. But she hates to be alone downstairs in the dog room while me and my dogs are upstairs and cries up a storm. This will be something we work on, bit by bit. She enjoys pieces of cheese and dried salmon treats, so we have started a bit of clicker training. She has started to jump on me in a happy, not needy way. I allow some jumping, and I pet her and hug her, but I do not allow her to sit in my lap. She is actually perfectly happy to curl up in a chair or dog bed.
That is Kelly. Right now she is alone in the dog room and telling me she is very unhappy that neither I nor any of my dogs are down there. I hear the water bowl being spilled. She can be demanding, too…a typical girl Shorthair!
~Eleanor S. Campbell, Eastern GSP Rescue Volunteer
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