So, I learned to sit this week in only 2 days time! I sure am smart (there I go bragging again)....
I've been going on 4 mile walks every morning with my foster Mom and I sure am doing better. I'm not as scared as the cars so much anymore, but I still freeze when I see people walking. I can't help myself, though. I'm still unsure what they are going to do, so I just won't move. My foster Mom gives me a little tug and makes me keep going, and although I don't want to, I know she wouldn't steer me in the wrong direction, so I go along with it.
On Saturday my foster Mom left us home alone and my foster Aunt & Uncle came to let me out and did I give them a hard time! I was scared, even though I know them and see them every week, I hid from them and then I cried and cried when they tried to put my leash on me. They had to literally chase me down to catch me because I was being so fresh! Once they got me on the leash, I did go outside and was a little better, but not on my best behavior, I must admit. They tried to eat their lunch and once I saw food, I was the best niece ever! So, I sat there waiting for them to share and they did, but once they stopped feeding me, I didn't want to have anything to do with them.
Bonnie & I went for a hike with 3 GSP boys on Sunday and we had a blast. I climbed up and down all the rocks, and went in the river! I hope someday I can be off-leash like the other dogs, so I can run free like they do. My foster Mom says I'm still too unsure of myself and don't listen well enough for that. I am learning though, as she's been working with me in the yard for a little bit everyday on my recall. I totally get it, and I'm pretty good at listening when I'm on the long leash, but when there is stuff to chase, I don't hear a word she says. All I hear is "blah, blah, blah". I don't know what she expects from a hunting dog that now has a nice yard with lots of critters! Those squirrels, turkey and deer are meant for chasing! The other dogs tell me that I really should try and listen because once I learn the boundaries and the hidden fence, I can have free run of the yard like they do. I'd like that, but I don't know if I can do it. I'll guess I'll just have to work on some self-control. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Just A Few Things
I don't mean to brag, but I want everyone to know that my foster Mom got a new car a few months ago, and I'm the only dog that is allowed to ride in it, because I ride so well in the car! Her own dogs aren't even allowed in there! I make sure I point that out to them whenever I can...ha ha. I sit quietly on the front passenger seat, or sometimes in the back, but I don't make a peep. When she gets out of the car, I just sit up and watch to see where she's going. I will admit, sometimes I jump in the drivers seat, but when she comes back I move right over to my side.
And, I learned something new this week and that is that wrestling with the other dogs is fun! I decided to have a wrestling match with some toys and Bonnie, she's the nicest foster sister I have. The little dogs are too small to play with and Abby is too much of a bully. I was spinning in circles on the bed, and then Bonnie would climb on top of me, I would flip her over and steal my toy back, but it was fun. I only tried it once, but for a shy girl like me, that's a milestone!
We also had a BBQ here this past weekend and there were 5 people that came over to visit. I also got to hang out Peggy, she's another foster GSP that is living with my Aunt. I was only a little scared of everyone this time, and that was mostly inside the house. I did walk right over to my foster Aunt Tammy and sniffed her with no hesitation, and my foster Mom was very proud of me. When everyone was outside, I was a lot more relaxed. There were 6 dogs and 7 people, so there was a lot of action, moving around, etc. but I didn't get too nervous at all. Mostly because I was concentrating on how to get the food off the grill, but hey, it's progress!
And, I learned something new this week and that is that wrestling with the other dogs is fun! I decided to have a wrestling match with some toys and Bonnie, she's the nicest foster sister I have. The little dogs are too small to play with and Abby is too much of a bully. I was spinning in circles on the bed, and then Bonnie would climb on top of me, I would flip her over and steal my toy back, but it was fun. I only tried it once, but for a shy girl like me, that's a milestone!
We also had a BBQ here this past weekend and there were 5 people that came over to visit. I also got to hang out Peggy, she's another foster GSP that is living with my Aunt. I was only a little scared of everyone this time, and that was mostly inside the house. I did walk right over to my foster Aunt Tammy and sniffed her with no hesitation, and my foster Mom was very proud of me. When everyone was outside, I was a lot more relaxed. There were 6 dogs and 7 people, so there was a lot of action, moving around, etc. but I didn't get too nervous at all. Mostly because I was concentrating on how to get the food off the grill, but hey, it's progress!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Checking In....
Sorry I haven't written in a while, but I haven't had much to report.
Everything is going well at my foster home. I'm doing a little bit better with my "scaredy cat" ways, especially with my foster Mom and Aunt. I'm still scared of kids, even though they come over every week, I don't know if that's something I will ever get over, honestly. I'm a little more scared of men, as they are a bit louder and bigger than I prefer when walking towards me and talking, and my old Dad wasn't very nice to me, but my foster Dad is working on that with me and I really like the treats he has, so I'm getting a little closer each day to not being scared.
I've been getting along just fine with all the dogs over here, and I've met some new dogs in my recent travels and have like all of them. I went and had my nails clipped at the groomer the other day with the other 2 pointers, and it was a tragedy! I got so scared that I went to the bathroom on myself and then I had to get a bath. I don't think we'll be trying that again soon, although maybe we should so I know it's not a bad thing. We'll have to see about that, but I definitely showed my foster Mom that I've got a ways to go before we can just go out in public and do stuff like that!
I have been wearing this annoying collar that beeps when I get to close to certain areas in the yard and I'm scared of the noise, but my foster Mom tells me that is getting me used to the boundaries in the yard with it, so that I can run free and chase things hopefully. The other dogs told me that the beep means STOP in no uncertain terms, that I don't want to know what comes next, so I've been doing really well with that. I'm glad they are here to help me with all this stuff. I'm not used to anything other than running free and fending for myself. At this house, the people and the other dogs all look out for you. It's really nice to be part of a family.
I haven't had to go in my crate at all, as I've been a perfect angel when left out and just sleep with the other dogs. If my foster Mom leaves me home with foster Dad, I do cry for about 5 minutes or so, but I know she'll be back, so I eventually settle down. When I'm without the foster dogs though and left home, boy, do I make a ruckus! I cry a lot longer than 10 minutes and pace around, but call it quits after a while. I don't go destroying anything or being bad, I just go lay down and wait. What can I say, I enjoy some company...that doesn't make me a bad girl.
I'm still somewhat aloof with humans, but am I silly lately with the toys with the other dogs. I've got a routine down and I know when I can and cannot play. Every morning after I eat, my foster Mom opens up the "gates to Heaven"...which is really just a spare bedroom, but it's FILLED with dog toys...oh, we go crazy! I run up and down the hall, tossing them all over for about 1/2 hour, then I go and pass out somewhere because I've had my fun. I've got a new thing I do, which is pouncing towards the little dogs trying to get them to play with me. They think I'm a bully and hide under the desk or table, but when I turn my back on them, they coming charging out. So, I think there's hope for me that at some point, I will learn how to interact with them during play time. I watch them do it, but I just shy away because I haven't realized how fun it is just yet. I also steal the toys right out of my foster sisters mouth...but she lets me. She was the original foster dog here and came from a bad situation herself, so she knows what I went through and she lets me bully her. Now, the big spoiled one that lives here...well, she's not even allowed to play with us because I heard she can be quite mean when it comes to her toys!
Other than that, things are going well....I've just got to keep moving forward and learning that people are good and that I can trust them. It may sound like I haven't made much progress, but if you look back to my first blog, you can see, I truly have come a long way already!
Everything is going well at my foster home. I'm doing a little bit better with my "scaredy cat" ways, especially with my foster Mom and Aunt. I'm still scared of kids, even though they come over every week, I don't know if that's something I will ever get over, honestly. I'm a little more scared of men, as they are a bit louder and bigger than I prefer when walking towards me and talking, and my old Dad wasn't very nice to me, but my foster Dad is working on that with me and I really like the treats he has, so I'm getting a little closer each day to not being scared.
I've been getting along just fine with all the dogs over here, and I've met some new dogs in my recent travels and have like all of them. I went and had my nails clipped at the groomer the other day with the other 2 pointers, and it was a tragedy! I got so scared that I went to the bathroom on myself and then I had to get a bath. I don't think we'll be trying that again soon, although maybe we should so I know it's not a bad thing. We'll have to see about that, but I definitely showed my foster Mom that I've got a ways to go before we can just go out in public and do stuff like that!
I have been wearing this annoying collar that beeps when I get to close to certain areas in the yard and I'm scared of the noise, but my foster Mom tells me that is getting me used to the boundaries in the yard with it, so that I can run free and chase things hopefully. The other dogs told me that the beep means STOP in no uncertain terms, that I don't want to know what comes next, so I've been doing really well with that. I'm glad they are here to help me with all this stuff. I'm not used to anything other than running free and fending for myself. At this house, the people and the other dogs all look out for you. It's really nice to be part of a family.
I haven't had to go in my crate at all, as I've been a perfect angel when left out and just sleep with the other dogs. If my foster Mom leaves me home with foster Dad, I do cry for about 5 minutes or so, but I know she'll be back, so I eventually settle down. When I'm without the foster dogs though and left home, boy, do I make a ruckus! I cry a lot longer than 10 minutes and pace around, but call it quits after a while. I don't go destroying anything or being bad, I just go lay down and wait. What can I say, I enjoy some company...that doesn't make me a bad girl.
I'm still somewhat aloof with humans, but am I silly lately with the toys with the other dogs. I've got a routine down and I know when I can and cannot play. Every morning after I eat, my foster Mom opens up the "gates to Heaven"...which is really just a spare bedroom, but it's FILLED with dog toys...oh, we go crazy! I run up and down the hall, tossing them all over for about 1/2 hour, then I go and pass out somewhere because I've had my fun. I've got a new thing I do, which is pouncing towards the little dogs trying to get them to play with me. They think I'm a bully and hide under the desk or table, but when I turn my back on them, they coming charging out. So, I think there's hope for me that at some point, I will learn how to interact with them during play time. I watch them do it, but I just shy away because I haven't realized how fun it is just yet. I also steal the toys right out of my foster sisters mouth...but she lets me. She was the original foster dog here and came from a bad situation herself, so she knows what I went through and she lets me bully her. Now, the big spoiled one that lives here...well, she's not even allowed to play with us because I heard she can be quite mean when it comes to her toys!
Other than that, things are going well....I've just got to keep moving forward and learning that people are good and that I can trust them. It may sound like I haven't made much progress, but if you look back to my first blog, you can see, I truly have come a long way already!
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