No picture today because Sammmie is still napping and it's just oh-so-boring!
Sammie and Kids: I should have had the camera on last night's walk. In front of us was a dad with his dog and a little girl about 7. Sammie spent most of the walk beside the little girl, plodding along as though they were the best of buddies. It was very sweet, and I think Sammie belongs with children. So far, she has never jumped up on one - she just seems to be really content each time she finds one.
Sammie's Secret: Sammie can jump into the truck by herself now - the secret was to get her to take a run at it and then she's up and in before she realizes what happened. I say "was" because Sammmie has figured out the secret, and has developed a counter-secret. Take a big run at the truck, but come to a dead halt once your front legs are up and then someone will come and lift your back end in, just like the good old days.
Jumping Bean Solution: There's something about food and walks that gets poor Sammie into a tizzy. I swear she levitates. But she also has a bad habit of pawing and jumping on the bringer of food and leashes. So far, I've been able to reduce the habit by about 40% with the Off! command, but there we hit a wall. This morning I think I found the solution. As soon as she starts pawing, I walk right into her and just keep walking. She immediately backs up and finally turns away. I'm going to perfect it and report back... my bet is she will be cured of jumping in two more days.
Breathing Blues: We should get some lab results back tomorrow to find out how to clear up Sammie's nose ... she's just like a kid with a bad cold. When she sneezes, I try my best to get there with a kleenex before she sticks her tongue out. I love her to pieces, but it's oh so disgusting!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Can you guess....
... which one is saying, "Oh, you are just my best buddy in all the world!" and which one is saying, "Help! Help! ... ?Friday, August 21, 2009
Toy Hog
Sammie's breathing has been way better over the past couple of days. Mornings are still noisy, but even that is down by a few decibals. Hmmm. The only new thing is hypoallergenic food. Maybe it's just allergies! She has way more energy too, and I had to kick her and Ginny outside this morning because they wouldn't stop fighting over the toy.Test results should be back in a day or so -- fingers crossed!
What? Did you say "treat"?
This is how fast Sammie spins around when I say, "Sammie!" on the walks. In case there's a treat, her mouth gets to the front while the rest of her is still coming around.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sammie's Tuesday Adventures
Sammie was allowed to go for her walk off leash today, because she comes instantly when I call her. Except, that is, when we got back to the parking lot and she decided she wouldn't mind getting into a car with someone. Any car with anyone would be just perfect, said Sammie, and she went completely deaf.
Her respiratory tract check was been delayed until tomorrow morning, so until then, enjoy these pictures of Sammie's walkabout!
Her respiratory tract check was been delayed until tomorrow morning, so until then, enjoy these pictures of Sammie's walkabout!
On the way to the dog park
This is Sammie's favorite position: right between the two front seats, head nestled right into the best Treat Receipt position. This used to be Iggy's spot, but you know what girls are like!
Sitting quietly for attention from a stranger
Sammy is still learning not to jump - this is her first voluntary sit while being petted. What a good girl!Monday, August 17, 2009
How can you resist that beautiful eye?
Here is Sammie as she comes around and starts to feel better about her new pack.
She's had a very eventful day so far!
Waiting for food: This morning, she learned to sit and wait while breakfast was being prepared. To drive the point home, I worked in slow motion as I filled three dishes so I could keep one eye (of course!) on Sammie. Sammie jumped up and moved two steps forward every 30 seconds or so. And, upon the Sit! command, backed up and landed in her original position - also at top speed. Sort of like a jack-in-the-box. But in the end, she managed to wait until everyone got the okay to eat. One more day and she'll have it down to an art.
Recall: Today on our walk I put the leash down and let Sammie pick her route. She stayed very close, and as soon as we said her name, she spun around and came back - every time! Immediate recall, I think that's called. Sammie has it because she thinks "Sammie" is short for "Hey, Sammie! How would like a nice liver treat? You can have one if you come and sit."
Not jumping up: She still jumps up on me sometimes (the primary giver of treats and Big Suck) but Don the Dog Master is slowly but surely ironing that out of her system. Today on the walk a stranger stopped to pet her and she sat her little bum down on the ground instead of trying to leap into his arms. A big step forward!
Everyone is snoring now during their post-walk naps (well, actually it's just Sammie the water buffalo, but it just makes more sense to spread the noise among all three dogs).
She's had a very eventful day so far!
Waiting for food: This morning, she learned to sit and wait while breakfast was being prepared. To drive the point home, I worked in slow motion as I filled three dishes so I could keep one eye (of course!) on Sammie. Sammie jumped up and moved two steps forward every 30 seconds or so. And, upon the Sit! command, backed up and landed in her original position - also at top speed. Sort of like a jack-in-the-box. But in the end, she managed to wait until everyone got the okay to eat. One more day and she'll have it down to an art.
Recall: Today on our walk I put the leash down and let Sammie pick her route. She stayed very close, and as soon as we said her name, she spun around and came back - every time! Immediate recall, I think that's called. Sammie has it because she thinks "Sammie" is short for "Hey, Sammie! How would like a nice liver treat? You can have one if you come and sit."
Not jumping up: She still jumps up on me sometimes (the primary giver of treats and Big Suck) but Don the Dog Master is slowly but surely ironing that out of her system. Today on the walk a stranger stopped to pet her and she sat her little bum down on the ground instead of trying to leap into his arms. A big step forward!
Everyone is snoring now during their post-walk naps (well, actually it's just Sammie the water buffalo, but it just makes more sense to spread the noise among all three dogs).
Sunday, August 16, 2009
I don't want a toy. I want you to pet me!
I think it's a pretty safe bet that Sammie won't bite. She HATES having a bath and spent the time leaning as far as she could out of the tub in case I gave her room to wiggle away. She wouldn't take a treat from me until she was safely out and towelled off, but she kept her gentle nature throughout.
Today's walk was much better. She didn't pull at the leash at all, and didn't try to jump up on anyone. She's learning to stop and sit when she hears her name, because chances are there's a treat involved! In the afternoon, she went to the pet store with me and was pretty nervous. But she did well considering how much difference there is between "under the trailer" and "in the middle of a big store with all kinds of people milling about".
Oh, and last night we just gave her a blanket and went to bed. But when we woke up in the morning, she was asleep in the crate, so yes - she's crate trained!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Meet Sammie...
Here is our first adult foster dog, Sammie.
We have had her for only one night, and this is what I know about her so far:
1. She is about 2 1/2 years old. When she was rescued, she was living under a trailer, without food or human pack members to care for her. She had a severe respiratory tract infection that made breathing a struggle.
2. She has only one eye. I wonder what happened to the other eye.
3. A week ago, she had 11 puppies and only 3 survived. Sammie was too sick to produce milk, so the 3 surviving pups had to be given to another doggie-mom. I wonder if dogs feel any sense of loss when they lose all their pups.
4. Sammie's respiratory infection hasn't responded to treatment yet. I wonder how she manages to be such a happy dog in spite of the fact that she has to work so hard for every breath.
So I think Sammie is a wonder dog.
She slept in the crate for her first night, and wasn't very happy about it at first. Quite a bit of crying, so I took her out and carried the crate upstairs to the bedroom as we used to do for the puppies. Sammie was pretty pleased with that idea, and slept in the crate all night (no, not quietly because of all the "snorfing" - but no crying or trying to get out).
We went for a long stroll this morning, and Sammie learned to walk beside me on the leash instead of out in front. Also, I think she figured out that you need to finish the walk with the pack you start with, rather than changing direction each time someone passes by.
This afternoon we went to the vet and Sammie got a check-up to see where to go from here. There are lots of things planned to get her better physically, so her little tired body can keep up with her enthusiastic doggy brain. I think once she's feeling better, she'll even be able to jump into the truck. And as soon as she wakes up from her afternoon nap, she's going to have an oatmeal bath.
That's it for today!
We have had her for only one night, and this is what I know about her so far:
1. She is about 2 1/2 years old. When she was rescued, she was living under a trailer, without food or human pack members to care for her. She had a severe respiratory tract infection that made breathing a struggle.
2. She has only one eye. I wonder what happened to the other eye.
3. A week ago, she had 11 puppies and only 3 survived. Sammie was too sick to produce milk, so the 3 surviving pups had to be given to another doggie-mom. I wonder if dogs feel any sense of loss when they lose all their pups.
4. Sammie's respiratory infection hasn't responded to treatment yet. I wonder how she manages to be such a happy dog in spite of the fact that she has to work so hard for every breath.
So I think Sammie is a wonder dog.
She slept in the crate for her first night, and wasn't very happy about it at first. Quite a bit of crying, so I took her out and carried the crate upstairs to the bedroom as we used to do for the puppies. Sammie was pretty pleased with that idea, and slept in the crate all night (no, not quietly because of all the "snorfing" - but no crying or trying to get out).
We went for a long stroll this morning, and Sammie learned to walk beside me on the leash instead of out in front. Also, I think she figured out that you need to finish the walk with the pack you start with, rather than changing direction each time someone passes by.
This afternoon we went to the vet and Sammie got a check-up to see where to go from here. There are lots of things planned to get her better physically, so her little tired body can keep up with her enthusiastic doggy brain. I think once she's feeling better, she'll even be able to jump into the truck. And as soon as she wakes up from her afternoon nap, she's going to have an oatmeal bath.
That's it for today!
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