Jill: June 2009 Archives
Heath! He might go back today depending on the surgery schedule. He is ready to go into a permanent home. He had a couple of accidents, one pee a day on the kitchen cabinets, but only because we have not been monitoring him all of the time in the house. I think that will be easy to fix. He is more barky when he spends more time in the crate, like the day before yesterday when I had a lot of work to do outside the house. This morning he discovered socks! They are fun to chew up and rip. He gave it up easily though and I replaced it with some remnants of old soft dog toys. He is tugging with Elly over the last piece of her squirrelly puppy toy. It is her oldest remnant. He won! Oh well. Now Elly has it and wants me to throw it for her. He is getting along great with the other pups, and I think would like to be in a multiple dog home. He has learned how to touch a plastic plate for his dinner. Sit will have to come later, his back legs are a little funny, so it is much easier for him to stand. I see him sitting once in a while, but not a lot. It is mostly stand or lay. He likes the touch game. He gets excited and does his little white dog dance with the other dogs when we come home, and when Robert comes home too. He allows us to pet him, and will come to an outstretched hand to sniff it. He is barky sometimes in the yard, but less so if you spend some relaxation/calm down time petting him before going outside. He will be missed, maybe we get to keep him for the weekend, we will see!
Did somebody say dinner?
Heath is doing pretty well. He gets a little more vocal every day, and was barky at some construction sounds this morning. We have his crate in the tv room now, and an expen blocking his access to the rest of the house. When we settle down for the evening, he tended to stay in the kitchen and circle around, but if we blocked off the kitchen and put his crate in the tv room, he just puts himself in his crate and falls asleep. He really feels safe in there! I am feeding all 3 together in the kitchen and Heath is starting to get which bowl is his, and which bowls are not. The most exciting thing is he is starting to play a little with toys! He won't play with me with toys too much, but there are sparks of life there. I found him carrying around a pot holder in his mouth last night, so tried to tug with it with him. It kind of freaked him out when I had it in my hand but he is pretty interested. He has been chewing a little on half an old pink tennis ball, and he will play tug with Elly with the orange flannel tug toy if she encourages him to do it, and as long as I don't touch it. She holds it in her mouth and shakes it as if to say - look I killed this thing - try and take it from me, c'mon try an take it! He will look at the toy as if interested if I move it and follow it with his eyes, but he is not being brave enough to grab it from me yet. His potty training is progressing - we spend a lot of time outside actually, and in the house I try to watch him. I haven't had to say eh eh in a day or so - and I haven't found any secret pees, which is very encouraging.
Heath got another bath - he is almost white! He has gotten more vocal over time. He barks in the morning to be let out of the crate, and when he is scared. Someone was setting off fireworks in the neighborhood last evening, and he did not like that at all! He almost can get into his crate by himself. I hold him in front of the entrance, and let him choose to go in instead of stuffing him in there. He can do a hand touch for food, but I have not been able to lure him into a sit. He will follow the kibble for a sec, but give up on it before his butt goes down. I will have to figure out how to fix that - maybe better treats? Maybe just practice luring more.
So - Heath is fully integrated in the house now. He is crated at night, and ribboned by day, crated when I leave. I have stopped leaving him just in the ex-pen because he will always pee on it. When I work in the office he will calm down and sleep with the other dogs, under the desk, it is quiet here. If I have the radio on he gets restless. When we watch tv in the evening, he is restless for quite a while and then calms down. He has started to play with Elly - tug and wrestling, but I haven't been able to get him to play with me yet. He is getting slightly more vocal - a little bark at neighbor kids on the next porch over - a little bark in his crate in the morning - "it's 7am, time to get up now!!". I give him an eh-eh when he starts to lift his leg, and he will stop - I am starting to get better at preventing it rather than catching it in mid stream. He always stops and I say good boy - he recovers very quickly! He has a sharp mind. He thrives on challenges and variety - he loves it! To think how neglected he was - how could someone do that - to any dog! - but it is especially surprising with him because this is such an engaging and entertaining breed, or maybe it is just him. He will make someone very happy!!
He woke me up this morning with a couple of yips from his crate in the basement - around 7:30 - not too bad. He is in the ex-pen now after breakfast. I had fed him by hand and clicked him right before he took the food. The routine is being established
Ok, we had a couple of play sessions out back, some crate time while I ran errands and now he is set up in the foyer with a PB bone, I hope he is not peeing as I left him free in the expen. I am taking a chance here - but he is pretty empty. I will go down after a bit and let him out back again. He demonstrated his crate standing technique for me, blurry, but see below.
Ok, we had a couple of play sessions out back, some crate time while I ran errands and now he is set up in the foyer with a PB bone, I hope he is not peeing as I left him free in the expen. I am taking a chance here - but he is pretty empty. I will go down after a bit and let him out back again. He demonstrated his crate standing technique for me, blurry, but see below.
Heath is a happy boy this morning. He spent the night in the crate, when he came out this morning he stretched a few times and then did a little morning happy dance around the garage. We went outside he took care of business, he did poo this morning thank goodness. Then we went back inside for breakfast games, he did a little dance for before his breakfast too. Later on this morning he lifted his leg on the expen though, I think it was related to him seeing Elly again. No growls this time.
When I went in at noon, he had escaped the ex-pen again! Little monkey, I think some zip ties will remedy that. He had also chewed through his ribbon, which I had accidentally left on him. He is quite resourceful. He had peed in a couple of spots in the garage. He and Elly met in person, and it went quite well. He even seemed happy to know her. They did a little posturing, a little nice sniffing, and Elly gives him play bows which he does not return yet. She is not afraid of him, and is not pushing her presence on him either, she is a very good girl. He is less concerned with his environment and me when she is around. He has been extremely thirsty - and drank 2 full bowls of water. He is now in his crate for an hour.
We had a meeting with Suki - she was not as upset as I predicted, her hairs on her back remained down. She was tense for sure, but not mad about it. I had them greet outside through an ex-pen gate at first, she gave a play bow (what?? who are you Suki?), so I let them greet for real. Suki went nuts trying to play with him, and actually got a little too excited so we had time outs. I could tell he would get a little tense - what is going to happen?? She is moving so fast! By the end of the evening everyone was hanging out in the yard ignoring each other and sniffing around and playing & posturing at each other once in a while. He had a foray into the upstairs, and took the backstairs (down) by himself. He is so brave and confident - you could tell he had never done it before - but he soldiered on down the steps. However upstairs is different, we will have to work on that. He will be in the house by end of day Tuesday full time I think!
This dog is very dog-oriented and not people oriented, (although he is getting better), he has relaxed exponentially after being introduced to Suki & Elly - it is so amazing to watch.
When I went in at noon, he had escaped the ex-pen again! Little monkey, I think some zip ties will remedy that. He had also chewed through his ribbon, which I had accidentally left on him. He is quite resourceful. He had peed in a couple of spots in the garage. He and Elly met in person, and it went quite well. He even seemed happy to know her. They did a little posturing, a little nice sniffing, and Elly gives him play bows which he does not return yet. She is not afraid of him, and is not pushing her presence on him either, she is a very good girl. He is less concerned with his environment and me when she is around. He has been extremely thirsty - and drank 2 full bowls of water. He is now in his crate for an hour.
We had a meeting with Suki - she was not as upset as I predicted, her hairs on her back remained down. She was tense for sure, but not mad about it. I had them greet outside through an ex-pen gate at first, she gave a play bow (what?? who are you Suki?), so I let them greet for real. Suki went nuts trying to play with him, and actually got a little too excited so we had time outs. I could tell he would get a little tense - what is going to happen?? She is moving so fast! By the end of the evening everyone was hanging out in the yard ignoring each other and sniffing around and playing & posturing at each other once in a while. He had a foray into the upstairs, and took the backstairs (down) by himself. He is so brave and confident - you could tell he had never done it before - but he soldiered on down the steps. However upstairs is different, we will have to work on that. He will be in the house by end of day Tuesday full time I think!
This dog is very dog-oriented and not people oriented, (although he is getting better), he has relaxed exponentially after being introduced to Suki & Elly - it is so amazing to watch.
Heath is becoming slowly more confident about things. This morning when I went down late (9:30), he was out of his expen (how!?) and had peed in the garage. Tomorrow I will make it an earlier day. It was a big day for him, he got a bath in the sink upstairs and got to look at both Elly & Suki. He was not happy about the bath, so I just got his back side, and he is unfortunately still a bit yellow. He is slightly better smelling though, and much more pleasant to pet. I cleaned his crate and bedding and ex-pen too. I have found that he likes to stand on top of his crate, there were fresh muddy paw prints on it. I found a brush, and he found that it is not too bad when I use it on his chest and face and shoulders, but please not near the tail, or back side. He is kind of pigeoned toed, maybe because his nails are too long, or maybe because his muscles weren't being used properly. He has not pooed today, but I changed his food, so maybe that is why. I have been feeding him by hand, and he can even touch one hand with his nose which produces food from the other hand. When I brought Elly in, she wanted to visit of course, but I held her back. He growled at her from his expen, and was not comfortable with it. I took her out and in a couple of times. I brought Suki in and made her go into a down and fed her kibble, I threw kibble at him too - for her he paced nervously around the pen in circles, but no growls. She didn't really seem that interested in getting at him, which is good. So Suki & Elly could handle it, but I don't think he would like being around them so much. I think for his sake, I will keep him in the garage for a bit longer.
7am - When I went downstairs this morning I was so happy to see he was in his crate! His little peanut butter bone was with him almost empty. He hadn't had any messes overnight. I fed him a few kibbles and we went outside. He peed about 7 times and walked around the yard a bit. When the planes are overhead he moves towards me instead of away from me which is a good sign I guess. Suki and Elly stood upstairs on the couch at the window and barked at us - they know what he looks like now.
He got a walk at 8, 9, 10:30, and 12:30 and we have had no pees or poos in the garage, just in the yard!! He is starting to mark the ground with his feet too. From 11 to 12:30 he was crated while I ran an errand, I had to put him in, but he was perfectly comfortable in there once he was in. He is almost walking on his own from the garage to the outside, and did walk back in on his own once. He is moving more quickly around the yard and wanting to go further. I am wondering whether a bath would be ok later on, maybe I will wait until the morning.... I would like to have him in the actual house by tomorrow evening if he keeps improving.
Day 2 is over, and Heath has had no accidents in the garage! And... he is almost liking being petted by myself or Robert. He is successfully walking into the backyard and back into the garage, and into his ex-pen, by himself, or with little prompting. He followed Robert around the backyard for a little bit tonight, which was very encouraging. He is definitely getting a bath in the morning.
He got a walk at 8, 9, 10:30, and 12:30 and we have had no pees or poos in the garage, just in the yard!! He is starting to mark the ground with his feet too. From 11 to 12:30 he was crated while I ran an errand, I had to put him in, but he was perfectly comfortable in there once he was in. He is almost walking on his own from the garage to the outside, and did walk back in on his own once. He is moving more quickly around the yard and wanting to go further. I am wondering whether a bath would be ok later on, maybe I will wait until the morning.... I would like to have him in the actual house by tomorrow evening if he keeps improving.
Day 2 is over, and Heath has had no accidents in the garage! And... he is almost liking being petted by myself or Robert. He is successfully walking into the backyard and back into the garage, and into his ex-pen, by himself, or with little prompting. He followed Robert around the backyard for a little bit tonight, which was very encouraging. He is definitely getting a bath in the morning.
Heath was super quiet in the car on the way home, he tilted his head in the crate when I baby talked to him, like he is wondering, "what is that sound?". We are starting slow - the ex-pen is set up in the garage for now, and I am hanging out with him and typing this on the hood of my car. I would like to get a sense for the pee and bark situation before he comes into the house proper. It is quiet and cool in here, it is 4:20 and he has only now just settled down and closed his eyes. Suki and Elly must know he is here? Maybe not... they are not acting like it, and he is so quiet, but I am not ready for him to meet them.
Things he needs work on:
Housetraining: Peed - or marked? Lifted his leg about 3 times in front of me, and 3 times when I ran upstairs. Not in his crate, but once on the crate, and definitely all over the ex-pen. Time for a belly band I think.
Leash training: I left his leash on him and after a while he noticed it, and pawed at it a little. When I pick it up just very loosely he reflexively pulled back on it.
Crate training: He really doesn't care to get in the crate naturally, but did not seem to be terribly stressed out while in it.
People training: Shy of me, freezes when approached. But - will sniff my finger with kibble in it. Rewarded for approaching me and looking at me by throwing kibble.
Food motivation: Likes plain kibble, he ate a whole half a cup out of a bowl. He has not drank any water yet. He thinks hot dogs are weird - but maybe he will try just a little, it has a funny texture he doesn't understand and he chews it funny. He has no idea what peanut butter is.
He is in a deep sleep now, and might even be dreaming, ?, he is whining a little in his dream.
5:40 pm - he has taken kibbles from my hand, and hot dogs pieces from my hand. I got brave and picked him up to go outside for potty. He was terrified but peed on a plant. He is wearing a ribbon leash and did not pick at it. I am now going to go hang out with him for a bit and read. He got in his crate by himself when I put hot dogs in it. Elly is starting to wonder why I smell like old pee. Yuck!
5:50 pm Pacing in the expen and a huge poo when I went downstairs -- right on top of the leash ribbon.
10:05 pm - I spent some time with him in the garage waiting for friends to come over for dinner this evening, and sat and read for an hour or so next to his pen, until around 7:00. He slept quite peacefully actually, I know if I had moved though, he had his third eye on me and would have woken up. Robert came home and was not very sensitive to his shyness, but sensitive enough, which was actually a very good thing. He gave him HUGE pieces of hot dog, and scratched him around the ears with his big Robert hands. Heath was a little put off at first, but warmed up rather quickly -- he wasn't totally happy with Robert petting him, but more tolerant than I would have predicted. I am betting in a couple of days, he might actually enjoy it. When our friend Sabrina arrived I had her come down and toss a couple of hot dogs in too. She used a baby voice giving him hot dogs, and he again cocked his head to one side - very cute! We went to dinner, I had our tenant check in on him after 45 minutes, and got no calls that he had escaped his pen. When we got home he was still there, alert because we had just walked in. Robert & I took him outside again, for last pees, which was not altogether successful. He had a reluctant pee by the bush, but we live by SeaTac and the planes on the third runway tonight are HORRIBLY close. He did not bolt, but he definitely was not comforatble, and is not used to the big outdoor spaces. For safety, we have him on the ribbon leash (I cleaned it), and he is not trying to take it off like he did the heavier leash. I have to carry him out and inside again, there is no leash walking him yet. And man, is he stinky!!
So, all in all, I have to say his first 6 hours haven't been so bad. He is extremely silent, which is nice for now. He is fairly friendly considering his circumstance. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I think the biggest challenge will be the POTTY training - he has 6 years of ingrained behavior. Him being a male makes it tougher somehow, I guess because his accidents are in the air, and not on the ground. His pees are very frequent too, it could be more marking behavior than peeing maybe.
He has some nice fluffy bedding now, and rugs, but he chooses to lie on the cool concrete instead. I took the door off the crate to see if he might naturally migrate there. Thus far he has only gone in to gather hot dogs and come out again. We will see what happens tomorrow!
Things he needs work on:
Housetraining: Peed - or marked? Lifted his leg about 3 times in front of me, and 3 times when I ran upstairs. Not in his crate, but once on the crate, and definitely all over the ex-pen. Time for a belly band I think.
Leash training: I left his leash on him and after a while he noticed it, and pawed at it a little. When I pick it up just very loosely he reflexively pulled back on it.
Crate training: He really doesn't care to get in the crate naturally, but did not seem to be terribly stressed out while in it.
People training: Shy of me, freezes when approached. But - will sniff my finger with kibble in it. Rewarded for approaching me and looking at me by throwing kibble.
Food motivation: Likes plain kibble, he ate a whole half a cup out of a bowl. He has not drank any water yet. He thinks hot dogs are weird - but maybe he will try just a little, it has a funny texture he doesn't understand and he chews it funny. He has no idea what peanut butter is.
He is in a deep sleep now, and might even be dreaming, ?, he is whining a little in his dream.
5:40 pm - he has taken kibbles from my hand, and hot dogs pieces from my hand. I got brave and picked him up to go outside for potty. He was terrified but peed on a plant. He is wearing a ribbon leash and did not pick at it. I am now going to go hang out with him for a bit and read. He got in his crate by himself when I put hot dogs in it. Elly is starting to wonder why I smell like old pee. Yuck!
5:50 pm Pacing in the expen and a huge poo when I went downstairs -- right on top of the leash ribbon.
10:05 pm - I spent some time with him in the garage waiting for friends to come over for dinner this evening, and sat and read for an hour or so next to his pen, until around 7:00. He slept quite peacefully actually, I know if I had moved though, he had his third eye on me and would have woken up. Robert came home and was not very sensitive to his shyness, but sensitive enough, which was actually a very good thing. He gave him HUGE pieces of hot dog, and scratched him around the ears with his big Robert hands. Heath was a little put off at first, but warmed up rather quickly -- he wasn't totally happy with Robert petting him, but more tolerant than I would have predicted. I am betting in a couple of days, he might actually enjoy it. When our friend Sabrina arrived I had her come down and toss a couple of hot dogs in too. She used a baby voice giving him hot dogs, and he again cocked his head to one side - very cute! We went to dinner, I had our tenant check in on him after 45 minutes, and got no calls that he had escaped his pen. When we got home he was still there, alert because we had just walked in. Robert & I took him outside again, for last pees, which was not altogether successful. He had a reluctant pee by the bush, but we live by SeaTac and the planes on the third runway tonight are HORRIBLY close. He did not bolt, but he definitely was not comforatble, and is not used to the big outdoor spaces. For safety, we have him on the ribbon leash (I cleaned it), and he is not trying to take it off like he did the heavier leash. I have to carry him out and inside again, there is no leash walking him yet. And man, is he stinky!!
So, all in all, I have to say his first 6 hours haven't been so bad. He is extremely silent, which is nice for now. He is fairly friendly considering his circumstance. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I think the biggest challenge will be the POTTY training - he has 6 years of ingrained behavior. Him being a male makes it tougher somehow, I guess because his accidents are in the air, and not on the ground. His pees are very frequent too, it could be more marking behavior than peeing maybe.
He has some nice fluffy bedding now, and rugs, but he chooses to lie on the cool concrete instead. I took the door off the crate to see if he might naturally migrate there. Thus far he has only gone in to gather hot dogs and come out again. We will see what happens tomorrow!
