Week 1: Free run

One thing I said I wouldn't do for at least three months is a free run in the big field in the park. But this morning, during our hour-long morning jog, I figured, better find out how good her recall is in a manageable space.

It's away from immediate roads, and surrounded by woodsy park trails.

She ran, I ran, I ran in the other direction, called her, she stopped, came back. We did four to five sprints and recalls before I called a stop. A bit risky, but she was very good. It helps that every time she comes to me she gets love and praise. We're checking out a more secure free-run area for regular training.

Plus, this morning, she had half a boiled egg while we did breakfast training. This won't sort out her solid poo any time soon, but she's getting 20% of her meals in human grade food (chicken, eggs, ground beef, sardines), ultimately working up to 50% balanced real food diet (plus calcium etc).

The vet's closed over the weekend, so we're making an appointment on Monday.

[Tired dog is a happy dog: we brought the spare double mattress downstairs for her to plop down on]

Day3: some rhythm, some fail, mostly good

She escaped the higher barrier by squeezing through the cracks,  and jumping up to the chair.

I have to remember: Lily's a tough little survivor.

No accidents in the house,  though.

We started out this morning with a pee/poo, followed by a gentle  3.5k jog to siphon off her morning energy, then came home to a brushing session in the patio,  while she tried to figure out where the baby was. (4 stories up)

Then I shook out and beat all the cushions,  blankets, and throws, then vaccumed the house. She's okay with the vacuum cleaner,  but prefers to watch from the sofa.

We did a breakfast training session with Canagan kibble. She doesn't get Sit yet, unless I crouch down with food in my hand. (Confusing signals. She's probably associating different things, like motion with Sit.)

Now she's being super mellow while I have some coffee.  Such a perfect wonder dog.

[ETA] pre noon walk was 6km run (jog, sprint, chase, powerwalk) through the park and back. We're settling in for a quiet afternoon. She doesn't know it, but there's a frozen Kong with her name on it.

Day 2: three escapes, I should be having heart attacks.

--But oddly enough, I'm a bit tougher this time around.

First mistake was taking her to the tiny free-roam island next to our building. It's for dogs, and they lope around and play. Lily wasn't much interested in wandering off by herself, for all that she's so excited on walks. Instead, after walking around for all of two minutes, she RAN BACK TO THE ENTRANCE, posed to flee. Luckily, I called her, she stopped--this time--waited until I caught up, put the leash back on her halter.

But she learns fast. Once she knows how to do one thing, she'll keep doing it.

Which led to my second mistake. I thought I'd dog -proofed our patio. Apparently, not well enough.
She slipped out through the window between the rose bush, and was wandering around two patios down before I figured out she'd gotten out. I had to climb over fences to get her back.

Then she did it again.

The cracks are all bricked up now.

The biggest challenge though, is for her to calm down. She's in a constant state of panting excitement, and then, every five minutes comes over to head-butt nudge me for affection. It's dog rude, and I should stop it. But I figure she really needs reassurance that this life is real now. That she's loved and safe, and this place isn't going away.

I don't mind a little nudging. We mastered jogging at her pace to stop pulling on walks. That's a huge win in my book.

Day 2: walks, jogs, baths, and chewies

And it's not even 10am.

Last night was tough. She's a seriously heavy shedder (despite the shelter's guestimate - they have a LOT of dogs to look after) and M's allergic. So sleeping downstairs has to be the rule.

Did I say she's a jumper too? Wow. From chair to kitchen table, easy peasy. She laughed at our fruit crate barrier.

I re-engineered the barrier and added the three shelf bookcase.  Then she cried.

Broke my heart. Luckily M was tough. (She so respects him more already.) She whined/keened three times, I stood at the door and said No. And we all went to bed. It worked out in the end.

She's smart and understands the rules, follows them when she's showed what they are. Being a softy and changing them on her because I have moments of weakness will only confuse her.

Oh, and by the way, she was instantly house-broken before we even entered the house. Going out every two hours on a puppy schedule set the pee/poo rules in place. This dog is a genius.

[Enjoying her vegident on the sofa, after a pee, poo, hour-long walk, bath, breakfast/ training]

Day 1: She's home!

Lily: energetic,  smart, food-oriented, likes to play, can jump like a circus pooch. Huge shedder, but we want to see if human grade food and lots of brushing can counter this. 

Already, she sort of knows her name, come, sit, and no. Did a pee and poo outside on the first two walks (we had five total) so she's immediately 'house-trained.'  She's bossy for affection and snuggling, actively seeks me out,  and so far she's not afraid of anything. 

Here she is killing her white tiger.