assessment

This morning I asked for some doggie input from a person who happens to be a professional doggie person. Shannon. We agreed that she should stop by and watch Henry in action.

I wanted her to get the full picture: Henry being smart with his commands, Henry being rambunctious outside on a leash, Henry being loving and sweet, Henry eager to embrace his new life. What she got instead was a bewildered Henry who did not understand why I had a guest. He was very unhappy. It took many, many treats for him to come out of his shell. I swear if he could have stayed hidden behind me, he would have done so. 

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My pooch was in a good place this morning. The usual observation period by the window, followed by the usual beautiful walk on a beautiful day...

Well, let me interrupt there: we had an interesting moment when Henry chased a squirrel to a tree (on leash), the squirrel ran up the tree, and then (I have never seen this before!) she missed a leap and fell down, right in front of my dog.

Henry was surprised. I was surprised. A loud thump, stillness, and then she got her wind back and ran up the tree again. Better the danger of high branches than the danger of an eager dog read to... well, I don't know what. If a dog catches a squirrel, does he do anything with it? 

We came back, I ate breakfast, Henry played. 

Shannon came over. Scary Shannon. As I said, Henry was dumbfounded. Why would I do this to him?! Don't I know that he is a shy pup who has never lived in a house before and doesn't really understand the protocols? The chaos out there on the streets of Dallas where he was found and rescued -- that's more familiar to him than the quiet of a small apartment in Madison Wisconsin. Well, at the border of Madison, Wisconsin.

Shannon was actually very helpful in affirming the methods I already had in place, though she suggested I be more generous with the treats. She showed me some engaging games for him, mostly surrounding the idea of getting treats out of tight spaces. She urged me to prepare some special foods for this -- with kibbles and Greek yogurt or canned pumpkin. I made a mental note to buy canned pumpkin next time I am in the grocery store. For my dog. Weird, isn't it?

And she advised to not leave him alone until I am absolutely sure he wont fly into a panic attack. 

I'll be extending his solo time minute by minute. Maybe by Christmas we can work up to half an hour!

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I chatted to my friends on Zoom and Henry behaved, showing off his most gentle side, right there next to me. And then it was time to get going. I'm still not well (my cough does not sound like something you'd like to have near you), but I want to finish planting bulbs at the farmette. For this, Henry needs to go back to doggie day care. Who am I kidding -- Henry needs doggie day care whether or not I want to plant bulbs. I finally accepted the fact that living with an ummmm, older person is perhaps too quiet for this pooch. I had asked Shannon if she saw the lab/retriever mix in him. She stared for a while, then said -- nah. Maybe retriever, but not lab. Maybe doberman. Or some hound. 

Oh my. 

At the farmette, I finished putting in all the bulbs. Nearly 100 today. I am so done with that worrisome chore hanging over me. 

 

 

 

I then sat down to rest in the farmhouse and for the first time since I moved out, I felt okay in this newly "decorated" space. Barren, but still the old farmhouse, with sunshine coming in through the playroom, throwing on the wall through the prism I had left behind.

 

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I pick up Henry at the same time my daughter picks up Goose (we coordinated). Two dogs, having had a fine day leaping and running.

 

 

You'd think Henry would be completely worn out after such a full day. Well he was, for a while. But as the evening progressed, he gave his pup crazies one last good shot. No, I did not respond in kind. Not tonight, dear Henry, not tonight.

with love...