I apologize for taking so long to write an update. My computer at this point rarely works, and I have a lot of difficulty even loading DKos on my first gen iPad during campaign season, let alone posting (and typing, oy). I must also beg forgiveness for not being very upbeat, despite the happy subject matter; I lost a friend this week. I’ll try for the perkiness the diary deserves, any failure is not because of Sally.
I have not yet officially adopted Sally, despite wanting to. There are some lingering doubts about her urinary tract (possibly due to the very early spaying they do in the South), and the rescue in reluctant to follow up on them. Enter my amazing trainer, Nancy, who is advocating for me! If they still refuse to have her checked over, I’ll send over the paperwork regardless. That is as dark as this diary will get. 😕
Sally continues to amaze at her brilliance. We bring in new challenges, new sounds, different set-ups, change the circumstances, and while she may head-tilt the first time, as soon as she’s given the slightest bit of guidance she integrates it and it’s like it was all old hat. New app on my phone for reminders for me? Turned out the sound was different. I just had to pat it and treat her the first time she alerted (and, of course, randomly thereafter—as with everything), and she hasn’t missed it since.
Nancy (of Gooddogz Training) brings in lovely enrichment objects to keep Sally’s busy mind entertained. Even a box has so many possibilities! You can push it, jump in it, sit or lie down, front or back paws in, stand or sit on top of it, tap it… Watching Sally figure it out so quickly was a bit disconcerting, but cool!
Sally is also learning to get along with other dogs. We have come to the belief that we pushed her too hard at the beginning, given how little we really knew about her socialization. She’s no longer barking constantly at other dogs (only enough for an alert), and while she’s still happy-bouncy for the first bit around new people, well, she’s still only about a year old. Progress with Nancy’s working dog is going amazingly well (happy, calm walks are much enjoyed, as is mutual sniffing with tail wagging).
In short, there’s a small chance she could be a public access service dog in a few years! Until (unless) she can, going out in public is a crapshoot for me. Nancy is wanting me to look at an Australian Shepard for a brace/hearing public access dog for right now, but I don’t see how I could possibly afford it. The vet bills alone… No matter how much it would help, I’m going to have to say no, especially since she has a price tag.
If I could get my building residents to stop encouraging the excited bouncing greeting, progress there might go quicker! But in the apartment, most of the time she sticks to her mat when I answer the door, and she knows she’s supposed to sit for pets. Just don’t pat your thighs. 😉
We have loose lead walking, and long-lead walks are her favorite. (She’s currently napping from one now.)
We’re getting on decently well. The dogs eat Taste of the Wild, because Pùka does so well on it. I haven’t had Sally on anything else, so I don’t know how she’d do on another brand. She certainly scarfs it up! I just got 2 month’s worth of Advantix 2 (bad tick season here, and the building has fleas year-round). And we were able to go to the vet and get everything taken care of for Sally last month, thanks to all of you!
I hope that you enjoyed the update and pictures.