How’s Penny doing lately?
So glad you requested! 😉
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Right here’s a rundown of her progress, together with a number of cute photographs:
The primary week after she got here dwelling, Penny slept. We needed to wake her as much as eat and to go exterior, and the couple instances we tried to stroll her that first week, she didn’t need to go previous the driveway.
I took her into the vet for a full examination, and we talked about how a lot she was sleeping. The vet steered we give her one other week earlier than we frightened as a result of Penny was feeling protected and safe–seemingly for the primary time ever–and recovering.
Looks as if that was the case as a result of after a few week, she tried her first little zoom across the yard, and now? Full-blown zoomie monster!
She does nonetheless sleep so much, greater than any canine we’ve ever had, however her days are much more balanced now as a substitute of all sleep on a regular basis.
She appeared to have zero expertise with canine toys and chew toys.
Since she will’t hear the squeak, she wasn’t simply enticed into enjoying. Now, one month in, she tends to chew on a toy on her mattress or on my mattress within the evenings. Her toy choice appears to be a crinkly texture.
She’s not into chasing or fetch proper now–she nonetheless has a STRONG cower response once you elevate an arm, even to throw a toy, so we’re avoiding that for now. If anybody has nice suggestions for getting a pup to play, let me know. In any other case, we simply give her a lot of time and persistence.
Fast facet story: The opposite day, Violet fell and startled Penny. I might hear Violet reassuring her again and again, “It’s okay, Penny. You’re protected. I’d by no means hit you. You’ll by no means be harm right here.” And I virtually drowned in my tears, you guys. I felt such a deep unhappiness for all Penny skilled to make her so certain she’s about to be harm AND for Violet dropping a few of her infantile naivete concerning the world and the way individuals deal with animals AND for the deep empathy Violet confirmed Penny in that second.
Anyway, Penny appears to like chewing on these cool bone substitutes, once more largely within the night in mattress. Afterwards, she hides it (below John’s pillow). We purchased a pack of three about two weeks in the past, and she or he’s nonetheless engaged on the primary one!
Penny and I began a foundational behaviors canine coaching class at an area coaching middle. She had the primary night time final week and crushed it. Timid at first, she got here out of her shell and labored actually arduous with me–till the final 5 minutes when she pointed her nostril towards the door like, “OK! I’m completed right here! House, please!” And he or she received dwelling and zonked out, even sleeping by the chaos of getting the women out the door for college the subsequent morning.
We’re working by our homework workout routines this week, and one thing SHOCKING occurred to me…
I believe Penny is a canine who can follow at locations like Lowe’s.
If you happen to’ve been round for any size of time, you already know this, however if you happen to’re new or as a refresher: I labored with Lucas from his adoption in 2007 by his loss of life and Cooper from his adoption in 2010 by his loss of life final yr, soooooo that’s one thing like 16 straight years of working with and managing reactive canines. My nervous system doesn’t know what to do with a canine who sat patiently in a room with 4 different canines in numerous states of calm-to-reacting.
I actually can’t wrap my thoughts round easy methods to prepare a non-reactive canine–ha. I’ll get there, nevertheless it feels unusual. In truth, after we received again from class final week, John stated to me, “You’re not twitching! I don’t suppose I’ve seen you come dwelling from a coaching class not twitching since again within the Emmett days!”
As for the cats: The image above I took over the weekend, and that is the closest they’ve all been ever.
Penny ignores them fully.
For the primary couple weeks, they hissed at her like loopy however couldn’t work out how Penny was ignoring them!
Then Newt simply kind of… gave up. She did the cat equal of shrugging her shoulders and moved on. Now, she principally ignores Penny, although they will stroll proper previous one another with none hassle.
Ripley continues to be on the fence. Some days, she’s nice ignoring Penny. Different days, Penny seems to be at her, and Ripley’s again to hissing.
The truth that all of them cuddled up the opposite night time reveals me they’re heading in a fantastic path, even when the cats weren’t completely relaxed. Even Ripley, together with her head down, has her ears perked on this pic, so she’s not absolutely settled into sleep, however we’re getting there!
BTW, that blanket is my weighted blanket that impressed this put up.
What else?
She’s unbelievable with the women. She likes to snuggle with them. When Violet had the flu, Penny cuddled her for 2 straight days. Yesterday, Violet and Astrid have been enjoying within the yard. Penny requested to be let loose and she or he laid down close to the place they have been enjoying and stored a watch on them. John and I watched from the window, amazed.
She’s lastly strolling all the way in which to the top of our block and again. This week I plan to push her slightly additional. Nonetheless, she has but to go to the lavatory in any respect on a stroll. As quickly as we’re dwelling, she dashes out to the yard to alleviate herself. Odd, I believe, however she’ll get there.
Subsequent up: I’m wanting into DNA exams for her. I’ve been asking round as a result of it’s been some time, however we used the Knowledge Panel earlier than, although many individuals have advisable the Embark take a look at. Any execs or cons to assist me determine?
I believe that’s it–at the least, for now!
She’s an absolute gem. We’re so in love with this little woman, and she or he matches proper in with our household. I’m so grateful she got here into our lives. It was meant to be!
I’m sharing extra pics and movies of her on Instagram, so if we’re not linked there, please do attain out!
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