In my defense, Amy and I were inundated with information about what we were going to do with Echo. So, I asked Jean and Pan what we needed to do until they came back. ... I didn't need to know all the intricate details of every step on the long road-map to Echo becoming a service dog. I needed to know what to do with her for the next few hours/days, until they came back. I asked for a list.
The list, from Jean and Pan, was: work on "sit", name recognition, and "bond" with her. Pan concluded with "You cannot love on her enough."
Well, according to the list, we are doing okay.
She sits on command. If you have Echo's attention, and she thinks you might give the "sit" command, she does it.
We will talk about name recognition later.
"Bond"? ... and "You cannot lover her enough."? ... I think we have that down. Echo "likes" Jesus, and Amy. When Andrew is in her sight, she follows him with her eyes. Echo and I are bonded.
While it has grown stronger since then, I think it started the first night we spent together.
The first day was hectic and crazy.
She was a "baby" thrown into the 2nd or 3rd new environment in as many days. There were 3 new people, and an adult dog to try to get to know, in just few hours.
Then, as the people went to bed, I created our version of the X Pen, and put it with an opening to one of our couches. That's where I slept. Sometime during the night, I brought her onto the couch with me.
When I woke up in the morning, she was laying on her back, between the back of the couch and I. I woke up before she did. The first things her eyes were able to focus on were my eyes.
She didn't lift a lip, or, really, change her facial expression in any way, maybe it was her eyes. I don't know. But, I do know, that in that moment, she "smiled" at me.
For about the next 20 minutes or so, we played a "game". I don't know the name of the game, but it involved her flailing her legs a lot, as she lay, between me and the back of the couch, and she was "smiling", if not "giggling", the entire time.
Ever since then, we have been "bonded", and I have been working with her to make the bond stronger.
Name recognition needs some more work, though. I don't feel too bad about that.
I've talked a lot about Tasselhof and Radar, the dachshunds we lost to old age, last year. Amy and I, first, met them as pups, when they were 8 weeks old. The breeder was not going to let them go until they were 12 weeks old. We could buy a pup in the litter, and visit it, in the breeder's house, but she was ADAMANT that they would not leave her house until they were 12 weeks old. I know it seems I have "beat this horse to death", but I would like to prove my point, visually.
The following picture is of Echo, and a dachshund "beanie baby" doll. ... The doll is the size that Tas and Radar were when they came to live with us.
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The next thing.
Okay, as part of furthering the bond, I have encouraged her to go to sleep on or near me. ... Mostly, in my lap. ... HOWEVER, as soon as she "settles", I do my best to put her in her crate, near my feet, or allow her to sleep under my feet. NOT IN MY LAP.
I think that is enough "business" from tonight.
I have a bunch of stuff to upload from Amy, and we will see what that brings.
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