Journal Entry: September 10, 2012

September 10, 2012

Timeline/Observations:

 (There is not going to be a real timeline, today.  Just notable things that have happened.)

• ·         Woke up, pooped and peed around 0800.
• ·         Amy created a fenced in area in a small portion of our yard where she could run off of the lead, and she spent a couple of hours out there, starting at 0900. She peed a couple of times, and pooped once.
• ·         About 1100, or so, she came inside, and her and I napped together. 
• ·         I took her in the shower room with me, today, and there was NO agitation.  She just wanted to see me on a regular basis, and, occasionally, wanted to lick water off of my leg.
• ·         We had our first “deck night” since Echo came to live with us.  I set her pen near the grill I would be working from.  As I was waiting for charcoal to be ready, and other lulls in activity, I would sit in a patio chair next to the pen, and we would work on name recognition, and “sit”.  About every 30 minutes, or so, she was taken out of the pen, put on a lead, and spent time in the yard.  She peed and pooped, in appropriate places, with appropriate commands, multiple times.  Also, all 4 family members interacted with her on a regular basis, whether she was in the pen, or not.
• ·         If you have been following the previous timelines, Echo tends to start a nap around 2000-2030.  Tonight, she took that nap in her crate, on the deck, with A LOT of activity going on around her. We were out on the deck until about 2200.  She napped until it was almost time to come in.  She peed, as we were in the process of bringing everything inside.  It was perfect.  About the time she was done peeing and ready to come in, her “space” in the house was ready for her.
• ·         We had a lot of good “family” stuff to talk about, so we were excited.  I’m not sure if it added to her agitation, but about 2300-2315, she became agitated.  I tried taking her out and doing “hurry”.  She did pee, but that didn’t solve the problem.  … We sat down together;  I soothed her; and she crashed. 
• ·         My household consists of the following people:  myself; my wife, Amy; my foster-son, Jesus; and a “boarder”, Andrew.  Echo is “bonded” to me.  She likes Amy and Jesus.  She follows commands best from Andrew.  … I find this interesting, and encouraging.  Andrew was diagnosed, a few years ago, as having Asperger Syndrome.  Basically, Andrew is a “high function” autistic person.  … Echo “sits” better for him than anyone else.  Andrew knows “drop”, “off”, etc., and uses them with her.  … and she does it better for him, than anyone else!  … I find that encouraging.