Lack of Updates

Sorry about the lack of updates. 

First, things have been in a state of transition here, lately.  Amy(my wife) started a new job on Tuesday.  Jesus, my foster son, recently found out that financial aid will cover ALL his expenses in attending South Sound Community College.  He will, first, complete the work to become a Certified Nurse's Assistant, and then, work on becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse.  Our boarder, Andrew, started a new job at the Tumwater Wal-Mart, on Tuesday.  In the midst of all of this, I have been taking care of Echo, assuming duties as "house-husband", started rehearsals with Olympia Chamber Orchestra for their upcoming season (I am their principal trombone player (It felt REALLY good to play again!) on Tuesday, while maintaining my commitments with the American Legion Band for the State of Washington, and as an officer in my American Legion Post.

Secondly, Echo has begun to fall into a routine.  While her time to wake up in the morning is still erratic, the rest of her activities through the day have become pretty stable. Her routine has become "clock-work", basically.

At this point, the "timeline" I have put in previous posts, seems redundant. ... Unless something outside of the "norm" happens.

While there are some pictures, and, I think, video, from the last couple of days, I haven't gathered them from their various sources to post them.

I'd like to post, at least, one daily picture.  The main reason is that Amy remarked earlier today that she thinks Echo is bigger than when she was brought to our house.  I'd like her veteran to have a picture/video record of her development.

At this point, though, I think we can forego documenting the time and date of each pee and poop "event", for instance, unless some anomaly occurs.

The only other thing of interest is that, with the whirlwind of stuff going on (as noted above), we have not gotten our bedroom to a point where I am comfortable bringing Echo and her crate in there.  So, Echo and I have been sleeping in her "pen" in the living room since last Monday.  I hope to get that situation fixed soon. She needs things to be more normal, and I would prefer to sleep in my bed.

Final note:

Today's "anomaly".  (They aren't always bad.)

We did a miniature version of another "deck night", tonight.  I grilled chicken for the family.  A significant portion of the night, Echo was on her lead, and her lead was connected to my waist, by a "makeshift" carrabiner.  It had it's moments, good and bad, but, for a first try at something like that, it went well.

She does "sit" well, especially if she thinks there is a treat involved.  She has a fairly firm handle on "drop" and "off".  I would like name recognition to be better.  ... But, I think back to the last three pups I have had.

Gimli, Tas, and Radar came into my house at 12 weeks old, and it took them a good 2-3 weeks to get their name.  They learned a lot of other things well, in that time, but name recognition took a while.  ... Tomorrow, Echo turns the age that Gimli, Tas, and Radar were when they FIRST walked in the door of my house. So, I am not TOO concerned.

The bond between us (her and I) is strong.  She is getting a good grasp of "sit", "drop", "hurry" and "off".  ... and UNLIKE my dachshunds, she appears to be all but house-trained.    She seems to prefer to sleep in her crate, unless sleeping near or at the feet of "her person" is an option.

One last "Final Note".

Early last week, Echo saw Gimli up on the furniture, and using it as his personal "thoroughfare" through the house, and was trying to do the same.  So, I decided that, for Echo, all furniture is "off limits".  There is no "inviting" to be on the furniture.  The only way she gets to be on furniture is if a human puts her there.  ... That's not to say that she doesn't spend a significant amount of time on the furniture.  She goes "down" for the final sleep of the night, most nights, in my lap, as I sit on the couch.  But, it is because I put her there.  She doesn't jump, climb, or ask to be there. ... And often, after she "crashes", she will choose to get down in the floor, and lay at my feet.

One more, last "Final Note".

Echo is not a loud dog, like Gimli.  However, she is not a silent dog.  When she plays with that rope that I mentioned a few days ago, she grunts, groans, and growls at it.  When she yawns, she makes a noise that is somewhere between a squeak, and a cat's "meow".

FINAL, one more, last "Final Note".

Echo prefers to be in close proximity to "her person", but, she can be fine with you being out of reach, given two things:  a) you are within sight; b) you talk to her.  ... She wants to be "engaged".  ... When she began to act out, in her pen, and I was doing things at the other end of the deck, she calmed down when I spoke to her.  I ensured that she knew I was talking to her, but all I was saying were the things I was doing.  ...  I could have been reading from the phone book, for all she knew, and cared. ... All I had to do was talk to her, and make occasional eye contact. ... It maintained the bond. ... Break the bond, and she got a bit crazy.

OKAY, ONE MORE FINAL, last "Final Note".  (This is normally called a "running gag:".)

Whoever the veteran is that gets Echo, eventually, is going to be blessed.  Between "her" (and all that means), and the great people at the Foundation, this vet is going to get a GREAT service dog. 

She doesn't have to "work" for me.  Yes, she is on a fairly strict training regimen, compared to puppies that are going to be pets.  BUT, as much of a "puppy" as she is going to be allowed to be is going to take place in my house, my yard, my lap, and, all too often, where I sleep. 

The eventual veteran is going to be blessed.

I am lucky. ... Echo is a wonderful pup.

NO, REALLY  ... THIS IS the LAST "Final Note"!

I took this picture of Echo, in my lap, as I was finishing this post.