I realize that I have not posted anything to the blog in over 10 days. Echo is fine. Amy, Jesus, and I have been sick. It seems to have passed. Between that, and some hectic scheduling, I haven't been able to post. My goal for tomorrow night is to assemble all the video and pictures we have, and try to re-cap the last 10 days.
Also, Amy is talking about Echo and I reenacting the first picture we have received of her to show how much she has grown.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Update for October 10, 2012
It was a big day for Echo and I.
I am "wrung out", and make no promises about getting to the end of today's story.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, the main thing I had to accomplish was oversee the movers "packing out" my oldest son's storage space.
I had packed as much of Echo's stuff as I could, the night before.
About 7, I got up did my morning routine, and started packing Echo's stuff in the truck.
In hindsight, probably, my biggest mistake of the day was taking the original crate that Echo had come to our home in, as opposed to the one that she has been using, lately.
Anyway, I packed Amy, Echo and I into the truck for our day.
By the way, given her previous experiences in vehicles, I did not feed her before getting in the truck. I didn't want to add "fuel to the fire:, so to speak.
On the way to dropping off Amy at work, Echo threw up, with lots of accompanying drool.
Once we got to Amy's workplace, we cleaned everything up, and got Echo back in her crate. We drove across town (even further than we had gone before) with no incident. No vomiting, or, even significant drooling. Echo just curled up and went to sleep. She wasn't real happy about it, but she gave no signs of protest, either.
We arrived at the storage unit shortly after 8, and parked. She didn't stir.
The movers were supposed to arrive between 8 and 9.
The showed up minutes before 9.
Echo and I spent the time in the truck. After a bit, I shut the truck off. Nothing seemed to phase her. She was asleep.
I did what I had to do with the movers. In general, I was checking on Echo, in her crate, in the truck, about every 5 minutes. ... Nothing. ... She shifted a bit, from time to time. But, she had assumed the "dog doughnut" position in her crate, and that was it.
I was torn between: waking her up, and getting her used to new things; and letting her get "comfortable" being in the truck without throwing up. I chose to let her feel comfortable in her crate, in the truck.
She was comfortable in the crate, in the truck, until about 11:30.
When she woke, I took her out, and walked her around the storage facility. In general, her tail told me she was "nervous" or "frightened". The only place she acted normal was the back of the facility. It backs up to a residential section, with a decent sized "green zone" between the storage facility, and the residential. She liked that area.
I had problems getting her to drink water, but she had no problems eating.
After that, we did another circuit of the facility. On this "lap", she seemed much more like herself. The tail was up, and she was, at worst, "curious". Normally, the tail was up, and when we got to the back of the facility, the tail wagged.
Then, we got back around to where the packers were.
Before that, she didn't care for the noise of the traffic on the busy street in front of the facility, but it was not a problem. She didn't care for the side street to the west, leading into the residential section, but it wasn't a problem. The activity in the parking lot to the east was a distraction.
If I let her go where she preferred, we ALWAYS ended up near the "green zone" to the south.
Back to the packers ...
So, we got back to the truck. My truck was parked in such a way that the tailgate was facing the packer's working area. I put the tailgate down, and sat us both up on the tailgate to watch the packers.
Echo was intrigued. She followed every movement with her eyes ... watching, contemplating. At this point, I noticed two thing: a) she REALLY did not like the sound of packing tape coming off the spool; and b) she was shivering, A LOT.
About the time that I began to try to soothe her "nervousness", (as the shivering would indicate), I realized that my rear end was beginning to become a bit numb, BECAUSE WE WERE SITTING ON A METAL TRUCK TAILGATE, WITH NOTHING TO KEEP US WARM!
So, I went and got the wool blanket that Amy had packed for us, and put it underneath Echo and I. Next to me, she did a perfect "sit", and did what I call a "large dog lean". (Forgive me, I have had, mostly dachshunds for the last 17 years. I forget what "large dogs" do.) I put my arm over Echo, and, while it was a good "sit", she put most of her body weight against me. She looked me in the eye, once or twice, and licked the end of my nose, once.
Then, she settled down onto the blanket. Sometimes curled up next to me, Sometimes on my lap.
The only thing that disturbed her was the sound of packing tape being drawn.
Finally, about 2, the packers were done.
She was reluctant to get in her crate, to leave. But, I had to do it.
I ran few errands, and we came home about 4. (By the way, over the course of those two hours, the only time she vomited was while navigating from downtown Olympia to west Olympia (lots of twists and turns, and "ups and downs" ... and that was after 2+ hours in the truck.)
I let her and Gimli run in the backyard. Hopefully for them to "do their business", but, also, given Echo's day, for her to run and play.
About this time, I might have pushed things too far, but I was faced with a choice: a) put Echo in a crate, in the house alone, and go get Amy; or b) put Echo in a crate with me in the truck, and go get Amy.
At this point, Echo began to rebel at getting into the truck. (She was fine with things, once she was in the crate, in the truck.)
Once we were there, she did not want to get out of the crate. (She was fine with things, once I got her out of the crate, and the truck. She seemed to be happy to see Amy, at her workplace, and meet Amy's co-workers.)
Getting her back into the truck was a struggle.
Once home, and she KNEW we were home (I could hear Gimli barking), coaxing her out of the truck was an issue.
Once out the of the truck, she was READY to go inside.
---
I will try to remember to talk about our "deck night" later, because there were some interesting things that happened there.
---
However, my PRIMARY concern is how the day ended.
For most of the day, she traveled well with me. Little, or no vomiting. Some drool. ... But, in general, things were fine.
The end of the day bothers me.
When we ended, we were faced with two things: a) she would not get in the truck willingly; b) once in the truck, she would not get out willingly.
On one hand, I want to say that the pup, by the end of the day, had hit "overload". ... Given her relative success traveling with me in a vehicle, that is plausible. (Echo has thrown up in my truck, over the course of MULTIPLE trips, what is it? ... 4 times, total. ... Echo threw up 6 times in the 30-minute drive to Kathy's house. (She spent over 9 hours in and around my truck today, by the way.))
Not to put too fine of a point on things, but, if she has true "car sickness", she should have been spewing like Linda Blair in "The Excorcist" from the time the truck started moving at 7 this morning. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. (By the way, we tried the "wrap" on the drive to Amy's workplace. That is the first of two times she threw up. ... After that, I didn't use the "wrap".)
Between the way the day ended, and the circumstances around when she has thrown up in vehicles, I am REAL SURE it's not "car sickness".
That's my concern. ... "Car sickness" is, relatively, easy to fix.
I think Echo's problem is deeper, and is gong to involve a much more complex answer.
I am "wrung out", and make no promises about getting to the end of today's story.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, the main thing I had to accomplish was oversee the movers "packing out" my oldest son's storage space.
I had packed as much of Echo's stuff as I could, the night before.
About 7, I got up did my morning routine, and started packing Echo's stuff in the truck.
In hindsight, probably, my biggest mistake of the day was taking the original crate that Echo had come to our home in, as opposed to the one that she has been using, lately.
Anyway, I packed Amy, Echo and I into the truck for our day.
By the way, given her previous experiences in vehicles, I did not feed her before getting in the truck. I didn't want to add "fuel to the fire:, so to speak.
On the way to dropping off Amy at work, Echo threw up, with lots of accompanying drool.
Once we got to Amy's workplace, we cleaned everything up, and got Echo back in her crate. We drove across town (even further than we had gone before) with no incident. No vomiting, or, even significant drooling. Echo just curled up and went to sleep. She wasn't real happy about it, but she gave no signs of protest, either.
We arrived at the storage unit shortly after 8, and parked. She didn't stir.
The movers were supposed to arrive between 8 and 9.
The showed up minutes before 9.
Echo and I spent the time in the truck. After a bit, I shut the truck off. Nothing seemed to phase her. She was asleep.
I did what I had to do with the movers. In general, I was checking on Echo, in her crate, in the truck, about every 5 minutes. ... Nothing. ... She shifted a bit, from time to time. But, she had assumed the "dog doughnut" position in her crate, and that was it.
I was torn between: waking her up, and getting her used to new things; and letting her get "comfortable" being in the truck without throwing up. I chose to let her feel comfortable in her crate, in the truck.
She was comfortable in the crate, in the truck, until about 11:30.
When she woke, I took her out, and walked her around the storage facility. In general, her tail told me she was "nervous" or "frightened". The only place she acted normal was the back of the facility. It backs up to a residential section, with a decent sized "green zone" between the storage facility, and the residential. She liked that area.
I had problems getting her to drink water, but she had no problems eating.
After that, we did another circuit of the facility. On this "lap", she seemed much more like herself. The tail was up, and she was, at worst, "curious". Normally, the tail was up, and when we got to the back of the facility, the tail wagged.
Then, we got back around to where the packers were.
Before that, she didn't care for the noise of the traffic on the busy street in front of the facility, but it was not a problem. She didn't care for the side street to the west, leading into the residential section, but it wasn't a problem. The activity in the parking lot to the east was a distraction.
If I let her go where she preferred, we ALWAYS ended up near the "green zone" to the south.
Back to the packers ...
So, we got back to the truck. My truck was parked in such a way that the tailgate was facing the packer's working area. I put the tailgate down, and sat us both up on the tailgate to watch the packers.
Echo was intrigued. She followed every movement with her eyes ... watching, contemplating. At this point, I noticed two thing: a) she REALLY did not like the sound of packing tape coming off the spool; and b) she was shivering, A LOT.
About the time that I began to try to soothe her "nervousness", (as the shivering would indicate), I realized that my rear end was beginning to become a bit numb, BECAUSE WE WERE SITTING ON A METAL TRUCK TAILGATE, WITH NOTHING TO KEEP US WARM!
So, I went and got the wool blanket that Amy had packed for us, and put it underneath Echo and I. Next to me, she did a perfect "sit", and did what I call a "large dog lean". (Forgive me, I have had, mostly dachshunds for the last 17 years. I forget what "large dogs" do.) I put my arm over Echo, and, while it was a good "sit", she put most of her body weight against me. She looked me in the eye, once or twice, and licked the end of my nose, once.
Then, she settled down onto the blanket. Sometimes curled up next to me, Sometimes on my lap.
The only thing that disturbed her was the sound of packing tape being drawn.
Finally, about 2, the packers were done.
She was reluctant to get in her crate, to leave. But, I had to do it.
I ran few errands, and we came home about 4. (By the way, over the course of those two hours, the only time she vomited was while navigating from downtown Olympia to west Olympia (lots of twists and turns, and "ups and downs" ... and that was after 2+ hours in the truck.)
I let her and Gimli run in the backyard. Hopefully for them to "do their business", but, also, given Echo's day, for her to run and play.
About this time, I might have pushed things too far, but I was faced with a choice: a) put Echo in a crate, in the house alone, and go get Amy; or b) put Echo in a crate with me in the truck, and go get Amy.
At this point, Echo began to rebel at getting into the truck. (She was fine with things, once she was in the crate, in the truck.)
Once we were there, she did not want to get out of the crate. (She was fine with things, once I got her out of the crate, and the truck. She seemed to be happy to see Amy, at her workplace, and meet Amy's co-workers.)
Getting her back into the truck was a struggle.
Once home, and she KNEW we were home (I could hear Gimli barking), coaxing her out of the truck was an issue.
Once out the of the truck, she was READY to go inside.
---
I will try to remember to talk about our "deck night" later, because there were some interesting things that happened there.
---
However, my PRIMARY concern is how the day ended.
For most of the day, she traveled well with me. Little, or no vomiting. Some drool. ... But, in general, things were fine.
The end of the day bothers me.
When we ended, we were faced with two things: a) she would not get in the truck willingly; b) once in the truck, she would not get out willingly.
On one hand, I want to say that the pup, by the end of the day, had hit "overload". ... Given her relative success traveling with me in a vehicle, that is plausible. (Echo has thrown up in my truck, over the course of MULTIPLE trips, what is it? ... 4 times, total. ... Echo threw up 6 times in the 30-minute drive to Kathy's house. (She spent over 9 hours in and around my truck today, by the way.))
Not to put too fine of a point on things, but, if she has true "car sickness", she should have been spewing like Linda Blair in "The Excorcist" from the time the truck started moving at 7 this morning. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. (By the way, we tried the "wrap" on the drive to Amy's workplace. That is the first of two times she threw up. ... After that, I didn't use the "wrap".)
Between the way the day ended, and the circumstances around when she has thrown up in vehicles, I am REAL SURE it's not "car sickness".
That's my concern. ... "Car sickness" is, relatively, easy to fix.
I think Echo's problem is deeper, and is gong to involve a much more complex answer.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Update October 9, 2012
Echo came home today. Jean and Pan brought her home.
It turns out that Kathy, Echo's other trainer, has been battling some health issues over the last few days. I ask that you give Kathy your thoughts and prayers. I don't know what is going on. I just know that she is not doing well.
Everyone seemed pleased with where she was when they picked Echo up Friday, and, from what I hear, she made some great strides over the last few days.
Here is a link to a video that Jean posted to Facebook today.
As I have been under the weather, as well, once I was able to get Echo and her stuff in the house, and give her a chance to put the back yard to good use, we settled down for a nap.
Once Amy got home from work, things became more active, but Echo was still pretty tired. She would get more active at feeding time, and when she needed to go out. Other than that, she has been taking a series of naps: in her crate, at Amy's feet, at my feet, next to me/on me on the couch, etc.
Speaking of her time on the couch.
At one point, she came over to where I was sitting, did a wonderful "sit" facing me, and put her chin on the couch next to my leg. This is what she does when she "asks" to get on the couch.
I picked her up, and put her in my spot with me. (SHE HAS GROWN over the last few days! Those legs are DEFINITELY longer than when she left.)
Anyway, she, quickly, settled into our space (mostly across my lap) and became a "boneless collie" ... a dead weight on me. EXCEPT for her chin. She put that across one one of my forearms, and, suddenly, her head weighed about 4 times more than it had a few seconds ago.
Apparently, the "Little Girl" needed some "Dad time". She stayed in that basic position for about an hour, most of the time asleep.
---
Other notes: (in no particular order)
It turns out that Kathy, Echo's other trainer, has been battling some health issues over the last few days. I ask that you give Kathy your thoughts and prayers. I don't know what is going on. I just know that she is not doing well.
Everyone seemed pleased with where she was when they picked Echo up Friday, and, from what I hear, she made some great strides over the last few days.
Here is a link to a video that Jean posted to Facebook today.
As I have been under the weather, as well, once I was able to get Echo and her stuff in the house, and give her a chance to put the back yard to good use, we settled down for a nap.
Once Amy got home from work, things became more active, but Echo was still pretty tired. She would get more active at feeding time, and when she needed to go out. Other than that, she has been taking a series of naps: in her crate, at Amy's feet, at my feet, next to me/on me on the couch, etc.
Speaking of her time on the couch.
At one point, she came over to where I was sitting, did a wonderful "sit" facing me, and put her chin on the couch next to my leg. This is what she does when she "asks" to get on the couch.
I picked her up, and put her in my spot with me. (SHE HAS GROWN over the last few days! Those legs are DEFINITELY longer than when she left.)
Anyway, she, quickly, settled into our space (mostly across my lap) and became a "boneless collie" ... a dead weight on me. EXCEPT for her chin. She put that across one one of my forearms, and, suddenly, her head weighed about 4 times more than it had a few seconds ago.
Apparently, the "Little Girl" needed some "Dad time". She stayed in that basic position for about an hour, most of the time asleep.
---
Other notes: (in no particular order)
- Jean, in particular, noted how Echo focused on me, once I walked out of our front door to meet them.
- It appears that an improvised "Thunder Vest" of Ace wrapping tape kept her from getting sick in the car on the ride to our house. (I'm not going to call her problem "car sickness", because I don't think that is what the problem is. ... It's too sporadic to be genuine "car sickness".)
- I think Echo and Gimli, both, missed each other, but, by the end of the night, I think Gimli was ready to be the only dog in the house. Not in a bad way, He was just trying to insure that he received his fair share of the attention.
- When Jesus came home tonight, Echo was in my lap. She did not try to get out of my lap, but her head came up, and the tail went into high gear. I think she, genuinely, likes him. Once Jesus and I get over the illnesses we are fighting, I look forward to getting him to work with her a bit everyday, as his schedule allows.
- When it was time to eat, and she heard me in her food bag, she IMMEDIATELY went into her crate, turned around, and stuck her nose out. She is definitely associating the crate with feeding time.
- Tomorrow, the movers are coming to pack up Brandon's stuff for shipment to Germany: first, from the storage unit; then, the house. Jean has told me that I should take Echo to the storage unit with me. So, Echo is in for a big day tomorrow.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Mini-update
First, I deleted a post from the blog today. It was written late last night, when my current illness (some kind of cold/sinus infection) was raging at it's worst, and I was not in the best frame of mind. I am still resolved about the ideas I was trying to express. I'm just sure that I, probably, did a bad job of it. So, I will give it another shot later.
Second, Echo is still with Kathy, her trainer. She should be coming home late tomorrow. At this point, it has become apparent to Amy and I that even Gimli misses her.
Anyway, Kathy sent some update information about her time with Echo to me and Jean, earlier today.
Here it is:
Echo and I are enjoying one another's company. I think we've established a good relationship where she willingly wants to work for me. The ride home yesterday was sad for Echo. Poor baby threw up 6 times. Needless to say that once she had a chance to explore and settle in when we got home that she was very hungry. I will be trying some different methods to see if I an determine whether she has motion sickness or anxiety when traveling. For everyone it would be great if the solution is sooner than later! I'll let you know what methods I used in my attempt to solve the problem.
She took a nap for about 1 1/2 hours during the evening which gave me the chance to read the handbook and the handout about Collie's. Much needed information which should help during training. Of course her name recognition is great as well as her sit. She will sit with either the command, command and hand motion and hand motion only on all sides (front, back, sides). Such a smart girl! I put my larger dog crate in my bedroom. When went to bed at 11:45 pm, she randomly barked for 5 minutes and then settled in for the rest of the night. I think we both woke up at the same time this morning (7:45 am). I fed her a small amount of food, we explored the backyard for about 10 minutes with bursts of energy from her. She came when I called her name every time. We're going on a walk in about 15 minutes.
I have two concerns: she has a tendency to "dig" at the carpet (not the digging that a dog might dog to settle in) and she is somewhat mouthy. It may be teething but I would lean towards her being too mouthy. As she walks by furniture and whatever else looks chewable, she will put her mouth on it. Not long enough to cause damage but a bad habit that needs to be addressed. When she's settled I've been enticing her with chew toys which she seems to enjoy.
Off we go for our walk!
I'll fill you in later as our day progresses.
Fun!
Kathy, also, sent two pictures:
Second, Echo is still with Kathy, her trainer. She should be coming home late tomorrow. At this point, it has become apparent to Amy and I that even Gimli misses her.
Anyway, Kathy sent some update information about her time with Echo to me and Jean, earlier today.
Here it is:
Echo and I are enjoying one another's company. I think we've established a good relationship where she willingly wants to work for me. The ride home yesterday was sad for Echo. Poor baby threw up 6 times. Needless to say that once she had a chance to explore and settle in when we got home that she was very hungry. I will be trying some different methods to see if I an determine whether she has motion sickness or anxiety when traveling. For everyone it would be great if the solution is sooner than later! I'll let you know what methods I used in my attempt to solve the problem.
She took a nap for about 1 1/2 hours during the evening which gave me the chance to read the handbook and the handout about Collie's. Much needed information which should help during training. Of course her name recognition is great as well as her sit. She will sit with either the command, command and hand motion and hand motion only on all sides (front, back, sides). Such a smart girl! I put my larger dog crate in my bedroom. When went to bed at 11:45 pm, she randomly barked for 5 minutes and then settled in for the rest of the night. I think we both woke up at the same time this morning (7:45 am). I fed her a small amount of food, we explored the backyard for about 10 minutes with bursts of energy from her. She came when I called her name every time. We're going on a walk in about 15 minutes.
I have two concerns: she has a tendency to "dig" at the carpet (not the digging that a dog might dog to settle in) and she is somewhat mouthy. It may be teething but I would lean towards her being too mouthy. As she walks by furniture and whatever else looks chewable, she will put her mouth on it. Not long enough to cause damage but a bad habit that needs to be addressed. When she's settled I've been enticing her with chew toys which she seems to enjoy.
Off we go for our walk!
I'll fill you in later as our day progresses.
Fun!
Kathy, also, sent two pictures:
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Not much of an Update
Today, I took Echo to meet Jean, Pan, and Kathy. Jean could not get over how tall Echo has grown. Kathy was impressed with her response to the hand signal for "sit", and her response to her "marker word". All three were impressed with how Echo didn't bark at new things (collies are known to be "barkers"), but just watched. I was proud. And, yes, except when she is playing, or thinks she has been her crate too long, Echo is a pretty quiet dog. She will get vocal while playing, and she has developed "noises", as I mentioned earlier, but she is not a "barker". Which I find remarkable, because Gimli is VERY much a "barker".
Kathy is going to keep Echo until Sunday. While this is a nice break for my family and I, and it allowed us to do some things we needed to do for a while, I am, already, missing my "Little Girl".
---
I'm going to share a picture in a bit, but I need to tell the "back story" about the things in the picture, first.
A long-time member of the "Teen Hoard" is Tyler Edgar. Tyler graduated from the same high school as Brandon, Stephanie, and Jesus, in 2011. (Brandon and he were in the same graduating class.)
Tyler's father, Todd, was, at the time, a recruiting station commander, in Tacoma, for the Air Force. Shortly after Tyler's graduation, Todd retired from the Air Force, and moved the family back to Plano, TX, outside of Dallas.
We helped them pack up for the move.
There were a number of things that they couldn't fit in the trucks they had rented. We ended up "inheriting" a lot of them. (The grill that appears in my videos earlier this week came from the Edgars.)
There is one VERY special piece of furniture that we inherited from the Edgar's, though. It's a very special chair.
Todd has a recliner that he likes to watch TV in. At about age 2, the youngest Edgar child, Sammy (short for Samantha), HAD to have a recliner like "Daddy's" to sit in, next to him, and watch TV. Apparently, she pitched a fit for one. So, Todd and Laura found a Lazy Boy recliner that was an appropriate size for a toddler. (The top of the back of the chair is just above my kneecap.)
By the time of the move, Sammy had outgrown the chair, and there wasn't room for it in the moving van. So, we inherited it.
We have never had a person that small in our house, as a family member. So, it became Gimli's chair, kind of. He doesn't use it that often, but, if you give the command "lazyboy", he will go sit in that chair. Amy, in fact, put a tag on the chair that says: "Gimli ONLY".
Gimli is not that attached to it. However, to avoid others from breaking it, the chair has become a "dog only" piece of furniture. People are not allowed on it, or in it.
Echo has discovered Sammy's/Gimli's chair. She has figured out that it is a "dog only" piece of furniture.
At the moment, the chair is sitting close to the entrance of our kitchen.
When Echo is with Amy, and Amy is working in the kitchen, Echo's "spot" is in that chair. If the chair is placed so that Echo can watch Amy, she is happy to stay in that chair and observe.
For Echo, the chair has become a type of surrogate crate. It's not enclosed. You can't shut a door on it. BUT, she understands that is, uniquely, a "dog's spot", and not "people furniture".
She's more than happy to curl up in this "dog spot", and not go anywhere else ... as long as the person she is "watching" stays in her sight.
So, this is Echo in the "dog recliner", enjoying being near her people:
---
Echo is a thoughtful dog. She contemplates things before she acts. Once she "figures it out", she has it. Hopefully, what you wanted her to "figure out" is what she learned. If not, well, good luck.
Kathy is going to keep Echo until Sunday. While this is a nice break for my family and I, and it allowed us to do some things we needed to do for a while, I am, already, missing my "Little Girl".
---
I'm going to share a picture in a bit, but I need to tell the "back story" about the things in the picture, first.
A long-time member of the "Teen Hoard" is Tyler Edgar. Tyler graduated from the same high school as Brandon, Stephanie, and Jesus, in 2011. (Brandon and he were in the same graduating class.)
Tyler's father, Todd, was, at the time, a recruiting station commander, in Tacoma, for the Air Force. Shortly after Tyler's graduation, Todd retired from the Air Force, and moved the family back to Plano, TX, outside of Dallas.
We helped them pack up for the move.
There were a number of things that they couldn't fit in the trucks they had rented. We ended up "inheriting" a lot of them. (The grill that appears in my videos earlier this week came from the Edgars.)
There is one VERY special piece of furniture that we inherited from the Edgar's, though. It's a very special chair.
Todd has a recliner that he likes to watch TV in. At about age 2, the youngest Edgar child, Sammy (short for Samantha), HAD to have a recliner like "Daddy's" to sit in, next to him, and watch TV. Apparently, she pitched a fit for one. So, Todd and Laura found a Lazy Boy recliner that was an appropriate size for a toddler. (The top of the back of the chair is just above my kneecap.)
By the time of the move, Sammy had outgrown the chair, and there wasn't room for it in the moving van. So, we inherited it.
We have never had a person that small in our house, as a family member. So, it became Gimli's chair, kind of. He doesn't use it that often, but, if you give the command "lazyboy", he will go sit in that chair. Amy, in fact, put a tag on the chair that says: "Gimli ONLY".
Gimli is not that attached to it. However, to avoid others from breaking it, the chair has become a "dog only" piece of furniture. People are not allowed on it, or in it.
Echo has discovered Sammy's/Gimli's chair. She has figured out that it is a "dog only" piece of furniture.
At the moment, the chair is sitting close to the entrance of our kitchen.
When Echo is with Amy, and Amy is working in the kitchen, Echo's "spot" is in that chair. If the chair is placed so that Echo can watch Amy, she is happy to stay in that chair and observe.
For Echo, the chair has become a type of surrogate crate. It's not enclosed. You can't shut a door on it. BUT, she understands that is, uniquely, a "dog's spot", and not "people furniture".
She's more than happy to curl up in this "dog spot", and not go anywhere else ... as long as the person she is "watching" stays in her sight.
So, this is Echo in the "dog recliner", enjoying being near her people:
Echo is a thoughtful dog. She contemplates things before she acts. Once she "figures it out", she has it. Hopefully, what you wanted her to "figure out" is what she learned. If not, well, good luck.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Kind of an Update
Kathy said we should take Echo on "exercise" walks, but that she (Echo, not Kathy) should wear her vest on these walks. Echo only wears her vest when she is "working". So, these are "working" walks, where she gets exercise.
This weeks has been crazy for us. So, Echo has only had three such walks, since we first met Kathy, on Saturday.
But, then again, Echo has only been cleared to go out our front door since, basically, last Friday night.
Her first trip out was to meet Kathy, on Saturday.
From all the "input" of that trip, Echo was a "boneless Collie" for most of the rest of that day. ("Little Girl" was exhausted from the trip, the "car sickness", and the new information. ... She did little more than pee, poop, and sleep, after we returned home.)
Sunday, I took her on her first walk out of our front door, as documented in my previous post.
Monday, we took a similar trip. This time, it was before nightfall. She did okay with passing cars. When we began to catch up with neighbors taking a walk, she wanted to go "make friends". ... She did have a "freak out" moment, though. It was when we were passed by a person on a bicycle. This walk was the same distance as the first, but it was about 20-25 minutes, as opposed to the 15 minutes of the first. Mainly because of the activity on the street that she had not seen before, and I added a tiny bit of length to the walk, on a quieter side street.
Tuesday, I wasn't able to take her on the "exercise walk", and paid the price for it. She needs the exercise, and the mental input. If not, she gets a bit crazy. ... She was crazy, Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, we walked Amy to her bus stop, for work (when she doesn't drive). This added about 1/2 a mile, and turned it into a 40 minute walk. Echo did great. The only thing that seemed to freak her out was a jogger. I find it interesting that she figured out VERY QUICKLY that moving vehicles were things that she should avoid, and, if she did that, they were of no concern. However, bicyclists and joggers freak her out.
Upon returning from a walk our routine has remained the same: we come in the front door; I take her vest off; we go, immediately, to the run; she runs in circles, like a nut, sometimes pees, and we play "chase" for a bit (I have NEVER chased her. When we play "chase", she chases me, or we DO NOT play that game.); and, then, she crashes like she has had a 16-ton weight dropped on her.
---
Other than we are going through the "joy" of her switching to her third dog food since September 3rd, there is nothing to report of note.
Actually, the transition to the Nutro foods has been fairly easy. Yes, the poop has bordered on liquid, but, except for once, the smell has not been that bad (considering it is poop). She seems to like it, and, while it has been soft/liquid coming out, her "schedule" hasn't changed during this transition.
---
One last thing.
I'm a classically trained musician who, for the last 23 years, has been "plying his trade" for the US Army. I've been "crusty, old 'Sergeant Robertson'", since Clinton was President, in one way, rank, or another.
LITERALLY, before I started posting on this blog tonight, I spent hours writing an email that was a short history/performance notes(and guidance for the performers) of Giovanni Gabrieli's ground breaking work: "Sonata Pian e Forte", written in the year 1597. Because I am conducting a performance of that piece later this month in Saint Martin's University's Abbey Church.
I did that first, because it needed to be done, and it was easy, compared to what I needed to do next: update this blog with pictures and video; and discuss, subjectively, and quantitatively, Echo's poop (and exercise).
No matter the wildest "break room/day room/smoking area" conversation I have EVER been a part of, I have NEVER IMAGINED spending as much time discussing dog poop, as I have done on this blog.
At the moment, my life revolves around local veteran's organizations, 16th century classical music written for a Catholic church (I'm Protestant), AND dog poop.
An interesting combination.
This weeks has been crazy for us. So, Echo has only had three such walks, since we first met Kathy, on Saturday.
But, then again, Echo has only been cleared to go out our front door since, basically, last Friday night.
Her first trip out was to meet Kathy, on Saturday.
From all the "input" of that trip, Echo was a "boneless Collie" for most of the rest of that day. ("Little Girl" was exhausted from the trip, the "car sickness", and the new information. ... She did little more than pee, poop, and sleep, after we returned home.)
Sunday, I took her on her first walk out of our front door, as documented in my previous post.
Monday, we took a similar trip. This time, it was before nightfall. She did okay with passing cars. When we began to catch up with neighbors taking a walk, she wanted to go "make friends". ... She did have a "freak out" moment, though. It was when we were passed by a person on a bicycle. This walk was the same distance as the first, but it was about 20-25 minutes, as opposed to the 15 minutes of the first. Mainly because of the activity on the street that she had not seen before, and I added a tiny bit of length to the walk, on a quieter side street.
Tuesday, I wasn't able to take her on the "exercise walk", and paid the price for it. She needs the exercise, and the mental input. If not, she gets a bit crazy. ... She was crazy, Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, we walked Amy to her bus stop, for work (when she doesn't drive). This added about 1/2 a mile, and turned it into a 40 minute walk. Echo did great. The only thing that seemed to freak her out was a jogger. I find it interesting that she figured out VERY QUICKLY that moving vehicles were things that she should avoid, and, if she did that, they were of no concern. However, bicyclists and joggers freak her out.
Upon returning from a walk our routine has remained the same: we come in the front door; I take her vest off; we go, immediately, to the run; she runs in circles, like a nut, sometimes pees, and we play "chase" for a bit (I have NEVER chased her. When we play "chase", she chases me, or we DO NOT play that game.); and, then, she crashes like she has had a 16-ton weight dropped on her.
---
Other than we are going through the "joy" of her switching to her third dog food since September 3rd, there is nothing to report of note.
Actually, the transition to the Nutro foods has been fairly easy. Yes, the poop has bordered on liquid, but, except for once, the smell has not been that bad (considering it is poop). She seems to like it, and, while it has been soft/liquid coming out, her "schedule" hasn't changed during this transition.
---
One last thing.
I'm a classically trained musician who, for the last 23 years, has been "plying his trade" for the US Army. I've been "crusty, old 'Sergeant Robertson'", since Clinton was President, in one way, rank, or another.
LITERALLY, before I started posting on this blog tonight, I spent hours writing an email that was a short history/performance notes(and guidance for the performers) of Giovanni Gabrieli's ground breaking work: "Sonata Pian e Forte", written in the year 1597. Because I am conducting a performance of that piece later this month in Saint Martin's University's Abbey Church.
I did that first, because it needed to be done, and it was easy, compared to what I needed to do next: update this blog with pictures and video; and discuss, subjectively, and quantitatively, Echo's poop (and exercise).
No matter the wildest "break room/day room/smoking area" conversation I have EVER been a part of, I have NEVER IMAGINED spending as much time discussing dog poop, as I have done on this blog.
At the moment, my life revolves around local veteran's organizations, 16th century classical music written for a Catholic church (I'm Protestant), AND dog poop.
An interesting combination.
Videos From the Last Few Days
We are back to this blog being an "unvarnished" view of what is going on with Echo.
These are videos that Amy shot. She does not do a good job of using the "marker word", and Echo is not, particularly, well behaved. (I wish that the video of Echo and I on her Wednesday morning walk were decent, but the quality of the video really was awful. ... We did well, the video of it was REALLY bad.)
On the other hand, I am REALLY proud of Gimli. Since leaving his breeder, in 2005, he has not been around a puppy. In fact, he has been the "puppy" of his pack, until late last year. Radar, of the dogs, was the "alpha", and he was third on the ladder ... of three dogs.
Of all the dachshunds I have had, dating back to 1970, Gimli has the "softest soul". With that said, Gimli is, also, one of those dogs with the attitude of: "I WILL NOT pick a fight with you. BUT, if there is going to be a fight, I WILL END IT." ... The last time Radar picked a fight with him, Gimli spent an "overnight" and a day in the emergency vet clinic. Radar spent 3 days there, after losing a canine tooth.
Radar didn't pick anymore fights with Gimli.
---
Now, Gimli is the "elder statesman", and Echo is the pup. I was nervous about how Gimli would behave, at first.
The video I posted a few days ago, and the ones I am about to post prove my concerns were unwarranted.
---
Don't get me wrong, he is still showing her that he is the "top dog". He is doing it his way. (The process might get noisy, at times, but I doubt that there will be any blood.)
---
Here are the videos:
These are videos that Amy shot. She does not do a good job of using the "marker word", and Echo is not, particularly, well behaved. (I wish that the video of Echo and I on her Wednesday morning walk were decent, but the quality of the video really was awful. ... We did well, the video of it was REALLY bad.)
On the other hand, I am REALLY proud of Gimli. Since leaving his breeder, in 2005, he has not been around a puppy. In fact, he has been the "puppy" of his pack, until late last year. Radar, of the dogs, was the "alpha", and he was third on the ladder ... of three dogs.
Of all the dachshunds I have had, dating back to 1970, Gimli has the "softest soul". With that said, Gimli is, also, one of those dogs with the attitude of: "I WILL NOT pick a fight with you. BUT, if there is going to be a fight, I WILL END IT." ... The last time Radar picked a fight with him, Gimli spent an "overnight" and a day in the emergency vet clinic. Radar spent 3 days there, after losing a canine tooth.
Radar didn't pick anymore fights with Gimli.
---
Now, Gimli is the "elder statesman", and Echo is the pup. I was nervous about how Gimli would behave, at first.
The video I posted a few days ago, and the ones I am about to post prove my concerns were unwarranted.
---
Don't get me wrong, he is still showing her that he is the "top dog". He is doing it his way. (The process might get noisy, at times, but I doubt that there will be any blood.)
---
Here are the videos:
Amy's Pictures From the Last Few Days
I'm not going to comment on these much.
The only thing I will say is that Echo likes to get her Vitamin D.
The only thing I will say is that Echo likes to get her Vitamin D.
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