Friday, May 4, 2012

What a difference 5 days make! It's unbelievable how Andrew....Andyrew...is now coming out of his shell mostly due to Mr. Wagginbottom.  Wagginbottom's School of Fine (Puppy) Arts is in full session!
Yesterday afternoon when I went home it was raining.  That Andyrew is one smart pup.  He raced out the door of the garage to potty.  I went out with him and got under the canopy of the outside kennel.  He stayed for a split second with me and then raced to do his business and beat me back into the garage!  All other times, I had to coax him into the garage.
This morning he greeted all of us with tail wags!  His appetite is BACK! AND... he will take tasty treats from my hand and actually eat them instead of dropping them.
I tested his tolerance to share with Tucker on the outside of the kennel sniffing and Andy on the inside with me.  Faces close together said each dog's name and gave them a tiny treat... the trading game.... there appeared to be no jealousy or anxiety from Andy.
This morning we went outside twice to potty and Andyrew was all puppy wagging and sniffing and playful.  Hardly a skittish moment.  Tucker still wonders why he has to be on leash, but he is really doing well with his 'heeling' with distractions, namely a puppy jumping in his face and licking!
Maybe this afternoon would be a good time to test if Andyrew can handle Tucker's exuberant play.
It would make it so much easier and then to get Andy in the house to start crate training.  I tried to get him in the house yesterday afternoon without Tucker, but he was too skittish

Have you ever just sat still and marveled at the way God orchestrates the series of events in your life?
I had that experience today.  Yes.. it was about a dog...and not some earth shattering, life or death situation.... but it still counts :)
I thought I would stop by my friend/groomer's shop to take a chance and see if she had changed her mind about having another obedience class.  Maybe I would get lucky!
Also, another reason for stopping by was that  I vaguely remembered Linda saying she had a friend/contact at that shelter at Elmore County, AL where Andrew was.  So when it came to pass that Andrew was transferred over to me I thought I'd go ask Linda to see if I remembered correctly.  Her contact was Rhea, my contact was Dawn. I told Linda how we had met first with GSD Rescue.  Come to find out Rhea had contacted Linda and they had discussed little Andrew at length and how worried Rhea was about what would happen to Andrew aka C.D.  because he was so terrified and skittish.
And I got lucky, after all! Linda shewas planning another obedience class at the middle/end of May. She is only taking grooming clients this go round.  An Airedale and a Labradoodle (I saw them in the shop today! GORGEOUS) , a Shi Tzu, an out of control Brittany and now Andrew.  I can't wait! Andrew will blossom so much quicker!
Also, Linda has been looking at the ESRA site to possibly adopt an ESS! She says it has to be the right one and she will take her time! CAN you believe it!
So, now more than ever I am convinced that little Andyrew is where he is supposed to be at this time of his life.  I know that Linda will go the extra mile as she always does to help me rehabilitate this little guy and that he will continue to improve each and every day as he gains confidence!

Afternoon trip outside with Tucker's leash dragging. So far so good.  Tucker staying calm.  Finally coaxed Andyrew into the quilting room where I have Tucker's crate and a futon.  Andy decided right away that he liked the futon.  He sat up with me and then continued to make himself comfortable there even when I got up to work on the computer. 

Tucker wanted to get up on the futon with him but Andy growled and warned him off.  This is only the second time I have witnessed Andy growl at another dog.  I guess he is saying " this is mine!"... Normally I would have taken the dogs collar, told him off and escorted him away from the source of guarding...but I can't do that with Andy yet.  Instead I got up, walked to the door and escorted both dogs out,and put Andy in his kennel without a word.  Was it the right thing to do?.... I don't know, but I won't tolerate guarding when my dog was here first.  And I am the boss.  I guess we'll have to do some "Nothing in Life is Free" techniques.  Tucker took it like the sweet submissive guy he is.  So glad for Tucker's personality. We could have had a fight and regressed a lot.