Visit to Pet Supermarket

Yesterday we missed going to the beach... :-( but... instead, we took a trip to Pet Supermarket. I think Thea knew we weren't going to the beach when we got in the car and neither Blyss not Trik came with us!! Sure sign. Thea was great though. She jumped out of the crate and car by herself (I don't think she realized she was in a parking lot until she jumped out.)

We got into the store with minimal distraction. She was a bit apprehensive about the door but entered the store on her own. In the store Thea befriended a little girl, Lana (about 6 or 7 years old), who decided it was her personal mission to make Thea feel good! We now know Thea has no problem being around children. Lana fed Thea treats and tried to get her to shake and even gave her hugs!!

Before we left the store Thea took treats from all the store employees, even a guy!!! WOW! After we left the store we went for a long walk around the big retention pond.

It was a wonderfully successful outing!

Shake it Baby part: 2

Mary asks for it, she shall receive it!
Thea shakes...

Shake it Baby

Perhaps it's because she is a puppy mill pup... I don't know... but, it seems Thea has to be forced to do new things. Once she is pushed she seems to accept. The beach, for instance... she refused to even go within ear shot of the waves but when I forced her to the sand then to the water she just clicked.

Well, tonight was kind of the same thing. I was determined, after a message from Pam, that I was going to teach her to "shake". I'm determined that she CAN and WILL learn. So tonight I grabbed some treats and the clicker, locked the other dogs out of the house and started to work with her.

I know, luring isn't recommended or ideal but this is a special situation so... I grabbed her paw, lifted it up, clicked and shoved a treat into her mouth. After doing this about 15 times she lifted the front paw I was not working with. I clicked it and treated her and that was it! She is now offering me a paw to the cue "shake". She is not consistant with one or the other paw but that's ok for now!!

This just seems like a HUGE accomplishment for our girl!

It's been a while and we've made tremendous progress!

I was just looking over the blog posts and realizing just how far Thea has come.

She is now braving the waves at the beach!! That is her most recent accomplishment. I just refused to take no for an answer. We visited the beach house a few times and Thea always "freaked" when it came to going down to the beach so I would sit at the pool with her trying to coax her out of the corner and into the water. Well, 2 weekends ago I had enough... I dragged her and carried her down to the sand. She didn't like the soft sand but as soon as her feet hit the water she turned into a different dog! Now after 3 trips to the beach she is running in the water, swimming in the water, chasing frisbees and balls and just in general being a regular dog! One of our friends didn't even recognize her!!

Thea is also swimming in the pool. She dives in (however gracefully she can manage) and retrieves toys! What a change from the dog we met almost a year ago.

Thea also has a new "sport". I've been working her on the agility equipment. She jumps over the jumps and runs over the A-Frame and Dog Walk. I even have her jumping through the tire (at a very low level). Of course, she is being lured all the way.

Because of Thea's past I doubt she will ever play in agility like other dogs. Her learning capacity seems to be very limited. I've been able to teach her to sit for a cookie and get on equipment for a cookie but in 10 months I still have not been able to teach her to "shake".

Who knows how long she was in that horrible puppy mill but it was a very long time. Every now and then I see a glimmer of a "normal" dog... but she will always be "different" and "special".

For now... Thea Brave Girl is living up to her name!

Day 3 at Palmetto Trial

Our girl is becoming more comfortable being here. She is not hiding under the table or behind the chair in the RV... she is actually playing and out in the "open".

We had a visitor come to take a look at the RV which was tough for Thea but she was able to deal with it.

Yesterday Heidi was kind enough to sit outside with me and just talk with Thea on leash. Heidi would toss a treat to Thea every now and then. Thea is still "freaking out" a bit but she is starting to come around with strangers.

It will be so good for her to go home after this trip... back to familiar ground.

Thea at the Palmetto Trial Day One

We are wrapping up day one here in Palmetto.

Thea is actually playing in the x-pen now! She is walking more confidently on leash. She still hasn't pooped though so I think she is still pretty stressed out. She has been able to pee which is a huge relief. I think we need to keep attending trials just to get her healthy!

Time to take the Brave Girl for a walk...

Pupdate December 29, 2009

It's been a long time since last update.

Thea is making little steps of progress every day. This week we started clicker training. She is just now getting used to the sound of the clicker. The first time I clicked it she ducked for cover. Now she still flinches a little but she is getting used to it. We are starting with "sit". After 3 sessions she is starting to understand she must sit for the click/treat... not too shabby!

We've also been working on walking on leash. We made it around a short block in the neighborhood. Were we live is very rural, we have neighbors but none who are close so we can walk without the interruption of people, other animals, feral mailboxes, etc... She pulls a bit and tries to bite the leash but I just have none of it and keep her going. Finally, she submits to me and by the time we were nearing home she is walking like a champ!

Right now we are at an agility trial across state so we have another opportunity to challenge her with new surroundings, new people and some people she has already met... She has a little ways to go but she has come so far in just the few months we've had her.