Making friends with a stray dog - New House PICS page 61! [Archive] - Page 7

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 18, 2009, 04:28 PM

Yes, we are due some pictures, but tell that to my bosses who have us all working 12 hour days 7 days a week to meet impossible deadlines at the moment. My next post might be from a psych ward somewhere, and I am only half joking. I am just taking a quick break between meetings to post this. And I can just imagine the hellatious projects we will get when they finish up the health care reform plans, so that our projects will be government mandated. Ok, enough griping.

As to the harness, well, if it was just cowering, I might be able to deal with it, but she also has added struggling and running away if she even sees it in my hand. This is a powerful phobia she has going on right now.

I woke up this morning to find Angel laying on my husband, enjoying some affection from him. Evidently humans are much less scary when laying down. I know, you all said to lay on the ground way back when, not sure it would have been as effective as it is now.

I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes tonight with all 5 dogs in my room.

Blacklabs

Sep. 18, 2009, 05:22 PM

I woke up this morning to find Angel laying on my husband, enjoying some affection from him.

Great news!!! Once more big accomplishment for Angel. You da the girl,Angel:winkgrin:

Sounds like in her former life she lived with dogs but the humans in her life weren't as kind as the dogs.
MM and your family have really done a great job with her.

Alexie

Sep. 18, 2009, 05:55 PM

wow just had a look at the house pics-she's quite large isn't she? :D

fabulous:)

SevenDogs

Sep. 18, 2009, 06:16 PM

Great news!!! Once more big accomplishment for Angel. You da the girl,Angel:winkgrin:

Sounds like in her former life she lived with dogs but the humans in her life weren't as kind as the dogs.
MM and your family have really done a great job with her.

:yes: :yes: :yes:

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 18, 2009, 06:22 PM

Thanks everyone.

She is funny, when she comes in from the yard, and is "talking" to me, I still can't tell what she wants (dinner/snack/playmate/affection?). If it is close to dinner time, then I can tell. All 4 dogs just came in from a good romp in the yard, so they are all smiling and panting.

As to her size and age, we figure she about 1 and 1/2 and weighs 43 pounds, and about 17 inches at the shoulder. so in comparison to my other dogs, she is not large, she is the smallest member of the pack.

Oh, she finally started to bark with the pack to protect the property, and yesterday she was the only dog in the yard when some joggers went by, and she took it upon herself to sound the alarm. I guess that is a good sign. She used to bark at the barn, but since being in the house, she was leaving it up to the other dogs to do the guarding/alarm.

lcw579

Sep. 18, 2009, 09:14 PM

I woke up this morning to find Angel laying on my husband, enjoying some affection from him. Evidently humans are much less scary when laying down. I know, you all said to lay on the ground way back when, not sure it would have been as effective as it is now.

This sounds so familiar! :lol: Duncan, our rescue mutt was abused before we got him. He was terrified of men, especially my husband. He first began warming up in bed. It was almost like Duncan figured that it was safe to accept attention when my husband was prone and stuck under the covers. :lol:

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 20, 2009, 11:49 PM

Evidently I am no longer the favored human to Angel. This weekend she was very happy when my MIL came home, and she also gave my husband a nice greeting when he came home after being gone all day.

She still comes in to check to make sure I am here, but not as often as she used to. Which is a good thing I think, because I think it means she is getting braver and more secure in her surroundings.

Wish me luck, we bought new living room furniture yesterday, it gets delivered Wednesday, and I hope the dogs don't trash it. I figured they have not chewed on the furniture in the past 3 weeks, so we should be okay now.

pinkdiamondracing

Sep. 21, 2009, 05:20 AM

Good Luck with the new furniture!!!! I am due for a new couch too-- we also have 5 dogs in the house, and thanks to the Doberman/heeler cross jumping onto the back of it theres a big rip in the top of the cushion, and stuffing is everywhere all the time!!
I get my couches at Goodwill though, that way when one gets trashed, I don't feel the financial pinch as badly!!!:lol::lol::yes::yes:

JanM

Sep. 21, 2009, 07:16 AM

MM-for right now I would get some really heavy weight slip covers for the furniture-if anything gets chewed it will be that.

starrysky

Sep. 21, 2009, 05:28 PM

It's a great sign that she isn't depending on your as much - her comfort is growing, and she is becoming more relaxed!

MHM

Sep. 23, 2009, 12:34 PM

Angel, what are you doing on page 2??

Come back up to the top! Come, Angel!

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 24, 2009, 10:17 PM

Sorry folks, just when I thought my work schedule cound not get any crazier. . . they prove me wrong again.

Angel had a few days of regression, where she spent more time outside than in, and was challenging to get her to come in the house, she is back to normal today.

Part of what caused the regression was one day she swiped my daughter's shoe, and my daughter had to chase her to get it back. Then we had the new furniture delivered yesterday - which was a bad scene, because I had to chase her around the yard until she ran into the house, and then chase her around the house and carry her into my office with the rest of the dogs. She was rather skittish the rest of the day, avoiding me quite a bit and all that.

But I guess after she slept on it, she came and snuggled in bed with me this morning, and has come it to visit me while I work many times today.

Now, maybe it has to do with the fact that I now have a stash of dog bisquits here in my office, so whenever she comes to see me she gets a treat. :D What is funny is now my office seems to be the place that all the dogs want to hang out!

Oh, one other step towards domestication today. We had a rain shower this evening, and she came in wet. So, I used this as an opportunity to teach her about being toweled off. First I used the towel on Jenna, so that Angel could see that it was not something that would hurt her, and then she came to me to get dried off, and really seemed to enjoy it.

She has not jumped up on the new furniture yet, only 2 of the 5 dogs has tried it out. Not that I mind, I would like for them to spend a bit less time on the new furniture to keep the dog hair issue down to a dull roar.

SevenDogs

Sep. 25, 2009, 01:11 AM

Oh, one other step towards domestication today. We had a rain shower this evening, and she came in wet. So, I used this as an opportunity to teach her about being toweled off. First I used the towel on Jenna, so that Angel could see that it was not something that would hurt her, and then she came to me to get dried off, and really seemed to enjoy it.

Yea for an update! The toweling off thing -- BIG... :yes:

jetsmom

Sep. 25, 2009, 02:50 AM

I love the updates! I don't often comment, but check the thread daily.

She'll learn to love being toweled off. It's one of the things Rusty, my previous stray seems to LOVE. It's funny how they seem to REALLY appreciate things like being toweled, being able to get out of the rain/heat, etc. Rusty cracks me up at times...he survived 3 yrs as a stray drinking out of puddles and an irrigation ditch. Now, if his water bowl gets half empty, he'll lay in front of it and growl until I empty and refill it. He'll also whine if he gets tired at night and wants to go to bed. He doesn't want to leave me but LOVES being able to sleep in a bed (mine).

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 25, 2009, 12:28 PM

jetsmom, question for you - does Rusty have days where he regresses back to a more feral state of mind? I'm hoping that as time goes by that Angel will have fewer of them. Sometimes I can't even decipher what triggered it, like just now, I came into the room where she was sleeping, she wagged her tail, but as I approached, she got up and I could see she was contemplating slinking out the dog door again. So I retreated back to my office and started giving attention to Jenna who is sacked out on my couch, and Angel then slowly approached, and was whining a bit, so I called her and she then came in for some butt-scratches, and is now sacked out right behind my office chair.

And this morning, she was a wild child, I have some racing stripes down the back of my leg to prove it, where she took a good swipe at me because she was so excited this morning. The rear swipes are hard to avoid because I don't see them coming, I can head off the frontal swipes. And my dining room looked like Daytona, with Angel and Cubby racing around the table at top speeds.

Some days I think it is going to take me another year until she is as good as the rest of the pack, and other days, she seems to make quicker progress. For example, the sitting for treats, I don't even have to say it now, she immediately sits if I have a treat in my hand. But she still only comes when she wants to, so it is a 50/50 average on that one.

jetsmom

Sep. 25, 2009, 01:56 PM

Rusty does occasionally regress temporarily. Mostly with my DH. Rusty used to run after my DH barking at him, if he started to walk away. He stopped doing it for the most part since June. Now he will occasionally do it. He'll also get funny about putting his collar on him occasionally. I just wait him out, since he LOVES walks. I think it just takes time. Plus, when he does something "fearful" or I don't want, like the barking/chasing the DH, I have the DH stop, turn around and call him, so if he is running at him, it makes it seem like he is asking him to come. Rusty will stop barking and then walk up to him and sniff.

Rusty also used to bark and growl at anyone we saw on walks. He's become much better about it, but will still occasionally get "the look", where I think he's going to start barking. I usually try to distract him before he can start barking, by saying something like "let's Go", or "this way". It works about 90% of the time.

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 25, 2009, 05:11 PM

Humm, that made me think, poor little Angel, her only experience with the collar and leash combo so far has meant a trip to the vet in her new world. So, I guess I better figure out how to get her to associate it with something fun like a walk - which will probably involve the harness that I have not managed to get on her yet, since she can pull her head out of the collar, I swear her neck is bigger than her head.

Angel has the opposite problem, instead of barking and/or charging, she gets fearful and slinks or runs away.

But she has been very attentive today, visiting me at least once or twice per hour all day.

My2cents

Sep. 26, 2009, 08:07 AM

allpurpose

Sep. 26, 2009, 09:13 AM

I am also a somewhat daily checker of the 'Angel' post. Always nice to hear about your girl. I know you said she cowers when she sees the harness or leash. What about placing it randomly around the room, sometimes on the floor, sometimes hanging by her food dish. You could even stick a treat or two by it so that she can sniff the 'scary' harness and get a reward without you being involved. It may desensitize her to the sight of it and then it can become a non issue.
It's soo heartwarming to hear that she's part of the family.

I was just thinking about the reward/harness equation as well. What about steak treats to go along with a short (getting progressively longer) harnessing session? Can she get a treat, get harnessed, get a treat, remove harness?

However, with your work schedule it sounds like dog training is the LAST thing you need to add to the pile...;)

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 26, 2009, 11:23 AM

So far her fear of the collar and leash overcome her craving of a treat, no matter how tasty (and after all this time, I do know what her favorite treats are). I don't think she associates the harness as bad yet, when I bought it, she did sniff it and I rubbed it on her, but I didn't try to put it on her, as I had to adjust it to be big enough to fit her, and I need to figure out how it works, since I have never used a harness on a dog before. I can't just leave it laying around with treats, remember the rest of my hoover-type pack?

A bit OT - as I as putting on fly masks this morning, I noticed a dead mouse INSIDE the box fan in front of my mare's stall - UGH! So I had to dismantle the fan to remove the carcass. I'm still wondering what on earth the stupid mouse went in there for in the first place :confused: I'm just glad I got to it before it started to stink. I'm not sure why I even looked in there, funny how things happen like that sometimes.

Back to Angel - she was so good this morning, instead of pawing and leaping, she got on the bed and sort of rubbed me all over with her head, and then layed down for a nap. Of course it was a bit of a crowd in there, since Cubby and Jenna had already claimed their spots on the bed. They might be good influences by teaching her that the bed is for sleeping and not so much for wrestling, especially when the humans are still in it.

She is getting better about coming back into the house when I call her, so I think she is getting over her fear that I caused when the furniture guys came on Wednesday.

I do need to trim her nails, that should be interesting. She will let me play with her feet without showing an anxiety, so I suppose if I stay calm and relaxed about it, she should be okay. Right after I typed that I rolled over to the couch where she is napping and played a bit more with her nails, and all she did was roll belly-side-up for some scratching.

lcw579

Sep. 26, 2009, 12:14 PM

MM, if it makes you feel any better, Duncan was fine when I first trimmed his nails. I just trimmed them when he was already lolling around on the floor and he wasn't bothered at all. His are tricky too because he has his dew claws which tend to grow back on themselves rather quickly. He actually got his hind legs locked together once! :eek: I felt really bad about that one - but it was early on before we realized how quickly those nails of his grew - and I wasn't used to dealing with nails way up there!

I expected him to be a neurotic mess about the whole process because of his abuse background but he took it all in stride. It is so odd what will set them off and what doesn't phase them at all.

SevenDogs

Sep. 26, 2009, 12:56 PM

Always LOVE an Angel update! :yes:

Just a thought about adjusting the harness: can you put it on one of the other dogs (whoever is closest to Angel in size)? That way, you can figure out how it works, get it roughly adjusted to size, and practice the best way to get it on an off with a minimum of fuss and muss BEFORE even trying to get it on Angel. Might also have the added benefit of showing Angel that the other dogs don't mind wearing it.

suze

Sep. 26, 2009, 05:34 PM

YAY am Angel update!! Thank you! :) I love hearing about her progress and all the new things she's doing. I found out with one of our dogs that playing with toes was fine, but clipping was not. So I started with just doing one nail & then quitting & now I'm up to one foot before quitting, so I'm getting there. She might be better that way as you do have to hold the foot still to clip. What about putting the harness on somebody else a few times first so it smells like a friend & she sees you put it on the other dog?

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 26, 2009, 06:54 PM

Well, so much for sizing on packaging! The harness (that I did try on Jenna who is closest to Angel's size) is too darned small! Guess I need to take a trip to TSC tomorrow and get another.

Angel has been really good today, if I don't count the new racing stripes on the back of my legs. She just gets so excited sometimes, and gets me when I am not paying attention. More training should take care of it I think.

EponaRoan

Sep. 27, 2009, 03:21 AM

Angel has been really good today, if I don't count the new racing stripes on the back of my legs. She just gets so excited sometimes, and gets me when I am not paying attention. More training should take care of it I think.

Have you tried yipping like a dog in pain when she does it? I think they sometimes don't realize we don't have fur and stuff can hurt. A few yelps may bring that point home. ;)

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 29, 2009, 02:48 PM

Have you tried yipping like a dog in pain when she does it? I think they sometimes don't realize we don't have fur and stuff can hurt. A few yelps may bring that point home. ;)

In a roundabout way yes, first comes the high-pitched loud "OUCH" followed immediately by the "ANGEL - NO!" and then she sort of slinks a short distance away.

I did get one toenail clipped this weekend, I had all the dogs closed in my office with me, and gave the other 3 dogs a pedicure, and she let me do one nail, when I went for two, she started to struggle, so I simply waited until she was calm, wiggled her toes around a bit, and called it a night. I didn't want it to be a bad scene and give her more mental scars than she already has.

She has been much better lately about the morning routine, and coming in when I go to get her. She still will not come right into the house when I call her if she is outside, but she will get up and run past me to the house at bedtime.

I have to tell you something rather amazing. Yesterday I had some out of town friends stop in to visit. Angel just fell in love with my friends husband, was all over him like a cheap suit. She had absolutely no fear of him. But the night before, we had some neighbors over for dinner (the friends with the pom that we dog-sit for) and after the initial doggy greeting session, Angel stayed pretty much outside on the front steps until dinner was over. They did bring their pom with them, who got a little snarly at Angel if Angel approached her owners, but her owners didn't put up with it.

So, little by little she gets more domesticated.

harveyhorses

Sep. 29, 2009, 05:59 PM

Yay! I alway love Angel updates. Myabe the pom told her to keep her distance.
One of my friends too great pains to tell me her dog was extreamly shy and not to be hurt etc. if she was not very friendly. I could not keep her off of me. A border collie mix, in my lap, sat outside the bathroom when I went in;)
Her owner I think was a little miffed. Hmmm have not heard from her in a while....

suze

Sep. 30, 2009, 05:34 PM

Ummm . . . it's now been 8 days since the last update?

MHM

Sep. 30, 2009, 06:38 PM

Ummm . . . it's now been 8 days since the last update?

Huh? There was an update yesterday, 9/29.

I'm all for daily (or even more frequent) updates, but MM should be allowed to have a life.

Though fresh pictures would be nice. Hint, hint. ;)

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 30, 2009, 09:26 PM

I know, I know, my life is a chair toss away from a vacation in a padded room lately. The fact that I am posting this late at night, while waiting for something else to download for my day job. . . big-sigh! So I have had no time for pictures, as much as I want to take them.

But, I have big news today - Angel came in after dinner time smelling a bit bad - she and Cubby found something delightfully smelly to roll in. So I said "how the heck am I going to get her clean?". First I put up the hose/sprayer in the front yard hoping she would go play in the spinkler like she used to do, but no dice.

So, after I ate, we managed to get her in the house, and I lured her as close to the bathroom as I could with leftover steak (no easy feat with 4 other dogs dancing about begging for steak). I had to carry her into the bathroom, close the doors, turn on the hand held shower sprayer, deposit her into the tub and start the bath! I felt horrible having to do it, she literally layed in the tub crying as I was soaping her up. When she was all cleaned and rinsed, and I shut off the water, she still cowered in the tub for a few minutes.

I thought for sure she would be avoiding me like the plague after that, but I think it helped that we had closed the front door, and I gave her more steak as a consolation prize for having to endure the indignity of getting a bath. I made sure to praise her to high heaven the whole time and while I was towel drying her. And we made her stay in with all of us until she was dry.

So, she was not too traumatized, but she is still very "neck shy" of any pressure on her neck or collar, so the bath didn't help with that.

That's the news today.

MHM

Sep. 30, 2009, 09:35 PM

Maybe she'll make the connection that if she gets smelly, she gets a bath, so she'll never do that again.

No dog of mine has ever figured that out, but maybe Angel will! :lol:

MunchkinsMom

Sep. 30, 2009, 09:44 PM

Maybe she'll make the connection that if she gets smelly, she gets a bath, so she'll never do that again.

No dog of mine has ever figured that out, but maybe Angel will! :lol:

I did tell her that when I finally let them all out after she and Cubby dried (Cubby got a spot bath on just the stinky spots), to not roll in anything stinky or another bath was in order.

For the past few hours I keep telling her how good she smells all clean every time she comes in to check on me.

I do think that she really likes the freedom that the dog door gives her, that she can go be an outside dog, yet come in to check on the whereabouts of her humans every so often.

harveyhorses

Sep. 30, 2009, 11:27 PM

Must be the season for stinky dogs. My brother had to give his a bath at 10:30 last night, since he has to be at work at 7:30, he was NOT overjoyed.
My yellow lab used to crack me up, swim in pond scum all day long, but soap, no thanks, he would cower and whimper like a baby dog. A 75 lb weenie.
Good job!

suze

Sep. 30, 2009, 11:31 PM

Huh? There was an update yesterday, 9/29.

ACK! You're right! Was thinking it said 9/22 . . .

Ours all hate baths, even though they think nothing of swimming in the cattle's water tubs or laying in the puddle under the water truck, etc. And one of them is like Angel, even though he never says anything. We have a big shower in one bathroom & we use that one - I put on a pair of old shorts & a t-shirt & climb right in. I keep him upright by sitting on the seat in the corner & pulling him into my legs. They all like the toweling, though, except for our daughter's older dog. She hates that part.

I also have a song I sing to them as I'm soaping them up . . .

Thanks for the update! :)

MHM

Sep. 30, 2009, 11:48 PM

Oh, no, no! Stinky, slimy, scummy water is one thing.

That hideous clean water, combined with evil soap, is an entirely different matter. :lol:

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 1, 2009, 03:51 PM

That is why I was hoping she would go take a shower in the hose instead of me torturing her in the bathtub.

Only one of my dogs will willingly follow me into the bathroom and jump into the tub on command. Most likely because she had to be hosed off frequently as a puppy due to playing in the mud all the time.

Angel forgave me, and came into bed this morning for a pre-breakfast snuggle. Right now it is almost dinner time (darn their internal intestinal clocks) and they keep coming into the office to see if I am going to get up and feed them.

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 4, 2009, 09:34 PM

I have to tell you, Angel is the chattiest dog I have ever owned. Almost every time she come in from outside, she "sings" to me, which is anything from a high pitched almost whine, to her very deep throaty voice - she is like a canine opera singer. At first I thought she was trying to tell me something, like maybe "gee Mom, I need a snack" or "no one will play with me", but lately she does it all the time, and is just as happy if I just sit here and scratch her until she is satisfied, and then she goes to take a nap.

shea'smom

Oct. 4, 2009, 10:44 PM

Please, we need a youtube video of Angel singing?

MHM

Oct. 4, 2009, 10:51 PM

Please, we need a youtube video of Angel singing?

My thoughts exactly!!!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 5, 2009, 11:28 PM

Okay, I will have to borrow my daughter's camera, that has video ability, and see what I can do. She really gets vocal at dinner time. I've never done a youTube thing before, so it might take me a bit to master it.

We had some much needed rain this afternoon, and Angel was the only dog in the pack that went out in it, and then had some fun with the dog towel. As I was trying to dry her off, Jenna decided that the towel would make a great tug toy. That added a new dimension of difficulty to the task.

suze

Oct. 6, 2009, 12:03 AM

I love this thread! I really think best thread ever.

starrysky

Oct. 6, 2009, 01:24 PM

I love this thread! I really think best thread ever.

I agree!

Go Fish

Oct. 6, 2009, 02:20 PM

I think it's interesting that the best threads are Munchkin Mom and Anna Crew with their rescue of horses and dogs. Says a lot about COTH members!:D

suze

Oct. 8, 2009, 10:35 PM

Just checking up on Angel!

Milocalwinnings

Oct. 9, 2009, 11:11 PM

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 10, 2009, 10:46 PM

Just wanted to bump this up. I saw an episode of the Dog Whisperer today that had a dog who reminded me of Angel! Poor girl was at the animal shelter terrified of people and other dogs. She eventually overcame her fear and was adopted:)

I watched that episode, and it confirmed that what I have done in the past and continue to do now is helping her.

I have to tell you, she got her second bath tonight. Here I was, sitting at my desk, feeling sorry for myself for having to work all weekend for the day job (we are under the gun to get a big project completed, and my whole team is working all weekend), when the dogs came in from outside. And something was stinky. . . at first I thought perhaps Murphy had found something bad to eat, but no, it was Angel. This time she smelled like a dead fish - no idea what she found this time. So, I had to close off the dog door, and go fetch her from my mother in law's living room, where she was hiding, hoping I would forget about her.

At least this time she was better about it, she didn't cry, but did again just lay there in the tub cowering. I did my best to praise her to the heavens for being so brave. She does love to be toweled off, so I think that when she puts the two together (bath = toweling) that it won't be so traumatic as time goes by.

She really is getting better every day as far as interacting with everyone in the house, and hanging out in the house more than outside (might be because we are back to summer heat temps here in Florida this week) and coming in when I call her.

She is also slowly getting better about the collar, I can now move it around her neck without her going into panic mode, but she still seems to be a little aprehensive, so I do it every time that I pet and snuggle her - which I do a lot to make up for all that lost time.

I'm so happy she chose me to be her human!

shea'smom

Oct. 10, 2009, 11:02 PM

Aw, love me some Angel updates!

SevenDogs

Oct. 10, 2009, 11:23 PM

Aw, love me some Angel updates!

:yes: :yes: :yes:

suze

Oct. 10, 2009, 11:26 PM

Aw, love me some Angel updates!

Me too!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 10, 2009, 11:34 PM

She made me proud a few minutes ago. Cubby was barking like a lunatic outside, and Angel was out with her, but not barking. So I called them both, and Angel came running right up to the house and in through the dog door. Cubby however. . . it took me a few minutes to get her to decide that in doors was the place to be. I got a bit nervous when Cubby started to rub her head on something on the lawn, I really didn't want to have to bathe her furriness at this late hour.

I guess Angel forgave me for bathing her again.

pintopiaffe

Oct. 11, 2009, 08:11 AM

she still seems to be a little aprehensive, so I do it every time that I pet and snuggle her - which I do a lot to make up for all that lost time.

Awww... this made me all teary. I just love how you love on her and try to convince her that *some* people are good.

lcw579

Oct. 13, 2009, 10:47 AM

Ack! Angel was on the 2nd page!! Looks like we need out Weekend Update, please. :)

harveyhorses

Oct. 13, 2009, 11:27 AM

They do find stuff to roll in anywhere. My cats did it this weekend, when I was on skates the entire time. There was no bloodshed, but they are still miffed with me.
Good girls MM and Angel. this thread makes me happy:)

suze

Oct. 16, 2009, 04:06 PM

Bumping back to the first page! How's our Angel doing?

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 17, 2009, 08:59 PM

Angel is doing great! Despite the fact that I have been working 15 hour days all last week. . .

Have to tell you what happened during the week. My husband and daughter came home, and my husband was letting Cubby and Jenna out of the front yard for a stroll around the yard, and Angel scooted out the gate. My daughter tells me that Angel ran up to the pasture fence where my youngest gelding was, and barked at him. My husband called her, but she didn't come, so he said "come on girls" and Cubby and Jenna came to him, and so did Angel. Whew, close call I guess. But I think she really does like living here now, so that even if she were to get loose, she would come back, but I don't want to risk it.

Tonight I was down at the barn and it got dark by the time I got back to the house, everyone else was out to dinner or errands. As I got to the house, Angel started barking, and it was a guard dog bark, not her happy bark. I found it interesting that out of 5 dogs, she is the only one guarding the house.

And she now gets on the bed with us in the morning, and snuggles with me, which I think is great. She has pretty much stopped jumping all over me, and she almost never swipes me with her feet anymore.

But she gets so excited to see me sometimes, that she wags her whole body, and actually hits herself in the face with her own tail.

I think there is some beagle in her lineage, she howled at me today, in a true beagle voice. I still need to try to catch her singing on video, every time she starts and I grab the camera, she runs out of the room.

suze

Oct. 17, 2009, 10:45 PM

YAY! An Angel update! Thanks so much. The camera, by the way, will steal her soul - just ask my daughter's dog Jem. Very few pics of her not leaving in a hurry. You'd better have the shutter button halfway down as you sneak up, because the minute you say her name to get her attention, she's gone. So you only get that one shot.

If she's guard dog barking, I don't see her as having any intention of leaving the paradise she now finds herself in.

clm08

Oct. 18, 2009, 10:56 AM

I love Angel's updates too, so please keep them coming.
I have a rescued dog that was also a stray when he was found, the foster family thought he was about 6 mo old when he showed up starving but very leery of people and difficult to catch. I think they caught him luring him with food, but that part I don't really know. I brought him home a year ago, after he'd spent 2 months with his foster family. They told me to be very careful not to let him run away because he ran fast and didn't like to be caught, so a good fenced in year was a must.

I'd never had a rescued dog before, so it has taken me a while to learn how to deal with him. He has escaped thru our front door or bolting out of the car a few times and took off at full speed chasing squirrels, rabbits, cats, etc. Calling him back simply does not work. And yes, I took him to obedience classes, he does agility with me and has a great recall - except when his attention is on his "prey". Earlier on I took one of his squeaky toys and a tasty treat and got him back if/when he was within earshot of the squeaky toy. In his most recent escapes he runs at full speed chasing the poor critter, but will happily come back home on his own after a few minutes. He even dashed off from my brother's front door when I was visiting them recently, in a totally unfamiliar neighborhood, and of course did not come back when called. I got very worried he'd get lost, as it was already dark and he is black and I couldn't see him. Luckily after 5 min or so, he just returned to my brother's.

He is still a little "wild" in his behavior (compared to my other dogs), continues to be very leery of strangers, cannot be caught by anyone he does not know very well and trusts, but loves to cuddle with me and lay on my lap when I am on the computer. I know he knows his home and his "family" despite his own sense of freedom. I am sure Angel also knows who her family is and will return to you even after being out on her own terms.

CB/TB

Oct. 19, 2009, 07:07 PM

I think they instinctivly "know" what home is, some even after a short time . Lola, our rescue GSP was only here a few days. We'd gone out to run errands on a miserable rainy Saturday. We were gone about an hour and drove into the driveway only to see a dripping wet, old GSP standing on the front stoop barking at us! Our yard (at the time) wasn't fenced and we live on a very busy road. She had gone through a hole in the pasture fence prior to that , but came when we called her back. We don't know how long she'd been out- she was pretty soggy by the time we returned. We think she accidently "pawed" the back storm door open and luckily the younger GSP decided not to join her. She could have just continued on, but realized this was "home" and waited for us. Angel knows what the good life feels like and and she's going nowhere!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 19, 2009, 11:31 PM

I know he knows his home and his "family" despite his own sense of freedom. I am sure Angel also knows who her family is and will return to you even after being out on her own terms.

I think you may be right, I figure at least 6 months of "captivity" before I take her out off leash (heck, I still can't get a leash on her without panic setting in) in the field. It would have been nice to have her come out with me today while I was out doing fence repairs.

This morning, she was in the front yard barking up a storm, I went out to see what the ruckus was all about, and she was barking at Munchkin (my youngest gelding) who was on the other side of the fence. Her tail was wagging, I think she wanted him to play with her like he used to do when she was living in the pasture with them.

Yesterday I had a friend from CT stop in to visit with her two boys, ages 6 and 4, and she was all over them like a cheap suit, she seems to really like kids.

Right now she is napping right behind my chair, I think she likes being in the house now that it is getting chily outside at night.

Oh, yesterday my husband and I were both outside doing yard work, well, he was doing yard work, I was doing pasture work, when I heard my husband bellow "ANGEL - LEAVE IT!" So I went to see what was going on, and she was digging a hole in the front yard (going for moles most likely), and she didn't quit for him, so I shouted "ANGEL - NO - BAD!" and she immediately quit. I guess I am still the alpha dog. That is what I used to shout to her when she would chase the horses, so she has learned that NO means stop whatever you are doing.

It has been several days now where I don't have to go out to get her before bedtime, she is really learning the routines here, and comes in on her own. For the longest time she would lay outside and I would have to go and get her, she would not come when called.

One more sign of domestication. I'm on vacation this week, which means I can sleep in a little bit (especially with the horses outside 24x7), and she jumped up on the bed after my mother in law gave them all breakfast, and I said "go lay down" and amazingly she did lay down with me and Cubby and Jenna for an extra morning snooze.

MHM

Oct. 19, 2009, 11:56 PM

Yay! Another Angel update. :)

She already listens better than my dog, and I've had him 4.5 years. Of course, he's a beagle, so it's not really a fair comparison. ;)

shea'smom

Oct. 20, 2009, 08:56 AM

Thanks for the update. I think the next big step will be when you can take her with you to the barn, like you said, and enjoy her company there.
I have 12 dogs, :eek:, all rescues, and only one can come with me up to the barn on this busy road.
Hi to Angel!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 21, 2009, 11:55 PM

I have to tell you something interesting that she did today. We were sitting on the back porch enjoying the afternoon breeze, and all the dogs were out with us. Candy was sitting on a chair (she thinks she is human), when the UPS truck drove by the side road. Candy started barking (because barking at the UPS truck is her mission in life), and Angel ran up to Candy and started barking at her, just like the Aussies do when they are in the front yard and the UPS man pulls in the driveway.

She really is taking her queues from the other dogs.

Buffyblue

Oct. 22, 2009, 01:09 AM

HAHA! They're turning her into an Aussie! (Have two of those myself so I can relate!) She certainly has a lot of personality, doesn't she?

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 23, 2009, 02:07 PM

HAHA! They're turning her into an Aussie! (Have two of those myself so I can relate!) She certainly has a lot of personality, doesn't she?

Yes she does. Yesterday my husband was in the kitchen making lunch, and of course all the dogs were milling around hoping he would drop something. Suddenly Angel started barking in her guard dog voice at him, which of course set off the rest of the pack. He and my mother in law were laughing, so I went out and asked him what did he do to set her off, he said he made a face at her, and I guess she didn't like it.

I woke up this morning to find her in bed with me all stretched out right next to me, and she appeared to be loving every second of it.

It has gotten warm out again, and Angel likes to lay on the front stoop, but I think it is too hot out, so she comes in to complain to me, and then lays in the hallway next to the door inside at least, where it is cooler.

I want to come back as one of my dogs, they are all camped out all over the house sleeping!

suze

Oct. 24, 2009, 04:48 PM

I want to come back as one of your dogs, too! Thanks for the update!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 28, 2009, 11:50 AM

Angel continues to make big strides now. Yesterday she got out in the yard again with the other dogs when my husband let them out for a stroll around the back yard, and this time she just stuck with the pack, and came in the back door with my husband and all the other dogs, so she is starting to learn the routines around here.

I no longer have to go get her at bedtime, she comes right in at about the right time, looking for the midnight snack bisquit.

And while I was on vacation, and able to sleep in, I would wake up to find her in bed with me, all stretched out next to me, happy as a clam.

She managed to find something stinky to roll in again, but it was too cool at night to bathe her, so she got a "sponge bath" and she really seems to like that, being rubbed all over first with a soapy wash cloth, then with a wet one to remove the soap and then the towel to get her dry.

And this morning, she was the first one of the pack to bark when the meter reader pulled into the driveway. It's funny, she is the smallest dog, but has the deepest voice of all the dogs on my farm.

She is getting a little bit better about the collar pressure, that seems to be our biggest hurdle still, if she feels overwhelmed by the sensation, she drops to the ground like a stone.

My daughter was commenting on how much she has filled out since she became a house dog, she is not as thin as she was two months ago.

I'm amazed daily at how quickly she is adapting to her new life as a domestic dog.

suze

Oct. 28, 2009, 01:50 PM

I love these updates! We need pics, we need pics . . .

Doubtful she'll ever consider leaving paradise now! :)

starrysky

Oct. 29, 2009, 03:04 PM

Yay Angel! So glad for the updates, and for her continued progress - I can't tell you enough what an amazing story this is!

MunchkinsMom

Oct. 30, 2009, 11:30 AM

Angel now sings for my husband also, I think she really likes having all the humans fawning over her. She still has moments when we call her, and she slinks out the dog door instead, and I have not figured out what triggers that in her mind.

Last night when we went to bed, I was marveling over the fact that she somehow knew that the dog bed in our room was the place to sleep, I didn't do anything to show it to her, and I wonder how she figured it out.

suze

Oct. 31, 2009, 11:43 PM

I wonder how she figured it out

She's a very smart cookie, that's how!

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 1, 2009, 10:32 PM

Yes, she is! She likes to come into my office while I am working, and sing to me, and then put her head on my hand that is trying to manuever the PC mouse - because she knows I will give in and give her a biscuit that I have stashed in my desk drawer. I think she is training me more than I am training her.

MHM

Nov. 1, 2009, 11:00 PM

I think she is training me more than I am training her.

Well, her methods have worked pretty well for her so far. Maybe the Dog Whisperer should be watching her! :lol:

suze

Nov. 1, 2009, 11:09 PM

LOL! Definitely training you. I'm hardly one to talk, though. Our younger border collie is really, really stingy with kisses - however, if she wants something from me (like a game of ball) she'll put her paws on my arm, give me that "look" and give me lots of kisses. Sometimes it works; I tell her "in a minute" & she stands there with a grin on her face because she knows it's game on.

shea'smom

Nov. 6, 2009, 09:50 PM

so, I think we need a video of Angel singing.

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 7, 2009, 07:23 PM

so, I think we need a video of Angel singing.
I'm working on it, the little bugger, every time I take out the camera (that has video capabilities) as soon as she hears it turn on she leaves the room.
I have to tell you what a great feeling it is in the morning when she decides to join me in bed and snuggles right next to me with her head on the pillow.

suze

Nov. 9, 2009, 01:30 PM

Oh yes, the "camera will steal my soul!" syndrome. One our daughter's border collies has it. Maybe you can get somebody else to tape when she's singing to you?:)

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 12, 2009, 03:06 PM

I'll have to recruit my daughter to do it, since it is her camera anyway, it's still on my to do list.

She is so good, and now comes running across the front yard when I call her, I don't have to go out to get her anymore. So I guess it is safe to say she is fully integrated into our household.

There is definitely some beagle in her lineage, she has that beagle howl from time to time, snout in the air, lips making an O, but her voice is very deep.

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 14, 2009, 11:16 PM

We have a houseguest again, Sadie, the neighbor's pomeranian, is back to stay with us for two weeks while her parents are off on vacation. It was a bit of bedlam for 5 minutes when she first arrived, and Angel was right in the middle of the pack, barking and chasing yesterday. But they all quieted down after the 5 minute ruckus.

There is a bit of jealousy going around though, Angel does not like it if Sadie comes to me for attention, but she is being good about it. However, for some reason tonight Angel was barking at Sadie in the house, not a guard dog bark, more like playful, but of course Sadie is smart enough not to get into any play sessions with the big dogs. Angel was good when I told her to stop, and to come to me in the office, and to leave Sadie alone.

Bedtime is interesting, Angel makes sure she gets to the dog bed so that Sadie can't get in it, and Murphy and Cubby get on my bed asap for the same reason. So Sadie got to sleep on a blanket on the hope chest at the foot of the bed. That worked out fairly well, but Cubby took possession of that spot by morning.

My DH has been taking Angel with him and the other dogs for the walk around the yard (outside the fenced in area), and she stays right with him and the other dogs, which is real progress. When I mentioned to my DH that I was surprised that she was being so good, he said "she is a smart dog, and knows where her bread is buttered".

FalseImpression

Nov. 14, 2009, 11:28 PM

You mean she is walking off leash with him? Has she been back to the barn at all? I think you are pretty safe now that she would stay with you. Has she seen the little pup (who by now must be pretty big)? Poor guy, he thought he'd have a friend and she never came back...
So good to hear she is a happy inside dog now!

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 14, 2009, 11:39 PM

Yes, she walks off leash with him around the back yard - so it is fenced in, but she could (and did once) go under the fence into the pasture, or run down the driveway, but she stays right with him and the other dogs.

I have not taken her back down to the barn yet, as I still worry that she will scoot under the fence to visit Zach (the GS pup) across the street, or chase the horses, as she likes to bark at them through the fence now - learning some bad habits from the Aussies I think.

Zach, the pup that we used as bait, still looks over at my barn for her all the time, poor guy. You are right, he is not little anymore, he now weighs about 80 pounds and is not full grown yet. He is a very handsome dog, but a bit of a handful for his owners, as he has a high herding instinct and barks at everything, and chases their horses. He has gotten into my pastures and barn some mornings when his owner tries to walk him off leash, lucky for him that my cutting horse hasn't taken it upon himself to chase him yet. This is usually before I get down to the barn, my MIL told me about it. However, he does have a new friend on the other side of their property, new neighbors there that have a dog, and they play through the fence.

Oh, look, here is Angel trying to help me type, she just gave me the "are you coming to bed?" look, and then went to the bedroom with my husband, after shooting Sadie a dirty look, because Sadie is sacked out on my office couch.

suze

Nov. 15, 2009, 01:46 PM

I love these updates - thanks! You're hubby's right that she knows which side her bread is buttered on!

MHM

Nov. 15, 2009, 01:56 PM

The neighbor's puppy weighs 80 pounds?!? Time really flies, doesn't it? :eek:

As long as there are no vet bills involved, it's always entertaining to watch the dogs shuffle for sleeping spots. It's like a big game of musical chairs without the music. :lol:

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 15, 2009, 02:05 PM

Well, sometimes not so musical if there is growling going on, my dogs are rather vocal, especially the Aussies.

Cubby is the self-appointed referee, and as a herding dog, takes this job seriously. For example, when I was speaking sharply to Angel to tell her to stop barking at Sadie last night, Cubby comes running in, and starts to "herd" Angel, in an effort to help. One other thing she does in an attempt to be dominant is to hump Angel, and Angel is the only dog that she does this to. And there is usually a bit of growling going on (from Cubby, not Angel). She will quit as soon as I say "Cubby - OFF!", but it is a bit embarassing if we have company.

Well, I have to go pick up all the dog toys in the front yard, the dogs have quite the assortment out there now, since they like to play "keep away" with each other, they grab a toy from the toy box, and run out the dog door, with the other dogs in hot pursuit. But for some reason, like children, they never bring them back in.

MunchkinsMom

Nov. 21, 2009, 09:51 PM

Did you every have one of those days when you say "duh, why didn't I think of this sooner?". Today I was in the barn, recalling all that we went through to convince Angel that being a house dog would be a good thing. Then I remembered my good neighbors who were so instrumental in getting this done, and all they did to help, and how much they had hoped she would live with them, and instead she ended up here. And that since we caught her, they have not seen her. So I called them on the phone and invited them to come over (they are not the types to just drop in). They called back, and thanked me, but were not free tonight. I told them, come by anytime. I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner, some days I am just dumb as a stump.

At any rate, right now Angel just tucked her head between my body and my arm (making it challenging to type), and Cubby is singing, trying to convince me that they are all starving to death, and one more dog biscuit will save them. I have created a pack of begging monsters!

Today Angel really was barking up a storm at Munchkin, who was grazing calmly 2 feet from the fence. It was hard to tell if she wanted to go play, or felt that she was guarding us.