Aug. 1 2008

Lucy is off to her new home tomorrow - Sat. Aug 2. She's been stripped down into a pet strip and did wonderfully on the grooming table. She was a little nervous when we used clippers but tolerated the stripping very well.

Lucy surprised us by happily leaving the backyard to go for a walk - without one of the other dogs tagging along. She walked proudly all the way to campus and didn't get squirrely til we pulled out the camera - still hates to have her photo taken!! That's a shame because she has such beautiful eyes!

June 6

A week ago, 6-month-old Airedale Annie came to stay with us while her family went on vacation. Lucy has played well with her and Annie has been a big hit with the little beardie, Tossie. I can tell the stress level was up a bit with all three adult dogs since the two puppies arrived. But all in all, things are going well and Lucy has even gained some confidence with meeting new people.

I've been walking Lucy by herself several times a week in addition to the evening group walk. She still balks at leaving the yard, but there is a little less resistence every time. Once out of the yard, she moves forward at an easy walk. She prefers to walk with two people instead of one. When we meet up with someone on the walk, Lucy hides behind us and keeps her head down - but generally isn't pulling too hard on the leash to get away and isn't dropping to ground. Some things still scare her - construction work, weird signs, lots of traffic, people getting in and out of cars. We continue to just stop and let her gather herself and watch what is happening - no petting or "good girls" - just patience. For the most part her recovery time is improving although for some things she will still pull on the leash to get us moving forward more quickly when we resume walking. We insist on walking slowly. Most improtantly, she is beginning to look up at us during these times. She's checking in.

This week's surprise: Lucy actually became food guardy about her bowl. Most of the time all the dogs are crated and Lucy is in her room while dishes are being prepared. Two bags of food are in the closet in her room. Little Tossie was loose and followed me in while I was filling Gizmo and Annie's dishes. Lucy growled at her for walking past. I lectured. The second time Tossie came in, Lucy actually went after her. I broke it up and no damage, just some wet fur. This is the first time we've really reprimanded Lucy. On the down side, she ran quickly out of her room when I brought her dish in. On the positive side, she came up to me a little later to be petted. So good recovery even though I scared her with the reprimand. She's shown no other grumpiness with the puppies and even now is peaceful with them. We will have to be more careful at feeding times and begin to teach sharing.

Lucy had her third bath yesterday. I had to pick her up and carry her into the bathroom - she knew what was coming as Gizmo had already had his bath. Once planted in the tub, she never tried to leave, so good girl for that!

May 28

Once again, I'm way behind on the Lucy blog.

Lucy's made some progress and had some setbacks, too.

She is now eager to go for walks - as long as the other dogs are going. She'll push the other dogs out of the way to get her leash on first. She's still very reluctant to leave the yard if we want to take only her with us.

She's not quite as afraid of the clicker, but still wary of hand movements. She now comes quickly when she hears the other dogs being trained and pushes her way to the front for a treat. She runs away if I give the hand signal for sit, but will sometimes put her paws up on my hip if I pat my hip. So that is her trick - which she will not perform if anyone else is watching.

Lucy's finally started coming in the kitchen door with the other dogs. Previously she would just come in the patio door. With the warmer weather, she wants to stay outside longer at night as well. While she doesn't always come when called, she will go inside quickly if we come out to get her and we don't have to walk her down in the yard anymore.

She's earned free-house privileges and is not crated at night or when we leave the house. She's done an excellent job with her freedom. She's always happy to see us come home and will dance and spin around a bit but is not overwhelmingly in your face. Lucy is such a sweetheart!

Lucy looks forward to walks now and approaches the gate to get going. She still has cautious moments but is getting braver.

When training Archie and Gizmo (clicker), I make sure to take a treat to Lucy and offer it to her at the end of the session. If the other dogs are close by, she has taken the treat from my hand. During today's session, she actually came up behind me to sniff the treats I was holding while working with Archie. I nudged the treat forward in my fingers a bit and she actually took it!! This is such a big deal. She APPROACHED me for a treat. I'm so proud of her.

Lucy has put a few new holes in our yard - good sized ones. I'm discovering that I can't leave her outside for more than about 10 minutes. Fortunately, if I see her digging, I can say, "Lucy, no digging," and she stops. I've just got to pay attention!

She's also been doing a great job of coming in when called. Hesitates every now and then - has to try 3 or 4 times before she actually makes it in the door. If all three dogs are outside though, she is generally the first or second one headed in. Archie almost always brings up the rear.

Lucy's very suspicious of the camera and will stop whatever she does to watch me - or leave the area. Which makes it hard to get photos of her playing with the other dogs.

She's coming around with friends who visit although she's still very reluctant with new people. Given her other progress, I have every hope that she will eventually welcome them.

February 25

I have been sick in bed for the last couple of days. Gizmo and Archie have been doing their own thing (including stealing and eating remotes!) Lucy on the other hand has been a little dream girl. She came upstairs and settled in her crate in our bedroom, staying near me.

Every now and then, Gizmo would bounce over to the bed to say "HI" and Lucy would follow him, putting her front paws up on the bed.

She is running away less when I approach her, standing and waiting to be petted.

February 1

Lucy gets a bath today. We go to the pet store to use their elevated tanks. Lucy is afraid of the bag I'm carrying and tries to flee. She doesn't want to get in the car.

We walk around the store. The parrots frighten her when they flap their wings. Lucy is interested in the cat, who doesn't want to meet her. A clerk wants to pet Lucy. She backs away and drops to the floor when she reaches the end of the leash, then submits to the petting.

Lucy tries to escape the tub once, then gives up and surrenders. My friend thinks Lucy has never been in a position to fight back so she will not fight anything now. She believes Lucy is depressed. We introduce Lucy to the hair dryer. She stands still while we take turns holding onto her or blow drying her.

In the evening, David and I trim the nails on the front left paw. These look longer than the other three paws. I examine the paw. The pad is misshapen and the central pad is unnaturally plump and swollen. Other than its plumpness, the surface looks normal. Something has been done to this foot to cause it to be different. The nails tilt up in an odd way because of the plumpness of the central pad.

Lucy has begun to make noises. Not fully barks but whines and woofs. Cautious and quiet. She is opening up.

below: Gina inspects the hole that Lucy dug under the picnic table.

January 31

Major breakthroughs today.

Lucy gets brave and comes upstairs while I am getting ready to go out. Archie and Gina have come up with me. Lucy attempts the steps three times before committing to going all of the way up. She will now get to spend the night in the upstairs bedroom crate instead of downstairs by herself. GOOD GIRL!!

Lucy follows Gina and Archie when they come in! She comes through the door with them. I do not have to go out to leash her and bring her in. Granted, she runs through the door and hurries off to the office as quickly as possible, but still.

She approaches me several times today when I call to her. She is petted for coming to me.

Lucy is playing with Archie with slightly more intensity. They chase each other now, not just Lucy being chased by Archie. They wrestle more and have begun playing a bit inside the house as well as outside.

I crawl around on the floor, throw play bows, and wrestle with Archie, hoping that Lucy will want to join in the play. She seems interested. Gina is certainly excited and throws a few play bows of her own, plus a couple of spins.

In the evening when they are tired, I pluck some of the hairs off of Lucy's saddle. She has a good hard coat and rich color. But her saddle is out of control and some of the hairs are 5 inches long. She submits to this without complaint and it only takes 15 minutes to tidy her up.

January 30

Lucy is spending more time hanging out in her living room crate with the rest of us. We leave the door open and she goes into her crate rather than hiding in David's office.

January 29

Another nap in Lucy's room. Lucy settles in closer to me. When I wake up, I reach out to pet her before getting up. She stays put and seems to like having her muzzle rubbed.

January 28

We feed Lucy in my husband's office. There is also a dog bed and she hangs out in there when feeling insecure. I lay down to take a nap on the dog bed. Archie settles in nearby, Gina also finds a spot. While my eyes are closed, Lucy comes over to sniff my head. Then lays down on the far side of the room.

I catch Lucy on the patio in less than a minute.

January 27

Lucy and Archie begin to play together. They play at a lower intensity than I usually see between Airedales. Apparently Archie has decided to be nice. He attempts mounting less often.

I catch Lucy in 2.5 minutes. She has chosen a spot she retreats to.

Lucy grabs Gina's ankle in a playful moment. Gina is not delighted and tells her off. Lucy still likes Gina.

There are scars on each of Lucy's front wrists. Shackles? Wire to keep her from digging? Too-small rubber bands? What have people done to this poor girl?

Lucy begins carrying toys around.

January 26 2008

Lucy is released from the kennel where ATRA has been keeping her. She's coming to our house to be fostered. She is reluctant to greet us.

I learn several things this first day.

To catch Lucy in the backyard, I must slowly walk her down and make eye contact at the first opportunity. If I make eye contact, Lucy will drop and stay, allowing me to attach the leash and lead her into the house. It takes four minutes to catch her.

Lucy likes our foster greyhound, Gina, and wags her tail when she sees her. Otherwise, Lucy's tail stays tucked.

Archie, our Airedale, is determined to demonstrate his dominance by mounting Lucy. She either ignores him or tells him off. We also interfere with his behavior.

Lucy is more fearful of us if we are carrying anything in our hands.

I notice odd places on her wrists, but will inspect them later.