It's been ages since I did the last Salon post and I feel pretty clueless around here for a change. I've been up since two hours ago and the hour hand is only just slowly making its way to the 8 o'clock mark. Dogs and their early morning urges! It's been two weeks since we got Rue, and it's been a lot of revelations, learnings, changes, fun, and anxiety since then. The first week was all lovey-dovey. We loved the dog, she loved us. It was all a big happy family. We were pretty relieved that Rue was turning out to be low maintenance. As with things like these, once the honeymoon ended, the nightmares started. One day I came home to see that she had pretty much upended the recycle bin and started chewing on bottles and cans and strewn the litter in the hall. The neatofreak in me had a terrible panic attack. That same evening she ran out of the house (to do her business) but she didn't return back when I called her. Anyways, the point is, we found she has separation anxiety and I have seen pretty much all the symptoms in her - she follows me around all the time, she hates sitting alone, she jumps over-excitedly when I return from work, she chews crazily, she barks madly, etc. Did I really say low maintenance?
Still, she's already become such a core part of our home that I don't remember much about how things "used to be". I'm just hoping that we can get her to reduce her barking (I sit terrified every day that some neighbor will go and complain. *fingers crossed*) Right now, she barks at every Tom, Dick, Mary and their dog. Drives me mad!
At the moment, I'm looking forward to a lazy Sunday and plenty of reading, and some barking frenzy during Rue's training class that we have today.
14 comments:
I was gone a couple weeks ago and missed that you got Rue! I clicked over and she's a doll! I'm sure she'll settle down soon.
I love hearing your Rue stories so I can get a dog and go through all the stages vicariously, since we can't get one! I'm sure she will settle down eventually!
Awwwww I remember those days.
I think it takes months to really cement the dog/owner relationship and for the dog to get into the groove of what is expected of him or her.
Hang in there.
:)
Yeah, we figured her few weeks at the shelter frightened her. She should settle down in a bit.
We didn't think we'd get a dog this soon either. I am trying to keep Rue stories at a minimum on the blog, but it's hard. :) So I'm glad that you are looking forward to them.
Yeah, I guess we'll just wait it out until she settles down with us. But she's doing great at home, so that's nice.
Hope you had more reading than barking at the end of the day; still we live our pets, don't we?! Have a good week!
Ah dogs... love and wish they'd go away since they are so much work. Truthfully, I would be heartbroken if our dog (Charlie) was gone. But, each day I resent having to be home around a certain time to walk and feed him. Luckily, he was never a chewer!
What a cute name..Rue :) We have one at my mom's place and well she hasn't changed and I think with time she has become the dominating figure around there :D I haven't read any of the books you mention but I have the heard of the 1st one :) I hope to read your review and decide on all of them.
We did have plenty of barking, but I got some good reading done too. But sigh, we do love our pets too much.
You said that right. I am beginning to get annoyed that I have to be home by a certain time to walk Rue. I am waiting for the days when she can sit in the house without whining or getting destructive. Sigh, we'll get there.
Haha, we let Rue have the run of the house initially, but with the few things that happened last week, we've taken the 180 degree turn.
I really think crate training helps with that. It makes them feel safe. It's hard at first, but after a few days, they really begin to like the crate. Then when they are out, they do their business and the routine helps them feel confident. if you do it, Google it and do not put potty pads are food in there just water. You want her to learn to hold it.
Thanks for the suggestions. We started crating her after the littering incident, and she's been going to the crate (sometimes) on her own. I feel so much better leaving her alone now, and I'm beginning to feel she likes it too. Luckily, she is very well housetrained, so as long as I stay to her schedule, she does her business outside. Water's the thing I'm not so sure about. I want to leave a little of that inside, but I worry she may choose to play in it, as she once did when we were outside.
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