I Went Away and Heddy Changed

It happens sometimes everyone changes but I guess I was totally unprepared for how much a puppy can grow in just 3 short weeks.

Unfortunately Heddy was not old enough to go with us on vacation this year.  We have a home in Hawaii and go there for Vacation. Hawaii has VERY strict rules as to allowing pets into the state and Heddy just does not qualify yet. We are working on it and she should be OK by next year. But in the meantime she got to spend three weeks at the Pet Spa.

Now this is no ordinary Kennel. This was a Pet SPA. It is run by a friend of mine that raises English Labs so I knew that Heddy would be fine.  But leaving her was still very traumatic for ME. She handled it just fine. Like a kid off to school not even a look back just wanted to go play with all her new friends. According to the staff Heddy had something to say about everything and was soon running the place.  She got along well with all the dogs so had lots of good social interaction.

Looks like I was the one that suffered most. If you can suffer in Hawaii.

The big shock for me came when first saw her after the Three weeks. Not only was she Bigger BUT WHERE DID ALL THAT FUR COME FROM !

So needless to say I am learning how to strip a Border Terrier and we are back in Obedience Classes she settled back in after a few days of being reminded that the BARKING was NOT going to work here it seems to have slowed up .

And so I guess I no longer have much of a Border Terrier Puppy but now have a Border Terrier!

THING TO NEVER DO ON A RAINY DAY

DO NOT GO RUNNING AFTER A SMALL BROWN DOG DOWN SLIPPERY GRASS AND DIRT BANKS AND THROUGH WOODS AND BRAMBLES!  IT IS NOT FUN!  AND YOU GET REALL SCARED!

OK I am back from a nice long run through the woods that I had NOT planed on.  BUT we are both safe and Heddy survived her escape and being caught.  I resisted all thoughts to strangle her and instead hugged and kissed her and told her what a good dog she was for letting mommy pick her up.
Now the story as to WHY we went for a run through the woods.
I took Heddy out for her usual after lunch time Potty. It is a NASTY day here in Delaware, Cold rain, guess just perfect weather for a Border Terrier. Heddy was having a grand time enjoying the smells I was miserable and really not paying total attention to her waiting for her to GO already. Suddenly she must have seen something I did not see and TOOK OFF. She hit the end of her 6 foot lead and her nylon collar did what all safety collars do it broke open and she was OFF. And so was I as soon as I recovered my senses enough to realize what had just happened. I was amazed at how fast that little Brown dog can run!  I am just very glad she was running to something and not after something. She took me through the neighbors yard down a hill and into the woods behind our office. BARKING ALL THE WAY. No problems following her.  I think the stream might have stopped her not sure any way when I got to her she was very busy DIGGIN for I do not know what but she wanted it NOW. She was so very busy that she did not even try to get away but let me grab her right up. 

Telling her what a good dog she was might have been the hardest thing I have done yet in dog training.  I know what my Dad would have done to one of his GSP’s if it had run off like that. Lets just say times they have changed. A LOT!

I was so glad she went into the woods and not into the street. Our office is right on Rt 26 and while not a busy street by city standards it is steady and I can not bear to imagine the what ifs.

Lesson learned NEVER NEVER again take her outside with out a chain collar on! 

Not even for a very QUICK POTTY Break in the RAIN!
I am just very glad to have her safely back tearing up her bed under my desk.

 Where do they get all this energy from?

I See the Future

Saturday for Heddy’s 5 moth birthday I took her, OK lets be honest here I took ME to the Salisbury MD Kennel Club Obedience Trials. Heddy got to sit in her crate in the car.

And to meet Carol , another Border Owner.  Since I have never been to a Obedience Trial I arrived early and just hung out watching things learning what was going on.  I saw Carol. Hard not to know who she was there was ONLY 1  Border Terrier entered. But thought I would not introduce myself till after he was done with his class.

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Cheddar was so much FUN to watch. He does things HIS WAY. Reminds me of the poem When he was good he was very very good and when he was bad he was HORRID. 

But Carol is wonderful and just laughed and took what he offered.

I introduced my self after the class. And it was if we had know each other for ever. She made me feel right at home.  And explained all that was going on.

After he finished with his perfect long sit stays and downs.  We went outside and introduced him to Miss Heddwyn. Well you would have thought they were long separated best friend or maybe LOVERS. not sure. Any way they had a blast.

     

It was so very nice to see my little girl get to tumble and play with another Border Terrier.

How to Destroy Your Bed

I guess Heddy was totally bored at work this morning while I was attempting to get some Insurance claims posted I heard her digging. I am glad my camera was sitting on my desk next to me because I could not believe what she was up to.

She has decided to dig her way into her pillow. Now Abby our daughter’s Jack Russell has slept on this pillow for years when she is here at work. Now Heddy has been here for two months and the pillow is NO MORE.

      

 

 

Dog Training and Love

When I was 10 years old Dad brought home what I thought was the perfect dog She was a beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer.   I know she was his perfect hunting dog and field trial dog, but she also became my best friend. Dutchess became the first dog I ever helped to train. She was my first obedience project but also my very own circus act.  But as it always does time moves on.  I guess I spent a lot of time looking for a replacement for her.

My husband and I have had a lot of good dogs. I guess all in all over the last 40 years we have owned 13 dogs.  From our first dog together a Min. Poodle Mignon, our Boxers, a Saluki, a Black English Lab, Drizzle, a Standard Poodle Jessica, to Shadow our rescued Doberman and Ben our Rottweiler that we lost 10 years ago at age 13. Even Dante our rescued Chihuahua, that I was never able to train at all but grew to love his very badness. He was at least 12 when we got him and the few years he had with us taught me to appreciate small dogs.

My last project was Absolute Scarlett a Jack Russell Terrier we got for our daughter.  Abby the JRT has to have been the biggest challenge of my life. And when my husband suggested another Terrier well lets just say I was nervous about getting into that struggle again.

But I have never had anything like Heddwyn enter my life.  She is ALL TERRIER a wonderful tough little dog that every guy would love to have around. But also my loving LAP dog that is always ready to cuddle and play.  I do not know if all Border Terriers are like her but if they are I understand the devotion I hear from other owners.

Maybe it is because she has been with me ever since she arrived. It is wonderful that I can take her to work and our life allows her to be so much a part of our time.  But I think it is also because she is just a WONDERFUL DOG!  She is smart and pretty tolerant of all of the mistakes I am making in training her.

Dog training has changed in the 45 years that I have been involved with dogs.  When I was 10 it was ALL about corrections Dad had the perfect hunting dog and I had a very well behaved playmate but I am not sure SHE was having fun.  Even when I was training Ben I believed that the only way to control a dog was with total CONTROL and maybe even a little fear. I was the ALPHA  and that was all that mattered.  I had very well behaved dogs. Dogs I was always proud to take anywhere. BUT with Heddy I have learned about training with love and FUN. 

It may take a little longer for her to figure out what I want her to do rather than me forcing her to do what I want when I want it. But I have to believe and hope that the lessons will last longer when she figures it out on her own. 

SO FAR SO GOOD.

OH How She Has GROWN!

Loch Cu Heddwyn has been with us for 6 weeks now and oh how time has FLOWN.

We picked up Heddy on January 1,2010and when we got home she weighed in at 4.2 lbs. 

 

 

Now on February 16th she weighs almost 9 lbs. Has outgrown her first coat  and is attempting to do all that I ask of her.

   

I know it is hard to believe but we have loved every moment she has been with us. In our minds she is the PERFECT PUPPY. 

BOX PLAY

Ahh the things you can do with a BOX from the store. We are still basically house bound so I am still trying to find things to keep a very busy puppy entertained.  Heddy is not the Boldest puppy in the world so we spend a lot of time introducing her to new and different surfaces or spaces.

I took some large boxes and put treats in them.  The small tight Cheerio Box was more than she was ready for.  But it only took a little while for her to manage to go into the larger box and find her treats. I then put her toys in the box and to play with a favorite toy she has to go into the box get it and bring it out.  We are now adding a sit and wait while she is in the box.  Sometimes when physical exercise is lacking mental exercise will have to do.