4/2/13:

Just wanted to give you an update on my wonderful companion “Cowgirl”.  I think that I mentioned, she has treed the neighborhood raccoons, well…after treeing them one night, the next day I caught her up in the tree herself.  Not sure if she was going to use the tree to escape to the other side of the fence, or what.  Needless to say, after I yelled her name, a loud no and off.  She got down on the right side off the fence into the yard, and slinked over to me.  She is one smart dog.

I have taken a part-time job, and leave her with the doggie doors and have never had a problem.  (of course this was after a couple of months with watching to make sure that she would not try the tree escape or crawl under or over the fence)  She loves to play now and will chase her squeaky toy.  Has never chewed up anything, not even her toys. 

She did have to be treated for worms again.  My Vet thinks she may have an allergy to the environment on this side of the mountains, since she is itchy, but no hot spots or red areas at all.  So now we are both on allergy meds, and she doesn’t seem to be quite as itchy.

Cowgirl now wags her tail…it was so sad that she didn’t for almost two months.  Now I can talk to her and she wags it.  She know sit, down, wait, heel, off, hungry (always licks her lips and wags her tail), holds the Kong bone while chewing and trying to get the treats out (at first she didn’t know what to do with it).  She now has free run of the house and yard at her desire and is so good.  I still close the dog doors at night, but find that I do have to get up once in a while when she wants out to check something out…usually the darn raccoons.  I don’t know how she knows they’re in the yard, but I do want her to be able to discourage them, so we always check out the yard…I also go out, so she doesn’t bark and wake the neighbors.  Just hope that it isn’t some darn scary person.  She still wants to jump up a little, so we are working on off.  The neighborhood kids love her and she loves them, and is sooo gentle.   

I can’t thank you enough for the gift of Cowgirl.  She is the bestest (daughter that graduated college with honors, said that it’s her word, meaning better than best).

Bless you all for the work that you are doing.

1/24/13:

Cowgirl is such a great dog...better than I could have ever imagined. She just treed a raccoon in my front yard and actually barked, that is only the second time that she has barked since she came here. There were also two other large raccoons trying to escape to the back yard and field behind us. I may need to get some traps, since animal control said that they would pick them up and release out of the area. I think that they may be under my garden shed, since my bird bath has been knocked over every night. I have stopped filling the bird bath with water. Cowgirl has never gone behind the shed since she has been here. Would sniff around the front side then shy away from the area. I just don't want them to attack her, since there are at least three of them and sometimes they will attack as a group.

Cowgirl actually brought me back a squeaky toy yesterday, and was squirrelly about it. Still does not seem to understand quite how to play, but she at least seems to get excited now. Wish I could help her to understand that she is safe here. Still cowers a lot. She must have been kicked or kicked out of the way, from her re-action to feet and quick moves to get out of the way.

She is the sweetest girl, always trying to please. Loves her walks, has been heeling, knows the wait, leave it and sit command, still working on down and off. So smart for having her such a short time. A real jewel. My friend cannot believe how gentle she is, even when she jumped up on her; she said she hardly touched her with her feet. She has not been getting on the sofa or chairs since the first couple of days. However, she would love to crawl into my lap, so I get on the floor to brush and love her up in my lap. The fence has not been an issue, even with several spots that she could probably crawl under if she tried, I just said "no" the first time she tried. I still keep an eye on her, but so far she doesn't go over or under it. Not sure if something really tempted her, how she would be, but will sit out for 15-20 minutes checking out the front watching the neighbors and people walking by, and never barks. Guess I'll have to get a "Beware of Dog" sign, for some protection though, since I know that she would be hiding behind me, if something threatened us.

I have contacted my local animal shelter, that just opened, to look at your website since it is so friendly and easy to use, and to encourage them to put videos up as you have for each animal, since it gives a little bit better idea of the animal along with the great descriptions that you have for each of the critters. You do such a great job there.

1/21/13:

I am so surprised at how easy this little girl is…she’s quiet and mellow, but very skittish at things in the yard…so she needs to get more secure around here.  So very curious about everything. 

She won’t go into the bathroom since her bath experience, which was a piece of cake, she never even shook, maybe I won’t need a groomer for her if she’ll let me trim her nails.  She cannot get enough brushing.

Walks are so easy with her.  Wish I knew more of her history…anything that you can tell me would be great…was she a working farm dog, herding etc., did someone start to train her how to heel, was she mistreated or abused?  Do you know how large her litters were?  Also, it was mentioned that she was outdoors 24/7, but she is such a great indoor and seems quite at home (with climbing on the sofa although she has not today), that I find it hard to imagine that she was totally an outdoor dog, and her coat is not very heavy.

She’s again snoozing in her crate with the door open, keep it open all day for whenever she wants to go in.  Did crate her again last night, and she never fussed until I got her out this morning.  Amazing dog!

1/20/13:

Well, Cowgirl finally tinkled a little after midnight, so she has great bladder control, considering all the water she drank.  I crated her, put a few treats in and she whined a little off and on.  I got up and just walked by the office a few times to check on her and returned to bed.  We got up about 8 and she didn’t even tinkle the first time out this morning. 

She has gone into the crate several times on her own to sleep, in fact she’s curled up in there now.  We just came back from a little over a mile walk.  She almost heels.  Did you or someone else work with her some?  Was she a herder on a farm or something, or just allowed to roam?  She keeps looking at me to tell her to do something, and she won’t play yet.  It’ll come, my Shadow didn’t have any training or know how to play either and was very timid... and we thought she had been abused.  Always wonder what goes on in their little minds. She sure is a sweet little thing. 

Cowgirl did growl and snap at the neighbor’s dog, but gave her a stern no and stopped the event.  Then we petted both animals and talked in happy voices while petting both at the same time, so figure she’ll get better as she is socialized with she home here and knows that she is safe here.  Some dogs do scrap a little on first meetings, then get along fine, with no big deal, just them work it out.  The neighbor’s dog a tiny thing though, so just wanted to nip it in the bud.

She does seem pretty timid checking out the yard, but has finally actually ran a little.  She has been off the leash all the time in the yard since I have been with her and am not using the dog doors yet.  It’s so cold here, only got to 37 today, although I know that is way warmer than you have been having.  She is very curious about the huge dogs she hears on the other side of us, but they never leave their back yard, just so she doesn’t dig into theirs since she’d be toast there. 

She’s still made a few attempts to crawl up on the sofa and huge comfy chair, but seems to be getting the idea a little, when I laid down on the sofa, she started to get right up with me, and when I said off she sat next to me for a little petting then went into her crate and hunkered down for about an hour.  She really is amazing how easily she is settling in.  I just hope she is going to be happy and more secure as time goes on.

I will make an appointment to get her in for a checkup to make sure everything is ok, and that way they will have a base line if something does come up in the future. 

I have the best mobile dog groomers that used to come once a month, but I think that I will do the honors in the tub tonight, so she doesn’t have to stress over someone else and a new experience with a blow dryer, etc.  

Well, thanks again.  Just love her.  The walk was amazing…no pulling, barking at dogs…wow!  That was a first time good time, walking a dog. 

She’s still just hanging out in her huge cozy crate.