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Post by andywillow on Aug 2, 2013 16:10:13 GMT -5
Hope you enjoyed your curry and a few pints!! Have you had any thunder there tonight which might have upset her? It seems to be all over the place and could well have upset her.
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 3, 2013 4:20:15 GMT -5
No we didn't have any last night. But she's been through it twice this week already and took it all in her stride. After reading a post by some poor lady on Facebook it sounds like I should be eternally grateful for that! I think I will have to try shorter absences (30 mins) for a while and build up to another hour+. Strangely enough, we walked to a railway bridge today and she was up and down them steps easily. Slightly bigger than at home but cannot be much in it. I wonder what the difference is in her head? Being that this is our first proper weekend together we've have a much more lazy start to the day. I don't know what other people do, do you stick to same weekday routine or not? I let her out at 0700 for toilet as usual but then went back to bed until 0900, then we went out for an hour long walk. Normally it would be a 30 min walk at 0730. So hope this doesn't cause her any issues. We'll see I guess. Whilst the weather is good I think I will have to mow the lawn. Should be interesting to see how she reacts to that. Will report back on that later Ciao for now!
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 3, 2013 7:14:05 GMT -5
Well that was an entertaining hour! Tried some separation time again, this time only for 40 minutes. Came back in and yep, you guessed it, she was upstairs again! Tried to encourage her to come down, then put collar on her and gave her gentle pull, but it didn't help so had to carry her down. Then as I was writing this post she went back upstairs again! I tried a bit more patience this time and brought out my secret weapon, treats! On their own they didn't work, so then I put collar and lead on her, and she seemed happier to come down, although very tentatively. I think he lead made the big difference. I've caught her a couple of times trying to go back up since and a firm "NO" seems to do the trick, she stops and comes back. I don't mind her going upstairs to be honest, as long as she can get back down under her own steam and safely, which is the worry. Oh well, the inquisitive minx is gradually coming out into the open. Can't help but love her though
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Post by tinar on Aug 3, 2013 16:14:32 GMT -5
Hi Kevin, I've really enjoyed reading the updates on the lovely Shelby We had the same thing with Sonia running up the stairs and not coming down. We popped a slip lead on her and she walked down like she'd always done it -I do hope Shelby cracks it soon
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 5, 2013 2:08:00 GMT -5
Don't know what all that was about but tried to take her for a walk but she was having none of it? She was very reluctant when I went for her collar and lead when she is normally, if not excited, then always up for it. I had to almost pull her along for a while, then gave up as she clearly didn't want to go.
It has been raining but it's stopped so have no idea what that was about. Thoughts? Do they get like that? I know they are lazy so and so's but.... Perhaps I'll try again later.
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 6, 2013 12:19:51 GMT -5
Well, it's been a bit of a ground breaking day on several fronts, all of them good I'm glad to say. Firstly, I am happy to report that she is as lazy as me and would rather lie in and walk later I thought I was being a responsible dog owner by getting up for walkies at 730am and breakfast at 9am. But apparently that is not the way things should be done in my house. She has decided breakfast at 830am is ideal and walk can wait until 10am or lunchtime if I am busy Secondly, neither the hoover or the mower perturb her. In fact she has made a game of zooming around the mower Which, I have to admit, scared the life out of me the first time. But I soon learned to keep the radar alert for black zoomie things on the horizon. And lastly, the thing I am most happy about is.... That she actually managed to come down the stairs under her own steam twice today She has clearly learned from the amount of time I have taken her back down on a lead, and I never even had to use a treat! Now if I could just stop her from feeling that she has to go upstairs every time I go out it would be the day of days, but I am not greedy, small steps. Oh, and even more lastly, she is coming out of her shell more and more. We've had a lot more excited greetings and zoomies all day today. Someone made a comment about me having a nice lawn, which won't last long, and now I know why. Bless her. Zoomies are good for us, but not so good for the lawn.
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Post by kamkay on Aug 6, 2013 13:03:44 GMT -5
Onward and upward Layla-she sounds wonderful
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trouble
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Post by trouble on Aug 6, 2013 14:17:08 GMT -5
Great to see she is getting you well trained...I hope she will let you come back to kennels soon
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Post by lurcherlovealot on Aug 7, 2013 10:57:20 GMT -5
Hi Kevin..didn't I tell you she would teach you everything you need to know!!! Lovely to hear she is settling in and you are reaping the rewards. Glad she has learned to come downstairs on her own. such an achievement. We have installed a pet gate. Not that we mind Lewis being upstairs but he found the stairs fascinating.... he would race up and down, up and down ... we were worried he was going to hurt himself he was doing it at such a speed. Since the gate been there he only goes up with one of us so we can slow him down if needs be. No matter what I've tried I cant get Lewis to have a lie in..... we seemed to have settled to a 6 am wake up....By wake up I mean Lewis bounds on the bed and tells me if you don't get up I'll lick you to death!.......... still, I get lots done these days as I'm up before the milk is delivered and everyone else is still in bed.... I have my washing on the line before anyone else, I'm at the shops before they have opened........and I'm in bed before 10 as I cant keep my eyes open! Oh the joys of having a youngster in the house! Tell Layla to have word in Lewis's ear please.... she is so chilled out sounds my kinda girl!
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 7, 2013 14:15:56 GMT -5
Lol. That you did Blimey, I'm really glad I got the lazy one then! It sounds like Lewis is the polar opposite of Layla. Doesn't get up (at all sometimes), doesn't do stairs all that well, doesn't sleep on sofa or bed, doesn't do toys and doesn't lick me at all. I rather not have her meet Lewis as chances are he'd teach her all those bad habits I know what you mean about going to bed early. I'm getting better but the first week nearly killed me. Come Wednesday I was so tired I just wanted someone to put me out of my misery. Then it started getting a little easier. Now I kind of look forward to getting up for my early morning greeting of paws on my shoulders and cold nose on my chest. It's only been a couple of weeks for us both so no doubt more to come as the settle more. Layla just says snnffle
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Post by deborahburt on Aug 7, 2013 18:59:03 GMT -5
Loving your updates Kevin, Layla has obviously found herself a doting dad.
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Post by RulusMum on Aug 8, 2013 7:46:30 GMT -5
Sounds like it's all going well, my lot are all very early risers darn it! we did warn you about the lawn to be fair LOL. Love reading the updates and how you are both adjusting to your new life.
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ReggieK
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Post by ReggieK on Aug 8, 2013 14:51:41 GMT -5
Another interesting day. Madam has decided she can use the stairs when I am in afterall, instead of only going up when I go out. I was working upstairs when I felt this cold nose on my arm and jumped out of my skin. Don't know how I didn't hear her come up, it's like living with a little horse She doesn't have much grace when it comes to stairs But after some cuddles she took herself out to the landing and went to sleep. Later I heard some movement and noticed she had gone. Didn't sound like she had gone downstairs, so went looking for her only to find her asleep on my bed. Bless her. But when I went in she got up and down off the bed and wouldn't get back on whilst I was there. However I am not relying on that as proof of any future performance. I suspect I'll be sitting and sleeping on the floor in 4 weeks time We tried some separation time earlier and for first time I came home after 15 minutes to find her still downstairs. So that's Progress. Happy with that. Got to admit that she has been brilliant so far. She has been great around the house, no accidents. She doesn't beg for food or bother me when I am eating, she even lays nicely waiting when I prepare her food. The only time I need protection is when she hears the treat bag being opened. She gets sooooo excited, but at least she is predictable! She sleeps most of the night away and this morning for the first time she had a little whine about 640am to indicate she needed to go out. But when I came down to let her out she still had time to give me an excited good morning greeting. I really love this little girl. Thank you Lisa for picking her for me Oh and also thanks to all the ladies who convinced me the greyhound was the better choice than the lurcher
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Post by sassbu on Aug 8, 2013 14:55:44 GMT -5
I adore your step by step updates, she sounds like she's very happy
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Post by andywillow on Aug 8, 2013 15:10:34 GMT -5
Loving the updates Kevin, sounds like you are rather smitten! Mine are all so lazy and never move until we do in a morning (sorry until I do!) Mark gets up to go to work and none of them so much as lift a head. I do sometimes wonder if Delta would ever get up if I allowed her to!
They are fab dogs, sounds like you've got yourself a good 'un there!
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