I can't believe it's been three weeks. Annie is doing fine and has turned into a very loving little Jack Russell. Let me correct that, Annie is a Parson's Russell Terrier. Her almost 15 year old sister Ginger is a Jack Russell Terrier. I truly didn't know the difference until just recently. Apparently, Parson Jack Russell developed two strains or at least someone did. They are almost identical but where Ginger is smooth coated and small, Annie is rough coated and a tiny big bigger. Their markings are very similar except for the texture of their hair.
I have to say, Annie is true to her Parson's Russell nature and is a digger. I have great concern about letting her in the back yard unattended. She loves to dig under around and under the fence when she has scented her "prey". I have to thank Sharon at Bark Busters again for teaching me how to regain Annie's attention and distract her from the digging. It's amazing how the training works. Annie now comes when called in the yard. Something she didn't do a week ago. She would just continue sniffing and digging, darting around and following the scent she was tracking. Now, when called.. she darts right over ..enthusiastically I might add.
Annie no longer chases the cat, Caesar. She leaves him alone and doesn't growl. I still have to check her when the Animal Planet Channel is on but every time she gets a little more tolerant. She just growls now instead of launching herself trying to attack the TV. She loves going for her walks. I tried to integrate Annie and Tiger walking together but that is a bit too much to manage. Besides, I don't like leaving Ginger sitting at the door watching us leave. I just looked around, I have all of them asleep and peaceful except for Annie just waking up snapping and snarling with a nightmare. I don't know what I can do about that, I don't think there is anything other than comfort her and hope the nightmares go away. It's odd how the other dogs act when it happens, they used to get upset but now it seems like they know she can't help it.
She is settling into a routine which I think has given her some security. Every night when I come home from work, she is excited to see me and wags her tail barking as if saying, "where have you been? It's about time you got home!". I lift her up and she licks my face and then we go right out back so she can do her business.
I have tried to imagine her life until now. Spending a year in a kennel can't have been easy. I think that is why she barks at the Animal Planet and images of dogs on TV bother her. I imagine all she heard were things like dogs barking all the time but with no socialization since she was caged all the time. I think she had a kennel run from what they told me but no human interaction other than little snippets from care givers feeding her, must have been a very lonely existence.
She's happy now, that's for sure. Every time she eats, I watch her. It's a pleasure because she no longer wolfs food down. She knows that she is going to be fed and there will be plenty to go around.
Sharon, our local dog whisperer is coming on Monday and I need to remember to tell her about Annie's gains but also areas I need help in. She needs help in socialization, it can be embarrassing taking her out in public because she wants to attack any dog bigger than she is. Also, she needs to relearn "sit". I know it's got to be something I'm doing wrong but she only seems to "sit" when she feels like it. She's great at the stay and come commands. Heel is okay as long as it's just she and I. If Tiger is along, heel doesn't seem to work.
She is a good dog, definitely worth the effort!
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