In Terms of Training
These past few days Shaya has been amazing in terms of potty training. Her only mess (#2) was during church when we put her in her crate the day after we brought her home. Since then, no #2 messes. She's sprinkled a few times on the rug, but we're hopefully seeing less of that. The first few nights she woke me up a couple of times with a little whimper, and I took her out. But last night, she slept till 5:30am with no mess in her crate at all. And she's stopped crying at night, too. In less than a week, this is amazing!
Pavlov's Dogs
In fact, just as I was writing this, another break-through happened. Shaya let me know that she needed to get let out by ringing the bell. Yes, and you thought the bells in Pavlov's dogs were just for the humans. My parents have actually done this before, and I encourage other people to try this method. What they do is tie bells to the doors where they let the dogs out. That way the dog ring each time she needs to get let out. Come to think of it, it's quite possible that Shaya thinks she has me quite well trained.
This reminds me of a joke about cats. Dogs say, "Wow! These people are great! They pet me, they feed me, they take care of me! They must be gods!" Cats said, "Wow! These people pet me, feed me, take care of me! I must be a god!" :o) (Sorry, cat lovers.)
On the Road Again
Another thing is that Shayita (as I sometimes call her) has logged 4 trips to and from NJ. Now that's a 2 hour drive! And... no messes... and she sleeps the whole way. Looks like I know what to do with her if she's ever being unruly. ;o) This is of course very important for our family who often goes between two homes... and bodes well for getting her to the shore as well.
Puppy Sister = Puppysitter
I'm now convinced that Tessa, my parents' 3 year old white german shepherd, is at the perfect age for a little puppy sister. She's still young enough to play, but she's more mature and very well-trained. Tessa is calm, mild-mannered, quiet and very well-behaved. I couldn't have asked for a better older pup for my little one to take after. And she tries. It's so cute to see her model her behavior after Tessa, sniffing the same places, playing the same way.
The other day they each had a little chew bone, and we had a case of "the bone is always tastier on the other side." Tessa was chewing the rawhide bone, while Shaya was on the chew stick. Pretty soon, Shaya went over and took Tessa's, and Tessa switched to Shaya's. They did this 2 or 3 times!
And their play is both adorable and wonderful. It's adorable to see their instinctive romping and rolling on the floor together, pushing and nudging each other but always gently. Tessa is unbelievable really, because Shaya is convinced that Tessa's fluffy white tail is some kind of animal of prey... and she often bites and chases after it. Tessa has also taken to introducing Shaya to the game of 'keep away.' She takes a toy and encourages the pup to chase after her. She also
Sing a Song of Shaya
A particularly distinctive O'Donnell tradition is to sing about, well, everything. There are wake-up songs, like "Eggo Waffles" and "It's Cheerios Time". There are songs for giving dogs little snacks like "Sandwich Snitches." There are songs for going to the pool, "Spring City Pool." There are songs for saying "Good-bye" to anything, anyplace or anyone. And, of course, there are songs for dogs. Often multiple songs.
After only 5 days with Shaya, we have quite the collection already, most re-versed Oldies tunes.
tune of "Oh Little Darlin'"
Little Shaya, my little Shaya,
Oh where are you- oo-ooo?
tune of "Brown-Eyed Girl"
You my brown-eyed girl.
Do you remember when,
We used to sing:
Shay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-a
Shay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-a
Shay-ay-a
How much is that puppy in the i-crate,
The one with the waggly tail,
How much is that puppy in the i-crate,
I do hope that puppy's for sale.
tune of "K-k-k-k-katie"
Sh-sh-sh-sh-shaya,
Oh beautiful Shaya,
You're the only p-p-p-pup
That I ad-d-d-d-d-d-dore
When the m-m-m-moon shines
Over the shelter,
I'll be waiting at the P-p-p-petsmart door.
tune of "Shaboom, Shaboom"
Shavelle, shavelle,
Shayayayayaya,
Shavelle, Shavelle,
Shayayayayaya,
Shavelle, Shavelle,
Shayayayayaya,
Shavelle.
Puppy Love... Full of Empathy
And although a little of puppies may look very similar, the individual dogs can be quite different. It's fun to notice this week how Shaya's personality is already emerging. She's the most empathetic dog. The other day when I was in tears, Shaya came over to comfort me. Such a little pup, but she still knew that I needed her to be there with me. I held her and she looked up at me with her 'puppy dog' eyes and made me feel better with her gentle puppy kisses.
Luckily, Brad has been able to see me, although for mere moments, twice through g-chat. And he's been able to see the little pup. I'm so happy that we'll be able to get to know her better together, because he'll soon be here... and she'll still be a puppy... soon enough for imprinting to take place. And that's a good thing, because she'll be not just "my"-a Shaya, but she'll be our Shaya for many years to come... like our commitment to each other. We have a commitment to a lovely addition to our family.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Day 1 with Shaya
Surprise! Katie got a puppy!
I suppose that I approached the decision to get a puppy much like many other decisions in my life. For example, Brad and I began talking about a longer term commitment last May. We started talking marriage in the Fall, and we got engaged New Year's Eve. However, I didn't breathe a word about this to anyone until it was 'a sure thing.'
It was similar with the pup. We began talking about getting a puppy in the Fall. We started talking breeds and narrowing down our apartment search in the winter. Then this Spring, we started to look at options for adoption. Again, I didn't breathe a word about this to anyone until it was 'a sure thing.'
So, voila! Katie got a puppy! Not such a surprise to me, but exciting just the same.
To Puppy or Not to Puppy
Initially, we starting the 'puppy talk', because that's one of the things you should discuss when talking about the future of a serious relationship. The "what are your feelings on pets?" question. Then, we starting talking more seriously about it as we apartment searched, thinking that she would be a great companion for me in our new home when Brad has to go to Brazil for research. Finally, when it became a possibility that Brad might need to go back to Brazil after the wedding, summer seemed like an excellent time for me to be engaged in puppy training for the canine companion we'd already decided to add to the family.
The Puppy Choice
In a preliminary search, I found "Chaya" as an adoptable rescued sheltie from PetFinder. She was light in color and a fur ball, as most puppies are. Then, I began looking up information about shelties- size: approx 25 lbs, gentle, a little shy with strangers but very affectionate with their owners, love being with their people. Everything I read seemed like quite a match. So, we decided to apply for Chaya. But no luck. She had already been adopted, even though she was still on the site.
The Pick of the Litter
After that, we were a bit disheartened. How do we know any of these pups are still available? But, when I saw the face of little Shavelle (only 10 weeks old), I fell in love yet again. I applied for her online, and to our surprise, they called back just an hour later, encouraging us to come to Petsmart the following day. We weren't sure about the hour and a half journey. Would it pay off? Would they really give Shavelle to us? Or would there be competition? After all, we could only imagine how many people were going to be there to pick a puppy from this 'puppy showing' at Petsmart. Companion Animal Rescue & Education has a partnership with a Petsmart in Englishtown New Jersey, and so we decided to risk it and go on Saturday morning.
When we arrived, they were setting up in back. And already around 8 people, 3 or 4 families were gathered around waiting. I'll have to say I was a bit nervous. I had no idea how many pooches were coming to this showing. Would there be competition? Then when they brought out a pup and someone said, "This one has a deposit, I got nervous." A deposit? I didn't know that we could/should put a deposit on the available puppy of our choosing. So, we went up to the lady who was setting up, and my dad said, "We're interested in Shavelle. Is she coming? Is she available? We sent in our application last night, and someone called us." She told us two valuable piece of information. She was available, and we were approved... meaning, we could conceivably take this puppy home with us. Only one thing remained. What about these other people? Would we be competing for a chance at the pup?
Luckily, since we had expressed interest, when the girl brought out Shavelle, the lady said, "They're interested in Shavelle." She pointed to us, and all of a sudden I had the most adorable puppy in my arms. And with the others standing around, I wasn't letting go. We soon found out that there were many puppies that would be there, and many families had already picked their own. Amazing... although I thought Shavelle was the cutest, other families had picked rotweilers or labs instead... undeniably thinking theirs were the cutest.
So we sidled over to the lady in charge and asked to adopt Shavelle. And while we arranged a payment, she said, "You just hold her." While in my arms, she was safe and she was taken and she was mine. And I already had my heart set on the darling little Shavelle. After a briefing on puppy care and needs, we were taking home this little lovely pup! We had the pick of the litter!
At Home
We had an uneventful and quiet ride home as Shavelle slept on the seat and I petted our new little family member. Then, we stopped by the church yard sale to greet some people before it started to pour.
Then we reached home, and Shavelle knew a newfound freedom that she probably hadn't known in a while. As an unwanted litter, she probably had been in crates transported to the shelter, in close quarters with her other littermates. She adjusted relatively well to the new space and her new housemate, Tessa. Tessa, a 3 year old white german shepherd looks huge next to her. Although a bit jealous, Tessa shared her toys and didn't have her hair up after the first few seconds.
We fixed up her crate with old towels and a few toys... some of Tessas and a couple of her own. We marveled at the fact that she willingly crawled in her crate to 'hang out'. Never a fan of crates, I've begun to understand that it's her own little safe space... her little bed and she's quite comfortable there. Of course, this was all in preparation for the night.
The Name Game
I video-chatted with Brad, and although I couldn't see him, he could see us and his new little puppy. His response:
Brad: I'm a daddy!
Me: :o)
Brad: Let me see her. I was to see if she takes after me. ;o)
And I think she does; she's cute enough! We also discussed names, since Shavelle might be not an easy one for calling a puppy and sounds a bit too much like a car, a Chevy Chevelle. So, I put out the options of Chaya (like the previous puppy whom I liked), Shaya (kind of a mixture of the two) and Bailey (from "It's a Wonderful Life," my favorite movie... the one we watched while ice skating just after Brad proposed on New Years Eve). Brad said he preferred Shaya, and that worked... since she's already micro-chipped as Shavelle. Shaya is a closely-related nickname. So, Shaya it is! And she's my-a Shaya!
First Night Out
So, for a first night in a new place with a new family and a new dog... it went well. However, this does mean she had a 'mess,' she cried many times loudly in the crate in my room, and I took her out countless times. Still, we survived the night, and she was still happy to see me in the morning.
I suppose that I approached the decision to get a puppy much like many other decisions in my life. For example, Brad and I began talking about a longer term commitment last May. We started talking marriage in the Fall, and we got engaged New Year's Eve. However, I didn't breathe a word about this to anyone until it was 'a sure thing.'
It was similar with the pup. We began talking about getting a puppy in the Fall. We started talking breeds and narrowing down our apartment search in the winter. Then this Spring, we started to look at options for adoption. Again, I didn't breathe a word about this to anyone until it was 'a sure thing.'
So, voila! Katie got a puppy! Not such a surprise to me, but exciting just the same.
To Puppy or Not to Puppy
Initially, we starting the 'puppy talk', because that's one of the things you should discuss when talking about the future of a serious relationship. The "what are your feelings on pets?" question. Then, we starting talking more seriously about it as we apartment searched, thinking that she would be a great companion for me in our new home when Brad has to go to Brazil for research. Finally, when it became a possibility that Brad might need to go back to Brazil after the wedding, summer seemed like an excellent time for me to be engaged in puppy training for the canine companion we'd already decided to add to the family.
The Puppy Choice
In a preliminary search, I found "Chaya" as an adoptable rescued sheltie from PetFinder. She was light in color and a fur ball, as most puppies are. Then, I began looking up information about shelties- size: approx 25 lbs, gentle, a little shy with strangers but very affectionate with their owners, love being with their people. Everything I read seemed like quite a match. So, we decided to apply for Chaya. But no luck. She had already been adopted, even though she was still on the site.
The Pick of the Litter
After that, we were a bit disheartened. How do we know any of these pups are still available? But, when I saw the face of little Shavelle (only 10 weeks old), I fell in love yet again. I applied for her online, and to our surprise, they called back just an hour later, encouraging us to come to Petsmart the following day. We weren't sure about the hour and a half journey. Would it pay off? Would they really give Shavelle to us? Or would there be competition? After all, we could only imagine how many people were going to be there to pick a puppy from this 'puppy showing' at Petsmart. Companion Animal Rescue & Education has a partnership with a Petsmart in Englishtown New Jersey, and so we decided to risk it and go on Saturday morning.
When we arrived, they were setting up in back. And already around 8 people, 3 or 4 families were gathered around waiting. I'll have to say I was a bit nervous. I had no idea how many pooches were coming to this showing. Would there be competition? Then when they brought out a pup and someone said, "This one has a deposit, I got nervous." A deposit? I didn't know that we could/should put a deposit on the available puppy of our choosing. So, we went up to the lady who was setting up, and my dad said, "We're interested in Shavelle. Is she coming? Is she available? We sent in our application last night, and someone called us." She told us two valuable piece of information. She was available, and we were approved... meaning, we could conceivably take this puppy home with us. Only one thing remained. What about these other people? Would we be competing for a chance at the pup?
Luckily, since we had expressed interest, when the girl brought out Shavelle, the lady said, "They're interested in Shavelle." She pointed to us, and all of a sudden I had the most adorable puppy in my arms. And with the others standing around, I wasn't letting go. We soon found out that there were many puppies that would be there, and many families had already picked their own. Amazing... although I thought Shavelle was the cutest, other families had picked rotweilers or labs instead... undeniably thinking theirs were the cutest.
So we sidled over to the lady in charge and asked to adopt Shavelle. And while we arranged a payment, she said, "You just hold her." While in my arms, she was safe and she was taken and she was mine. And I already had my heart set on the darling little Shavelle. After a briefing on puppy care and needs, we were taking home this little lovely pup! We had the pick of the litter!
At Home
We had an uneventful and quiet ride home as Shavelle slept on the seat and I petted our new little family member. Then, we stopped by the church yard sale to greet some people before it started to pour.
Then we reached home, and Shavelle knew a newfound freedom that she probably hadn't known in a while. As an unwanted litter, she probably had been in crates transported to the shelter, in close quarters with her other littermates. She adjusted relatively well to the new space and her new housemate, Tessa. Tessa, a 3 year old white german shepherd looks huge next to her. Although a bit jealous, Tessa shared her toys and didn't have her hair up after the first few seconds.
We fixed up her crate with old towels and a few toys... some of Tessas and a couple of her own. We marveled at the fact that she willingly crawled in her crate to 'hang out'. Never a fan of crates, I've begun to understand that it's her own little safe space... her little bed and she's quite comfortable there. Of course, this was all in preparation for the night.
The Name Game
I video-chatted with Brad, and although I couldn't see him, he could see us and his new little puppy. His response:
Brad: I'm a daddy!
Me: :o)
Brad: Let me see her. I was to see if she takes after me. ;o)
And I think she does; she's cute enough! We also discussed names, since Shavelle might be not an easy one for calling a puppy and sounds a bit too much like a car, a Chevy Chevelle. So, I put out the options of Chaya (like the previous puppy whom I liked), Shaya (kind of a mixture of the two) and Bailey (from "It's a Wonderful Life," my favorite movie... the one we watched while ice skating just after Brad proposed on New Years Eve). Brad said he preferred Shaya, and that worked... since she's already micro-chipped as Shavelle. Shaya is a closely-related nickname. So, Shaya it is! And she's my-a Shaya!
First Night Out
So, for a first night in a new place with a new family and a new dog... it went well. However, this does mean she had a 'mess,' she cried many times loudly in the crate in my room, and I took her out countless times. Still, we survived the night, and she was still happy to see me in the morning.
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