posted 01-09-2004 12:12 PM         

That led me to think about how this morning as she passed through the living room on the way from her crate to the family room and then outside, she picked up one of the cat's new catnip toys. I said "Drop It!"....and she did! She just spit it out and kept going on her way. And she didn't even have her leash on!

My husband said she did the same thing last night. Miracles!

She was actually quite calm (for her) on Monday and Tuesday, but I think she was still recuperating from her "vacation" at the kennel. She has been more hyper the last couple of days, but it has been so cold we haven't given her much exercise so it's no wonder she would start to go a bit stir crazy. Fortunately it is warming up a bit. (I am trying to arrange playdates with a friend's dog, but he hasn't answered my e-mail.)

I have been able to let her wander around with me in the kitchen while I work in the mornings. Usually she will come back when she wanders into the living room and I call her back to me - unless she goes in the bathroom and stands on the cat while eating her food in giant gulps. (Then I have to go get her - duh.)

And when I lie down on the couch to rest, she will come stick her nose in my face and I reach out and pet her, and she either wanders away or lies down. She USED to come and jump on my head and try to bite my nose off. I like this much better. (The afternoon is another matter, but I will take small gifts.)

Several times when she has not been dead tired, she actually tensed all up but then remained still and let a cat pass by her without giving chase. She has also ignored them in favor of a good bone once or twice. Patches is getting better at judging when she will not chase and timing his trips through the room. Tesla continues to be oblivious and parks herself on the couch - and sometimes she even gets to stay now!

Sometimes I have Nala dragging the leash, but I hold on to the end or tie her to furniture less and less. It's still a nice handle if I need to catch her or restrain her, though, and she only chews on it if she is REALLY bored or she can't find anything else interesting to chew on.

Don't get me wrong - there is still a lot of cat chasing and crazy dog and she scratched my son over his eye yesterday because he was sitting on the couch with crackers in a cup. But there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Now if I could only make myself be consistent on working to get her Stays more reliable.

We are beginning agility next week (was supposed to be this week but got cancelled). I also am thinking of working with a stockdog trainer to see how she does, but he is full until this summer.

posted 01-09-2004 04:44 PM         

The afternoons are still pretty crazy, and she goes nuts if anyone gets to eat that isn't her. I am feeding one of the cats canned food now and I think she can smell it when I open it. She goes berserk.

And then I have to give the other cat medicine which I hide in treats. It's a pain to sit there and watch him and re-hide the ones he spits out, and the whole time Nala is going nuts at the gate.

She actually tried to jump it when I was eating this evening. I crated her. She normally cries if we crate her at any time other than her usual time, but this time she was quiet. I left the lights and the radio on for her. When I went in to get her, she was just lying there. She is now calmly lying down and chewing on a bone. Maybe she just needed help to calm down.

We are attending a TTouch weekend hands-on seminar in Oklahoma City at the end of the month (about a 4-hour drive, I think). I am hoping their techniques will give me more to use to help her calm down.

I also (finally) finished reading "Bones Would Rain from the Sky" and I hope to one day be able to go to NY and meet Suzanne Clothier and work with her for a few hours. I have relatives in the area, although it would be a 2-day drive to get there. I may do a phone consultation with her, but I am waiting to try some of what I learned from her book and the other booklets I got from her, and see what happens at the TTouch weekend.

Thanks everyone for all your support and advice!

Jamiya