Hey all, I know I haven't been on the forum in awhile. After having to return Tulip I was pretty devastated. It all worked out, Tulip got adopted, but I had to do a lot of thinking about what kind of dog could fit into my home (if any) with Astro, and how my wants in a general pet (independence, aloofness, etc.) could or should merge with my wants for a sport prospect (biddability, handler focus).
Now I have a little sighthound princess! She's coming up on a year old in a few months, she's just a little doll. Incredibly outgoing, very intense but it's in that nice aloof sighthound package so it's much more tolerable to me. Loves loves LOVES discs and tennis balls and anything she can chase, just a fun little sprite.
Astro has made having her difficult, not gonna lie. The first night I had to just sit with him behind a baby gate clicking and treating for every little look at her, he was standing there snarling at her just for existing. And she has some separation anxiety that made doing the initial shut-down period hell on earth for awhile (the pipes on this dog...she literally sounds demonic whenever she makes noise, it's unreal). He's still guardy and she's pushy in certain ways so there's a LOT of micromanagement, but overall they are learning to get along, and I did much slower of an introduction/followed a shut-down period in the beginning, which helped
It's been a very interesting process to say the least, and actually I feel so different as a trainer and as a dog owner that I almost didn't want to come back to this username/forum (too much pain surrounding how I fell apart with Tulip), but I guess that's just the learning process. And, one of the things Tulip showed me is that I really do have intense anxiety, so I've been addressing that independently, and it really shows in the dog handling.
If all goes well, she'll be my rally/obedience partner, do some racing and coursing (she's out of racing lines), and some fun trick stuff. If she had it her way she'd be a disc and flyball dog! We'll see, I'm still exploring different things with her.
So, pics! Here is Polly, a.k.a. The Whip, Miss Pocket, or in her less lovely moments, Pollyanna Dramatica. She went through the single most awkward adolescent look I've ever seen, she was soooo bony despite all my efforts, but she's filling out again now and looking less tragic.
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
Now I have a little sighthound princess! She's coming up on a year old in a few months, she's just a little doll. Incredibly outgoing, very intense but it's in that nice aloof sighthound package so it's much more tolerable to me. Loves loves LOVES discs and tennis balls and anything she can chase, just a fun little sprite.
Astro has made having her difficult, not gonna lie. The first night I had to just sit with him behind a baby gate clicking and treating for every little look at her, he was standing there snarling at her just for existing. And she has some separation anxiety that made doing the initial shut-down period hell on earth for awhile (the pipes on this dog...she literally sounds demonic whenever she makes noise, it's unreal). He's still guardy and she's pushy in certain ways so there's a LOT of micromanagement, but overall they are learning to get along, and I did much slower of an introduction/followed a shut-down period in the beginning, which helped
It's been a very interesting process to say the least, and actually I feel so different as a trainer and as a dog owner that I almost didn't want to come back to this username/forum (too much pain surrounding how I fell apart with Tulip), but I guess that's just the learning process. And, one of the things Tulip showed me is that I really do have intense anxiety, so I've been addressing that independently, and it really shows in the dog handling. If all goes well, she'll be my rally/obedience partner, do some racing and coursing (she's out of racing lines), and some fun trick stuff. If she had it her way she'd be a disc and flyball dog! We'll see, I'm still exploring different things with her.
So, pics! Here is Polly, a.k.a. The Whip, Miss Pocket, or in her less lovely moments, Pollyanna Dramatica. She went through the single most awkward adolescent look I've ever seen, she was soooo bony despite all my efforts, but she's filling out again now and looking less tragic.
), and she's just...HAPPY. She is singlehandedly teaching both of us to lighten the heck up.