Behind the scenes at Champion of My Heart, I get private advice from some readers. They simply feel more comfortable emailing me directly with ideas, input, support. And, that’s totally fine. One such idea from a friend was to take Lilly on different hikes this summer to keep her out and working, even though we’re taking a break from classes until we figure out the anxiety medicine stuff. So, here are a few updates on recent outings: …
Replacing the worst of our old windows (since we can’t afford to do them all this year) is a part of our home improvement work this summer. Sadly, Lilly has decided that the new windows are scary. …
Yesterday through our neighborhood email list, I received a note about a lost dog. For some reason, I didn’t receive the plea for help from the dog’s owners, but another neighbor realized the oversight and forwarded it to me. She knows I adore dogs. (That’s putting it mildly.) She knows I frequent the roads and trails nearby. Today, I found the lost dog while on my morning walk with Lilly. I was excited to be the hero, until I realized he was dead. …
Summer 2008 is full of home projects aimed at bolstering the energy efficiency of our house, which was built in 1978. I mostly fill the role of snack provider, beverage purveyor, and clean-up crew. Lilly? Well, she has decided dropping sticks at Tom’s feet (no matter how high off the ground they are) is a HUGE help. …
Sometimes I sit outside to work when the weather allows. The dogs move from shade to sun, from grass to sidewalk, from under my feet to out in the pasture. It’s a good way to spend a long workday. I could not resist this photo of Ginko sacked out in the sun. He gets very brown from all the UV here at 8,000 feet. Can you find Lilly? …
Happy Independence Day! It’s a big holiday at our house since Tom loves fireworks so much. So, rather than proffer our usual Friday Training Update, we’re taking a holiday to celebrate freedom. In Lilly’s case, it’s sometimes the freedom to NOT do what I ask. Still, nobody looks cuter with a flag! …
In the grand history of the Relaxation Protocol,there are tales of dogs melting into the ground. Heads down, faces relaxed, they settle in no matter what. Well, with Lilly, that never happened. I had to reward the tip of the hip and ask for it. I had to specifically shape putting her head down. We call this training tool slash trick CHIN! Here’s a video of the finished product. …
Last Friday, I worked outside on the front patio while Tom began installing new windows in my office. I don’t typically work on Fridays during the summer (a tiny bonus of being self-employed), but since he was busy, and I was in NO mood to clean house, I worked. After spending hours and hours and hours transcribing interviews, I got camera happy. Here are some tricks I thought you might enjoy seeing.
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It’s been a week since the blood tests with no news, so I called the veterinary hospital to check on results. I left a message and got a call back from one of the technicians. I don’t have details like the actual values to share, but I’m told everything is “perfect.” Lilly is a healthy, healthy, healthy girl with “excellent” thyroid levels, no signs of any adrenal problems, solid kidney, liver, pancreas, etc. numbers. That’s not what’s causing the set-back. …
I had a brainstorm over the weekend. I simply need to think about Lilly’s recent and rampant displays of fear and reactivity like I would if she were vomiting. I wouldn’t get mad. I wouldn’t get frustrated. I would be worried. Just like an upset tummy or a bad limp, Lilly’s recent behaviors are merely tell me she does NOT feel well (in one way or another). …
