Daisy the Wonder Dog and How She Found Her Inner Lab

Daisy - Inner Lab Found?

2011-08-07T21:10:00.001-05:00

A winter walk.

It's been a while since I've written in Daisy's blog. Not because anything has happened to my dear Daisy (In fact, she's laying on the couch next to me right now!), but because I just got busy with my other blog and found it hard to capture everything that has happened since I last wrote.

Instead of telling you all what Daisy has done in these past few months, I thought I would show you. She's really found her inner lab now and that makes me so very happy. I hope you enjoy the pics and video!

Daisy at the dog park.

July 2011 - Daisy and her brother Jasper. She jumped off this dock and into the water on her own. :)

The first time Daisy has actually swum in water! She usually just wades in just above her ankles.

A game of chase

Daisy and Jasper running through the fields

Daisy and her friend, Ella. Daisy is in front.

Memetastic

2011-03-04T20:28:00.011-06:00

So it appears that I have been awarded the Memetastic Award by two different bloggers and for both of my blogs! Ay yi yi!

Muchas Gracias to two awesome bloggers - AJ from Pup Love and Pamela from Something Wagging this Way Comes. Thanks guys!

I have decided to save myself some time and post the same post on both blogs - the other one is No Dog About It Blog.

According to the rules and regulations, award winners are supposed to pass the award onto five other people and then tell five facts about themselves. Four of the facts are supposed to be lies and one should be true. I've decided to follow Pamela and AJ's suit an write four half-truths and one outright lie. Let's see if YOU can guess which one is the lie!

As for the next award recipients, well here are my nominations:

Kim at This One Wild Life
Mary at Dancing Dog Blog
Leo at Kenzo the Hovawart
Hilary at Fang Shui Canines
Shauna at Fido and Wino
and
Amy and Rod at Go Pet Friendly
Congrats guys!

Love in Progression

2011-02-11T20:50:00.006-06:00

It starts slowly at first. Very slowly.

Hanging out on the couch next to my sweet older girl, Aspen. Her lifeline. Being near me, this strange human, is too much at this time. But with Aspen as a buffer, she can cope with me being on the same couch with her.

When Aspen leaves us, we start again. She joins me on the couch but only if I pretend she is not there. Always, always at the other end of the couch as far away from me as is possible. Uncertain. Fearful. Alone in her own world.

If I leave the couch or the room, she is gone like a flash, with only the hint of a whisper. Silently. Ethereal. A ghost.

Over time, she discovers that an exposed belly can bring delightful touches. Belly rubs. Softly spoken words. Love.

When a new man enters our lives - a furry, curious, attention-seeking little guy. She discovers competition. Attention to be shared. With it brings little movements - a little scooch closer, and then a little more. And always, the exposed belly. Waiting. More belly rubs to be enjoyed.

As time passes, little movements progress into sideways glances and the thump, thump, thump of a tail. "Will you be my friend?" she seems to ask. The answer is "Yes. Always." And then, slowly, a nose to my cheek.

One day, there is the lick of a tongue and a yellow head on my shoulder and again that thump, thump, thump of a tail. Confidence. Happiness. Joy. A smile. A new light in her eyes.

Three years pass. Patient, loving, gentle years. Now there is the automatic entrance and leap onto the couch followed by the exposed belly and questioning look "Belly rub?" Me on my computer. Working. And, then it happens... the slow, steady scooching. Closer. Closer still. Thump, thump, thump. Sideways glances now coming with steady progression. Thump, thump, thump. A sigh from me and the moving of the computer to a side table. My hand comes up to pet her ears, her head and neck. A kiss to her cheek. Loving words.

Ahhhh. Sweet moments in time. Savored. Treasured. Enjoyed.

Love.

Madonna of the Mills

2010-11-02T19:11:00.001-05:00

This post caught my eye on Life with Dogs. It is an excerpt from a documentary about a woman who is saving puppy mill breeding dogs in Pennsylvania. It struck close to home since Daisy is a former puppy mill breeding dog herself.

All I can say is that it brought tears to my eyes. Knowing what Daisy was like when she first arrived, and how she is now, is nothing short of amazing to me. The tears are for what she went through and what she might have gone through if not for the kindness of a stranger. She is my Wonder Dog.

I am asking two things of you today.

One, watch this video. It won't make you as sad as it made me. (I'm closer to it than you probably are, but I hope it will touch you.)

Two, please don't buy a pet store puppy. You might think you are "rescuing" it, but in reality you are contributing to the blood, pain and abuse of its mother and encouraging it to continue. In truth, it is nothing more than a "blood puppy."

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-31T22:35:00.001-05:00

Note: The date on this photo is wrong. Should be 2008.

Daisy and Aaron: Two dogs with hope

2010-08-25T19:25:00.000-05:00

In November, it will be 3 years since Daisy came to live with me. I sometimes find it hard to believe what Daisy was like before. She is such a different dog today.

Just this week she climbed onto the couch for a belly rub and turned and touched my nose with hers. A beautiful moment that I will never forget. And today, she turned her body to face me again and just cuddled up next to me and I laid my head on her and continued to pet her. Never did ever I expect this fearful dog to do something like that. It makes my heart swell with pride to see who she has become.

My one and only regret was not capturing her progress from Day 1. It's so easy to forget the small steps of progress when you are living it. That's why I love reading my friend Mary's blog. Her work with Aaron, her foster dog, who was rescued from a shelter and is fearful, like Daisy, has been amazing to follow. Not only is it inspiring and uplifting, but Mary's writing is both thoughtful and insightful. I am not over-exaggerating when I say it her words are like poetry. I hope that you will check it out. It might give you and idea of what Daisy and I went through in our first year before I started to blog about her progress.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T19:05:00.000-05:00

Progress!

2010-08-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

As Daisy continues to make progress and impress me and those around me, I continue to be impressed with all that our legislators are starting to do to address the issue of puppy mills, pet stores, and backyard breeders.

Just look at what is happening in Illinois!

And, what happened in Wisconsin in December of last year!

I think Daisy would be happy to know that slowly but surely people are working to end the kind of treatment she received and save another dog from going through what she went through. Two paws up!

The Dog That Was Not There

2010-08-20T21:35:00.002-05:00

Daisy

People have always commented to me how lucky Daisy is to have me, how I'm such a 'good mom', but the truth is there was a time when living with Daisy felt more like I was living in a house with no dog at all. And, it made me question why I had adopted her at all.

I'm not going to lie. I like to feel connected to my dogs. I like that they seek affection from me. That they want to lay by my side while I watch TV or read a good book. I like that they get excited when we go for a trip to the dog park or when I come home.

Daisy was not one of those dogs. She was emotionally distant. Fearful. Restrained. Reserved. Dis-Connected.

I could not expect her to wag her tail when she saw me. I got that from my dog Aspen. I never expected her to come to me for a pet. My dog Aspen did that. I would never have expected her to hang out with me on the couch while I watched TV. Aspen did that.

At the time I adopted Daisy, Aspen was my only dog. She was affectionate, funny, enthusiastic, loving, sweet, gentle, kind, and excited about life, and she was "my dog." She made my days brighter. I looked forward to seeing her when I got home from work because I knew that she would want to hang out with me. I loved taking her on walks because she loved them so. I loved to watch her hook her head over the arm of the couch to see what I was doing in the kitchen. Aspen was everything Daisy was not.

Aspen

That's why Aspen's death, so soon after I adopted Daisy, hit me so hard. For some people, having a second dog is a comfort when they lose another. For me, it felt like I was all alone. There was no dog to distract me from my grief when I cried. There was no dog there to greet me when I got home or to show excitement when we went for car rides, or to just hang out on the couch with me. All I had was an empty shell of a dog. One who preferred her kennel to being in the same room with me. She was like a ghost, flitting from room to room, unable to communicate, unable to connect, unable to emote any kind of emotion at all. It was sad and lonely place to be.

What I never expected was that slowly, over time, Daisy would become more of a special dog than I ever thought she could be. Without Aspen as her guide, Daisy had to rely upon me for guidance. She had to interact with other dogs, study them, mimic them, and find her own identity. She started to trust me and seek me out. She looked to me as her protector and I took that job seriously - I still do. Tail wags? I get them from Daisy all of the time now. Seeking affection, pets and belly rubs? Yup. Daisy wants attention, pets and belly rubs all of the time now. Hanging out on the couch? Daisy does that too, on occasion. She still prefers her kennel, but she's not tied to it. She is just as happy to lie next to me on the couch or to jump onto my bed for a belly rub. And, she has a smile now. I love that smile.

Is she still fearful? Absolutely. But, every day she surprises me and proves that she can overcome her fears and be the dog she was meant to be. She's finding her inner Lab and I love that. And, I love her... very much.

"Adopted" - It Matters to Daisy, Does it Matter to You?

2010-08-19T21:03:00.004-05:00

Recently, I selected "Like" on a Facebook fan page for a Sheltie group I was interested in. It seemed like a fun group and I thought it would be fun to connect with other owners.

I was excited to see that they had a contest asking people to tell their stories about how they "adopted" their Sheltie. I was all set to enter, when I saw this statement in response to someone asking if their Sheltie had to be "adopted" in order to enter "I will publish them on the website... for all to see. Doesn't matter how you met, I use the term 'adopt' loosely :)"

I know that the administrator of the fan page probably had no ulterior motives other than making sure everyone felt included, but it touched a nerve with me. Maybe because my friend Edie had just recently posited a question about a similar topic - How Do You Define a Rescue? in which she shared how someone had purchased a puppy from a breeder and had claimed the dog had been "rescued", or maybe because I've volunteered at an animal shelter for 8 years it's just hard for me to see the term "adopted" in any other light than meaning "adopted from an animal shelter" or "adopted from a rescue".

I'm kind of a nut when it comes to the proper use of words anyways, so maybe I'm just being too sensitive on this one. When people use a term like adopted "lightly" they don't know that puppy mill breeders have no problem with the term either. If it gets them to sell another dog; makes them another dollar, they will call a puppy "adopted". It matters not to them.

But like I said, maybe I'm just being too sensitive. I can only speak as Daisy's mom. I can only guess that it would matter to Daisy. The question is... Does it matter to you? How do you define adopted?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T16:37:00.000-05:00

Daisy and that old Body Language

2010-07-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

It's funny how you can forget what your puppy mill dog used to be like when she starts to act more like a "normal" dog. This week I was reminded of the old Daisy and some of her old body language by two things: 1) seeing some pictures of a dog that a friend will be fostering, and 2) when Daisy was frightened by a very large BOOM!!! while out in the backyard last night.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, when I first got Daisy she used to walk low to the ground, like she was slinking along in fear (of course, she WAS in fear at that time). She also avoided eye contact at all times. I could sit down right in front of her and she would have averted her eyes or turned her head for fear she would have to look at me. Poor girl.

She doesn't do that anymore, but seeing my friend's new foster dog's pictures reminded me of how she used to walk, and how she used to shut down and just lay on her side, waiting for you to do something to her. I never knew what that "something" was but I knew it was not something she liked.

She used to display other behaviors as well - something she has not done in a while now. When the old Daisy was frightened by something, her body would become taut with fear. Ears back. Eyes wide as they swept around the yard or house looking for an escape route.

The loud noise last night brought back all these old behaviors like they had never left. In the past, when something really frightened Daisy, she would run first, tail tucked between her legs. Then she would stop, look around wildly, and then start to pace. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Seeing her reaction last night, brought back a lot of memories because Daisy reverted to a lot of her old behaviors, something I have not seen in a long time. Of course, I took her inside immediately so she could run to her kennel; her "safe spot."

I expected she would be in her kennel most of the night, but a few minutes later she came out into the living room and jumped up onto the couch next to me. Usually when she does this she will lay down on her side and stretch her back legs out so I can give her a belly rub. But not last night. Last night, she curled up tightly in the corner of the couch with her paws tucked under her body and face pressed down on the couch cushion. She made herself as small as possible. It's always been her way of coping. All the old behaviors.

When I moved to rub her belly, she did not stretch out as she usually does, but instead she remained curled up tight, paws tucked under her, head down. I just continued to rub her back and talk softly to her. In the past, this would have made her more nervous, but not now. Despite exhibiting all her old behaviors, Daisy began to relax. This new Daisy knows that her mom will protect her and keep her safe. I love that.

Daisy My Heart Dog

2010-07-17T23:40:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've been pondering over why I find it so hard to write Daisy's blog posts vs. the ones I write on my No Dog About It Blog, and then I saw this blog post today and I knew. Daisy is my heart dog. No. She's not gone - Thank God! But, writing about someone or something that is close to you can be so much harder than writing about a story, a video, a news story or topic.

Right now I've got 3 blog posts just waiting to be finished, but every time I start to write or edit or tweak (yes, I do a lot of that too) I find myself getting stuck. Not one of them captures her perfectly. Not one of them seems to do her justice. Not one of them can tell you what a very special dog she is to me and how much I am going to miss her when she is gone. Keeping one's emotions on the sidelines is a lot harder when writing about Daisy. But, I'll do my best.

Daisy's Special Visit

2010-07-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

Over the past 2 1/2 years, Daisy and I (and now Jasper too) have made it almost a daily ritual to go to our favorite dog park. We used to have a nice little pack, humans and dogs alike, that hung out together, laughed together, walked together, and on occasion, ate brunch together. It was a wonderful group, and Daisy and I looked forward to getting up and meeting up with our friends.

But last summer, our group was broken up when Sasha (Daisy's friend) and Lynn and Sharon (her mom and dad) moved to Arizona to retire. Sasha's parents were the glue that held our group together. Everyone knew that no matter who couldn't make it out to the park that day, Lynn and Sharon would be there. They made everyone WANT to come to the park.

Daisy adored Lynn and Sharon (especially Lynn!) and loved Sasha, Brutus, Henry Carl, Turbo, Prince and Princess, and Splash. They were her friends, her pack. It really has not been the same since Lynn and Sharon left.

But, this week our old friends came back home to Minnesota for a visit. There was Lynn and Sharon and Sasha along with all our other old dog park friends! Everyone had made a special effort to come out to see them.

Daisy and Jasper seemed to recognize Sasha right away, but it was when Daisy went up to Lynn and Sharon that my heart swelled. She recognized them!

Right away they commented on how Daisy seemed more confident and happy (Daisy really has blossomed this year). She happily went to all her friends (dogs and humans alike) to say "Hi". All of them had been there at the beginning, when I first started bringing Aspen and Daisy to the dog park. They knew Daisy when she was a less confident little girl. Oh how she has changed!

It has been great to reunite with everyone. Lynn, Sharon and Sasha have been here for a week (they leave on Thursday) and Daisy has been so happy. All her peeps are back together again!

But, what really has been fun to watch is Daisy's attachment to Lynn - even after all this time. She sidles up to him every day, just like she used to, as soon as he sits down at the picnic table. She will sit down next to him, look up at him adoringly, and smile. No kidding. One of our newer dog park friends was there to witness it and she commented on how different Daisy was with him. She said you could just tell she really liked him. Oh yes, she does.

But, then again, Daisy has always adored him. He was always very gentle with her from the very beginning and I think she remembers that. How nice that she can experience his loving touch and gentle words once again. Soon, Lynn, Sharon and Sasha will be gone again - off to Arizona, but for now this week has been a special one for both Daisy and I. Our friends are home.

Daisy - Sometimes Moms make mistakes

2010-06-27T21:45:00.000-05:00

Owning a puppy mill dog is not easy. People see stories on the news about the Humane Society raiding a puppy mill and they think "Oh! I would love to rescue one of those dogs and give it a loving home!" But, what they don't realize is that most puppy mill dogs come with baggage - sometimes serious baggage (fearful behaviors, aggressive-fearful behaviors, distrust, lack of socialization, health issues, etc.).

As the owner of a puppy mill dog, I've discovered I too carry my own baggage when it comes to Daisy, especially when it comes to caring for her...

Am I doing the right thing when it comes to Daisy (usually relating to a specific situation)?
Have I destroyed months of work and the trust I have built with Daisy by doing ...?
Why did I put Daisy in a situation that made her fearful?
Why didn't I do this instead of that when working with her?
How could I have handled that scary situation differently with Daisy?

Sometimes, we doggie Moms (and Dads) make mistakes.

This was the case on a Wednesday a few weeks ago.

On that Wednesday afternoon I had some extra time available and decided that it would be the perfect time to get Daisy and Jasper's nails trimmed. Usually I take them to the vet or to a friend who works at the shelter, but it was late, and I didn't think I would make it in time. So, I did the next best thing (at least it seemed so at the time) and took them to a national pet store chain that has a grooming facility on the premises.

Once, a long time ago, I had taken Daisy to this very same store to get her nails trimmed, and it had turned out to be a fairly good experience. I was able to explain Daisy's history to the groomer, who then decided to leave Daisy where she felt safest (with me), and just clip her nails right there in the front entrance. It went well and Daisy didn't have to suffer the additional trauma of being led back into the grooming area. We were done in minutes, and while Daisy kind of shut down while her nails were being cut (something she has always done), she was back to her usual self within minutes.

But this time, things were very different. First, it turned out that the groomers are no longer allowed to clip a dog's nails in the entryway (probably due to legal reasons). Second, owners are no longer allowed to come into the grooming area with their dog. Neither of these situations were ideal for Daisy, who is fearful when faced with new people and new environments. This is where I made my first mistake. I decided to go ahead with the nail trimming (after all Daisy really did need her nails clipped) and to allow them to take Daisy into the grooming area without me.

My second, third, fourth, etc. mistakes were in not stopping the process as soon as I saw how scared Daisy was when she was about to be led into the grooming area. You see, I live by the statement "do no harm" when it comes to animals and people, but I most especially live it where it concerns Daisy. I never like to place her in situations where her fear far outweighs the benefits of any given situation. If I need to expose her to something or someone, I like to do it in short intervals or take small steps and build up to it.

I already knew this situation was not going to be ideal, but I went ahead anyways, hoping that it would be quick. Daisy panicked as soon as she saw that I wasn't going with her. Immediately, she laid down on the grown, crouched and refused to move. She had that fearful look in her eyes. I should have stopped them right then and there, but I didn't because I thought they would just clip them right there, where she was laying, just inside the gate. After all, she was 'inside" the grooming area for God's sake. I could reach over the gate and touch her and calm her down while they clipped her nails. But no, they insisted that she be placed on one of their damn tables (if you can't tell, I'm still a little angry about this - both at them and myself for letting it happen). Then, they placed the little noose (that's what I call it) over Daisy's head and hooked it to the bar that hangs over the table to hold her in place, and raised the table. Now, why the hell do you need to raise the damn table to clip her nails???? I should have stopped them then. They obviously had no clue nor any sensitivity when it comes to special needs dogs like Daisy. I should have been her advocate and stopped them from continuing, but I didn't.

I tried to tell them that she was panicked and that she was shaking and about to jump from the table, but the lady poo-pooed me. Again, I should have insisted they stop immediately and bring her to me, but I didn't. Why? Did I somehow see her as an authority figure? Was I hoping it would get better? I don't know. But, when the lady moved to the other side of the table to finish up Daisy's nails, Daisy got ready to make her leap from the table, with the noose still around her neck. "Oh My God!!!", I thought. I yelled at them just as she made the leap, and luckily, they were able to stop her in time. What the hell??What kind of damage could a 70-lb dog suffer if she had lept from the table with the noose around her neck? I don't even want to imagine.

As you can imagine, by now I was really starting to get upset with their carelessness and uncaring attitude. Then the lady said to me, "You need to calm down. You're making it worse and causing her to panic." Really? Are you kidding me? She was scared from the moment she got on the other side of that gate! She panicked as soon as she realized that she was going somewhere with a stranger. Did you see her shut down and freeze in fear? I did. What in the hell do YOU know about my dog? And, why in the hell didn't I just stop it right there, when I saw Daisy was afraid?

Instead, I said, "No. You don't know my dog. I DO. And, she is shaking because she is afraid and she is about to jump. I KNOW my dog." I could just tell by the look she exchanged with the other groomer that she was thinking that "some dog owners are SO high-maintenance". It made me mad. Absolutely, unbelievably, hopping mad. I was mad at them for not listening to me and just assuming I was some high-maintenance dog owner. I was mad at myself for not stopping them when I should have. But, I was also feeling guilt, a LOT of guilt, for putting Daisy through this experience. Why did I put all of her wonderful progress at risk with these idiots?

Needless to say, I was not happy about our experience, and most of it, if not all of it, was my fault. Daisy was scared and unhappy. I was angry and unhappy and I knew I should have known better.

You see, sometimes Moms make mistakes. But this is one I will never repeat. Luckily Daisy is fine, but I will never bring her back to this place again. EVER.

As an update: I did find a groomer that is experienced in working with rescue dogs (she has 3 herself) and I interviewed her before I even brought Daisy in to make sure she understood Daisy's fears. She was awesome. She told me what she did and when she stopped or changed grooming tactics to lessen Daisy's fears. She also told me that she had another groomer hold and comfort Daisy when she was getting too frightened. She will have my loyalty forever. Sometimes Moms learn from their mistakes too.

(Note: Before you ask why I don't clip my own dog's nails, I don't clip them because I once cut the quick on one of my dogs and it made me feel so bad that I've been afraid to do it ever since, especially with black nails.)

Sunny - Another Wunder Dog Story

2010-05-13T18:36:00.000-05:00

I was going to start on a couple of new posts today, but came across a really wonderful post by my friend Deb of FearfulDogs.com.

If you have a rescue, puppy mill or otherwise, you may relate to all of the emotions and experiences shared by Deb as she recounts how her dog Sunny got away and made it back home safely. I know I could relate.

You can find it here.

Daisy and Water: Who'd have thunk it?

2010-04-25T19:14:00.000-05:00

If you've owned a Labrador Retriever at any time in your life, then you know that they LOVE water! It's instinctual right? It's part of what makes a Lab a Lab.

When I first got Daisy, I made that assumption too. After all, ALL labs love water right? As it turns out, not necessarily. Daisy was about to teach me something new - don't make assumptions. Not all dogs are the same and not all dogs fit the breed description. Early experience has a lot to do with how dogs react to a lot of things, including people, other dogs, and, as it turns out, water.

Daisy's first experience with water was tentative at best. I remember walking down to the lake near a hiking trail we use. I thought that she would run right in. Instead, Daisy came to a dead stop and refused to go near the water. She looked at it, watched it for a while, watched other dogs playing in it, but she had no intention of entering it. No way Jose! It was only after I took my shoes off, rolled up my pant legs and went in myself that she took her first steps into the lake. You could tell she was nervous. Unsure and scared. Having lived in a cage all her life, she had never experienced a lake or a pool. Her only experience with water was probably what came out of a hose or what appeared in her water dish. On Daisy's first foray into water, she would only go in far enough to get her toes wet. Then, it was back to shore (where she felt safest) to hang out on the beach or explore the nearby woods. That was good enough for her.

Over time, Daisy has become more comfortable around water. I got her a kiddie pool that summer. I am certain my neighbors thought I was insane. A pool for a dog? Seriously? But, it was a great way to expose Daisy to water and let her decide on her own terms if she wanted any part of it. I'll admit. I kind of hoped that instinct would kick in and she would suddenly decide that playing in water was fun. Instead, she came to view the pool as more of a giant water dish. It was great to stand outside of it and get a drink, but step into it? Uh-huh. She wasn't sure about this pool-thing. But after watching some of her friends enjoy the pool and hang out in it over the summer, she finally gave it a try and stepped in... to drink some water.

And so, that's how it has been for the past 2 1/2 years - Daisy walks into the water (not too deep!) and drinks. On occasion, she has even dipped her whole snout into the water (very definitely a Lab thing to do!). Until this year.

I don't know if it's because she now has a companion who is not afraid of water (Jasper) or if it is because Daisy finally seems to be coming into her own (i.e., finding her inner Lab), but for some reason this year something has changed. Something has clicked with Daisy.

We've been lucky enough to have an early spring this year, so we've already hiked the park trail several times this year. Daisy and Jasper have really enjoyed the opportunity to check out all the new smells and to fly through the woods, chasing one another, flying over fallen trees and tall prairie grass - wild and free. She and Jasper have also enjoyed taking a dip in the lake that is along the trail. In the past, Daisy would have approached the lake slowly and gone in just far enough to dip her snout and lap up some water. But, not this year! Daisy has suddenly taken a liking to water. Something I have never seen her do before. Now, she thinks nothing of going in far enough to get her belly wet. She stays in longer and enjoys dipping her snout in and walking around. She has even taken to sticking her whole head under water! Who'd have thunk it?

I think today's adventure was perhaps my favorite. Oh how I wish I had brought my camera!

This afternoon, Jasper was chasing after Daisy, who was running full out through the woods, stretching her legs as she flew across the wooded floor and out into the clearing along the lake. Without hesitation, she continued into the clearing, ran down the hill and... straight into the lake! Then she did something unusual. She began to leap and jump in the water in such a way that I can only describe it as 'frolicking'. Daisy was having fun. Water was finally fun!

The moment didn't last long. She and Jasper splashed around. She dunked her snout, lapped up some water and that was it. She was done. But it was more than enough to bring a huge smile to my face. Daisy was no longer afraid of water. She loved it. Who'd have thunk it? Go Daisy Go!

Drop It Daisy! A funny story

2010-02-20T13:50:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my last post, teaching Daisy to "drop it" has been a huge plus for me because it means less toys being left outside. What I failed to mention is the one time where it REALLY came in handy... and it just happened a couple of months ago.

On that day, I had been on the phone with a client using my Bluetooth earpiece. When I finished the call, I set my Blackberry and earpiece on the coffee table with the intention of putting it away once I got ready to go to the dog park - Daisy's favorite place.

However, when I came back to get them later I noticed that only my cell phone was on the coffee table. Being somewhat absent-minded, I just assumed I had put the earpiece back in my purse (as I usually do), but when I checked, it was not there. I looked everywhere for that darn little earpiece. Bedroom? Nope. Kithen? Nope. Floor? Nope. Where could it be I wondered? I was actually getting angry at myself for forgetting where I put it.

It was at that moment that I noticed Daisy. My dear, sweet Daisy. As is often the case when she is excited, she was pacing around the living room, tail wagging, but mouth closed. That was strange. Usually when Daisy is excited and starts pacing she has a toy in her mouth, but not today. Hmmmmmm..... Could she have picked up my earpiece? Nah! She usually doesn't touch anything on the coffee table. And yet...

"Drop it Daisy", I said. And then, like a gift, Daisy dropped my Bluetooth on the floor. God bless her! I just laughed and laughed and laughed. Silly Daisy. She had me giggling all day about that one. Thank God I taught her "drop it" or I might never have seen my Bluetooth again!

Drop It Daisy!

2010-02-06T21:00:00.000-06:00

When I first took Daisy on as a foster, I wanted to focus on building trust and training her in the basic commands, so she could go to a nice home with a nice family. However, it soon became clear that the basic commands would have to wait until I could build trust with her and get her to look me in the eye. A very scary prospect for my girl.

During the first few days she spent with me, I just allowed Daisy "to be". I wanted her to become used to her new surroundings first; to get used to all the sights, sounds and smells that surrounded her in her new home. I did not expose her to any new experiences (besides the house and the yard). We did not go to the dog park right away. We did not take a jaunt to Petsmart. We didn't even go for walks because Daisy was so afraid of me touching her collar.

(As a side note: I don't think any new dog owner should bring their dog to a pet store or dog park right away. They don't even know who you are yet. Can you imagine how scary and overwhelming it must be to ride in a car with a stranger and go someplace equally overwhelming?)

Instead, I gave Daisy some space and time. I needed her to feel comfortable before I could focus on anything else. Once she felt more comfortable, we began with one of the most basic commands... "watch me".

I thought starting with "watch me" would be easier for Daisy because she had already seen me and my dog, Aspen, demonstrating the behavior for her. She had been paying very close attention to the treats Aspen got each time she performed the behavior for me (food is a true motivator Daisy!). I also figured that if I could get her to make eye contact with me it would be much easier to work with her on the other commands, like sit, down, come and drop it. And, it turned out that I was right. Once Daisy learned "watch me" from Aspen, she quickly learned "sit" and "down" and "come" by watching Aspen respond to the commands.

The one command I waited to implement was "drop it" - at least until recently.

I had tried this command before, back when I was teaching Daisy to "sit" and "come", but every time I tried to work with her on this command she always reacted as if I was scolding her or that I was upset with her (and this was with me using a happy and positive voice). I'm sure any trainer would probably say I was doing it wrong, and likely, I WAS doing it wrong! Either way, the result was that Daisy would often regress with her other commands as well. So, I decided to back off this command until Daisy felt safer with me and began to understand that I wasn't upset with her.

Recently, we revisited this command and this time with great success!

Daisy has a habit (as a typical Lab) of grabbing a toy, her dish or whatever is within reach and carrying it around in her mouth when she is excited or nervous. Every day when I come home, she is carrying something around in her mouth (it's really cute when she carries her "woobie" around with her - a stuffed toy). Often, when I let her out to go potty, she takes a toy with her and almost always leaves it in the yard. After numerous times of finding toys out in the yard and spending a lot of time picking them up, I decided it was time to learn "drop it".

We started with me approaching her and giving her a treat in exchange for the toy. As I said, Daisy loves treats! This worked pretty well. Daisy would often drop the toy before I even got close enough to exchange the treat for her toy. As she got used to dropping the toy, I introduced the word "drop it" and when she did so, I gave her a treat. Eventually, we were able to abandon the treat altogether. Now I say drop it and Daisy automatically drops it and we head outside.

It's such a wonderful thing to see my girl able to "drop it" on command! It may take more time for Daisy and I to figure things out (together), but I think that's what makes her successes all the richer. Go Daisy Go!

Daisy the Wonder Dog and How She Found Her Inner Lab: Daisy's New Year 2010

2010-02-05T20:56:00.000-06:00

Daisy the Wonder Dog and How She Found Her Inner Lab: Daisy's New Year 2010

Daisy's New Year 2010

2009-12-31T06:41:00.000-06:00

It's so hard to believe, but year two with my beautiful Daisy the Wonder Dog has already gone by and we are headed into year three. She has come a long ways, something made more clear to me after I reread some of my posts from my earlier days with Daisy. She was so afraid and so skittish when we first began our journey. Everything was new and frightening to her. Now, she is less frightened by every day life. She is truly an amazing dog, and she continues to inspire me every day.

Last year I listed several goals for Daisy, including...

Be able to eat and drink my water with my mom in the same room.
Continue to build up my confidence (my posture still indicates that I am not a fully confident dog yet).
To sit confidently and not run away in fear when Mom touches my collar.
Continue to be exposed to new situations so I can build my confidence.
Learn how to play like other dogs (with a ball or frisbee). Anything that has to be thrown scares me right now.
Learning the command "heel".
Getting better at following the command "come"
Become more comfortable being left at home on my own for a few hours (I am much better than I used to be).
Be okay with having my picture taken (this one may take awhile).

Little did I know at that time how much progress we would make and how far we would still have to go. Nor could I know that just a few months later I would be adopting a new dog, a Sheltie named Jasper. He has brought a lot of changes to Daisy's life, mostly good and a few not so good.

The Progress!

Daisy still eats in her kennel, (it's still very much her safety spot) but she is no longer afraid to eat in my presence. She still doesn't like to drink in front of me, probably because it requires her to have her back to me, but she isn't afraid to go get water when she needs it.

Daisy is getting more confident - both in herself, and her ability to handle new situations, and in me. She still continues to be overwhelmed in new situations or where there are a lot of people around, so I try to expose her to new places and situations on a regular basis. Her new Thundershirt (I'll talk more about the Thundershirt in a future post) has helped her to be calmer in new situations, but she is still a work in progress.

Daisy is also no longer afraid of me touching her collar. This is mostly because I have added a new routine to our day. Every day when we return from the dog park, or from a walk, I remove her collar for the day. When we get ready to leave for the dog park in the morning, I put it back on her. There are two reasons I do this, 1) to get Daisy to associate me putting her collar on with something good (namely, the dog park or a walk - something she really enjoys), and 2) to increase the number of times I touch her collar thus turning it into a non-event. It really seems to be working too. Daisy now comes to me so I can put her collar on in the morning! I'd say that's progress indeed!

While Daisy has not yet learned to play like other dogs by chasing a ball or a frisbee, she has learned to play. I witnessed it this summer while I was mowing the front yard. Daisy and Jasper were in the back yard hanging out when suddenly she began taunting him with a rope bone. She started prancing around with it in her mouth, daring Jasper to try and get it, and when he did, she played tug-of-war with him. I couldn't have been more surprised. It was one of the coolest moments in my time with Daisy. She has started doing this at the dog park too, only using a stick in place of a rope bone. Go Daisy Go!

Daisy is also more comfortable being at home now. Jasper is her constant companion and pal and she seems to be less lonely having him here with her. At one time this summer, Jasper stayed with my mom and her Sheltie, Jake, for a few days and Daisy missed him immensely.

The Work Ahead

We're still working on being more comfortable around cameras. I fear I may have scarred her for life on this one :( I continue to use my camera around her; hoping that continued exposure will lessen the fear she associates with it. In fact, just this December she let me take some shots of her and didn't try to run away or turn away from it in fear. One of the photos is at the top of this post.

Daisy is not yet able to walk beside me while on leash or at the dog park, but she is starting to be more comfortable being out ahead of me if Jasper is on leash next to her. Unfortunately, Jasper himself is hindering her progress at the dog park - this is something that I will write about in a future post.

So, as you can see, we are a work in progress - both Daisy and me. We continue to make progress, and that is something to be celebrated and enjoyed! I will continue to share Daisy's progress (and my insights and ideas on what works or doesn't work with a puppy mill dog) throughout 2010. I hope you will cheer Daisy's progress along with me this next year!

Daisy Does It Again!

2009-11-16T19:54:00.000-06:00

For those who don't have a Daisy Dog like mine the simple things your dogs does may seem more like a ritual. So commonplace that you fail to even notice it anymore.

Daisy has done a lot of amazing things this year, and soon I will write about her accomplishments. But, for today I just want to celebrate something she has never done before. It is such a sign of trust that I cannot even begin how profound it was for me (and I hope for her as well). What makes it all the more special is that it happened on the cusp of her two year anniversary - when she first came to live with me.

Most times Daisy prefers her kennel to hanging out in the living room; where Jasper and I hang out. She feels safe in her kennel. It's where she eats. It's where she can go to get away from strange noises, her pesky brother Jasper, or to just to hang out. But, on occasion she will come out and sit on the couch next to me so she can get a pet or a doggie massage. She loves nothing better than to get a belly rub from her mom!

When she sits on the couch, she always sits with her back turned towards me. That way she can feel safe. It requires a lot of trust to face someone, even her own Mom. So, I always pet her with her head tucked in against the other arm the couch. Then I can scratch her back and her belly. This is how it has always been. Daisy facing away from me and me rubbing her belly.

Tonight, I was typing away on my computer so when Daisy came out for her belly rub, she found herself at the other end of the couch just waiting for a belly rub. When I didn't move right away to accommodate her, she sat up and turned her whole body to face me. Then, she looked me in the eye and placed one of her front paws on my leg as if to say, "Will you pet me please?" It was the most amazing moment. It was such an offer of trust. She asked me to give her what she wanted (what she needed) and she did it with a paw and a look. Wow.

Tonight my Daisy did something that any ordinary dog does on a daily basis. She gave me her trust and asked for something she wanted.

Daisy does it again. She surprised me.

And, she made me one very happy and proud mom. :)

Go Daisy Go!

Koi! Daisy Koi!

2009-09-06T07:27:00.000-05:00

Daisy had a little adventure yesterday and I couldn't resist sharing it.

You may not know this, but before Jasper joined our family, Daisy would often accompany me on client appointments. This was partly because Daisy was so frantic when I left her at home alone, but also because it was a way to expose her to different situations, people and animals and help her to expand her horizons. Sometimes she would walk with me and a client and at other times she would wait in the car (Please note: Daisy never went with me if it was too warm or too cold out for her to remain in the car).

Having Jasper as a companion has helped Daisy to be more calm at home, so she has not been traveling with me as often. Yesterday however, I thought I would take her with me as a treat. She loves it when she can go with me on my rounds.

Our first stop was to check in on a Labrador Retriever (who is almost an exact replica of Daisy) and a French Bulldog - both of whom are absolutely adorable and sweet. They love other dogs, so I wasn't worried that Daisy would have to remain in the car. First, I let the boys out to go potty. Once that was done I let Daisy out of the car. Everyone set about sniffing each other. Once the introductions had been made, we leashed up and set out on a walk together. Both the boys and Daisy love to walk and what a lovely day to do so! The sun was out. It was warm, but not hot, and the birds were singing up a storm.

When we returned, we headed out back to feed the Koi fish. The Koi pond is covered with netting over three-quarters of the pond (Blue Heron's and Kingfishers have been gorging themselves on Koi, so the netting protects the fish from these interlopers), while the remaining one-quarter of the pond is covered with beautiful green lily pads. The fish have learned to be cautious, so they mostly stay under the lily pads, only adventuring out when they feel brave or when they know food is coming.

The boys followed me as I stepped into the porch area to grab a scoop of the fish food. Daisy was busy exploring her surroundings, sniffing the plants and trees surrounding the Koi pond. I carried the scoop of fish food back to the pond. The fish saw me coming and started to come out from under the lily pads and swim towards the top to get their food. Who said fish aren't smart?

As I spread the last of the food along the top of the pond, I turned to head back to the porch, and that was when I saw her. My Daisy. After sniffing the yard, she had returned to the stone sitting area to sniff. As I turned, I watched Daisy walk, nose to the ground, straight into the Koi pond. You know that moment in a movie where something momentous happens in slow motion and the main character, shouts "Noooooooooooooo!!!" in slow motion? Well, that was me as I watched Daisy walk straight into the pond.

Imagine Daisy's surprise as she stepped forward and fell down into the lily pads and water. She had no idea that the lily pads weren't a part of the stone area. Honestly, it never occurred to me that she wouldn't know there was water there. Poor girl!

She came up sputtering and immediately headed towards the edge of the pond. Amazingly, she did not panic, but rather swam to the edge of the pool and started to pull herself up. I raced to grab her, but she slipped back in. "Oh no!" I thought, "She's going to panic! And, I'm going to have a hard time getting her out again." But, I was wrong. Not my Daisy. She quickly swam to the edge again and pulled herself completely out on her own (with a little help from me as I grabbed her collar).

Given her background, I thought she would be totally freaked out and running scared. I was wrong again. Daisy simply shook herself off, looked back at the pond, and then set about sniffing again. I was floored. Was this my scared little Daisy? The one who was so afraid of everything and anything new or different? Who would have been absolutely freaked out if this had happened a year ago?

I guess not! Who would have thought that Daisy could be so nonchalant about something that would have been so frightening to her in the past. Simply put, I was in awe of her. I think Daisy's progress is a testament to what encouragement, patience and love can do for a puppy mill dog. I was so proud of her.

But, I still think I will shout "Koi! Daisy Koi!" if we are ever faced with this circumstance again.

(As a last note: No Koi or lily pads were hurt in the making of this accident, and the netting was spared because luckily Daisy fell in the one-quarter part covered in lily pads.)

Daisy on Film

2009-07-10T06:11:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I did a Daisy update.

She continues to make progress and has become even more outgoing since her pesky little brother, Jasper, came to live with us. I thought I would include a couple of videos to show you how much progress she has made!

Daisy and Jasper - Jasper likes to get Daisy to run so he can chase her. This is what is happening in this video.

Daisy and Jasper went to the lake over the 4th of July - she was totally fine until she saw me holding my camera and taping her. Did I tell you she's afraid of cameras?

(Sorry for the lines through this second video-I was taping directly into the setting sun. The reflection of the sun off the lake created the lines.)

Daisy Gets a Friend

2009-05-19T17:08:00.000-05:00

Yup! I know. It's been ages since I've posted an update on Daisy (I was actually beginning to feel guilty about not sharing her progress with all of you!).

The reason for the big space in time between blog posts? A combination of things, including: a growing pet sitting/dog walking business, Daisy's continued progress, and the addition of a new member to our family, Jasper - Daisy's new friend. I wanted to wait to update all of you until after I had had the chance to inform all of my clients' parents about Jasper, especially since many clients often stay with in my home.

I have known for some time that Daisy does better when she is living with another dog. I even had a friend (Thank you Carolyn!) ask me why I hadn't gotten another dog yet, since I know that Daisy would do better having another dog in the house (she also rehabilitates puppy mill dogs and knows how another dog can help in their rehabilitation).

I have resisted adding another member to our family for a multitude of reasons...it was nice to have Daisy to myself, I was starting a new business and didn't want to take on another mouth to feed, the right dog hadn't come along, and I didn't want to lose clients (especially those who board dogs at my house) because I had adopted another dog. But then, "the Shelties" came along... Yep. The beginning of the end to my arguments against adopting another dog.

So who is Jasper and how did he come to stay with us? Both questions can probably be best answered by linking you to a previous blog post on my other blog, No Dog About It, called "Animals His First Priority? You be the Judge."

What I can tell you is that Jasper is a precocious, active, playful and smart little 10-month old Sheltie. He and his sister, Jasmine, came to stay with me in March, after a lady bought them from a pet store (to rescue them from some pretty deplorable conditions). They fostered with me for about two weeks to get some socialization and to learn how to live in a home. They were then to be returned to the shelter I volunteer at so they could be adopted into their new homes.

Jasmine passed her assessment with flying colors and was adopted immediately. Unfortunately, Jasper could not be properly assessed because he was too shy to eat in front of anyone (we couldn't tell if he would be a resource guarder when it came to food - I can now tell you now that he is not - he tends to be a grazer when it comes to eating).

Rather than leave him at the shelter until they could determine what to do next, I offered to take him back home to foster him again. Well, as you might have guessed. He never left. I just couldn't stand to part with him, not too mention that Daisy absolutely adored him. I didn't have the heart to take him away from her; I did that once before with a Dalmatian that I fostered (Pixel) and she was heartbroken when he left us. So, here we are. A bigger and much more livelier family!

Daisy's transformation has been amazing. It's like she has found her inner lab, her confidence and her playful side all at once. Jasper's positive affect on her has been even more than I ever expected. Daisy no longer stays close behind me, nose touching my pants leg, when we go to the dog park. She now runs through the woods (with Jasper by her side) almost all of the time. She's also not as nervous when other dogs join the group. She eagerly goes to greet them. This might have something to do with the fact that Jasper is such a social butterfly, but whatever the reason, she is happier and more confident. I kid you not when I say that she has a constant smile on her face!

What's amazing to me is that she even seems to enjoy the fact that he nips at her ears in excitement when they first go outside in the morning. It's like she sees Jasper as her puppy and is happy just to have him there with her. She even goes to check on him when a dog barks at him or when he takes a tumble. It's been an amazing transformation. I'll have to include some video soon showing how they act at the dog park. It always brings a smile to my face!

I know that most dog experts say that the first 6 months of a dogs life are the most formative, but I think Daisy may be the exception. And, Jasper may be as well. He spent the first 7 months of his life living in a pet store window, and yet, here he is, the most well-adjusted, friendly, and playful pup you could ever meet. Perhaps, there is something more to our dogs than meets the eye. Maybe we should take a second look. And, maybe love is the answer. Welcome Jasper. Daisy and I are glad to have you here!

Daisy makes a leap

2009-04-11T19:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've updated anyone on Daisy's progress. Partly because it's been a little busy around here (we've had a lot of visitors staying with us), but also because Daisy seems to have made a tremendous leap in her progression towards finding her "inner lab". To be honest, I couldn't be more proud of her.

It's like a light has switched on and she has suddenly become more confident and sure of herself. She still has her moments when she is unsure and overwhelmed, but all in all, she seems to have turned a corner. Even my friends at the dog park have noticed her new confidence. She absolutely loves to have her friend Brutus chase her through the woods at the dog park. She can fly like wind when she's running through the woods. I am always amazed at her dexterity and her ability to quickly change course or find a way through the thick brush. I would never have guess she could be so nimble!

It makes me laugh sometimes to watch her pretend that she doesn't see Brutus sneaking up on her, and then just when he's about to pounce (and yes, a 120 lb. Rottweiler can pounce!), she's off like a flash! She flies through the woods, her tail up and a smile on her face. What happened to the dog that stuck closely to my side or just behind me (so close that her nose often touched the back of my leg)? She's still there, on those occasions when she does not feel safe, but she is more often than not off exploring with her friends or running through the woods. And, when she does stick closely to my side, it's different. I don't see the fear that I used to see. She's more confident. More sure of herself.

Just last week, her friend, Lynn (Sasha's dad) and I commented on how she is able to approach both men and women comfortably now. She used to be more cautious and unsure when she approached a woman or when they approached her. But, so many of her friends have moms that she has learned to be less fearful around women. It's so great to see.

Daisy is also confident enough to sit with her group of friends waiting for a treat from her friend, Henry's mom, Ann-Marie. Last summer, whenever her Bob (another dog park regular), would distribute treats, she would back away and only approach cautiously when the other dogs let her in. Not anymore! She's right there waiting for her share. A Lab never turns down free food!

I think the last thing that has changed is our morning and evening rituals. When Mya stayed with us she slept on my bed (Daisy prefers her kennel since she is unlikely to run into Nick the cat there). When Mya started receiving belly rubs every morning, Daisy decided she wanted in on that. So, every morning before she goes outside, she jumps onto my bed and lays down, body fully stretched out, so I have full access to her belly. We spend a little quality time together just me rubbing her belly and giving her kisses. She loves it, and so do I.

In the evening, her belly rub time is a bit longer. Sometimes it even includes a little doggie massage. She absolutely loves her doggie massages! it's out quiet time together and I get to tell her I love her. I think she likes that too.

My vet told me when she first met Daisy that she would probably be the best dog I've ever had. To be honest, at the time I seriously doubted her statement because I have had some pretty awesome dogs in my life. But now I think she may be right. Daisy is special in every way. She's courageous, well-behaved, gentle, loving, and smart. She doesn't bark and gets long with every dog she meets. Who wouldn't want a dog like that?

What if Daisy were the last one?

2009-03-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

My thanks goes to Hope Schultz at WebVet for alerting me to a story about puppy mills that aired tonight on Nightline .

You can watch the video for yourself. But, don't be fooled by the guy who claims to be running a "cutting-edge facility" that is based on "humane" animal treatment. His breeding facility is every bit as bad as any other puppy mill facility. The dogs are in wire cages without room to move (just look at the size of the kennels the Blue Merle Sheltie is in) and they have no social interaction or room to run. The guy claims that the hamster wheel he's got a dog running on is more humane than letting the dog run outside in the mud. Forgive my frustration, but OH PLEASE! Really? Even the hamster wheel is made out of wire and is probably hurting the dogs feet just as much as the cage he just came from.

I guess what made me the most sad was seeing the Golden Retriever rescued by Main Line Animal Rescue (the same rescue group featured on Oprah Winfrey). She had been given up because she could no longer breed. Lucky for her Main Line was there to pick her up because many dogs are just shot and killed since they are no use to the breeder anymore. Looking at that Retriever was like looking at Daisy.

The dog's belly hung down really low, as a result of the numerous litters she had had litters throughout her life. And, it was clear that her puppies had been weened recently. Daisy's belly is also symbol of the number of litters she has had in her young life. As I have mentioned before, her vet said she was kept pregnant as often as was possible. She even said that if it were available, Daisy could have had a tummy tuck with all the stretched skin hanging down from her belly.

The Retriever also had scars on her head and snout - the Main Line caregivers surmised that she had received these scars from dog fights - probably over food. I have long thought that Daisy's scars were received from other dogs, possibly in fights over a resource like food. No wonder she's so cautious about having me watch her eat.

The guy from Main Line Animal Rescue also said that many of these breeding dogs walk in a crouch (low to the ground) because of all the years spent living in a wire cage. Now I sit here wondering...Was the way Daisy walked (when I first got her) due to fear? Or, was it due to the living conditions at the puppy mill? Or, was it both? It had never occurred to me until today that her crouched walk could have been due to a wire floor. How sad. It makes me want to cry.

So I ask you..

What if instead of buying a dog from a pet store everyone went out and rescued a dog instead?

What if the laws in every state were stronger and we could do inspections of these facilities on a regular basis and shut don the ones that are inhumane?

What if we cared enough to NOT buy a dog from the back of a van or from a stall in sombody's barn?

What if we educated people on puppy mills and what happens there and where the puppies go?

What if we stopped giving these people a source of income?

What if....

Daisy's Tail

2009-03-12T14:25:00.000-05:00

It suddenly occurred to me today how far my little Daisy has come over the past 14 months.

As I was letting her inside this afternoon, and heading back into the house, I looked at her and patted her on the head. And, there she stood - wagging her tail at me.

How did I ever miss that monumental moment when she first wagged her tail at me? When did it happen? How did I miss it? And, come to think of it...When did Daisy stop circling the car every time she came inside? When did I stop circling the car with her so I could hook a leash to her collar and lead her inside? So much progress and yet it passed by in the blink of an eye.

It's amazing what a little tail wag can do to brighten your mood!

When I first got Daisy her tail was always tucked under her butt to signal her fear and uncertainty. This remained the case for many months afterwards. Everything was so new to her and people were not something she had a lot of confidence in, especially women. So, a tucked tail was completely understandable.

But eventually, over time her tail did come out and it would rest along the back of her legs, not tucked under like before. The tail wagging came much, much later. It may have been when she began to understand that when I asked her "Are you hungry?" food was soon to follow. Or, it may have been she realized that riding in the car usually meant she was going to the dog park to see her friends or hang out with family. Or, maybe, just maybe, it was when she realized that she was safe and that her new mom loved her a great deal.

It makes me realize how much I have waited for this moment; when Daisy would wag her tail just because she was happy. Forget rainbows, just give me another Daisy day like today!

Daisy - Only one among the many

2009-03-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

I recently saw this story on Twitter and couldn't help but share. Daisy is only one of the many dogs who are rescued from puppy mills each year. Like Daisy, Eva was in danger of being euthanized because many don't realize that a puppy mill dog can become a fairly well-adjusted dog if only given a chance.

Check out Eva's story

And, if you feel like doing something about puppy mill dogs, go here.

Daisy - A Week of Firsts - Not done yet!

2009-03-03T20:01:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, Daisy had a friend staying with us. Mya is an Aussie who is sensitive and sweet all at the same time. When Mya smiles she reminds me of Daisy because her whole face lights up. Daisy feels very comfortable with her.

When Mya was dropped off on Sunday, she brought with her one of her favorite toys. It's called the Tug-n-Toss and it looks like a big red rubber ball with a handle on the top. It actually reminds me of a toy I had as a child called the Hoppity Horse. (Perhaps some of you will remember such a toy from your childhood!)

In the past, Daisy has never shown any interest in her toys, other than to carry it around in her mouth. I've thrown many a tennis ball for other dogs that have stayed with us and Daisy's reaction has always been to go in the opposite direction or ignore the ball completely. Even when her friend Sasha stayed with us, she showed only a mild interest in the ball or in Sasha retrieving the ball from the snow.

So, imagine my surprise when I threw the Tug-n-Toss out into the yard (for Mya) and Daisy came flying out of the garage and took off after it. I think my jaw hit the ground! But, what happened next was just as amazing. Daisy picked up the ball and started prancing around; running back and forth in the yard carrying the ball in her mouth! Her tail was flying high and her head was up as if she were really proud of herself. It was quite simply, amazing. Perhaps one of the most spectacular moments I have had since adopting Daisy.

Who would have ever guessed? Not me. I honestly have to say that I never expected Daisy to ever learn how to "play". Because of the number of years she spent in a puppy mill, I had decided early on that I would just be happy if Daisy were happy and felt safe. Who could have ever guessed that she would once again surprise me and do another "first" after completing a week of "firsts"?

I bet you can guess what I did after dropping Mya off at home yesterday. Yep! Daisy now has her very own Tug-n-Toss! When I threw it into the yard yesterday she ran after it and tried to retrieve it, but she couldn't figure out how to pick it up. That's because Mya's ball is caved in on two sides and when Daisy retrieved Mya's ball she was able to pick it up on the side (vs. the handle). She's still interested in her new toy, but she is still trying to figure out how to pick it up (she hasn't discovered the handle yet). Luckily, Mya is coming back this weekend. I am sincerely hoping she will work her magic on Daisy's new ball and make it deflate a little so Daisy can pick it up more easily. I'll keep you posted on what happens! Go Daisy Go!

Daisy - A Week of Firsts

2009-02-26T07:17:00.001-06:00

The past week and a half has been busy with a lot of "firsts" for Daisy.

Last week we had Daisy's dog park buddy, Sasha, staying with us. Sasha is a wonderful and affectionate yellow Lab who has a beautiful and calming personality. Her presence did wonders for Daisy while she was with us.

Sasha is one of Daisy's favorite doggie friends. As soon as she sees her, she runs up to her all excited, bouncing around in excitement, tail wagging, and touches her nose. It's very cute! I think she kind of admires Sasha because she is confident and demonstrates a lot of knowledge on how to be a dog. Daisy looks to her for clues on how to be a "Wonder Dog" and Lab. She watches what she does very closely and mimics her. Having her so close by all week meant that Daisy could watch her up close. It turned out to be a very good thing!

So what were Daisy's "firsts"?

On the way to the dog park last Wednesday, Daisy actually nudged me for a pet. For someone who has never worked with a puppy mill dog this might not seem like such a big thing, but trust me, it is a VERY big thing. Daisy has never learned that simple gesture nor has she had the confidence to make the move to ask for a pet. But, in the car on the way to the dog park, Daisy asked for a pet. I was thrilled! Sasha has already influenced her!

Daisy also attempted to go after a tennis ball and pick it up for the very first time. All week, Daisy watched as Sasha chased and retrieved a tennis ball that I threw for her. Having never played like a normal dog, Daisy has never really understood this whole fascination that dogs have with retrieving a ball. In fact, she usually has run away from the tennis ball in fear. Until last week...that's when I threw the ball for Sasha. Daisy actually ran after it and picked it up first! Of course, she dropped it right afterwards so Sasha could get it, but it was a huge step. It means she wanted to play.

One thing that Daisy has always been afraid of is the vacuum. She will either hide in her kennel or run into the farthest room from where I am vacuuming. But, Sasha is more laissez-faire about the whole thing. She just lies in the same room waiting for you to finish. If she needs to move to get out of the way of the vacuum, she does so, but not in fear or in a big hurry. She simply gets up and moves somewhere else and lays down. Daisy seemed to be perplexed by this behavior. Her first thought was to run and hide, but after watching Sasha, she decided to hang out on the couch in the SAME room as the vacuum, while it was on. That to me was probably the most amazing of all. Who knew that having Sasha around would help her with that?

Finally, Daisy had her first bath in the bathtub. I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but I was afraid of what her reaction would be. Last summer, I gave her a couple of baths in her outdoor kiddie pool. She might not have liked it, but it was an open space and she didn't feel as threatened, so she was less stressed out about the ordeal. I could also let her run off her fear before bringing her back to the pool to finish. But, in a tub she would have to contend with running water, a confined space and a hairdryer. The bath itself went fairly well - she did shut down a bit (not that uncommon with a puppy mill dog - they tend to curl up on themselves and freeze in fear) and she jumped out of the tub once after being soaped up, but otherwise it was not as bad as I expected. She definitely hated being toweled off. But, the hairdryer was the scariest part for Daisy. She was absolutely terrified. I was able to get the drying process started, but decided to stop before she was dry. It was just too traumatic and I didn't want to have her regress in her progress. I think she was relieved. Poor girl! Now that the first bath is done, I think we will continue with the indoor baths, even in the summer. My hope is that she will become accustomed to the process over time.

The best part of this past week and a half is that Daisy has continued to make progress. Even the fear over taking a bath in the bathtub has not stopped her progress! At the dog park she displays a new confidence. She is more outgoing and more likely to engage another dog in some fun. Hard to believe it's already been a year. My Daisy Dog has made so much progress. I can't wait to see what she does next!

Daisy - A Day At A Time

2009-02-10T15:56:00.000-06:00

Daisy and I picked up her friend Henry this morning and headed off to the dog park. The warm temperatures and this morning's rain have made the park a slushy and slippery mess. If you weren't dodging water puddles, you were fighting to stay upright. I am always amazed at how the dogs manage to keep their feet under them when it's like this. How do they do it?

Perhaps it's because they don't care how wet they get or how muddy their paws are (even when they get into the car!). They're focused on two things: playing and sniffing. Not a bad way to live your life I guess. But, I think I could skip the butt sniffing!

Daisy had a bit of fun with her friend, Brutus, formerly a 110-lb. Rottweiler, now a 118-lb. Rottweiler. She loves Brutus. He chased her through the woods and out into the field and through a huge puddle of god knows what. Her tail was up and she appeared to be smiling. She loves Brutus. Seeing her that happy always makes my day.

Later on, we went to the pet food store to pick up her dog food. I never know how Daisy will react when she goes someplace new with me. Sometimes she is okay and other times she is nervous and reverts to her old, fearful behavior of hiding behind me, slinking down, low to the ground, and freezing. Today's trip was an example of the latter. Usually she perks up when she is offered a treat - which she never refuses by the way - but, today she was a little more uncertain. I reassured her, but kept her moving so she didn't have time to dwell on her fears.

I've been really focusing on helping Daisy to adjust to new situations and to build her confidence when she is in the house or out with me. Recently, I met a great lady in Missouri who has a lot of experience in rehabilitating puppy mill dogs (she took in 7 Australian Shepherds at one time!). What a blessing it is to talk to Carolyn and get her advice and help on helping to rehabilitate Daisy. She has several videos on YouTube that demonstrate the work she has done with her dogs (I've included some of them in the Links section on my blog). Her hard work and dedication is quite impressive.

Thanks to Carolyn's advice, I have been working with Daisy on a daily basis to help her build her confidence - something we're focused on for 2009. One of the things that Daisy does when she hears the command "Come" is to approach me from the side or from the back. She has a really hard time approaching me from the front. She seems to feel less threatened if she can circle around me and come to me from my side. I am not sure what the puppy mill owner did to cause such fear, but we have been working on it.

We do a lot of practicing "come" using all her favorite treats as a reward. And, we are making progress (Yay!). Daisy would still prefer to approach me from my side, but by shortening the space between her and I when I ask her to come; I have been able to get her to approach me straight on. We still have work to do, but it is so encouraging to see her becoming less cautious when approaching me straight on. I am noticing a difference in her confidence level at the dog park too. As I have mentioned before, Daisy usually walks very close behind me, almost touching my leg at all times. When she feels safe, she will break out and go play with her friends. I love it when she does this - there is so much joy and happiness expressed in those few moments. Well, over the past couple of weeks she has been going off on her own, or off with her friends, more and more. I think it's because of all the work we have been doing. It is very encouraging to see her confidence build. Go Daisy Go!

I will continue to keep you posted on our progress!

And, for all those who rescue puppy mill dogs, it is possible to give them a good life. For them to live (to some capacity) a normal life. Like Daisy. it is a day at a time.

Daisy wants you to fight for dogs like her

2009-02-08T18:53:00.000-06:00

Today, I wanted to share with you a link to my other blog No Dog About It. Why?

Because I want you to take action to help other dogs like Daisy.

You see, Minnesota happens to be one of the worst states for puppy mills and puppy mill breeders. To be honest, I think it almost takes an act of God to get anyone to be prosecuted with a serious crime. Although, I sure do hope that one woman will be prosecuted for felony charges soon!

There is a State Senator (Senator Betzold) who is trying to change the laws for breeders, but the breeders in this state (both the good and the bad) have decided they would rather live with the few that give them all a bad name rather than demonstrate they are a good breeder by allowing annual inspections.

Won't you help Daisy to ensure that more dogs like her don't live an awful existence like she did the first few years of her life? Please check it out and, if your heart compels you, write a quick note to your senator to let them know you want annual inspections of breeding facilities.

Daisy and I thank you.

Click here to go to my blog post.

Daisy and her Fears

2009-02-05T21:10:00.000-06:00

I'm lying here on the floor (typing) and watching Daisy, who is on the couch.

Instead of lying down in her usual spot on the couch, she is sitting up and looking around; eyes shifting back and forth, in fear. It makes me sad to see her this way. I know the cause, but it's one of those things that you can't always prevent.

You see, while I was making dinner tonight the smoke alarm went off. Not for long mind you, but just long enough for Daisy to become terrified. The shrill sound absolutely terrifies her. Usually, I plan ahead and set up the fan to blow at it so it doesn't even go off, but tonight I wasn't expecting it to go off at all.

Sometimes I hate technology.

The last time the darn thing went off (a few months ago), Daisy sat shaking like a leaf in her kennel and I had to use treats to coax her out. I tried to reassure her and distract her with doing something else - that usually works. Tonight however, Daisy chose to follow me around the kitchen, skulking around, low to the ground. I decided that a jaunt outside would be a good way to distract her, and it was, but as soon as we started to head back inside she was fearful again. In fact, she would not come back inside the house for about 5 minutes. She spent that time pacing around the car in the garage. I gave her some time and left the door to the kitchen open so she could come inside on her own terms. And, she did. That is progress indeed!

Scary noises and things can come from all sorts of places when you're a puppy mill survivor. I hope that with time, the smoke alarm will become less scary, but the reality is that it may always be a frightful thing to her. I can't really blame her if it does either. I hate the sound of that darn thing too!

Daisy's New friend

2009-01-23T20:34:00.000-06:00

I had to write a quick post to catalog a new Daisy experience. Yesterday, Daisy made a new friend, one that she was not only instantly comfortable with, but one that she seemed to know on a deeper level.

Because I am a dog walker and pet sitter, Daisy often meets new dogs (it's a requirement before they can come stay in my home). Usually, when Daisy meets a new pet sitting client, she will come to see who it is and then she will pace; jumping on and off the couch or circling the coffee table in nervous excitement. On some occasions she will even go and sit in her kennel until she feels more comfortable.

Last night Daisy had a new friend stop by to meet her. Mya is a beautiful Aussie with a great personality and smarts to boot. She's a little bit older than most of the dogs Daisy meets, which is nice since I think Daisy is more comfortable with older dogs.

As Mya came up to the door with her mom, Daisy jumped off the couch and walked excitedly to the door, tail wagging. Unusual? Yes. She usually sits on the couch and cranes her neck to see who's coming. Then, she drops her head in a submissive pose.

This time she was at the door before Mya had even come in the door. She was excited to meet her new friend and her tail was wagging. When Mya came inside Daisy didn't run to the couch or start pacing, instead she went right up to her and said "Hi". She also did not act timid or afraid of Mya's mom like she does with most new people she meets. She approached her pretty quickly and even let her pet her later in the evening! t was a first.

In fact, Daisy acted differently the whole time Mya and her mom were there:

She came into the kitchen to get a treat when I offered Mya one - not something she does (even when it's just her and I!)
She stayed in the living room while Mya explored the house or stood next to her mom. Again, not a normal behavior with Daisy. Usually she would be pacing or sitting in her kennel.
She felt so comfortable with Mya that she even fell asleep on the couch while Mya was in the house - how's that for comfortable?
But, what shocked me most is that she went outside and came back inside with Mya and her mom in front of or behind her and she didn't get scared or too afraid to come in. She even came inside with Mya's mom sitting right inside the door. She doesn't even do that with my friends and family! Usually she starts circling the car in the garage until everyone is away from the door or goes into the living room. How weird is that?

I am not sure if it was Mya or Mya's mom (or both) that made her so comfortable, but it totally floored me. It also made me wonder...Did Daisy recognize a kindred spirit in Mya?

Or, was it the calm demeanor and quiet confidence that Mya's mom displayed? Or, maybe Mya reminded her of Aspen and that's why she felt so comfortable with her. I don't know what it was, but it sure was cool to see her so calm and confident. I'd like to bottle whatever it was and use it the future whenever Daisy is afraid and uncertain. The dog trainer in me is fascinated. I want to replay every moment so I can figure out what the key factor was that made this situation different from any other. It's simply a mystery.

Daisy's everywhere!

2009-01-21T21:03:00.000-06:00

Daisy had a surprise guest this week. Her friend, Daisy Mae (a black Lab), came to stay for a couple of days while her "Mommie" had a little baby boy.

It's been awhile since my Daisy (also called "Boo Boo Bear" or "Boo Boo's ") and I had seen Daisy Mae; perhaps as far back as October or November. They first met about a year ago at the Alimagnet dog park in Burnsville. Her mom and I had started talking after realizing that our dogs had the same name (which can get quite confusing!). Who knew that her Daisy Mae was the same dog I had walked at the shelter as a young pup? She had grown quite a bit since I had last seen her, but it was obvious that she was very happy in her new home. Her parents really love her and spend a lot of quality time with her. She goes to the dog park once a day (sometimes twice a day), and she gets plenty of walks and belly rubs. She's a well-rounded dog - good with humans and other dogs.

I was pleased to see that my Boo Boo Bear was happy to see Daisy Mae and seemed pretty comfortable with her. This past summer, when Daisy Mae and her mom had come to spend the day with us (gardening) Boo Boo Bear was quite nervous. She spent most of her time sitting right by my side. Of course, I would encourage her to go play but she would only wander a few feet and then come back and sit next to me. She does that when she's nervous.

So, it was with great relief that I saw my Daisy Boo Boo Bear so excited to see an old friend. They got along extremely well together. They hung out at the dog park, searched for treats in the snow together (a game they both love to play) and slept on the couch together. It reminded me of when Aspen (my last dog) was here. Daisy used to looked to Apsen for guidance on how to act like a dog. Aspen set the tone for everything: jumping on the couch to take a nap, hanging out in the backyard, riding in the car, going to the pet store, approaching strangers, etc. Boo Boo Bear really relied on her for guidance and direction (just a side note to other owners of puppy mill dogs - having another more experienced dog can make a big difference in a dog's rehabilitation).

That's why I have toyed with the idea of getting another dog - one that is older, and more experienced in living as a dog with humans. I'm constantly asking myself whether I am helping Daisy or hurting her by not getting her another friend. Part of me thinks that her rehabilitation would be much easier on her if I were to get another dog, but the other part of me is worried that making the wrong choice could have a long-lasting devastating effect on her.

Watching Boo Boo Bear with Daisy Mae made me realize that there is no easy answer. While she enjoyed having a companion around for a few days, she also spent some time hanging out in her kennel (her "safe spot") whenever Daisy Mae would bark at a sudden noise or get interested in a bone she had. So, while it was nice (if a bit confusing) to have Daisy's everywhere for a few days, it was also, once more, a time to think and observe...A dog for Daisy Boo Boo Bear? Or, Daisy Boo Boo Bear as a dog on her own? The question remains unanswered...for now.

Dog #201 - Daisy the Wonder Dog

2009-01-14T08:05:00.000-06:00

Daisy came to me with two things I had not seen before: 1) a tattoo in her ear (# 201), and 2) a roving microchip. You might be asking yourself why a dog from a puppy mill would have these things. I know I did.

When I first got Daisy (as a foster), I didn't know a lot about puppy mills other than what I had learned on the news or TV shows. I knew that most puppies sold at pet stores were from puppy mills, but I didn't know a lot about the things puppy mill owners did, other than mistreat animals. What I discovered is that some puppy mills tattoo a number in the dog's ear to help them keep track of each dog. It's literally a book-keeping method for them. The tattoo also allows them to identify and track which dogs they want to breed together to get a certain type of dog with a certain look, color, size, etc. In Daisy's case, she was used as a breeding dog in an effort to create a new and popular breed of dog that is being seen in increasing numbers around the Twin Cities.

Daisy's tattoo labels her as Dog #201. Nothing more. Nothing less. No name; just a number. According to the vet, Daisy was kept pregnant as much as possible, so I am sure that some "breeder" was making a good amount of money selling off her pups while Daisy sat in a cage caring for the next litter to be sold.

In addition to her tattoo, Daisy also had a microchip. It had been placed in the middle of her ear, just above her tattoo. Finding a microchip in a puppy mill dog is actually quite unusual. Most puppy mills won't spend any money on a dog, much less the costs associated with obtaining and inserting a microchip. So. it was somewhat of a puzzlement to me and to my friends at the shelter. We tried scanning her chip, but it appeared to be deactivated or no longer functioning. It has remained a mystery.

Since that time, Daisy's microchip has actually migrated to the bottom of her ear. I was puzzled by this until I heard Katie K9 talk about how the older microchips used to migrate over time throughout the dog's body because it had nothing to anchor it. Today's microchips have tiny hooks that anchor the microchip in place to keep it from moving around, thus making it easier to find and scan if your dog were to get lost. My suspicion is that the puppy mill had been doing their own microchipping using the old microchips. Perhaps, they were using the microchips as a replacement for tattooing. Or, perhaps they wanted an easier way to track dogs they wanted to breed together. Who can really know? What I do know is that they were taking care of their dogs' dew claws on their own because my vet has commented on the fact that Daisy's dew claws were mangled when she was younger and that it most likely happened because the puppy mill owner was doing it him or herself. So, it would not surprise if they also did their own tattooing and microchipping. In either case, Daisy has both.

Although, I know about the tattoo and microchip, I was surprised to see a video on YouTube today that featured a dog owner being interviewed for her book about her puppy mill rescue dog, Baby. It seems Baby also had a tattoo in her ear. Daisy is not alone. She is only one of the many dogs being kept in puppy mills today. Just a number. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I believe the more we can educate people about puppy mills, and how dogs are treated in puppy mills, the less likely it is that people will buy from them, either through a pet store, on the internet, or the puppy mill owner directly. They may call themselves a "breeder", but don't be fooled. Puppy mill owners are only in it for the money, not to better the breed. I encourage you to find out more by checking out the links below. Daisy thanks you.

WCCO Report - Inside a Puppy Mill

Inside a Puppy Mill

How to Buy a Puppy

Puppy Mills in the Spotlight

Daisy's First Goal for 2009

2009-01-13T23:37:00.000-06:00

Daisy and I are going stir crazy. The weather is so cold here right now that going outside is not something anyone wants to do if they don't have to. As a result, we have been stuck inside for the past 3 days. In fact, yesterday Daisy was only outside a few minutes when her feet froze. It happened so quickly. One minute she was lifting her back paw because it was cold and then suddenly she was sitting on her butt in the snow with both of her back feet stuck up in the air. It was a funny sight to see, but for her it was anything but. Poor girl! We went inside immediately.

Monday was the only day this week it was warm enough for Daisy to go to the dog park. We enjoyed the day by hanging out with her doggie friends and playing in the falling snow. Daisy was so excited to see her friend Brutus. She immediately went to him hoping he would chase her through the woods. Unfortunately, he had his eyes on another dog (Alas! Unrequited love!). I actually think she was disappointed!

Luckily, the other dog didn't stay long (sometimes a 110-lb. Rottweiler can be intimidating, even if he still acts like a puppy), so Brutus was finally able to turn his attention onto my little girl blue. She couldn't have been happier. They chased each other all over the park - flying over shrubs, weaving in between trees and hiding behind evergreens. Several times Daisy would stop to let Brutus catch up to her, then as soon as he made a move towards her, she was off again! At one point she actually slipped through a tight space between two trees; leaving Brutus behind to figure out how he was going to get through that small space! It was quite funny.

I love seeing Daisy leave my side to go off to play with friends. It warms my heart, because it means she's gaining confidence in herself. She's learning that she doesn't always have to be near me; that she can have fun and come back to me if she needs to, even if only to check in. Although I'm not a mom in the traditional sense of the word, I imagine a mom feels just as proud when she sees her child taking his first steps. It is so thrilling!

You would think all that fun and excitement would be enough for one day. Not for Daisy! Monday evening Daisy decided to surprise me by tackling item #1 on her list of goals for 2009.

We had been busy pretty much all day long, so I think she was hungry by the time dinnertime rolled around. I asked her, "Are you hungry?" Oh boy! Was she! She bounced around and paced excitedly while I filled her dish. I set her food on the floor in the living room (I'll explain this later) fully expecting that she would continue to pace and bounce around until I left the room. But I wanted to lower the blinds in the bay window first. As I was doing so, I suddenly heard Daisy nosing around in her food bowl and then I heard her chewing her food. I froze, unsure of what to do. Should I stay still until she was done? Would I scare her if I moved? This was an absolute first for her. She had never eaten in front of me before.

I decided to act normal and lower each of the blinds while not making too much of a big deal about her eating in front of me. Absolutely amazing.

You see, one of behavioral side effects of living in a puppy mill is that Daisy doesn't trust people easily. She especially does not like it when people are behind her, or approach her too quickly or too forcefully. This fear has transferred over to her eating ritual.

When I first brought Daisy home I tried to feed her in the kitchen along with my other dog, Aspen. But, no matter how hard I tried to reassure her, I could not convince her to come and eat her food. With some experimentation, I discovered that she felt safer eating when her food was in a room separate from me (or any human being in this case). So, we settled on the living room as her "safe spot" for breakfast and dinner. And, while she seemed to be okay if Aspen was in the living room with her while she was eating, she was not okay if I entered the room. If I did so, she would run away from her dish until I once again left the room. Once I was gone, she would return to her dish and eat her food, albeit much more tentatively and cautiously. She often kept a close eye on my movements after that.

So, imagine my surprise when suddenly, out of the blue, she decided to eat with me in the same room! It was a shock. It wasn't until that moment that I realized she's been slowly working towards this very moment. Over the past few months she has been less and less fearful about me being in another room while she is eating. In the past, I always had to be in the kitchen, so she could keep an eye on me (at all times). Recently, she has been less skittish about where I am in the house (as long as it wasn't the living room). If I walked through the living room on my way to another room in the house, she would still back away from her food dish, but as soon as I was gone she was back at her dish eating her food - even if it meant I was in a room behind her. Now, for the first time, she was comfortable enough to eat with me in the same room. What an amazing dog.

It makes me wonder... How long until she tackles another goal on her list? Stay tuned! :)

Daisy's New Year

2009-01-04T21:35:00.000-06:00

As Daisy and I begin this new year, we thought it might be a good idea to look back and recognize her accomplishments as well as lay out her goals for the next year.

Maybe you will find inspiration for your own life in 2009!

Daisy's Accomplishments

Making eye contact with my mom (Mel) and other human beings.
Being able to walk around people without cowering in fear or shutting down.
Learning how to go outside to go potty and come back in without running away in fear or running in circles around Mom's car over and over again or not coming in at all.
Approaching strangers and letting them pet me (especially women since they are more scary to me).
Riding in the car without shutting down and even feeling comfortable enough to look outside and stick the very tip of my nose out the window for a sniff.
Feeling comfortable enough to go in my kennel on my own.
Learning my basic commands: "sit", "stay", "down", "come" and "watch me".
Learning how to play with other dogs (something I didn't know how to do before I met my friends at the dog park).
Bonding with my Mom and with Aspen (Aspen was my best friend and taught me how to be a dog at the beginning).
Being okay with loud noises (at least more than I used to be). Perhaps having my mom sing and dance around the living room to Garth Brooks had something to do with that - it was definitely an odd experience!
Swimming (now THAT was a scary one - the first time I was in water deep enough to swim in Mom had to hold me up because I just let my legs hang there. I didn't know what to do.)
Learning to go downstairs on the "wood" stairs
Dealing with Nick the cat.
Being comfortable enough to ask for a belly rub.
Trusting Mom enough to follow her lead.

Daisy's Goals for 2009

Be able to eat my food and drink my water with mom in the same room.
Continue to build up my confidence (my posture still indicates that I am not a fully confident dog yet).
To sit confidently and not run away in fear when Mom touches my collar.
Continue to be exposed to new situations so I can build my confidence.
Learn how to play like other dogs (with a ball or frisbee). Anything that has to be thrown scares me right now.
Learning the command "heel".
Getting better at following the command "come".
Become more comfortable being left at home on my own for a few hours (I am much better than I used to be).
Be okay with having my picture taken (this one may take awhile).

Happy New Year everyone!

Nick - Daisy's Nemesis

2008-12-04T19:28:00.000-06:00

Daisy may be a Wonder Dog to you and I, but to another member of our family she is something completely different - an interloper.

You see in addition to Daisy, I also have a cat named Nick (short for Nicodemus). Nick is a character. Weighing in at about 20 pounds, he has all the attitude and personality that befits a cat his size. He rules the house with an iron paw and meows until he gets what he wants - and I do mean UNTIL he gets what he wants. Turning the water on in the sink (so he can drink from the faucet) is NOT an option; it is an expectation. Petting him when "he" wants to be pet is a rule. Although, I have repeatedly told him that it is "I" who pays the mortgage on our house, he has decided that this is not a pertinent fact in his world. Attitude is everything when you're a cat. And, if you are a cat owner; you know exactly what I mean!

One of Nick's favorite activities is to let Daisy knows where she stands (relative to him) in our household. When I first brought Daisy home, she was so afraid of this unusual looking animal that she would purposely avert her eyes so as not to make eye contact with him. In fact, she always went out of her way to avoid him. So, what did Nick do in return? Why, of course, he sat down in front of her, stared her down until he felt that she was sufficiently intimidated, and then he would move on.

When I invited Daisy onto my bed on the Fourth of July (fireworks scare her), she immediately laid down next to me. What did Nick do? He meowed in protest, then sat down in front of her and gave her the "evil eye" until she got down off the bed. He even went as far as to walk over to her and sniff her as if to say "You stink. Get off MY bed." No joke.

Since then Nick has taken to circling the perimeter of the bed whenever Daisy enters my room so as to prevent her from jumping up onto it at all. Basically, he's taken to heading her off at the pass.

When Daisy wants to come into the bathroom to say "Hi" to me in the morning, Nick races to beat her there. Then he blocks her entrance by sitting down in the doorway and staring at her. Daisy usually backs off and goes back to her favorite spot on the couch. Nick, seeing that his job is done, and that he has sufficiently scared Daisy away, heads back to my bedroom to once again claim the bed. His job is done.

Nick has even intimidated a few of my clients. Once he cornered one of my clients, a chocolate Lab named Lucy, in my office. He just sat in the doorway and stared her down. She attempted to go around him (staying as close to the wall as was possible) but Nick just turned on his "evil stare" and she backed up back into my office again. I finally had to rescue her from the dangerous beast.

Lately, Nick has taken to jumping over Daisy to get to me. Sometimes he even jumps up next to her, walks right over her (as if she doesn't exist), and then climbs into my lap as if to claim me as his own. I'm starting to suspect that this power hungry, ego-driven feline has become a little too big for his britches. I mean establishing who's top dog (or in this case, cat) in the household is understandable, but perhaps he has taken this a bit far.

So, I've been working with Daisy to assert a little bit of dominance herself. Or, at the very least, enable her to move about the house without "super cat" restricting her movements. And, progress has been made. She is now more comfortable coming into the bathroom to say"Hi" to me in the morning. With a little encouragement, she actually walks past Nick (still avoiding eye contact with him) and comes to sit beside me. She also is more comfortable jumping up on the bed (on occasion) - mostly because she has seen other dogs do it with no fear of the cat on the bed. And, she is getting used to Nick jumping over her to get to me. In the past, she would run for her kennel (her safe spot). Now, she remains lying beside me; ignoring the cat.

Once again, I am amazed at Daisy the Wonder Dog's strength and resilience. Her past may have been awful, but the progress she makes every day is impressive. She is becoming more self-assured and confident, even engaging other dogs in play. And, she has taken on her nemesis, Nick, head on and started to deal with him in a way that is respectful but not fearful. What else can I say... Go Daisy Go!

Daisy as Good Citizen

2008-11-17T13:43:00.001-06:00

Friday morning was a cold day at the dog park. The dogs didn't seem to mind, but I certainly did! I was not ready for the bitter wind that came with the low temperature - 15 degrees. Brrrr! Nothing like having your legs go numb while the dogs run and play in the woods. As a hearty Minnesotan I should be used to it, but nope, can't say that I am. But, I will say that it was nice to get out of the house, see the sun shining, and laugh at the dogs and their antics.

Daisy's buddy, Brutus, a 110 lb. Rottweiler puppy was there, and of course, so was her pal, Henry. Everyone seemed ready to have some fun. Brutus was looking for a playmate, so the chasing and running began right away when we got inside the park. Daisy really likes Brutus so having him stalk and chase her was pretty much okay with her. I was actually relieved to see that she was okay with Brutus playing with her. I was expecting her to be a bit tentative or fearful, but to my relief she wasn't.

You see, last week Daisy got into an "altercation" with another one of her friends over a stick. I can only imagine that this stick must have had some magical powers the way they argued over it, but whatever the reason, in the end Daisy ended up with a few bites to her head (just above her ear) and her hind end (by her tail). She's fine, but I think she learned that perhaps she should be a bit more cautious about who to challenge when her stick is taken.

It has been fascinating to watch Daisy learn from the other dogs at the dog park this past year. It's like she's trying to figure out how a dog should act. Obviously, some things are instinctual, like the constant need to carry something in her mouth, definitely a lab thing to do, but other things she has learned by watching what the other dogs do. She started picking up sticks and chewing on them only after watching other dogs do it first. She learned how to drink out of the spout of a water bottle after watching other dogs do it. She learned how to roll over on her back and wiggle around in the dirt and wood chips after watching her friend Turbo do it. She learned how to chase a squirrel after watching her friends Prince and Princess do it (luckily she has never caught one, but I don't think she would know what to do with it if she did!).

The first time she left my side to go run with some of her friends through the field was amazing. In the past (and still to some degree today), Daisy has always walked beside me, or right behind me. The first time she ran off with her friends was a beautiful moment. It's like she was saying, "I'm free! I'm free!" Her tail went up, she started bouncing along the trail ahead of me and the off she went flying over shrubs and tall weeds. All of this from watching other dogs and then mimicking their behavior.

But that's also why I have always been a bit cautious with her. In many ways, Daisy is like a blank slate - tabula rasa - she doesn't know what she doesn't know so every behavior that she observes leaves an impression on her. You can actually see her watching everything the other dogs do (she learns from from every interaction), only to then later mimic their behavior. Picking up a stick and then flaunting it in front of another dog so he or she will chase her is something she learned from watching her friend, Turbo.

Unfortunately, not every dog displays good behavior. Sometimes they are aggressive or possessive, or they jump up on people, or they nip at other dogs. And, yes, sometimes they think that their stick has magical powers and must be protected at any cost. It is because of this that I am constantly watching to see what or whom Daisy is observing. I encourage her when she acquires a new behavior and displays it, and gently discourage her when it is a behavior that I don't want her to display. Overall, I am very lucky because she really hasn't picked up any behaviors that have caused me real concern, but it is something I am aware of each time Daisy interacts with another dog. It made me think that in some ways, my role as Daisy's owner, is very much like a mom or dad's role in raising their children. Our parents were there to set an example for us. They showed us what was acceptable or unacceptable behavior throughout our lives. Although my job is much, much easier than any mom or dad's, it is something I take seriously. I want Daisy to be a good citizen - one that interacts with both humans and dogs in a positive manner.

So today, I want to recognize all those parents out there, to both human and animal. Keep up the good work! May your "child" represent the best of you. And, may they make you proud!

The Old Daisy

2008-11-10T19:41:00.000-06:00

I was reminded again this weekend that despite her progress, Daisy is still a rescue dog, who comes from a puppy mill, and who still reacts to new experiences with fear and uncertainty.

While marveling at her progress this past year, I forgot to acknowledge that the old, fearful and uncertain Daisy has been lurking just beneath the surface. You see this vibrant, energetic, and curious "new" Daisy is so much more present than the old one. She interacts with strangers at the dog park, even placing her head on a stranger's laps for a long pet. She often leaves my side to explore new places and smells. She is even confident walking into a pet store, as long as no one looms over her too much. This "new" Daisy sometimes makes it easy to forget that I need to go slow, and introduce her to new situations with care.

A new toy (a stuffed wiener dog with squeaker sounds in it), a towel draping her body (to dry off the wet snow melting into her fur), a strange new environment, new people (young kids), new doggie friends - all seemed to have the potential to cause fear this weekend. System overload? I'm not sure, but it all seemed to start with that small toy and only escalate from there. Her behavior this weekend reminded me of what Daisy was like when I first adopted her.

When I first brought Daisy home, one of the things we had to work on was coming inside the house. The first step required entering the garage, which is the only way to get from the backyard to the house, and then following a series of rituals that would take us from the garage to the house .

Daisy was more likely to enter the garage if she was following Aspen (her doggie guide), but only if I met her specific guidelines, which of course, were only known to her. Direct eye contact, sudden movements, even holding some unfamiliar object in my hands, would frequently send her skittering away from the door and back out into the backyard. Often when this happened, Aspen and I would have to start the whole process over again. This meant going back outside (frequently in the middle of winter) so we could all come in the door again - the correct way. I would enter the garage door first, followed by Aspen, and then Daisy - if I wasn't too close to the door or looking at her as she entered the door.

However, this wasn't the end of the process. Once I had Daisy in the garage, I then had to convince her to enter the house. Wood floors were a problem because she was afraid of the surface - something that is quite common with dogs who have not been socialized to live in a home. Unfortunately, the first thing Daisy encountered when entering the house were (yep, you guessed it) - wood floors. If Aspen led the way, Daisy would follow, reluctantly. But again, everything depended on where I was standing, whether I was facing her when she came in, or if I was far enough away from the door to allow her to enter in a way that she felt was safe.

More often than not, we played a game of chase in the garage. Daisy would run in circles around the car, sometimes in fear, but often in some sort of pacing pattern (very similar to what you see when a zoo animal is confined to a small enclosure). I would sometimes go slowly towards her from the opposite direction so I could attach a leash and lead her inside, but that only worked if she froze in fear. I always felt awful in that situation because it only seemed reinforce the fear, and it did nothing to help me build trust with Daisy. Other techniques included opening the car door and letting Daisy jump into the car so I could attach a leash and lead her inside, using treats to get her to approach me so I could attach the leash, and/or using Aspen to lead her inside.

All of these techniques could be, and often were, hampered by Daisy pulling her head out of her collar - something she did quite often. In those cases, Daisy would begin to circle the car again and I would need to open the car door so she could jump in thus allowing me to put her collar back on without her running away. After awhile, I resorted to putting her into an Easy Walk harness while in the garage. This allowed me to safely lead her inside using a leash, and it short-circuited the pacing behavior that seemed to border on obsessive.

Why do I share all of this with you? Because this weekend I was reminded again that while much of this old behavior has gone away (as Daisy has begun to trust me), it still exists just beneath the surface. A new toy, a new situation or a new experience, can send Daisy back to this behavior. This weekend, I actually had to use the leash to lead her back inside the house - several times. Her fear caused her to revert back to behavior she hasn't demonstrated in some time. I guess trust is a hard thing to come by when you've been mistreated most of your life.

So, we will begin again, my Daisy and I, slowly building trust, using positive reinforcement and slowly, with patience, building her confidence. Daisy's story continues.... stay tuned.

Living with Daisy in the NOW

2008-10-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

For those of us who have been lucky enough to adopt a second-hand dog, there is always the wondering that accompanies their entrance into our lives. We often wonder...

Was my dog loved in his former home? What was my dog's former owner like? Does she cower because she was abused? Was he treated well before he came to me? Where did he learn that quirky behavior?

For me, I never had any doubt that my last dog, Aspen, was loved by her former owners. She was such a loving and affectionate dog that I KNEW she had been loved and cared for during her early years. She displayed none of the typical behaviors (cowering, shaking, running in fear, etc.) that would indicate abuse or mistreatment. In fact, I was pretty sure that the decision to give her up was probably not an easy one. She was 9 years old, had medical issues, and likely cost her former owners a good amount of money. However, I did wonder why they surrendered her saying she kept jumping the fence when I knew that her nine-year old debilitated hips could never have allowed her to do so. Were they hoping to avoid giving her a death sentence by stating the truth? Did they surrender her because the medical issues just became too much? Or, as is often the case with an older and sick dog, did they surrender her to avoid having to make the decision to put her to sleep?

With Daisy, I often wonder a whole host of different questions:

How bad were her former living conditions?
Where did all the scars on her body - the spots where no fur grows - come from? Were they caused by another dog? Or, were they caused by the puppy mill owner himself/herself?
Was the puppy mill owner a woman? Is that why she is so comfortable approaching men - even ones she does not know? Is that why she is so tentative with women vs. men?
Did she live outside? Is that why her ears have scars? Did the flies bite them?
Does she like little dogs so much because they remind her of her puppies?
Why did the owner feel the need to tattoo a number in her ear (201)? Were all the dogs that lived at the puppy mill tattooed too?
Why was she surrendered to the service organization at age 4? How did she come to escape her personal hell?

I know that I will never have the answers I seek, nor am I sure that I truly want to know all that Daisy has been through, but part of me still wonders. When I am rubbing her belly, something she has only recently let me do, I see those scars and try to imagine what it must have been like for her. Disturbing thoughts I know. But, when you love a dog, a friend, as much as I love Daisy, you think that knowing what happened in the past will help you to erase those memories from her mind. The truth is that I can only start from here. Today. Now.

What I do today can only have an impact in the future, not in the past. I choose to give Daisy everything she never had the chance to have before - love, kindness, the chance to run free in the woods, to experience new smells and new friends, and, yes, to have the occasional ice cream cone. Could a dog (or human) wish for any better?

Have a Daisy Day

2008-10-21T19:58:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here tonight with my Daisy dog lying next to me on the couch, my mother's dog, Jake, laying beside me on the floor, and my pet sitting friend, River, laying on her bed behind me. All sleeping peacefully. Can it get any better?

There are so many things I would like to write about Daisy's progress these past few months, and yet, I can't help but focus on what she has been doing these past few days. Will there ever be an end to her growth? To her progress? I don't think so. It seems like she is constantly surprising me with new facets of her personality.

Most mornings, Daisy and I pick up Henry, another wonderful pet sitting client, and head off to the dog park. Daisy, as is her wont, claims the full back seat as her own; sprawling across the full length of the seat so she can sleep comfortably. Henry rides shotgun; always alert for the lone squirrel crossing the street or another dog on a walk. On occasion, he looks over at me with his adorable puppy-dog eyes and I cannot help but pet him and tell him how cute he is - an absolute truth and he knows it.

Usually, when we drop Henry off, Daisy remains sprawled in the back sleeping until we near home and then like some hidden radar, she sits up (after the 1st stop sign on our street) and looks out the window. Sometimes, she will stand up, tail wagging, as she waits for me to pull into the driveway and then into the garage.

But, recently Daisy has added a new behavior. After we drop Henry off, she climbs into the front seat, where she sits until she falls asleep, head drooping down lower and lower until she finally lays down; or she curls up in a ball (so she can actually fit her lab body onto the seat) and lays her head on my lap between the stick shift and my bottled water. It's the first time she has really sought me out for affection in that way. I know I may be adding human emotion into the mix, but it's almost as if she feels more at peace being near me. Her whole body relaxes and she sleeps more deeply, sometimes snoring gently, when she rides up front. She seems to love that I can pet her continuously from that position.

For me, it is the most peaceful ride I have ever had. There is so much love that is contained in that one small moment in time. Knowing how afraid Daisy was to trust anyone, including me, for so long makes it all the more amazing and beautiful. How is that a dog so mistreated and unloved for so much of her early life could trust enough to let me see her vulnerable? I know I've said it before, but I really am lucky. She is one special dog and I don't think I will ever be the same again. She has taught me so much in the past 11 months that she has been with me, including: love, patience, trust, commitment, beauty, peace, and the joy that comes from the small things in life. It's my wish that everyone gets the chance to be blessed with the same.

Have a Daisy day on me.

Daisy on the run

2008-10-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

Today, I watched Daisy as she ran through the woods at the dog park. Her tail was flying high as she flew over a tree branch and then floated through a group of bushes. She looked as if she hadn't a care in the world, and to be honest, I hope she didn't have a one. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing your rescue dog, the one who used to freeze in fear at sudden movements or loud noises, being so carefree and happy.

In December, it will have been a year since I adopted Daisy the Wonder Dog. I am constantly amazed at her progress, and still surprised by all the new things she learns and then incorporates into her repertoire. She is truly amazing.

But, Daisy is like many dogs who had a bad beginning and just needed to be given a chance. We often write off dogs as "too damaged" or as "too far gone". I can honestly say that we are selling them short if we think that nothing is possible. Just look at the Michael Vicks dogs. Used as fighting dogs, everyone said that they couldn't be saved, or retrained, or safe with humans or other dogs. And, yet, many of them are being adopted or have been adopted by loving owners who wanted to give them a chance. Just check out the story on Meryl.

I only found out a few weeks ago that my very own Daisy was one of those dogs that had been given up as "too damaged". She was going to be euthanized, but thanks to the loving kindness of her foster mom, she was given a chance at adoption. And, thank god, because I was the person lucky enough to get this gentle, kind and loving friend. She is truly a blessing in my life.

So, as we hit the middle of October, also known as Adopt-a-Dog-Month at the Minnesota Valley Humane Society, I encourage you to consider giving a second-hand pet a chance. The rewards you get in return far outweigh the time, patience and commitment that you will put into your new friend.

Daisy and I are also participating in the First Annual Pet 'Net Adoption Event, a blogging event being joined by many other pet bloggers. On the site you can see all the blogs that are participating, read some great adoption stories and learn more about pet adoption.

I hope that you will consider adopting your next pet and save a wonder dog of your own. Daisy thanks you!

Daisy's first days

2008-10-15T14:17:00.000-05:00

Daisy and I were off the dog park early this morning. Today, we were picking up a few friends along the way: Turbo, a sweet, friendly and happy go-lucky Labradoodle, was our first stop. She was very excited to see us and only too happy to hop in the car and go to the park. Henry, a loving, sensitive and tough little Corgi/Cattle dog-mix was stop number two. He was also excited, and all too ready to have someone chase him or to be chased by him.

This morning the air was crisp (fall is definitely here!), and the clouds were wavering between gray and angry storm blue. I was wondering how long we would have at the park before it started raining when suddenly over the top of the cloud line appeared the bright, bold sun. Yay!

As I walked along the path (with my 2-legged friends), the dogs ran, weaved and bounced in and out of the tree line chasing one another in a game of tag, or was it "chase me"? The wind was blowing right through my cheap gloves and making me glad for them and the hat I had in my trunk. Thank god I wore layers today! It was the weather that reminded me of the day that Aspen and I first brought Daisy home; one week before Thanksgiving.

Like today, it was cold, the wind was blowing the naked tree branches and gray clouds were hanging around, making the the day seem a bit gloomy. Aspen always loved riding in the car, but she seemed puzzled when we pulled up to the shelter. "What were we doing here?", she seemed to ask. "Don't worry" I told her, "I'm not leaving you here. We're only here to visit for awhile." Before I could take Daisy home to foster, I needed to make sure she and Aspen would be okay together.

We did the introduction in the shelter playroom. Surprisingly, there was very little reaction. Aspen sniffed at Daisy curiously for a minute and then went off to explore the room. Daisy remained frozen to the floor, avoiding eye contact, and waited to see what we would do next. She showed some interest in Aspen, but was cautious, and unsure of what to do next. I knew that while she was fearful, she wasn't likely to attack Aspen. Aspen was a happy-go-lucky, nine year old Shepard-mix. She pretty much liked everyone. I, of course, adored her. I didn't want to put her in harm at any cost. Luckily, no danger there.

So, after some paperwork, and some maneuvering on my part, Aspen and Daisy were loaded into the car and we headed home. The trip home was uneventful but interesting. Where Aspen loved to ride in the car, usually hanging her head out the window, Daisy completely shut down. She curled her front feet under body, made herself small, and lay in the back seat, silent and frozen. She still does some version of this today, only now she sprawls out the full length of the back seat and just sleeps until we arrive at our destination. And, on occasion, she will actually sit up and stick just the very tip of her nose out the window sniffing and watching the world go by.

When we got home, the true work began. Scared and unsure, Daisy had no idea where she was, or who I was. She didn't trust me...yet. But over the next few months she would not only come to trust me, but she would also come to find her "inner-lab". In the meantime, Aspen became her guide. She showed her how to be a dog, how to trust humans again and how to find her way to the couch - Aspen's favorite spot! The journey had just begun.

How Daisy Came to Stay With Me

2008-10-14T15:52:00.002-05:00

I always like to share the story of how my dog Daisy came to live with me.

When I first met Daisy, she was swollen with milk; having just weaned her puppies - her last litter (one of the many she'd had over the past 4 years), and she was very, very scared.

Daisy, a yellow Labrador Retriever, had been brought to our shelter (the one I volunteer at) by a service organization. They had had gotten her from a puppy mill - pregnant and scared. They cared for her during her pregnancy and after the birth of her puppies. Luckily for the puppies, the group had decided to keep them to be trained as service dogs, but for Daisy this was not even a possibility. She was too terrified, and often just curled up into a ball waiting for something awful to happen to her. You see, Daisy was puppy mill breeding dog, everything bad had happened to her up until this point.

When I first met her on that day at the shelter, she was sitting at the back of her kennel - terrified and alone. She cowered in my presence and refused to make eye contact. When I raised my hand to unlock the kennel door, she went straight to the ground, crouching in fear, and froze. It was easy to get the leash on her, but getting her to walk to the door to go outside was a slow process and required slow movements.

I walked her, with much difficulty, around the shelter property. She was so scared that she mostly walked low, slunk to the ground, and she would freeze at any sound - or if I made any sudden movements. I avoided talking to her; hoping it would calm her. It didn't. After a short walk, I sat down on the parking lot curb outside and waited to see what she would do. Her whole body language conveyed fear and distrust - averted eyes, lowered head and body, frozen body posture, and her back kept towards me at all times. She was telling me she did not trust me, and I didn't blame her at all given her history.

I let her be for a moment as I remained seated and gave her some time to adjust to my presence. She never did. She allowed me to pet her, but I think that was only because she was too scared to move. My heart broke for her, and I knew that somehow this dog and I were going to be connected.

I already had a wonderful older dog (Aspen) at home whom I adopted about 7 months previously. Aspen had several health issues and took a lot of time and care, but I knew that I couldn't leave this dog behind. I was afraid that she would never make it to the adoption floor given her extreme fear and lack of socialization. I also knew that I couldn't really adopt her. But I knew one thing. Somehow, I was going to make sure this dog had a fighting chance. "Perhaps I could become her foster mom" I thought, "and maybe I can help her to become an adoptable dog." It would mean taking on even more responsibility (adding another dog to my life), but I think in that moment I had already decided to give it a try. If ever there was ever a dog that needed a chance it was this extremely fearful Lab. Maybe with a little time and patience, she could be adoptable I thought.

And so, Daisy came to live (as a foster dog) with Aspen and I in November 2007, only a few days before Thanksgiving.

Little did I know at the time how much work, time and patience it would take to make her an adoptable dog, or just how much she would come to change me and my life