Stealing Toys

Rozlin & Jessie both went up into my daughter's bedroom and each one stole a toy. They never chew them up. They just want to lay by them. They have a ton of their own toys but like to steal them from Kim. It is so funny. They both go in, grab one and slink out like they know they're doing something wrong.

Since I've been going to Jen's clicker training class, both of the girls have learned so many tricks. Now both of them sit on command, down (only Jessie stays), Jessie also lays and I'm trying to teach her to shake or give me her paw. Roz speaks and bows but she knew that before. Oh, and they do up, when they're finished staying, I say "up" and they know they can get up. Pretty cool, huh?

Home at last.

She ain't heavy. She's my sister. We have decided to adopt Jessie. She is just so good and fits in so well with our family, that we couldn't let her go. I will pamper her for the rest of her life.

See you at GreyFest!

I just need a little nap.

Jessie doesn't play with stuffed animals a lot but this picture was "screaming" to be taken.

We went to clicker training class today and she literally ran to the water bowl when we got home at 11:00 AM. That chicken can be awfully dry. She lay down and is still sleeping at 5:45 PM. Oh, we did get another training session in there too so she hasn't been sleeping the entire time.

I did it for nothing? Shucks.

She just perfected this sit and down with hand signals so I wanted to make sure it was published. We get really excited when we get it right. We're working on a new trick that she actually showed me that she could do. She lays down on her side and gives me her paw. I'm not sure if we're going to turn that into a play dead or just something cute.

They are total opposites. In looks anyway.

They look like total opposites. Jessie has a black muzzle and Roz has a white muzzle. Jessie has dark stripes and Roz has light stripes. They are like yin and yang.
"yin/yang In Chinese thought the two great opposite but complementary forces at work in the cosmos. Yin is the female, cold, dark, passive power, yang represents masculinity, light, and warmth." Oxford University Press

Hand signals? No problem.

I am taking my girl Roz to Jen Bachelor's greyhound clicker, training class. When I got home I started working with Jessie. No offense to my darling Roz but Jessie has it all over her when it comes to wanting to learn. She just didn't get tired of me teaching her so I stopped in 20 minutes because I was afraid she would throw up from having too many treats. I actually started giving her kibble because it's got to be fewer calories and she loves any kind of food as long as she can eat it. She now sits and does down with hand signals. We do a "touch the cup" exercise and as soon as she realized that if she touched the cup she'd get a treat, she literally did this over and over and over again. It started getting funny. Touch the cup, get a treat, touch the cup, get a treat. It went that fast. I knocked the cup over on its side and that didn't deter her at all. Now I'm working on getting her to come to me or "front" when she's outside and I need her to come right away. I'll keep you posted. This is fun!

I can sit!

I told Jessie to sit yesterday and in the meantime I was trying to do something with Roz. When I looked back over at Jessie, SHE WAS SITTING!!! I know it's not a fluke because she did it again and again. Not only that, she lays down too! I'm just so thrilled (with myself as well as her. ha ha.) I told her that she may as well give in because she was going to learn to sit if it was the last thing I did. I'm going to start training her with the clicker too this week. I took Roz to Jen's clicker training this morning but she wasn't interested until Jen gave me some chicken to tempt her with. Then her light bulb went on. Before I try any more clicker training, I need to cook some chicken. Tomorrow. I'll get a picture of her sitting and post it.

Who is that dog in the mirror?

Since the first day that she got here, Jessie has stared at herself in the mirror. I clean my full length mirror off every day and she messes it up within minutes of me cleaning it off. It is the funniest thing I've every seen. She just stands there looking at herself. Then she'll look at me and then back at herself. She will also watch TV if there's a dog on the screen. It really holds her attention. She really is a beautiful dog. Her fur is so soft and shiny.

In a Pig's ear.

I gave Jessie a pig's ear for the first time today and she loved it. Roz isn't a fan of them and only likes to steal the ones that have already been softened. Gross, isn't it? She steals them away from Jessie after she's softened them up. Yuck. I can't imagine chewing on a pig's ear to begin with. Jessie didn't know what to do with it when I first gave it to her. She tried to pick it up off the floor but was stepping on it. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't pick it up. It didn't take her long to figure it out and she took it over to her bed to chew on it. I'm glad I bought a big bag.

Kisses for everyone.

It took about 1 minute for Jessie and my teenage son, Josh, to get to know each other. Jessie isn't shy and makes no bones about loving to be hugged and loved. I think she got a quick smooch in there too.

We're working on some tricks!

I have never had a greyhound that could sit but I have had two fosters that could. Not on command, but they could sit. I was fixing Jessie's dinner the other night and I looked over to see her sitting and waiting for me to finish. So for the last week I have been working on reproducing her sit. She just doesn't get it but when I push down on her rear, she is now easily going down into a sit. Before she had her legs locked. From the sit, we go into a down. She'll get it sooner or later. I'm not going to give up. I'm taking Roz to Jen's clicker training class next Saturday and that will help me figure out how to connect with Jessie.

I know my name!

Since Jessie has been here, we had a hard time getting her attention and getting her to come to us. I actually thought she might deaf because she wouldn't respond....at all. So last night while she was laying next to me, I clapped my hands. Both dogs jumped. I knew she could hear.

This morning, she was laying in the bedroom and I was in our master bath. I called her and without hesitation, she got up and came in to me. Lots of lavish praise. We were both so excited that she heard me and responded.

Nap time-again

Jessie has been settling in nicely. She and Roz run in the backyard every second or third day and they play very nicely together. Roz is pushy because she wants to play.

The last couple of days have been a test in trying to get them outside to potty before the next storm pops up. Jessie doesn't like it to be raining when she goes outside. So last night I put both of their raincoats on before shoving them out the door and they just stood there looking at me. I figured I would be able to get Jessie to go by putting her leash on and going outside with her. We walked around for 15 minutes before I gave up and just brought her back in. She still didn't have an accident in the house. What a good girl.

Working on the stairs

Jessie is having a hard time learning the stairs. She figured out how to come down pretty easily but going up is another story. I put her feet on the third set of steps and just start walking her feet up while pushing against her rump with my legs. She never helps until we're about 5 steps from the top then she's so proud of herself. She jumps around and wags her tail around and around like a helicopter. Then she goes about exploring each room. We've taken her upstairs about 4 times now and it's getting easier.

Posing for pictures

Jessie is now getting up when we do-between 7-8:00 and lets us sleep. Her time to play is in the morning and she just has to "let it out". This morning she ran circles around the downstairs of the house. Dining room, kitchen, family room. Dining room....you get the picture. Total bliss. She finally lay down panting.

I took her all the way up the stairs yesterday and she was so scared. She trusted me though as I moved each front let at a time and then each back leg. All the while keeping her from backing down by standing directly behind her. When she got upstairs she was so excited and went from room to room checking them out. When it was time to go back down, she froze again. My son got behind her to keep her from backing back up while I moved each foot. She was excited when we got downstairs too.

This dog is going to be such a blessing for whatever family chooses her. I am totally in love with her. She is the perfect dog. Easy to teach, listens, loves food and is beautiful inside and out.

Wiki, AKA Jessie, slept until 8:00 AM , when I got up this morning. what a relief. I don't mind getting up at 6:00, but only if it's MY choice.

I have not been been kenneling her because I feel that the kennel that I have is too small. She can't lay down and straighten out her legs. I feel more comfortable knowing that she's able to stretch, so I choose to leave her free in the house. I haven't regretted that decision in the three days that she's been here. She hasn't had an accident in the house, or chewed on anything (although she hoards things in her bed), or done anything out of line which includes counter surfing. I never leave food on my counters unattended but she's sniffed a few times and I scolded her and that's all it's taken.

Jessie isn't afraid of anything so far. The fireworks didn't scare her at all and neither did the vacuum cleaner yesterday. Although she got out of the way, she didn't cower or run. She doesn't appear to be afraid of children but I will check that out today. My neighbor wants to come over and see her and she has three little girls.

She found a soft bed.

I think Peanut (we're calling her Suzie) likes freedom and all that it has to offer.

Roz and Wiki in the backyard

Roz and Wiki love to explore together. I have a muzzle on Wiki because she gets so excited when outside. She has calmed down today and is really starting to relax. She no longer whines and paces when I'm out of her sight. My Daughter, Kim, took Wiki for a short run today. She was exhausted when she got back and has been sleeping ever since. She got up when we got home from lunch and enjoyed being brushed. Then she went right back to sleep.

Wiki's first night

Wiki took a while to settle in last night but slept the whole night through. She has been running in the backyard with Roz and playbows so freely and easily. She gets so excited and runs in a circle. If she could smile, she would. She's seems so happy being here. I found her in my bedroom with my daughter's stuffed dog playing so cute. It was a shame to have to take it away from her, but I gave her another one to take it's place.

I cut her nails yesterday and she was almost as good as Roz about it. She was a little stiff but it's because she didn't know what to expect. I suspect it will get much easier the more she experiences it. I am going to give her a bath today to make her smell wonderful. I let you know how she does but I'm sure she'll be as great as every other greyhound I've given a bath to.

She has gotten up to the third stair all on her own but is too nervous to go any further. I helped her up one more but she backed down. It shouldn't take long.

Wiki hasn't had any accidents in the house and obviously knows to go outside to relieve herself. She squats almost as soon as I let her out.

Eating comes easy to Wiki and she sure loves her food. She doesn't eat as fast as some greys I've known. She's a very clean eater too and eats every morsel that's dropped on the floor.

Wiki is now a foster

Wiki (we're trying new names on her) is settling in nicely. Everytime she goes out into the backyard, she just runs like she's happy to be free. Roz chases her. It seems like they are going to be great friends but I still put Wiki's muzzle on her to be sure there are no mishaps.

She tried out Sydney's bed for a few minutes and when I got up to get the camera, up she jumped to follow me.

I took a video of Peanut and Roz running in the backyard and will try to post it tomorrow. I am sure she'll be exhausted and will sleep great tonight because she hasn't laid down for more than two minutes yet.