A full week for me 'n' Abby

This last week with Abby has been a good and interesting one.   She has, at times, really tested my patience as her prey drive takes over her attention.   She can be so focused on a pigeon that she is difficult to walk until the bird is out of sight but then we have had some completely awesome training sessions and some great walks where she is really focused on me and we have alot of fun walking, playing and training etc.    

Abby went to her first couple of days at dog daycare on Monday and Tuesday of this week and I'm told she played really well with a couple of other dogs.   She was part of a chasing game and wasn't bothered too much by the other dogs but when it came to sniff-and-be-sniffed she seems to be misinformed the only she is allowed to do the sniffing.  On walks she will sniff and be sniffed but at dog daycare she was more overwhelmed at times and was a bit snarky about it.   I'm told she does not go on the attack but does put out a warning.   With a walk after daycare, we come home and she eats and then curls up on her bed and sleeps.  Our evening walks have been the most productive and she heels at my side like a pro.   We sure get alot of looks and comments from people.  A well behaved dog, especially such a pretty one, gets the attention every time.

With all the fall leaves blowing around, at times she's gotten very excited thinking she sees a small critter running down the road....she hops on her hind legs to get a better vantage point and then finally realizes its just a leaf.  

On Wednesday we were invited by Kensington Foundation to go to Tisol's in Vancouver.   They were filming a commercial to drum up food for the pet food bank.   We got to Tisol's and different groups had brought their animals as they weren't just looking for dogs to be in the commercial.  So, I dared to take a prey-driven dog into a pet store with ferrets, kittens, large and small birds, rabbits and a large turtle.   Abby let everyone know that the 'husky is here'.   She was quite vocal but the funny (or not so funny) thing about it all was that she was whining about a stuffed sheep that she saw in the middle of the store.   She was in such a state about it and walking away didn't calm her so finally we went right up to it and I tucked it under my arm.   She really really wanted it....and I'm sure it wasn't to cuddle up to it.   She finally lost interest in the toy and then she actually was able to see the turtle that was walking around and the ferret running free.   She advanced us to first spot in the commercial so we could out of the store the quickest ; ).  It was like taking a kid to a candy store.   We came out with her moment of fame and a very generous donation of dog food which will be sent up to Turtle Gardens.   They will hopefully send me a copy of the commercial and maybe I'll be able to share it on-line....but watch for Abby on TV in the meantime. 


Abby at the 'shoot'

 After we left Tisol I went to Granville Island and went through the center courtyard off the market, where all the birds congregate to snatch up some scraps from everyone's lunches.   Our first pass through the birds was a bit out of control but our second pass through was much better and we even got to sit on a bench a soak up some sun.   Abby had birds coming literally within a few feet of her and she was stretched out on her side, relaxed.   She was such a good girl!

 

On Thursday a friend phoned me from the Bosley's in Richmond.   There were a few wristbands left to get an autograph from Cesar and to be entered into the draw for $250 at Bosley's.   I was close by so went down there.   I got my wristband and we went for a walk on the dyke.   We got back in time to be ushered in past Cesar in groups of 25 people at a time.   It was a very rushed process.   I know some people are fans of his and some aren't and I'm sure there's lots I may not know about the good and the bad people might have to say about him but it was still a rush to see him drive up, standing out of the sunroof of the SUV and the crowd cheering for him.  He really doesn't look any different to me than he does on TV.  I told him Abby was a fostered rescue dog and he said something nice about that, the picture was taken and then the next person came up behind me.  I've heard people say his live show was very good.  As always, me and Abby were a walking poster for TG (yes, she had a yellow TG bandana on, of course).  It was quite crowded at times and lots of dogs.  Abby got her back hairs up at times if dogs came in too close or too excited to greet her but on the flip side when we stopped anywhere for longer than a few minutes she laid down and wasn't fussed about getting going.    Some people's dogs were straining against their leashes trying to get involved in all the excitement and Abby was such a gem as she just laid down by my feet.   

 

Thursday night was off to curling and Abby slept in the back of the truck.  Not a peep out of her.   She has done really well with the brief times that I've left her so far.  Anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours.   

So, things on the agenda for the coming week are lots of good walks and continued clicker training and more dog meet and greet time on the street and at daycare.  I really wouldn't say she isn't dog social because she does get along (and we know she certainly got along with lots of dogs up at TG) but she just needs to tolerate the initial approach better.  

"What an exhausting week"