Some In-Between Insight

Now that she has the " waiting " down pat for the car - we have been working on the walking & other dog scenarios.  She kind of reminds me of a trifocal lens in a way.     She is the best @ truly far away ( distance ) & is improving when she sees them across the street (intermediate )   . . . .its the right in front of your face ( close ) that  has her in a " tissy".  She still  gets SO excited   -  BUT is not as frantic as the early days -  I must appreciate  progress when & where  I can see it  :)

I also feel that aren't too many balanced dogs around my neck of the woods.  They lunge @ her first, or they cross the street when they see us coming ( must be a German Shepherd thing ) & my favorite - hide behind a tree!!!   A note to those folks - Lila saw you ditch her, can smell you & hears your lovely canine snarling away............just saying.

I have found a few dog owners who are willing to work w/ me & either walk back & forth while I work w/ Lila or we both put our dogs on a sit & eventually they both just lie down.  These are my favorites b/c in most cases they are dealing w/ a rescue & understand the dynamics of all the time needed to retrain these adult dogs to be well behaved canines.

                         Here she is after one of our " adventurous "  outings :))

                            The Pug also benefits b/c she is too pooped to bother him !!

Light or Dark??

After almost 8 months of owning Lila I do see light @ the end of the tunnel.   That said - the tunnel is still VERY far away.     She seems to  need more exercise than I can give her @ the moment & I'm trying to come up w/ a plan.  I think if I rode Trevor's bike w/ her & she saw another dog...I'd be toast!  When I let her loose @ the tennis courts - she is more interested in her surroundings than where I am.  I often try to hide behind a net ( I know- what??? )  but that worked w/ my other canines including Dudley.  So much of what they perceive is done w/ sight that if I make myself small - not an easy task - it takes them a while to zero in.  Doing this w/ Lila - I can actually legs cramps from squatting!!!   I think a dog park would still be too risky @ this point but a possible in her future :)

                   She's getting very good @ waiting to be asked to exit the car.

                                 And just as polite when waiting to get in the car.


It's just almost everything in between that their are issues..........

Lila Meets her Canine Cousins

We have had many walks now w/ our electronic collar - so I decided to push the envelope a little & let her have a play date of sorts.  My sister & brother both agreed to have Lila come visit & meet her 12 y/o cousin Tess & her 8 mos old cousin Dusty.

          Tess told her off in a nano second & they simply agreed to keep it "casual."

 And by casual I mean - get out of my face!!  Lila remained in the back yard.

                                  While " JAWS" stayed put in the drive way

                                                             Enter Dusty.....

                                                                 And

                                                              They

                                                               Played - hard!!!

                                 A lil dogie break for the 2 wary warriors :)

                                          And they were right back it !

                             Even went as far as to share the same watering hole :)

                                   One last break before Dusty had to go home.....

                                             Parting is such sweet sorrow :)



I was very proud of her & am feeling closer to where I think she could handle a dog park.

                                                      All in good time :))