10 May 2007

Hope you don't mind-but I thought I'd give you another "update" on our girl. Well, I'm in my early 50's and I've noticed the memory is not what it should be. I started calling each of my pets by the other's names and confused everyone. Cindy is too much like "Christie"-my sisters' dog (she's in TN) and I'm afraid I started calling her that more than Cindy. She never skipped a beat-dogs are special that way. If there's a treat-call her anything-just call her!
I have had her rabies/registration and changed the tracking chip. Only cost $18.50-a bargain. When I did it myself on my cats it was $35 each! Well worth it. I never figure mine will get out-but unfortunately during an emergency or storm-well, it has happened to the best of us. At least you know you will get them back-what a peace of mind!

The crate training has gone slowly but well. This week she has 3/4 of the crate and knock-on-wood-been doing wonderful. Like all puppies, if she gets to really playing and hyper she may have an "accident" but nothing we can't handle. Overall she is a dream! She still barks too much, but again-I truly believe that's the puppy crying out and it will get better. Will cross that bridge in say 4 months before I worry about it. No complaints from the neighbors and that is the real concern with most of us. I just have to remember to be a good "mommy" and not react to her barking calls-don't want to reinforce bad behavior. She wakes me up in the middle of the night to do her business...so she is doing very well in my estimation.

She gets along with both cats. My 10 yr old realizes the puppy plays rougher than another cat, so when Christie (there I go again-sorry) gives her that, "I want to chase you and love you to pieces" look-if Muffin is not in the mood, she just acts like a cat and spits. The dog never pushes things-luckily she is the right size!

I highly recommend some gates I got to keep her in & out of some areas. The ones I had were "baby gates" 28" high, plastic and held by pressure. Christie went right over them-same for the cats (which was fine). A co-worker put me onto some that are an "extra tall" 41", with a swing-gate entrance. Again they are held by pressure with caps that can mount on the wall or door frame. It makes going in and out for us poor humans much easier. My co-worker got them via Foster & something (pet catalog) for $69.99. Well, I searched the web and good ole' Wal*Mart had them for $40. Even with the shipping (Foster charged that same)-the savings gave me a real help. To find them I just went to "Google"-typed in a search for "extra tall baby gates"-system gave me Wal*Mart baby section...so either way would work. Just in case someone else needs the info-I wanted to share.

Hope your rescues are going well. Take care with the coming summer heat. You are doing good work and I'm trying to get all my animal lover friends to share with their friends closer to you as a "good cause, let's support them" so if they know of anyone looking for a pet, they can sell the idea of adoption. It is the BEST way to go.

God bless you all,
Maria Lubrano