Sierra Chronicles - 1st week

It's now been a full week since Sierra joined the 'pack'. Everyone absolutely loves her. My Mom even lets her sleep beside her bed. Now, this is huge, considering my Mom has NEVER in my life, ever allowed the family dog past the front foyer or back enterance. So for her to allow Sierra upstairs....WOW!!!!

I took Sierra back to our usual North Shore trail on Saturday, so she could socialize with other puppies and because she likes to swim in the river there. Also, I wanted to try her off-leash in an area I knew well.

After explaining to her that she had to listen to me or she'd go right back on-leash, I let her off. And she was off!! Running, enjoying herself, I called her back, she looked at me and kept walking. I call again and kneel down to make it fun. She comes back about 20 feet then goes up a small hill. All this time I'm wondering how I'm going to catch her to leash her up. Then She comes back to me. I give her a hug and some praise and she continues on with her fun. Part of the problem is she didn't know her name really well.

After that she was an absolute gem. She never went too far and always looked back to see where I was. It was beautiful watching her so full of life and fun. Running down the bank and jumping headlong into the river, splashing around with other dogs. At one point she ran down a bank to splash around, I was still up on the trail walking. I call her, she tries to follow me while running in the shallow part of the river. Finds she can't get back up to me, so runs all the way back to where she went down, runs up, runs full speed towards me (huge smile too), sees a chocolate lab, runs past and while trying to stop, shakes the water off. One of the funniest things I've seen in a long time, a hundred pound dog doing a mid-air shake....all legs, tail and floppy ears.

I think I'm going to have to do this (go to the NS trails) once or twice a month, just so she can get in her socializing and fun time. In Port Coquitlam (where we will be living), I don't think there are any off-leash parks. Also, I think she has allergies to some of the grasses on the trails in PoCo., she gets a bit of a drippy nose after we go for walks there. Perhaps the forest trails are better than the savannah type.

Oh, and I may have found a garden apartment for us. We went to see it on Saturday, I put in a bid on Sun., it was countered and accepted, so now it's up to the bank. It's 2 bedrooms with a large patio right beside a small park. It seems like a nice quiet area and only a few blocks from a bunch of trails, also, a few blocks the other way is 'downtown' Poco.

If all goes well I will take posession of it in late July. Guess I should go pack!

Adoption Day +2 part 2

The night of the 11th was rainy, with winds kicking up. Lots of night noises. I put Sierra's bed in the room I was staying in. Turn off the light and crawl into bed, she tries to crawl into bed with me. Picture me laying in a single bed and a large dog trying to crawl up and cuddle. Finally convinced her that she should sleep on her nice fluffy 42" bed. Closed the door part way because of a nightlight in the hall. Eventually I fall asleep. Every time she moved, I woke up to check on her. Every time I moved, she woke up to check on me.

At one point she was having a dream that made her whine. At another I thought she was snoring deep and low. Then I realized she was growling. She was sitting up and looking out my door, down the hall (there's a night light in the centre of it). So I got up and opened the door more, she very stealthily walked out and straight down the hall to my parents room. Then immediately ran to the room my niece and nephew were staying in. All ok! She comes back.

I get back into bed, she comes up to the bed and cuddles her face into my neck. Then lays down and falls asleep. A few hours (?) later she wakes me up wimpering. This is the 1am pee break.

Downstairs we go as quietly as possible. Leash up, coat up, and out into the pouring rain. Thank goodness she went almost right away. Back inside, leash and coat off, up the stairs and into bed. We finally shut the night light off, and when we did, she settled right down and went to sleep.

After awhile though, she felt the need to go and sleep outside my parents' bedroom. OK, good. she's protecting them. Back and forth between my room and theirs until she finally gave up and slept in the middle of the hall. She could see me, my parents, the kids room and anyone that would try to get up the stairs.

Somewhere between 2 & 4am Sierra was growling and looking at the window. We were on the 2nd floor, so I get up and look out the window...paper delivery.

Sometime just after sunrise she wakes me up again to go out to pee. Down the stairs quietly, coat and leash on. Out the front door. We end up walking around the block...in the rain and wind. Back inside, coat and leashes off I lay down on the floor on my side. She lays down with her back against my stomach, her head on my arm. It was so cute. I've never known such a huggy dog. After a bit we went back upstairs and we both slept soundly for an hour or so.

All in all, I think I slept a total of 3.5 hours, and not all at once. Sierra had even less sleep.

I hope the rest of her nights at Mom & Dad's isn't like this one. My poor baby needs her sleep.

It's tough being away from her (oh yeah, my leaving on Sunday is yet another story), I phoned Sunday night and spoke to her on the phone (yes the conversation was one sided). Today I called a total of 3 times. My parents are going to start thinking I'm crazy. Too bad, after all, any dog lover would do the same thing, wouldn't they?

Adoption Day + 2

Wow, so much has happened since yesterday. Sierra officially became a memeber of my family yesterday at 11:15am. I was sooooo excited, so was she. She was in a playpen with another dog, and when she saw me she went nuts. I went to get the kennel attendant and fill out the final paper work, it was great, they were all so happy for me.

We went to get Sierra. I had the new leash, collar and harness for her which she sniffed and, not finding any other dog scent on them, became even more excited. She was incredibly patient as I put everything on her, and started to lead her out. She thought we were going for a walk, so, after a few minutes of convincing her, she finally understood that she was going for a car ride. I thought she was happy before, but now... WOW! Of course I was grinning ear to ear too.

Next up was a 3 hour appointment at the groomers. I took her for the full-meal-deal at PetSmart. They were really great with her. When I explained that I literally just got her out of 'the pen', and didn't want her to think I was just leaving her somewhere else, they agreed (against policy) to allow me to accommpany Sierra. So there I was, sitting on the floor in front of her kennel, reading a book and trying to keep her calm.

She did so well, I was really proud of her. I'm amazed at how loud it is in there though. I mean, all the machines they use are noisy. No wonder I see dogs scared at places like these. Sierra liked the bath (once she got used to the spray nozzle), and put up with the drier. I think what bothered me most about the entire procedure was the air nozzles they use when drying them in the kennel. It's so noisy. But also, when they started up, Sierra got scared and looked at me like I was gassing her. I almost started to cry. Holding back the tears I kept talking quietly to her and even put my hand in front of the nozzel, just to see how much it was blowing.

After the drying, it came time to clip her nails, which she didn't mind at all. Then a massage and brushing. All in all it was a learning experience for me, successful, but still kind of upsetting. Might try washing her myself next time. Now that WILL be an experience.

We drove out to my parents place next, they are fostering her until I find a place to buy, she was so happy to be in a home. Followed me everywhere. Snuggled alot too.

My parents love her, my niece and nephew too. Sierra was so good, although her 'sit, stay' skills are lacking a bit. I think it's just because of the excitement of being in a new place and wanting to be close to everyone.

There is so much more to this story, a stormy night, Sierra's anxiety, 1am pee break, growling at unfamilliar noises, restlessness, the need to protect all of us....and so on. Neither she nor I slept.

Then, my leaving her at my parents place today, me crying, she upset and trying to follow...I've never had seperation anxiety before. When I got home, I called my parents and they put Sierra's ear to the phone so I could talk to her. Told her I loved her and I would see her on Thursday night (something I had tried to explain for the past 2 days), and to be good. Mom said she was listening. I think she understood because I called back a few hours later to see how she was, and apparently she was sleeping calmly on the floor near my Mom.

What a day Saturday was. I think this will have to be a 2-parter. I'm too tired to write any more.

T - 3 and Counting

Oh Boy!!! only 3 days left, then Sierra officially joins my family. I'm soooo excited! I haven't been able to see her at the shelter for 2 days, driving me nuts. Work really gets in the way of life sometimes. At least when she goes to my parent's place I know she'll get lots of attention and walks. It'll be so great to share a place with her. One of my collegues said; "yup, only three more days til you get a big smelly roommate". SIERRA DOESN'T SMELL!!!! Ok, she is big, but even for a shelter pup, she doesn't smell. Oddly enough, her comment could be said about a few guys I know...I mean if I was dating any of them.

I think I'm all ready for her. I've gotten everything she'll need, and the love & hugs I have in abundance.

Still haven't found a town house. I keep being told conflicting stories...wait and the prices will go down, wait & the prices will go up... don't know who to believe. I think they will level out, but not go down exactly. Maybe building will slow down.

Who knows.