We've been waiting for rain here for the past two months.... and now that it's here, I'm wishing for the rain to quit at least four times a day when I have to take Savannah out for a walk. Actually, she doesn't seem to mind the rain, and she didn't take so long to do what she needed to do outside this morning, but still, rain is still rain and rain is wet and who wants to be out there getting wet? (Not I, said the Puppy Momma.)
Earlier this morning (before dawn) we had thunder and lightning, and I came downstairs because Savannah barked just once. I thought she had to go outside, which she did, and we made it back to the porch just before the rain-clouds really opened up. Savannah still got a little wet and I wrapped her up in that big towel that I got at the thrift store.... she looked like Mother Theresa and didn't seem to mind being covered from head to tail in terrycloth while I dried off her paws. This puppy is so content that at times it seems like I could do anything at all to her and she would just sit there smiling at me. Trust is a beautiful thing in puppies.
I'm hoping that Savannah will be just as cooperative when I dress her up for Halloween, and I've also ordered a hooded sweatshirt for her, in bright pink to match her pink velvet leash. (Yes, I've lost my mind, but it's fun.)
Back to the rain, though... I've not made a big deal about the rain or the thunder and lightning. When the loud thunderclaps hit, I made believe I didn't even hear them because I don't want Savannah to be afraid of that noise. (Not that we get all that many rain-storms up here.) I've read in the dog books that your dog will pick up on your own reactions so I figured if I stayed calm, so would she, and it worked.
When we had Gracie, I would open up the back door and send her outside in the yard by herself when it was raining. I'd stand by the door and tell her "Hurry up, Gracie, hurry up!" and she knew what that meant (another dog book training tip) and she would do what she had to do and then come to the back door to be dried off with her towel. Savannah is not at the point yet to be sent out in the yard by herself. And with all the wildlife walking around here, especially at night, I don't think I'd want to do that anyway. Our old house in Clear Lake was very convenient with Gracie because the yard was all fenced in. Not the case here, and I wouldn't want to be searching 23 acres for Savannah if she got loose in the middle of the night. Or in the middle of the day, for that matter. For now, Savannah needs to be kept on a leash, and that means I am attached to the other end of the leash, come rain or come shine. I've been telling Savannah to "Hurry up!" when we're out there, but I'm not sure she understands what that means yet.
Our stash of extra monkey toys continues to grow. My husband came home from Houston last night with a plastic bag filled with two blue monkeys and one bright pink monkey. We didn't let Savannah see the bag or its contents and I hid the plastic sack in the cabinet with her other monkeys and the supply of treats and chew-bones that I've been buying. I told my husband that we can stop looking for the monkey toys now. I think we have enough of those soft monkeys to last Savannah for the next six months at least. (No, this puppy is not spoiled. And yes, I have lost my mind.)
Our Halloween party is next weekend and I'm thinking that I may just keep Savannah in the breakfast room during the party. That's been her safe place since her first days here, and it still is, and by keeping the French doors closed between the breakfast room and the dining room, and then putting a borrowed double-sized baby gate between the breakfast room and the kitchen, Savannah will be able to see the party but not become part of the party. I'm hoping that none of the men's costumes will be scary enough to frighten her because she's afraid of men as it is. (The exception being my husband... Savannah has gotten over that now, thank goodness.)
I'm hoping that Savannah will be as quiet as a mouse during the Halloween party, just as she is when we have our Wednesday afternoon tea parties. Hope floats on that one.
No comments:
Post a Comment