latest DIY–I decided we needed a ramp, and once again hubby was willing to comply (use some new tools).
yardwork
catching up with good friends
most importantly, remembering–my dad’s navy years were very influential and I have always appreciated and honored those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
Recently I had a dog care problem. I work part-time so I am not away from my dogs much but when I do need some support my mother-in-law has always been the one to come and give the dogs the attention they need.
She and Maisie became fast friends and walking partners. Â They are quite a spectacle, my mother-in-law is tiny and Maisie, well she is a little large. Â Maisie out weighs her and they get a lot of attention.
When Annie came home, Maisie showed her the way to the tiny lady with the never-ending bag of treats and she quickly accepted her as one of her people. Â In Annie’s world, there are 4 of us; me, my husband, my daughter and my mother-in-law. Â Everyone else is suspicious.
I know I should have had a plan for the time when my mother-in-law wasn’t available, but dog walkers or doggie day-care are out of the question. Â I have tried to gently introduce Annie to friends and neighbors, sometimes more successfully than others, but now I just had to make it work.
I turned to my dear friend and neighbor Evan. Â She is my coffee buddy, we sit in my kitchen, sipping coffee and catching up with whatever may be happening in our lives. Â We’ve done this for years, she has known all of my dogs and Annie has certainly seen her enough times to know that she is someone I trust.
I tried to make it as simple as possible; come over around noon, let the dogs out, give them a few treats and then leave them loose in the house till I get home around 4:30.
The first text came through around 12:15, Maisie went out but Annie didn’t. Â She was fine when Evan opened her crate but then she started barking and wouldn’t leave the room. Â When Evan tried to cajole her down the hallway to get outside, she went back in her crate and hid. Â Shit, I forgot about the narrow hallway! Annie’s been fine with it for months, but following an outsider wasn’t something she was willing to do.
I quickly fired back to try and lead her the long way around the house to get through the kitchen, but there was no response. Â As the minutes ticked away, with me obsessively checking my laptop for updates (of course, this is the one day I left my cell phone on the kitchen counter as I was rushing out the door), I was getting more and more frantic. Â I had my keys in my hand, ready to rush home to relieve her when I finally got a notice that she had enlisted the help of my next door neighbor.
Carol talks to the dogs over the fence when she is coming and going. Â Apparently she heard Annie barking and saw Evan in the backyard with Maisie. Â She came running over with chicken treats in hand. Â Annie gobbled up the supply, inching her way toward the door but still unwilling to go outside. Â Carol ran home to get more and try again. Â On the second attempt, Evan took over and tossed the treats further away so Annie had to take several steps forward to get them. Â Finally, success!
Being Annie’s guardian and protector is wonderful but exhausting! Â The next day, I had Evan over for coffee and assisted Evan and Annie in another treat exchange. 2 days later, Evan came over to let the dogs out and Annie followed her the long way around the house and out the door on the first try. Â As with everything, Annie will do it her way, in her own time. Â We get to love her in return.