HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, SKYE

I can't believe my naughty little girl is already 2 years old, but it's true! Unfortunately we didn't have much of a chance to celebrate. It is lovely to see how far Skye has come and she is such a joy to be with now! I love you sooooooooo much, Skye-girl. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Some udpates - major improvement with bones

I thought I'd risk giving the guys a bone to clean teeth today. Last time I did this it was a major disaster due to Skye's extreme guarding where she didn't even let ME within any reasonable distance; let alone the other dogs. I had to trick her to get the bone away from her and she was very guardy and growly for many hours afterwads. Well, today, she still did a good mean growl at the dogs walking past at a few yards, but she did let them walk past now AND once she had finished with the bone, she allowed me to exchange her bone for a few treats after a bit of convincing! Hurray! I am over the moon as a bone is the highest value item she guards and she wouldn't let anyone near her at all hence why they haven't had bones for a long time! But my girl has come a long way and now we are finally breaking boundaries down with this last and biggest issue of her.


For the last couple of weeks, I have also been going to agility again now that the obedience season is mostly over. Skye is doing brilliantly in agility and really enjoying it. She is confident on all the obstacles, does a pretty good (and almost independent) weave now and her attention is much improved. Not bad for a crazy thing that has only done a handful of sessions I reckon. She does some bits and pieces with Elke in Advanced, and I do Intermediate with her to give her more 1-2-1 practice! She is a natural!

Stuff...

First of all, antibody test came back a while ago. No antibodies, so that's no autoimmune thyroiditis. Mark wants to re-test due to the less than optimal results. I sent results to Jean Dodds too and she confirms this. So I'll retest her thyroid in about 6 months. It's not urgent, as her aggression issues are just fine.

Secondly, Skye is generally doing ok. Sitting room is usually all in one piece now when both Emily come in as well as me. House training still dodgy when it is wet outside, otherwise quite good now.

She has taken to breaking out of the car crates though when I walk away at obedience shows... She'd then sit in the front seat waiting for me... If I was sure she didn't touch anything, I'd leave her there, but I can't be sure and I don't want to come back to a wrecked, undrivable car - though I have to say the three times this has happened, she hasn't touched anything.
I have now cabletied the back crate (the strong one) so hopefully that'll keep her in place. LOL

New walk and test results

TEST RESULTS: On Friday, we got the first set of test results back, which is T4, freeT4 and TSH. T4 is on 17, which is very close to the lower end of normal... so it looks like Skye might also be hypothyroid. Just waiting for the second half of the results which will tell us whether she has antibodies or not. NEW WALK: Today Emily came with Lucas again to do some more toddler socialising! And it went really well and was a good improvement from last time. Dylan was totally happy and asleep most of the time (tired from vets and a walk afterwards), Flash still worried occasionally but overall much happier, Jesse was amazing and invited Lucas to play several time by play bowing at him (though sometimes realising that he was too brave and backing off a bit then LOL) and Skye pretty confident, but needs to learn more not to take Lucas' toys. We were really pleased. Afterwards I took Skye and Jesse to South Norwood Lakes walking with Emily up there. It was the first time I took them to that park and they loved it. They are now nice and tired. I did a bit of training there too and they responded very well to everything I asked. And I have to say I was also well pleased with their road walking as there was very little pulling. Good little spangles, they were. :-)

First Gotcha Day

I can't believe that it is alraedy a year since this little rascal arrived here! And what a journey it has been... I have learnt so much and although it was stressful at times, I wouldn't want to miss it. HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, my little girl! Love you so much!

Skye's a little super star - well sometimes she is! LOL

Well, today was the day when Skye's lepto and titre test was due, and I got her thyroid tested. I was really worried about this appointment. When I got her a year ago, one of the things I had to teach her very intensively is being handled, in particularly her feet. She hated having her feet touched, having nails clipped, being restrained etc. I did lots of clicker training with her to give paw, to hold her arm still, me stretching her arm out (e.g. as you would to take blood), increasing the length of time holding still etc. In addition, Skye was - as we know - the type of girl that will grumble and threaten if unhappy, stressy or tired! Well, this morning it was all put to the test. Skye needed her lepto vaccination, and two lots of blood taken for titre test and thyroid test! And she past with flying colours! Mark and I didn't even need the nurse to help! Not a grumble, no avoidance at all, just a couple of unsure glances whilst I was holding her (gently I may add) and keeping still all the way through... and lots of treats at the end of it of course as a thank you. I am so proud of my little girl, I could burst! It is so nice to see when all the training comes together at last - and (nearly) all the naughty things she's done (like knicking Emily's ice cream yesterday!) and no doubt will do in future are forgiven!

Skye's first agility course

Over the last few sessions, I sneaked Skye onto the agility course every so often during Jesse's session to teach her the new obstacles. Well, today she was at the point where she could do all the obstacles, so I decided to give her a go. She was great, very impressed! Her spaniel nose will kick into action once in a while, so I have to be much more on the ball in keeping her attention than I have to with Jesse, but she has done so well today considering it's the advanced class and it was her first time doing a proper course. Very proud of her and looking forward to do more with her. She is also coming along really nicely with the obedience, though I won't compete with her this year (technically she would be up to scratch) as she needs more work on attention keeping outdoors with other dogs around and just a little more time maturing I think! But she'll come good. :-)