I want to let you know Jill is doing SSSOOO good it almost hurts my feelings.

 

She's so smart. She has not had one potty accident in the house. If she needs to go some other time than our walking time in the am and evening, she finds me and then runs to the back door.

When we go walking we go in and out of the back gate. Yesterday, we were walking around the block and passed a stranger (two doors down). She walked through the grass and went straight to the front porch. She sat there and refused to go anywhere until I opened the front door for her. (That was the first time she's ever used the front door.)

 

I'm used to my pets on the couch or bed with me, but not her. She likes to lay on a blanket at my feet in front of the couch and sleeps there at night too. She doesn't want to be up on the furniture.

 

We only had the "puppy jail" incident once and that was the second night she was here. She was sacred that night and chewed a little corner on the sofa. It's the only puppy thing she's done. I blocked off my vanity and bothroom with a baby gate and made "puppy jail." She slept there the rest of the night with no problems.

 

She's excellent on a leash. We go for a 15 minute walk 2 times a day. She stays right behind and to the right of me the entire time. (Except once, that bird was just too tempting.)

She loves her nose and belly rubbed and scratches behind her right ear. She snores. (She farts, too. She thought I had lost my mind the first time I heard her. I was rolling on the floor laughing. It was one her daddy would have been proud of.)

 

She's trying to make friends with the kitty. She stays back and everyday Madi moves a little closer. In a few weeks, I image they'll like each other more than me.

 

She has every toy I could think of. Interactive toys, chew toys, balls, rope, rawhide, stuffed toys, and her favorite thing is her blanket.

 

We're doing GREAT!

Shana

8/9/07: Hey guys, I thought I would email and let you know how things are going.

Jilli had her checkup Thursday (her birthday). She's a healthy 60lb. miniature horse. (Dr. Blackburn loves her.) He told me I had to stop spoiling her. He said I am not allowed to call her kennel "puppy jail" anymore and it's not punishment to put her in there. I'm supposed to put her in there when I sleep. Jason is doing a good job at it, but I just can't. I miss her when I wake up and she's not there.

Doc also said the occasional Cheeto is okay as long as she's doing something to earn it. (Sitting next next to me watching tv is doing something, right?) He tried to give her treats. He thought he could make a trail from me to him and she would eat them, but she never did.

He gave her her shots so she can go to Petsmart and play with the other dogs. We go there and walk around every other weekend and she always wants to play with the dogs at daycamp. Now she can!

She's very outgoing at home. She loves to play and jump and chase Mad-cat. She's still very reserved around people who come over. She's okay when we go out because it's usually children that want to pet her and she loves kids.

She's really come around from her first couple of months here.

12/11/08: Just a little update and silly picture.

Jill is doing great. She's learning how to let other people show her affection. She really does very well if she's allowed to greet/meet someone on her terms.

We both are getting healthier. We walk everyday for an hour as long as it's not raining. Treats are treats and not snacks. And we both watch our portion sizes ; )

Her favorite game is hide-and-seek. J and I hide around corners and when she finds us we jump out and chase her. She has a ball. Most of the time we wear out faster than she does.

She loves her Mad-cat and makes sure she gets her exercise, but knows her place and when to stop.

Happy Holidays,
Jill, Madi, Shana & Jason