Puppies bring a different level of energy and awareness to a room. I remember it with Holly and now see it with Kimber. I often comment about how fast three years go by, now I will add how much can change in three years! Holly is reserved with Kimber, especially in the house. Helen plays dead if the puppy is anywhere close to her. Gracie disappears. Then there is Holly, fair game! Kimber would run, jump, charge, roll often with sharp little sawblades nipping at Holly’s fur. A few times I saw Holly’s skin stretch out, other times her feet were doing quick high steps to avoid what was coming. Round and round in the kitchen they went. Finally, and I do mean finally, Holly had had enough. Kimber was tugging on her belly, Holly turned and placed her whole mouth around Kimber’s head, perfectly timing a growl in doing so. Holly let go and gave a snap with one sharp bark as added emphasis. Kimber’s little paws spun on the floor, twirling herself around and running behind my legs for safety. Standing by the sink I continued to ignore both of them to see how they would finish this lesson. Holly sat and sulked by the fridge with a long, sad look. I didn’t think she had it in her, and it looked as if she surprised herself too. She was expecting a scolding, I said nothing. Kimber sat behind my legs, motionless while staring at Holly. Both laid down for a nap, keeping an eye on the other. I found reason to walk over towards Holly and bent down to say ‘good girl, Holly – you are a good mom!’ Ever since Kimber has a new respect for Holly when in the house.
Outside, it is still game on! But Holly has the upper edge when outside and can easily get Kimber twisted in knots, or buried in snow! Kimber tries so hard to catch Holly. I know the day will come, likely not long, that Kimber will easily be able to keep up or catch Holly in their game of chase.
Holly has started Rally class again. This time I have been trying to work with her more, by that I mean finding the right motivation to keep her head in the game. She did well in class, indeed doing the runs off leash the whole night. Freeze dried liver treats were the trick. What has perked her up also is that she doesn’t do the jump anymore. She will get sheepish and moody as we passby the jumpstand, then perk back up when we have passed. The instructor has given Holly & I a pass on the jumps. Apparently jumps are only asked of the dog at the Advanced Level so it’s a ‘why bother’ step for us now, very much appreciated by Holly.
The newfound courage and off leash accomplishments apparently have Holly feeling pretty darn confident in herself. I stopped at PetSmart today and decided it was Holly’s turn to go with me inside. When I reached under the seat to get her lead, she opted to hurdle over my back and proceeded to the sidewalk – following the identical path we would be doing if she were on lead healing with me. Off she went, taking a sharp right turn, getting to the corner, taking a sharp left turn and approaching the automated doors to enter the building. I was behind her, closing the gap slowly, getting more angry and concerned as she trotted on her mission. ‘Holly, Come’ no longer applied to her, apparently that is all puppy stuff now. She slowed a bit to do a quick sniff of the ground, allowing me to reach out and grab her tail. In another step or two, the store doors would have opened for Holly to prance in and announce her presence, with a hysterical owner trying to make things look normal. I’m certain Holly would have went straight to the check out counter, which to her is the treat dispenser. Things changed quickly once I grabbed her tail. She tried to do the happy look and turn as if we could just go inside and make like nothing happened. I wasn’t having it. Instead my cocky 3 year old golden was held by the collar, I’m truly not sure if her front feet touched the ground on the way back to the car. Once she was in the car, I ranted at her some more, then Helen & I proceeded to go in the store, after a good slamming of the car door.
Once the adrenaline left me, I had the chuckles envisioning Holly doing everything so right in the wrong situation. She immediately went to the sidewalk, never stepped off of it. She sharply cut her corners. She was focussed and heading straight for the door. Just last night she was praised and rewarded with treats for working off leash. Today, not so much. Maturing can be confusing.
Loving the Snow
