Hot Damn!

I haven't actually gone through and done an analysis of how many positive blog entries I've written versus negative ones through the years. I'd like to pretend that they are equal, but I know they're probably not... and that's really crappy reporting on my part, because as most people know usually the good comes in equal to the bad. (Or hopefully there's actually more of it overall -- fingers crossed, right?)

I know that Quigs and Rogers will tell you I'm way too modest to brag about stuff. But here I go. I'm about to brag, or, um, try to.

After several dismal weeks of weight what-evers, family whining, injuries, canceled vacations and a pet dying of cancer, I've got something positive and happy to report on.

My dog is smart. Holy shit is she smart. The rescue thinks she is only three months old, so I didn't expect this much brains this early. Usually by six months, but man, she's ahead of the curve.

Just now, as I was typing at 5:35 a.m. madly trying to purchase a birthday gift for a niece that is -- ahem -- SEVEN WEEKS LATE (see list of dismal weeks above, good aunt I am not this year for some reason), my dog stopped playing with her rope/ball toy and RAN to the back door. She smacked her paw on the glass, so I let her out. She high tailed it to the back fence, peed, turned to her right, walked five yards and pooped.

We haven't had an in-house accident since Sunday afternoon. And that's kind of crazy. Even though I've been taking her out pretty much every hour during the day. She's also doing great being left in the crate. We're up to 2-3 hours and the little excited peeing she was doing when she got here whenever we'd come back home has stopped completely.

In addition to the successful house training, she knows her name (although she still ignores me when I call it and she's doing something more important, like sniffing a toad), plays well with other dogs, doesn't pull on the leash when we walk, accepts her toys as replacement chew items for things she's not supposed to chew on, respects the cats and loves kids. She also loves to cuddle and hang out at my feet under the desk in the kitchen (where she is right now). She's currently not afraid of the vacuum or thunderstorms, and she fetches... repeatedly. She brings the ball to you and waits for you to take it and drops it. No tugging, no keep away. Just -- please throw. But she's also not obsessed with it.

The only thing that get her a tad concerned is when cars drive by us on walks, and since she was picked up on the side of the road... I'm not surprised. She also won't willingly jump into the car by herself. She wants me to help her. And, she's not much for the sprayer during baths. But she doesn't mind the soap or the rubdown at all.

Last night, she slept from 9:45 p.m. to 4:45 a.m. without having to go out. Today, I take her to the vet to get her sutures out and to meet Dr. Mary for the first time. We'll see how she does. But yeah, so far, her little brain is just amazing.