Edith, Kima says hi

Kima Smiles - Video

She's too scared to go down the basement steps so she's always psyched when I come back up.

Yes, Better

Feeling much better about the whole Kima thing. I will not have to put her down. Sure enough with a little tenacity and diligence she is getting the hang of heeling on walks. She can even "go home" to her bed, whever it is, and stay there for at least a little bit (and longer if we are right there). A friend from work who trains a lot with her German Shepherds said she's pretty smart (which I knew!). She even likes the treadmill (liver is magical like that).

She's going to 'camp' for two weeks when I'm in Mali and hopefully that won't mess her up too bad...the trainer recommended it so I'm hopeful.

Of course...this week is a mess with pig roast and bday prep and huge amounts of things to do and people to check in with before I leave for Mali. Not everything will get done, I know that much.

Work Cut Out

In this period of complete despair, bad luck and neverending personal life incompetence, I just keep listening to Deer Tick's "Dirty Dishes". Find it at Hype Machine.

Kima was evaluated yesterday and I spent the rest of the day crying. But just remember, "things could be/so much worse."

Graduation!

Kima did her sit-down-sit-stand-down-stand test perfectly today at our last class! She got a diploma and a stuffed squirrel and big "great job" from Allie the trainer. Of course she wasn't at all interested in the toy until tonight when she started shaking it like the vermin it represents :)

Then we went down to K9 Koncepts today and it was a bit of a mess - I think that they're so used to aggressive dogs that the language they used about 'you gotta correct', 'gotta break her down first' just really turned me off. Eventually they clued in to my reluctance to dive right into prong collars and were explaining they would focus more on food rewards with us, but within five minutes of us getting there Roland wanted to test Kima with another feisty german shepherd and asked my permission to use corrections with her. I wasn't ok with that and said no, and so then they did a demo with one of their dogs and then sat me down in front of a Cesar Milan video. I'm sure their methods work great and might even work with Kima, but if I'm not comfortable with the approach I won't be able to implement it.

We have another appointment for an evaluation with a certified behavioralist who used to study fetal hemoglobin and malaria before going to vet school. I liked her approach a lot more...so thanks Mr President, your stimulus package will go directly into dog training, one way or the other.

Day in the life of Kima

OMG Dalmatians on youtube

There goes the last half hour of work.

Kima update

Good news first. She slept all night in my room last night! She lurves the sheepskin from Ikea, it's the softest.

Also, we are doing really well at obedience class and she is much improved at walking nicely on the leash.

So the unpleasant...

Last weekend another dog came walking by the fence at the playground we hang out at, and Kima managed to squeeze through a small gap to start trying to bite him. It sounded terrible and of course was frightening for me and the other dog's owner. She bit him on the hindquarters and peeled off and then came to me, and we established that no skin had been broken and the dogs were ok - the owner was great about it, actually. As we were walking away Kima bit me on the calf but didn't break skin (second time she's done this when aroused by nearby dogs).

Obedience class was an hour later and she was actually much better behaved, and really was able to focus and work, with only a couple brief outbursts.

I've arranged to get her evaluated by a woman who does a lot of work with reactive dogs - she has her own rescue dog who helps with the process, and she approaches things very scientifically. She even studied fetal hemoglobin and malaria in grad school! It's not cheap but both the SPCA trainer and I think it'll be a really good thing for her, and give me some solid ways to manage her.

Poor Kima. So scared of other poopers she tries to get them first.

Baroooooo

Watching Kima on the skypecam is whack. She just barked at something for a bit while sitting on the couch then launched into a full 90 second Barooooooo, the saddest sound I have heard in a while. She did this the other morning for just a bit as an ambulance passed by, so perhaps that is what was out the window?

Also, something is happening in Ndjamena.

Sleepy Doggie

I finally got Kima's Skype thing to work by setting the computer to never go to sleep. Now I can call and see the couch whenever. Turns out - quelle surprise - that all she does is sleep!

Also, Chris fixed the problem with my Macbook and the internet by installing new firmware updates on our router. Hooray! We had a really nice brunch at Miss Shirley's too with some of the runniest poached eggs ever on a nice corn cake. After that we chilled and watched The Crimson Rivers, a 2000 french thriller/cliché-fest by Matthieu Kassovitz, with Jean Reno (swoon) and Vincent Cassel (swoon swoon). It reminded me of a film I saw in Bamako with Manu one night at the Babemba movie theatre, in which Jean Reno chases mysterious monks on steroids. Turns out (!) that movie was the sequel to this one! Probably would have been clearer had I remembered the title...Les Rivieres Pourpres II.

Highly recommended if you can't get enough of cheesy yet serious evil plotting and ritual murders.

Kima's home

We've had her for five days now and she is a super couch potato snuggle bunny. She also barks and lunges at other dogs. We're trying to see if she's actually aggressive or just not really able to communicate well with them by taking her over to see Zeke, an elder statesman poodle at Edith's house. Lucy has been very helpful with all kinds of book loans and training and crate activity tips.

It's so nice having her in the house. She walks ok on a leash and is still figuring out what toys are for. Obedience class starts in two weeks!

Kima

Just did the home visit. She was totally comfortable with everything but the basement stairs (no big woop, and probably better for her anyway!). We signed all the stuff and changed her name in the microchip registration to Kima. She comes home next Monday when I'm back from Geneva!

A Really Really Fantastic Day

We had a nice evening out in DC with PC Gabon peeps from near and far, dancing at Ghana Cafe with no punch-out incidents like last time, although Edith did have her ATM card stolen by a quickfingered Adams Morgan drug addict when she walked away from the machine a little too early. So Ghana Cafe's record is still one of fun with a cost.

But that's not even the good part. We went and met Faith Saturday morning, and she is FANTASTIC. Too skinny, very nudgy and loves people, knows how to pee outside and hang out in a crate and sit, and a big loveydovey. I'm gonna love her and feed her and socialize her, if she accepts our house during the 'home visit' tomorrow morning. Am not foreseeing many problems there as our fence is structurally sound and we don't have any tubs of antifreeze sitting out.

After meeting Faith (we will change her name) I drove over to Mt Airy to the bike shop. First thing I hear is "Hey, cool fixie!". Mt Airy is near Frederick and um not so many fixies out there so we are still cool. Larry looks at the bike and says "Can you come back in an hour?" and I'm stupified with happiness. I go to Target and get a few things and come back and THE BIKE IS GOOD AS NEW. The rear was 2 inches out of alignment, the worst he's ever seen, the fork was also messed up, and he replaced my classic seatpost with a new lighter one with a single bolt adjustment, and made a little collar for it. Then all the shop guys had to take a spin on the bike. "One foot no hands," that's the test, he said, riding it nice and straight. Amazing. So I got my baby back and a new one on the way and all is excellent in the world again. Sean and Marin came over for tacos and we watched the original 3:10 to Yuma, which I was not awake for and might watch again this evening with Hope.

I have pics also of the Blik decorating we have done but I think the cable is at work...will post tomorrow before I leave for Geneva!

Names

NICO/NIKO
MISHA AIDEN LOLA CARVER
LAIKA KIMA STU SASHA
ADA NIKITA TASHA
GAIA FREYA GUS GRETA
LEELA KAYA

Meeting Faith on Saturday!

Going out to Finksburg (a good omen?) to meet Faith on Saturday!

Faith Update

"Faith is a sweetheart, crate-trained, house-trained, up to date on all vaccines and heartworm negative. She is ready to find her forever home!"

Trying to go see her this weekend. If all goes well, she'll be my doggie, and if not, then I go for Sterling!

The climbing crew are already calling me Cruella Deville.

Narrowed

Ok I think I'm narrowed down to Faith or Sterling.

omg. please doggies now please!

Fayetteville

Just talked to Harley's ex-mom, who happens to be the euthanasia technician at the shelter where he's staying. Apparently her ex-husband just let all his dogs loose one day and they brought the poor guy in, but Harley used to go looking for kids to play with, and likes to play or lay under your desk, and actually prefers to go potty outside his kennel. Not exactly housetrained, but not averse to it. He hasn't had any obedience training and doesn't know any commands really. And he's located in Fayetteville, WV, which is not exactly Alexandria VA as I had thought. It's about 5 1/2 hours from Baltimore.

It's a long way to go for a slightly complicated doggie, even if he is totally adorable and sounds awesome. And - since Tara can't bear to put him to sleep herself, maybe he'll hang on long enough to find another home...?

Harley

This is Harley, a 3.5 yr old, 40 lb Cattle Dog mix, who is at a rural shelter with limited time. The previous owner says: He is GREAT with children. He will actually go looking for kids to play with. Good with other dogs and with cats.

Harley's got medium energy level, not very noisy, he's fairly outgoing.... sometimes he's a little shy with people he doesn't know at first. He does very well on a leash. Very loveable and LOVES attention.

He was kept outside, so he'll need some housetraining work, but he's smart and eager to please.

He really is a sweetheart. Can you give this boy a home?

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog: ACDs are very organized animals. If the owner has established a "toy box", or some other type of holding area for the dog's possessions, it is not unlikely for an ACD to return whatever it has taken back to this area. Hence the numerous claims of the ACD "putting away its toys", or "picking up after itself". It is not unusual for an ACD to put away bones or items that have been taken out of the area by other dogs as well. Hence the many claims that the ACD "picks up after others".

Nigel

Who couldn't love a dog named Nigel!?

Nigel is about 6 years of age and is a beautiful petite male with gorgous markings. This little fellow was dumped by his owner at a VA shelter and was literally saved from being put to sleep within an hour. Why anyone would dump such a sweet guy that only wants to be loved is something we will never know.
Nigel is quiet, well behaved, crate- and house-trained, and easy to walk on a lead. He gets along with other dogs and cats. This boy is in super health and longs for a home where he can be a constant companion. Nigel is good with children and he would thrive in a loving environment.

1/30/08