Christmas Time
We have now celebrated 2 and a half Christmas-es! First, we had a lovely little Christmas in Edmonton where Chris, Hershey and I exchanged presents. I got Hershey a big Mother Hubbard peanut cookie, a Wiggle Waggle ball and a "banana" dog that is a stuffy with two squeekers in it. She loved all three gifts, and she even was able to rip off the wrapping paper herself! I gave her an extra special dinner of kibble, Rollover pieces and cheese - she was in doggie heaven.
That was last week.
This past week, we have since put Hershey on a plane, and have flown her half-way across the country! Poor Panoka girl, she's never experienced anything like this before! She was great going down to the airport in the rented van and went into her crate okay. She whined a little while we were lined up and was barking at some people, though I think she was quite calm because of the gravol we gave her. The West Jet people took her away and got her put on the plane quite safely, I think. We were very happy with the service, it showed that they know how to take care of pets. We didn't hear any barking during the 4 hour plane ride, and we got to see her fairly shortly after landing. Again, she was well delivered to us by the West Jet people (thank you!). She did have one little accident - though I don't think she had the chance to go to the bathroom properly before leaving. She desperately wanted out of the crate, and was scratching at the gate and trying to paw her way out of it. It was one of the saddest thing I'd ever seen. We finally got to let her out in the parking lot - she didn't go to the bathroom then, and was pretty good around Chris' dad (who came to pick us up), and finally got a bit of bathroom time when we stopped at a Tim Hortons.
When we got to Chris' family's home, she got to meet their dog, Tess, and was pretty well behaved. She did bark at both of Chris' parents, but grew warm to his mom when she offered Hershey gravy (who wouldn't be - it's delicious!) She eventually warmed up to Chris' dad - he's boisterous so she was startled and put off at first. I think things are going to go well when she returns there today.
We enjoyed taking both dogs out for walks and seeing them play in the yard. Hershey doesn't know how to share very well, but is learning. She enjoyed getting the family Christmas tree and even got to sit in the living room for a while. I think it was good for Tess to have some doggy company - someone to get her playing and behaving like a young doggie again (she's 9 now, and a big girl - the activity will do her good).
A few days after arriving, we left again. This time in a van heading to Ottawa. We drove about 5 hours, and Hershey was fantastic: lying down, sleeping, enjoying the rest. She did get a gravol, and it seemed to be working: she was falling asleep sitting up! We took her out for a short while when we got to the Big Apple - a roadside landmark which features a petting zoo. She got to see llamas, who weren't too interested in her, though she found them to be interesting smelling indeed; and some rabbits who hid from her. We got to Ottawa and she was pretty much on her leash the whole time.
My parents had met Hershey before, but my brother hadn't yet. He's not too wild about dogs. She barked and growled as usual, but had a harder time calming down around David. She once was so startled by him that she gripped her claws into my foot when she was barking at him. It hurt, but it's okay. We took her out for walks and playing in the park, but it was tough for her to be on a leash the whole time. It reminded me of our camping trip where we simply had no other option. She wouldn't hurt anyone - we've seen what she does. She goes up to the person she's frightened of and barks at them, while staying a good foot or two away. She doesn't bite or anything, she just needs to bark. If she gets the opportunity to investigate the person (by smelling them) things get calm, however with folks who aren't used to dogs, it is hard to freeze completely during this process and not show fear. Any sudden moves or uneasy feelings and she's back to barking again. She needs to learn to relax! We're working on it - and things have drastically improved, but we still have a while to go. Nevertheless, my family enjoyed having her over, and I think Hershey had an okay time. She got a lovely gift from my parents - three stuffy sports balls with ropes drawn through them and squeekers somewhere in them - there's a soccer ball, a basket ball, and her favourite, the football. She loves them so much that she was playing with them non-stop. She brought them onto the bed, into her crate - everywhere! She was able to open the present herself (with a little help from Chris) and my parents were delighted to see that (it's so cute!). She also got a gift that I need to use for her - a doggie cookie cutter that makes training-treat-sized cookies. (I forgot to mention that Chris' parents also got me cookie cutters - dog bone shaped ones!) Lucky Hershey!
Anyhow, she's now back in Toronto - she and Chris left this morning and apparently the drive back was perfect. I won't be with them for Christmas proper, but I am looking forward to seeing them on the 28th! I can't wait to see what Chris gets for her and what his parents have got her too! I know they just left, but I can't wait to see them again!
That was last week.
This past week, we have since put Hershey on a plane, and have flown her half-way across the country! Poor Panoka girl, she's never experienced anything like this before! She was great going down to the airport in the rented van and went into her crate okay. She whined a little while we were lined up and was barking at some people, though I think she was quite calm because of the gravol we gave her. The West Jet people took her away and got her put on the plane quite safely, I think. We were very happy with the service, it showed that they know how to take care of pets. We didn't hear any barking during the 4 hour plane ride, and we got to see her fairly shortly after landing. Again, she was well delivered to us by the West Jet people (thank you!). She did have one little accident - though I don't think she had the chance to go to the bathroom properly before leaving. She desperately wanted out of the crate, and was scratching at the gate and trying to paw her way out of it. It was one of the saddest thing I'd ever seen. We finally got to let her out in the parking lot - she didn't go to the bathroom then, and was pretty good around Chris' dad (who came to pick us up), and finally got a bit of bathroom time when we stopped at a Tim Hortons.
When we got to Chris' family's home, she got to meet their dog, Tess, and was pretty well behaved. She did bark at both of Chris' parents, but grew warm to his mom when she offered Hershey gravy (who wouldn't be - it's delicious!) She eventually warmed up to Chris' dad - he's boisterous so she was startled and put off at first. I think things are going to go well when she returns there today.
We enjoyed taking both dogs out for walks and seeing them play in the yard. Hershey doesn't know how to share very well, but is learning. She enjoyed getting the family Christmas tree and even got to sit in the living room for a while. I think it was good for Tess to have some doggy company - someone to get her playing and behaving like a young doggie again (she's 9 now, and a big girl - the activity will do her good).
A few days after arriving, we left again. This time in a van heading to Ottawa. We drove about 5 hours, and Hershey was fantastic: lying down, sleeping, enjoying the rest. She did get a gravol, and it seemed to be working: she was falling asleep sitting up! We took her out for a short while when we got to the Big Apple - a roadside landmark which features a petting zoo. She got to see llamas, who weren't too interested in her, though she found them to be interesting smelling indeed; and some rabbits who hid from her. We got to Ottawa and she was pretty much on her leash the whole time.
My parents had met Hershey before, but my brother hadn't yet. He's not too wild about dogs. She barked and growled as usual, but had a harder time calming down around David. She once was so startled by him that she gripped her claws into my foot when she was barking at him. It hurt, but it's okay. We took her out for walks and playing in the park, but it was tough for her to be on a leash the whole time. It reminded me of our camping trip where we simply had no other option. She wouldn't hurt anyone - we've seen what she does. She goes up to the person she's frightened of and barks at them, while staying a good foot or two away. She doesn't bite or anything, she just needs to bark. If she gets the opportunity to investigate the person (by smelling them) things get calm, however with folks who aren't used to dogs, it is hard to freeze completely during this process and not show fear. Any sudden moves or uneasy feelings and she's back to barking again. She needs to learn to relax! We're working on it - and things have drastically improved, but we still have a while to go. Nevertheless, my family enjoyed having her over, and I think Hershey had an okay time. She got a lovely gift from my parents - three stuffy sports balls with ropes drawn through them and squeekers somewhere in them - there's a soccer ball, a basket ball, and her favourite, the football. She loves them so much that she was playing with them non-stop. She brought them onto the bed, into her crate - everywhere! She was able to open the present herself (with a little help from Chris) and my parents were delighted to see that (it's so cute!). She also got a gift that I need to use for her - a doggie cookie cutter that makes training-treat-sized cookies. (I forgot to mention that Chris' parents also got me cookie cutters - dog bone shaped ones!) Lucky Hershey!
Anyhow, she's now back in Toronto - she and Chris left this morning and apparently the drive back was perfect. I won't be with them for Christmas proper, but I am looking forward to seeing them on the 28th! I can't wait to see what Chris gets for her and what his parents have got her too! I know they just left, but I can't wait to see them again!
posted by traxis at
11:04 PM
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