We're also teaching her some basic things expected of her. Things like sitting to put her leash on and off, at the door, and when fed, and doing her business on command. Otherwise you just stand out there, and she stands there, and everyone just gets cold. It's a lot easier if they know what you want, vs. just thinking that you are there to look at the scenery all night with them!
I am doing this because it makes her feel more secure. Dogs, being pack animals, don't tend to do well when they don't understand what's going on, or their role in a family/pack. So, by having her do what Krypto does, and letting her know what her role is, she's less stressed. Dogs generally feel more accepted when they are 'brought into the fold' and shown the ropes. Plus, she loves getting the praise. She has picked everything up pretty quickly.
She sleeps up with everyone sometimes at night, other times, she won't, and sleeps on a dog mat. I need to get her an actual bed for when she doesn't sleep on the couch. During the day, she is almost 100% on the couch.
The two play/spar almost constantly when awake. It's excellent for Krypto, and is apparently good for Hira, too. When Krypto goes to the kitchen door, she trots right behind him about 1/2 the time, unless she's napping.
Having her here has mellowed Krypto. I think that he's finally getting the amount of exercise that he needs, and he loves other dogs.
Hira has separation anxiety. I hope that it's just 'settling in' anxiety, and that she'll get over it, but I am not holding my breath. She doesn't love it when someone goes outside, but likes it less when Krypto walks without her. I know that this is the exact scenario that causes the problem. That's the biggest problem.
Other than that, she's not a problem. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I've never had a dog fit in so well. She's quiet (she finally barked.), she is fairly even tempered, and so far has no problems with the cats.
Loud noises sometimes startle her, though some don't bother her as much, and she acts as if her life could have been more consistent, so we are working hard to be completely consistent. No surprises. That is already making a difference.
She's only been corrected for one thing - scratching on one of the big plate glass windows in the kitchen. That's a problem, so we tell her no on that. She only does it when Dh walks Krypto, and only a couple of times.
Currently, because I think that she would still bolt under the right circumstances, she goes out the front door only, where those panels made the quick enclosure.
Whereas, Krypto sometimes goes out there, but mostly takes his usual walks on the west, out the kitchen door. Eventually, I think that they should take walks together, but not always. Meanwhile, she's only been here less than a week, so we're going to stick with this for a while.
I had 3 new antler pieces in a bag, waiting for Krypto's birthday at the end of the month, so gave them each one. Hira immediately liked it, and after a while, Krypto took hers. We gave everyone back their own, and that worked.
For a while, I thought that Hira was going to be higher in pack order than Krypto. Basically, you have to accept that, and not try to force pack placement, so I was prepared for that. But, apparently, she was just being radical because she'd been drugged (we once had to give Jet valium, and he turned into devil-dog for 24 hrs. That drug can do that to some dogs.), and also she had those worms. But, as she felt better, it became more apparent that she's not top dog at all.
He tiptoed around her for a couple of days, literally looking over his shoulder. But, now he's back to happily ruling the roost, and Hira mostly puts up with him, and follows him. They even drink out of the same bucket sometimes - at the same time.
I've been meaning to tell the bucket story. I put my Christmas trees in white buckets with rocks in them, and water. They are stable, and last a little longer. Well, water-hound drank out of the bucket all the time. I guess that fir water tastes better than other water.
The nice thing was, he couldn't drink it all then whine for more, so we decided, since it was a good height for him, to let him have the bucket as a 'water bowl' once the trees were gone. It's worked very well, and everyone's happier. So, that's what the dogs are drinking out of, sometimes at the same time.
Well, that's about all for now. It's feeding time at the zoo. It's time for the dogs' dinner, we made catfood today, and the chickens are having the last of some vegetable treats that I had for them before heading to bed.
The babies at Ds's are doing fine. They are still small, but are getting little wing feathers, and the brown leghorns have small tails starting.
Oh, about Hira's name...
She reacted strongly to her name the other day. She looked thrilled to be called by it, darn it. So, here's what we've come up with:
In the same way that we call Krypto by his name, but also say things like, "Come on, boy," we had started saying things like, "Come here, girl." So, we have decided to do that part of the time, and use her name less, but still keep it. I thought that a similar name would work, but she doesn't react to it, except Lira, and that's neither a great name (Italian money.) nor did it fool Uhura, who is the one answering to Hira.
So, it's staying 'Here-uh' but I'm spelling it Hira. I looked it up to see if there was a meaning with that spelling, and there is. In Sanskrit it means 'Diamond.' Who knew?
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