Today is 3 months, exactly, since we got Hira. I almost don't count the first month, because she was such a mess with worms, being so scary thin, not knowing where she was dropped, nor knowing us, etc.

So, I think that it's more accurate to say that she's been acclimating for about 2 - 2 1/2 months now.

I've noticed a lot of changes in just one week, this past week.

She ducks less, and she seems happier and lighter in her personality. Her tail wags quite a bit more than even a couple of weeks ago, and she's changed some of her behaviors.

For example, she now wraps herself around you when she comes up to you. And, she'll push for her place to get pet before Krypto.

She now 'slow walks' in front of you when you want to come in, say, from the outside and through the kitchen. Krypto does that, and it drives Dh batty. It's like having a slow escort. It's got something to do with herding.

Though, thus far, Hira doesn't show the extreme herding personality that Krypto does.

It's helped a lot that I've incorporated more treats into her diet. I didn't want her just to do things for treats, so held back a little. Now that she's showing changes, I've added more.

These are those treats that I loved back with Tango. I have a few small bags left, and that are still crisp and fresh. These are the ones that are made here (U.S.), and have 2 ingredients: sweet potatoes and rice flour.

Unfortunately, they changed them. These are the originals. These are crisp and lacy. The new version are hard, and not easy to break. The modern version look like they are rice flour with a little sweet potato, unlike these which look to be sweet potato with a little rice flour. Anyway, Hira, who's all about food anyway, loves them.

She's put on weight to the point that she's in danger of losing her girlish figure, so we cut her food back a little. Luckily, these treats are low calorie, and I break them up into smaller pieces besides that. Whereas Krypto is looking a tad lean to me. Not bad, but I increased his food just a smidge.

I think, had we gotten her when she was younger, that Hira would have made a good service dog. She leans into you, she's not got a flighty personality, she's quiet, and she will lie at your feet. I'm thinking, once she settles in a bit more, and I'm looking for something to teach her, that I'll teach her some in-home SD skills.

Going and getting things, picking things up and bringing them, maybe even hopping up in a lap - though I'm not sure if I want to encourage that.

I never could teach that to Krypto, as he grew too large. But, Hira is always willing to jump up. I try to keep her feet on the floor, but maybe if I teach her the correct way to come up, it will be okay.

The two still wrestle a lot, which tires them both out, and Krypto the only-child-dog still thinks that all bones and antlers are his. My idea is to just put enough out that he can't possibly have them all. And, it helps that Hira will take one and go chew on it after breakfast or dinner. But, smarty pants dog (Krypto.) now takes the bones/antlers that I distribute to thwart him, and puts them all in his crate. *rolling eyes* As long are she gets one, though, I'm happy.

So, basically, she's happier seeming overall, and interacts with us more on her own. I am spending most of my time with her encouraging those interactions, making sure that she has a real routine, and being very careful about interfering or not as she's finding her pack placement.

As I've said before, while you sometimes have to intervene as pack leader, you can't micromanage dogs as they are forming new relationships. If a dog is not a top dog, and you insist on everyone treating him/her as if they are, it will come back to haunt you. So, because it's obvious that Hira is not any type of leader, I let them work that out on the million and one little things each day, only intervening if I think that it's needed.

On the other hand, Hira being a girl dog...older and fixed to boot...she's very good at not letting Krypto get by with any old thing that he wants to. So, for example, she might let him walk away with a bone, or correct her when she does something that he's not allowed to, on the other hand, she won't put up with him getting in her personal space when she's not doing anything wrong, etc. They don't fight, but she has nipped at him. She would have made a good mother!

Well, that's all from the Hira front. Have a great day!