"Katina stood still very well for the clipping, and allowed me to lift all her feet without incident, but turned into a bit of a she-devil when the water hit her skin, which is in very poor condition. She is terrified of the bath. She is equally frightened of being in a crate with a muted dryer on 'low'.
She is allowing herself to be petted more but continues to be very submissive (likely she was very low stature with the other dogs), relying a great deal on the other rescue Sprinkles, following him with no qualms.
Katina now gives me play bows. She doesn't cower on lead now, but doesn't like it either."
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"Katina behaved like a new girl in the tub. Stood still this time and didn't fight or scream. She acted as if it were old hat. She allowed the dryer to be directed up close.
Katina & Sprinkles love their time out on walks around the driveway and side. They both use the outside more and more, and now look to me the minute they start doing their business as if to say, 'Look what I'm doing out here. Hurry up with my praise. I'm being good, aren't I?'
They both wag their tails at other people, have allowed others to approach and pat them, and have approached others as well. It is absolutely amazing to me how rapidly their trust is earned/restored; and how fast they try to be pets, even though they've never really seen or experienced such a thing.
Yes, I know I've established a new pack, but that doesn't account for the rapid learning of a new language and totally foreign rules. I imagine they are living a lifestyle they've never encountered before.
Little Katina walks with a Hackney gait. Since I clipped her with Clydesdale feathers in the front, it looks adorable. Most of her height is legs. She and Sprinkles have the same neck and shoulders. Dash is 23" at the withers. She's so petite, she fits between the slats in our fencing!"
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"Katina LOVES going outside to play. We had a breakthrough this morning when I first greeted her. She stood on her hind feet and pawed playfully toward me, then went down in her play bow. She allowed me to put her leash on right away, and gave me a kiss while I did it. She immediately left her ex-pen, without requiring coaxing, and led Sprinkles outside, instead of vise versa. Finally she's felt comfortable enough to act naturally. She has a wonderful personality. What a doll."
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"Katina created a game: Jump on the Boxwoods. She throws her little body up and lands on the boxwood hedges on her belly, then wiggles around so she sways back and forth on the branches as if they were springs. Sprinkles watched her do it yesterday and this morning, and did it himself this a.m. The hedge didn't support him quite as well, but it still worked. They were wiggling side by side. They still take their cues from each other."
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Katina learning to live in a house. Katina almost has it down pat, and has only occasional "accidents."
Fellow-foster Sprinkles can't keep up with Katina, who literally runs circles around him. She is living her puppy days now, and enjoying them immensely.
Into everything, mouthing things (but not chewing), running circuits, nipping others' tails and getting gently nailed for it from time to time. She just shakes it off and goes after the next adult dog in the room! If I didn't know she is 2 to 3 y/o, I wouldn't believe it.
So far, no flooring surface has bothered them. However, both were ill in the car on the trip to the vet. (February 1, 2007)
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Katina is very timid, but is coming along as she is exposed to new people and situations. She is very small - maybe 35lbs and 23" tall. Katina needs a home where she can bloom into the sweet Affie we know she is.
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Katina is housebroken. She goes for frequent walks through the neighborhood. She's not not intimidated by bicycles, groups of children, school buses, garbage trucks or barking neighborhood dogs. Skateboards are a work in progress.
Within the home, she has conquered the vacuum, TV, groups of soft-spoken strangers when escape to a crate is available, mops, grooming, waiting for left-overs, lining up for treats when coming in from outside and waiting one's turn for said treat. Tina doesn't ask to go out to potty, just waits for the opportunity to present itself.
All 4 dogs are now getting along, and we don't have to separate anyone, except at feeding time. Once Sprinkles and Tina knew their beds would remain theirs, not be compromised, and their toys would always be their toys (same with leashes...I swear, they never had ANYTHING of their own before), they stopped challenging any poor soul who walked by.
Tina comes across timid with strangers, but she is an alpha bitch in waiting at home. As she becomes more and more confident that she won't be hurt if she acts herself, she shows more and more of her true colors. She stands up to all three of the others, and they all give her space. She will push them out of the way when I feed treats, and it is only MY actions that maintain a different pack order.
She has tried to claim me as hers, and tried to growl and bark Max and Cammy both away from me. She is the monster that pee'd in the middle of my bed. And, she confiscated Cammy's toy from her until I returned it. She is very sweet with people, but should not go to a home with an alpha bitch already in residence, but with a male or somewhat submissive female.
What a change from the cowering, super-submissive female that arrived into Rescue! (Feb 9, 2007).
